There is nothing quite like it. Nothing that has the same power to set you free. Often there is nothing quite so difficult. Often you have to practice it over and over again. Often it doesn’t produce change in anybody else but yourself. And yet, it’s always well worth the agony of doing it. We’re talking about forgiveness!

It’s essential to forgive to live in freedom. There is no way around it. I know many people who don’t live in forgiveness with other people and who are suffering because of that. I have been in situations where I didn’t forgive people. I was also suffering. A wise person once said these clever words:

“Unforgiveness is the poison I drink while waiting for someone else to die!“

These are powerful and true words. It’s always sad when you see people who choose not to forgive. So often it’s small things that hinder deeper and more fulfilling relationships. Words were said, value statements were put on people, and people choose to hold a grudge, stay in a place of self-righteousness, and the cancer of bitterness grows inside of you. It’s always like this. Whether you agree with this or not. Whether you are a Christian or not. Unforgiveness is a cancer that kills. It slowly takes life out of you. Whatever person you choose not to forgive, you’re tied to. You give the other person power. Power to control your life. You think about the other person, and you know that you lack peace and joy inside of you. It’s the power of sin. As Christians, as children of God we are forgivers per nature. We have been given a new nature, the very nature of Christ. And since he forgave us of everything, we are free to forgive other people for whatever they may do to us.

It’s the way of freedom. It always brings life. It always builds up relationship. It’s the road of brokenness. It’s the road less traveled. It’s always easy to find people, inside or outside the church, who will agree with you that it’s not reasonable for you to forgive, and that you’re right in holding a grudge. But the truth is that forgiveness has nothing to do with ‘fairness’. It’s a choice of life or death. If you forgive, you experience life in your relationships to God, yourself and other people. If you choose not to forgive, you experience bitterness and a lack of life.

Is forgiving easy? No, it rarely is. True forgiveness is painful. Often very painful. But it’s also freeing. I let go of the right I feel to judge and condemn other people, and I’m free to just be me, a human being who is aware of the fact that I often make mistakes myself and hurt other people and need their forgiveness.

Unless you’ve been broken by God and understand the power of living as a broken cup and relying on his strength and not your own, it’s nearly impossible to forgive. Why would you? You can always finds reasons why you shouldn’t take the first step towards forgiveness. Your flesh will tell you that your anger and lack of forgiveness is well justified. And other people will too. Misery attracts company, so it’s often fairly easy to find somebody to sit and whine with. It doesn’t bring any life at all. It just fans the flame of bitterness inside of you. Forgiveness is the highroad that’s painful, but life-giving to travel. It’s the road where Christ is and leads you. “Forgive them Father, they don’t know what they’re doing” were some of Jesus’ lasts words. He left us an example of how to live our lives. We are free to forgive, because we’re forgiven. Forgiveness, like anything else of great value in the Christian walk, is a response. We forgive, because God forgave, just like we love, because he first loved us, and we can draw near to him, because he first drew near to us.

I encourage you to forgive whatever wrong people may have done to you. It will bring life. Guaranteed.

Blessings, Torben

I love one of the first lines in this song: “You are strong when you feel weak, in your brokenness complete”

Delirious?

History Makers : Greatest Hits ( 2009 )

01. History Maker

02. Deeper

03. Rain Down

04. Majesty (Here I Am)

05. I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever

06. Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble

07. Shout To The North

08. Revival Town

09. Find Me In The River

10. My Soul Sings

11. Our God Reigns

12. My Glorious

13. Obsession

14. Lord You Have My Heart

Download

Sorry for the pants quality – seems that the iPhone doesn’t like loud bass!

In other news – it seems that the the image of the Sacred Fish may have been stolen by Delirious…

The NME got in on the act early. This Sunday the Observer Music Monthly publishes its top 50. So I thought I might as well have a go. I wanted to get mine done first and see how much common ground I’ve got with the OMM seeing as its my favourite music mag. It’s harder than you’d think to select just 50 albums that span 2000-2009. I’ve had to leave out some records I really like. But here we go… Please comment as you feel necessary!

50 – Daft Punk: Discovery.

49 – Bob Dylan: Modern Times.

48 – Camille: Le Fil.

47 – Arctic Monkeys: Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not.

46 – The Blue Nile: High.

45 – New Order: Get Ready.

44 – Mercury Rev: All Is Dream.

43 – R.E.M.: Accelerate.

42 – Fionn Regan: The End Of History.

41 – The Beatles: Love.

40 – The Avalanches: Since I Met You.

39 – Badly Drawn Boy: The Hour Of Bewilderbeast.

38 – Roots Manuva: Awfully Deep.

37 – Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever ago.

36 – Mark B & Blade: The Unknown.

35 – Coldplay: Parachutes.

34 – Malcolm Middleton: Into The Woods.

33 – Seafood: When Do We Start Fighting…

32 – Doves: The Last Broadcast.

31 – Duke Special: Songs From The Deep Forest.

30 – Morrissey: You Are The Quarry.

29 – Guillemots: Through The Windowpane.

28 – Bruce Springsteen: The Rising.

27 – The Gaslight Anthem: The ‘59 Sound.

26 – Billy Bragg & Wilco: Mermaid Avenue Vol. II

25 – Richard Hawley: Coles Corner.

24 – Fleet Foxes:  Fleet Foxes.

23 – Athlete: Vehicles & Animals.

22 – Spin Doctors: Nice Talking To Me.

21 – Sigur Ros: Takk…

20 – Goldfrapp: Felt Mountain.

19 – Maxïmo Park: A Certain Trigger.

18 – Delirious?: Glo.

17 – The Shins: Wincing The night Away.

16 – Ben Folds: Rockin’ The Suburbs.

15 – Green Day: American Idiot.

14 – Neil Young: Living With War.

13 – Ray Lamontagne: Til The Sun Turns Black.

12 – Death Cab For Cutie: Narrow Stairs.

11 – Idlewild: The Remote Part.

10 – Johnny Cash: American IV: The Man Comes Around

An extraordinary achievement for a man in his final year. Johnny Cash’s last ‘proper’ album has the power to bring me to the edge of tears. I bought it the week he died in 2003 and played it a lot. A mixture of originals and covers, Rick Rubin’s brilliant production means there’s pathos dripping from every track. ‘Hurt’ is one of the songs of the decade which couldn’t even be ruined by that dire Nike advert. When I first heard ‘I Hung My Head’ it stopped me dead in my tracks. Just like most of the rest of this awesome album.

9 - Interpol: Turn On The Bright Lights.

I think there’s a good case to be made for Interpol as the band of the decade. To my shame I’m yet to see them live but their three dark, brooding and melodic albums demand that I get round to it soon. I think their debut is the pick of the bunch. Starting with ‘Untitled’ which takes its cues from the shoegazing bands of the early 90’s, the album goes onto channel the best of My Bloody Valentine, Joy Division and classic Krautrock. I suppose it can be said about all the records in the list but I can’t listen to this album too many times. It sends me to sleep, it wakes me up and generally soundtracks my life.

8 – Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend.

The drums alone deserve some kind of award. Chris Tomson is, for my money, the best drummer in a rock band at the moment. But this isn’t Keith Moon fury, or John Bonham theatrics. He sees the drum kit as a melodic and harmonic instrument. The kit is a lead instrument here and when allied to fantastic songwriting, it’s a winning combination. The African influence if overstated (this isn’t even the noughties’ Graceland, let alone Fela Kuti or Ali Farka Touré). However, the hints of afrobeat are enough to make this stand out from the crowd. Walcott is a great track – but there aren’t any duds here.

7 – Grandaddy: The Sophtware Slump.

This outstanding record is often compared favourably with ‘OK Computer’. Well, I’ll put my cards on the table. There’s only one winner; and it isn’t Radiohead. Grandaddy are impossible to categorise, but this record combines the best bits of alt-country, electronica and post-rock. The audacity of a 9 minute opening track has been matched by many bands. The difference is they’ve not made a song as arresting as ‘He’s Simple, He’s Dumb, He’s The Pilot’. ‘The Crystal Lake’ is among the best songs of the decade while ‘Undreneath The Weeping Willow’ showcases a brilliant knack for melancholy. Released at the start of the decade, very few records have got anywhere near matching Grandaddy’s Magnum Opus.

6 – The Hold Steady: Boys And Girls in America.

‘Best bar band in the world blah… blah… blah’ said the music press. Talk about damning with faint praise. The Hold Steady are one of the greatest bands of the 21st Century, full stop. And though their earlier albums are packed with gems, this breakthrough album sees their manifesto fulfilled. How many bands could start a record quoting Jack Kerouac but never fail to be fun? The sound was compared to classic E Street Band and that’s probably as close as you can get to describing this joyous racket. Craig Finn’s lyrics are always interesting and frequently brilliant. So looking at our checklist we’ve got superb music, superb lyrics and some guys that seem delighted just to be playing rock and roll. It’ll do for me.

5 – Elbow: The Seldom Seen Kid.

I suppose too much has already been written about this album. It’d be easy to include ‘Asleep In The Back’ to prove I’ve liked Elbow since I used to play them on student radio in 2000. But that would miss the point: for once, the awards committees, journalists and hype-merchants got it right. This is an amazing album. There’s not an average track in sight in an hour’s running time. Picking highlights almost seems crazy, but ‘Grounds For Divorce’ and ‘On A Day Like This’ have deservedly grabbed the headlines and soundtracked a million daytime DIY programmes. But some of the less well know tracks contain stunning music and lyrics. When Guy Garvey croons ”We kiss like we invented it” on ‘Mirrorball’ it’s enough to melt your heart.  We await their next move with eager anticipation.

4 - Midlake: The Trials of Van Occupanther.

Take a moderately successful Texan indie band and give them a copy of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’. Stand well back and light the blue touch-paper. Doesn’t sound promising does it? How wrong could we be??? This was THE album of 2006. Inventive harmonies, layered synths and lyrics pining for the antebellum South came together to produce a stunning record. The guitar solo that comes halfway through ‘Head Home’ is one of my favourite musical moments of the decade, but this album contains several contenders for that title. The real genius of ‘…Van Occupanther’ is its ability to keep you on your toes. Just when you think it may slip into mid 70’s FM rock pastiche, the band pulls out a track like ‘Young Bride’ which forces you to admit this is a record which is far more than the sum of its considerable parts.

3 – Damien Rice: O.

David Gray is a perfectly decent singer songwriter. The same can’t be said for the likes of James Morrison and James Blunt. But how any of them came to be spoken of in the same breath as Damien Rice is beyond me. The irishman deserves to be in far better company (Jeff Buckley for example). This debut album was a slow-burning word-of-mouth behemoth that managed to retain artistic dignity while being offered on 2-for-1 deals in Tesco. Its strengths have been repeated endlessly, but any blogger who can’t find room for Lisa Hannigan’s beautiful vocals, the stunning string arrangements or the strange re-working of Silent Night is a fool. If this album has a flaw, I’m yet to find it. I can’t pick one track as a highlight because the others simply look at me reproachfully and say ‘actually we’re all rather lovely’. And they truly are.

2 – My Morning Jacket: It Still Moves.

This album sounds like the best party you’ve ever been to. If you want to label it I suppose it’s alt-country. But what on earth does that matter when the music is as much fun as this? Don’t get the idea this is some kind of comedy record though. Howling vocals, squealing guitars and pounding drums fuse together to create a brilliant racket. ‘One Big Holiday’ has a guitar hook to die for, but this isn’t an album of simple pleasures. The genius of the songs reveals itself slowly. The first time you hear it, it sounds like these are well crafted and edited jams. But like Led Zep at their peak, the tracks are more cunningly moulded than that. Crazy Horse are another reference point and when talking about a rock and roll band there are fewer bigger compliments than that. It’s a long record (71 minutes) but unusually for an album of that length, it doesn’t outstay its welcome. Superb.

1 – Stephen Fretwell: Magpie.

I’m annoyed I couldn’t find a decent picture of this album without the parental advisory sticker on it. Ok, maybe it doesn’t make an ideal present for a toddler, but any parent who’s doing their job properly should be investing in this if their child shows any kind of serious interest in music. It’s as close to a perfect record as its possible to get. At the start of the decade, Scunthorpe’s Stephen Fretwell found himself in Manchester as a promising singer-songwriter. A little while later, he was in a recording studio creating some of the most beautiful music that great city has ever produced. By 2004 it was ready for release. In reality, the Manchester thing is a bit of a red herring. Fretwell owes little to the genius of the Smiths and Joy Division or the more prosaic talents of Oasis. He’s just a good old-fashioned acoustic troubadour. So who are the key influences here? I’d guess Neil Young, Bob Dylan et al. But that doesn’t tell you much about this record’s greatest strength. Fretwell’s gift for melody is astounding. Songs like ‘Emily’, ‘New York’ and ‘Rose’ are beautifully crafted and sung. But there isn’t a track here which leaves you cold. You may know ’Run’ as the Theme of ‘Gavin and Stacey’ but don’t stop there. Investigate it immediately. Buy it and love it. There’s only one album of the decade after all; whatever the Observer says!

Given the seriousness of my last two posts, I thought I’d mix it up a bit with a whole bunch of random stuff from the last 2 days!

Although I use the word “random” loosely. “Random” is defined as:

Having no specific pattern, arrangement or predictable outcome.

Well if “everything happens for a reason“, it flies in the face of random. So there’s food for thought! But I digress

“Lorraine Valmoria is happy”

I did say I was going to get away from serious stuff, but heck, we’re all entitled to change our minds! This’ll be quick…

This is my current Facebook status: “Lorraine Valmoria is happy”, with 4 “likes” and 2 comments.

I updated it the other day, very early in the morning, when I was reflecting on the events of that day:

• Had a great conversation with Sharyn over the phone – my best friend from high school. We lost contact for 10 years after school, but with the wonders of Facebook, we found each other again – and it was like nothing changed! I love friendships like that!
• Had lunch with my best friend Bernie and Jono (otherwise known as ”Chris Isaak”)
• Caught up with my work girlfriend Carolyn
• Caught up with Lina over the phone
• Had fascinating Facebook chats with Oscar & Luke…

And it made me realise how lucky I am to have such amazing friends! I don’t think I say this anywhere near often enough, but I just wanted to say thank you and I’m glad I have you in my life! Ok everyone… now group hug! 1… 2… 3… aww….

(It’s amazing how pop culture has influenced us. Damn you Full House!).

Woodford & Co 

Ok you fashionistas! I came across a brand called “Woodford & Co” in Cactus Jam QV the other day. I really liked this top – it was different – had a print of a map for Martha’s Vineyard all over it. (“That’s different”, I hear you say). But at $269? I decided it against it.

If I had to liken it to a brand, I’d say Zimmerman, although they do have more casual stuff like tees, singlets.

As luck would have it, thanks to Missy Confidential (sign up you shopaholics!), they had a sale on. Thank you universe!

So I scoped it out. Not only did they have that top at half the price, but I picked up a whole bunch of cool current season stuff at a fraction of retail price – a cropped red gingham jacket, a singlet, and an awesome black pinafore top with a frilled racer back. Aaah, nothing like a bit of retail therapy!

What impressed me further was the sale was on a “Level 1″, which meant I couldn’t take a pram (I’ve been there before), and the girls working there were nice enough to carry Tahlia around and keep her entertained while I tried on clothes. How’s that for service!

Anyway, that sale finishes tomorrow if anyone is interested.

Nobody jeans sale

If you’re into your jeans, check out the Nobody sale at 210 Brunswick St, Fitzroy – finishes Sunday December 6. Jeans from $20. (Thanks again Missy Confidential!).

I have to warn you, you have to rifle through a lot of stock. I had a quick look but gave up – had to get somewhere, and I had Tahlia with me which makes it hard to go into those makeshift change rooms! Had good stuff there though!

What happens when stay-at-home mums have too much time on their hands…

This is probably going to come back and haunt me – Tahlia will probably put me in a nursing home the first chance she gets!

So An from mother’s club (which has somehow dwindled down into a “mother’s duo”, consisting of her & I) had a playdate arranged for her gorgeous boy Jayden and Tahlia. Jayden is Tahlia’s boyfriend. With Jayden a week younger, she’s already gotten into toyboys early! Check out them out on Youtube – funny stuff!  

With Christmas on its way, I thought it would be funny to be a Mrs Claus outfit for Tahlia. Likewise, An bought a Santa Claus outfit for Jayden. And here… is the result:

Tahlia is not looking impressed at all. *sigh*. Oh well, it amused me!!!

Mind you, this isn’t the first time An & I have ganged up on our kids. See Exhibit B:

I love being a mum! Hehe!

Another reason why America is so stupid

 An has lots and lots of movies to watch at her place, and she introduced me to Food, Inc. It’s along the same vein as Super Size Me, and it provides insight into the American food industry. To summarise:

• how multinationals control the American agriculture industry, to the detriment of the farmers who are screwed over for the sake of dinero
• this control is largely brought about by the dominance of the fast food industry (fast food over there is cheaper than good, wholesome food)
• in search of the dollar, they engineer chickens, cows etc to grow quicker than usual. Some of the footage they showed was really sad – like these chickens who couldn’t even walk because they grew too quickly and their poor little legs couldn’t support their body weight. And I had a pet chicken when I was younger (“Blackdot”) so that part got to me. *sob. (And yeah I know… a pet chicken. I’m freakin’ Asian!)
• multinationals have “patented” soybeans which have infiltrated the farming industry, to the point where it is illegal to save your own “public” seeds and plant them the following year
• they have VEGGIE LIBEL LAWS. Wtf?? Yes that’s right – you can’t criticise a vegetable anymore without risk of being sued
• they cleaned hamburger filler with AMMONIA. Yup, the stuff that’s in your household bleach…

A whole bunch of other stuff happened, but watch it to expand your mind. Mind you, it did put me off food – for a second. An & I have since concluded the Australian industry is completely different, so we can happily go on in ignorance. But… I’m still thinking about the movie…

Ice cream!! Ice cream!!

I luuurve ice cream. Gelati. Sorbet. Heck, I ain’t fussy. I’ll have it all. And at the same time too.

Well An has introduced me to Home Ice Cream. Now I’ve been hearing their school bell-like chime going off in the neighbourhood for a while, but never knew what it was. And man – have I been missing out! I sampled a mango & macadamia ice cream yesterday at An’s… and hmm… oishii! Really creamy stuff! I’m hooked!

And while I was putting Tahlia in the car afterwards, I heard the bell. I swear I almost channelled Eddie Murphy from Delirious - remember that scene? ”IIIIIICE CREAAAM!! IIIIICE CREAAAAM!!”. Now I’m hanging out to hear that bell in my street!!!

Hi…. my name is Lorraine… and I’m an addict. lol

As the last three albums follow a different lyrical path then what had gone before I’ve decided to look at them as a series of three. Instead of directly trying to pursue the mainstream there is a closer worship / traditional rock line walked then ever before:

World Service

This album has a number of themes, it has the global theme of mission and service, Grace, and the darkness and heart break of life and death. This worldwide theme continues over the trilogy that we’ll look at, but its the realism of   life that really does colour this CD.

Style wise, there is an earthly sense of worship about the songs. Its worship for your man on the street, Delirious sounds like an English rock band, doing what they do best. (Can you see where I’m going here?) The songs themselves are fantastic. Stand outs include the German single Inside Outside, the tear jerking Every Little Thing, and Mountains High. This last song offering no answers in the face of the death of a loved one.

The only answers are in the next song, with the lyrics;

I Love your ways, they are beautiful…

No answers, but there are sign posts to the almighty instead.

The Mission Bell

Where World Service sounded like it was designed for a global audience, this has the sort of sound that is perfect for a CCM shelf in your local cheesy Christian bookshelf.  Perfectly found between different cheesy American pop bands. No I dont just dislike this, this is worse then that.

Mission Bell opens with a limp laid back tune, followed by a boring pop tune, topped up with Solid Rock. Solid Rock featuring TobyMac one part of American band DC Talk. Seriously… why?

Its not all that bad. Miracle Maker is a rock tune of epic proportions, a brief chance to scream out your emotions, during an album that mostly makes you want to sleep.

Kingdom of Comfort

Now this is a better.

Lyrics that instead of trying to give answers , offer comfort instead. Musically it has more of the Miracle Maker grit and screaming, then the DC talk style cheese.

This album is so good, if it was their last studio album it wouldn’t be surprising.

No… wait….

Obsession

By Delirious, performed by Jesus Culture

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What can I do with my obsession?

With the things I cannot see

Is there madness in my being?

Is it wind that blows the trees?

Sometimes you’re further than the moon

Sometimes you’re closer than my skin

And you surround me like a winter fog

You’ve come and burned me with a kiss

And my heart burns for you

And my heart burns

+

+

I couldn’t get the line ‘sometimes you’re further than the moon, sometimes you’re closer than my skin‘ out of my head. I still can’t. It just explains it so perfectly. Sometimes I feel God is galaxies away, sometims I feel He is absolutely saturating me with His presence. Sometimes I feel both in a single moment. I can’t explain it. He’s indescribable. Words don’t do it justice. And I guess neither does this papercut.

+

But this image comes out of my heart. I’m there in His hand, always in His hand. And no matter where I find myself in life – geographically or figuratively – I can always escape to a place out of it all. Away from the busyness. Away from the stress. Away from the problems of life. And into His hand again.

El estrella de ROH, Delirious / www.myspace.com/deliriouswrestling

Masked Republic acaba de confirmarnos que han logrado la firma de un acuerdo de comercialiación, con dos nuevos luchadores, de los cuales habrá productos a principios del próximo año

• Delirious – El conocido entrenador y estrella de ROH, Delirious usa máscara, así que seguramente estará entre los primeros productos de Masked Republic
• Puma – Veterano de NJPW, NWA y el CMLL

I’ve finally had it through the post…

and its pretty!

Will post more, once I’ve had a chance to soak it in…

I was gonna post a serious post today about an hour ago, and then I decided to watch Delirious, and it blew my mind, and it was just so fucking hilarious I don’t think I can shit words out right now.

Eddie Murphy in his glory, everbody:

There’s seven parts to it. I’m not posting all of it up. It’s some pretty vulgar stuff, but some pretty FUNNY vulgar stuff.

I have new found respect for this dude. Man this guy is DOCTOR DOOLITTLE, SWEARING HIS ASS OFF. THAT ITSELF IS JUST FUCKING AWESOME MAN.

Oh and by the way, I spent an entire Creative Writing class learning about stand-up comedy (way better than McLeod’s shit ‘cuz we had a REAL comedian come in) and watching stand-up comedy videos. BEST CLASS EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

WG

Every band out there, ever since a group of mates first thought they should play instruments in time with each other, have (probably) released an album which the fans didn’t really get. In a way this was probably Delirious’ album. Not that its bad, I just remember people getting a little confused about it – and well being a bit “eh?” about it. If I had to make a guess at why people are so “eh?” about this CD, I’d put it down to the lack of anthems that make you want to scream along to it.

Audio Lessonover was in fact repackaged, and restructured when it was released to the American market.

This wasn’t too bad, the opening tunes were a little empty headed and poppy, the Love is The Compass / Alien / Angel In Disguise trilogy was beautiful… You want to hear Angst?  Listen to “Alien” – from what I remember that was about it…

Now. That was how I remembered it.

Listening to the CD again after – a fair while later… Well this album ages well. Yes the two opening tracks are quite poppy, but man you want to sing along, be it to the lalalas of Waiting for The Summer, or screaming to the chorus of Take Me Away – which has a drum solo to die for…

The previously mentioned  Love is The Compass / Alien / Angel In Disguise trilogy is still amazing, ranging from praise to God, to screaming at the universe, to singing of the protection that your partner offers you from the world in just over 10 minutes.

Rollercoaster continues the confusion that Alien screamed about, while the love song, “There is an Angel” could be from a movie soundtrack – and possible still should be.

Now Bicycle Gasoline was(like most of this second half) one of the tracks I didn’t get, with lyrics like:

She don’t need no bicycle gasoline,
She just needs her violets.

It was just a little odd for me at time, and well musically, it is a little too chilled. I just didn’t like it. But now it appeals to the grown up deep inside me that just wants to escape from the world. All You Need is Love, was another one I didn’t get at the time … but with its combination of dark moody verses, and beautiful feel good chorus… I kinda want it played in Bristol now!

Show me Heaven feels like it was recorded at the same time as Waiting for Summer, and on the relisten… still doesn’t great. Sounds too poppy. Needs to be grittier, a song that could have been amazing.

Track 12. America. Almost prophetic. Released the month before the Sept 11th attacks. Interesting song about global unity.

Stealing Time, the final (proper) song from the album. Sums up the themes of the CD. Frustration at not doing what you’re aiming for in the world, and wanting needing to spend more time with the important people in your life.

If you have this gathering dust, dig it out. Give it a listen. Its worth it.

I remember back in March 1996 standing outside a church in Leeds waiting for a band that I’d never heard of before. Standing on the steps of St George’s Church I was talking with my youth leader at the time, Nicky, about this band that had such a ‘buzz’ about them, leading fantastic worship where you could really feel the presence of God.

I remember some things happening in that concert that I didn’t understand (and still don’t) such as the speaker passing a staff around and people to touch it so that God would answer their prayers, but it is true that there was a presence of God. Some of the songs I recognised from church, but most of them were new to me. I even remember one of the songs that was being played at the time: Thank You For Saving Me. I remember looking over at the OHP to remind myself of the words.

I became a fan of Delirious that day, and I remember with my own pocket money buying my second or third CD ever, “Live and in the Can” [1996] (my first CD was  DC Talk’s Jesus Freak [1996]). It was such a good CD (you can listen to it on Spotify) capturing worship without making it restricted through studio mastering. The next two CDs they released, Mezzamorphis [1999] and Glo [2000] I both bought and they too were good albums. I was so into Delirious, that the bottom of my scooter still bears black paint from my Airfix kit of the Delirious logo that I put on there.

I remember though getting really annoyed with Delirious after that. I felt that they went after the fame, releasing tracks that didn’t make any sense (She don’t need no bicycle gasoline, but she needs her violets). I also remember back in 2001 while DJing in Birmingham introducing Delirious as a headline act, and I asked them afterwards about Bicycle Gasoline, the fame chasing and stuff like that. I didn’t understand their answers, and it put me off them even more.

After that I didn’t really follow them. When I heard last year that they would be disbanding, I was somewhat happy about it. I thought the Christian scene wouldn’t miss them, they haven’t released anything amazing for a number of years, no one will notice.

Then a thought occurred to me yesterday. Sometimes we throw the baby out with the bath water, as that saying goes.
I never, ever wanted to hear another Delirious track as long as I lived, as it reminded me of dull songs that have come from them over the last few years, with minimal exceptions such as Majesty and the chorus of Rain Down. However, remember great songs like Shout to the North? I’ve Found Jesus? Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble? History Maker? Such great songs that at one time, united the country together in worship.

If you at one time liked Delirious, please don’t do what I did and be glad that Delirious will be no more.
Let’s remember the good songs that were released, that worshipped God in spirit and truth.

Now this was something amazing.

Take some of the hurt of Mezzamorphis, mix in with the joy of King of Fools, and chuck in the sense of experimentation of the Cutting Edge era. Mix them altogether and you come out with Glo. Bringing to life the concert closer Investigate, Hang onto You, and My Glorious…

I received this email last Friday from Integrity:

This is an item that we have to order in from a supplier and it arrived in our Warehouse today. Once the items have been unpacked and added to the system we can send them out to you, this will probably be later today or Monday. You should receive your product next week.

Alright. Fair enough, but I cant help but bear this in mind the next time something decent and Christian comes out to preorder. I suppose I’m just used to receiving things when they come out when I preorder them, not over a week later…

As I walked to my local coffee shop today, I counted.

I’m partial to one side of the street in downtown Holland, MI.  I’ve tried the other side, but really, I have no interest in it other than looking in at the seniors eating bagged lunches at the downtown retirement home.  Brown paper lunch bags are fantastic in their own right, but I also slow my gait and people-watch the elders as they watch me.  I like the messaging that’s packed into a senior citizen.  They’ve seen everything come and many things go and, with each one you may or may not have a gold mine of experience, a fortune cookie message that you might save in your wallet or leave on the table.  I don’t know what age you have to reach to employ the Q-tip hairdo, but if it’s bold enough to tackle my straightness I will embrace the halo of white fuzz as my own.

That's it?

In the meantime, I usually walk on the non-retirement side of the street.  I counted 40 storefronts between my house and the one coffee shop that makes me feel like people live here.  Out of the 40 storefronts, eight of them are empty. For effect, I’ll repeat this fact in a different, generalized, and therefore slightly inaccurate form that highlights the economic downturn: twenty percent of the stores in downtown Holland, Michigan are empty.  The feel of a barren corridor of previously Papyrus font-laden establishments is particularly enhanced on Sunday, the day when nothing is allowed.  I went out to breakfast this morning and found myself excited as we pulled up, simply because the place was open.

My norms might be shifting and I will be the first to tell you I’m a bit delirious, but I still know a winner when I hear one.  On the radio station that used to wake me up with sub-par humor but has switched to all Christmas music, all the time as of November 1, I heard a radio contest this week where the winner was to be awarded one dozen frozen pigs in a blanket.  One dozen, frozen, pigs in a blanket – might as well throw in a whole chicken and can of hairspray.

The potential joy of the arbitrary will keep me listening to the Christmas music for another 40 days.  Pigs in a blanket can overcome pa-rum-pa-pum-pum.  Why is the unexpected refreshing?  Why does it take the unexpected to show us the obvious?  What is the most unexpected item I could put in a brown paper bag?

mmmmm I cant help but notice that the Delirious History Maker CD has been released.

mmmmmm…. I cant help but notice my preorder hasn’t turned up.

Dear Mr Integrity Music,

Wheres my CD?

Thanks

The fish

Esta letra deve ser analizada com sensibilidade. Leia o texto no final.

History Maker

(Construtor da História)

Delirious?

É verdade hoje, que quando as pessoas oram
Céus sem nuvens se partirão?
Reis e rainha concordarão?
Sim, é verdade e eu creio nisso
Vivo por Ti

É verdade hoje, que quando as pessoas oram
Nós veremos homens mortos levantarem-se
E os cegos libertos?
Sim, é verdade e eu creio nisso
Eu vivo por Ti

Serei alguém que faz história nesta terra
Serei alguém que fala da Verdade para toda humanidade
Eu vou me levantar
Eu vou correr
Para Teus braços
Para teus braços de novo

No post abaixo, está o video desta mesma canção.  No final da música, o vocalista Martin Smith faz uma pregação calorosa:  “Este é o jugo que eu busco: romper as barreiras da injustiça (…), libertar os oprimidos. Me interessa é ver que compartilhem sua comida com quem tem fome. Convide um faminto a comer em tua mesa e vistas aquele que tem frio. Faça isso e a Luz se acenderá em sua vida. (…) podemos mudar o mundo. (…) a Igreja é o maior movimento sobre a face da Terra. É tempo de levantar nossa voz e falar pelos que não tem voz. (…) há mais de 1 bilhão de pessoas que não tem água potável. Há crianças vendidas pelo preço de um café (…) E sabe, se isso não é aceitável no Céu, não é aceitável aqui. Não mais estaremos em um Reino de Comodidade, mas para sempre no Reino dos Céus. Quebre o silêncio.”

O que você pede em suas orações? O que você espera de Deus? Ser honrado por sua fidelidade no dízimo e ganhar os lugares mais altos? Deixar de ser cauda e ser cabeça? Você pede ao Deus específico aquele exato carro que deseja? “Oh, Senhor, o meu coração deseja um Honda Civic, um Passat Alemão ou um BMW! Se não for posível o modelo 2010, pode ser o 2009 ou 2008, mas que seja feita Tua vontade.”

Enquanto as pessoas passam fome, sede e frio diante dos nossos olhos, nos preocupamos com nossa sorte apenas. Isso é ser Cristão? A Carta de Tiago diz que não: 1:27 – “A religião pura e imaculada para com Deus, o Pai, é esta: Visitar os órfãos e as viúvas nas suas tribulações, e guardar-se da corrupção do mundo”. Mais do que isso, sempre se foi dito que seguir a Deus é um caminho estreito. Estreito por quê? Porque é difícil! Não é fácil abrir mão das nossas vaidades e egocentrismos. O medo das dificuldades nos afastam do bem que queremos fazer mas não fazemos. “Para que ninguém se comova por estas tribulações; porque vós mesmos sabeis que para isto fomos ordenados,” (I Tessalonicenses 3 : 3)

O que nos resta é entender que a Fé sem obras é morta (Tiago 2 : 26). E que o prpósito de Deus vai muito além de nos satisfazer por estarmos do Seu lado. A obra é dele e não nossa: “E, respondendo ele, disse-lhes Jesus: Digo-vos que, se estes se calarem, as próprias pedras clamarão” (Lucas 19 : 40). Agora, vamos fazer o que deve ser feito sem nos importar com o que vai acontecer. “Lembrai-vos da palavra que vos disse: Não é o servo maior do que o seu SENHOR. Se a mim me perseguiram, também vos perseguirão a vós; se guardaram a minha palavra, também guardarão a vossa.” (João 15 : 20)

Video do DVD Delirious? – My Soul Sings – Live in Bogotá

Delirious? // History Makers // – Trish Roberts’s MySpace Blog |.

Now what can be said about a Christian CD that prompted such a huge storm over such a simple lyric? The combination of less direct worship, and the “pretty as hell” line led to some crazy crazy out bursts online that Delirious had “sold out”.

Hopefully the gift of time has led to these opinions being reevaluated, and hopefully being are now able to see what a great album this actually is. I would normally talk about the high lights of the album, but really… I’m not sure where I’d start.

Where if I slagged the album off, I’d say something like: “Why would they want to release See The Star as a single? It really wasn’t very good”. That moan was more then compensated a year later when the sublime “Its Ok” was released. A beautiful track that any band would be proud of recording.

This really was an album that increased the quality expectation for any Christian band. Ever.

Stu G,
originally uploaded by dsylvester.

How ?

Well what can I say…

The first of some amazing live albums – This kinda sums it up