I am convinced

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39) These verses leave me thunderstruck. There is such a calming reassurance that never fails to blow my mind. There is great confidence to be derived from the knowledge that "if God is for us, who can be against us?" as the chapter earlier states.

Death has been conquered, once and for all. Life has inevitable heartache and heartbreak, but you know what? The everyday struggles of life do not possess the power to separate us from the vast love of God, either. Angels and demons? Present circumstances and anxieties about the future? You have no reason to worry. God is, and always has been, in control. Paul gives us an important reminder that nothing – nothing that can even be thought to have enough power – can separate us from God's love.

We neither deserve nor earn that love. It was manifested ultimately at the cross of Jesus Christ; His final payment for sin – the outpouring of God's wrath on His only son – was what ensured our standing with God as righteous. Sin separates us from God, which should drive us to run from it. It causes a rift between God and the believer, but it does not change God's hold on that believer.

Our own personal sin, however base and instinctual the desire may be to give in to fleshly desires, cannot remove us from the love secured for us in Christ. If that isn't a reason to give thanks, I don't know what is. If you have acknowledged your sin and repented (Acts 20:21), cling to this promise, and have every reason to be as convinced as Paul was about its truth.

Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon Album Review

Oh my. This record. This record. Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon (DSOTM) is easily one of the most influential rock albums of all time, setting the bar high for anything else claiming to be a true rock album. It celebrated its 40th anniversary earlier this year, having been released in March 1973 and selling over 50 million copies since then.

I have listened to this album while stargazing at 3 AM, wading in the ocean late at night, half-asleep in between sheets on a warm Sunday afternoon, watching the sun set from my roof, and on rainy mornings before school. As a whole, this album has proven itself to be a suitable soundtrack for any setting.

"Speak To Me" unnerves the listener by having no music playing for about the first minute before bringing in a soft, then insistent heartbeat, steadily layered with other noises circling your head. It melds (like the entirety of the songs with one another) into "Breathe (In the Air)" which introduces you to the breathtaking (no pun intended) lyric/music combination that Pink Floyd so masterfully exhibits. While David Gilmour murmurs, "Breathe, breathe in the air/Don't be afraid to care," the accompaniment is simple but powerful.

"On the Run" projects an eerily repeated arpeggiation that, to be honest, seems a bit drawn-out, but adds to the developing atmosphere of the album. It seamlessly rolls into "Time," a colossus of a track that manages to maintain both gracefulness and intensity musically while throwing out powerful lyrics such as, "You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today/And then one day you find ten years have got behind you/No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun."

"The Great Gig in the Sky" gives fervent-voiced Clare Torry centerstage, her wailing a raw improvisation over a piano riff that practically melts in the mouth. Added are, as throughout the album, recorded snippets of voices musing on themes like violence, war, and dying.

Although "Money" was the one real "single material" piece on DSOTM, it is by no means overrated. The tune is bluesy and the middle of the song gives way to a surprising rhythm change, from funky 7/4 to a well-worked 4/4. It's just in time to herald in an iconic guitar solo, courtesy of David Gilmour, which musically mirrors the picture of frenzied and greedy materialism conveyed by the lyrics.

In "Us and Them," my personal favorite, dreamy saxophone flutters in and out of the first few minutes, pulling the melody in its wake. The listener is already enraptured as the first lyrics are uttered: "Us and them/And after all, we're only ordinary men." The gorgeousness of the track nearly makes one forget about the melancholy lyrics, which only help to fuel the pure emotion contained in the song. Both the music and lyrics reach such an ardent climax, it can be physically hard to breathe.

"Any Colour You Like" is an intoxicating jam. The good vibes are so vibrantly present, it is easily strong as a stand-alone track, even though in reality it's an instrumental bridge connecting "Us and Them" and "Brain Damage," the following track.

"Brain Damage" finally introduces the album title, the lyrics, "...If your head explodes with dark forebodings too/ I'll see you on the dark side of the moon" prompting an "aha" moment as the listener makes a lyrical connection to the album title. The song has a contemplative, almost nostalgic feel to it. It is a meditation on mental instability--a quiet nod to former band member Syd Barrett--and rises to buoyant confidence in the chorus.

"Eclipse" is a soaring benediction to the album. It, cleverly enough, closes by returning to the beginning heartbeats thudding through "Speak to Me," bringing the record full circle and leaving the listener with a reassuring sense of continuity. One can almost feel the band members giving their blessing on "all that you do...all that's to come," as you leave the music behind and embark into the world. Or return to the world after escaping, even if only for a brief period of time, into the otherworldly state of mind DSOTM coaxes one into.

The beautiful thing about The Dark Side of the Moon, aside from it being a prime example of Pink Floyd's uncanny ability to craft masterpiece albums, is its timelessness. This album has a huge measure of excellence, to transcend to listeners 40 years later. The Dark Side of the Moon is a musical rite of passage, a study in everyday lunacy, and is sure to deeply stir emotion in any listener.

The Under-appreciation of Nature

I've recently returned to a childlike frame of mind in regards to nature. I sometimes feel so inexplicably overwhelmed by the pure beauty of God's creation that I feel like approaching strangers and marveling, “Dude, can you believe that wind is actually, you know, a thing? Like, you can feel it, but can't see it?” To which my hapless victim would give me an uneasy smile and maybe offer a gracious, “uh, that's nice...” before clearing out pronto. Ways to become more appreciative and aware of the wonders of nature:

Stargaze. Seriously. Go look at the stars tonight. Tilt your head back, wait for your eyes to adjust, and drink it in. Offer up your problems to the celestial bodies and contemplate on how vastly unconcerned they are. Your earthly, world-shattering, human-to-human troubles? It's fascinating and almost relieving how minuscule your little soul and it's heartache is in the grand scheme of the universe. Perspective is everything, and you can gain a lot by simply watching the stars and reveling in the goodness of a God who places those stars in the sky each night.

Take a walk in the neighborhood, backyard, or park. Never underestimate the power of a walk outside to calm your worrying and boost your mood. Hikes, too!

Observe wildlife. When I say wildlife, I include the random butterfly landing on a bush in your backyard. The lazy worm squirming on the sidewalk. Open yourself up to the reality that the Earth is teeming with life, both animal and human. And yes, I think there is a distinction.

Visit the ocean. I cannot stress this enough. Living close to the sea is something I took for granted the majority of my life. Don't wait until I did. Much like stargazing, being in the vicinity of the ocean is soothing and eye-opening. You can lose yourself in the glorious ambiguity of the vastness of the water. There's nothing quite like a trip to the beach and a dousing in the ocean to clear the mind and cleanse the body. Trust me.

Anne Frank, in her infamous diary, said, "The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature, and God...As long as this exists, and it certainly will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles. Oh, who knows, perhaps it won't be long before I can share this overwhelming feeling of bliss with someone who feels the way I do about it."

I couldn't have said it better myself. Nature is extremely underappreciated and sometimes simply observing various aspects of the world is an excellent way to commune with God and gain added perspective on life.

"I love you."

"I love you." Words that, given the right context, send shivers down my spine. Regardless of the identity of the speaker, my response will always be the same. Ecstatic joy, quickly followed by paralyzing skepticism. "No, you don't," my mind whispers.

To the one that carelessly breathes, "I love you:"

You don't love me. You love what you think I can give you. What is it? An ego boost? A trophy to show off to your friends? Instant physical gratification? I am merely a placeholder, fit in the same slot that you would fit any other girl into. You are not worth my time.

You don't love me. You love the qualities of yourself you see reflected in me. Let's be honest: You love yourself, but veil your narcissism by concealing it in the admiration of another human. You don't care about all my parts semblancing a whole. The only parts you care about are those of yourself you see mirrored back at you. Without that, you lose interest. You are a coward.

You don't love me. You love the idea of me. This is the most painful, darling. You have conjured up an elaborate, beautiful being without flaw. I am not she. You are blinded by the insistent murmurings that I am this creature you have shaped me into. And you can't get enough. How heartbreaking, that you would not set that image aside and try to love me for the woman that I am. I promise, love, I am as, if not more, intricate and impossibly mysterious as your hologram version of my essence. Why won't you come closer and find out?

Love. Ha. What a meaningless word...

Or is it? We, as humans, screw everything up, including the definition and action of otherwise pure words. It's our fallen natures. God is love. Flesh rejects God, flesh rejects the incandescent absolute that love is, translated to our broken human levels, where we fumble over our words and say things we don't mean and cling tightly when we know we shouldn't and burn so hot only to end up icily bereft of feeling.

Past vs. Future

Late night reflection from 7-13-13:

"Everyone has a past...and a future," voiced Jon Foreman at today's Bro-Am. "You are more than the choices that you've made/you are more than the sum of your past mistakes," the band Tenth Avenue North sings in their song "You Are More." Both statements? True.

In the past lie the dark times that we so desperately avoid but weigh so heavily on us. They overshadow the times of undeniable bliss and happiness and reveal our depth of depravity. We should always be looking to the future, hopefully, gratefully. Onward.

You are more than your past. But your past is still part of you. You are more than the fantasized about but not yet fulfilled first kiss. But you are that fantasy, the way it evolved and how it dissipated. You are more than the nauseating secrets. But those secrets create the framework for your soul.

Your past does not have to define you. Choose the parts to learn from and move on. Your essence is the sum of your experiences and dreams and the hollow potentiality that every human possesses. You are who you have been and who you are working to be. Self-discovery is a broken road, but one that every soul is destined to journey on."

Billboard Top 5 Songs: Review for the week of 10-19-13

Here are my reviews for the top five singles on Billboard.com's Hot 100. 1. "Royals" by Lorde

Soon to be a household name, Lorde is a 16-year-old songstress who crafts tunes so well she might as well be a seasoned artist. She could easily pass off as a young Florence Welch, Lana Del Rey, Grimes, etc. "Royals" is easily adoptable as the indie anthem of kids who take the train to go chill with their friends. When I first heard the sultry beat and husky strains of "I've never seen a diamond in the flesh" at a high school football game, I mentally passed it off as a newer, toned-down Icona Pop song. How wrong was I. Lorde incorporates criticism of fame and society's warped definition of success with playful yet rebellious cries of "We don't care/We aren't caught up in your love affair." She exhibits a lyrical wisdom that far surpasses her years, while displaying a fierceness that seems as raw as it is authentic. "Royals" is a refreshing and bitingly cynical return to carefree idealism of youth and the philosophy that you can have fun without material excess; you only need to be surrounded by the right people.

2. "Roar" by Katy Perry

Anthems are Katy's new game, and people seem to eat it up. As cautious as "Christian" listeners are of K-Perry's music after her blatant turning away from Christian values several years ago, you can't really point to any offensive material in "Roar." Typical anthemic idealisms are thrown around lyrically, from "You held me down/but I got up" to "I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter/dancing through the fire." The tune is a fairly predictable, upbeat pop confection, no surprises lurk around musical corners. The extended "Roa-a-a-a-a-ar" at the end of each chorus got old pretty quickly, considering that Katy's voice seems strained as it is. As far as popular, insistently positive songs go, "Roar" is an easy pick for the listener who doesn't stray far from the radio to find pick-me-up tunes. I'm wary and predict that Katy's encouraging side will soon be overshadowed by a plethora of tongue-in-cheek risque songs on her new record.

3. "Wrecking Ball" by Miley Cyrus

At first listen, "Wrecking Ball" is a song that could easily belong to any number of pop divas. Following in the footsteps of female music giants like Pink and Rihanna, Miley Cyrus tries her hand at the "vulnerable ballad," which seems like an inevitable rite of passage for female artist, potentially making or breaking their careers. Cyrus's voice, which was admittedly grating on the ears after the first whine of "We clawed/We chained/Our hearts in vain," pleads through the simple melody dripping with angst and regret. Her voice seems a little too gleeful for the mood of the troubled (albeit relatively shallow) lyrics. Lyrics which, by the way, are self-contradictory. If Miley "came in like a wrecking ball" why is HE the one who "wrecks" her. To be honest, the whole wrecking ball analogy is weak and far too unfitting for the emotional message of the song. "Wrecking Ball" is an uncomplicated track that perhaps possessed a lot of potential with deeper lyricism and, quite frankly, a completely different artist accompanying. Even if the song was likable, it's hard for me to support an artist known primarily for her racy, and now infamous, VMA antics.

4. "Wake Me Up" by Avicii

As mainstream of a house DJ Avicii is, he does know how to make likable music. "Wake Me Up" kicks off with a folksy tune that leaves no doubt in the listener's mind that this is another Mumford & Sons (or some such folk giant's) wailing with raw, urgent guitar accompaniment. It, much to the listener's surprised delight, morphs casually into electronic mimickings, before launching into an full-on electronic dance interlude. True to form, Avicii returns to the acoustic motif, finding the delicate balance between overproduction and over-simplicity. The tune is driven by the empowering lyrics, which determinedly plod along, Aloe Blacc's vocals straining hopefully in a way that makes the listener want to take on the world. "Wake Me Up" is an empowerment track that mixes two seemingly un-mixable genres artfully and with surprisingly engaging results.

5. "Hold On, We're Going Home" by Drake, feat. Majid Jordan

I'll be honest: I was not expecting this track to be good. Drake is known for his predominantly racy songs and questionable actions on stage. "Hold On, We're Going Home" is, to put it simply, charming. The vaguely, but not excessively, funky, disco-esqe beat drives ardent lyrics that are delivered beautifully. The lyrics are pretty straightforward, "I got my eyes on you/You're everything that I see," he croons. "I can't get over you/You left your mark on me," he breathes tenderly later on. Probably the best thing about this song is the fact that it does not objectify women as sex objects, which is characteristic of the majority of "love songs" these days. (see Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines...Or don't. Yeah, don't.) "Hold On, We're Going Home" gives the mainstream lewd love song cubby hole a wide berth, while serving as a good vibes serenade.

Which is your favorite song?

Obscured Memory

It gives me great frustration that despite my efforts, my memory is never adequate. I strain until my head feels as though it will burst, trying to revisit those happier times. I may remember the words said, but the speaker, oh the speaker's face escapes me – just barely out of reach. Sometimes the blurred memory of a person's features sharpen for a split second, teasing me, since after that split second, the face is gone, and the description and shadow of the memory is all I have. The moments that do appear spontaneously provoke nostalgia and joy. "My God, a moment of bliss. Why, isn't that enough for a whole lifetime?"

What Makes a Good Artist?

When it comes to music, we all have our favorite singers and bands. But what really drives us to them? Often, it is difficult times, when we turn to music and discover the healing powers that lie within. Specifically, what makes an artist a good one? They should be able to communicate emotion not only explicitly through lyrics, but implicitly through the accompanying notes. We are moved by scores in movies, when there are no words in the music to indicate what we should feel. Soaring melodies and haunting harmonies stir emotions in us that have nothing to do with the lyrics. The music should also be versatile. When their music can both soothe you and psych you out, you have found a truly stunning artist.

Respect for fan base, including provision of band-to-fan interactions. Arrogant band members that hold themselves on the grand scale are difficult to appreciate, just as it's hard to respect someone who doesn't respect you. Down-to-earth musicians are a breath of fresh air in a music culture full of divas.

Possess respect for the art they create. Music is a precious thing. If musicians have no reverence for what they represent through their songs, everything else goes out the window.

If Christian, realize they have a responsibility to reflect Christ. They should be bold with the gospel in the way they present themselves as musicians and be faithful to resist the world, flesh and devil in their efforts with music.

Have a certain amount of ambiguity, leave some up to listeners. Not everything should be clear cut in their music. Cryptic lyrics are fun. The beauty of vague lyrics is that it opens much to listener interpretation.

Profanity profits nothing. You can have good music without throwing four letter words in for emphasis. Grab a dictionary or thesaurus and open your eyes to the reality that there are more classy, creative, and artistic ways of expressing yourself.

Not restricting to one genre. Some of the best bands are difficult to label. Are they pop, folk-rock, or simply indie? It may frustrate the music connoisseurs of the world, but often those artists are the best. It shows musical maturity, if you will, when a singer refuses to stick wholly to one genre. Even experimentation within broader music labels has positive results.

These guidelines aren't hard and fast. Excellent singers or bands exist with any combination of these. It's hard to not be critical of musicians who don't display any of these qualities, like a lot of mainstream pop music. The bottom line is music is music, there's no right or wrong answer, but it's also easier to appreciate artists who incorporate some of these elements into their art.