Road Trip Playlist 2014 #11

Review of June 15...

It was great to be at MMCC yesterday in Scotsdale--it's a creative church that is not only using this creativity to impact their community, but they are actively planning to pass along that creativity to next generations.  Their children's camp this summer is "camp create" and will help kids to not only learn Bible stories but also how to create movies to portray their message and meaning.  MMCC does a great job with video already, creating a video to introduce me to the congregation, as well as a funny & touching Father's Day video (the former I will share at a later date, but here's the link to the latter: http://vimeo.com/m/98241860 ).  I got to share with two groups of the children's ministry during the day, as well as be interviewed during both services.  This led to great opportunities of connection with the members during the morning.

Then it was off to lunch with a group of new families to the church, and staying at yet another beautifully Scottsdale home--the views of the mountains across the desert have always been amazing to me. Very thankful for Gil & Dana opening their home to me.

But now it's time to hit the road--so, what's next on the playlist?  Read on...

Disclaimer: 

The views, opinions, antics, and behavior of <insert artist name here>

or those same represented within their song <insert song title here>

or of their record label, affiliates, or any other fan base

are NOT necessarily the views, opinions, antics or behavior of the Oldham Family,

Three Worlds, Church of God Ministries, Church of God doctrine,

or any other related Christian or organization;

it's merely a song, on a blog post, 

so read the rest of the post to find out what strange meaning Ken is drawing from it. :)

and now..., continuing with the 2014 Playlist...

It's time to reveal the playlist picture source: it's Joshua Tree National Park, named for the unique trees that populate the regional desert in southern California.  I've never been to Joshua Tree, and after another week on the road, I thought I would stop in and take a personal day for rest, prayer, and reflection.

And if you're stopping at Joshua Tree, and building a playlist, you have to include a song from the 1987 iconic album Joshua Tree by U2 - it gave us such hits as "With or Without You," and "Where the Streets Have No Name," but I'm going with "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (though this video version is from the Rattle and Hum album that featured a Gospel Choir...)

The album is supposed to reveal the band's "love hate" relationship to the United States, as some have said -- the lead singer/activist Bono was interviewed saying that he had come out of the poverty and deserts of Africa and into the States seeing a different type of poverty and plaguing desert.  The image of a desert was adopted for the creation of the album.  

This theme and place may be appropriate after weeks away from Cairo and the Sahara climate--we may be experiencing a bit of reverse culture shock in different ways as we become re-immersed into America, perhaps even our own "love hate" moments.  It's been a busy week+ and I need the time to just "be still" before God.