by Jason Joyner | Sep 24, 2007 | arts, Blog, blogging
How do you like the new digs? Pretty snazzy, huh? I had been thinking for a while that I needed to do something other than a standard Blogger template. Because…well, no pressing reason, but looking cool is a good reason, right?
I had thought I would try my hand at some graphic design, but I haven’t done much of anything with it before. Finally I realized if it was going to get done, I would need some help.
I found wonderful help.
Major kudos to Hanna Sandvig for the design. I blogged about her art before and enjoy her work. She used a picture of mine that I took of a fresco in Salzburg, Austria, last summer. I had a vague idea of what I would like, but I didn’t imagine how nice it would turn out. So if you want to give your blog a face-lift, Hanna has a great deal for you.
by Jason Joyner | Sep 24, 2007 | arts, Blog, blogging
How do you like the new digs? Pretty snazzy, huh? I had been thinking for a while that I needed to do something other than a standard Blogger template. Because…well, no pressing reason, but looking cool is a good reason, right?
I had thought I would try my hand at some graphic design, but I haven’t done much of anything with it before. Finally I realized if it was going to get done, I would need some help.
I found wonderful help.
Major kudos to Hanna Sandvig for the design. I blogged about her art before and enjoy her work. She used a picture of mine that I took of a fresco in Salzburg, Austria, last summer. I had a vague idea of what I would like, but I didn’t imagine how nice it would turn out. So if you want to give your blog a face-lift, Hanna has a great deal for you.
by Jason Joyner | Sep 12, 2007 | arts, Blog, music, reviews, worship
Perhaps there’s a little hyperbole in the title, but not a lot.
Southeast Idaho is an interesting place to live. It is a very beautiful place to live, but the climate is dry, both physically and spiritually. We live in the shadow of Salt Lake City, and it makes for a daily battle.
For years I had heard glowing things about Lystra’s Silence, a band from Idaho Falls. They played concerts around our area and beyond. I always meant to go see them, but life, school, work, family, etc. would get in the way. “One of these days I’ll get to hear them,” I’d think.
To my chagrin, I almost didn’t.
After several years of plying their craft and constantly improving, the band has decided that this season is over for them. This was shocking, as I was talking to a friend just this summer who was enthusiastically describing their upcoming album, saying that they were due to break out in a big way. So when I saw a farewell concert advertised for August 31, I told my wife that we were going.
Man! I sure missed out all this time. Idaho isn’t Nashville, Austin, or Seattle – we don’t have a burgeoning music scene, especially not when it comes to quality Christian bands. This foursome was confident in their music and presentation. Not flashy, but the quality of the lyrics and musicianship was impressive.
They have just released a final album, Tremble Here. It starts off with a wonderful piano-driven track called “Change”, which has been constantly on my iPod this month. It continues with several other insighful, worshipful songs without being in the vein of the current popular worship music. The songs aren’t nice little chorus ditties maximized for CCM radio airplay. They are deep, investigating the darker side of our lives at times while always pointing to the light and grace from our glorious Lord.
Lystra’s Silence’s lead singer is Sherry Muchira, who reminds me at times of Michelle Tumes in her voice. This is a piano heavy band, and they don’t rock out a lot. I lean more toward Switchfoot and Relient K in my usual musical preferences, but I can definitely appreciate a more meditative listening experience.
I’m posting hoping that you will check them out and see if their music is something you would like to add to your collection. They ended their run with some debt, and so if you enjoy their music, I encourage you to buy an album or two and support these great artists. You may not be able to see them, but you can partake in the fruit they’ve offered over the last few years.
You can hear samples from their current album on their MySpace page, and from their prior album at their band website. You can order music from either location, I believe.
by Jason Joyner | Sep 12, 2007 | arts, Blog, music, reviews, worship
Perhaps there’s a little hyperbole in the title, but not a lot.
Southeast Idaho is an interesting place to live. It is a very beautiful place to live, but the climate is dry, both physically and spiritually. We live in the shadow of Salt Lake City, and it makes for a daily battle.
For years I had heard glowing things about Lystra’s Silence, a band from Idaho Falls. They played concerts around our area and beyond. I always meant to go see them, but life, school, work, family, etc. would get in the way. “One of these days I’ll get to hear them,” I’d think.
To my chagrin, I almost didn’t.
After several years of plying their craft and constantly improving, the band has decided that this season is over for them. This was shocking, as I was talking to a friend just this summer who was enthusiastically describing their upcoming album, saying that they were due to break out in a big way. So when I saw a farewell concert advertised for August 31, I told my wife that we were going.
Man! I sure missed out all this time. Idaho isn’t Nashville, Austin, or Seattle – we don’t have a burgeoning music scene, especially not when it comes to quality Christian bands. This foursome was confident in their music and presentation. Not flashy, but the quality of the lyrics and musicianship was impressive.
They have just released a final album, Tremble Here. It starts off with a wonderful piano-driven track called “Change”, which has been constantly on my iPod this month. It continues with several other insighful, worshipful songs without being in the vein of the current popular worship music. The songs aren’t nice little chorus ditties maximized for CCM radio airplay. They are deep, investigating the darker side of our lives at times while always pointing to the light and grace from our glorious Lord.
Lystra’s Silence’s lead singer is Sherry Muchira, who reminds me at times of Michelle Tumes in her voice. This is a piano heavy band, and they don’t rock out a lot. I lean more toward Switchfoot and Relient K in my usual musical preferences, but I can definitely appreciate a more meditative listening experience.
I’m posting hoping that you will check them out and see if their music is something you would like to add to your collection. They ended their run with some debt, and so if you enjoy their music, I encourage you to buy an album or two and support these great artists. You may not be able to see them, but you can partake in the fruit they’ve offered over the last few years.
You can hear samples from their current album on their MySpace page, and from their prior album at their band website. You can order music from either location, I believe.
by Jason Joyner | Aug 16, 2007 | arts, Blog, fiction, writing craft
Sometimes it is great to blog when other people are having the great discussions, and all I have to do is link to them! Instant content. It is good stuff today though, so I highly suggest following the links and checking them out.
Mike Duran at Decompose is having an interesting discussion on the rules of writing and how that can help or hinder new writers. Here’s Day 1. For a counterpoint, make sure to read this comment from an editor. And it continues in Day 2, with more pending, so keep an eye out.
Mike refers to a great discussion that Becky is having over at A Christian Worldview of Fiction regarding “The Place of Art in Fiction.” There are some very good thoughts and discussion coming out of the comment section, so take a minute to check those out as well. She started this series on August 7, so I’ll just link to her August archives and you can follow from there (as of today, we’re on day 8 – how high will it go?).
I hope the community of believers and writers we have can continue to have these good discussions to stir us all up to greater strength in our art. I have to believe that this will bring greater glory to our ultimate Source of creativity. Thank you Jesus!
by Jason Joyner | Aug 16, 2007 | arts, Blog, fiction, writing craft
Sometimes it is great to blog when other people are having the great discussions, and all I have to do is link to them! Instant content. It is good stuff today though, so I highly suggest following the links and checking them out.
Mike Duran at Decompose is having an interesting discussion on the rules of writing and how that can help or hinder new writers. Here’s Day 1. For a counterpoint, make sure to read this comment from an editor. And it continues in Day 2, with more pending, so keep an eye out.
Mike refers to a great discussion that Becky is having over at A Christian Worldview of Fiction regarding “The Place of Art in Fiction.” There are some very good thoughts and discussion coming out of the comment section, so take a minute to check those out as well. She started this series on August 7, so I’ll just link to her August archives and you can follow from there (as of today, we’re on day 8 – how high will it go?).
I hope the community of believers and writers we have can continue to have these good discussions to stir us all up to greater strength in our art. I have to believe that this will bring greater glory to our ultimate Source of creativity. Thank you Jesus!
