What have the last few days consisted of?
1. Rooibus.
Also known as "red tea." It's African, it's awesome. It's really good for you, and can be used in a ton of diffferent ways. I tend to drink it straight, or in what I've come to call a "miel." I googled the term, and found that it's actually not the proper term... but I can't find the proper term. So, life goes on and I continue to call it "miel." Tea, milk, honey. It's that simple; but it's incredible. You can find it cheap at health food stores, and some coffeeshops (though green/herbal teas still tend to dominate that market). It can also be pulled as an espresso shot. Crazy... and crazy awesome.
Red tea. Find it. You'll be glad.
...wow, did I just write that much about tea?!?
2. Jesus Wants to Save Christians: A Manifesto For The Church In Exile.
I've always enjoyed reading Rob Bell's stuff. While, I try to stray from being a "fanboy," I tend to pick up stuff with his name on it. Mainly, because a lot of people I know tend to really dive into what he preaches. Sometimes that's a great thing... others... not so much. I'm still in the middle of this one, so the verdict is still out. I just know that this guy has a level of influence on this country's next wave of ministers/believers. It's almost scary.
Bell has a great way of writing very simplistically, and is very to the point. There's little to no BS. It's harder than one might think to find that in a lot of Christian literature these days. I love the way he writes. Anything of Bell's is great conversation material - at least when you're at a Pentecostal Christian school.
3. Celebration of Discipline.
I took a class called "Spiritual Formation" last year, and a lot of Richard Foster's work was outlined. This is another writer that I've come to enjoy. My professor highly recommended this book, toting that "every Christian should read this." Me being the person I am, took that as a challenge. Challenge is definitely the wrong word choice there; but I'll let it slide - I'm not in an editing mood.
The book is divided into three different areas of discipline: inward, outward, and corporate. Each with their own subdivisions. It would take forever to outline them all. Read it for yourself. It is indeed worth it.
4. Only By the Night.
I've never been a big Kings of Leon fan. In fact, I've never been a fan at all. I saw them perform on SNL earlier this year, and was not impressed at all. Fast forward a few months... to a few days ago. I'm on iTunes, and I came across a list of the top 50 albums of 2008. This one was high on the list. Of course, I decided that I should give it a second chance.
It's been playing ever since. It's one of the best albums I've heard in years. It's simplistic, moving, and has a "coolness" factor that I just can't place.
5. Prospekt's March.
This is going to be the first album I buy on vinyl, once I get my record player. Viva La Vida was awesome; but this... this takes it to another level. These four guys have "it." That thing that all musicians want. They can play the most simplistic, tasteful parts and make them sing when put together. Perfectly layered... perfectly executed. I mean, when was the last time you heard a horn section on a rock album?
Dang that Chris Martin...
This is much longer than the two-paragraph blog I set out to write. I'm done.
