Bern & Murten - Switzerland Highlights - Day 12

On our last day in Switzerland we woke up in Bern.  Then we did a walking tour of the town with my mom.  One highlight of the tour is Bern’s famous clock tower (build in 1530) that springs to life before the top of each hour,  A jester rings bells by pulling a string,  Father time has an hourglass he flips over.  A figure at the top of the tower that rings a bell.  I’m sure 500 years ago this was a riot of entertainment.

Then we hopped on a train to the nearby lakeside town of Murten.  Murten is a small town that is well maintianed.  The walls around the town are in good shape.  We ate lunch here in Murten and got a feel for the town.  I enjoyed the flowers under the windows, the tall pointy spires on towers and the large awnings.

Then we got back on the train and returned to Bern to pick up our bags from the hostel.  We boarded a train heading to the Basel airport.  The Basel airport sits of the border of Switzerland, Germany and France.  From there we flew over to Paris.  We only booked two nights in Paris.  We got there late for our first night, probably around 11pm.

Bern & Interlaken - Switzerland Highlights - Day 11

On Day 11 of our European vacation, our last in Mürren, we cable-carred down the hill then bussed to the Trummelbach Falls in Lauterbrunnen.

The 10 waterfalls inside a mountain are accessible via elevator and stairs allowing us to watch the Jungfrau’s glacial melt rush to the valley floor.  We walked through chasms the water carved out over the ages.  The glacial melt rushed passed us in a constant roar.  I couldn’t help but wonder if these falls inspired Walt Disney as he planned the caves of the Matterhorn ride.

The water spins through a corkscrew feature before finally dumping onto the Lauterbrunnen valley floor.  Then it flows to Interlaken the same place we wanted to visit.  We took the 20 minute train ride to Interlaken and followed a printed walking tour of the town.  We lunched on the 18th floor of the Metropolitan Hotel, otherwise known as the concrete shame of Interlake.  We watched base jumpers land in a nearby park.

In the 1800s well-to-do tourists made Interlaken a major stop on the “Grand Tour of Europe”.  The town catered to the rich and famous of the day.  In recent decades many tourists, like us, chose to stay higher in the alps.  Today tourists from India dominate tourism in Interlaken thanks in part to the many Bollywood films shot in here.

After lunch we walked across the river and along luxurious homes perched beside beautiful water.

Then we continued our train ride over to Bern.  We wanted to spend at least one night there to get a feel for Switzerland’s capital city.  We walked around the city at dusk.  We gave the Parliament building much attention.  Throughout the city the Swiss post statues on columns.  One famous statue features an ogre eating babies.

The people of Bern preserved Albert Einstein’s home as a museum.  A poster of Einstein hangs in a window of his old home.   We walked to the far end of town with thunder crackling in the distance before heading back to our hostel to end the night.

Shilthorn - Switzerland Highlights - Day 10

We began day 10 of our European vacation in Mürren, Switzerland.  From our B&B we walked to the cable car station to cruise up to the Shilthorn.  The Shilthorn served as a set for the 1969 James Bond film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”.  For years, I have wanted to walk around and explore a bad guys hideout for myself.

Today the building houses a 007 museum with artifacts from the film.   The building was intended to be a restaurant but the developers lacked funding.  The James Bond franchise financed the construction in return for access to shoot their next movie first.  

Visitors can pilot a stationary helicopter and learn of the movie’s nearby shooting locations.  Copies of the script are accessible.  You can morph your face into the characters from the James Bond movie.  Visitors can hop in a bobsled in front of a screen telling you which way to lean.  Then you are super-imposed on footage from the bobsled ride at the end of the movie.

In the bathroom there’s an encouraging message over the urinals.  A light above a bathroom stall recreates a hypnosis sequence from the film.

On the patio there is a gun barrel you can take your picture through.  There’s beautiful views of the Jungfrau, Moch and Eiger too.

Out back there’s a Walk Of Fame with plaques featuring different actors from the Bond series.

A number of scenes feature a staircase in the building.  Bond first walks up this staircase and finds many reclining Bond girls.  Now that area contains a revolving restaurant that features a James Bond breakfast.

Then we headed to a peak just below that movie set.  Admission to this Thrill Walk is included in your ticket to the Shilthorn.  There is a ropes course and glass floor walkway on the side of cliff with more views of the Jungfrau and the town of Mürren below.

Then we cabled down to Mürren for lunch at our B&B.  We took one more cable car ride down to the hamlet of Gimmelwald.  This is the town Rick Steves thinks is the closest thing to heaven on earth.  The town is underdeveloped and protected as an avalanche zone to ward off future development.  It is a slow paced life here.  At the self-service grocery store you put your coins in a tray and grab your cheese or eggs.  The backyards of these chalets boast an incredible view.  Gimmelwald is perched right on a cliff overlooking this valley of 72 waterfalls.

We wanted to visit one of the falls so we hiked up from Gimmelwald to the Sprutz waterfall.

After visiting the falls we kept hiking to our home base in Mürren.  The total hike took about two hours or so.  But we couldn’t complain about the views.

We headed back into the town of Mürren where we called it a night.

Stay tuned for our next adventure when we head to the city of Bern by way of Interlaken and the Trummelbach falls.

Jungfrau - Switzerland Highlights - Day 9

We spent most of day nine in Europe exploring the Jungfrau on the opposite side of the valley from our hotel in Murren.  To get there we cable carred down to Lauterbrunnen.  Then we hopped on a train equipped with special teeth that grip a center rail for extra traction.

The train first stopped in the resort town of Wengen.  Then we climbed higher and higher up the Jungfrau.

Jungfrau means mean young frauline or lady.  The Jungfrau stands besides two other peaks.  A Swiss fable says the Jungfrau is protected by a center peak called the Mönch or in English monk.  This monk protects the Jungfrau from the Eiger (or in English ogre) on the opposite side of the Mönch.

Also of note, we passed a Chinese couple taking their wedding pictures out on a ledge.  Chinese couples frequently travel here for wedding photos even though their ceremonies takes place elsewhere.

Then we switched trains at Kleine Scheidegg for a 30 minute climb up the Jungfrau.  The train grinded below the Eiger and Monch until we stopped at the Jungfrau station.

This complex in and on the mountain spans nine floors.  Outside visitors gaze at an 11 mile long glacier.  A restaurant on the other side of a hill serves coffee.  Inside we viewed historical models of the complex, a Lindt chocolate exhibit, and the Ice Palace.  The Swiss cut a hole in the glacier and named it the Ice Palace.  They installed handbars and lights in the glacier walls so people like us can strut, spin and slide in comfort.

Then we headed back down to Kleine Scheidegg.  We lunched then hiked set out on a hike.  The town of Gridelwald lay in the valley below.

Cows clanged their bells in the distance below us.  I wanted to get up close and personal with a cow.  I found a path down to some cows nearby.  A leader-cow I approached had no desire for a close human encounter.  I walked a little closer and that cow advanced toward me pushing me away with it’s head.  I got the message.

Our hike ended at the Mannlichen cable car station.  From there we headed down to Wengen, caught a train to Lauterbrunnen then ultimately returned to Mürren.

It began to rain.  We met up with my mom and had dinner across the road from our chalet.  After dinner we hopped over to a nearby vista to savor the last moments of daylight.

Stay tuned for our next episode when we explore the Murren side of the valley.  We’ll head up to a former James Bond movie set, hike to a waterfall and more.

Lucerne & Mürren - Travel Highlights - Day 8

We began day eight of our European vacation at Lucern’s Lion Monument.  This stone carving pays tribute to the Swiss guard who died protecting King Louis XVI during the French Revolution.  The Swiss guard are known for their protective forces.  Right by that monument is a tourist mecca with plenty of cowbell magnets for sale.

Then Carolyn and I walked to the old city walls.  We climbed up one of the towers for an elevated view of Lucerne.

It was time to head to the train station and begin our journey to the high alps of the Berner Oberland.  Our train zipped past lakes and mountains while heading to a transfer in Interlaken.  Notably we passed lake Brienz where my parents vacationed decades before my time.

I appreciated the design of the Swiss rail clocks displayed throughout their train stations.  In Interlaken we transferred to the Berner Oberland Bahn that pushes into the Lauterbrunnen Valley.  After a 15 minute ride we arrived in Lauterbrunnen.  This train station provides view of waterfalls and massive cliffs.

Across the street from the train station we hopped into a cable car.  What a view!  Our hotel rests on the edge of a cliff.  After the cable car ride we transferred to a train at Stechelberg that grinds along the cliffs past cabins with valley views.  We exited the train and walked to our chalet.

We dropped off our bags and went out for a stroll around Mürren.  Carolyn pointed out the native eldeweiss flower.  The town furnicular ascends to the village of Allmendhubel.  We watched clouds roll in in this valley of 72 waterfalls.

Lucerne - Travel Highlights - Day 7

We started our full day in Lucerne by walking the iconic Chapel Bridge.  The Swiss built this bridge in the 1300s as part of the city defense system.  The window openings on the south side of the bridge are smaller to give defenders more cover.  The north side of the bridge opens to the city.

The bridge is decorated with artwork depicting the fishing town’s history.

We dressed in our Sunday best since we attended worship in the Jesuit church on the waterfront built in 1666.  The service was entirely in German.  Then we walked along the Reuss river.  A spikey fence in the river maintains the water level of Lake Lucerne.  Further downstream stands the Mill Bridge.

The original train station burned down.  Inside the new station notice the expensive Burger King combo for $10.

Then we boarded a boat for a two-hour float on Lake Lucern.  We saw beautiful homes and people playing on the lakeshore.  The high alps beckoned in the distance, our destination for tomorrow.  I wanted to get there and experience the high elevation change of pace.

We headed back into Lucerne and walked the bridges at sunset.  Then we walked on the lakefront at twilight before calling it a night.

Stay tuned for our next episode when we take in a smidge more of Lucerne before heading to the high alps and the Jungfrau region.

Chartres & Lucerne - Travel Highlights - Day 6

We left our hotel in Amboise early on the sixth day of our European vacation.  We had a 5:30pm flight to catch from Paris’ to Switzerland.  Before the airport we wanted to stop along the way in the city of Chartres.  Chartres is a little town well known for one thing: it’s grand cathedral.  The structure dominates the town.

The labyrinth in the floor’s stone work impressed me.  A priest sits inside a booth for people to speak and pray with.  Outside on the back terrace the town of Chartres displays itself and another labyrinth in a terrace lawn.  We walked around the cathedral’s ornate exterior.

From Chartres we walked back to the car and drove to Paris’s airport.  We caught our flight to Basel.  This airport sits on the border of three nations.  After we found the door for the Swiss exit we caught a bus to the Basel train station. The town is industrial and modern.  At Basel’s train station we purchased our Swiss rail passes and boarded a train to Lucerne.


We arrived in Lucerne around 10pm and hopped on a bus to our hotel.  Then Carolyn and I went out for a walk to see the town at night.  We walked the iconic Chapel bridge.  It was Saturday night so we looked up service times for the Jesuit church on the waterfront.  That leads us to our next episode with highlights from a full day in Lucerne.

Chenonceau & Amboise - Travel Highlights - Day 5

We started our 5th day in France at a bakery near our hotel in Amboise then we headed to the Chenonceau early.  We were the first ones through the gate but people rushed past us as we marched to the chateau.

Originally the home stood over the river with an almost-square floor plan.  Prince Henry II gave the home to his mistress as a gift.  Henri’s mistress commissioned a bridge over the river for new gardens on the opposite side of the river.  12 years later King Henry II died and his Queen claimed the home for herself.  She built two galleries on the mistress’ bridge.  In WWI those galleries served as a military hospital.  In WWII the river below the bridge formed part of the border between occupied France and unoccupied France.  Many were smuggled through this home to freedom across the water.

After we walked through the house I went out back.

Then I joined up with Carolyn and my mom in the front yard.

On the grounds they have a maze.

After visiting the Chenonceau we headed back to Amboise for lunch.  We took a walking tour that started at the Romanesque church dating back to the 1100s.  We sauntered down the Rue national, the main pedestrian drag.

We crossed part of the Loire river to an island in the middle of the Loire for cheese and wine as the sun set.

Before Paris, Amboise was the seat of medieval France’s power.  Now it’s a pleasure town.

Join us next time when we visit the Chartes cathedral before heading into Switzerland for our first night in Lucerne.

Favorite Albums of 2013

With each new year I love to look back and identify favorite music from the previous year.  I associate music with memories.  So here is the list of music and memories from 2013.

1.  The 1975 - The 1975

An NPR music review introduced me to The 1975 and their self-titled debut album.  The sound of the music fascinated me instantly.  Lead singer Matt Healy's description of the album in the review caught my attention.  They are a talented young band with a good grip on what music can be.

Healy explained the band's preference for groove allowed them to bypass the indie genre for mainstream pop.  The songs Settle Down and Girls exemplify their aim at wide appeal.  They also harken back to a sound from the 1980s.  That sound is reminiscent and yet envelope pushing.  Sign me up to buy their follow-up!

2.  Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience

I have been skeptical of Justin Timberlake for a long time.  He has seemed talented.  He impressed me with Rock Your Body years ago.  His last album, the one with Sexy Back, turned me off because of his lyrics.

Then came his song Suit And Tie.  He sounded more mature.  He sang about monogamy.....What?!  It was like Kanye West's career in reverse!  Plus Suit And Tie had a creative sound.  He fused a Big Band/Art Deco sound with modern Hip Hop.

Friends started raving about the album on Facebook.  After giving it a couple listens he had me hooked.  The album is visionary.  He takes a song, and then flips it on it's head.  It is a big budget production that justifies itself.

3.  Washed Out - Paracosm

This was my album of the summer.  I recently moved to San Diego.  San Diego is a great place to enjoy a summer.  This Washed Out Album is a perfect soundtrack for summertime drives.  I drove all over SD with this album on loop.

Songs like Don't Give Up and All I Know define musical chill.

4.  Amy Grant - How Mercy Looks From Here
I am biased towards Amy Grant.  For almost my first two decades Amy was a huge musical influence in my life.  (It's neither good nor bad.  It just is.)

Her newest release is mature.  She's more thoughtful than in her 1990s queen of pop days.  Her encouraging lyrics in Don't Try So Hard and Not Giving Up resemble therapeutic wisdom.

I will associate this album with a couple trips to Imperial Beach when I felt burdened.  The album and beach comforted me tremendously.  Thanks Amy!

5.  John Mayer - Paradise Valley
I thought John Mayer would have taken this year off.  He steered his music in a new and western direction in 2012 with Born And Raised.  Then he released Paradise Valley in 2013.  Paradise Valley builds off Born and Raised's success.

His duet with Katy Perry in Who You Loves shines as the best track on the album.  His honesty in Dear Marie endears listeners.

6.  St. Lucia - When The Night
This album exemplified the surge of synth rock in 2013.  Synth rock has been picking up steam.  We've seen the dance genre go synth for years and the Killers helped make strides in the rock genre.  St. Lucia is really just one guy with a computer doing a terrific job of making exciting music.

St. Lucia puts a fresh spin on the sound of 80's groups like Genesis.  Songs like Closer Than This and All Eyes On You get me smiling.

7.  Phoenix - Bankrupt!
It's fun to enjoy a band from France.  Plus Phoenix! just knows how to make good sounding music.  They exemplify the synth rock surge of 2013.  Songs like Trying To Be Cool and Drakkar Noir keep my foot tapping and head bopping.

2012 Leftovers

I admit I was late to the party on a couple great albums from 2012.

Bruno Mars - Unorthodox Jukebox

This album came out late in 2012.  The song that got me hooked was Locked Out Of Heaven.  I’m a sucker for a good groove and that song has it.  My friend clued me in on the song Treasure which kept Bruno's tunes pumping through my car stereo a couple more months.

Fun. - Some Nights

This album was big in 2012.  I was late to the party but spent much of early 2013 listening to it.

What were your favorite albums from 2013?

My Top Albums From 2012

Each January I enjoying asking "What musical releases were significant last year?  Here are my favorite albums from 2012.

1.  Bethel Live - For The Sake of the World

Many describe this cd as mesmerizing. It's true. The layered instrumentation is unique, electric and brilliant. The songs are great and performances significant. The songs are intended for churches to use in their services. It's the most groundbreaking cd of the genre since at least Hillsong's A Beautiful Exchange (2010) album.

2.  John Mayer - Born and Raised

John Mayer is an artist and his 2011 release Born And Raised continued to showcase his talent. This time he turned heads by showcasing a western vibe that really works. I love the pedal steel. His lyrics showed someone owning up to his flaws.

3.  The Killers - Battle Born

The Killers surprised me. They had taken time off as a band after a disappointing previous release. Their new cd is their strongest ever. The lead singer wrote some incredibly vulnerable lyrics that endear listeners. I'm proud of them and consider Battle Born the most under-appreciated release of 2012. 

4.  Phil Wickham - Singalong 2

Phil Wickham released a free live CD of him playing many of his well known worship songs.  The recording features him on acoustic guitar singing along with a room full of people that know his songs well.  They sing out confidently and inject so much life into this CD.  It was free and inspirational.  I find myself continually referring back to this recording.

5.  Foo Fighters - Wasting Light

I purchased this as my first Foo Fighters CD knowing they are a great band worth listening to.  These guys practically define Rock and Roll.  The songs are great and so fun to turn up loud.  The band's creativity and passion continues to stand out.

Honorable Mentions go to:  Maroon 5 - Overexposed and Owl City - The Midsummer Station.

What were your favorite albums of 2012?

Book Review: Surfing For God

"Every time a man knocks on a brothel door, he is really searching for God." - G.K. Chesterton

In today's world many men have exchanged brothels for websites. Author Michael John Cusink believes that many men today are surfing for God.

In his book Surfing For God Cusink likens the brain to a field of tall grass. Our habits blaze trails through the grass that are easier to retrace later. Poor habits often become paths of least resistance we repeatedly tread. Cusink points out the importance of creating new habits and "letting grass regrow" in areas we want to avoid. 

He encourages men to embrace silence and solitude. Cusink also advocates working-out and hiking as ways of renewing our minds. 

I first heard about this book from Relevant Magazine when they posted an excerpt on their website. I so appreciated the excerpt that I acquired the book. 

I was profoundly encouraged by the book. It opened up opportunities to share Cusinks ideas with other men. 

I applaud Cusink for addressing an often taboo topic with directness. His ideas help me better respond to the temptations I encounter in our world.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

MusicTechSkills - Creating Negative Bars In ProTools

When it comes to music and technology I have learned some things that others may find useful.  So I want to begin a series of videos highlighting handy tricks that I have picked up over my years using ProTools.  Here is one such handy skill.

Book Review: The Voice Bible

The Voice is a new Bible translation that aims to update Biblical language and maintain the authors original intent. Contributors to the translation consisted of a team of 120 scholars, authors and artists. I was fortunate to review the New Testament portion of The Voice and have since been enjoying the Old Testament portion too. 

The translation features italicized text that brings out the original points the authors were making. The italicized text flows seamlessly with the standard text and I I found it helpful. The translation also includes sidebars with cultural, historical and devotional thoughts related to the surrounding text.

I definitely recommend this Bible to anyone looking for a modern Bible that they can easy understand. I  greatly enjoy using this Bible for daily devotions. The language is discernible and easy to understand.  The italicized text is still my favorite part of this translation. 

I received an ebook copy of The Voice and it has a poor system of navigating between books. I hope that in future editions they will find a faster way to navigate through the different books of the Bible.

I plan on continuing to use The Voice translation for my daily Bible readings. I enjoy reading familiar passages in it's contemporary language. I am glad to have both the Old and New Testaments in The Voice. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: The Voice New Testament

The Voice is a new Bible translation from the Ecclesia Bible Society that connects more readers to the Bible through contemporary language.  Formatted as a daily reading Bible, The Voice features italicized text explaining ideas the original readers would have intuitively known.  The Voice also features a screenplay format for dialog-heavy portions that eliminates the redundant "he said" or "she said" throughout dialog.  Lastly the Voice also features in-text commentary notes and book introductions.


I greatly enjoyed reading The Voice translation.  The language reads easily as if it was written in 2012.  One of my favorite examples of that is Ephesians 4:28a which says "If you have been stealing, stop."  The Voice is contemporary like The Message translation but more succinct.  It feels like a cross between The New King James Version and The Message.
The italicized information that sheds light on what the original readers would have known intuitively is my favorite feature.  It is threaded seamlessly with the text and helps bring the words to life.


I plan on using The Voice as my primary New Testament because the updated language refreshes my perspective.  I enjoyed the ebook format.  I recommend this book for those who have had difficulty understanding the Bible in the past and want a more contemporary translation that doesn't read like a kids Bible.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

From The Inside Out

This video is a blast from the past (August of 2011) and here it is.

With by Skye Jethani

In his book "With" Skye Jethani helps readers reimagine the way we relate to God.  He starts by describing inadequate postures often taken towards God. Some see God as a rule-giver to please while others subject Him to universal rules. Some view God as existing to fulfill their desires and others see him as a mission to strive for.

But Skye Jethani believes in a better way to relate to God: just be with Him.  Instead of striving for or expecting things from God Jethani wants us to treasure God, unite with Him and experience Him.

The best part of this book is Jethani’s challenge to treasure God more.  He likens treasuring God to how a 17 year-old might treasure a dream car.  Treasuring can lead to owning that new Subaru.  Owning can lead to experiencing that new Subaru.

With challenged me to treasure, own and experience God in a similar way.  I want to value God more.  I find it easy to under-appreciate God.  Jethani shed light on ways I inadequately connect with God and provided tools to improve our relationship.  The books appendix provides questions to ask at the day’s end in journaling.

It’s wonderful to be reminded that God wants to be with us.  I recommend this book to people who want to explore their connection to God.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Years ago my friends and I shared a mentor who repeated a phrase we often mocked.  Her words “make good choices” achieved mantra status.  But years later this motherly sounding fix-all remains in our minds.

That same phrase echos throughout Andy Stanley’s book The Principle of the Path.  In his book Stanley spells out the premise that our direction, not intention, determines our destination.

This is a great book for self examination.  The early chapters challenged me to honestly uncover areas of my life I want to change.  Stanley challenged me to be brutally honest about why I do the things I do.  Then he asked me to write how I would advise someone else in my circumstances.

Stanley also did a great job weaving together stories of Biblical characters who dealt with the direction their lives were heading.  King David of ancient Israel makes a few appearances and provides valuable lessons.  King Solomon, aka the wisest man who ever lived, also gets special treatment.

I could not help but smirk when I read Stanley’s concluding words:  “choose wisely”.  Stanley reinforced the old mantra of “make good choices” that I suspected might be true.  I’m grateful Andy Stanley wrote The Principle of the Path to spell out that the direction we head in determines our destination.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

My Top CDs From 2010

The Year The Music Died
Musically speaking 2010 was a rough year for me.  Two of my favorite bands broke up:  Copeland and Mae.  News of the band Copeland’s breakup bummed me in the early months of 2010. Their last CD had been so strong.  I’m grateful to have spent my birthday at their farewell concert.

Then Mae announced they were calling it quits too.  I felt like a chapter in my life was closing.  Mae’s departure left me asking “what bands that I closely follow are left?”

Bands come and go.  There’s no point in hinging too much of my life on a group of people.  People are temporal.  God’s word is eternal.

The Year of Mae
The band Mae closed their career on a high note.  They released three EPs titled Morning, Afternoon and Evening.  I first purchased the Afternoon EP and enveloped myself in the songs “In Pieces”, “The Fight Song” and “Communication”.

I was proud of what Mae accomplished with Afternoon.  The songs were strong in melody, rhythm and lyrical content.  Lead vocalist Dave Elkins opened himself up more than ever in the autobiographical song “Communication”.  It was a project I was glad to share with friends.

The Morning EP hit me just as hard.  “The Fisherman Song” knocked my socks off.  I had that song on repeat for weeks.  The tempo changes, style changes and storyline gripped me.  I paraded that song before friends and family.

Rend Collective Experiment
The Irish worship band Rend Collective Experiment gave the worship genre a fresh twist with their album Organic Family Hymnal.

Church songs often contain similar phrases and language.  With the Organic Family Hymnal the band clearly abandoned many of those phrases for unique descriptions of the Christian experience.  (Example: they say “God let Your dreams come true through us” instead of the oft-used “have Your way in me”.)

Brooke Fraser - “Flags”
The strength of Brooke’s last CD, Albertine, practically demanded my loyalty.  I don’t enjoy her new cd, Flags, as much as that earlier release.  Still I greatly enjoy the songs “Coachella”, “Who Are We Fooling” and “Ice On Her Lashes”.

Katy Perry Comeback
After hearing her first hit (I Kissed A Girl)  I hoped Katy Perry would be a one hit wonder.  I thought she needed shock value to cover up her lack of talent.

Then I heard the song “California Gurls” at a wedding.  The solid musicianship and production forced me to reevaluate Katy.  That song is catchy and fun.  It’s strong groove marks a comeback for the 70s disco feel over the typical “club” dance music.

The song “Teenage Dream” also exemplifies quality production.  I haven’t bought the rest of her CD but those two songs force me to reevaluate Katy Perry.

Maroon 5 deserves an honorable mention.  I got their CD, Hands All Over, for Christmas and am still sifting through it.  It’s good and I respect Mutt Lange’s production.  I especially like “Just A Feeling”.

Come Around Sundown by Kings of Leon

The rock group Kings of Leon recently released the follow up CD to their highly successful album “Only By The Night”.  This new CD, “Come Around Sundown” depicts them more as a  beach-rock jam-band than the arena-rock alternative group they portrayed last time.

Many of the arrangements are scaled back from the band’s previous offering.  My favorite song, “Pyro”, is the song that feels most like it belongs on their last cd.  “Pyro” features a driving drumbeat with sparse instrumentation leaving room for lead vocalist Anthony Followill to squall “I don’t want to be your cornerstone.”  Other winners on this new cd include the good-time focused “Birthday”, and the chilled out “Beach Side”.

This CD isn’t as mind boggling as “Only By The Night”.  Still there are catchy melodies and refreshing sonic landscapes.  For those who enjoyed their last cd “Come Around Sundown” is definitely worth multiple listens.

Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado

How will you be remembered?  In “Outlive Your Life” author Max Lucado challenges readers to live unforgettably.  Lucado weaves Biblical stories of the early church with stories of current heroes inspiring us to think bigger than ourselves.

Just as the early church cared for orphans and widows of their day Lucado highlights the needs of the poor in our world.  He likens our world to a community of ten farmers with ten cows.  Our worldwide resources are distributed as if two farmers own eight cows leaving the other eight farmers left sharing two cows.  He challenges us to compassionately respond to the needy around us.

Lucado also used stories of the early church meeting in homes to inspire me to grow in neighborliness.  He challenged me to designate one meal a week as a “hospitality meal” and always plan on having people over.  Likewise he charged me to make a new rule for the next two months: no one sits alone.

Lucado’s inspiration to grow in compassion and hospitality hit home.  I hope to practice some of his ideas so when my days have passed my contribution to Jesus’ significance, not my own, may be worth remembering.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”