Comments for Broken Hallelujahs

Comment on contact by Graham

Graham — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:06:45 +0000

I’m looking forward to this. I read ‘One step closer’ and loved it- you were kind enough to send me a pre pub pdf for some MA research I was doing. Hope it is the same mixture of easy to read and profundity! I have often though on the phrase ‘broken hallelujah’

Comment on Kings of Leon–Running Away From God (sort of) by Joanna

Joanna — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:40:28 +0000

(one year later…)

Hey,

I really loved your post.
You have very similar observations as I do. I love KOL. Their sound is so compelling and when you listen beyond the obvious, you can pick up on allot, spiritually. I guess when I listen to them with intension, I hear normal guys going through honest struggles but with a very real sense that God is listening and loving. (Not too sound too weird or anything). I guess for me personally, I totally understand what you are saying and what KOL seem to be expressing. I’m what they call ‘a Christian’ or ‘Jesus freak’ haha only I don’t show it in the typical churchy way (I used to though)
Jesus, the simple man, who sat with regular guys who would have had regular struggles has become even more real to me now that I don’t aim to be the typical, ‘no sex before marriage’ ‘read the bible every day’ type Christian. I guess admitting that I am and always will be a sinner has given Jesus room to move, and to be the friend/ helper he wants to be. I wasn’t going to learn this until I was willing to give up the fight to be a ‘good Christian’. Instead, I’m a real, honest, unique chick who drinks, swears, and loves to run a muck… and I’ve never felt closer or more humbled by Jesus in my life. The bible is important if you want to know what’s good for you, but the real sense of Jesus has come from my most honest and most casual chats (prayers) with God. I’ not against the church, the world needs the church, but Church is annoying, church organisations are annoying, I’ve found that real people with real problems and open hearts reflect the peace of Jesus more than most, and a ‘clean life’ isn’t the only way to feel Christ. I guess the idea that KOL are living this ‘rebellious lifestyle’ with the awareness that Jesus is with them, for them and loving them, AND writing music about it is what captivates me the most.

Plus Caleb is hot! HAHA!

Comment on Green Day: God’s Favorite Band? by nouga

nouga — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:49:13 +0000

u are my best

Comment on Green Day: God’s Favorite Band? by Mary Hess

Mary Hess — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 02:59:39 +0000

So you’ll have to wander over into our neighborhood and visit Willie’s Guitar Shop, where you just might run into Green Day members occasionally! Did you know they had St. Paul connections?

Comment on Why Broken Hallelujah? (3): Not “You Carried Me”? by Sven

Sven — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 21:03:38 +0000

Chris, as I just came back to this after quite some time, I think I am not entireyl convinced. On the one hand, there is definitely truth to the understanding of “admitting storm, yet total confidence in God’s love” is probably rather shallow – on the one level. On the other hand, however, the “vertical perspective” resolves that a little bit. It means that “I believe ? You carried me” means something completely different for you than it does for me. Then, the expression could be understood as an encouragement to “walk on”, being perfectly aware of the broken character of our faith. I have written on my blog on the issue that the songs that are not turning a blind eye on the “brokenness” of our lives are those that are more powerful. I am not talking about the “Jesus loves, yeah, Jesus loves” songs, but think of it in the sense of e.g. Hillsong’s “Evermore” (“as i look upon your name, circumstances fade away (…) Evermore, my heart will say, above all, I live for Your glory (…) Even if my world falls, I will say, above all, I live for Your glory”), or even more so, think of David Crowder’s “Remedy”. They are challenging in the sense – “can I really say that?” And the challenge and encouragement is to change your perspective to the vertical. “You have to have utter confidence” – I do not think that this song is necessarily teaching that. Oh yes, my faith is still broken, lacks confidence on all ends, BUT STILL – I praise God, and that’s what keeps me going, and because of that, I am not paralyzed. The question can then be, how do we encourage each other to hold on to the faith (after all, a broken faith is better than having completely lost your faith…). There is also the awareness against which it has to be considered that your faith is not your own (maybe a rather uncommon reading of 1 Corinthians 6:19). Or think of the fascinating tension that is established in Hillsong United’s “Desperate People” between the “We chase Your heart” and “Show us the way to Your heart” – again, a n example of the vertica dimension. It also raises the way bigger question whether the church encourages a “true-faced” Christianity anyway – is the church a place that allows space for people to be honest about their pain? But that would lead to a different area…

Comment on Kings of Leon–Running Away From God (sort of) by Emmett

Emmett — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 22:55:06 +0000

I saw Kings of Leon last night and I find your post very thought-provoking. I find myself drawn to those who believe in God, but lead imperfect lives, always struggling towards what God wants for us, yet flawed somehow (I guess I put myself in that category). That’s maybe part of the appeal of this band to me, aside from the fact that I enjoy their music.