"10 Favorite Things of the Decade" doesn't come around every year...so, I thought I'd better take advantage of something as cool as the best of the decade. I couldn't really figure out a semi-meaningful 1 to 10 list...so, in no particular order, I present 10 of my favorite things of 2000 - 2010.
Brazil: My wife and I spent 3 months the country of Brazil early in the decade. Most of this time was in an apartment across the street from three bars in a relatively-poor section of the city of Maceio. The prolonged exposure to another culture helped us realize that we are not better than everyone in the world, we are only better than rich Americans. ...this seems to be an improvement.
Barilla: Somehow I ended up working at the best pasta company in the world. It's provided alot of free food, some reminders that rich Americans aren't so bad, and some good opportunities to stretch myself. However, it is my job, so, I'd prefer not to spend too much off-the-clock time writing about it. Next item...
Bruce Springsteen: You don't understand...I'm used to it.
Conferences: During the last 3-4 years, good things have happened as I've gone to different conferences. My top 3: Together for the Gospel, The Gospel Coalition, and the Leadership Summit. ...I know it appears to be a which-one-doesn't-belong multiple choice question, but it's not.
Rhapsody: My one acknowledged splurge every month. Nine bucks a months and I can listen to whatever music I want to. It's worth every penny.***
Church: Grace Bible Church (Stilwell, KS), CrossWay Community Church (Kenosha, WI), CrossWay Community Church (Milwaukee, WI). Everything else (except family) is not comparable to the good that has come from these three churches.
Books: Books are probably my favorite way to learn things. And...(while acknowledging that reading books is actually more beneficial) I'm pretty sure that buying them, putting them on the shelf, and not reading them helps make me smarter.
Documentaries: Over the last decade, I've grown to love documentaries. Once you've seen some good documentaries, you'll never go back to boring, made-up, action-adventure movies. Some of my favorite: Spellbound, The Fog of War, Man on Wire, Genghis Blues, Born into Brothels...there are many more.
Warkens: If Andy or Emily stumble across this, don't let this go to your head (especially Emily, who I will continue to treat with the same respect that I always have). Nothing else on this list is so specific, but, when I thought over all the hard things that my wife and I have gone through in the last 10 years...every time something difficult occurs the Gliddens turn their heads and the Warkens are right there next to them. I'd list some of them, but they are too personal for a blog post. In addition to the above, I laugh alot when I'm with them.
Family: Things got off to a good start early in the decade when my hot wife said that she'd marry me. ...because of her, I now have in-laws which means double the Christmas presents and birthday presents. In addition to presents, I was lucky, because they are all pretty awesome people.
Then, I finished up the decade with a daughter. She's only been around for about 1/10 of the decade...but, I think, because of her, it's been my favorite 1/10.
Also, in regards to family...once or twice a year the extended Glidden family reunites for the greater good of society. Sometimes I feel like these moments are the only time everything in the world is pretty much perfect. It's sort of like I have to keep putting my favorite movie on pause to go do a bunch of household chores...but, every time I get to watch another 5 minutes of the movie, it makes me glad I did the chores. In addition...I laugh alot when I'm with them.
Well...that's all I've got for you. I haven't used the word Decade this much since second grade when we learned the difference between a decade and a score (a rarely used word, probably because of the rising popularity of sports over the last few decades). Hopefully in 10 years I'll have something better to do than blog about my favorite things.
Joshua
______________
***As if a "My 10 Favorite..." list wasn't self-indulgent enough. Here are some of the songs that tousled my brain around over the last 10 years and said "music is a good thing" (not necessarily released in the decade...but, they frequently brought my finger to the "repeat" button for one reason or another). No Surrender, Cadillac Ranch, Lonesome Day - Bruce Springsteen, Miles Davis and the Cool - The Gaslight Anthem, Breakdown - Jack Johnson, Mercy Mercy Mercy - Cannonball Adderley, Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way - Waylon Jennings, I'm A Rocker - The Raspberries, Shame - The Avett Brothers, Sunshine - Matt Costa, Stuck Between Stations - The Hold Steady, The Temporary Blues - The Features, Vincent O'Brien - M. Ward, Reach For the Sun - The Polyphonic Spree
Monday, December 28, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Best Albums of 2009
I have no business making any concrete arguments for the "best-ness" of any of these albums. I really don't listen to enough music to elevate my thoughts to any status that includes the word "credibility". I'm not even 100% positive that all of these albums came out in 2009...which, I think, sums things up. But, still, I'd like to be clear...if the top five albums on my list aren't on yours, then your list is probably full of pretentious indie-rock that nobody listens to except awkwardly shaven music snobs. With these thoughts in mind, please take note of the 10 Best Albums of 2009...
10. The Show - Yonder Mountain String Band
9. Joy - Phish
8. Wilco - Wilco
7. Raditude - Weezer
6. Be Set Free - Langhorne Slim
5. Hazards of Love - The Decemberists
4. Working on a Dream - Bruce Springsteen
3. Some Kind of Salvation - The Features
2. Elvis Perkins in Dearland - Elvis Perkins
1. I and Love and You - The Avett Brothers
(I also kind-of liked the albums by Monsters of Folk, U2, Regina Spector, and Muse...and, to get it off my chest, I just put the Wilco album at number 8 because I didn't want you to know that I actually listened to Phish and a bluegrass band more than the much hipper Wilco.)
10. The Show - Yonder Mountain String Band
9. Joy - Phish
8. Wilco - Wilco
7. Raditude - Weezer
6. Be Set Free - Langhorne Slim
5. Hazards of Love - The Decemberists
4. Working on a Dream - Bruce Springsteen
3. Some Kind of Salvation - The Features
2. Elvis Perkins in Dearland - Elvis Perkins
1. I and Love and You - The Avett Brothers
(I also kind-of liked the albums by Monsters of Folk, U2, Regina Spector, and Muse...and, to get it off my chest, I just put the Wilco album at number 8 because I didn't want you to know that I actually listened to Phish and a bluegrass band more than the much hipper Wilco.)
Monday, December 14, 2009
Evangelism and Felt Frailties
"Everybody's life includes things which cause dissatisfaction and shame. Everyone has a bad conscience about some things in his past, matters in which he has fallen short of the standard which he set for himself, or which was expected of him by others. The danger is that in our evangelism we should content ourselves with evoking thoughts of these things and making people feel uncomfortable about them, and then depicting Christ as the One who saves us from these elements of ourselves, without even raising the question of our relationship with God. But this is just the question that has to be raised when we speak about sin...
"To preach sin means not to make capital out of people's felt frailties (the brainwasher's trick), but to measure their lives by the holy law of God."
- J. I. Packer (Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God)
"To preach sin means not to make capital out of people's felt frailties (the brainwasher's trick), but to measure their lives by the holy law of God."
- J. I. Packer (Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God)
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Must Be Santa
There's just something about Bob Dylan...especially when he's singing a Christmas polka at a house party with a wig on...
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
New Avett Brothers album
Probably the most highly anticipated album of the decade. The Avetts with Mr. Rick Rubin himself. My first listen was a very fine experience. You can hear it here for $0.00...
Monday, August 10, 2009
Rodney Smith's New(ish) Blog
http://rodneysmith.com/blog
I thought I'd point my half dozen readers to the blog that photographer Rodney Smith started last month. My knowledge of what makes a good photo is very limited...but, I like Rodney Smith because, to my tastes, he's a perfect blend of not-taking-yourself-to-seriously, while still helping you see the world a little differently.
The great thing about his blog is that his subtle glimpses of profundity (first use of the word profundity on this blog) come through in his writing as they do in his photography. You have a simple story about how a picture was taken or what he likes about the picture...and, inside of the story is a very thought provoking idea about creating art.
If nothing else, take a couple minutes to look at some of his photography...hopefully, you will be impressed.
Friday, May 22, 2009
15 Essential Johnny Cash Songs
Here's a good list of "essential" Johnny Cash songs:
http://www.the9513.com/the-best-of-johnny-cash-the-man-in-blacks-15-most-essential-songs
http://www.the9513.com/the-best-of-johnny-cash-the-man-in-blacks-15-most-essential-songs
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Trivial Art
I don't 100% agree with these two quotes. Actually, I think I probably only agree about 45-55% what they are saying. But, I think the sentiments are interesting. If we're properly involved in the world and staying appropriately busy in things that are important, will the need for the art house movies and certain types of more philosophical literature still be important? Or, will our breaks in ministering to those around us cause us to desire lighter fair? Does an acquired taste for higher quality art come from too much wasted time? ...I think there's some interesting thoughts floating around that neighborhood (and some unhelpful dichotomizing).
"Anyone who is currently constructing “a nine-hour exploration of ‘personality’”, it seems to me, has completely forgotten about his audience, or at least the conventional notion of an audience, full of people with jobs and worries and dependants, people who are tired after a hard working day or week. My suspicion is that the policeman and the teacher and the nurse who works in a hospice does not feel infantilised in the least by someone’s desire to keep them entertained and diverted; rather, they are grateful for it. The job of providing these diversions, however, can occasionally seem less than adult: writers sit around in jeans and old T-shirts for large parts of the average working day, eating biscuits and watching some of the funnier acts from ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ on YouTube, while their friends and contemporaries don suits, rush off to meetings, save lives, keep entire transport systems running. Perhaps inevitably, there is a desire to compensate for the lifestyle, produce plays and books and films that are no fun whatsoever in an attempt to convince the world outside our offices that a day in front of the word-processor is the equivalent of eight hours down a Siberian salt-mine."
- Nick Hornby
Doug Wilson on Fireproof:
"If I set myself to think of couples in marriages that I think would be greatly helped by watching this movie, I would run out of fingers inside of a minute. I can also think of Christians who would be offended by the schlock, but many of them would be those who know more about how a movie ought to be made than about how a woman ought to be treated. And they would rather watch a movie about a woman being abused so long as the movie was made right than to have the woman treated right in a movie that offended their refined sensibilities. So which is the altar and which is the sacrifice?"
"Anyone who is currently constructing “a nine-hour exploration of ‘personality’”, it seems to me, has completely forgotten about his audience, or at least the conventional notion of an audience, full of people with jobs and worries and dependants, people who are tired after a hard working day or week. My suspicion is that the policeman and the teacher and the nurse who works in a hospice does not feel infantilised in the least by someone’s desire to keep them entertained and diverted; rather, they are grateful for it. The job of providing these diversions, however, can occasionally seem less than adult: writers sit around in jeans and old T-shirts for large parts of the average working day, eating biscuits and watching some of the funnier acts from ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ on YouTube, while their friends and contemporaries don suits, rush off to meetings, save lives, keep entire transport systems running. Perhaps inevitably, there is a desire to compensate for the lifestyle, produce plays and books and films that are no fun whatsoever in an attempt to convince the world outside our offices that a day in front of the word-processor is the equivalent of eight hours down a Siberian salt-mine."
- Nick Hornby
Doug Wilson on Fireproof:
"If I set myself to think of couples in marriages that I think would be greatly helped by watching this movie, I would run out of fingers inside of a minute. I can also think of Christians who would be offended by the schlock, but many of them would be those who know more about how a movie ought to be made than about how a woman ought to be treated. And they would rather watch a movie about a woman being abused so long as the movie was made right than to have the woman treated right in a movie that offended their refined sensibilities. So which is the altar and which is the sacrifice?"
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Joe Pug - Hymn 101
Here's the coolest song of the week...
He's giving away his EP at: www.joepugmusic.com
and i've come to meet the legendary takers
i've only come to ask them for a lot
oh they say i come with less
than i should rightfully possess
i say the more i buy the more i'm bought
and the more i'm bought the less i cost
He's giving away his EP at: www.joepugmusic.com
and i've come to meet the legendary takers
i've only come to ask them for a lot
oh they say i come with less
than i should rightfully possess
i say the more i buy the more i'm bought
and the more i'm bought the less i cost
Sunday, April 12, 2009
If I Only Had 4 Sentences to Describe Twilight (the movie)
Twilight is a 122 minute lusty sex scene without nudity so that no one realizes that they are actually watching an 122 minute epic on lust.
I wasn't sure I'd be able to control my dry heaves after Belle spoke breathlessly for the 265th time.
There's a 100 year old vampire in love with a teenager...it doesn't get much creepier than that.
Other than that it's gripping.
Things to Like About Slumdog Millionaire
Slumdog Millionaire…
…contrasts the results of living for yourself vs. living for others.
…honestly presents the evils of the world in a disturbing but discrete way.
…shows that the qualities of your youth amplify themselves as you become an adult.
…commends unconditional love. If you’re feeling generous, it commends grace-filled love.
…can easily be interpreted as alluding to a God who has ‘written’ history.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
25 Perfect Songs
The last couple weeks I've been making a list of perfect songs. In my opinion, they don't make music any better than what is listed below...all these songs come pretty close to tie-ing for the number one spot.
Against my better judgement, I've also included YouTube links for all the songs. This is especially bad news if you haven't heard the song before because: A) Seeing the people singing these songs on your first listen can be distracting, and B) Some of the versions aren't as good as the album versions.
But, you have to give the people what they want...I'd I knew you'd be too lazy to do your own research for these songs. So, enjoy...argue with me...suggest other perfect songs...I love all of you...
Monday, March 30, 2009
"Two Smiles"
Nothing's better than two smiles from my daughter's lips...
...one giggle at bedtime might come close.
And, not to be picky, but smiles are better in close proximity to sleep...waking or falling...
...giggles are best on laps and changing tables.
And, if you're lucky, a kiss isn't bad...
but still...
...nothing's better than two smiles from my daughter's lips.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Bella
I finally broke my bad-movie streak. It's hard to tell for sure, but I think I had seen about 104 PG-13 romantic comedies in a row...all of them required the brain power of a green pea to get the nice moral message that when you really love someone you should make out, take off the man's shirt and then fall into a bed that is off camera...I'm assuming not much happens after that. ...but, then Bella came along. And, it reminded me that movies can feel almost perfect at times. It submits it's pro-life message artistically without preaching at people or letting the message overpower the emotions of the movie, although I would argue that the entire movie is about life (and in some ways, it's sanctity). I'm not sure how Christians decide which movies they are going to turn into sleeper hits...but, in my perfect world, I wish Bella would have drawn the lucky straw...
So, if you haven't seen it already, give it a shot. It reminds me alot of life...everywhere you look, there's sadness...but, between the sad stories there's usually some optimism in the air and redemption waiting around the corner.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
The 10 most "Christian" U2 Songs
U2. How cool is it that one of the longest-lasting, stadium-shaking, bastions of rock-and-roll greatness happens to be Christian? Or, at least religious…or, spiritual…or, something. Their new album, No Line On the Horizon, is freshly upon us and ready to provide more doses of potentially Biblical lyrics. There’s almost 30 years of U2 history floating around. In this small mound of Bono lyrics, we find religious analogies piled up on top of each other. What rises to the top? Where does Bono shine through at his most Christian…at his most “I’m spiritual, but don’t organize me”? Provided below are the ten best U2’s songs where Bono’s spiritual side comes charging through, both guns blazing, with songs that seem so heartfelt that everyone who “gets it” wholeheartedly believes that every song in the U2 catalog is about “it”. These next 10 songs should offer a glimpse of what’s so special about U2.
- I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (The Joshua Tree)
- Grace (All You Can’t Leave Behind)
- Yahweh (How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb)
- The First Time (Zooropa)
- The Wanderer (Zooropa)
- 40 (War)
- When Loves Comes to Town (Rattle & Hum)
- North & South of the River (B-Sides; 80s-90s)
- Until the End of the World (Achtung Baby)
- Drowning Man (War)
Monday, March 2, 2009
Fame, Celebrity, and Accomplishment
Our church has hit the big time with a full-fledged blog post by Mr. Andy Naselli himself. I was quite flattered...and enjoyed seeing it in my Google Reader this morning.
http://andynaselli.com/theology/crossway-milwaukee
It's not Jason's first moment of being in the spotlight...here is our church's other moment of acclaim:
Young, Restless, Reformed
...I'll finish up here...my mildly cynical tone can only hide my unhealthy pride for so long...
http://andynaselli.com/theology/crossway-milwaukee
It's not Jason's first moment of being in the spotlight...here is our church's other moment of acclaim:
Young, Restless, Reformed
...I'll finish up here...my mildly cynical tone can only hide my unhealthy pride for so long...
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Fireproof
Fireproof is a bad movie. But, it has such good intentions that I can't say anything bad about it without feeling like a nasty step-father who couldn't find anything good to say about his 7th grader's school play.
At the least, I'll cut and paste a relevant quote:
"Where films are concerned, if you set out to convey some special message or thesis you will become narrow and rigid..." -Akira Kurosawa
...something similar is going on with Fireproof.
Happy Valentines Day!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Super Bowl Journal
...don't miss Springsteen's "Super Bowl Journal"
http://www.brucespringsteen.net/news/superbowljournal.html
http://www.brucespringsteen.net/news/superbowljournal.html
Friday, January 30, 2009
The Emperor's New Clothes
I like these guys. The way they observe society/culture with a dab of cynicism reminds me a little of Jerry Seinfeld. A couple of my favorites:
Monday, January 26, 2009
Working on a Dream
Wow...it's perfect.
Click here to listen to it...
Working on a Dream: "
1. Outlaw Pete - Bruce Springsteen
2. My Lucky Day - Bruce Springsteen
3. Working On A Dream - Bruce Springsteen
4. Queen of the Supermarket - Bruce Springsteen
5. What Love Can Do - Bruce Springsteen
6. This Life - Bruce Springsteen
7. Good Eye - Bruce Springsteen
8. Tomorrow Never Knows - Bruce Springsteen
9. Life Itself - Bruce Springsteen
10. Kingdom Of Days - Bruce Springsteen
11. Suprise, Suprise - Bruce Springsteen
12. The Last Carnival - Bruce Springsteen
13. The Wrestler (Bonus Track) - Bruce Springsteen"
Click here to listen to it...
Working on a Dream: "
1. Outlaw Pete - Bruce Springsteen
2. My Lucky Day - Bruce Springsteen
3. Working On A Dream - Bruce Springsteen
4. Queen of the Supermarket - Bruce Springsteen
5. What Love Can Do - Bruce Springsteen
6. This Life - Bruce Springsteen
7. Good Eye - Bruce Springsteen
8. Tomorrow Never Knows - Bruce Springsteen
9. Life Itself - Bruce Springsteen
10. Kingdom Of Days - Bruce Springsteen
11. Suprise, Suprise - Bruce Springsteen
12. The Last Carnival - Bruce Springsteen
13. The Wrestler (Bonus Track) - Bruce Springsteen"
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Teddy
I was going through some papers today and found these two quotes that I used to have taped to something...I think my computer. I did a search to see where they came from and found out that the first quote is one of the "three most requested quotes" from theodoreroosevelt.org. So, I guess I'm not unique in enjoying it...
"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
- Theodore Roosevelt
"Citizenship in a Republic,"
Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910
---
Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat."
- Theodore Roosevelt
"The Strenuous Life"
"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
- Theodore Roosevelt
"Citizenship in a Republic,"
Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910
---
Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat."
- Theodore Roosevelt
"The Strenuous Life"
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