A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma...
About John Zahl
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Lent Doesn’t Make Sense When Incarnation > Salvation
Instinct and revelation do not typically occupy the same space. For a revelation reveals truth that we otherwise would miss. In this regard, religion is most interesting when it offers ideas that are distinct and/or counterintuitive, when it brings something new to bear upon the old. In particular, the idea that God cares for the […]
Exploring the Oddball World of Leftfield Christian Music 1973-87, Pt. 2: A Mockingbird Breakout Preview
At last year’s NY Conference we mined deep, but there’s a ton more to share. In this breakout, we will continue to explore the world of obscure Christian funk and electronic music from yesteryear. We will learn about why early Christian hip-hop floundered so after its inception (hint: the reason is theological). And we’ll remember how radical it is to introduce a Moog into your worship band, in 1974 (!!). Then there’s Mr. T’s song about the Ten Commandments. Are you wondering what happened to Jimmy Mamou when he read the Bible in Hawaii? What about the nu-wave album that Gary Numan’s favorite guitarist made about the Holy Ghost? Or what Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s poetry sounds like when read aloud over a funky, clavinet-heavy groove? (note: Germany will be making a strong showing this year). I can’t wait to share it all with you… Praise the Lord!
Red Beard: Love Is Medicine
Mockingbird at the Movies, is now available on Kindle! To celebrate, we thought we’d post the first half of John Zahl’s closing essay on Red Beard, which many readers (ourselves included) have mentioned as a highlight. Discussing Akira Kurosawa’s Red Beard (1965) in any detail is a daunting task. After all, it’s a Japanese […]
Exploring the Oddball World of Leftfield Christian Music (1975-1985)
Hope you have a shovel handy cause here comes a treasure trove! This session from The Rev DJ JAZ in NYC was truly one of a kind. Legendary perhaps? You tell me:
Exploring the Oddball World of Leftfield Christian Music (1975-1985): An EpiscoDisco Primer – John Zahl from Mockingbird on Vimeo.
Grace in Sports (and Practice): Jacob Jarvis and Ohio St. Football
In preparing a new series we’re offering at my church, I was reminded of this post from a few years ago about Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer. The man experienced a breakdown following his team’s loss to Alabama in 2009, enough to warrant him stepping away from coaching for a year. One recent interview indicated that indeed things have been going much better for him, personally, since coming back to coach at OSU. That he managed to win another National Championship on the other side of such a wake-up call, strikes me as fantastic news. Much better, at least, than hearing it was simply the product of a return to (old) form. His daughter even reports that they now speak on the phone “five times a day.” Which is to say, the support and connection to his family is apparently stronger than ever, and his work has not suffered for it. But best of all was discovering the video below, which displays just how much Urban’s new set of priorities have trickled over into the lives of his players and, especially, Jacob Jarvis and his younger brother. As Jacob wheels onto the field, holding hands with the players on the team, I couldn’t help but think: “Now that’s imputation, which is love.”
Cosmic-Gospel-Prog, Gospel-Funk, & Gospel-Boogie
As promised, here are tracks from the devotions at the Mockingbird NYC Conference…
1. “Let us affirm our faith with the (cosmic) Nicene Creed.” Eela Craig, 1978 #AustrianCosmicProg
2. “Holy Spirit, don’t leave me for a minute.” Limousine, 1976 #SwedishGospelFunk
3. “Won’t you serve Him?” Cyril Walker, 1983 #GospelBoogie
BONUS TRACK: “Holy Ghost” by The Barkays
The Secret Santa-Sower and the Heroin Addict
I lead a Thursday morning Bible study. Recently, we have been working our way through the parables (often using the backdrop of Robert Capon’s amazing Kingdom, Grace, Judgment), and this morning, it was time for The Parable of the Sower. You can imagine how happy I was when fellow Mbirder, Ethan Magness posted this clip […]
Mockingbird: Bringing You the Gospel (pt. 29)
“…He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” (Col 1:18)
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