Daniel Renstrom

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daniel — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:22:35 +0000

James put this awesome picture together on his blog…it was too cool not to steal. Both James and Mike have written some great posts about the trip.

I’ll try to have my own wrap-up blog post very soon. We kind-of hit the ground running when we got back, so I haven’t had much time to write. Hopefully soon.

We are all thrilled with how this project came together. Can’t wait for you all to hear it….just a few months away.

On the Incarnation Day 5

daniel — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:04:57 +0000

This is the best video yet…enjoy.

On the Incarnation Day Three and Four

daniel — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:42:31 +0000

So we got a little behind on our posting of the videos…sorry.

Hope you enjoy day 3 and 4.

Also, go check out James and Mike and Patrick’s blogs…they’ve been posting about recording.

On the Incarnation: Day Two

daniel — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 19:15:59 +0000

On the Road

daniel — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:27:45 +0000

On the Incarnation Update

daniel — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 02:46:30 +0000

Well we leave this week to go record our Christmas album. On the Incarnation is the title of this collection of songs. About 4 months ago we set out to write or arrange a group of songs that would tell the story of the incarnation faithfully….and I’m really stoked about what we came up with. Actually, I’m kind of giddy about these songs.

Mike, James, Pat, Ben and I will all leave on Wednesday night….we’re going to try and make it to Nashville that night. Then wake up and drive the rest of the way to Springfield, MO. Why, you ask, are you going to Springfield, MO? Well, we are going there to work with Jeremy Larson. I have been a huge fan of Jeremy’s music for some time now. So it’s pretty amazing, at least to me, that I’m going to get to work with him on this album.

We’re hoping to be able to have live video from the studio…so check back here for when that will be.

Jesse & Joy Espacio Siderai

daniel — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:59:58 +0000

I have no idea what they are saying. But I love this melody.

Monday morning thoughts

daniel — Mon, 18 May 2009 12:50:55 +0000

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

-Danielle and I had an amazing weekend at the beach. I was there to lead music for Providences’ marriage retreat. We had a blast hanging with the other couples…and we got away one day to Wrightsville Beach to eat a Sweet and Savory, and watch Angels and Demons. SUCH a refreshing weekend.

-I have one and a half songs left to write for the Christmas CD (On the Incarnation). We go to Springfield MO, in a few weeks to record. Be on the look out for the blog/videos.

-I’m making my way through Steinbeck’s East of Eden. I can’t believe how engaged I am in this book.

-Canes are playing the Penguins tonight. GO CANES!

-Mute Math’s music video for Spotlight is Über cool. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry6GAwDCI2I

Have a great monday…talk soon.

This is serious business

daniel — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:18:14 +0000

My friend Nick just posted this quote over at his blog.

This is one of the best quotes I’ve ever read on the serious task of planning a worhsip service. And, it’s so stinking funny.

“This is serious business” by Carl Trueman

“If God is awesome, sovereign and holy; if human beings are small, sinful, and lost; if Christ died and rose again by a most miraculous and costly act of grace, then this should impact the way things happen in church. This is not to argue for a one-size-fits-all-my-way-or-the-highway approach to church. Context and culture are important; but what is expressed through the idioms of particular cultural manifestations of the church should be awe, reverence, and, above all seriousness – not a colourless and cold miserable seriousness but a fitting amazement at the greatness of God and His grace. A church service involving clowns or fancy dress or skits or stand-up comedy does not reflect the seriousness of the gospel; and those who take the gospel seriously should know better. Frankly, it is more appropriate to liberal theology which does not take the gospel, or the God of the gospel, seriously. Serious things demand serious idioms.

I heard recently of a church service involving dressing up in costume and music taken from a Tom Cruise movie. Now, if I go for my annual prostate examination, and the doctor comes into the consulting room dressed as Coco the Clown, with ‘Take my breath away’ from Top Gun playing in the background, guess what? I’m going to take the doctor out with a left hook, flee the surgery, and probably file a complaint with the appropriate professional body. This is serious business; and if he looks like a twit and acts like a twit, then I can only conclude that he is a twit.

You can tell a lot about someone’s theology from what they do in church. Involve Kenny G’s music in your worship service, and I can tell not only that you have no taste in music but also that you have nothing to offer theologically to those who come through the church doors; indeed, what you do have can probably be found better elsewhere.”

–Carl Trueman, “Look, It’s Rubbish!” Reformation21 as cited on http://www.reformation21.org/counterpoints/wages-of-spin/look-its-rubbish.php (accessed May 12, 2009).

East of Eden

daniel — Mon, 11 May 2009 02:58:29 +0000

I’ve started reading this book, although I don’t know a lot about it. Honestly, I decided to read it because the title bears the name of one of my daughters. And, I think it’s really interesting that in the Bible everyone who goes East of Eden is in for some trouble.

I promised myself that I’m not going to pick up any other book until this one is finished. Or until it’s no fun to read anymore…which I don’t think will be the case.

One other note, writing Christmas music in May is hard. It shouldn’t be so dependent on the weather…but for some reason it is.