In God’s Country

I finished reading Michka Assayas’ book Bono in conversation….  It’s a good read. 

As a true 80s new wave/punk, I was totally hooked by U2 in 1978.  The energy, the vision, the thoughtfulness were addictive to my idealistic adolescent soul.  But U2 explored different things, got huge, “sold out” and left me behind.  I had a negative attitude about U2 and Bono in particular in the late 80s and 90s because they seemed to have strayed from their idealistic faithful beginnings into politics, lecturing, and stupid stuff (Russian cars spinning around overhead at a concert?). 

 But I got invited to the latest tour and went.  Hey, U2 is very good in concert.  It made me long for their shows twenty years ago.  They are just good musicians and are very professional. 

Except for Bono’s lecturing about you name it…I kept thinking about how many more songs they could play if he just shut up. 

One of the reasons that I had a bad taste in my mouth about Bono is how he had always carefully danced around his faith.  Was he or wasn’t he a Believer?  I heard Edge is pretty faithful.  How do we know for sure?  (more…)

I love being a Southern Californian.  People can tell in an instant I’m from SoCal.  I don’t know how.

Although I grew up in a military family and moved a lot, I am happy to be able to call San Diego my hometown.  When I am there it just feels right. 

This weekend I will drive to San Diego from Washington, D.C. as I start a new job on Wednesday.  I am loading my truck (which I bought from my bro John and drove from SD to DC just in July) with my bike, clothes, golf clubs and other essentials. 

I have lots of CDs to keep me entertained and singing at the top of my lungs.  Van Ngyuen burned me a bunch of indy stuff like Kings of Leon and Interpol and New Pornographers to listen to.  I also have my worship stuff like By The Tree, Chris Tomlin, and City on a Hill.  And, of course, I could not drive back to SD without my Switchfoot collection.

This drive will be more difficult because instead of the sun being out until 8:30 PM, I will be driving in darkness a lot of the time.  I also won’t have the company of my son, Chris. 

But San Diego will be calling me, the surf will be encouraging me, the sun will be beckoning me, my roots will be driving me to get home. 

It will be hard.  I will be away from my wife and daughter.  My parents are not doing well.  I’ll be in a new job with a new set of skills to master and new relationships to develop. 

Here is a thought:  Pray that God will have favor in my driving, in my truck’s performance, in my resting, and in my arrival. 

Prayer is powerful.  Some think it is like blowing smoke into the sky.  But I have seen how God answers the prayers of his children.  It is now and salient and real. 

I’ll try to post while on the road if I can figure out my new notebook and wireless connection.  If not, I’ll send you photo from SD. 

Desert sky, dream beneath the desert sky.
The rivers run but soon run dry.
We need new dreams tonight.
Desert rose, dreamed I saw a desert rose
Dress torn in ribbons and bows
Like a siren she calls (to me).

Sleep comes like a drug in God’s country
Sad eyes, crooked crosses, in God’s country

Set me alight, we’ll punch a hole right through the night.
Every day the dreamers die to see what’s on the other side.
She is liberty, and she comes to rescue me.
Hope, faith, her vanity
The greatest gift is gold.

Sleep comes like a drug in God’s country
Sad eyes, crooked crosses, in God’s country

Naked flame, she stands with a naked flame
I stand with the sons of Cain
Burned by the fire of love
Burned by the fire of love.