the tindog coffeehouse

As if I didn’t feel old enough already, today is the 30th anniversary of the launch of MTV. Let that sink in for a minute.

Of course, trivia buffs know that the first video ever shown on MTV was The Buggles’ “Video Killed The Radio Star”. But the first video I ever saw on the basic cable network (you know, back when they actually showed music videos), was “Centerfold” by The J. Geils Band.

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“God Save the Foolish Kings” by House of Heroes. Why?

1. Because it’s almost summer, and Suburba is the perfect summertime album.
2. Because I’ve been reading a lot of Old Testament stuff lately, especially 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, and a bunch of prophetic books such as Jeremiah, which is what I’m reading now. And there are a lot of foolish kings throughout those books.
3. And just because it’s an awesome song.

Previously:
Bible reading: At the halfway mark
Thoughts on Genesis
House of Heroes and Seabird at The Prophet Bar in Dallas tonight!

Recently, the extraordinarily obscene gansta rap duo known as Insane Clown Posse made headlines when they “came out” as evangelical Christians. In an F-bomb-laden interview with The Guardian, they explain how for 20 years, they’ve just been tricking their audience into believing they were the scum of the earth so that they could at some point spring it on them that no, they’ve actually been Christians all along.

ICP’s, um, “unorthodox” method of spreading the Gospel begs a number of questions, not the least of which is whether they’re really saved or if this some sort of publicity stunt. I mean, after all, when was the last time anyone has even heard of them much less give them any attention?

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As a fan of Google, Billy Joel, history, ’80s music, and awesome stuff in general, I have to say this is quite possibly the greatest use of the Internet ever.

Confession: I get teary-eyed every time I hear the Jars of Clay song “Boys (Lesson One)”, a series of instructions for life from a father to his sons.

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Lesson one – do not hide
Lesson two – there are right ways to fight
And if you have questions
We can talk through the night

So you know who you are
And you know what you want
I’ve been where you’re going
And it’s not that far
It’s too far to walk
But you don’t have to run
You’ll get there in time

Lesson three – you’re not alone
Not since I saw you start breathing on your own
You can leave, you can run, this
Will still be your home

So you know who you are
And you know what you want
I’ve been where you’re going
And it’s not that far
It’s too far to walk
But you don’t have to run
You’ll get there in time
Get there in time

In time, to wonder where the days have gone
In time, to be old enough to
Wish that you were young
When good things are unraveling
Bad things come undone
You weather love and lose your innocence

There will be liars and
Thieves who take from you
Not to undermine the consequence
But you are not what you do
And when you need it most
I have a hundred reasons why I love you

If you weather love and lose your innocence
Just remember – lesson one

Happy Father’s Day!

Previously:
Defining ‘manhood’