Hello, fellow wayfarers … How American Christianity went from judging truth by success to falling for cruelty and malice … Why this week has been one of the best experiences I’ve had in a long, long, long, long time … What has changed recently on the question of how smartphones are making us sad and lonely and mad … A Hoosier Desert Island Playlist … This is this week’s Moore to the Point.
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Desert Island Playlist
Every other week, I share a playlist of songs one of you says you’d want to have on hand if you were stranded on a desert island. This week’s submission comes from reader Gary Maze from Greenwood, Indiana, who writes:
Thank you for the wonderful newsletter. It is an uplifting moment for me every week, even on weeks it does not come out, since I have saved them and if there is not one, I can go back and read an old one. It keeps me encouraged and pointed to the better way of Jesus in these troubled political times.
I had been debating about sending this list for a while, but then I realized that I have found so many great songs because of your Island Playlists that I needed to return the favor, so maybe someone else could find something new from my list.
Here’s Gary’s playlist:
- Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor by J. S. Bach, performed by Kevin Bowyer: I love Baroque music and especially J. S. Bach. I could listen to any Bach piece, but I picked this one because it is considered one of his great organ works. It is over 12 minutes long, which would help on a desert island to keep the repetitions down. If not, then the entire Easter Oratorio. When I listen to this, I sometimes imagine what it would have been like to sit in a church and hear Herr Bach playing this for a worship service prelude.
- “Stranger Things Have Happened” by Claire Lynch: I love a good story song, or a great hook in a song. I read a review about this song once that said, “You may never hear Patty Hearst and the SLA mentioned in any other song.”
- “Valse Lente” by Claude Bolling: In high school, we needed some music for a play, and I pulled this out because it fit the bill perfectly. It reminded me of the wonderful times working theater in high school (and later at various churches) and is still a favorite. He was a great composer and jazz piano player.
- “Sit Down with Jesus” by the Del McCoury Band: The line “Zacchaeus was a changed man after lunch” pretty much says it all about this gospel song from my favorite bluegrass singer.
- “Thanksgiving” by George Winston: This is on George Winston’s Christmas album, December, and it sounds like snow falling to me. I love to put this on when it is snowing outside; I can sit in our living room and watch the falling snow. Or I put it on when it is deathly hot and pretend it’s snowing.
- “Viva Las Vegas” by The Grascals: The Grascals started out as Dolly Parton’s backing band, so it only made sense for her to return the favor on this high-energy Elvis cover by a fantastic bluegrass band, plus the hook at the end about “the king” makes me laugh every time I hear it.
- “One Bread, One Body” by John Michael Talbot: I hear this in my head every time we take Communion at church. A great reminder while we approach the sacrament of Communion that people all over the world are doing the same thing at that moment.
- “Backslidin’ Blues” by Petra: Before Petra became an arena rock band, they were a group of guys playing at a Christian coffeehouse called Adam’s Apple in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This song is off their first album, which I bought in high school. I loved the blues feel and the guitar solos from a band that was just starting out and went on to greater things.
- “Forever” by PFR (Pray For Rain): The first time I heard this was when the guitarist at the church we were attending played it, and I had to immediately go to the record store (it was a while ago) and buy the CD. The line “I found him one summer day, or better said, Jesus, you found me” could be one of the most beautiful lyrics I have ever heard.
- “Life Is Tough, God Is Good” by Randy Stonehill: I got to see Randy perform this live several years ago, and it is such a good reminder that no matter what happens, God has it.
- “Late for School” by Steve Martin: Steve Martin is an amazing banjo player (besides all his other immense talents). I love this song for the fun story it tells about a kid that wakes up late for school and what he has to go through to get there on time. The twist ending is a great plus!
- “Christmas Time Is Here” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio: If I could include this whole album, I would, since it is by far my favorite album ever and I listen to it all year round. Vince Guaraldi hit the melancholy hopefulness of Charlie Brown perfectly with this soundtrack.
Thank you, Gary!
Readers, what do y’all think? If you were stranded on a desert island for the rest of your life and could have only one playlist or one bookshelf with you, what songs or books would you choose?
- For a Desert Island Playlist, send me a list between 5 and 12 songs, excluding hymns and worship songs. (We’ll cover those later.)
- For a Desert Island Bookshelf, send me a list of up to 12 books, along with a photo of all the books together.
Send your list (or both lists) to questions@russellmoore.com, and include as much or as little explanation of your choices as you would like, along with the city and state from which you’re writing.
Quote of the moment
“We are sitting in a fortress. Outside it is getting dark.”
—Gandalf to Frodo, in J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
Currently reading (or re-Reading)
- Chloe Dalton, Raising Hare: A Memoir (Pantheon)
- Robert D. Richardson, Three Roads Back: How Emerson, Thoreau, and William James Responded to the Greatest Losses of Their Lives (Princeton University Press)
- Cary Groner, The Way: A Novel (Spiegel & Grau)
- Kurt Flasch, Meister Eckhart: Philosopher of Christianity (Yale University Press)
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The Russell Moore Show podcast includes a section where we grapple with the questions you might have about life, the gospel, relationships, work, the church, spirituality, the future, a moral dilemma you’re facing, or whatever. You can send your questions to questions@russellmoore.com. I’ll never use your name—unless you tell me to—and will come up with a groan-inducing pun of a pseudonym for you.
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Russell Moore
Editor in Chief, Christianity Today
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Moore to the Point
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