I Got A Time Machine For Christmas

I got a time machine for Christmas.

It looks like this.

I’m traveling out the digital age and back to the age of vinyl.

*crackle, crackle*

It sounds so warm and so not digital.

It really does take me back in time. About 30 years back.

I’m listening to my old “Jesus Music” albums from the 70’s. Most of them did not survive into the digital revolution and somewhere in the 80’s I discarded my turntable; consequently I’m listening to music I haven’t heard in twenty years or so.

Right now I’m listening to the self-titled first album from Bethlehem. Excellent! It passes the test of time. Earlier I was listening to Bob Ayala’s Wood Between the Worlds album and Daniel Amos’ first album. Jesus Music Country Rock style! None of these albums have been available on CD.

Just last night Peri and I were talking about how sad it is that many of Phil Keaggy’s early albums are out of print. I have a lot of his stuff on CD, but there are some albums I only have on vinyl. Back in 1976 Phil Keaggy set an obscure C.S. Lewis poem (published posthumously) to music. Phil did it during his concert at Word of Life last month. The poem/song is called As The Ruin Falls. I’ve been wanting to hear it again…and through my time machine I have!

As The Ruin Falls
by C.S. Lewis

All this is flashy rhetoric about loving you.
I never had a selfless thought since I was born.
I am mercenary and self-seeking through and through:
I want God, you, all friends, merely to serve my turn.

Peace, re-assurance, pleasure, are the goals I seek,
I cannot crawl one inch outside my proper skin:
I talk of love –a scholar’s parrot may talk Greek–
But, self-imprisoned, always end where I begin.

Only that now you have taught me (but how late) my lack.
I see the chasm. And everything you are was making
My heart into a bridge by which I might get back
From exile, and grow man. And now the bridge is breaking.

For this I bless you as the ruin falls. The pains
You give me are more precious than all other gains.

__________________________________________

Merry Christmas!

BZ