Ranking U2's Albums from Worst to First: #14, October

Today marks the start of a new series of blogs here on Near St. Anne's and the Sea.  For close to 35 years, I've been a massive U2 fan, and I have a sneaky suspicion that sooner, rather than later they will be releasing their 15th album.  In anticipation of that momentous occasion, whenever it may be, I would like to spend a few posts counting down their previous 14 records from worst to first.  When I say worst to first, it's a little like ranking your children (though in my case, I only have 1, so she's definitely #1).   But you have to start somewhere, so today we start with #14 - October.

In the past, when bands were just getting started, they often spent months, if not years grinding it out on the live circuit, perfecting their sound.  If they were afforded a record contract, they had years of their best material to put on that first album.  Usually, the record companies would have expected a second album soon after the group toured their first record, and so it was more common than not for bands to struggle to match the artistry and sales of their first effort.  This is certainly true of U2 and their second album, October.  It is their weakest effort, by far, and yet it still has quite a few standout songs.  But its weakness stems from the rushed nature of the writing, recording, and production of the record.  

The recording of the album coincided with guitarist The Edge considering quitting the band as he struggled to reconcile his committed Christian faith with the rock 'n roll lifestyle.  Thankfully, he and Bono decided to use their music as a vehicle for the expression of their faith, rather than a hinderance to it.  Spiritual yearning is certainly evident in these songs, but gracefully the band managed to express their wrestling with God in a non-preachy or Bible-thumping way.   

More than anything, October provided Island Records with its required second album, allowed the band to continue to tour and hone their craft, and laid the foundation for U2 to write and record some of rock music's best albums of all time in the mid to late 1980s.  

U2, October - Released October 12, 1981

Album Charts - #17 Ireland, #11 UK, #104 US

Worldwide Sales to Date - 1.5 million 

Singles - Fire, #4 Irish Chart, #35 UK Chart.  Gloria, #10 Irish Chart, #55 UK Chart.

Standout Songs - Gloria, Tomorrow, October, Scarlet

Weakest Track - Is That All? 

Hidden Gem - Scarlet 

The record is certainly worth a listen, if only once a year at the start of the month of October. - Shay 

Ten Reasons to Live in Ireland

On June 23, 2010, my wife Juli, my 8-month-old daughter, Ashlyn, and I landed in Dublin, Ireland to begin what we did not know at the time would be one of the greatest 5 years of our lives.  As of June 30, 2025, we have now been back home in the United States for 10 years.  The 15 years that have passed since our move to Dublin and the 10 years that have flown since we've moved back remind me of the singer Roddy Woomble's line: "I got older, while I was waiting to get older.  I thought it would take much longer."

Dublin is my favorite city in the entire world, and I miss living there immensely, though I've enjoyed the 10 years I've spent in the US since our move back.  With it having been 10 years since I've called Ireland home, I would like to share what I believe to be the top 10 things that make Ireland (both north and south) one of the best countries in the world.

10. The Food 

Compared to many other nations of the world, the Irish are not known for their food, but the things that the Irish do well - they do really well.  Warm Irish soda or brown bread cannot be topped, except with butter and jam which is also very good in Ireland.  You would also be hard pressed to find better stew on a wet day than in the Emerald Isle.  And there's not much better than a full Irish breakfast with the requisite fried eggs, bacon rashers, black and white pudding, sausages, baked beans, fried tomato, and homemade soda bread.  Of course, you have to wash it all down with a few cups of tea!

9. The Friendliness 

The Irish are genuinely some of the friendliest people you will meet anywhere.  When they say "hello" or "how are you?" or "good morning", they really mean it.  I've have personally witnessed Irish friends taking the time to show tourists to their destination (whether walking or by car), rather than simply giving them directions. 

8. Sense of Humor (the craic)

What makes the Irish so funny is that they are more than happy to laugh at themselves before laughing at others.  In fact, one of the big no nos in Ireland is to take oneself too seriously.  No matter how bleak the world becomes, the Irish have a knack for finding humor in almost any situation.  

7. Spirituality 

Ireland used to be known as an island of saints and scholars, though some today might better describe it as the isle of cynics and the skeptical.  However, I have noticed that compared to much of the rest of secular Europe, Ireland has maintained a stronger connection with its religious past.  There's room and opportunity for continued growth in this arena.

6. Pub Culture 

Shifting from spirituality to spirits, I confess that I do enjoy a nice pint in a nice pub.  It was once said that it was near impossible for a person to walk through Dublin and avoid passing a pub, no matter which route you may take.  Though many of the pubs across the country have closed and are closing, pubs still function like they have for centuries, as public houses where people meet to not only drink a beer, but to chat and to share life and community.  Some of my favorite memories in Dublin involve sharing a pint of porter and conversations of both faith and football.

5. Ireland's Way with Words 

Some of the best writers of the English language come from Ireland.  For such a small country, Ireland punches well above its weight when it comes to literary masterpieces.  From Joyce to Yeats and from Wilde to Shaw (not to mention, many more), the Irish have a way with words that captivates readers far beyond their shores.  In addition to this, the Irish take great pride in education and seeking to be deep thinkers.  You don't have to look hard to find intelligent conversation in Ireland, whether in a coffee shop, a church, or a pub.

4. Music 

I love traditional Irish music.  But I also quite like modern Irish music, especially the rock bands that have been launched from Ireland.  The 1960s and 70s saw the emergence of Van Morrison and Thin Lizzy.  The 1980s and 90s produced U2, Sinead O'Connor, and The Cranberries.  Since then, the success of Glen Hansard (and The Frames), Snow Patrol, Hozier, Fontaines DC, and Inhaler demonstrates that Ireland will continue to produce world class musicians and music for decades to come. 

3. Landscape 

I am drawn to epic and surreal landscapes, and for such a small island (you can fit about 8 Irelands inside of Texas), Ireland has numerous epic and surreal landscapes, especially alongside the coasts.  Though it doesn't have large landscapes like the Swiss Alps or the Saharan Desert, it has what I would describe as quaintly dramatic terrain.  You might call it beauty on a small scale.

2. Pace of Life 

Americans live to work, whereas Europeans, work to live.  This might be a bit cliche, but it's true.  I used to make jokes that the Irish show up late to work and make up for it by leaving early.  That's only partially a joke.  Really, the Irish just know how to work smarter, rather than harder, and their lives are all the better for it.  Things move at a slower pace in Ireland, but it's a pace that allows a person to breathe. As Mel Gibson's character in Braveheart said, "Every man dies, not every man really lives."  We might say that every American works, not every American really lives.  The Irish know how to live.

1. The Kindness of the Irish 

My wife, Juli, has often remarked that the Irish are kind people.  And it's true!  Not only are the Irish funny and friendly, they genuinely care about other people too.  I'm not sure if it is still true, but at one point Ireland gave more money to charity per capita than any other nation in the world.  Why?  They experienced a famine in the mid-nineteenth century and they haven't forgotten the devastating effects of that food shortage.  And until very recently, Ireland remained a poor country.  After the Celtic Tiger of the 1990s, Ireland joined the rest of Western Europe in standard of living, but they did not forget what it felt like to be poor, and they are more than willing to give back to those less fortunate.  And it is not just their financial generosity that makes the Irish "nice", it's their authentic care for the underdog and for those without a voice.  I would challenge you to find a kinder 5 million people anywhere in the world!

I don't know if I'll ever have the opportunity to live in Ireland again, but even if I don't, I hope to visit that fair island as often as I can.  One of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me occurred when I traveled back to Dublin for a visit a few years ago and was greeted by my friend, Tony Murphy with, "Welcome home." - Shay

Will Texas be Back Again?

I have lived for 48 seasons of Texas Longhorns football.  I've seen some truly terrible teams (many of those between 2010 and 2020) and some amazingly remarkable seasons.  A few years back, after Sam Ehlinger declared that Texas was back, I compiled a subjective top 25 of Texas seasons (not necessarily teams).  Unfortunately, we were not quite back after that big Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia.  But with the hire of Steve Sarkisian and two semi-final appearances, it's safe to say that we are moving in the right direction.  With that in mind, I've decided to update the list of the top 25 seasons in my lifetime.  Here's my admittedly subjective list.

25. 1982, 9-3, #17

24. 2020, 7-3, Alamo Bowl Champions, #19

23. 1979, 9-3, #12

22. 2000, 9-3, #12

21. 2003, 10-3, #11

20. 1994, 8-4, Southwest Conference Champions, Sun Bowl Champions, #23

19. 1996, 8-5, Big 12 Champions, #23

18. 2006, 10-3, Alamo Bowl Champions, #13

17. 1978, 9-3, Sun Bowl Champions, #9

16. 1998, 9-3, Cotton Bowl Champions, #15

15. 2007, 10-3, Holiday Bowl Champions, #10

14. 2018, 10-4, Sugar Bowl Champions, #9

13. 1995, 10-2-1, Southwest Conference Champions, #14

12. 1990, 10-2, Southwest Conference Champions, #11

11. 2002, 11-2, Cotton Bowl Champions, #6

10. 2001, 11-2, Holiday Bowl Champions, #5

9. 1981, 10-1-1, Cotton Bowl Champions, #2

8. 1983, 11-1, Southwest Conference Champions, #5

7. 1977, 11-1, Southwest Conference Champions, #4

6. 2004, 11-1, Rose Bowl Champions, #4

5. 2024, 13-3, Peach Bowl Champions, College Football Playoff Semi-finalists, #3 

4.  2023, 12-2, Big 12 Champions, College Football Playoff Semi-finalists, #3 

3. 2008, 12-1, Fiesta Bowl Champions, #3 

2. 2009, 13-1, Big 12 Champions, #2 

1. 2005, 13-0, Big 12 Champions, Rose Bowl Champions, National Champions, #1 

All in all, over these 25 seasons, the Longhorns compiled a 256-57-2 record, averaging just over 10 wins per season and a little over two losses.  Their win percentage over this quarter of a century of seasons was .813.  They finished with a final ranking of average of #9 during these years.  Hopefully, this list will have several more additions over the next decade - especially seasons that finish in the top 5 or 10.  Hook'em! - Shay 

Three Things I Learned from Michael Weed

Several months ago, one of my theological and pastoral mentors passed from this life.  Michael Weed, and his wife, Libby, both finished their races within the past several months.  But for over two decades, I and my family were blessed to know the Weeds and I will forever be grateful for the legacy they left so many.  Though time and memory would fail to do justice to all I gained from my interactions with Michael, I would like to share three things I learned from Michael Weed.

Faith Seeking Understanding 

Though some believers may shy away from theology due either to its seemingly foreign or high-fallutin' nature, essentially, theology should not be avoided but embraced.  Theology is simply faith seeking understanding.  Anselm of Canterbury is said to be the originator of this definition, but this sums up what Michael Weed tried to impress upon his students.  We begin with faith, but we do not leave our faith in an infant state.  We grow our faith; we mature our belief.  An unexamined faith is nothing more than blind faith.  But a mature trust in God is the kind of belief that isn't hindered by fear but overcomes fear.  Like perfect love, it drives out fear.    

I have been around some Christians who desire black and white answers and the avoidance of hard or dangerous questions.  These individuals tend to embrace indoctrination and avoid a robust education.  They would rather be told what to think, instead of figuring out how to think.  In the long run, this might, ironically, lead to someone losing their faith, rather than developing a tried-and-true trust in Christ.  Michael Weed never avoided the tough questions, instead he faced them head on and taught his students to do the same.

We Do Not Worship the Bible

It is easy to miss the forest for the trees.  In some circles of conservative Christianity, the Bible is so revered that it is nearly worshiped.  What a strange form of idolatry!  Michael Weed impressed upon me that we do not worship the Bible, but rather the God to which scripture points.  The word of God is not God.  But the word of God does lead us to the Word of God (Jesus - see John 1:1 & ff).  In fact, under Weed's guidance and through deep reflection, I have come to embrace an incarnational theology of scripture.  What I mean is that rather than believing that God dictated scripture in a mechanical way to human beings, the Spirit instead inspired the writing of scripture from the ground up through flawed, broken, and fallible human beings, with all of the limitations that entails.  This has led me to have an even greater respect for the Bible than I previously had.  God meets humanity where humanity is, including in the authoring of sacred texts.  In fact, the entire story of scripture is the tale of God using unlikely people and means to accomplish his will.  

Tradition is Not a Bad Word 

Tradition has taken a bad rap over the past few decades in some church circles.  I believe this is due to a couple of things.  For one, Jesus constantly harped on the Pharisees for their reliance on the tradition of men at the expense of YHWH's instruction through the Torah.  Another reason that tradition has a bad name in some faith communities is that the Roman Catholic Church has at times emphasized its own traditions at the expense of scripture.  No doubt, both of these instances should remind us that tradition can go awry, but tradition, in and of itself is neither good nor bad.  It all depends on the kinds of traditions we are considering.  Context matters.

Think of all the amazing traditions we honor each and every holiday season.  Consider your own family traditions at birthdays and anniversaries.  How many of us wholeheartedly embrace the traditions of our High Schools and Universities at sports games and graduations?  Traditions are crucial for creating and sustaining our identities as human beings and communities.  It's been said that tradition is the living faith of dead people, and that traditionalism is the dead faith of living people.  I think this is a healthy perspective and one that Michael Weed was always committed to.  Michael reenergized my appreciation for "tradition".  

Legacy 

I think we all desire to leave a legacy for others when our time on earth has come to an end.  Usually though, the legacies we leave will vary.  We may not leave the same legacy for each individual we impact.  I know Michael Weed meant so much to so many people.  What they drew from Michael will undoubtedly be different than the ways that he impacted me.  And of course, these three snippets are only snippets.  I have far more memories of my time under Weed's tutelage and pastoral care.  I will leave you with one anecdotal story that exemplifies Michael's pastoral heart, as well as his theological prowess.  

In the early 00s, I was perplexed by the shallow and short-sighted direction that many within evangelical churches were seemingly headed.  I couldn't get my head around why congregations were whole-heartedly and unreflectingly embracing mass-marketing and consumerist tendencies over rigorous discipleship and genuine community.  I expressed some of my frustrations with Michael and he invited me to his home one afternoon where he shared a "church history" lesson and then offered a positive vision for the future that he hoped I would carry with me as I continued my ministerial journey.  That afternoon was simultaneously theological, pastoral, and personal.  I know that I am not the only one who will continue to miss Michael and Libby Weed. - Shay  

Still Trying to Figure it Out

I do not possess a "scientific" mind.  I never took physics, I struggled in chemistry and biology, and mathematics is not my strong suit.  Engineering, medicine, or related fields were never going to be an option for me.  But I love it when experts in their field can make complex ideas understandable for me.  I am also thankful that there are incredibly intelligent people who can design and build stuff and help me get better when I'm sick.   

Though I'm grateful for the work scientists, doctors, engineers, and architects do, I am more intriqued by fields of study such as philosophy.  Like theology, what a person even means by "philosophy" can be quite fluid and diverse.  For me, philosophy is simply a way of describing how humanity, individually and collectively, has historically and presently tried to understand reality and make our way in the world.  Just as there is a "history" of everything (though we have yet to fully uncover, unpack, and understand that history), there might be a philosophy for everything.  In other words, every facet of human existence lends itself to "navel gazing".  We seek to understand why things are the way they are, and we also seek to, if possible, improve things in the future, either individually or socially.  

I recently listened to a philosopher speak on a podcast and what struck me was the way this particular thinker tried to break everything down into its material - and even its atomic structure.  So, according to this philosopher, humans are nothing more than a conglomeration of atoms and chemical reactions.  According to him, what we "see" as reality, is nothing more than an illusion.  I think I have a vague idea of where he's coming from, but it's a very strange way of looking at the world.  It also raises the question - if everything is an illusion, then who is this illusion fooling?  

Certainly, within each of us there are millions, if not billions or trillions of microscopic cells, organisms, and processes constantly working to keep us sound and whole.  How it all fits together and works, for the most part, in harmony, blows my mind!  But where does my "mind" even come from?  What is consciousness, and how does it even "arise" from the material substances that make up our bodies?  This is a question that science and philosophy has yet to answer.  But what should be plain to each and every one of us is that we are more - far more - than the sum of our parts.  I am someone - a person - a being with a past, present, and future.  I am not simply two feet, two legs, two arms, a torso, and a head.  Yes, those parts help to form and make me who I am - but they are not me.  How much more am I not simply a collection of atoms and chemical processes.  

I recently gave a ride to a philosopher who teaches at one of the many local universities in the area.  We briefly chatted about both philosophy and religion over the 20-minute drive, and he expressed his dismay at the overly "scientific" way of doing philosophy that many modern philosophers have adopted.  Yes, a table might at its most basic level be a collection of atoms, but it also functions as so much more.  It might be a place to write, draw, paint, or otherwise create.  It can function as the centerpiece of community as people gather around the table and share a meal and conversation.  When all of us talk about tables - we don't - or at least, should not simply talk about its atomic structure.  Equally, I would argue that there's far more to humanity than the building blocks that help to make us who and what we are.  Those building blocks are necessary, but they are simply a means to a far greater end.  And what is that greater end?  Well, that to me is what philosophy, theology, history, and religion are all about.  I'm still trying to figure it out.  What about you? - Shay 

Dealing with Disappointment? Hang in there...

How do we handle disappointment?  What do we do with setbacks?  Where do we turn when life is confusing?  What do we do when we are facing far more questions than we have answers?

For over 20 months, I've faced an uncertain future and I've had to be resilient as I've encountered an open-ended transition in life.  Transitions are difficult - even more so when they are nearly two years in duration.

Since January of 2022, every time I've thought I glanced light at the end of a tunnel, I have quickly realized that it was train headed straight for me!  Thankfully the tunnels have been wide enough to avoid sudden destruction, but I'm getting tired of sucking in my gut and gripping the cold and rough textured masonry of these modern engineering marvels. 

So, back to my initial questions.  How do we handle setbacks and uncertainty?  The Apostle Paul, who was no stranger to disappointment, provides a way forward.  In the first part of Romans 8, Paul declares that through the gospel of Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit, our lives are being transformed and our eternal hope is secure.  One day we will be raised to bodily life in God's renewed creation.  Our present struggles pale in comparison to the glory yet to be revealed.  Ultimately, it's all going to work out in the end.  But what about the middle parts - what about the here and now?  

Paul goes on to remind us that God works all things for the good for those who love God and are called according to his purposes.  Note, Paul does not say that all things are good.  He does not declare that everything in the world is in accordance with God's will.  But he does say that God is powerful enough to bring good from all things - even bad things.  Some things in life suck!  But, somehow, through God's providence and his often-unseen actions in our world, God will take all things - the good, the bad, and the ugly - and work them for the ultimate good of those who love him and continue to seek him.  Paul then goes onto say that because God is for us, there is nothing against us that has the power to overcome us.  He reminds us that Jesus was willing to die for us.  So, is there anything else in all of creation that can possibly separate us from the love of God in Christ?  Absolutely not!  

In the big picture, my present circumstances are actually, pretty good.  I and my family are healthy.  We have food and shelter.  We are surrounded by people who love us, whether geographically near or far.  We live in an age when so many of the crises and hardships that people of antiquity faced are now non-existent.  There are many people around the world in 2023 who are suffering through war, extreme poverty, and spiritual barrenness.  None of these are plights my family is currently enduring.  

But that doesn't mean that everything in my life is peachy.  That doesn't mean that I and my family are not presently going through a difficult season.  Like everyone, we too face struggles.  But we face those struggles with faith, hope, and love.  We have faith that this season will pass - and even if it doesn't, our ultimate hope is secure.  And the love of God that Christ has poured out on us through his Spirit, comforts us through the hard times.  This gives us the ability to press on come what may.  If like me, you face an uncertain future - hang in there.  If like me, you are struggling - hang in there.  If like me, you are facing disappointment - hang in there.  This too shall pass, and even if it doesn't, what we face in the present pales in comparison to God's final future yet to be revealed!  Hang in there. - Shay       

A Boy Can Dream, Can't He?!!!

 I had to go all the way to England to meet a girl who grew up in Oklahoma and Missouri!  I can still remember the day in early May of 1999 when I walked off of the plane into the smaller than expected airport in Birmingham, England.  It was a damp and dreary day (read typical), but Juli's smiling face was a ray of sunshine for this travel weary jet-lagged 21-year-old.  I remember seeing her from a distance and thinking to myself, "Wow, she's good looking!"  Extending my hand out for a shake, I introduced myself with all of the James Bond cool I could muster: "Hey, I'm Shay."  Juli was not impressed.  When I found out later that day that Juli had a boyfriend, let's just say I was disappointed.

For the next four months, Juli and I worked together in Nottingham on a missions team with 8 other American young people.  Mid-summer, I learned that Juli had been dumped by her boyfriend who was a part of the same missions program but based in Portugal.  I should have been sympathetic, but I couldn't quite hide my delight.  My initial intrigue had turned into full-scale infatuation, and I thought that things were beginning to come together for our imminent relationship.  Again, Juli was less than impressed with my not-so-subtle swooning, as she said to herself, "I would never date this guy, let alone marry him!"  But a boy can dream, can't he?!!

As September came and Juli's departure date neared, I felt I had to transparently express my feelings for her.  I could not be content with letting my subtle and not-so-subtle hints substitute for laying my feelings on the line.  But I was scared - scared that my feelings for Juli might not be mutual.  So, rather than having a conversation with her face to face, on the night before she was scheduled to fly back to the States, I wrote her a letter, requesting her not to read it until she was over the Atlantic.  I still remember arriving at her house in the early morning hours, just as she boarded the van scheduled to take her to the airport.  I gave her a hug, handed her the letter, and explained my request.  I don't remember the exact details of the letter, but I shared my heart and I mentioned that at the very least, I hoped that I was planting a seed that might come to fruition at a later date.  Then I waited.  I waited.  And I continued to wait.  In the days when snail mail was still a thing, email a kind of luxury, and trans-Atlantic texting non-existent, I knew it might take some time.  But surely, I would hear back from her, I thought.  I thought wrong!  There was never a letter or an email acknowledging that she had read the letter.  I never even received a polite response with a, "Thank you, but no thank you."  Crickets.  

When it comes to relationships, I'm no Dr. Phil, but even I realized that when October and November came and went, her response was a hard "no" without the "thank you."

But a boy can dream, can't he?!! For whatever reason, I didn't give up, even if I moved on for the time being.

Fast-forward to the Fall of 2000.  As I sat in my apartment adjacent to the University of Texas at Austin, I contemplated my future.  I had been a Broadcast Journalism major in the College of Communications at UT, but I had decided to change my major to Education.  Should I switch to the College of Education at UT, or should I transfer back to Lubbock Christian University?  There were solid arguments for either decision, but Juli was living in Lubbock, not Austin.  I can't say that Juli was the deciding factor (I had only seen her once since getting back to the States and there was no indication that her feelings for me were any different than before), but her presence in Buddy Holly's backyard definitely played a part.  

As I bookended my college career in Lubbock, I had the time to re-launch mission improbable.  Slowly, but surely through church events, social gatherings, game nights, and a decisive trip with friends to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in New Mexico, I was able to water and fertilize the seeds previously planted.  Over the Summer of 2001, I was a camp counselor at Blue Haven, while Juli lived with her sister in the Dallas area.  I sent her several pieces of snail mail, and this time she returned the favor.  By the Fall, we were a "couple" and despite a couple of break-ups along the way, we said "I do" on August 17, 2002.  We celebrate 21 years of marriage today!

Juli would be the first person to tell you that me marrying her was extremely unlikely in the beginning.  But a boy can dream, can't he?!!  I persevered in my pursuit of my dream girl and that has been one of the best decisions I've ever made.  Like all relationships, this one hasn't always been easy, but I wouldn't trade it for anything!  I pray that God will give us many, many more decades together, but no matter how much time we have, I don't want to live this life with anyone but Juli.  My wife is a gift from God!  And the God who keeps on giving saw fit to give us Ashlyn, 7 years later.  So, on this my anniversary, I am filled with nothing less than gratitude. - Shay