I Love Mountains Day 2009

MTR Jeff St
Originally uploaded by paynehollow

A contingent from Jeff St and 1000 of our closest friends met in the state capitol last week to work to end the practice of Mountain Top Removal. It always seems just crazy to me that anyone would have to argue, "Ya know, it's not really a good thing to blow off the tops of our mountains..."

And yet, here we are again.

A few quotes, today, in honor of this blessed creation and our wonderful mountains...

The nations were angry, but your anger has come. The time has come for the dead to be judged: to reward your servants, the prophets, your holy people, and those who fear your name, no matter if they are important or unimportant, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.

~Revelation 11

I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.

I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.

I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.

~Psalm 50

God will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.

The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.

God will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; God will crush the oppressor.

~Psalm 72

You provide streams of water in the hills and valleys, so that the donkeys and other wild animals can satisfy their thirst.

Birds build their nests nearby and sing in the trees...

Our LORD, your trees always have water, and so do the cedars you planted in Lebanon.

Birds nest in those trees, and storks make their home in the fir trees.

Wild goats find a home in the tall mountains, and small animals can hide between the rocks.

You created the moon to tell us the seasons.

The sun knows when to set, and you made the darkness, so the animals in the forest could come out at night.

~Psalm 104

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,

The leopard shall lie down with the young goat,

The calf and the young lion and the fatling together;

And a little child shall lead them.

The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den.

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD

~Isaiah 11

Shout for joy, O heavens;
rejoice, O earth;
burst into song, O mountains!
For the LORD comforts his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

~Isaiah 49

Sparrow Quartet!

Sparrow Quartet 1
Originally uploaded by paynehollow

What a concert!

Sparrow Quartet is (Left to Right in photo): Bela Fleck, Abigail Washburn, (Louisville's own) Ben Sollee and Casey Driessen. Each one of these musicians are legends in their own right. Amazing. Unbelievable. Wonderful. Breath-taking.

But put all four of them together in a group and... wow. I literally gasped in awe several times throughout this concert. Man! And today was their final concert for at least this incarnation of Sparrow Quartet (reunion tour, maybe?)

The glory of this group is their incredible talent on their instruments (including Abigail Washburn and Ben Sollee's fantastic voices), but lyrically, they ain't no slouches, either. Here are the words to Washburn's, Song of the Traveling Daughter...

World sits outside the door
A voice in your heart is calling
The ends of the world await
Traveling daughter
Feel the sunshine on your face

Starlight guides your feet
Earth and Sky will carry you
Journey after journey
One mountain to the next
Voice in your heart is calling

[This is the translation, it was sung in Chinese...]