May 12th, 2008

Bryan Murdaugh with Total Strangers, a Lexington, S.C. Catholic rock band, will play the 2008 World Youth Day Benefit Concert at Atlanta’s Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on May 23.

Rocking Romans, organizers of the event, selected Bryan Murdaugh with Total Strangers — together with Massachusetts’ Pointe Blank and Florida’s Minister Theory — as one of “the nation’s hottest new Catholic music groups”.

Event headliner Pointe Blank was picked by Rocking Romans to play World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney, Australia. The concert is a fundraiser to support their trip. Rocking Romans is a promoter of contemporary Catholic music.

“It’s exciting to be able to play with other bands who are gaining a lot of momentum,” says Strangers frontman Bryan Murdaugh. “We’re all rallying behind Pointe Blank to make the big pilgrimage to Sydney. This night will rock.”

World Youth Day is a weeklong event that brings together young people from around the globe to celebrate and learn about their faith. It is the largest youth event in the world and takes place July 15-20.

Bryan Murdaugh with Total Strangers includes Bryan Murdaugh, Joseph Toohey, Mike Anzalone, Michael Ball and Eric Bouchard. They recently released their debut album, “With Everything I Know, It’s a Long Way Home”, a moving, energetic collection of songs that celebrate the joys of praising God. One of the album’s tracks was selected for inclusion on Rocking Romans’ “Best of New Catholic Music 2008” compilation CD.

The concert begins at 7pm. Doors open at 6:30. Tickets are $12-$20 and are available now on Ticketmaster and at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre Ticket Office.

Just in time for Pentecost Sunday, here is the TopCatholicSongs.com Holy Spirit Top Ten List!

Come, Holy Spirit!

TOP HOLY SPIRIT SONGS
Press Release:
Top Ten Holy Spirit Songs (topcatholicsongs.com)
5-9-08

For Immediate Release

Milford, CT - Top Catholic Songs formally announced today the voting
results for the Top Ten Holy Spirit Songs from Catholic Artists, just
in time for Pentecost Sunday. “Come Holy Spirit”, written and
performed by Mark Mallett for his rosary project “Let the Lord Know”
was voted #1 song. Lynn Geyer’s “SpiritSong” comes in second, while
the single, “The Dream” places Stinging Rain at #3.

Susan Bailey and Celeste Zepponi have original songs named “Come Holy
Spirit”, and both landed at the #4 and #5 positions, respectively.
George Lower’s “Shine Out” while ServantSongs’ “Glory Be” fill out
the #6 and #7 positions, respectively. Annie Karto places
with “Sanctify” at #8. Nancy Krebs ranks #9 with her “Gift of God”,
and the list ends with Mel Kennedy’s bilingual “Renew the Face of the
Earth”.

The purpose of this Top Ten list was to honor Catholic artists for
their musical and technical achievements in providing Catholics with
quality recorded music which is entertaining, edifying, and
educational.

According to a poll of the Top Catholic Songs online community, these
10 songs represent the best recorded songs about the Holy Spirit by
Catholic musicians:

1. Come Holy Spirit / Mark Mallett
2. SpiritSong / Lynn Geyer
3. The Dream / Stinging Rain
4. Come Holy Spirit / Susan Bailey
5. Come Holy Spirit / Celeste Zepponi
6. Shine Out / George Lower
7. Glory Be / ServantSong
8. Sanctify / Annie Karto
9. Gift of God / Nancy Krebs
10. Renew the Face of the Earth / Mel Kennedy

To hear and download the Top Ten Holy Spirit Songs by Catholic
Artists, and other Top Ten lists, go to:

http://www.topcatholicsongs.com/HolySpirit/List

TopCatholicSongs.com is an online community where Catholics can find
music from Catholic artists organized in the popular “Top Ten” style.
The lists are dynamically connected to iTunes–through which any
seeker of Catholic music can listen to and download songs, burn CD’s,
and discover new artists.

Go to http://www.TopCatholicSongs.com for more information.

Today at lunch, my three-and-a-half-year-old shouted “Zaccheus got up in the tree!” To my knowledge, she hasn’t heard the story of Zaccheus lately, so the timing seemed completely random. But I’m not one to argue with my preschooler spouting off scripture references, nor any possible movements of the Holy Spirit, so I did some contemplation.

Somewhere in the world (probably a lot of somewheres) there is a young person who has made a few mistakes. We all make mistakes. This person in particular has mostly made mistakes visible to others. The mistakes weren’t any more grave or more frequent than anyone else’s sins, but public mistakes make people turn their heads and notice. It’s negative attention. For a while, it fulfilled a need for any attention. But the faith of this young person is strong and they have a big heart. Sometimes they feel trapped because they want people to give them a chance, then when it’s revoked they return to more negative behavior just to get some sort of acknowledgment. They need someone to be Christ to them. They need someone to say “you know what? You messed up but none of that matters now. Come with me, and turn from the old ways.”

If we can just be Christ-like enough to give people a second chance (or a thousandth chance if they need it) then we help encourage that conversion. That conversion is exactly what metanoia means.

A video reflection on the Ascension of the Lord.

Yesterday’s second reading (from 1 Pt 3:15-18) says to be prepared to give a reason for our hope.

This scripture from the First Letter of Peter presumes that we’re living our faith so out-loud that those opposed to the faith take objection.

I believe it’s a two-pronged call.

Some of us that have become too comfortable with our peers (peers both faithful and otherwise). We live like the world wants us to rather than how Christ has asked us to. We regard faith as an important part of our lives, but don’t get caught by strangers modeling Christ-like behavior. That sort of thing just isn’t cool for us. This scripture is a challenge for us to start doing that. Live the Gospel.

Others of us are modeling Christ well enough that we’re downtrodden. We’re suffering, ostracized, and marginalized because we choose to be counter-cultural and people get confused and scared. Even people we’re trying to help. But be assured that the suffering is temporary and the fullness of God’s glory is everlasting.

If you’re in group #1, take your feet! Where you are is where you are, for now. But God has big plans for you.

If you’re in group #2, don’t be discouraged by nay-sayers and don’t lose faith and hope. Remember the reason for your hope.