Here is the new Switchfoot video from their song The Sound (John M. Perkins’ Blues). If you are not familiar with John Perkins check out the wiki page on Perkins, or better yet, go to the John M. Perkins Foundation for Reconciliation & Development (JMPF.org).

I love this cover of “I Believe in Father Christmas” orignially written by Greg Lake of “Emerson, Lake and Palmer” fame. What is especially interesting about U2’s rendering is a very subtle yet thoughtful change in lyrics. What was originally:

“They sold me a dream of Christmas, They sold me a silent night, They told me a fairy story, Till I believed in the Israelite.” Becomes; “But I believed in the Israelite.”

About this cover, @U2.com writes:

Like pretty much all of their other Christmas references, this is not a happy song. It’s about how our modern world has corrupted the simple beauty that a Christmas tree can offer. Edge’s chiming guitars sound completely in their element as a delicate, Christmassy effect. Lake used part of the Prokofiev composition “Troika” in between the verses, and Edge’s guitar version of it is utterly amazing. Adam and Larry chose to go with simple, sparse, deep rhythms that help drive home the gravity of the song. When I’m watching the video they made, with the cold-looking steam and the blinking, flickering lights all over the floor, and Bono shoots up an octave to cry out, “I wish you a hopeful Christmas. I wish you a brave new year. All anguish, pain, and sadness leave your heart. Let your road be clear,” it gives me goose bumps.

I recently ran across a very enjoyable article by Dr. Steven Harmon (my former theology professor in seminary) entitled “U2: Unexpected Prophets.” If you are a U2 fan I suspect you will enjoy Harmon’s observations as much as I did. Here is the concluding paragraph:

In these and other songs of social engagement, Bono and U2 continue to be unexpected prophets. They not only cry out against injustice, but also dare to imagine an alternative in light of the Christian vision. They searchingly examine the distortions of our world and proclaim with Scripture “the place that has to be believed to be seen,” the place “where the streets have no name.” Will we hear them?

In conjunction with World AIDS Day (December 1st), MSN celebrated the launch of (RED) WIRE, (RED)’s new digital music magazine designed to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. To learn more about (RED) WIRE go here.

If you are a U2 fan then you must check out yesterday’s (RED) release of their cover of “I Believe in Father Christmas” orignially written by Greg Lake of “Emerson, Lake and Palmer” fame. What is especially interesting about U2’s rendering is a very subtle yet thoughtful change in lyrics. What was originally:

“They sold me a dream of Christmas, They sold me a silent night, They told me a fairy story, Till I believed in the Israelite.” Becomes; “But I believed in the Israelite.”  Enjoy!

(ht: u2sermons)

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I got a chance tonight to see the U23D movie and it was fantastic. It most certainly is the next best thing to actually being at the live concert. The main difference I noticed was that my ears weren’t ringing afterwards.

It is the first live-action film to be shot, edited, and shown entirely in 3D. The visual experience will not disappoint, even if you are not a big fan of U2. But if you are a fan, then this is a must see!

Here is our King
Here is our Love
Here is our God
Whose come to bring us back to Him!

This is by far my favorite video of all time. If you are not familiar with this, it is a portion of the half time show at the 2002 Super Bowl four months after 911. Five years later it still brings a shiver up my spine and a lump to my throat.

I have always been a huge U2 fan.  I own every cd they ever produced (although I did sell “POP” to a used cd store a few days after I purchased it) and at times have traveled several states to see them in concert. I say that to admit that I have a bias in regards to U2 being the best band of all times and producing the best album of all times – The Joshua Tree. I still find the lyrics and music of U2 to be challenging, inspiring, and many times worshipful, not to mention the humanitarian issues that Bono has championed the past several years. I found this video be a good summary of all the above. Be sure to watch it through as there is a short portion from Bono’s talk at the national prayer breakfast.