Some time ago I wrote a review for Bob Eckblad’s new book, Reading the Bible with the Damned. You can read this review here: Reading the Bible with the Damned. It is a fabulous book!

I’ve recommended it to both conservative and left-leaning Christians. Not only does Bob live out a remarkable ministry, but he is an accomplished scholar as well.

If you are at all interested in prison ministry, or have concerns about how Christians view those who live behind bars, this is your book…or if you’re an incarcerated Christian who has a dismal view of your relationship with God, this is definitely your book.

Perhaps the most popular way to begin a blog is to say, “Well, it’s been a while since I’ve posted…” So I won’t say that, but at least you’ll know that’s what I’m thinking.

Though I haven’t done much actual writing, it’s been fun posting songs. I usually post them right after I write them. I record them so I don’t forget them and then put them on my blog for kicks. After a while, I start to develop a laundry list of things I want to change about them. I probably shouldn’t rough drafts of songs on my blog, but I can’t resist. There’s something about half-written songs that I find rather interesting. Maybe they’re harder to listen to, but they capture my imagination more than polished, well-recorded tunes do.

Lately, my biggest inspiration for songwriting has been www.pandora.com. What a fantastic place to hear lots of really cool music!! You have the ability to create the best radio stations in the world… simply by giving a thumbs up for songs you like and a thumbs down for songs you don’t. Usually, I’m do busy to do a lot of song rating, but every once in a while I run across a particular style of song that I really must hear again.

You can start off a radio station by giving Pandora a list of bands you like. I find I can get away with simply submitting one band I like, and Pandora delivers a barrage of, like, totally rad music. Lately, I’ve been listening to a radio station formed by telling Pandora I like Modest Mouse. Can’t beat it.

Some days, though, I’m in the mood for mostly instrumental music. No prob; I have a Pandora radio station that plays just that. Anyway, you get the idea.

Here’s a new piece I wrote for cello:

“Ordinary in G”
by Jeshua Erickson
[audio:http://www.jeshuaerickson.com/songs/ordinaryInG.mp3]

I’m playing my cello that I haven’t picked up in a year or so! This piece certainly isn’t a masterpiece, but it is ‘ordinary’.

For some time, I’ve had half a mind to record an album of songs about Albert Lea. This little haphazardly recorded diddy would fall into just such a collection:

(And, of course, it never fails that the train blows it’s freakin’ whistle somewhere in the midst of my home recording. This time it showed up at the end…luckily.)

Fountain Lake Mermaid
By Jeshua Erickson

I’m not sure how she got there
Or exactly how it’s been
Since they put her on the water
Where the lake is turning in
Not far from the creamery
Or the fountains shooting high
She catches glimpses and small gestures
As folks are passing by

Some are peering as though children
At this woman without legs
Is she always on the surface
It is this, the question begs
I suppose when no one’s looking
She slides down from her rock
To rest beneath the surface
Out away from the dock

Somewhere out into the middle
Where the lake is deeper still
She can spin and turn her body
Making whirlpools at will
But the dawn begins its cracking
And she courses to her rock
Frantic to position
It’s a race against the clock

[audio:http://www.jeshuaerickson.com/songs/FountainLakeMermaid.mp3]

Words and Music © 2006 Jeshua Erickson