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.”