Theme Song #1

This is the first of my three theme songs. I'm doing one a week. This one is by U2, whom I consider to be the greatest Christian rock band ever. They don't fit some people's views of being a "Christian band" because they don't play exclusively spiritual music. That's nuts. They are Christians, they write songs about God and faith and life, and they live their faith out by making the world a better place. And they've sold a gazillion albums. Thus, the greatest Christian rock band ever.

You can listen to the song here (and please listen and don't download). It's called "Walk On," originally recorded on the album "All That You Can't Leave Behind." The version I linked to is from the live September 11th Benefit Concert America: A Tribute to Heroes, and was recorded days after the attacks. They were in London, hence the "Hello from London" at the beginning. On the studio version, there is a different beginning (studio lyrics here). On the live version, here's how the song begins:
Heaven on earth
I need it now
I'm sick of all of this
Hanging around
I'm sick of the sorrow
Sick of the pain
Sick of hearing again and again
That there's never gonna be
Peace on earth

The end is similar to the studio album, but goes like this:

I know it aches
How your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on, walk on
Leave it behind
You've got to leave it behind

All that you fashion
All that you make
All that you build
All that you break
All that you measure
All that you deal
All you count on two fingers
And all that you steal...
You've got to leave it behind
Hallelujah!

And the rest of the song is one dude singing "You gotta leave it behind" while the other one sings "Hallelujah." And thus we come to the reason why this is my theme song: because he's leaving behind everything this world tells us we need and he's happy about it! He's glad! He's singing about leaving behind everything this world holds dear to make God's kingdom (heaven on earth) happen, and his life is better!

Leaving it behind for Jesus, and having life. That's Easter.
Hallelujah!

Getting dirty again

Once upon a time, I was not afraid to get dirty. I worked in a food pantry. I volunteered in a homeless shelter. I fed the hungry, clothed the naked. I believed that the Kingdom of God was at hand (as Jesus said over and over), and was out there sharing it. Then I started thinking strategically. I realized that if I got other people to help with that work, then the Kingdom would grow even more. So I stopped doing that kind of work myself. I've been talking about it, but not doing it.

One of my mentors, Dave, lives in Colorado. Bill Easum is a church consulting big-wig, and when Dave told Bill that Dave had no business spending time with the poor himself. That his job was to do what I'd described- to get others out there doing the 'grunt work'. But Dave told me that when he looks into the eyes of those he's serving, he sees Jesus. It keeps him grounded. It keeps him focused. It keeps him close to God.

That's something that's been missing in my life. As a result, I've lost my voice. I can't speak about the power of the Kingdom of God breaking into these situations because I haven't seen it myself in a long time. As a result, my strategy doesn't seem to be working. I'm less able to inspire others to do this kind of work because it's been so long since I've done it myself.

I'm gonna start getting dirty again. It's time to stop talking about the Kingdom of God and to start showing it. Time to stop thinking and talking, and time to start doing and showing. So I'm gonna get dirty, and I invite you to join me. Email me, call me, whatever, and we'll go get dirty together. Then I won't have to tell you about the Kingdom of God. You can just experience it for yourself.