Open Canon - Gail Doering suggests "Betty's Diner" by Carrie Newcomer

Carrie Newcomer "Betty's Diner" Lyrics:

http://www.carrienewcomer.com/bettys-diner.html

Miranda words the late night counter In a joint called Betty’s Diner Chrome and checkered tablecloths one steamy windowpane
She got the job that shaky fall And after hours she’ll write til dawn With a nod and smile she serves them all

Chorus: here we are all in one place The wants and wounds of the human race Despair and hope sit face to face When you come in from the cold Let her fill your cup with something kind Eggs and toast like bread and wine She’s heard it all so she don’t mind

Arthur lets his earl grey steep Since April it’s been hard to sleep You know they tried most everything Yet it took her in the end Kevin tests new saxophones But swears he’s leaving quality control For the Chicago scene, or New Orleans Where they still play righteous horns

Jack studies here after work To get past high school he’s the first And his large hands seem just as comfortable With a hammer or a pen Emma leaned and kissed his cheek And when she did his knees got weak Miranda smiles at Em and winks

Chorus

Bridge: You never know who’ll be your witness You never know who grants forgiveness Look to heaven or sit with us
Deidra bites her lip and frowns She works the Stop and Go downtown She’s pretty good at the crossword page

She paints her eyes blue black Tristan come along sometimes Small for his age and barely five But she loves him like a mamma lion

Veda used to drink a lot Almost lost it all before she stopped Comes in at night with her friend Mike Who runs the crisis line Michael toured Saigon and back Hair the color of smoke and ash Heads are bowed and hands are clasped One more storm has passed





Singer Gives Tour Cut to Charity
October 11th, 2007
by Andrew McGinn

Singer gives tour cut to charity

Audio: Listen to Newcomer sing "Betty's Diner"
By Andrew McGinn
Staff Writer
Thursday, October 11, 2007

SPRINGFIELD — As a Quaker activist first and foremost, Carrie Newcomer would prefer if people stopped sowing their wild oats.

But she's at least making it easier to live a purpose-driven life — just attend one of her gigs.

Playing Kuss Auditorium on Friday, the Indiana singer-songwriter has given a cut of her tour sales to charity since the '90s.

The Second Harvest food bank network has been on the receiving end of tour receipts in recent years.

Newcomer also leads workshops on everything from creative writing and songwriting to faith and "living with intention."

She'll present a creative writing and songwriting seminar from 7 to 9:30 p.m. today at the Glen Helen Building, 405 Corry St., in Yellow Springs. Call (937) 475-7357 for reservations.

Musically, Newcomer released "Regulars and Refugees" in 2005, marking her 10th album for Philo/Rounder.

A concept album, the songs are set inside Betty's Diner, a fictional greasy spoon in southern Indiana.

And if you're a Nickel Creek fan who thinks her name looks awfully familiar, they covered her song "I Should've Known Better" on the 2003 disc "This Side."

Newcomer also has toured Europe with Alison Krauss.

Open Canon - Gail Doering suggests Mary Oliver's poem "Wild Geese"

Gail Doering suggests:

Mary Oliver's poem, "Wild Geese" ending with

"Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting —
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things."


Wild Geese by Mary Oliver

Wild Geese
by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting —
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

from Dream Work by Mary Oliver
published by Atlantic Monthly Press
© Mary Oliver

Open Canon - Deb Matthews suggests Ragman by Walter Wangerin, Jr.

http://walterwangerinjr.org/new_web/publish_details.php?id=21

Amazon.com Book Description (ISBN 0060692294, Paperback)

"In a little while, when the sky showed grey behind the rooftops and I could see the shredded curtains hanging out black windows, the Rgaman came upon a girl whose haed was wrapped in a bandage, whose eyes were empty. Blood soaked her bandage. A single line of blood ran down her check.
Now the tall Ragman looked upon this child with pity, and he drew a lovely yellow bonnet from his cart.
'Give me your rag,'he said, tracing his own line on her cheek, 'and I'll give you mine.'"The stories, meditations and allegories in Ragman together explore the power and meaning of love within an often inhumane urban landscape. Walter Wangerin's vivid depictions touch our deepest pains with rays of joyful healing.

Open Canon - Mike Foster suggests "Here I Go Again" by Coverdale

"Here I Go Again"

(coverdale/marsden)

David Coverdale - Here I go again
by kati_kallisto

I dont know where Im going
But, I sure know where Ive been
Hanging on the promises
In songs of yesterday
An Ive made up my mind,
I aint wasting no more time
But, here I go again
Here I go again

Tho I keep searching for an answer,
I never seem to find what Im looking for
Oh lord, I pray
You give me strength to carry on,
cos I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams

An here I go again on my own
Goin down the only road Ive ever known,
Like a hobo* I was born to walk alone
An Ive made up my mind
I aint wasting no more time

Im just another heart in need of rescue,
Waiting on loves sweet charity
An Im gonna hold on
For the rest of my days,
cos I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams

An here I go again on my own
Goin down the only road Ive ever known,
Like a hobo* I was born to walk alone
An Ive made up my mind
I aint wasting no more time

But, here I go again,
Here I go again,
Here I go again,
Here I go...

An Ive made up my mind,
I aint wasting no more time

An here I go again on my own
Goin down the only road Ive ever known,
Like a hobo I was born to walk alone
cos I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams

An here I go again on my own
Goin down the only road Ive ever known,
Like a hobo I was born to walk alone
An Ive made up my mind
I aint wasting no more time...

Open Canon - Mike Foster suggests "What I've Done" by Linkin Park

http://www.imeem.com/angelofdeath128/music/6qb9fbhT/linkin-park-what-ive-done/

"What I've Done" by Linkin Park

In this farewell
There's no blood
There's no alibi
Cause I've drawn regret
From the truth
Of a thousand lies

So let mercy come
And wash away

What I've done
I'll face myself
To cross out what I've become
Erase myself
And let go of what I've done

Put to rest
What you thought of me
While I clean this slate
With the hands
Of uncertainty

So let mercy come
And wash away

What I've done
I'll face myself
To cross out what I've become
Erase myself
And let go of what I've done

For what I've done

I'll start again
And whatever pain may come
Today this ends
I'm forgiving what I've done

I'll face myself
To cross out what I've become
Erase myself
And let go of what I've done

What I've done

Forgiving what I've done

Open Canon - Mike Foster suggests "Miracle Drug" by U2

Mike Foster suggested this song for the canon.

Miracle Drug Lyrics
Artist :U2


"Miracle Drug"

I want a trip inside your head
Spend the day there...
To hear the things you haven't said
And see what you might see

I wanna hear you when you call
Do you feel anything at all?
I wanna see your thoughts take shape
And walk right out

Freedom has a scent
Like the top of a new born baby's head

The songs are in your eyes
I see them when you smile
I've seen enough I'm not giving up
On a miracle drug

Of science and the human heart
There is no limit
There is no failure here sweetheart
Just when you quit...

I am you and you are mine
Love makes no sense of space
And time...will disappear
Love and logic keep us clear
Reason is on our side, love...

The songs are in your eyes
I see them when you smile
I've had enough of romantic love
I'd give it up, yeah, I'd give it up
For a miracle, a miracle drug, a miracle drug

God I need your help tonight

Beneath the noise
Below the din
I hear your voice
It's whispering
In science and in medicine
"I was a stranger
You took me in"

The songs are in your eyes
I see them when you smile
I've had enough of romantic love
Yeah, I'd give it up, yeah, I'd give it up
For a miracle, miracle drug

Miracle, miracle drug

Open cannon - or closed cannon

I'm on study leave this week, and as my colleagues and I explore what it is we experience in parish ministry the topic arose (again) about how God continues to speak in the world. While the ecumenical councils waited until the Council of Hippo in 393 to say what biblical books should be codified into the biblical canon of accepted texts for use in the churches, since then we have found many other such texts that have meant the world to others during the short history of Christianity.

So at dinner tonight, I asked "What would you add to the canon?" This is a different question for biblical scholars who are familiar with the ancient texts that perhaps should have made it to the canon (Thomas, Peter & Barnabas, and the Infancy Gospels of Jesus). Of course, each of us have different lists of what we would want to take out - especially those that encouraged an Imperial, misogynistic Christianity, but what we would like to add is an altogether question. What kind of texts do we understand as part of the tradition?

My friend, the Rev. Steve Blackstock and I, both resonated that a first entry into our Canonical Hall of Fame is a song from the Joshua Tree Album by U2.

U2 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

I have climbed highest mountains
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you
I have run
I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

I have kissed honey lips
Felt the healing in her fingertips
It burned like a fire
(I was) burning inside her

I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

I believe in the Kingdom Come
Then all the colors will bleed into one
Bleed into one
But yes I'm still running

You broke the bonds
And you loosed the chains
Carried the cross
Of my shame
Oh my shame
You know I believe it

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

In the video version from the concert in Milan, Bono pointed out that the Italians kind of invented the movies, that stories told in the stained glass windows in the churches nearby were the cinema of the day. And even when he sings, he voices the situation of many today.

"I believe in the Kingdom Come....
You broke the bonds
And you loosed the chains....
You know I believe it
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for..."



There is an eternal truth in this song, for we are always “works in progress.” But this version of the song points out that this is also a song we sing with each other, and as the band sings, and the choir adds their refrain, even the lead singers of the choir have their riffs to share. The very work of the universe is a process that continually evolves with us as co-creators.



So I ask you the question now. What are the texts (sacred and secular), poems, songs, art, short stories, videos and movies that you would include into the canon that give expression of what it means to be human, to live fully, and to explore the meaning of life? What additional human expressions would you add to make sense of the Jesus experience?

Don’t hesitate. No answer is out of bounds. Just claim for yourself what speaks to you and your life situation. As we together explore I’ll add additional posts in the coming days of other inclusions I would make.