tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13642801.post3731682806723951420..comments2024-01-07T09:34:44.086-05:00Comments on What Canst Thou Say?: U2 as a devotional practiceRobin M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10336915224193704866noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13642801.post-69485017725338471652007-02-20T16:18:00.000-05:002007-02-20T16:18:00.000-05:00Funny I should have read this post after recently ...Funny I should have read this post after recently listening to an old Rickie Lee Jones CD (Traffic from Paradise) and having the words "No Cross No Crown" jump out at me as she sang her song Running from Mercy. The lyrics aren't in the liner notes, but there are websites (of course) with the words to every pop tune ever written, and it's there all right. Didn't know she'd been reading Penn. An excerpt (of the song):<BR/> <BR/>"Oh sacred place that sets my soul alive<BR/>There's a rainbow above me that the storm clouds hide<BR/>And kind works will never die<BR/>Cuz the magic in kindness springs from the love, love, love<BR/> <BR/>"Little acts of kindness and little words of love<BR/>Make our earthly home heaven above<BR/>And there is no sorrow heaven cannot heal<BR/>A fire within, no cross, no crown<BR/> <BR/>"Running from mercy, hidden and coy<BR/>Swimming upstream down oceans of joy<BR/>Die in the arms of a natural life<BR/>Waking our happiness drowning in light<BR/>Waking our happiness drowning in light"<BR/> <BR/>Peace--Stephen MatchettAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13642801.post-64652142686844715112007-02-10T11:33:00.000-05:002007-02-10T11:33:00.000-05:00Good luck with your music selections Nancy.For thi...Good luck with your music selections Nancy.<BR/><BR/>For this album, my favorite song is the first on the CD, and my second favorite (that I sang in meeting) is the last one. So sometimes I get in the car, start the cd, listen to the first song, then click back to the last song and let it roll over and play the first one again.<BR/><BR/>By this time, it would be hard not to know the words to a song I've listened to so many times. But I still got it wrong. The end of the song goes like this<BR/><BR/>Take this heart<BR/>Take this heart<BR/>Take this heart<BR/>And make it breakRobin M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10336915224193704866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13642801.post-37485312147864714642007-02-09T21:22:00.000-05:002007-02-09T21:22:00.000-05:00Nice blog. I'm glad you sang at meeting -- handy i...Nice blog. I'm glad you sang at meeting -- handy if you know all the lyrics by heart.<BR/><BR/>I want to say *of course* U2 is Christian, but it only becomes obvious if you actually look at the words. And we never do. We just hum along with a cool tune and rhythm. Someone happened to point it out to me many years ago.<BR/><BR/>The Spirit speaks through music, even through the songs of people who are not specifically Christian (or Muslim/Jew, etc). Somehow, when people get on that creative, expressive level, they tap into that Spirit and bring it out. It's really marvellous. But we have to be open to it, waiting for it, listening. Or we miss it.<BR/><BR/>I've been going through song lyrics, looking at music for my new programmed meeting church thingie. It's not hard to find good songs. I really wanted stuff by Avril Lavigne and the Tragically Hip because they're local musicians,, and I want us to sing some of our own songs. I thought at first that Avril might not work because of her anger. But she has one very aching and beautiful song called "I'm With You" that is such a cry of the spirit. The Hip -- well, we can use pretty much anything.<BR/><BR/>Did you know the heavy metal band Creed is Christian too? That one always flips people out.Nancy Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14260235828442346455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13642801.post-52072689300122827632007-02-09T12:40:00.000-05:002007-02-09T12:40:00.000-05:00Thanks Anj. Technowhiz that I am, it didn't occur ...Thanks Anj. Technowhiz that I am, it didn't occur to me to look for other blogs on this subject. Very interesting.<BR/><BR/>Gregg - I'm not really a big heavy metal fan. In high school, my musical taste ran more to Billy Joel and Phil Collins. And country, on the sly. However, love and peace are too powerful to be only expressed with the acoustic guitar. I see this song as taking Phil Ochs one step farther.Robin M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10336915224193704866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13642801.post-82200271323955629522007-02-09T01:21:00.000-05:002007-02-09T01:21:00.000-05:00I just want to say I love that you love the heavy ...I just want to say I love that you love the heavy metal riffs...Gregg Koskelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02413312070226184054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13642801.post-55056698461479151702007-02-08T23:04:00.000-05:002007-02-08T23:04:00.000-05:00Robin- Here is a blog about this aspect of U2. You...Robin- Here is a blog about this aspect of U2. You might enjoy browsing. http://u2sermons.blogspot.com/anjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10907362042684864253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13642801.post-11178794279480520062007-02-08T16:23:00.000-05:002007-02-08T16:23:00.000-05:00Thanks for your comment. I'll have to do some more...Thanks for your comment. I'll have to do some more "research." Thank goodness for the public library.Robin M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10336915224193704866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13642801.post-49468194266526695902007-02-08T15:44:00.000-05:002007-02-08T15:44:00.000-05:00Hi,glad to read your blog about U2 and Christianit...Hi,<BR/>glad to read your blog about U2 and Christianity. U2 has always been Christian in their songs.<BR/>Search further back to their 80's samples and find the song "40" from their "War" album.<BR/><BR/>Bono sings: "..many will see, many will see and fear."<BR/><BR/>straight from the bible.<BR/><BR/>or "Drowning Man"<BR/>Bono sings "..like wings of eagles, will run, will run and not grow weary."<BR/><BR/>Cool thing the rock band is not intimated by anyone. I have always admire them for that. For standing tall with their beliefs regardless of what the music industry dictates everyday.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your article.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com