Post-Rock

Nate here.

When I first got into music, I mean really got into music, I mainly listened to harder Christian rock music (Sub Seven, Project 86, etc…).  I could only listen to the music for so long because after a while you can’t understand the words that they are singing.  I would often say to myself, “If only I could listen to this without the words.”  Well, BAM!, I discovered the genre of Post-Rock, where melodies and rhythms of guitars and drums fill my ears, without words.

There is a second reason why this genre appeals to me so much.  I was in a garage band my junior year of high school in Kevil, KY and we would jam out in my garage for hours.  The best memory I have of us is occurred on one late summer/early fall afternoon where we jammed with the garage doors up.  We probably jammed for an hour straight.  There was this van that kept driving by the garage with its windows down.  I don’t know if they were lost, but I like to think that they just wanted to hear our music.  Post-Rock music takes me back to this sweet memory.

Is there a genre of music that when you listen to it it takes you back to a memory?

My Music Monday: Explosions in the Sky

Nate here with My Music Monday.

My recommendation and listening choice of music for this Monday is Explosions in the Sky.  I was introduced to them by Lee Wilson and by hearing them played in Barefoots Joe (coffee shop on Union University’s campus).

They are from Austin, TX and have 6 albums you can check out.  Explosions in the Sky is classified as “rock/indie.”  I do not dispute this classification, but if I could add a word to the classification it would be “instrumental.”  This is not your typical instrumental music (violin, trumpet, flute, etc. . .)  but instrumental music with 2 guitars, a bass, and drums.  The flavor of their music can be summed up into one word: emotion.  As you listen to the strumming of the guitar and beating of the drums gain in sound and then fall back down into the ballad you are gripped by the music and emotion of it.

After my discovery of Explosions in the Sky, they  quickly became one of my favorite bands to listen too. Definitely check them out on Pandora.

Keeping Up With the…

Han here.

What have we been up to since we lived in Tennessee?  We have made a few visits to the lands of West TN since we have moved to a more Northern land, and While many of you have seen our faces and heard our updates, we wanted to give you a true picture of our “life since then.”  Serious posts can wait another day.  We are Williams, and this is why you love us so.

It all started on this day

Then we left Tennessee for good and moved to Southern Indiana.  It was a very long drive. And since then, well, it’s all in the photos

Nathan reads big boy books,

and creepily gears up to kill...a fly!

and does Nathan things,

and replaces shab...

with FAB!!

 

organizing picnics

hanging out with 4-year-old royalty

buying almost all our decorations at goodwill

and loving this man

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We miss all that is lovely in the land of dawg tags and “UU (clap, clap)” but are pleased as peaches to be here.  Happy Monday from the Williams’ family!

Cleaning the Christmas Tree

We just couldn’t wait any longer to put up our tree.  Pictures are soon to come.

Disciple Now at FBCJackson

Nate here and a good Saturday to ya!

Hannah and I spent last weekend in Jackson,TN at First Baptist Church Jackson’s Disciple Now. The whole weekend was centered around what it looks like to be a disciple of Christ. 

Jesus says, in Luke 9:23-27, “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.  For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?  For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.  But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Kingdom of God.”

I had the privaledge of being the main speaker.  The three things that I chose to communicate in the worship sessions about a disciple of Christ are:

1. A disciple of Christ will love the Word (John 1:1-5,14)
2. A disciple of Christ will share the Gospel (Romans 10:8-17)
3. A disciple of Christ will be a doer of the Word (James 1:19-27)

It was great to be back at First Baptist with many people that we care about and love.  One of the best parts of the weekend, for me was being able to hear my Hannah sing and help in the leading us into worshiping our Lord through song.

Here are some pictures from the weekend.

Forever Friends Friday: Catherine Neal

Nate here.

It has been a few weeks since our last Forever Friends Friday post, but this one you won’t want to miss out on – so keep reading.

Catherine and I have a unique story.  We are cousins but did not know that we were cousins, or even that each other existed til about 3 years ago.  We met under sad circumstances.  This was a great thing though because it has not only lead to the knowledge of our relation to each other, but to a friendship that is not like any other.  We share a common love for coffee that has lead to many good conversations where I have been encouraged in my walk with the Lord.  Catherine is an encouragement to all who know her, with her actions and her words.

Catherine is a missionary to Memphis, TN.  God has called her to the city that she grew up in to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the hope and peace that Jesus gives, to refugees.   She has a story to tell and you can find it here.

Americas Ugliest Export

Nate Here.

The prosperity gospel is the ugliest export that comes out of America.   The prosperity gospel is growing in many places where there are large numbers of poor people, one being Africa.  Nathan Clarke went to see and hear for himself this being preached in churches in Ghana.

When you hear the prosperity gospel preached, many times it is said that the amount of money that you are able to give reflects the amount of faith that you have.  This does not make sense to me.

To be a Christian, a follower of Christ, you must have faith.  Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith.”  So faith is necessary. But Paul goes on. “And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

OK, faith is necessary to be saved.  You can understand all the historical things about Scripture, understand the facts, but you have to have faith to be saved. At some point you believe those facts.

But, our Salvation is not of our own doing.  In fact, as Paul says, “it is not a result of works. “  God saves us.  You are saved by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ.  You are not saved by works.

My friend and fellow blogger, Tyler Glodjo, also blogged about this. He says some good things that are worth reading.

You Are Not Too Young

Nate here.

As I have been reflecting on the Lord’s calling on my life, it has lead me to Paul’s encouraging words to Timothy found in 1 Timothy 4:11-16.

“Command and teach these things.  Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.  Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.  Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.  Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching.  Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

People are often surprised when they find out someone who is younger is senior pastor of a church or the lead worship pastor instead of the youth pastor.  I am not sure what it is that causes this surprise.  It might be the fact that we see the ‘positions’ in the church like we see positions in businesses.  The church is not a business.

My guess is that when people are surprised to find out that young people are serving in lead roles in the church, most of the time, they are not surprised because of the young persons conduct or because of a distrust in the young person, but rather it is because of the American church mindset of experience over calling.

Hear me when I say that experience is important, but young people (like myself) need to spend time remembering the calling to ministry that God has given us when we, maybe, get down or frustrated because of our age.

Read again what Paul tells Timothy (1 Timothy 4:14), “Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.”

Timothy was young when he started serving with Paul and was still considered young. *John R.W. Stott says this about Timothy, “It seems unlikely that the apostle would have invited Timothy to join his mission team before he had reached his late teens or early twenties, in which case now, about thirteen or fourteen years later, he would be in his mid-thirties.  The ancients regarded this as being still within the limits of ‘youth.’”

It makes sense, when you think about it, for young men serving in ministry to feel inexperienced sometimes.  Why?  Simply because they have not had much experience.  Paul tells Timothy, to remember his calling, not to let others despise him for his youth and to remember his call from God. Paul then goes on to tell Timothy to set an example to others in following Christ.

What those who have been Christians for many years need to come along side the younger Christians and teach them the truths of Scripture and the practicality of those truths lived out.  Paul tells Titus (Titus 2:2) to instruct the older men on Crete “to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.”

The Church is the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12). That means all people work together.  Christian you are a disciple of Christ – that mean you never stop learning.  We, younger men and women, need the older men and women of the Church to come along-side of us, to mentor and disciple.

*Quote from The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus in The Bible Speaks Today commentary series. John R.W. Stott, NT series editor. 1996.

Jeff Fisher’s Humor

Nate here.

So with my Titans now 0-6, it is good to see that Jeff Fisher still has his sense of humor.

Having this Sunday off should help us get things in order. I am even thinking of heading down next week to walk on for the quarterback position, or wide-receiver – Not the running back position, we have one of those.

My prediction for the  Titans this year is 8-8.  That’s right, we are going to win 8 out of our next 10 games.

My Monday Music

Nate here.

Here are some reccomendations and what is on my playlist for this Monday, October 19.

1. Like folk music?  You will like The Avett Brothers.  You can get their album “The Second Gleam” for $1.00 at Amazon.
2. U2 is always a good choice – Especially their album “All That  You Can’t Leave Behind.”
3. Bon Iver and Katie Herzig.

The Avett Brothers  and Katie Herzig are a new finds for me, while Bon Iver and U2 are what I like to call “go to” artists for me.

What artists are on your playlist today?  Who are some of your “go to” artists?