Geoff's Miscellany

Ever since I first heard NIN’s “Came Back Haunted” I noticed a weird resonance it shared with Paul’s vision story in 2 Corinthians 12.

In 2 Corinthians 1-10, Paul categorizes his vision as a story whose content cannot be revealed. Yet, the vision led to a transformative experience for him. He came back from it a man who was haunted by suffering inflicted by Satan.

2Co 12:1-10 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. (2) I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. (3) And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— (4) and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. (5) On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— (6) though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. (7) So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. (8) Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. (9) But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (10) For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The parallels are really striking. Every time I hear the song, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 comes to mind. I have every reason to think that this intertextuality is purely accidental, but it is still very cool.

When I was younger, I would go fishing until very late at night. Often, I would listen to the The Mars Volta as I reflected on various philosophic and theological topics. It just made sense to listen to this band when it was dark and when the moon and some distant lights were dancing on the water. This is one of their few songs that sounds peaceful.

I don’t have many reflections upon the song. It is simply eery and entrancing. I hope you enjoy it.

Yesterday I had Diff-EQ homework and lesson plans to write and I forgot to post this. But one of the coolest songs I have ever heard is In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3 by Coheed and Cambria.

The song is a embedded in a multi-volume space opera style sci-fi epic. When I first heard this song, just like by buddies Jeff (not me) and Nathan (not my brother), the part at about 6:20 onward got me complete hooked. The song apparently describes a conversation that takes place during an attack on a spacecraft with guns called jackhammers.

Sufjan Stevens has been one of my favorite artists since about 2006. I always liked him, but when his album The Age of Adz dropped I was a bit disappointed except for this song. I hope you like it.

Here are the lyrics:

Vesuvius I am here You are all I have Fire of fire I'm insecure For it is all Been made to plan Though I know I will fail I cannot Be made to laugh For in life As in death I'd rather be burned Than be living in debt

Vesuvius Are you a ghost Or the symbols of light Or a fantasy host? In your breast I carry the form The heart of the Earth And the weapons of warmth

Over at voxpopuli, Vox posted on mood programming music. I would not have chosen most of his choices, but he apparently was in the band psychosonik (I’m pretty sure they made music for the Mortal Kombat films). I shouldn’t expect his musical tastes to be similar to mine or even to standard humans. His categories are:

Best 5 fire-it-up songs

Best 5 philosophy songs

Best 5 get-off-the-canvas songs

Best 5 romance songs