ALBUM REVIEW: BEAUTIFULLY UNWORTHY BY WORSHIPWIRED

 

I always enjoy hearing new projects that leave me inspired and blessed. "Beautifully Unworthy" is that type of album. Every song on this 6 song EP has great music and a great message. My favorite songs are "Truth I'm Standing On," "Life Unauthentic," and "Life In Full Bloom." 

I highly recommend this project.

ALBUM REVIEW - GOD IS WITH US BY AL-TIRAH

 I had the honor of getting to listen to AL-TIRAH's debut album. It starts out with the soulful "Ain't No Grave" and concludes with the driving guitars of "You Raise Me Up," with wonderful songs like "Everything," "Mold Me Like Clay." and "Psalm 3" in between. Interestingly, in fact, the 9 songs are in alphabetic order (at least, it's that way on Spotify). Besides the versatile sounds of the music, the lyrics are inspiring and uplifting.

When I write a review of an album, I point out what my favorite songs are. So what are my favorite tunes on this song album? Well, there's the songs I mentioned in the above paragraph, and there's also "Back Slider," "Luke 23," "Passion," and "Pray For Reign." And if you're counting, you'll realize I mentioned every song on the project. 

I'm looking forward to hearing what they come out with next.

ARCHIPPUS - BIBLICAL PEOPLE I'M CURIOUS ABOUT (PART 6 OF 6), PLUS A PREVIEW OF MY NEXT 6 WEEK SERIES.

Lighthouse Baptist Church, Indianapolis

 I was in a men's Bible study that went through Romans, and I volunteered to take the final chapter. Yep, the one with all the names of people Paul was greeting as well as some who were with Paul and sending greetings to the Romans. What I did was went through Strong's to look at the meanings of each of the name. I smiled as I dealt with Urbanus and Stachys (Rom. 16:9); the former, not surprisingly meant "of the city," while the other meant "head of grain." In other words, you could paraphrase that verse, "Greet City Boy, our fellow servant in Christ, and Country Boy, my beloved."

My favorite in these lists of unknowns is Archippus. He is mentioned in Colossians 4:17 and Philemon 2. We don't know anything else about him; some have speculated he was the pastor of the church at Philemon's house, and others that he was Philemon's son. Some consider he was martyred with Philemon, Apphia, and Onesimus, though there's no proof - one author mentioned there was a pastor named Onesimus that Ignatius of Antioch had contact with.

I'll take that back. We do know one thing about Archippus. That is that God called him to the ministry. Paul writes in Colossians 4:17: "And say to Archippus, 'Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.'" I can picture the Colossian Church, after hearing these words, turned to the blushing young (I assume) man, and repeat Paul's words in unison with a smile on their face. By the way, Paul calls Archippus his fellow soldier. Yep, that sounds like someone in the ministry.

But hasn't every Christian received a ministry from the Lord that they are to be encouraged to fulfill it? And does that include you? Do you see any indicators this is relevant only to the first century? I don't.

Unfortunately, not all do. A person mentioned in the same chapters Archippus is, giving greetings to Philemon and the Colossian church, is an individual named Demas. That's a recognizable name - in 2 Timothy, Paul tells Timothy Demas forsook him, having loved the present world (2 Tim. 4:10). We have a choice to fulfill our ministry as Archippus is admonished to do or to depart loving the world like Demas.

Can I take a little rabbit trail and deal with a pet peeve? (The pet here is the rabbit who left the trail.) I heard at least one sermon on Demas, following his spiritual life from being a fellow laborer (Philemon 24) to just being "Demas" (Colossians 4:14) to "having loved the present world." Good point that there's a pattern, but the text does not support it. You notice in Colossians 4:7-9 that the Colossian letter was brought by Tychius and Onesimus? Most consider Colossians and Philemon to be written and sent at the same time, so the lack of a description in Colossians doesn't mean anything really. Yes, it's a pet peeve when Christians seem to need to add something negative at something that is just narration. And you'll hear more about that pet peeve in my next 6 part series, starting next week.

But were you blessed by this series? Did any of these obscure people encourage or motivate or challenge you?

ALBUM REVIEW - RIBS BY ANNA OWENS & FOREVER YOUNG

 

I had the honor of hearing Anna Owens in concert in Dec., '23. Her album "Ribs" contains several deep, thought provoking folk songs. 

My favorites among this 15 song collection are "Unbroken," "Crossroad," "Holier Than Thou," "Broken Cisterns," "Reflections," "Blood Related," "Like A Child," and "Sparrow."

BOOK REVIEW - GOING THERE: TALES FROM THE RIVIERA AND BEYOND BY DONNA FLETCHER CROW

 

Is this book a non-fiction description of a trip to the Riviera in post-pandemic times? Does it contain fictional stories including favorite characters from her novels? The answer is yes.

"Going There: Tales from the Riviera and Beyond" is a travelogue of a 2021 trip author Donna Fletcher Crow took with her daughter-in-law and granddaughter as they were returning the latter to her ballerina school in Monaco. Yes, this was at the time where COVID-19 was still a major concern at a point when people were ready for normalcy. She does a good job of reminding us of what mask mandates felt like and the concern of passing a COVID test so she could return home to the States rather than being stuck in her hotel for over a week away from her family at her own expense.

But this book is also a short story collection including some of my favorite characters from her novels. Charles and Antonia from the Victorian True Crimes Lord Danvers Investigates series. Richard and Elizabeth who host a Literary Murder collection. And especially my hero Father Antony and Felicity of the Monastery Murders.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It helped me know the author better. (Coincidentally, I just started another, unrelated book, where the author mentioned too often you read books knowing nothing about the author.) The short stories were entertaining and allowed me to hang out with several of my fictional friends (and the Dowager Duchess as well). Additionally, both the fiction and the non-fiction give you an introduction to the Riviera and what the people there are like.

I highly enjoyed this book and recommend it.

I received a copy of this book for my unbiased review.

SIMON THE ZEALOT - BIBLICAL PEOPLE I'M CURIOUS ABOUT (PART 5 OF 6)

St. Simon by Peter Paul Rubens from his Twelve Apostles series at the Museo del Prado, Madrid, c. 1611

It should be no surprise that the majority of these obscure people in Scripture were in the Old Testament. But there are a pair from the New Testament we're not as aware of. We'll look at one this week and conclude this series with the other.

There were two Simons among the 12 apostles. Of course, one is better known as Peter. The other is called Simon the Cananite in Matthew 10:2-4 and Mark 3:16-19, and as Simon the Zealot Luke 6:14-16 and Acts 1:13. And I've just mentioned every passage where he's mentioned by name in Scripture.

If you notice, the 12 are divided into three groups; their names might be in a different order, but it's the same three groups. The first started with Peter and included Andrew and the Zebedee boys. The next group featured Matthew, Thomas, Phillip, and Bartholomew. Finally, we find Simon with James the Son of Alpheus, Lebbaeus (Matt.) aka Thaddeus (Mark) aka Judas the son of James (Luke and Acts; John calls him "Judas not Iscariot" and the voice text on our phone put it "Judas not as scary at"), and you know who (missing, obviously, in Acts). James and the other Judas, like Simon, have nothing written about them in Scripture other than their names and calling.

But Simon has a designation that arouses my curiosity - particularly "The Zealot." Historians are aware there was a violent Zionist group by that name. But was he a zealot? The miniseries "Jesus Of Nazareth" had him leave the Zealots to follow Christ. The little I've seen of "The Chosen" with Simon implies he still had that mindset. Others say that he never was a Zealot. 

What about the other designation - "the Cananite?" Note the writing - it's not saying "Canaanite." Some believe he was from Cana, and possibly was the groom at a certain wedding that took place there. I've heard someone else, however, say that "Cananite" is an Aramaic word meaning ... you guessed it. "Zealot."

Having interest in politics, I'd love to get to know Simon when we get to heaven. 
 

ALBUM REVIEW - UP FROM THE ASHES BY NEW DAY RISING

Are you looking for an energetic, hard rock band? Allow me to suggest "Up From The Ashes" by New Day Rising.

Technically, I have not had the honor of hearing New Day Rising yet. However, last year I heard the band Eyes Aflame, as well as revealing their EP "Not The End" (an excellent album, but let me get back on topic). Eyes Aflame's guitarist, bassist, and drummer are also in New Day Arising, along with a second guitarist and two different singers. New Day Rising is harder than Eyes Aflame musically.

I enjoyed this album. My favorite songs from this "Up From The Ashes" are the title track, "Darkest Part Of Me," "Hero," "Relentless," and "Fire In Your Eyes."

Did I mention I recommend this project? Well, if not, I do now.