A noob with the Macromedia multimedia program - I created the entire sequence within a SINGLE scene - a terrible technique causing EVERY element to be chaotically stacked with all editing re(choir ?)quiring a FULL (playful ? play the fool ?) play-through. It took me a complete weekend just to do the sequence with the spinning crystals and when I reached my sELF-IMPosed deadline of St. Nicholas' Day I skimped a tadge on the quantity of envelopes that I would have preferred to have included.

I was purty amazed to have "lucked out" noticing passable English phrases, within the Latin  (annunciation) ennunciation for the WHOLE, holy song in THIS recording.

The mutually tickled, however, are in a minority.

Rufus Wainwright.

I have reviewed all of his songs, (250+) and have compiled his ten best. How did I do? Did I miss your favorite MWS song? If so, please let me know why you believe your favorite should make the top ten!
 

1. I'll Lead You Home

• Year and CD: 1995 & I'll Lead You Home
• Review: Picking the number one song was hard. When I had all of his top songs in front of me, this one just stands out. Its simple and powerful message of God's love is lasting. The slow build up musically is something I really like as well.
  
• Lyrics: "Vultures of darkness ate the crumbs you left; You got no way to retrace your steps; Just leave it to me; I'll lead you home."
• Music Video: Youtube

2. Kentucky Rose

1. Year and CD:  1993 & The First Decade
   
2. Review: When I said it was hard to pick a number one song, Kentucky Rose was the reason. And as I sit and listen to the song I realize I may have made a mistake. The song tells the story of a southern preacher who sacrifices his life to save a little boy. Besides telling an amazing story in the five minute song, it tells of a man who loves God and would do anything to save His children. This may not be as good as I'll Lead You home, but it's my personal favorite song.
3. Lyrics: "Evenings stroll crossed shadows bridge; Cause when he saw the boy tramping on that rocky ridge; He knew the danger that he would face; It's as if he saved the child only to take his place"
4. Music Video: No video, listen to song on IMEEM

3. I'll be around

• Year and CD: 1995 & I'll Lead You Home
• Review: Also from the I'll Lead You Home CD, this song let's you know God is always there. Don't give up on him, because he'll be around.
• Lyrics: "But everybody needs someone; Who loves 'em through the toughest times - while they're growing."
• Music Video: No video, listen to the song on IMEEM

4. How to say Goodbye

• Year and CD: 2006 & Stand
• Review: A simple, yet powerful song. The utter helplessness of your daughter getting married and moving out I'm sure is overwhelming. The song just pleads and begs for understanding. How do we say goodbye? How does a daddy look at his grown daughter and say goodbye to her? The song makes me tear up almost every time I listen to it. The video is very good too!
• Lyrics: "Tell me when the time we had slipped away; Tomorrow turned to yesterday; And I don't know how"
• Music Video: Youtube

5. There she stands

• Year and CD: 2002 & There She Stands
• Review: Written after September 11th attacks. The song was inspired by President George W. Bush asking MWS to write a song about the tragedy. The song is about the American flag and one of the most patriotic songs ever written.
  
• Lyrics: "When evil calls itself a martyr: When all your hopes come crashing down; Someone will pull her from the rubble; There she stands "
• Music Video: Live at the Republican National Convention

6. Trilogy: Angels Unaware; Breathe in Me; Other Side of Me

• Year and CD:  1995 & I'll Lead You home
• Review: The Other Side of  Me was my song I dedicated to my wife at our wedding. While technically these are three songs, but really they are just party 1, 2 & 3 of one big song.
  
• Lyrics: "If love was mathematical; You'd understand the sum; To the heart's equation; Where one and one makes one."
  
• Music Video: Listen to the song at youtube

7.  Grace

• Year and CD: 2006 & Stand
• Review: With Gods grace, we can do all things. 
• Lyrics: "It's grace, grace; I'm nothing without you; Grace, your grace; Shines on me"
• Music Video: Youtube

8.  This is Your Time

• Year and CD: 1999 & "This is your time"
• Review: The song tells the story of Cassie Bernell. She was killed in 1999 school shootings at Columbine High School. Reports say, one of the gun men asked Cassie if she believed in God. When she said yes, she was shot and killed. Would you have the power, the strength to say "yes?"
• Lyrics: "This was her time; This was her dance; She lived every moment; Left nothing to chance; She swam in the sea; Drank of the deep; Embraced the mystery."
• Music Video: Youtube

9.  Above All

• Year and CD: 2001 & Worship
• Review: Probably my favorite praise and worship song. Look at the chorus and MWS shows that while Christ was on the cross, we were on his mind.  
• Lyrics:Crucified
  Laid behind a stone
  You lived to die
  Rejected and alone
  Like a rose 
  Trampled on the ground
  You took the fall 
  And thought of me
  Above all
• Music Video: YouTube

10. Agnus Dei 

• Year and CD: 1990 & Go West Young Man
• Review: Perhaps it the Catholic in me, but I love this song.  Angus Dei is Latin for "Worthy is the Lamb." This was one of the first songs I learned in sign language. The song seems a perfect fit for Mass, I wonder if any perish has ever used it? It sounds very liturgical when you listen to it.
• Lyrics: "Worth is the Lamb; Worthy is the Lamb; You are Holy"
• Music Video:  youtube

Now, I know it is the Agnus Dei, or the Lamb of God image and it is used in many other places than the Moravian Church, but...

Chris (of this site) is borrowing my copy of Jesus for President, so I can't check it at the moment.  Anyone know if there is a connection?

Here is the interesting part and why my last post was so concerned about marketing and intentional community.  Read the history of the Moravians I linked to above, and then read these articles:

John Wesley, of Methodist fame.
and
The Fetter Lane Society, which Wesley helped create.

This all came about because of a new book I'm reading for class.  E.P. Thompson's The Making of the English Working Class. I will quote from this book later I'm sure.  Actually I'll quote now:

E.P. Thompson on page 47:

 "The Moravians, to whom Wesley owed his conversion, never became fully naturalized in England in the 18th century.  Although many English people entered their communities...the societies remained dependent upon German preachers and administrators.  While the first Methodist societies arose in association with the Moravian Brotherhood, the latter were distinguished from the former by their 'stillness', their avoidance of 'enthusiasm', and their practical communitarian values; 'the calm, soft, steady, sweet and impressive character of the service [at Fulneck] was such as appeared as a kind of rebuke to the earnestness, noise, and uproar of a [Methodist] revival meeting'.  The influence of the Moravians was threefold:  first, through their educational activities...second, through the evident success of their communities...and third, through the perpetuation within the Methodist societies - long after Wesley had disowned the Moravian connection - of the yearning for communitarian ideals expressed in the language of 'brotherhood' and 'sisterhood'."

I found it remarkable that Thompson's view of the Moravians is actually quite positive.  His analysis of the Methodist movement is of course his primary topic, but he is not dismissive of the Moravians, which suprised me.

But what does all of this have to do with Jesus for President?  Beyond the logo, I found it interesting that Wesley is so moved by the Moravians, starts a Moravian Society, and yet leaves it all behind and breaks the society.  Reading Thompson, you see how political the Methodist movement became in England, but its roots were apolitical with the Moravians.

I wonder if in trying to market intentional community, the mainstream church will cause even more inevitable spinoffs and breakups to take a more political route?  I know intentional community is not the holy grail, but it does seem to ring truer than anything else I've come across concerning fellowship with other christians.  I guess I don't want to see it become the root of another religion that breeds what we have today, complacency.

To be sure, I need to read more about Wesley, but these are some initial thoughts.

Anyone out there who would like continue this discussion?

EL LIBRO DE LAS REVELACIONES.

Desde el momento en que fue escrito el libro del apocalipsis, hasta los presentes tiempos; su significado y propósito se han ido desvirtuado y mal interpretando. Se ha partido desde paradigmas errados y en consecuencia se ha mal interpretado el mensaje de este libro llevandolo en direcciones equivocadas. La palabra Apocalipsis significa en si: “revelación del misterio de Dios”. En el libro del apocalipsis se describe progresivamente el juicio de Dios que caerá sobre todo el mundo. Al contrario de lo que muchos afirman, el libro de las revelaciones no fue escrito en clave ni se escribió tampoco con el propósito de ser entendido por unos pocos. El apocalipsis esta escrito en una literatura rica en simbolismos que exponen con claridad su mensaje, siempre si se tome el tiempo para su lectura. Yo compartiré con ustedes una interpretación del libro del apocalipsis intentando ser lo mas claro y preciso posible. Si usted es nuevo en el estudio del apocalipsis le recomiendo investigar antes un poco acerca de la autoría y demás información acerca de este libro.

Dar click para ver la interpretación de el libro de las revelaciones:

http://miultimavoluntad.wordpress.com/apocalipsis-interpretacion/

http://omaroctavio.wordpress.com/apocalipsis-interpretacion/

EL LIBRO DE LAS REVELACIONES.

Desde el momento en que fue escrito el libro del apocalipsis, hasta los presentes tiempos; su significado y propósito se han ido desvirtuado y mal interpretando. Se ha partido desde paradigmas errados y en consecuencia se ha mal interpretado el mensaje de este libro llevandolo en direcciones equivocadas. La palabra Apocalipsis significa en si: “revelación del misterio de Dios”. En el libro del apocalipsis se describe progresivamente el juicio de Dios que caerá sobre todo el mundo. Al contrario de lo que muchos afirman, el libro de las revelaciones no fue escrito en clave ni se escribió tampoco con el propósito de ser entendido por unos pocos. El apocalipsis esta escrito en una literatura rica en simbolismos que exponen con claridad su mensaje, siempre si se tome el tiempo para su lectura. Yo compartiré con ustedes una interpretación del libro del apocalipsis intentando ser lo mas claro y preciso posible. Si usted es nuevo en el estudio del apocalipsis le recomiendo investigar antes un poco acerca de la autoría y demás información acerca de este libro.

Dar click para ver la interpretación de el libro de las revelaciones:

http://omaroctavio.wordpress.com/apocalipsis-interpretacion/

http://miultimavoluntad.wordpress.com/apocalipsis-interpretacion/

Žemaitijoje dabar madinga važiuoti prie Kryžių kalno. Tokia proga aplankyti Kryžių kalną teko ir man.

Nufilmavau greitą (reikėjo skubėti su vestuvininkais) filmuką.

Mano draugai MySpace, pvz. Toon (Anthony de Zwart) iš Olandijos, rašė:
Impressive film you send to me Gintas.

Ir www.livevideo.com jis dar gyvena. Įdomu ar ilgai?

Agnus Dei was one of the songs we sung tonight. It’s always a beautiful song; it just sounds antique. Singing it often makes me feel some sense of connectedness to the generations of the church who have gone before me, worshipping the Lord. The song is beautiful and goes like this:

Alleluia alleluia
For our lord God almighty reigns
Alleluia alleluia
For our lord God almighty reigns
Alleluia
Holy holy
Are you lord God almighty
Worthy is the lamb
Worthy is the lamb
You are holy
Holy
Are you lord God almighty
Worthy is the lamb
Worthy is the lamb
Amen

For whatever reason, I was poised to wonder some things about the song. Firstly being, “do I know what Alleluia actually means?” It was only seconds before the worship leader spoke up for everyone and reminded us that Alleluia, or Hallelujah, basically means, “Praise the Lord.” Then I went on thinking, why do we say “Praise the Lord for being almighty and reigning”? I certainly don’t mean to contend against it saying that we shouldn’t praise the Lord for that reason. It was more of a logically based question—why is God’s almighty power reason to praise him?

It dawned on me after some contemplation and quiet prayer that God’s almighty reining power is the sole reason we can count on his grace. If God was gracious and loving, but not all powerful, we would have no reason to be able to count on it actually being effective. So it makes good sense. “Praise the Lord, because he is all powerful, he reigns, there is nothing outside of his control, and there is nothing that will thwart his gracious plan; worthy is the Lamb, indeed!” That, my friends, is an incredible reason to sing Hallelujah—grace stronger than my sin, grace stronger, even, than my will.

Jesus, I pray that you would help me daily to remember your grace on my life. Help me to remember daily how you plucked me out of the darkness and brought me into your kingdom. Jesus, help me to respond to your grace in Holy Spirit powered gratitude and sanctification. Jesus, for your glory, keep us from idols.

Postado no 31 pela Sofia e que aqui mostro.

O Adagio for Strings de Samuel Barber aqui transformado num belíssimo Agnus Dei

Often these hymns or anthems or portions of the liturgy become attached to a certain moment in life and, like certain sections of Scripture, the memories flood back when that Christian sings that hymn or portion of the liturgy again. He or she never hears that piece or portion the same way ever again.

I think that happens because through those poetic words based on Scripture, the voice of the Lord speaks clearly to the heart of that Christian at that time in that place. I can't count how often that's happened to me. This morning it happened again.

One of my favorite memories from Seminary was singing the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) in Latin, often a capella, on Wednesday mornings during Lent. Unfortunately that memory had been tucked away and I had forgotten how much I loved that experience. This morning I read again a recent blog post by my friend, Pastor Hans Caauwe, and the memories flooded back. He recounted his own memories and even provided an audio link to a recent chapel service. Here's the link. It's beautiful to hear that again.

Thanks, Hans, I needed that.

Each worshiping community in the United States, including all age groups and all ethnic groups, should, at a minimum, learn Kyrie XVI, Sanctus XVIII, and Agnus Dei XVIII, all of which are typically included in congregational worship aids. More difficult chants, such as Gloria VIII and settings of the Credo and Pater Noster, might be learned after the easier chants have been mastered. (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Sing to the Lord 75)

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has actually singled out 3 particular chants that we should all know "at a minimum". It only took a couple of short minutes to find these chants available as free mp3 files. They are found on the website of the Church Music Association of America. And they have a lot more Gregorian chant mp3 files as well.

Kyrie XVI | Sanctus XVIII | Agnus Dei XVIII

Chapter VII
The Pentacle and Pentagram

The Pentacle and Pentagram are two of the most misunderstood and mistakenly confusing. I grew up, and I know there are others also, being told that the pentagram (at the time, a star inside a circle) was the sign of the Devil. I later found out that it wasn't and also found out that the pentacle was a star. I looked in my dictionary both pentacle and pentagram and it said they were both five pointed stars, I knew that had to be wrong becuase the pentacle was a five pointed star but the pentagram was a five pointed star in a circle. I then later found out that the pentagram (star in circle) was a powerful magickal symbol and it's numerous meaning along with its satanic version which is the inverted pentagram (pentagram turned upside down). I also learned that what I thought the pentacle and pentagram was wasn't the proper description of them.

In Wicca the pentacle is a pentagram (five pointed star) inside a circle and the pentagram is a five pointed star. This really can confuse someone after growing up and knowing that the pentacle is a star and pentagram is a star in a circle. The only thing I can figure is that the two symbols were confused by the media or the traditions that use these symbols like this have it all wrong. If you ask me I think that the pentacle should just be a star and the pentagram a star in circle.

According to Donald Michael Kraig's book Modern Magick, he describes the pentacle is any object that has a pentegram on it and the pentagram is a five pointed star not the other way around. Many magickian believe this contrary to the belief of non magickians. I think that the shape and meaning of the pentacle and pentagram is different for magickians than it is for non magickians. I really don't know how the theory of the pentacle and pentagram got mixed up or what but is seems to be believed so strongly among both traditions (non magickians and magickians) that it has become a perminent belief for non magickians and magickians alike. I'm not saying that one is right and the other is wrong but I do favor the non magickians view on the shapes more than the magickians view. I do indeed know that the pentagram (star in circle) is not a satanic symbol by its self. The pentagram, if inverted, is satanic it represents Satan as deity instead of God but it also has many other representations and meanings.

In Elipas Levi"s book Dogma et Rituel de la Haute Magie, he says that the pentagram can be used for angelic or demonic evocations/invocations simply by moving the pentagram so that one point or two are at the top. Other things will have to be done in the ritual but by doing this signifies the nature of the entity that going to be summoned. He uses the word pentagram (in the chapter about it) then after its consecrated he uses the word pentacle so I'm guesing that the pentagram is a pentacle not yet concecrated. His book shows a picture of the pentagram/pentacle as a star with the five consonants of Tetragammaton (te - tra - gram - ma - ton) around the edges of the pentagram/pentacle in a circular form make it appear that a star is inside a circle which would mean that it was a pentagram (star in circle). It could have also been a pentacle that had a star in circle because he started referring to the pentagram as a pentacle after it was consecrated. The pentagram is the star of the microcosm and the hexegram is the star of the macrocosm, by him saying this I'm starting to think that the pentagram is just a star. The pentagram or pentacle, whether it be a star or star in circle is indeed a magickal and potent tool and sign of magick.

The pentacle (star) is a powerful symbol of magick both white and black for it means both the light and the dark by a simple turning of the pentacle. The pentacle is indeed a potent magickal symbol if not more than all the others. One point up it represent Jesus Christ and God, now it stands for the divine and holiness. With one point down and two points up it represents the Goat of Mendes or the Sabbatic Goat and more commonly it represents Satan as a goat at the witch's sabbath. Its more the head of the sabbatic goat that is represented on the inverted pentacle rather than the whole body. The top two points represent horns, the bottom two points represent ears and the bottom point represents the goats beard. I don't know what the beard of a goat means but it has always appeared evil to me. As I said earlier the goat is the opposite of a lamb, the lamb or agnus dei represents God and the goat represents Satan or the fallen Lucifer. Creatures with cloven feet usually are considered to be evil and the same goes for horns. Did you notice I wrote "creatures" instead of "animals," thats because most animals with cloven feet weren't actually considered malevolent but the pagan creatures or monsters like the centaur, satyr and other mythological creatures were considered evil rather than good by Christians. Other cultures around the world probably believe this also, the cloven foot is a symbol of evil and impurity.

In the Goetia which was suppose to be written by King Solomon was translated by S.L. MacGregor Mathers. Inside of the Goetia, several protective and conjuration aiding symbols are given. One of is the Pentagram of Solomon which depicts a star in circle, this indicates that King Solomon who lived over a thousand years ago knew what a pentagram (star in circle) is and probably a pentacle (star) is also. Either a magickian that reigned (this is the most likely time he practiced magick according to research) during the 900's knew this or Mathers or Crowley changed it from pentacle to pentagram, this is highly unlikely . The Pentagram of Solomon which has the seal of the spirit desired to be summoned on the other side, it (Pentagram of Solomon) is used to protect the exorcist or magickian from harm and commands to the spirit to obey you.

The Pentagram (star) was used as a symbol in Rome for the goddess Venus (equivalent is the Greek Aphrodite) and the planet Venus. The pentagram is universally or widely a goddess symbol. The pentagram or pentacle (either way a five pointed star) has been associated with numerous goddesses such as Venus, Aphrodite, Ishtar and Astarte (though there may never have been a direct parallel to Astarte there is a connection). All of these goddesses and more not mentioned are goddesses associated with love or love goddesses. To most people this doesn't make alot of sense but it will be explained. The goddess is a mother figure and the mother is loving and caring. The pentagram has associated with goddesses or the mother which is (the mother is) a gateway to Heaven because women can give life which is an attribute of the Gods. Mary Magdalene was the wife and mother to Jesus Christ's child, she (Mary) bore with her the divine bloodline a direct connection or gateway, if you will, to God. The pentagram was also associated with Mary magdalene or the Holy Mother. The rose or cinquefoil and pentagram are similar and both a symbol of the goddess. Mary Magdalene was also associated with the rose and the pentagram is an excellent parity in retrospect because Christ's blood relation to the pentagram. Since the Sacred Feminine is associated with goddesses of love the rose would be the perfect symbol. Roses are known as the flower of love, generally given to a woman by a man who they love and wants to if hasn't already propose to her. Red, the color of the rose is also known as the color of love. Red Ruby's are generally said to have been worn by the Whore of Babalon in the Revelations. Mary Magdelene was called a whore or prostitute even though she was no such thing.

Astarte is a northwestern Semitic goddess of fertility, sexuality and war. Astaroth is a prince of Hell and is believed have the goddess astarte turned into a demon by the christians. Both of their names are similar and Astarte is associated with the pentagram, the seal of Astaroth has a pentagram in the center. The seal of Astaroth was came from the Goetia but I don't really think that King Solomon created the symbol but he may have.

The Order of the Eastern Star (OES) is largest fraternal organization in the world where both male and female members are accepted. The OES is a masonic organization that is based on the teachings of the bible but is opened to all monotheistic faiths. Their emblem is the eastern star, the star is inverted meaning it has two points up which is considered to be evil. The eastern star may seem evil but certainly holds to its Christian meanings and its feminine meanings also. The star represents the Star of Bethlehem, the reason for the star being upside down is that the bottom point is pointing to the manger. In each of the five points there are symbols of a female heroine in the bible. The five women are Adah (Jephthah's daughter, from Judges), Ruth (the widow), Esther (the wife), Martha (Lazarus's sister, from the Gospel of John) and Elect (the mother, the elect lady from II John).

Oddly enough the pentagram (star) was used by Christians. The pentagram was used as a healing talisman and was used to ward off witches and demons. Each of the five points was symbolic of numerous five things which were as I said the five wounds of Christ, the five joys of Mary (the virgin Mary) had of Jesus (annunciation, nativity, resurrection, ascension and assumption), the five fingers and senses. The pentagram may have been used used as an indicator of Lucifer or the morning star.

As we know already the pentagram (star in circle) is a symbol of Devil Worship in the eyes of some. It is though a symbol of old time and modern day Satanists which have a different view on Satan ect. The old Satanists used the pentagram as a symbol for Satan but they probably wore it inverted with two points up rather than one point up. The modern day Satanists also use the inverted pentagram as their religious symbol. This symbol is called the sigil of Baphomet, a goat's head (sabbatic goat) inside the star with the Hebrew characters for Leviathan at each of the points. Some Satanists also use the names of the demons Samael and Lilith in the symbol.

Aleister Crowley has been said to be a black magickian and others say he is a white magickian. He founded the religion Thelema and made use of the pentagram in his magick. He says that the pentagram inverted represents the decent of spirit into matter and not evil as believed by many.

The numerous shapes of the pentagram and pentacle are used in fiction and other sciences. Some stories believed to be fiction that use the pentagram may infact be non fiction. The pentagram is used n geometry also.

The pentagram (star) is used as a symbol of the elements which are fire, earth, air, water and spirit. The spirit elements is at the top point of the pentagram, the air is at the upper left point, the water element is at the upper right point, the earth element is at the lower right point and the fire element is at the lower left point. The pentagram is used to describe many things magickal, astrological, astronomical, alchemical and kabbalistical ect. The pentagram even has some scientific uses other than math, the vitruvian man is used with the pentagram similar to the Jesus on the cross use. The Vitruvian Man was a drawing by Leonardo Da Vinci around 1492, it is a famous drawing.

The pentacle and pentagram (star and star with circle) with one point up are both protective symbols. These symbols are generally used by magickians to ward off or control demons and other impure spirits. The pentacle and pentagram used as a protective amulet are called Devil's traps. A Devil's trap is pretty much any symbol (usually with a five pointed star) thats used to trap a demon. Some Devil's traps are easy to draw and others are complicated. A easy one is to draw a triangle (one point up) with a pentagram (you use a hexagram instead) inside it with the Hebrew name of Tetragrammaton in the center of the pentagram. The Triangle of Art is a Devil's trap and even the magick circle described in the Goetia. A Devil's trap can also be any symbol that uses names of God or other holy names. A more complex Devil's trap is a combination of Great Pentacle and the fifth pentacle of mars.

By Frater Penitus Conspiratio Lux Lucis Creperum

THIS SONG IS SO POWERFUL!

CHRISTIAN RECORDING ARTIST MICHAEL W. SMITH