Four myths about the crusades

Nathan Finn writes a short review of an essay debunking four myths about the crusades.

Here's the list of myths:


Myth # 1: The Crusades Represented an Unprovoked Attack by Western Christians on the Muslim World
Myth # 2: Western Christians Went on Crusade because Their Greed Led Them to Plunder Muslims in Order to Get Rich
Myth # 3: Crusaders Were a Cynical Lot Who Did Not Really Believer Their Own Religious Propaganda; Rather They Had Ulterior, Materialistic Motives
Myth # 4: The Crusades Taught Muslims to Hate and Attack Christians

You can read the original post here.

Video of a jazz concert and lecture on Jazz and the gospel - looks interesting

In the video below Dr. William Edgar, Professor of Apologetics at Westminster Theological Seminary, gives a combination of piano concert and historical-theological lecture on the African-American musical heritage of pain and joy expressed through spirituals, jazz, ragtime, gospel, and blues. It was delivered at the Gordon College Convocation on February 20, 2009.

Free Album Download & review: Josh Garrels 'Love & War & the Sea in between'

This is probably the best christian album I've heard. It's not a 'worship' album as such, but it's by a man who clearly loves Jesus and lives a life to God. You can listen to it by just clicking the tracks below or download it free here. Don't let the fact that it's free deceive you, this is an amazing album.

The thing that makes this album great is the mixture of styles that integrate so well together. He's hard to put into a pigeon's hole, he seems to flap between them but in terms of sounds like, there's a little Jason Mraz scat, there's Jack Johnson's make-you-smile summer folk sounds, there's a little hip hop beats and some electronica layering production that listeners of bonobo or four tet might recognise. And it just really works as an album. There's an emotional journey he takes you on. The only advice I'd give is that because there are 18 tracks you might not get to the later tracks and they're worth it so press on!

And then there's the lyrics, which are for me just flat out great! He talks about the eternal things with lyricism and poetry that's never stale or cliched but also raise your eyes up to the heavenly realities. For me there's also a real prophetic power to his lyrics, I find myself stirred and wakened from the sleep of worldliness listening to him. (check out 'Farther Along' & 'Revelator)

Stand out tracks for me (and they're changing because they're growing on me) are 'Farther Along', 'Rise', 'Revelator'.

Incidentally, I love Sufjan Stevens 'Seven Swans' and Enter the Worship Circle 'First Circle', Misty Edwards and United Pursuit Band.