Episode 6: Curt McLey, “The Primary Conundrum of Christian Living”
POSTED BY Andrew Peterson
That’s right, faithful readers, a new episode of the Rabbit Room Podcast is up and running. This one features our own Curt McLey’s silky smooth voice.
Oh, and thanks to you guys and your kind reviews of the podcast, iTunes has added the RR Podcast to the “New & Notable” list in the music section. There are a zillion podcasts in the world, so this is a pretty cool thing. Thanks for listening!
Click here for the direct link.
Or listen right here:
AP
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So I was having a bad day. I woke up, for no apparent reason, at 5:30 in the morning, and my brain was already two hours ahead of my body. It was the kind of day that usually lands me in front of the mirror with a mental baseball bat. But on this day, I did not have the wisdom to walk away in defense. Instead, I moved in closer for a beat down. My arms would not reach up to fight, but remained stubbornly, helplessly at my sides. My face, totally unprotected from the oncoming head blow, narrowly dodged clear at the very last second, and I closed my eyes in relief. A minute or two passed and I gained strength enough to push away from the glass and head for the safety of my computer. I put my head down and got to work, hoping to shake off the shadows, but an hour later I found myself crying through the proofread because I hated every single letter on the screen.
Here is a small excerpt from John Piper’s excellent book Don’t Waste Your Life (which you can read here for free, or buy here for a pittance) wherein he expresses thankfulness for Clive Staples Lewis and details some of the ways he has cleared a path for us all. I’ll only add that I vigorously concur, and that JP is among the very few men who rank with CSL for impact in my own life. -sam
Heaven knows why it has taken me so long to write a little something about this album, the newest EP from friend and soul sister, Julie Lee. Julie and I met several years ago at a friend’s house and found immediate ease in conversation and a unique connection; sparks of light and magic hung lightly in the air around our collision. It was one of those instances where you know for sure that the God of the Universe meant for you to meet this one particular human being out of the millions that He created. I know that sounds a little dramatic, but I like drama (the good kind only, please) and am grateful when I find it happening in my little life.
Browsing the shelves of wicked-cool used bookstore here in Nashville, McKay Books, I happened upon Kathleen Norris’s (The Cloister Walk, Dakota, Amazing Grace) latest, Acedia & Me. Though I had no idea she had a new book out, the cheap sticker price for a primo first edition (Note: you will recall from a previous post that I have a more than slight affinity for used bookstores and, especially, first editions) was an easy decision. The title itself was mildly intriguing since I was vaguely familiar with the word, “acedia”, but of which I knew very little. The subtitle, “A Marriage, Monks, and A Writer’s Life”, though hardly an enticing, round-em-up, gather-em-in slogan, is true to Ms. Norris’ midwestern style, neither flamboyant nor melodramatic.
I’ve been hearing about this children’s Bible called The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones for a year or so now, first from Ben Shive, then from a smattering of others whose opinions I respect on such matters. One night last week Jamie and I were putting our sweet Skye to bed (she’s 6 now), and we were talking to her about Christmas. I’d been gearing up to leave for tour and with the first Sunday of Advent fast approaching we wanted to find out what she thought. Jamie asked her who was born on Christmas morning, and Skye answered, “Um…Noah?”
Russ Bremeier at Christianity Today:
Is there a qualitative difference between learning a song from your Grandfather and downloading a song from iTunes, from getting a recipe online and pulling out the yellowing paper of an old, family recipe? Ken Myers answers in the affirmative, channeling C.S. Lewis when he discusses the need for thoughtful Christians to consider not only content in what we appreciate in art, but also how we receive it.
The other night my wife and I had the opportunity to see Charlie Peacock in concert. The Art*Music*Justice tour, featuring Sarah Groves, Derek Webb, Sandra McCracken, Brandon Heath and Charlie, had an off day in Kansas City. So Charlie set up a house show with just him and his piano in the upstairs art gallery of the world’s most perfect Christian bookstore, Signs of Life, in downtown Lawrence, Kansas. (No kidding. Not a Scripture mint to be found, but huge sections on art, history, classics and local writers. There’s one wall devoted to the puritans, and another to Walker Percy, Flannery O’Connor and the like. Dangerous.)
Mystery. Intrigue. Drugs, dark secrets, the decay of the will, and the transforming power of God’s love sown by a single man to a harvest of redemption.
My favorite book I’ve read this year was initially only a curiosity piece I perused while killing time in a Barnes & Noble. I had recently bought Unchristian – a book that offers an insightful look at how outsiders of the faith view the church – by David Kinnaman & Gabe Lyons, but decided I needed a mental break and started looking for something a little lighter. I’m not inclined to reach for humor books, but the cover of a book featuring a man dressed in Old Testament garb and looking earnestly heavenward with the ten commandments in one hand and a Starbucks cup in the other proved irresistible. I picked it up, thumbed through the pages and found myself laughing out loud in the aisle at Barnes & Noble – another uncharacteristic behavior for me.
The Yellow Leaves: A Miscellany, the new book from my favorite author, Frederick Buechner, was released on June 16th. I added it to my Amazon shopping cart when I first heard about it from the Proprietor and Eric Peters, after they heard Buechner read a couple excerpts during the grand opening of the Frederick Buechner Institute back in January (which also featured a concert by Michael Card, with AP opening for him).
Walt Wangerin, Jr. strikes again.
The musical bumper sticker on my car during the ol’ college years would have definitely read “I’d Rather Be Listening To Acoustic Music.” Therein was my initial foray into the early careers of Square Peg artists like our own Proprietor. I found great enjoyment in the Texan college worship scene (early Crowder, Robbie Seay, Justin Barnard, anyone?). And the great unknown (acoustic) rock over which I stumbled came in the form of Jill Phillips.
Janner Igiby lives in Glipwood, a nothing little village in the land of Skree, on the edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness. Manhood is on the horizon, but Janner finds it hard to feel much hope for the future. Skree is ruled by foreign oppressors, snake men called the Fangs of Dang, servants of a shadowy emperor named Gnag the Nameless. The Skreeans are weak and weaponless. They’re even tool-less. Any Skreean who needs to use a hoe has to borrow one from the Fangs (and fill out the requisite paperwork). And from time to time, the Black Carriage arrives in Glipwood to carry young Skreeans toward an unknown fate across the Dark Sea.
I am not a fan of Civil War literature; in fact, I have always thought of it as one of those weird sub-genres for obsessive types. They’re almost like Trekkies with their re-enactments and maniacal devotion to detail. It’s just not my thing (although I’m secretly jealous that they get to dress up and shoot cannons).
A Randall Goodgame song is like a great independent movie. Characters deliver lines like they were lifted from a break room, a truck stop, or a downtown diner. Seemingly incongruent scenes are juxtaposed and plot isn’t obvious; in fact, narrative–a good story–is often more evident than linear plot lines. An indie movie, like a Randall Goodgame song, seems to tell itself. Rather than being rudely yanked by a chain through a sequence of contrived events, with a Randall Goodgame song, I have the sense that I’m being allowed a willing, but vicarious sneak peak into the real lives of his real characters.
Andy Gullahorn is funny, but he’s also one of the more serious lyricists I’ve come to enjoy in a while. Listening to Reinventing the Wheel, you come to understand that he is more than a good songwriter. He is a craftsman. He knows what he’s doing, where he’s going, and where he’s taking his hearers.But as I said, people say Andy Gullahorn is funny. They say that, I think, because he makes them laugh. But as for me, I’m calling it nervous laughter.
Curt, dude, you could read the phone book and I’d listen. Seriously, there are so many folks that I need to send this podcast. I pray that I will listen to it the next time I am in the midst of pain and either trying to make light of it (as is my tendency) or drowning in it. Thank you.
Thanks, Curt. Great words. And yes, it sounds good. Wanna read an audio book for me?
Curt,
My pastor says often “God allows what He hates, to accomplish what He loves.” That little phrase has carried the day for those us he shepherds in our local faith community and beyond.
I loved the Caedmon’s Call reference. That line has always resonated with me too.
By the way, I have a map of the U.S. right in front of my desk in my office. I looked up just now and see that Nebraska is at the center of my gaze. As often as I remember, I’ll pray “God bless Curt!” — part homage to Julie Andrews (Sound of Music) and fully thankful for mirth and musings of “Movie Man” McLey.
Barliman,
This podcast is yet another excellent wrinkle to the overall Rabbit Room concept. You are truly a blessing to the Body of Christ. God bless you son.
Thanks Curt. A needed reminder.
Thanks for the kind words and support.
sevenmiles - I don’t like whining, so sometimes I avoid prayers that seem to me to be self-indulgent whining. I’m trying to learn that God wants me to cast All my cares upon Him, even those that seem trivial. I do try to frame my prayers in an optimistic, postive light. After all, if we go into prayer with a faith attitude, we should have the assurance that our prayer will be answered in the best way possible, even if that means more tough times. As I learned from experience, sometimes that means I’ll be navigating more pain for awhile. Maybe that’s why Roman 8:28 is so inspirational.
Sam - When your book goes audio, let me know. I’d love to be the reader for it.
Tony - “God allows what He hates, to accomplish what He loves.”
I’ll have to chew on that one for awhile, but I think I like it. It surely applies to sending His Son, in the most maximum way possible.
Thanks for the prayers, Tony. I really appreciate it. I don’t appreciate being identified with The Sound of Music. That’s almost as much of a stigma as being identified with Titanic, which inadvertently happened to me on the AP message board many moons ago. Unfortunately, honestly compels me to admit that I’m a fan of both movies. But I like football too, so don’t get wrong idea. Da-Bears.
Aaron - It’s always good to hear from you. On a personal note, thanks for the nice e-mail the other day. Keep playing your tunes, brother Aaron.
Excellent podcast entry, Curt! Very encouraging! It made me think, “Even when nuns take your starters, or Rex Grossman throws another interception… still even then my heart will go on!” Seriously, it was good stuff. And I’ll buy Sam’s audiobook to hear your voice some more!
I listened to this today while on the treadmill and it was extremely helpful and encouraging. Thank you for taking the time to put this down on electrons for download.
I hope this podcast doesn’t become short-lived (haven’t seen one in a couple of months) but even if it is, this one episode was worth all the efforts.