Category Archives: Writing
Breaking All the Blogging Rules
I break the rules of blogging all the time.
I let this one go dormant. I promised to keep it active again after reinstating it. And then…dormancy. And then I pledged to activated it once more. And then I went dark again. I can tell you–as a person who knows how to do blogging the proper way–I do not do this blog the proper way.
I think I use all my creative energies writing for The Bug Man’s blog. No, that’s not a plug for my company’s website, but it is an honest referral to where I am now. All of my SEO thinking and content creating is over there. Congrats, bosses, you have the best of my creative mind. It’s ok, though. They are worthy to receive my creativity.
There are many things that I often want to say on this blog, I just don’t get around to it. Because of the late nights. Because it takes too much energy to spin my own brand. To spin me. To create a buzz about myself. It seems narcissistic. It seems like bad personal business.
Here’s something interesting: I have been writing more letters. I have my own personal embosser with a Letters from Lindsay seal. So, if nothing else, I’m at least writing letters from Lindsay. You just don’t see them. I’m sorry, internet.
Maybe I’ll return to you…some day.
p.s. And I didn’t even post a picture. Cardinal rules: broken! 😉
Choosing
Aggressive love or passive aggression
My devotion or destruction
My prerogative
A Poem About Acorns
In an attempt to be a better, more socially-appropriate adult, I created and brought a hostess gift for Thanksgiving. In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, I’d scoped out inexpensive ideas for hostess gifts. Thanks to keen observation and my friend Bethany’s The Simple Day blog, I came up with an idea. The whole thing swirled around one item: acorns.
You can check out a picture of my hostess gift at instagr.am.
I went shopping at Wal*Mart and found the glass container on clearance for $1.50. Then, I hit up the yard at my old apartment complex and acquired the acorns. However, after I added the acorns to the container, it just didn’t seem like enough. So I resolved that I would write a poem that described the recipient of the gift, the gift itself and the occasion. If you look closely at the picture, you can read the poem. For the sake of context, I’ll inform you that I spent Thanksgiving with my closest friend and her family. The poem is primarily about her step mom since she was the hostess.
The poem’s pasted below. It’s called: sOAK it in.
Let us gather together
And not rush hastily forward
Savor the sensation
Of sensing where the Spirit’s stirring
We measure milestones
In cycling seasons
And reminisce
Moments and movement
Like an acorn falling from a tree
Deposits drop from our mouths
Another seed is sown
So another tree can grow
Writing a War
I wish I could write a war
And win it with a word
My pen alone cannot prevail
But prayer can
Move heaven
And shake the earth
Until all the silt is sifted away
You can depend on me
To pen and pray these prayers
And fiercely fight
With every word I write
Kristian Stanfill – Day After Day – CD Review
A new voice could become an old favorite…
Unless you’re a close follower of the Passion movement, you probably don’t know who Kristian Stanfill is. Though a new voice, be assured that sixstepsrecords has made a credible addition to its already impressive repertoire of artists.
With a full-length album already under his belt, the Day After Day (EP) is a preclude to Stanfill’s next full album, out next year.
The lyrics on Day After Day clearly stand out on the EP. At times, the instrumentation behind the words fades into the background as the verses and choruses ring out like declarative Psalms. In a heavily-instrumented music world, this is refreshing.
Conversely, the up-tempo “Say, Say” features driving instrumentation that immediately draws attention from the listener. The dynamic chasm between “Say, Say” and the songs before it causes “Say, Say” to be the only original track that is easily remembered.
Rounding out the EP is a cover of Hillsong’s “The Stand.” It’s easy to enjoy this track because of its strong lyrics and familiarity. The choice to put “The Stand” at the end of the EP is intelligent because the listener comes away feeling satisfied.
Overall, Day after Day is a solid combination of songs if the listener gives the opening tracks a chance to sink in. In an over-crowded music market, it’s hard for entire CDs to truly stand out. With patience, audiences could truly latch on to this EP.
Visit www.KristianStanfill.com for more information on this emerging artist.
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Crappyness
Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve got an epidemic!
Satan–the enemy of our souls–has silenced too many Christians.
I have been a silent one.
I have been convinced that what I have to say does not matter.
I’ve been duped that I have nothing to contribute.
During my season of silencing, I thought I was being reflective and pensive. It was just part of life. I had the liberty to process. It led to a lot of crappyness in the Kingdom.
Satan’s life is throwing me death.
Satan’s liberty is to torment me.
Satan’s fruit is the pursuit of crappyness.
The lie is I have nothing to say. The truth is that I have more to share than ever before. The lie is that my life is inconsequential and not worth mentioning. The truth is I’ve got the Truth in me and He needs to be shared.
My aim is to advance the Great Commission. When I am too silent, I miss the mark. And missing the mark is the definition of sin. If the Holy Spirit has put something in me and I don’t share it, then I’m grieving Him.
What are you doing with your life? Sitting around watching television, trying to solve the world’s problems from your couch?
What liberties are you living for? The liberty to do whatever you want, whenever you want?
Are you in the pursuit of crappyness?
Assess where you are and ask the Lord what you can improve in your life. Ask Him to show you where you’ve been silent. You may be surprised by what you hear.
This is My Story, This is My Song
Addison Road releases stories worth listening to on INO Records.
“Stories,” the second INO Records release from Addison Road is anything but sophomoric. The term “sophomore” wouldn’t even apply to this band. “Stories” may be be their second release with INO Records, but the band itself has been together for a long time, releasing other albums before their major label debut.
Packed full of honest, often aching lyrics, “Stories” is authentic. This album is a perfect mix of wreckage and resilience. Recently, the members of Addison Road endured several tragic events, including a bus fire. These events were no doubt difficult, but very obviously kept the band grounded, leading to passionate lyrics in the song “This Little Light.”
The rains will come and the waters rise, but don’t you ever lose your light. In this life you will know love and pain, joy and sorrow. So when it hurts, when times get hard, don’t forget whose child you are.
If you’re wondering if “This Little Light” is anything like the familiar children’s song, you’d be right. At least partially. Addison Road successfully sampled the nostalgia of that song, yet also coupled it with compelling conviction.
Another familiar lyrical reference is included in the final track “My Story.” Strategically placed at the end of the record, “My Story” hearkens back to the beloved hymn, “Blessed Assurance.”
As enjoyable as “This Little Light” and “My Story” are, “Need You Now” is definitely my favorite song on the record. “Need You Now” surprisingly comes across as a victorious worship-like song, featuring the lyrics:Â Now this is all that I am. Here with my outstretched hands. ‘Cause I really need You. I know that I need You now.
The made-for-the-dance-floor number of “Don’t Wait” captures the listener’s attention musically. However, after further listening, the lyrics steal the attention. One thing that did confuse me about this song is why the topic of death was turned into a techno-pop tune. Perhaps the song was written that way on purpose–to challenge people and make them think about mortality. If that was the goal, then 1 point to Addison Road.
“Stories” is a definitely worth purchasing, as is the band’s self-titled debut release. Addison Road is an endearing band with a devoted following. If you are not yet familiar with them, please introduce yourself to their music. You won’t regret it.
For more information on Addison Road, visit their website at http://www.addisonroad.com.
Set Apart
We’re not made for mixture. We’re set apart for one thing–either carnal living or Kingdom living. What’s your substance?
Lately, I’ve been focusing on consecration. I’ve also been meditating on the concept of being set apart.
Set apart.
What does that really mean?
A vessel that is set apart for something can only be used for the one thing it was created for. It cannot be used for any other activity or substance.
We, as humans are not made for mixture. We were all created for a specific purpose. And that specific purpose is to know God and have a relationship with Him. Every person. Every one. Not just the goodie two-shoes. Not the brown nosers. Not the moral people. Not the religious stiffs. Everybody was created with an inward desire for God.
Granted, a lot of folks deny that desire. In fact, they often pervert that desire.
I’ve been challenging myself and also those around me in the area of mixture. I’m looking at the source of sediment in my life. I’m tracking any trace of pollutant in my life’s water. I’m exposing any areas of contamination and cleansing them. I want to be clean, pure, consecrated, sanctified and SET APART in every area.
I need to be set apart for God in my thought life, the way I dress, the things I say, the stuff I watch, the books I read, and the music I listen to.
Are you set apart for living for the Kingdom of God or for carnal, worldly living? Are you made of mixture? What is your substance? Are you purified or polluted?
Hi-Ate-Us
I have this unction to blog more. That’s right. An unction.
However, my internet access at the new place I just moved to is a little sketchy. It’s looking like I’ll have to drop in at coffee shops to use their “free wifi.” It’s not “free,” though because I always end up buying something. Successful marketing plan that is.
Anywho, I hope to get the regular internet access thing figured out. And I hope to blog.
Happy New Year!
Letters from Lindsay | A blog by a Lincoln, Nebraska, writer 