This week in music…

August 5, 2010

superstippy This week in music... , , Leave a comment

I’m becoming increasingly excited for the new Caedmon’s Call album, entitled Raising Up The Dead, that drops on September 14th.

I’ve been a fan of the group ever since I bought Overdressed a few years ago, and a long the way I’ve bought a few single tracks, and last year finally got three of their other full albums. In that time, I’ve found some favorites that I listen to over and over again, but that was it really.

Over the last week though, I’ve just put them on repeat on my iPod and on iTunes when I find myself sitting at the computer, and I’ve been blown away by their music.

First of all, they’re musically solid. I’m someone who listens to a lot of contemporary christian music, but I completely understand that it isn’t always as good as it could be. That seems to be a trend that we have a hard time breaking as christians. We try doing something that the world is doing, but we don’t make the effort to make it not cheesy, or it comes out not as polished as it could be. I think if we’re going to do something, that there is no reason it shouldn’t be every bit as polished as its secular counterpart (Jon Acuff has done a great job of pointing this out, and overcoming it over at Stuff Christians Like).

So, that being said, these guys are just as good musically as any secular band I’ve heard that might fall into this…acousticy/folksy type genre. Their singers can sing, they play their instruments beautifully, and they work with professionals who expertly mix and put together their final products.

In addition to that, they continually strike a chord with my lyrically. I can’t think of one of their songs that I’ve listened to in the last week or so, that doesn’t convey some kind biblical message that is incredibly important for us to be reminded of time and again. And a few of the songs are just piercing in the way that they speak to things I’ve worked through, or am currently walking through.

Here’s a few of the songs I’ve come to love over the past week:

Prepare Ye The Way

Masqurade

Love Along

Ballad of San Francisco

Thankful

Faith My Eyes

40 Acres

(And an old favorite for me) Ten Thousand Angles

If you haven’t heard anything by them give them a listen, they really are fantastic. If you’re an old fan, maybe reunite with them in the next couple of days if it’s been a while.

-Stippick

I want to be a writer.

February 2, 2010

superstippy Blogging, Life 5 Comments

I know that probably comes as a shock to most of you. If you were to look at my life from the outside you might think: “He would like a mediocre job and to sit on the couch and read and watch tv for the rest of his life.” You’d only be 15% right in that thinking though. I say 15%, because honestly if we could make a living at it who of us wouldn’t just be a little lazy and do our hobbies?

So. Anyway. I want to be a writer. An established, published writer, who you will someday say things about like: “Have you read the latest by Stippick? Powerful stuff man. Powerful stuff.”, or “Man, that article by David Stippick the other day made me laaauuugh!”. You know. The normal things like that.

I want to write fiction and non-fiction. I want to write articles. I’d even love to write a screenplay for a movie, and create and write for a television show. I think I can do those things. Although, that movie may only get made out of pity by my good friend James Hunt who I know will one day be making all the hit movies you’re going to see.

I also realize that this doesn’t just happen. It takes discipline to work at it, and being able to listen to the critiques of loved ones, and people you have never met, and being willing to hear “No”. But also knowing that some of those loved ones are just to close to see that you might actually be good at something they hadn’t noticed, and those people you’ve never met may not be the people who need to hear what you have to say.

So anyway. As far as the discipline goes, I am even so scattered on here. Part of that is because I’m honestly scared to write. Anyone who can type and knows how to get on the internet can have a blog. So what makes me different than any of those people? I don’t know. I honestly don’t. Maybe there isn’t anything. Maybe in eight years I realize that this dream will never happen, and I’ve wasted a lot of time and $25 a year on a domain name, and just give up. But right now…there’s just something inside of me, and God is pushing me telling me that I do have something to say. I have read this blog post on Stuff Christians Like several times in the last few days as I struggle with that, and here’s what I’ve decided.

I’m a good writer. I’m not great. But I’m above average. God has given me a passion for it, and He’s given me talent for it. It is something I need to chase after until He tells me to stop. I know that that means I’ll spend quite some time working a day job. But I’m ok with that. If that is what is required of me to get where I think He is pointing me, then I really have no option but to do that.

So. I’ve declared it publicly. Which…honestly doesn’t mean much other than that now you all know for sure. And you might ask questions about it. And that might make me uncomfortable for a while. But I shouldn’t be uncomfortable in my own skin. Now when people ask me what I want to do, I can really say “I want to be a writer” (because I’ve made that fact known on the interwebs on my blog that has a steady readership of two), and “I’m actually working on a book right now” (because that’s actually true).

I want to be a writer.

-Stippick

P.S. If  you know anyone in the biz, let me know.

Side hugs and leg drops

August 10, 2008

superstippy Life, Youth Ministry , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Friday night I participated in a lock-out. Side hug. Tonight I watched some sweet UFC fights with some great friends. Leg drops my friends, leg drops. (I know that the whole side hugs and leg drops market has been cornered by my man Jon Acuffs over at Stuff Christians Like, but I really like it and have been using it a lot over the past couple days, and wanted to title my blog that…)

Lock out was good. Laser tag was boss as usual. Who doesn’t like to run around fake killing middle schoolers?! It was great! We then proceeded to a roller rink. Rest assured if you ever see me roller blading again, my life has been threatened. My body still hurts from it. After that, we went swimming at the Berry Creek pool. I didn’t swim…but we did have the cops called on us…that was interesting. Over all it was a great event.

UFC fights were all pretty great. My boy Brock Lesnar came out on top like I knew he would. Georges St. Pierre did as well. I am not a die hard GSP fan, but I did have him picked for the fight. In the end I came out as the three time champ, successfully defended my belt from last month, and have the most points over all. Thank you gods of UFC.

 

Seriously though, great weekend over all. In between those tow events I went to the second birthday party of Raley Lynn Levy. Great kid. Great weekend overall. So far. Looking forward to tomorrow morning. It will be my second to last sunday at Austin Baptist Church. I loe those kids and those people, and thank them all so much for what they have taught me this summer.

 

Side hugs and leg drops (thanks Jon),

Stippick

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