I know, it’s been a little while. Not much has been coming out and I’ve been less than motivated, but working on it. Anyway, my return is marked by two other returns, two newcomers, and a duo I love to listen to. There are some surprises here, which is cool and most of these have come out within a week and a half of today. Before we get to them, though, here’s how things work. I’ll give you my thoughts on the album in 25 words or less and then I’ll add 2 key songs and 2 other artists to consider. But that is not all. Oh no, that. is. not. all. For whimsy, I throw in a random comparison. And this week, it’s condiments.

Your part is to let me know in the comments if I’m on or if I’m on something. Yeah. Okay, now we’re ready to get to it.

Amy Grant – How Mercy Looks from Here
http://amzn.to/12gW11p | http://amzn.to/107cdkp (mp3)

Not a doppelganger, it’s the real deal. New pop music from this home-grown CCM veteran. She’s come a long way, baby (baby). Mustard.

DON’T MISS: Don’t Try So Hard, Free
SEE ALSO: Cast of Nashville, Susan Ashton

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Okay, to be honest, I forgot this was on at least five times. Part of that is because I didn’t think Angie should’ve left last week (though I did pick her to finish 3rd at the beginning of the top 10). Part of it is because I haven’t been watching live. But most of it is because, every year by this point in the competition it really stops mattering. The contestants that make it to the final rounds look, sound, and talk nothing like they did when they started the show.

This week is it, though. The grand cage match. Kree vs. Candice. Three songs each. One winner will emerge. Then we can all focus on what really still matters when it comes to American Idol… who will be judging next season? Anyway, this is something we must go through first. The first song is picked by Simon Fuller. The second is their potential lead single (presumably ALSO picked by Simon Fuller). And the final song is their favorite from earlier in the season. Then, the votes, which will have absolutely nothing to do with the performances tonight. Off we go…

Kree opens the night with Angel, which makes me think of abused puppies. Not that I think Kree mistreats animals or anything. I just don’t like this song. She did a fine job with it, though. Great vocal tone. No judge’s commentary.
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I like to read in batches. It’s probably not the best way to read, but it seems to be the way my head can handle it. Similarly, I write reviews in batches. So, even though I read Visioneering a few weeks ago, I held off on this review because I had already begun reading Start and quickly realized their reviews belonged together. As a side note, I’m already reading You Are a Writer by Jeff Goins, which also fits in this theme, but it could go on indefinitely if I kept waiting, and that’s the point of these books, anyway. Stop stalling and get MOVING. So here I am, moving. (Well, this first paragraph was stalling, but NOW we’re ready to move.)

Visioneering – Andy Stanley

I’ve mentioned before how much I appreciate the teaching and leadership of Andy Stanley. No, I’ve never met him, but I’ve been listening to his podcasts and reading his books for a while now and I feel like I know him. VISIONEERING is a combination of VISION and ENGINEERING. Planning and putting plans into motion. It’s a practical guideline that addresses everything from idea conception to realized vision (and back again).

Using the backdrop of the Biblical account of Nehemiah and his quest to rebuild the fallen walls of Jerusalem, Stanley walks readers through the process in a candid, step-by-step format. We begin by identifying our calling/dream/passion/goals/whatever you want to call it. Something wrong in life that bothers us enough to actively seek a solution. Then begins the preparation, which is different for each of us because we surely find ourselves in different life situations with unique obstacles and opportunities. [continue reading this post...]

With three contestants left, we get a glimpse at who’s really “in it to win it” and we can really see the light at the end of this never-ending tunnel. Next week is the finale and in two weeks, we’ll start forgetting all of this year’s contenders. After all, The Voice is just ramping up with their elimination rounds. And there’s always a new squirrel to distract us. But for now, American Idol is the squirrel and we have three contestants left.

This week, the three finalists get a taste of how their recording sessions will go. They each sing three songs, and they didn’t get to choose any of them. The first round are songs picked by Jimmy Iovine, the second round songs are picked by the judges, and the Idol producers picked songs for the last round. Don’t expect any particular connection between artist and song this week. (And don’t scratch your head as to why Idol winners sell less each year). One more cynical aside: This is the week when the judges and producers totally tip their hands and show who they want to advance. Song choice is everything. Anyway, off we go…

ROUND ONE: JIMMY PICKS

Kree opens the show with Perfect, by P!nk. Because that’s a country, blues song that fits right in her wheelhouse and core audience. Except not at all, really. She seems spacey and almost lifeless as she performs and wanders around the stage. Good vocal. Not a good song choice. Keith says it reminded him that she’s a country girl. Nicki starts in with a British accent, which is never a good sign. She says her vocal was great, but it felt short and apparently Kree was too tall; she should wear flat boots instead of heels. Randy didn’t love that song for her. She can sing anything, but this fell flat and lacked pizzazz. Mariah says it’s hard to let someone else pick your songs for you and she’s sure Kree will be better later on tonight (translation: it wasn’t good, darling).
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So, this week is a rerun. Sort of. With new songs. And best of all, Harry Connick, Jr. I’ve been lobbying for Harry to be a permanent judge for years now. I would love to see Randy, Neil Patrick Harris, Kristin Chenoweth, and Harry Connick Jr as the judges, but that would never happen. Anyway, on to today’s show. Two songs each – one from 2013 and one from a long time ago – and no duets, as far as I can tell.

Angie begins with Rihanna’s Diamonds from behind the piano. The spotlights look like harp strings behind her. I like this arrangement, but she’s totally biffed some of these big notes and it’s unfortunately fallen apart for her at the end. Keith loves a lot of songs, but he didn’t like the arrangement of that song. Nicki says she worked the body more than the heart and it was bland; she can do better. Randy agrees with Keith and the arrangement wasn’t great, but he likes her leather shorts. Mariah appreciated the risk of re-arranging the song, but agreed that it seemed she played up to the camera more than she should have.

Amber will apparently be humming and snapping to Just Give Me a Reason because she can’t remember the words. I’m not familiar with this song, but again, even if she was singing it flawlessly (she’s not), there is very little connection emotionally. Ah, this is Jessica Sanchez all over again. I didn’t like it. Nicki says she didn’t see the same, charming girl from rehearsals on stage tonight; no connection. Randy agrees that she didn’t seem to have any fun and it was not stellar. Mariah apologizes on Amber’s behalf for not learning the lyrics and encourages her to remain confident. Keith uses the word phenomenal twice, but he’s describing P!nk, not Amber.
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Today, I’ve got some young adult (YA) fiction (a.k.a. kid’s books) to talk about. In fact, I’ve got a swath of YA books (at least 15) to talk about, but I’m limiting this to four. First, from Tyndale is the latest episode from the Imagination Station series. Then, two comic book meets novel hybrids – one from the library and one from Tommy Nelson. And finally, Harvest House offers a Bible study for kids with a topical collection of memory verses. Okay, let’s get to the quick.

The Hunt for the Devil’s Dragon – Wayne Thomas Batson

The Imagination Station series, which falls along the lines of Magic Tree House and Secrets of Droon books, takes finds a nice balance between focusing on Bible accounts and stories of the Christian faith. This time the time-traveling cousin duo of Beth and Patrick encounter first hand the tale of Saint George and the Dragon, which has many sources and variations. Here’s how this one plays out (with minimal spoilers).

Beth feels regret for chickening out in the face of a bully picking on her friend. Mr. Whit sends her to ancient Africa with Patrick to witness the courage of Saint George, a newly converted Christian who stands up for the rights of peasants under the rule of the Roman forces. And to keep everyone’s interest throughout the story, there are dragons and other fantastical creatures. Through it all, Beth (along with Patrick and the readers) learns the intended lesson.

NOTE: I received a complimentary copy from the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for an honest review. Sign up for Tyndale Rewards or the Tyndale Blog Network and learn how to get free books, too.

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Another week has gone by and I’m sure there are a good handful of things I wanted to get done, but didn’t. Maybe you feel the same way. Maybe it will be a productive weekend. For now, (depending on how you look at it) I’ll be productive and share my thoughts on five more albums. If you’re unfamiliar with the Music of the Day format, pay attention to the next sentence. For each album, I’ll give you my thoughts in 25 words or less, two key tracks to check out, two similar artists, and a random comparison. Today, the I’ll pick from the teams in the NBA playoffs. Off we go.

Martin Smith – God’s Great Dance Floor
http://amzn.to/14Wyxoc (CD) | http://amzn.to/15XUi68 (mp3)

A voice that should sound familiar, a collection of songs that feel familiar, and a mostly cheek-to-cheek dance floor. Not delirious, but quite happy. Warriors.

DON’T MISS: Jesus of Nazareth, Fire Never Sleeps
SEE ALSO: Kristian Stanfill, Bluetree
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So now we’re down to the final four and no one has been saved and the show may end a week early and there are rumors that I’m not the only one annoyed with Mariah and oh, what a season it has been. I think it’s safe to say we’re all happy that Lazaro isn’t singing…

Okay, I’m firing up the old AmericanIdol.com video playlist and we’re going to find out what’s what. My understanding is that the girls picked their first song and their second song (as voted on by fans like you – I didn’t vote) is a one-hit wonder. Let’s get to it.

Amber opens the night with Power of Love. I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, but I really don’t like Celine Dion songs. Woah! Amber’s hair exploded! She starts it off with no music and does a great job, then stumbles on the chorus. There is zero connection between her and the song, but she emits a powerful vocal that will surely overcome the bored body language. Keith says it was an amazingly perfect song choice and she was confident. Nicki says she doesn’t even feel like a contestant anymore, it’s like they’re at her show. Randy says she’s came in as a baby, now she’s a pro. Mariah says she opened up the notes like hashtag POW. (Meanwhile Kobe tries not to be like hashtag PAU!).
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And we’re back. I was a little distracted last week and I’m still distracted, but I’m fighting through it. We’re finally at the part where Joshua leads the Israelites across the Jordan River. This is an exciting time for the budding nation and, as we discussed last time, it’s the moment God has chosen to cement Joshua’s leadership role.

JOSHUA 3:9-17 – ACROSS DRY GROUND

As we start this passage, we find Joshua reiterating the vision and instructions for crossing the Jordan. He reminds the Israelites of the promise that has kept them going all this time: God will give us the Promised Land. That’s their vision, their goal. He reminds them of their instructions: Follow the Ark of the Covenant, follow God. He explains how it’s going to happen: Once the priests wade into the water, the river will stop flowing and a path will appear.

It almost seems redundant and certainly feels as though it’s been distilled into a handy little summary. But this is exactly what the Israelites needed. This is what we all need from time to time. Little reminders of where we are, why we’re here, and what’s to be expected. This is a rally cry that will unite the nation in either skepticism or hope. And either way, it won’t be long before the truth is revealed.
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It’s been a stressful and serious week for many, so, hopefully a glance at some new music will be a refreshing break from the immediate reality. This week didn’t yield too many releases, but did provide us with The Afters. Iron & Wine also released a pretty exquisite album this week, but I’m not including that here. Sorry. Anyway, for the remaining four spots, I dug into the past month or so and found some nice albums to peek at. Before all that, however, here’s a reminder of how this works. In 25 words or less, I’ll summarize my thoughts on the album. You also get 2 songs to key in on, 2 alternate artists to investigate, and a random comparison (today, it’s from the top 100 longest-running Broadway shows). Got it? Okay, let’s get to it.

The Afters – Life Is Beautiful
http://amzn.to/17LUmFF (CD) | http://amzn.to/17LUqFj (mp3)

Hard not to like these guys. The album will put a smile on your face with whimsical melodies and palatable lyrics. Solid return. The Wiz.

DON’T MISS: Broken Hallelujah, What We’re Here For
SEE ALSO: Hawk Nelson, Sanctus Real
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