Mustache Monday: Paul David Tripp

Paul David Tripp, famous for lots of Christiany things.

Paul David Tripp, famouse for the mouse on his face.  

As respectfully as possible, we suggest that Paul David Tripp could trip over his own mustache. At least, he could trip over the left side of it, which is noticeably longer and shaggier than the right side. This makes him look like his entire person is listing to the left. Judging by the extreme bushiness of his mustache (and let's be honest, it is pretty darn bushy), we'd guess that he's making up for the bizarre manner in which his hair seems to grow straight out of the top of his head, giving him a strangely bald-looking forehead. What we're really struggling with, though, is the symmetry of this mustache. It is completely unbalanced! The left side hangs down over his lips, which leaves us hanging with a question: how does he eat? 

Paul David Tripp, the 15th contender in our quest to find a man with a decent mustache. Let's see how he ranked: 

Size: 4/5

Symmetry: 0/5

Originality: 1/5

Overall: 5/15

Well, Paul David Tripp...that's a Pretty Darn Terrible score. 

Cheers, 

Becca and Kelley

Dropped in the Sea

I recently heard a pastor preach in chapel about love. While I'm not sure about much of what he said, one thing did stick with me. He said that many Christians do not truly believe that God loves them. At which point I said to myself, "Self, isn't that interesting? All this time I thought I was the only one." Apparently I'm not the only one, which could be an alternate title for this blog. And it makes sense that I'm not the only one, being as I'm not some kind of crazy sport of the human race that has never existed before, with all kinds of new thoughts and feelings.

Deep breath.

I don't really believe that God loves me. Or, rather, I know that God loves me, I just don't let myself accept it. I also think it shows that God has unique tastes, because I know that I wouldn't like me if I met me. Somewhere in a parallel universe that sentence made perfect sense.

So God loves me. I know it, and we sing it all the time in chapel and church. Somehow it doesn't really sink in with me most of the time. And when it does, it's usually not strong enough to withstand the next awful thing I do. It can often feel like I'm drowning in my own sin. So here's something good that William Langland wrote:

"But all the wickedness in the world which man may do or think is no more to the mercy of God than a live coal dropped in the sea.”

Which basically means that we are drowning. But it also means that it's good. Think about it! Can you light a fire in the OCEAN? If you can, you should contact that guy who's in charge of the Avengers, because I'm pretty sure that's a super power. God's mercy is an ocean that completely extinguishes the fire of our sin. Why? Because He loves us. It's in the nature of water to put out fire. It's in God's nature to smother our sin with His love. Do we second guess whether the water should be able to put out the fire? It's water. That's what it does. God is God. He loves us in our sin, thereby bringing us out of it. It's what He does. 

Let's believe in water that can put out fire.

Let's believe in God's love.

Cheers,

Kelley

Mustache Monday: Joseph Furst

Joseph Furst, famous for shouting, “Nothing in the world can shtop me now!” in Doctor Who: The Underwater Menace.

Joseph Furst, probably not famous for this mustache.

This mustache is neither as ostentatious or as just plain weird as some of the mustaches we have seen in our day. In fact, it’s pretty standard, as mustache styles go. The thing that saves this mustache from the bin of unmemorable mustaches is its masterful execution. It’s symmetrical, it’s even, it’s not too large. It even matches his eyebrows well, which can be hard to do. Though it doesn’t attempt to stun or amaze by elaborate curls or exaggerated length, this mustache is pretty impressive for its general neatness. Even insane dictators intent on blowing up the planet have their priorities, apparently.

Joseph Furst, the 14th contender in our quest to find a man with a perfect mustache. Let’s see how he ranked:

Size: 2/5

Symmetry: 4/5

Originality: 0/5

Overall: 6/15

Sorry, Joseph, you’re not first today! Nothing in the world can stop you now, except mediocre facial hair.

Cheers,

Becca and Kelley

"Something arrests your attention, Jeeves? A spot on my nose, perhaps?"

"No, sir, on your upper lip. I thought for a moment that a caterpillar had lost its bearings."

Jenny & Tyler: Open Your Doors

We love music, you might too.

Today we're sharing music with you!

We love Jenny & Tyler. Jenny and Tyler Somers, a couple from Delaware, make wonderful folksy, soulgrass music. They have five albums currently: A Prelude, This Isn’t A Dream, Faint Not, Love Came Down (a Christmas EP), and their newest album, Open Your Doors. Which is why we’re here. If you are reading this blog and you’ve never heard of Jenny & Tyler, do you ears a favor and keep reading, then check them out. Or stop reading and check them out. Either way, listen to their music!

Here's their website: http://www.jennyandtylermusic.com/

Here's their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/jennyandtyler

Open Your Doors was released on April 3^rd, and promptly made it into the iTunes top 100 albums. Clearly this is good stuff, folks! It was third out of all Singer/Songwriter albums. In one day!

Open Your Doors is made up of twelve tracks: two instrumental pieces and ten songs, nine of which are original. The tenth is new take on an old hymn that also includes original lyrics. And since we’re currently perusing the digital liner notes, how can you not love a band that uses whiskey bottles as a musical instrument? Seriously!

Here’s the track list:

1. Little Balloon
2. Abide

3. Skyline Hill

4. When Darkness Falls

5. Fear Thou Not

6. Lament

7. O That the Light

8. You Keep Loving Me

9. Psalm 86

10. See the Conqueror

11. Kingdom of Heaven

12. Selah

Now, we’re not musical experts, so we’re not going to do a track-by-track dissection of the pitch, duration, intensity, and timbre of all of these wonderful songs. Here are a few musical laymen’s opinions:

The lyrics are one of the best things about Jenny & Tyler’s music. The songs are weighty with truth and meaning. Jenny and Tyler write honestly and compellingly about their faith (and their love for each other, which is precious). The great thing about this is that the songs don’t really get old, because you’re always hearing the truth and depth of the lyrics.

Another quality thing about Jenny & Tyler is the music itself. Since we can’t write much about that, except that it’s phenomenal, here are some links to a few of the great songs from past albums:

Song for You (Faint Not): www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptqTZSUt56E

One Eyed Cat (This Isn't A Dream): www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsJhza_xImg

Through Your Eyes (Faint Not): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcSrNVxXl8g&feature=relmfu

Here’s another cool thing—Jenny & Tyler also recorded a cover of Simon and Garfunkle’s song The Sound of Silence. All of the proceeds from the sale of the track go to support social justice work around the world.

Here’s a link to their iTunes page, where you can find their CDs and The Sound of Silence:

http://ax.search.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZSearch.woa/wa/search?entity=album&media=all&restrict=true&submit=seeAllLockups&term=jenny+and+tyler

And here's a link to the Open Your Doors preview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS1uRSpT7lw

And here’s a link to a free download of their C.D. Faint Not: http://noisetrade.com/jennyandtyler

And here’s a link to their tour page (their concerts are so much fun; Kelley has been to three): http://www.facebook.com/jennyandtyler/app_123966167614127

So, as Kelley is currently drowning in paper-writing mode, here is her claim + reason argument: You should check out Jenny & Tyler. Their music is beautifully, skillfully, and thoughtfully made, and listening to it is a joy. We wholeheartedly recommend all of their albums, and especially Open Your Doors.

Our favorites from Open Your Doors: See the Conqueror, Kingdom of Heaven, Little Balloon, When Darkness Falls

Cheers,

Becca and Kelley

Random Open Your Doors fact: Kelley listened to the CD 23 times within a week of getting it.

Sneak Peak

Hello, faithful readers!

After another sad hiatus, we return with wisdom--we planned ahead this time! Here's some of what you have to look forward to over the next month:

Mustache Monday

A music review

Guest dating advice

And more!

Also, if you have an idea for a Mustache Monday or a topic or a question, comment, message us, send a homing pigeon! We'd love to hear from you and we'll see you on Monday!

Cheers,

Becca and Kelley