Top Ten Albums of the Year

It's been a while since I posted, so I thought I'd share some of my music choices of the past year. So without further ado, I give you:

Paul's Top Ten Albums that Were Not Necessarily Released in the Past Calendar Year, but That's When I Purchased Them So Deal With It. (or PTTAWNNRPCYTWIPTSDWI.)

Let's start with the best:

1. The Song Inside the Sound of Breaking Down, John Mark McMillan

An amazing worship album that also sounds like Pete Yorn or Bruce Springsteen. I am completely obsessed with this album right now. I have no idea why this guy isn't better known. (Best songs: How He Loves, Kiss Your Feet)

2. In Rainbows, Radiohead

Kind of a trendy pick, but I'm pretty sure that I will never, ever get sick of listening to this album. The weird rhythms get stuck in your head for the rest of the day and you like it. Also, it's not as dark as some of their music in the past. (Best songs: 15 Step, Jigsaw Falling Into Place)

3. One Zero [Acoustic], Derek Webb

Derek Webb is a Christian artist that some Christians like and some Christians don't because his music critiques how Evangelicals have gotten so tied into politics and into love of money and power. Beautiful songs and lyrics that really make you think. (Best Songs: Wedding Dress, Rich Young Ruler)

4. Ongiara - Great Lake Swimmers

A tremendous and haunting folk album from a group of Canadians with great beards. You may recognize this name from a video I posted "recently." Jess ordered it for me and it came without the cd in the case, but the Canadians sent another right away. (Best Songs: Your Rocky Spine, Backstage)

5. The Shepherd's Dog - Iron and Wine

This album is hard to describe because it is really diverse musically--anything from acoustic guitar, to slide guitar, jazz piano, accordions and handclaps. I guess it's classified as indie/folk rock. All I know is that it plays a lot in my car when I deliver pizza. (Best Songs: Boy With a Coin, Carousel)

6. Give Yourself Away - Robbie Seay Band

A very upbeat pop/rock album that puts me in a good mood. A friend of mine here at school was Robbie's roommate in college. So in a way, I think I am partially responsible for the success of this album.
(Best songs: New Day, Beautiful Scandalous Night)

7. Mr. Lemons - Glen Phillips

Glen is the lead singer of Toad the Wet Sprocket so, of course, every one of his albums is worth having. Good, old-fashioned, acoustic rock with one of the coolest voices in music. Includes a cover of "I Want a New Drug" for my brother Joel. (Best songs: Everything But You, Waiting)

8. Please Come Home - Dustin Kensrue

Dustin is the lead singer of Thrice, a hardcore rock band, but this album seems like (really good) alternative country. That says a lot because I hate all country music except for "Queen of My Double-Wide Trailer." (Best Songs: I Knew You Before, Please Come Home)

9. Turn Around - Jonny Lang

Jonny Lang, who has one of the greatest blues voices in the world, recently became a Christian and this album is all about the changes in his life that took place. It's a really cool mixture of blues, rock, and gospel. I love the tracks with the gospel choirs. (Best songs: Turn Around, Anything's Possible)

10. Tell Me What You Know - Sara Groves

While not as good as her last album, this one has some great songs. And, as always, her lyrics are really inspiring and thought-provoking. Also, she is from Burnsville, Minnesota and she has a son named Kirby (for real! I'm trying to get Jess to agree to do that, too!) (Best songs: When the Saints, In the Girl There's a Room)

Another Marathon -or- My Annual Lapse in Good Judgment

It's happening again, and this time with far less oxygen! This October 19th I will be running the Denver Marathon.

But not by myself. It started off as me and my friends Benjer and Carson, but now includes my older brother, Joel, and (I NEVER would have guessed this) my little brother, Phil (who said he would NEVER run another marathon ever again), and his girlfriend, Jena (who will beat us all). A couple friends from high school might join us too, but they need to REGISTER!

I am (for some reason) really looking forward to this race. Maybe it's because I'll have an advantage over my brothers who are used to more oxygen. Maybe it's because I am just not that bright. Either way, I'll post training updates once in a while so y'all can leave encouraging comments on my blog.

The Art of Non-Violence

This past Sunday, our pastor at DCC preached a really enlightening sermon from Matthew 5 on Jesus' take on the whole Pacifism / Non-Violence / Aggression issue. When Jesus said to "turn the other cheek" what did he mean? You might be surprised!

Either go to www.denverchurch.org and click on "The Art of Non-Violence" or click here.

Trust me. This sermon is really worth your while!

Great Lake Swimmers - Backstage With the Modern Dancers

I just found out about this band and I am hooked. Also, since Papa John's will not let me have a full beard, these fine Canadian beards make me really jealous.

Turkey Trot Results

Benjer and Conrad and I ran our 10k yesterday! It was their first road race ever and my first 10k (6.2 miles). The event was a bit disorganized, but the course was great, we all met our goals, and the food after the race was not that bad!

[Left to Right: Me, Conrad (whose real name might be Carson), and Benjer]Funny stories about the race...

(1) We were about halfway back in the crowd at the starting line when from behind us we heard a quiet man talking on a quiet megaphone. He said something about turkey and made a gobbling noise and it seems he might have said "Ready, set, go!" or something like that. The thing is, no one in the front (or the middle) of the crowd could hear him, so every one just stood there. Then people in the back began freaking out, shouting, "GO! HE SAID GO!" But no one in the front (understandably) wanted to start running just because a few people behind them said that a man said the word "go." So the three of us just stood there wondering what kind of a race we had gotten ourselves into. I'm pretty sure they reset the clock and a quiet man said "go" to the people in the front (I still couldn't hear it), because everyone finally started running.
It's hard to see, but in this next picture I'm the one on the far left with orange shoulders. I'm picking the old man in the white shirt as my "Runner to Beat." (2) At about 1.5 miles, Benjer and I got passed by a 9-year-old. He made me want to fake a pulled hammy. However, he had to stop to walk at about 4 miles and I blew past him and dominated him for the rest of the race! Booyah!

(3) Apparently, during the race, Silas received a free hackysack for agreeing to quit smoking. He thinks it's funny, but I'm going to hold him to it.

(4) I was holding Silas after the race and apparently he had been waving, unbeknownst to me, to a 6-foot-tall bee. I turned around and it was coming straight for us! I couldn't let it smell my fear, but Silas was more cool and composed. As the Old Country Buffet Bee (the O.C. Bee) was asking Silas for a high-five, Silas calmly and politely signed "please" and told the bee, "Bye-Bye." The bee gave us some type of coupon and left. Silas saves the day.

Here are the results:

http://results.active.com/pages/displayNonGru.jsp?pubID=3&rsID=49949

Paul:
Time- 49:56 (8:03 per mile)
Place- 129 of 346
My goal was under 50 minutes! (Look at the guy in the short shorts envying my great finish!)

Benjer:
Time- 51:17
Place- 144 of 346

Conrad:
Time- 1:00:21
Place- 258 of 346

Benjer and Conrad were really impressive! It was a great first step on our journey to the Denver Marathon, October 2008.

Longmont Turkey Trot!

I have convinced a couple of my friends here at school to run the Denver Marathon with me next October. (Suckers!) So to get them some race experience, my friends Benjer and Conrad and I will be running a 10k (6.2 miles) this Saturday morning. Man, it's gonna be freezing cold! I've never run a race this late in the year. Also, I haven't really trained much for this race. I'm not expecting to do very well, even with the motivation of possibly winning a Butterball turkey. I should have told those guys I was running the 10k and then entered the fun run. But at least I get to carbo-load on Friday night! I'll post the results this weekend.

Here It Is...

I think it went okay! My nerves are back to normal and I can eat again. This was my first time teaching in a church gathering. My pastor, Michael, and I taught "tag-team" style. He did a review and introduction, I taught for a bit, and then Michael taught and concluded. So check it out!

You can either play it on my church's website at www.denverchurch.org, (it's the sermon called "More than Counter Culture," or you can download the mp3 by clicking on this link: http://www.denverchurch.org/?q=audio/download/160/20071014+-+More+Than+Counter+Culture.mp3