Praising the Good (An Occasional Series).

1. Flyleaf. From their most recent record, Memento Mori, is the bracing song, "Beautiful Bride". Playing through mainstream rock stations, its overt theology of the Church is arresting. For example, this excerpt of the lyrics (including chorus containing the phrase, "Body of Christ") removes any ambiguity and underscores Flyleaf's uncompromising audacity of message:

"[Unified] diversity
Functioning as one body
Every part encouraged by the other
No one independent of another
You're irreplaceable, indispensable
You're incredible, incredible

"Beautiful bride
Body of Christ
One flesh abiding
Strong and unifying
Fighting ends in forgiveness
Unite and fight all division
Beautiful bride"

(Songwriters: Bhattacharya, Sameer; Culpepper, James; Hartmann, Jared; Mosley, Lacey Nicole; Seals, Kirkpatrick via metrolyrics.com: http://tiny.cc/44yk0).

This bridal/body imagery comes directly from the Second Testament. (See, e.g., Revelation 21:9 and Ephesians 5:22-33; Romans 12:5 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.)

2. Dr. Douglas Groothuis/The Constructive Curmudgeon. Intermittently, I have linked to Dr. Groothuis' site, The Constructive Curmudgeon (including on April 10, 2010), which can be found here: http://tiny.cc/rc24q due especially to its original voice and profound thoughts. A Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary, Dr. Groothuis provides incisive, indicting social commentary, with musings about politics, intelligent design (and other apologetics issues), and music (especially jazz). Sometimes he posts original poetry. The site's tone can sometimes seem a little "cranky", but it wouldn't befit its "curmudgeon" label otherwise.