Livingloud - The Bowmanblog

And the winner is...

I've not had a chance to annouce the winner of the Andrew Peterson book...  Debs won the draw so 'The Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkenss' will be shipping to you soon.  Enjoy. 

On The Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness

This week saw the release of Andrew Peterson's first novel: On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness.  Andrew Peterson is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter and recording artist, and he also happens to be a natural-born storyteller.  He wrote and produced what is in my opinion the finest ever Christmas song collection, Behold the Lamb of God. He has recorded seven albums and tours every year, though it surely is a crime  that we've not yet seen him in Ireland! click on over to his website here

Today we're taking part in the Andrew Peterson blog tour to celebrate the release of the book.  Any listen through Andrew's albums reveal a gifted storyteller and I'm not ashamed to say I've been caught up and moved to tears more than once by his songs.  When I listen to 'Canaan Bound' I'm standing right there with old Abraham, gazing into the distance as his long journey begins.  When I listen to 'Labour of Love', I'm right there in the streets of David's town peering into the stable as 'little Mary full of grace with tears upon her face', grips Joseph's calloused hands. 

Songs such as 'Havens Grey' reveal the influence of Tolkien, and is infused with the sure and certain hope that our death is not final and a safe harbour awaits.  In 'Little Boy Heart Alive' he looks at the world in wonder and grasps something (with a nod to C.S. Lewis) of the wild adventure that following Jesus is.

Open the door and run outside
Your little boy heart alive
Into the morning light
Into the deep and wide

Take a ride on the mighty lion
Take a hold of the golden mane
This is the love of Jesus
So good but it is not tame

AP undoubtedly has a love for these great writers and it seems appropriate that his first book is a fantastical tale that will sit comfortably alongside the works of Lewis and Tolkien on my book shelf without ever becoming derivative.  This is a tale that children/adults of all ages will enjoy, it reminded me of the feeling I had when I first read the Hobbit; the discovery of a new world to explore and get lost in...  the world of Aerwiar, in the land of Skree where we discover our heroes- Janner Igiby, little brother Tink, and crippled sister Leeli.  There are lost Jewels, the toothy cows of skree, a grandfather who happens to be a retired pirate, dragons, the dreaded Fangs of Dang and an adventure that would make the Goonies proud!

It also happens to be a very intelligent, witty and funny read. I was only two pages into the introduction and it had me laughing out loud, and the footnotes scattered throughout are often hilarious.  The book itself is beautifully illustrated and I love the short chapters which will make it a superb bed-time book to read to my kids.  Andrew has spun a captivating tale, and created a magical world that gives us insight into our own.  And if you listen closely and you'll hear echos of the one great story as we are reminded that there is so much more majesty and mystery than meets the eye.   

This is book one of 'The Wingfeather Saga' and I for one will eagerly await book two.  Meanwhile someone needs to convince AP to record the audio book complete with a soundtrack and songs put to music! 

I have a copy of 'On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness' to give away.  Really, the contest couldn't be easier.  To be eligible to win just comment on this post and I'll hold a drawing on Easter Sunday and annouce the winner, a copy of 'on the edge of the dark sea of darkness' will then be sailing your way. 

Andrew Peterson Blog Tour

Andrew Peterson is undoubtedly one of my favourite artists, his music possesses a rare richness and lyrical depth.  'The Far Country' and 'Behold The Lamb Of God' are among my all time top albums.  Now AP has turned his considerable talents to literature and his first book 'On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness' will be released later this month.  The Bowmanblog will be taking part in the Andrew Peterson Blog Tour to coincide with the launch of the book.  I'll be reviewing it between 17 - 21 March, so be sure to check back.  I'm looking forward to what is sure to be a very fine tall tale indeed.   

The Best Of 2006

It's time for the annual round up of the best sights, sounds and words of the year!  As always, I'm keen to hear what's made your best of the year lists...

MUSIC
Album of the Year - 'The Cost' by The Frames - They are consistently one of the best bands around and this year they delivered another classic Frames album. Certainly their best since 'For The Birds' and up there with the masterpiece that is 'Fitzcarraldo'.  It's been a fine year for Irish music.

The Best Of The Rest
Pearl Jam by Pearl Jam - They returned with what could well be their best ever album.
The Seeger Sessions by Bruce Springsteen - Bruce took us to Church this year with an incredibly spiritual album filled with old spirituals and folk songs... If only church could sound like this?! 
Songs From The Deep Forest by Duke Special - Another Irish artist brings us one of the most unique and memorable albums of the year.  No one, absolutely no one has a sound like the Duke, it is very special indeed. 
Magnetic North by Iain Archer - This album brought us one of the best ever songs about northern ireland 'When It Kicks In' (also one of the years great rocking tunes).  It's a beautiful listen.
Sugar Queen by Brian Houston - With Sugar Queen one of our finest singer/songwriters brings us his finest album yet, it'll move your heart as well as your feet. 
Good Monsters by Jars of Clay - I'd simply forgotten how good this band is.  Honest introspective lyrics and a harder edged sound reminded me.
American V: A Hundred Highways by CASH - This posthumous release reminds us just what we have lost.  That voice is the sound of a man broken on the wheels of living.  It's brilliant, moving and profoundly spiritual. 
The Swell Season -  Glen Hansard (of the Frames) and Czech singer Marketa Irglova released this mesmirizing album.  Beautiful string arrangements, Hansard's melancholic yet hopeful lyrics and Marketa's angelic voice combined to produce something very special indeed.   

The Best Of 2006 Playlist
The Saints Are Coming - U2
Original Fire - Audioslave
Life Wasted - Pearl Jam
Better Way - Ben Harper
Strength Of My Life - P.O.D.
Here Comes The Sun/The Inner Light - The Beatles
Beautiful Sky - Ty Tabor
Three More Days - Ray Lamontagne
Jacob's Ladder - Bruce Springsteen
God' Gonna Cut You Down - Johnny Cash
Winter Shaker - Woven Hand
People Get Ready - The Frames
Wolves - Josh Ritter
Breathe In This Life - Denison Witmer
Out Of The Ruins - Brian Houston
Mystery - Bruce Cockburn
Falling Slowly - The Swell Season
No Cover Up - Duke Special
Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
When It Kicks In - Iain Archer
Work - Jars of Clay
Window In The Skies - U2

GIG Of The Year
I can't really single one of these gigs out as the 'best' because each was unique in it's style and setting.  They were among the best concerts I've ever experienced. 
Pearl Jam live at the Point Depot in Dublin - September '06
The Frames live at the Ulster Hall in Belfast - October '06
Bruce Springsteen & The Seeger Sessions Band live at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast - November '06

MOVIES
Movie of the Year: Shooting Dogs - Undoubtedly one of the most powerful movies I've ever watched, sadly it had a very limited cinema release, but I was able to see it on dvd.  Michael Caton Jones film is about the bloody Rwandan genocide of 1994.  In just one hundred spring days, a million Tutsis were massacred by their fellow Hutu countrymen. The barbarity was beyond imagination. But not beyond prevention.  The UN was there, watching, but not acting.  The events are seen through the eyes of a British Priest played by John Hurt in one of his finest ever performances and a gap year student teacher played by Hugh Dancy.  It is a much edgier movie than Hotel Rwanda and asks some gut wrenchingly honest questions about suffering as both Priest and student are forced to confront the depths of their faith.  A deeply moving and inspiring experience.   

The Best Of The Rest
Walk The Line
V For Vendetta
Children of Men
Inside Man
Fearless
Casino Royale
The Departed
The Nativity Story
Curious George
Lady in the Water
Slither
Munich
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Superman Returns

Best of the Box (TV in '06)
Lost - Season 2
Battlestar Galactica - Season 2
NYPD Blue - Final Season
Into The West
24 - Season 4

BOOKS
The Bible Experience: 'New Testament' - This was my best discovery of '06!  A unique audio presentation of the New Testament (the Older Testament arrives in '07).  An incredible cast of actors, musicians and clergy have produced a truly captivating performance of the Bible.  And the musical score and sound design & effects really sets this apart. 
This Beautiful Mess by Rick McKinley - The Kingdom of God is much talked about but little understood.  I've known Rick for a good few years now, I know what the Kingdom means to him, he's preached it and his church (Imago Dei) are striving to embrace it and live in it.  This is a timely 'freeing' book, about the revolutionary nature of the Kingdom... transforming the 'mess' of life into something beautiful.
Confessions Of A Reformission Rev by Mark Driscoll - This book made me laugh out loud on several occassions (it's honest & funny) and it also dropped its fair share of spiritual depth charges (it is challenging and pulls no punches).  It's the story of Mars Hill Church in Seattle and its Pastor Mark Driscoll.  Mark writes with honesty about the frustrations and joys of building a church which is theologically conservative and culturally liberal.  It also confirmed a lot of the issues I have with aspects of traditional and even some contemporary models of church. 

So lets hear your best of '06

Preparing for Jesus

The journey through Advent has begun... "Before the hero enters, people anticipate his coming.  Old promises are remembered.  New promises are made.  Excitement sparks and burns in the hearts of all the players: Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, you, me, the children.  Daily excitement blazes hotter and hotter until we can scarcely stand it.  Who's coming? What's his name?  What'll he be like?  What's he going to do?"

My companion on this journey is Preparing For Jesus by Walter Wangerin Jr. His meditations on the coming of Christ, Advent, Christmas and the Kingdom enable us to contemplatively enter the story.  Wangerin makes Jesus' life and times come alive in a way that few authors can.  I'll be blogging my ponderings and discoveries as I live the great story one more time. 

To Own A Dragon

Don Miller's new book 'To Own A Dragon' has just been released.  It's his reflections on growing up without a father.  As always, Don's honesty and transparency really comes across in his writing and he is of course able to communicate truth in a very entertaining way.  Click Donmillerwords to hear Don read from 'To Own a Dragon'  The stuff he writes about Bill Cosby is hilarious. 

The Best of 2005

It's time for the annual round up of the best sights, sounds and words of 2005.  I'm keen to hear what has made your best of the year list... so lets hear 'em.

Best Movies of '05
1. Serenity - Sci-fi as it should be... exciting, hip, cool, smart and fun! 
2. The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.  I really enjoyed this faithful interpretation of C.S. Lewis' much loved classic.  Fantastic family movie that is sure to get repeated viewing every Christmas.
3. Batman Begins.  Hands down the best superhero movie ever, with batman as he should be... dark, mean and transparently human.
4. Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith - Star wars as it should be!
5. King Kong.  Dinosaurs and a giant ape going head to head... what's not to love?
6. The Island.  Great action adventure.
7. House of the flying daggers.  Beautiful and breathtaking movie making
8. Hotel Rwanda.  Impossible to watch this and not be moved!  Shocked... at human beings and our capacity for evil.  Shamed... at the west and our apathy to the issues abounding in Africa to this very day
9. Million Dollar Baby.  The final quarter feels like you've taken a right to the chin that you never saw coming.  A challenging movie.
10. War of the Worlds.  Spielberg presents a bleak and scary alien invasion movie and its good!

Best thing on TV this year
LOST - not since the X-Files can I remember a show this gripping, intelligent and entertaining!  Compelling television!  I can't wait to see whats in that bunker... but I think we'll get many more questions than answers in season 2.

The Best Albums of '05 - 2005 has been a good year for music. I discovered a few gems this year. 
Album of the year - 'The Far Country' - Andrew Peterson.  A beautiful acoustic album infused with hope.  Somewhat reminiscent of the late Rich Mullins Peterson is a very fine singer songwriter, this album has become something of a constant companion.   

The Rest of the Best of '05
Longview - Mercury
Bruce Springsteen - Devils and Dust
Sigur Ros - Takk
Foo Fighters - In Your Honour
Robert Plant - The Mighty ReArranger
King's X - Ogre Tones
Switchfoot - Nothing Is Sound
Coldplay - X&Y
Thrice - Vheissu
Bell X1- Flock
Sufjan Stevens - Come on feel the Illinoise
Brian Houston - Jesus and Justice
Best Reissue: Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run

Best Gigs of 2005
Gig of the year: U2 Croke Park June '05 - Well it has to be this one, simply because the boys are in a league of their own.  Worth the ticket price alone just to hear Bono say 'lets take it to church' and leading 80,000 in singing 'I still haven't found what I'm looking for'. 

The Frames - Archa Theatre Prague 11/05/ Glen Hansard - the Island Arts Centre in Lisburn. 08/05.  Two mesmerizing gigs from Mr Hansard and the finest live band in the world next to another wee Irish band you might have heard of...

Robert Plant - Olympia Dublin 12/05 - Rock legend!  And this gig was amazing!  The Zep stuff sounded so fresh alongside his recent material. 

Foo Fighters - The Point Dublin 12/05.  I was impressed!  The nicest man in Rock ' Mr Grohl' can Rock! 

Book of the year 2005
Much of my reading time has been devoted to counselling, psychology etc... text books for the course I'm doing.  But a couple of books do stand out this year. 

Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell.  His Nooma dvd series has been one of the other great discoveries of '05.
Searching for God knows what by Don Miller.  I love the wit and wisdom with which Don writes. 

Best moment of 2005 - Has to be this one, the birth of my daughter Talitha Grace

I'll post my tracklist for the best of the year compilation shortly.  In meantime, get posting and lets hear your 'best of' for the year that was 2005. 

Technorati Tags Best of 2005

The Best Of 2004

It's time for the annual round up of the best of 2004.

Album of the year – How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb by U2.  It starts with a blistering guitar riff and ends with a prayer.  In between we are inspired, challenged and comforted!  What difference can an album of rock songs make?  All the difference in the world when its packed with this much truth! 
A very close second - Burn The Maps by The Frames

Other great albums this year – Unearthed by Cash
13 Days In August by Brian Houston
There Will Be A Light by Ben Harper And The Blind Boys Of Alabama
The Jealous Kind by Chris Knight
Live All Over The Place by King’s X
Feedback by Rush
Meltdown by Ash

Best Re-issue - Grace by Jeff Buckley (legacy series)

Gig of the year –
It’s got to be two concerts that claim Gig of the year in 2004. Both bands are incredibly different, they are in fact worlds apart.  One played a massive arena in Glasgow, the other in the more intimate surroundings of the Ulster Hall in
Belfast. But for their own unique reasons they are not only the best gigs of 2004 but among the best I have ever experienced.

Rush – September 14, S.E.C. Glasgow,Scotland
The Frames – September 28, Ulster Hall Belfast

Movie of the year - Open Range.  I love westerns... this is without a doubt one of the best. It feels like a classic of the genre, and the themes of redemption, love, justice and rising above the mistakes of your past resonate long after the closing titles.
Other great movies this year -
Big Fish
21 Grams
Man On Fire
Hidalgo
Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow
Collateral
Hellboy
Dodgeball
The Incredibles
Hero
The Village
School Of Rock

Worst Movie of the year - Van Helsing (how bad?  Bad! …very bad indeed)

Book of the year – Hey Nostradamus  by Douglas Coupland
(published in ’03 but I only got around to reading it this year… thanx for the loan of your copy Graeme) faith, grief, love, redemption. Its all in there! 

Best Moment of 2004 - Erin's first steps and hearing her first prayer.  It doesn't get any better than that!