How interesting then that in Galatians 3:8 Paul writes, “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed.’” Where is the talk about souls going to heaven? Nations being blessed? Huh?

According to St. Paul, the gospel declared to Abraham was that the heathen nations would be converted. Man, we have a lot of re-thinking to do when it comes to the word “gospel.”

This piece has been done to death, but Jeff Beck just makes it his own. Beck performing Puccini’s “Nessun dorma” from Turandot. Beautiful!

NPR’s web site has a feature on guitarist Jeff Beck and Beck’s new album Emotion and Commotion. From now until the album releases on Tuesday, you can hear the whole album streaming from NPR’s site. Go here to read the article and listen to the album.

ACCOMPANIMENT TRACK – A means of momentarily transforming ordinary folks into Christian Artists.

GOOD OLD HYMN – Any congregational song composed between 1850 and 1950, in a style fitting for the circus, reminding us of our parents’ and grandparents’ hokey churches. A verse of one of these songs should be sung periodically for wholesome sentimental value, similar to baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet.

OVERHEAD – An appropriate object of genuflection. For maximum relevance, the overhead should be placed where the Cross was.

VULNERABILITY – A worship leader’s willingness to dip anecdotally into his own experiences, especially those which make him look like a buffoon. Other ways of displaying vulnerability are the closing of eyes, the raising of hands, and the production of tears.

Read the whole thing.

Jesus did not rise from the dead in order that you could go to heaven when you die. He could have accomplished that without rising from the dead. If the point is merely going to heaven or having some kind eternal, happy existence then Jesus could have gone straight on up to heaven from His death, with no need to rise from the dead.

No, the resurrection of Jesus occurred so that we might rise from the dead.

As I mentioned yesterday in my sermon (jumping off of Galatians 2) we should not only say to each other “He is Risen!” but also “We are Risen!” If I am crucified with Christ I am risen with Him on Easter morning and the hope of the resurrection is mine.

Read the rest of Pastor Sumpter’s article here.

What am I listening to?

“See the Light” – Aldo Nova
Yeah, I know. It’s Aldo Nova. But his debut album was kind of ahead of its time. He offered a pop-metal mix that was several years ahead of Bon Jovi. How interesting then that he would go on to work with Bon Jovi a few years later. Nova’s guitar solo on this song is outstanding: full of taste, great tone, and flash.

“All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye” – John Mayer
There are no two ways about it: John Mayer is an outstanding guitar player. But for me this track is all about the sumptuous slide playing of Robbie McIntosh. This is slide playing of the highest order, full of beautiful tone and tasty note choices. It fits the song perfectly.

“Amsterdam” – Van Halen
One of the better of Eddie’s latter-day Van Hagar riffs and guitar tones. Alex Van Halen’s drumming is also exemplary on this tune, as well.

Grand triumvirate of tone for this week

Michael Landau on Tales from the Bulge, Pat Metheny on (Still Life) Talking, and John Scofield on Blue Matter.

I want to feature things that inspired me and still inspire me to this day. I have plenty of blind spots and holes in my listening experience, so if one of your favorites from one year doesn’t make my list, leave me a comment and tell me about it.

I encourage you to listen to some of the stuff I will list here and purchase a few tracks and/or albums by the artists listed in the coming weeks. Finding new music is fun.

Without further ado, here are my picks for 1978:

“Phase Dance” – Pat Metheny Group (Pat Metheny Group)

My entry point into Pat Metheny’s music was the American Garage album, but the “white album” is still an amazing piece of work. “Phase Dance” is such a deceptively simply tune performed with such devastating beauty. No one it became a big “hit” for the Metheny Group.

“I’m the One” – Van Halen (Van Halen)

There really are no bad tracks on the first Van Halen, but “I’m the One” has always stood out as one of my faves. It features two of Eddie’s most blindingly technical guitar solos and the rhythm guitar part (kind of a distorted jump boogie rhythm) is outstanding.

“My Song” – Keith Jarrett (My Song)

The two albums that Keith Jarrett recorded with his “European quartet” in the mid-1970′s (Belonging and My Song) are among my favorite albums in any style. I played in a jazz quartet in college that covered “Country” off of this album and I’ve always thought “My Song” is one of the great jazz ballads ever.

“(It Was) Only Yesterday” – Larry Carlton (Larry Carlton)

It is difficult to pick a favorite song off of Larry Carlton’s debut album. Carlton burns things up one side and down the other from start to finish. But his playing on this ballad is so affecting and pure that it really should be required listening for guitarists that want to play a ballad.

“Goodbye Girl” – Toto (Toto)

My favorite song from the debut Toto album. Jeff Porcaro’s groove pushes things along so well and Steve Lukather’s guitar solo is one of his best. Oh, and the impossibly fast guitar run at the end is amazing. If only it were mixed a little louder.

I didn’t expect 1978 to be so musically rich but once again it proved difficult to whittle this list down to only five songs. Songs that I left off that are still inspiring to me today include “Lights” by Journey, “Feelin’ Satisfied” by Boston, “Just What I Needed” by The Cars, “Sultans of Swing” by Dire Straits, “Odyssey” by the Dixie Dregs, “Brother To Brother” by Gino Vannelli, “Lights Out” from UFO’s amazing live album Strangers in the Night, and “Cygnus X-II: Hemispheres” by Rush.

It is no secret that Pat Metheny is my favorite musician. His musical vision, affinity for stripped shirts, and an upbringing similar to mine (suburban Midwestern) has always given me an affinity for his music. This is video of the original Metheny Group (with Lyle Mays on keyboards, Mark Egan on bass, and Danny Gottlieb on drums) performing the song “San Lorenzo.” This song appeared for the first time on the Pat Metheny Group’s self-titled debut album (also known jokingly as the  “white album”). The best performance I have ever heard is on the Group’s Travels album. That performance is full of grace, perfection, and a slow-burn that doesn’t quit. The perforamnce here is a little rush, full of passion and youthful enthusiasm. You can’t go wrong either way.

What am I listening to?

“Hear About It Later” – Van Halen
While listening to Fair Warning I usually skip over this tune. I don’t know why. Probably a holdover from my youth when I wanted to keep rockin’ after “Sinner’s Swing” right into “Unchained.” But the last time I listened to this album I let it play. Eddie’s chorused guitar sound at the beginning of the song…THAT is the chorus sound I want.

“He’s Gone Away” – Charlie Haden & Pat Metheny
There really are no words for the beauty of this song. Pure emotion might come close. It’s just Metheny on a nylon-string guitar, the unadorned beauty of Haden’s upright bass, and some subtle synth strings toward the end of the tune. Mezmerizing stuff.

“Once I Prayed” – Phil Keaggy
One of the most beautiful tracks in the Phil Keaggy canon, “Once I Prayed” is Keaggy’s setting of a Helen McDowell to original music. A wonderful marriage of great music and wonderful, thought-provoking poetry.

Grand triumvirate of tone for this week

Tom Hemby on In The Moment, Robben Ford on Blue Moon, and Steve Stevens on Memory Crash.