SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY: UNDER A BUSH RED SKY

After this post, I had to share this video with you.

George W. Bush sings U2.

Sweet.

Thanks for passing this on, Etta.

CHURCH IN THE WAR

There is no question that my struggles with church haven't gotten any better, but it's nice to catch glimpses of the Holy when my journey eases into Its near-orbit from time to time.

My pastor called and asked us to play some acoustic music on the front steps of the church before our Friday night alternative service. She didn't ask for "churchy" music--which is good, since we don't really know any--just our original stuff with a few obscure covers thrown in.

We were playing our version of this great Josh Ritter song for the downtown crowd gathering on the street and stoop when she came by and asked us to play it during the service. She had planned to use a recording of it before her sermon, but thought a live performance would do better. Weird. This is not a well-known song. And not a song you would expect to hear at church.


GIRL IN THE WAR

Peter said to Paul you know all those words we wrote
Are just the rules of the game and the rules are the first to go
But now talking to God is Laurel begging Hardy for a gun
I got a girl in the war man I wonder what it is we done

Paul said to Peter you got to rock yourself a little harder
Pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire
But I got a girl in the war Paul the only thing I know to do
Is turn up the music and pray that she makes it through

Because the keys to the Kingdom got locked inside the Kingdom
And the angels fly around in there but we can't see them
I got a girl in the war Paul I know that they can hear me yell
If they can't find a way to help her they can go to Hell
If they can't find a way to help her they can go to Hell

Paul said to Peter you got to rock yourself a little harder
Pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire
But I got a girl in the war Paul her eyes are like champagne
They sparkle bubble over and in the morning all you got is rain
They sparkle bubble over and in the morning all you got is rain
They sparkle bubble over and in the morning all you got is rain


So, there I was playing a song that is critical of the church, with a musical partner whose beliefs are uncertain at best, and I thought: Isn't this what church is supposed to do? Nudge us into a corner and beat on us a little bit with velvet gloves? Not to hurt us, but to dislodge us from the crust for a little while...until we eventually get back to our calcified ways of screwing it up.

It didn't solve my issues with organized religion, but it was a moment of grace.