The Highest Point Between Minnesota and the Gulf of Mexico

 

After a stroll in the woods to hit the highest point of Louisiana, I was excited for an actual hike to the high point of Arkansas.  And instead of having to drive for 4 & 1/2 hours, it was only an hour's drive from Russellville to the Mount Magazine State Park.

I arrived at the Visitor Center at 10:15 AM.  The building is well constructed, clean, and features several informative kiosks about the surrounding flora, fauna, and geological history.  Mount Magazine is not a part of the Ozarks Mountain range, but belongs to the Arkansas River Valley region of the Frontal Ouachita Mountains.  It's a mesa, not a peak, with several square miles of area on the top.  Signal hill is a small hill at the top of the mesa and is the highest point in the entire state.

I decided to leave my car at the Visitor Center and hike the 2 & 1/2 mile North Rim Trail to the Signal Hill trailhead.  The North Rim Trail skirts the north edge of the Mesa and occasionally offers views of the Arkansas River Valley.  For most of the hike, I was unable to see much as I was surrounded by groves upon groves of scrub oak and juniper, but every now and again I stumbled upon an opening with a view.  

An hour after beginning my hike I was higher than anyone else in the state.  The Highpointers Club along with some local organizations had put together some informative displays and a couple of park benches where I rested and enjoyed some refreshing gulps of H2O.  Signal Hill on Mount Magazine is the highest point between the Minnesota/Canadian border and the Gulf of Mexico and is higher than any point in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.  Another cool feature of this particular highpoint is a stone monument in the shape of the state of Arkansas at a scale of 1 foot to 13 miles. 

  

The only downside of this highpoint is that you are surrounded by trees and are afforded no views of the surrounding countryside.  But about a mile away is a Lodge that on clear days offers scenic vistas to the countryside below.  Unfortunately it was a bit hazy, so I was unable to capture any stunning photographs.  I was, however, able to enjoy a Mount Magazine Red Ale that I had learned about the evening prior in Russellville.  For dinner on Tuesday night, I visited the Point Remove Brewing Company which serves up tasty pizzas and calzones and offers a variety of refreshing craft brews.  One of their featured beers is the Mount Magazine Red, but due to their seasonal offerings, it wasn't on tap at the Russellville location Tuesday.  However, the owner let me know that it would be available at the Lodge at Mount Magazine, so I made sure to seek it out on Wednesday.  The restaurant staff at the Lodge were friendly and welcoming, despite me wearing a Texas Longhorn cap, and so I enjoyed my pint at an outdoor table while surveying the beautiful Arkansas landscapes.  

Instead of retracing my steps on the North Rim Trail, I made my way back to the Visitor Center via the Mossback Ridge Trail and the Greenfield Trail.  Overall, I hiked about 7 miles and spent around 3 hours up on the mountain.  That's 4 down and only 44 (or 46) to go! - Shay 
 

Driskell Mountain: The Highest Point in Louisiana

 

Having stayed at my cousin's place in Fort Worth last night, I had a 4 & 1/2 hour drive to the trailhead of Driskell Mountain, the highest point in Louisiana.  After fueling my car at a QT just east of Dallas, and after fueling my body at Chick-fil-A, I drove the rest of the 3 plus hours straight through.  I was thankful I was going east on I-20, as a tractor trailer had managed to fling its trailer over the side of a bridge and the entire rig was precariously perched on the overpass, dangling, but somehow able to avoid complete disaster.  Westbound traffic was snarled for several miles and the only people having a worse day than the driver of the 18-wheeler were the poor souls stuck on the interstate for what I would imagine would have been hours.  

I arrived to the trailhead a few miles outside of Arcadia around 1:30 PM.  If you've ever been to the middle of nowhere, I was firmly in it.  The only thing close by was the Mount Zion Presbyterian Church and Cemetery.  It had rained earlier in the morning and so it wasn't as hot as a typical August day would be in northern Louisiana, but it was muggy and soupy.  I drank a couple of liters of water on the drive over and I'm sure I must have sweated out half of it.  

The trail was well marked and it only took me 15 minutes to climb up and over False Mountain and then up to the summit of Driskell Mountain.  False Mountain is aptly named, as it is a small hill and nothing close to a mountain.  Of course Driskell Mountain is not much higher, but since it is the highest point in the state, I guess we can let this misnomer slide.  At only 535 feet above sea level, it is the third lowest high point in the entire 50 states.  Only Florida's (345 feet) and Delaware's (448 feet) high points are lower.  

There was a pretty lookout a few feet from the summit.   

And there were scattered park benches around, placed there by the Highpointers Club (an organization that seeks to preserve and promote the highest points of all 50 US States).  This particular high point is on private land and has been made accessible through the generosity of the owners.  There was a log book attached to the sign and I was the 25th person to sign since the beginning of July.  I would imagine there have probably been other hikers who chose not to sign it, but I was surprised that the place gets so few visits.  I was the only hiker who had logged in over the past three weeks.  Most of the signees were from places close by, but there were two visitors from Vietnam who visited the site last month.  

I took an alternate trail back down to my car and was back on the road by 2:15 PM, only 45 minutes after arriving.  I drove 4 & 1/2 hours for a 45 minute experience.  I then drove another 4 &1/2 hours to get to Russellville, Arkansas where I am staying tonight before I summit Signal Hill on Mount Magazine tomorrow morning.  The drive will be shorter, the hike will be longer, and the elevation will be higher (over 2,700 feet).  I'll fill you in later. - Shay   

Rocky Mountain High and Other High Points

 

A few years back I decided that by my 55th birthday I would try to hit the highest point of every US state in the lower 48.  I figured if I was able to bag Alaska and Hawaii that would be a bonus.  Well, I just turned 49 and I have only summitted 2 of the 48 high points so far.  Almost exactly 5 years ago to this day, I joined Levi, Parker, and my good, but late friend, Todd Young (RIP) in scaling the second highest high point in the lower 48 - Mount Elbert in Colorado (14,433 feet).  Levi took the picture of Parker, Todd, and me (see above).  

After moving from Colorado to Kansas in late 2021, I was passing through the panhandle of Oklahoma in July of 2022 on my way to Las Vegas, NM when I stopped off and hiked the 8 mile roundtrip to the top of the Black Mesa.  The highest point in Oklahoma is 32 miles north of Texas, 4 miles south of Colorado, and only 1000 feet east of New Mexico.  It sits at 4,973 feet above sea level.  

If my math is correct, having only hit 2 of the 48 high points in 5 years means that I need to up my average per year over the next 6 years if I am to accomplish my goal.  I plan to get started tomorrow when I will hit the highest point in Louisiana (Driskell Mountain - 535 feet) and then Mount Magazine in Arkansas (2,753 feet).  Hopefully there will be quite a few more high points to follow soon.  I plan to blog about each hike, so stay tuned over the next few days and months.  Maybe I'll see you on one of these adventures along the way. - Shay   

A New Season, A New Day, A New Opportunity!

My football club, Arsenal won their 14th topflight title only three months ago and after a summer full of soccer, due to the World Cup, it's hard to believe that another season has arrived.  On Sunday, the Gunners will contest Manchester City for the Community Shield, the "kickoff classic" of English football pitting the reigning Premier League champions against the FA Cup holders.  We will then take on the newly promoted Coventry City who won the English Championship (the second division in English professional football) and who gained promotion to the Premier League.  I wonder how often the reigning Premier League champs have faced off against the Championship title holders in the first match of a new Premier League season?  According to Google's AI, this will be only the second time for this to occur.  It seems Liverpool faced Leeds United to start the 2020 season, the only other time this has happened.

Will Arsenal win the 2026/2027 Premier League?  Will we win different and additional trophies (Champions League, FA Cup, EFL Cup)?  Will we win all four?  That would be a first for any English club.  Obviously, not knowing the answer to these questions is one of the reasons we fanatics keep watching the matches.  But, with a new season dawning just a few months after the previous season's ending, it raises a couple of questions.  What's the point of winning a trophy, if you are going to have to go back and do it all over again? Does last season's title mean anything once this new season kicks off?  I think the answer to both of these questions stems from the fact that humans constantly need to set and reset goals.  When we reach those goals, we have reason to celebrate, but we must not be content to simply rest on our laurels.  No matter what we may have achieved in life and no matter how often or spectacularly we have failed to achieve our goals, life affords us with new opportunities to get up off our backs and go for it again!

So, if you have recently met an expectation or realized a dream, don't forget to keep dreaming.  Equally, if you've failed to be all that you can be, your story isn't over.  Just as each new sports season affords a team the opportunity to give it another go, each new day gives us all another chance to become all that we were created to be.  May you move closer to your goals and dreams this day, and all the days to come! - Shay 

Eight Days in Ireland

I caught the 9:30 AM flight out of Dublin to Chicago, while the Christ Connect Youth Group boarded a bus and headed southwest into County Kildare on their way to Kilkenny.  As I was not with the group, I would imagine they were treated to a medieval experience walking the cobblestoned streets and touring the 12th century Normon castle.  

They were later afforded an excursion which allowed them to observe a working sheepdog, and they had the opportunity to actually hold lambs - something I've never done in Ireland, or anywhere for that matter!  The group then journeyed into the heart of the Wicklow Mountains where they spent time in Glendalough, one of the most scenic places on the island.  Glendalough means the "valley of the two lakes" in Gaelic and in the 6th century it became the home of a monastery, founded by St. Kevin.  Visitors today can still explore many of the ruins, including the iconic round tower.  Some of my best days ever were spent at Glendalough, and I hope the team experienced the something similar.  

Based on the texts I received from Ashlyn and the adult leaders, it seems that the group made it back to the hotel safe and sound, though it might have been a challenge to get them all to bed at the designated hour.  I can imagine that there was quite a buzz amongst the teens having completed their week in Ireland and having done such a marvelous job of serving, learning, and making connections that I pray will last a lifetime.  

Gratitude 

I want to say thank you to James Masterson for being open to organizing this trip and for persevering through the rough patches of preparation along the way.  James is an excellent youth minister whose heart for the Lord and the teens at Christ Connect is obvious and appreciated.  As I am fully aware based on my own experience, no youth minister does it alone.  And no one plays as critical a role in a ministry to youth than the spouse of a youth pastor.  Amanda is such a complement to James and continues to bless the Christ Connect teens with her openness and enthusiasm.  Everett, James' youth intern this summer also hit a homerun on this trip. Each morning, Everett woke up early and cooked eggs (and attempted to cook Irish sausage - only setting off the fire alarm once) for the two teens in our room, and throughout the trip he was always available to serve in whatever capacity was necessary.  I have no doubt that he will have a long and fruitful ministry wherever the Lord leads him.

Throughout our five years in Dublin, it was always my wife, Juli, who came up with the best ideas for ministry.  The Spirit moved Juli to dream, and then I and others would run with those dreams, though Juli didn't always receive the appreciation due her.  But recognition has never been what Juli is after.  She's all about Christ and blessing others through him.  It was Juli who initially dreamed up this trip, and it was her idea to partner with the All Saints Church in Raheny.  I am finally beginning to realize that I need to listen to my wife and make sure that I show her the appreciation that she deserves.  

In addition to those mentioned above, I want to offer my sincerest gratitude to Terry, Chris, Angela, Beth, Dara, Jennelle, Jody, Meaghan, and Sonia.  And I want to offer a special shoutout to my new hillwalking, hitchhiking, and fellow sports fanatic buddy, Philip.  I pray that this trip will forever hold a special place in our collective memories and that the future that God will open up before us will be transformed, if only just a bit by what has occurred over these past eight days.  

Of course, this journey would not have been possible without the loving support and generosity of the Christ Connect Church family and so many others who contributed to our teens and adults.  Thank you.

Further Reflections 

What difference does it make?  Why go through all of the logistical planning, the fundraising, the time away from other endeavors, and the financial commitment to spend eight days in a foreign country serving others, but not necessarily curing cancer, alleviating global poverty, or holding events that see mass conversions?  Why go?  Why go there?  Why go now?

These are worthwhile questions.  These are questions that I've wrestled with my entire adult life - going all the way back to 1998 when I entered a missions program and then spent 15 months serving a small congregation in Nottingham, England.  I spent the better part of 20 years serving churches in the UK, Texas, Ireland, Colorado, and now as a part of the laity, in Kansas.  All along the way I've considered these questions, and I am still working on a definitive answer, but I am not sure that I will ever be able to put my thoughts into articulate words.  But one thing I am sure of is that God has never promised me outcomes that fit neatly into a predetermined box of success, rather he has invited me to embark on adventure and to trust him along the way.  He has assured me that if I am faithful to him and to the process, that somehow, someway, in the renewal of all things, the little bits of pieces that we contribute through the Spirit's work in our lives will make a difference.  Sometimes we see the difference with our own eyes, but most of the time we simply trust and obey - with trust being the optimal word.  In light of Christ's resurrection, the apostle Paul put it this way in 1 Corinthians 15:58: "Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." - Shay      

Camp Day Four, Trim Castle, and Howth

Thursday was Philip Morrison's and my day off, so we took the bus out to do the Trim Castle tour.  Trim Castle was built in the 12th century and served as the backdrop for 4 different cities in Braveheart.  It's amazing what props and angles can do when filming.  This was all before CGI - I think the old school directors (take a bow Mel Gibson) were even better than the ones today since they couldn't cheat with computer technology as much. 

Anyway, we had a blast doing the tour and were able to get back to Raheny in time to grab a burger and listen to Kevin Ronne, the All Saints rector, explain how Christ is using him to serve in Ireland.  

The teens finished day four of camp and again had 16 campers who were all given a brand-new Bible.  As they had done all week, they poured their hearts and souls into the children, and I have no doubt that they made a lasting impact.  

 After praying with Kevin, we all walked over to Flourish, the non-waste, organic grocery store run by our old teammates, Craig and Merschon Hutson.  They described how they are using their business to both support themselves and their ministry and to serve God by caring for his creation in a sustainable fashion.  They are able to offer hope in the Raheny community through their efforts, and they are finding common ground with the locals, as sustainability is very much en vogue in Ireland.  

We then had to quickly dart over to the Dart to catch the 16:33 train to Howth where we did the cliff walk out to a view of the Bailey Light House and then hiked back into Howth village for dinner at Findlaters. 

We managed to arrive back at the hotel around 10:00 PM and I hastily packed up, as my flight back home left on Friday morning.  But thankfully, the teens and most of the adults still had one more day in Ireland.  Though I wasn't there with them, I'll do my best to describe what they did in the next blog.  Until then. - Shay           

From Iran to Ireland (and remembering an Irish legend)

On Wednesday, the Holiday Bible Camp was 100% larger than on our first day (16 kids!).  The teens continued to walk the children through the story of the Bible, which of course climaxes with Jesus!  After the HBC ended at 1:30, we enjoyed some chicken fillet sandwiches from the SuperValu in Raheny before we were blessed to be joined by Davood H. M. and Ali Reza of the Iranian Ministry Ireland, who shared their personal faith stories and informed us about the work they are doing in Dublin and beyond.  

I first met Davood about 15 years ago, when an Iranian English student of mine from the Abbey Street Methodist Church introduced us.  Davood was a young student who supported the Iranian revolution in 1979, but like many Iranians, he soon realized that those who had taken over the country were as bad or worse than the regime they had replaced.  Davood was forced to flee Iran to Germany in the early 1980s for being the wrong kind of Muslim.  He returned in the 1990s to bury his mother and father but was denied return to Germany for having broken his asylum plea.  Though he was a mechanical engineer, Davood lost hope and soon lapsed into drug addiction - culminating in a debilitating dependence on heroin which nearly cost him his life.  By the grace of God, he was given a job by an Armenian Christian who not only offered Davood the purpose that meaningful employment provides but also offered him the hope that only the gospel of Jesus can offer.  He became a believer, but after sharing the good news of Christ with others, was again forced to flee Iran.  He eventually made his way to the UK and then later to Ireland where he has been sharing the gospel with Iranians and other Muslims for the better part of two decades.  You can learn more about his ministry here - https://www.irishchurchmissions.ie/church-planters/iranian-church-dublin .

Ali Reza has been working with Davood for 2 years now and has a similar story.  If you are interested in supporting their mission, you can reach out to them, and they would be happy to share with you how you might help.  

After our two Iranian brothers shared their stories, Arthur from the All Saints Church put us to work doing a deep clean of the parish hall and the main church building.  We also topped up the driveway with gravel stones and some of the teens painted an entryway, though I think they may have got more paint on themselves than the structure.  

Wednesday evening was spent in a joint teen night with the Christ Connect Church and the All Saints Church of Ireland, Raheny.  Of course, we had pizza and then the Irish teens taught our kids some "somewhat" traditional Irish dancing, while our Kansas teens taught them some "kinda" country line dancing.  

Following the teen night, Juli and I met up with Simon and Liberty Finnegan for a chat at the Manhattan in Raheny.  We chatted about this and we chatted about that.  It's been two years since all four of us were together.  One topic of conversation was the devastating loss of Glen Hansard early Wednesday morning. https://www.npr.org/2026/07/29/g-s1-136080/glen-hansard-obituary

Juli and I first saw Glen's band, The Frames, at South by Southwest in Austin in the spring of 2002.  We saw them again just a few months later at Emo's in Austin, and on that occasion, I had a lengthy conversation with Colm, The Frames violin player, and co-founder.  As I was wrapping up my chat with Colm, Glen came around the corner and as I was about to introduce myself, he quickly asked, "Where's the toilet?"  I pointed him in the direction of the men's room, and that was my only ever interaction with the poetic and musical genius.  But by God's grace, I at least had the privilege of having any interaction with one of Ireland's finest ever!  

The news of Glen's death hit me hard and is still a shock to my system.  For 24 years I have found inspiration from The Frames, The Swell Season, and from Glen Hansard's solo work.  What a shame that he died at only 56 and how tragic that he leaves behind a wife and 4-year-old son.  May he rest in peace.  I look forward to experiencing his music at an ever more heightened level in the renewed creation in the age to come.  Glen's death reminds us that life is a precious gift, and that we must embrace every day as the gift from God that it is.  May we all make the most of this day and the days to come. - Shay    

Hillwalking and Hitchhiking in Ireland

 

Since we have more than enough adult help with the Holiday Bible Camp, half of the trip sponsors helped out at the HBC on Monday, while the other half took their turn on Tuesday.  So, with a free morning, Philip Morrison and I took the Dart down to the far southside of the city where we took a hill walk over Bray Head and down to Greystones.  The cross at the top of Bray Head is worth the hike alone, but when you add in the added beauty of the coast and the Wicklow Mountains, there's not a better way to spend a Tuesday morning, especially when the weather is as good as it was today.  A while back, the cliff walk between Bray and Greystones was closed due to erosion (parts of the hill crumbling into the sea isn't ideal).  So, we traversed the trail to the top and then tried to navigate our way down to Greystones using an alternative trail.  The alternative meant that we didn't wind up in Greystones, but some out of the way farm.  After exploring a potential way that would have gotten us to the village, but after a very long walk on a winding and dangerous road, we were blessed by an ecologist who had just finished up a survey on one of the nearby farms.  Hanna, from Sutton, offered us a lift into Greystones, provided we weren't a couple of crazies.  I told her we were Americans and though that definitely qualifies as "crazy", she gave us a lift anyway.  Philip and I enjoyed some local refreshments before catching the Dart back to the city centre.

After Philip left me to head back to the hotel, I continued north to Raheny where I met back up with the teens who had completed another fantastic day at the Holiday Bible Camp.  The numbers of kids who attended grew by 50% and we were all blessed with a special guest after our lunch of sandwiches and crisps.  Ronan and his fiancé, Arianna shared their faith testimony and a little bit about the ministry they are presently involved in.  Ronan, who grew up in the southeast of Ireland had a nominal faith in his youth and became an atheist as a teen.  However, through time he began to search for something more than the materialist/atheist story had to offer and after a long journey, became a Christian around the age of 30.  His fiancé, Arianna also came from a very secular background, but after being touched by God through Ronan and others, came to faith recently as well.  Arianna is a neuroscientist and Ronan is beginning a new work as a campus minister here in Ireland.  Our group was extremely encouraged by these two stories, and we look forward to hearing from my friend, Davood, who will share his unique Persian/European conversion story tomorrow.

Mid-afternoon, the group split into three, headed down to the city centre and explored, shopped, and ate before arriving here at the hotel.  We are about to have another devotional and reflectional session before bed, and we all hope to get to sleep early tonight, as tomorrow will be a long day - a long day, but we also pray, a very good one! - Shay       

Camp - Day One

Having been a bit rushed to get to Raheny on Sunday, the group made sure to leave in plenty of time to make it to All Saints Church on Monday morning, the first day of camp.  It was a good thing we gave ourselves plenty of time, because one group got on a bus going the wrong way, but thankfully figured it out in time to make it back to the others before the event kicked off.  

The Holiday Bible Camp runs from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM and features drama, arts and crafts, games, music, dance, and plenty of other frenetic activity.  Our teens fully embraced each and every child who arrived and they immediately put the children's parents at ease by their sheer enthusiasm and joy.  A couple of the teens from the All Saints Church are also involved in leading the camp and it's been great to see them and our group interact together.  The youth did such a great job of leading the activities, a few of us adults went out to spread a some more leaflets around the community to promote the event.  

After camp wrapped up, we had a quick lunch of sandwiches, crisps, and fruit before heading back into town for a Viking Splash Tour of Dublin!  

We next had a great wood-fired pizza dinner, before Juli and I split from the group to enjoy a birthday pint at TP Smith's.  Yes, I celebrated my 49th birthday yesterday - I am officially in my late 40s now!  At 9 PM, the group gathered for a devotional in the courtyard of our hotel, as is the daily custom.  Beth Abraham has put together written devotionals that our group reads together and discusses each evening, and they have encouraged deep reflection from the group.  Not only did I, but Jennelle Hunnicut also celebrated her birthday yesterday (I'm sure she's much younger than me), so we were serenaded by the group before we all wandered off to our respective rooms.  As I type this, the gang is about to head back to Raheny for camp day two! - Shay    

Blended Worship - Anglican / Free-Church Style

On Sunday morning, the Christ Connect Youth Group felt far more alert than they did the day before - having had hot showers, hearty meals, and eight plus hours of sleep.  We traveled to Raheny via the Luas, bus, and Dart, and were in place for the 11 AM joint worship service with All Saints Church, Raheny, and St. John the Evangelist Church, Coolock.  The liturgy consisted of a mix of evangelical free church elements and traditional Anglican ritual.  It was an enriching experience for all in attendance.  Terry from Christ Connect delivered the 10-minute homily, and we all discovered that we have a potential bank robber in our midst (you'll have to ask him about that!). 

After our worship service, we were given a tour of the All Saints building by Seamus, one of the parishioners.  The church was built by Arthur Guinness, Baron Ardiloun, the great-grandson of Arthur Guinness, the founder of the Guinness Brewery.  He and his wife, Olivia are buried in a crypt within the church building, which our teens found to be very strange.  Despite our unfamiliarity with having burials within church buildings, we were all greatly impressed with the architecture and beauty of this elegant structure of worship.  Our youth group will spend some time doing some refurbishment on the church grounds this Wednesday afternoon.

After our impromptu tour of the facilities, we joined our co-worshipers for some hotdogs and tea and cake.  The teens then spent the rest of the afternoon decorating the church hall for our Bible camp and I must say that they did a fantastic job!  They created the designs and did 95% of the setup.  While they were busy at work, I took a few adults over to the Raheny Inn (one of my old Arsenal viewing pubs) to watch the All Ireland Gaelic Football Final.  County Mayo, who had not won the title since 1951 and had supposedly been suffering from a curse delivered by a priest for the past 75 years, upset County Kerry and delivered the trophy to the northwest of the country.  

We all made our way back to the city centre in the evening, where the Mayo fans had taken over and were appropriately celebrating this epic victory in true Irish fashion! 

Nearly everywhere we turned, the Mayo faithful were pouring out of pubs and restaurants, and many of us took the time to congratulate them and wish them well going forward.  We were all in bed by 11 PM (ish) and ready for a new day in Dublin. - Shay      

We're Not in Kansas Anymore Toto

 

I arrived in Dublin two days ago.  Over the past 48 hours, I've reconnected with old friends over cups of coffee and other select beverages, while enjoying fine food and live music.  I've also had the opportunity to visit some of my old haunts in Dublin's fair city.  After catching a gig late last night and even later, enjoying some curry chips with a friend, I woke up at 5:30 this morning having only had 4 hours of sleep.  But the Christ Connect Youth Group arrived around the same time, mostly having not slept a wink.

Once they all cleared customs, we caught the Aircoach down to the city centre and made our way over to our hotel via the Luas tram and a brisk 10-minute walk in the cool morning air.  Unable to check into our hotel until 3 PM, we scarfed some grub at the St. Stephen's Green Shopping Centre where the teens were introduced to an Irish breakfast including bacon rashers that resemble but taste different than Canadian bacon and black and white pudding (congealed blood mixed with a variety of spices and fried up in a sausage like patty).  We then went north to Raheny via the Luas, the Dart train, and our two legs and two feet.  No one is going to fail to get their steps in over the next week!

In Raheny, we passed out leaflets advertising the Bible Camp at the All Saints car boot sale and we explored St. Anne's Park (Dublin's second largest park and a former estate of the Guinness family).  Juli arrived via a later flight and met us all in the park where she also reconnected with an old friend.  

The group was exhausted, so we mercifully made our way back into town where we have now checked into our hotel and most everyone but me are fast asleep.  Tonight we'll dine at Gallegher's Boxty House in the Temple Bar area and tomorrow we will worship with the All Saints Church, experiencing an Irish picknick after services.  Hopefully everyone will refreshed and ready to embrace what this coming week will bring after a hearty meal and a good night's sleep. We'll keep you posted. - Shay  

A Trip 14 Years in the Making

I met Jim Carroll, the rector of the All Saints Church of Ireland located in Raheny, the north Dublin suburb Juli and I lived in from 2010-2015, in a local coffee shop back in 2012.  Jim noticed that I was reading a Eugene Peterson book and so he immediately struck up a conversation and when he learned that I was a fellow pastor, he gave me a tour of the beautiful All Saints building and invited me to be the guest speaker at their Harvest Sunday worship service.  In October of 2012, I spoke at the event and a couple of years later, Ashlyn enrolled in the Springdale National School which is run by the All Saints parish.  I continued a friendship with the new rector, Reverend McCausland, when Jim retired, and I have since come to know, albeit only briefly, Kevin Ronne, the current All Saints rector.

Through this relationship with the good people of All Saints, Ashlyn's youth group will partner with this Raheny parish to run a Holiday Bible Camp from July 27-30.  I will be arriving in Dublin tomorrow and the youth group and some other adult sponsors will be arriving on Saturday.  It will be good to be back in bubblin' Dublin and it will be fantastic to reconnect with so many friends and loved ones in Ireland's fair capital city.  I plan to update this blog daily over the next 10 days or so to capture at least some of the shenanigans the group gets up to.  Who could have imagined that a "chance" meeting in a coffee shop 14 years ago could continue to be so fruitful?!!! - Shay 

The World Cup: A Foretaste of the Age to Come

I would imagine that the most googled two words in the universe today must be "World Cup".  Far bigger than the Super Bowl, more significant than the NBA Finals, and of much greater interest to the globe than College Football could ever be, the beautiful game has captured the imaginations of the 48 participating nations and quite a bit of the rest of the world as well.

My introduction to football (soccer) came in 1999 when I moved to Nottingham, England.  I experienced the end of the 1998-1999 Premier League season which saw Manchester United narrowly pip Arsenal to the title.  Nottingham Forest was relegated and so I decided I would not support a team that was no longer in the top division.  John Glesinger, whom I was working under in an apprentice ministry position, begged me to become an Arsenal supporter.  I was reluctant at first, but since there was a natural connection to the club through John, I agreed to support Arsenal with one condition - we had to attend at least two matches throughout the season.  We went to the Arsenal - Derby County match early in the season at Pride Park (2-1 Arsenal win), and then in the spring of 2000 we watched Arsenal dismantle Deportivo La Coruna 5-1 in the UEFA Cup at the old Highbury Stadium in North London.  For 27 years I have been an Arsenal (and USMNT) supporter in particular, and a big soccer fan in general.  

Though I am a huge Texas Longhorn fan and love College Football, I realize that American Football, especially College Football, is a niche sport without a large global following.  What I love about supporting Arsenal and being a soccer fan is that I can find connections with other Arsenal supporters and soccer fans almost anywhere in the world.  One of the things that this World Cup should teach us is that there should be far more that unites us as human beings than that which divides us.  I have loved seeing the supporters of African, South American, Asian, European, and North American teams all coming together in various Mexican, Canadian, and US cities to cheer on their nations, with a friendly, diplomatic, and curious tone.  Though the United States has much for which to be ashamed in its past and present (like most every nation), I hope that our guests for this World Cup have been warmly welcomed and that they have seen the best that we have to offer.  I also wish that the nations of the world would find more opportunities to come together in moments of partnership and celebration, rather than through war, hatred, suspicion, and strife.  I hope and pray that we see more of these positive scenes in my lifetime, but I know that in the age to come, the promise of this World Cup will be realized in ways that we cannot even begin to imagine.

At the end of the book of Revelation, we are given a glimpse of what life will be like in the renewed creation when God comes home to live with his people.  The writer of the Apocalypse describes it like this: "And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.  The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.  Its gates will never be shut by day - and there will be no night there.  People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations...On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations." (Revelation 21:23-22:2)

Through this World Cup we've seen a little glimpse of what life could be like if the nations of the world could find common ground and live as one.  I can't wait when this foretaste will become reality when God's will is finally and fully done on earth as it is in heaven. - Shay 

From Death through Resurrection: Days of Ash and Easter Lily

Last summer I began a blog series where I ranked U2's albums from worst to first.  I had heard rumors that the band was in the studio creating a new record and preparing for a new tour.  Here's how my ranking came out from 1 to 14.

1. The Joshua Tree

2. Achtung Baby

3. All That You Can't Leave Behind

4. Rattle and Hum

5. The Unforgettable Fire

6. War 

7. Boy

8. How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

9. Songs of Innocence

10. Songs of Experience

11. Zooropa

12. Pop

13. No Line on the Horizon

14. October

On Ash Wednesday, U2 released a surprise six track EP titled Days of Ash.  A few weeks later on Good Friday, the band shocked their fans with a second EP called Easter Lily.  Since these are two EPs and not full LPs (though if you combined them, they would make one heck of a record) I won't attempt to rank them with U2's other work, but if these 12 tracks were a proper album they would rest firmly within the top 10.  Let's dive in.

Days of Ash 

Days of Ash begins with American Obituary which laments the senseless killing of Renee Good by Ice agents in Minneapolis on January 7.  The song is fueled musically by fuzzy garage rock style guitar riffs and a chunky bass line.  Bono passionately sings "I love you more than hate loves war."  And the song ends with a chorus of people singing "The power of the people is so much stronger than the people in power."  We can only pray that this will be true.

The next song on the EP gets its title from Richard Rohr's recent book, The Tears of Things.  This is a mostly acoustic track with lush strings and beautiful and intricately crafted poetical lyrics.  Bono uses the image of Michaelangelo's statue of David brought to life to lament the brokenness of this world, while still yearning for the next.  The song ends with a hope for universal salvation.  "Everybody is my people - let my people go."

Song of the Future is inspired by Sarina Esmailzadeh, a 16-year-old Iranian girl beaten to death by security forces during the 2022 protests against the killing of Mahsa Amini who had been arrested for improperly wearing her hijab.  Despite being inspired by dark events, the music is defiantly hopeful.

The next track is actually not a song, but rather the poem Wildpeace written by Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai and read by the Nigerian musician Adeola over a soundscape produced by Jacknife Lee. The poem claims that for peace to be lasting, it must arise organically.

Sticking with the theme of peace and reconciliation in the Middle East, One Life at a Time references the murder of Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen by an Israeli settler in the South Hebron Hills.  Though his killer may have wanted to eliminate the Palestinians one life at a time, the message of the song is that the world can be changed one life at a time.  

The EP ends on a high note struck from a dark place.  In collaboration with Taras Topolia of Ukrainian band Antytila and with English singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran, Yours Eternally is based on the 4-year struggle that Ukraine has endured as it fights for its freedom, resisting Russian aggression.  The music, and the lyrics are utterly hopeful and yet poignant.

Days of Ash walks the listener through the symbolism of Lent (self-reflection and self-denial, even death) to the promise of rebirth which brings us to Easter Lily.

Easter Lily

Easter Lily begins with Edge's chiming, arena ready guitar strums and then elevates the mood even further with church choir backing vocals.  Song for Hal was written for Hal Willner, a music producer and Saturday Night Live contributor who passed away during the Covid 19 pandemic.  Though an elegy of sorts, the first song of this EP already sets the expectation that this batch of songs is going to be about life, not death as the Edge sings "Did you hear 'Forever'?" on the opening line.  It's great to hear the Edge take lead vocals on a song again. 

The upbeat mood continues on In a Life where this time Bono sings, "I never achieved anything on my own."  This entire song is about the importance of human relationships and is musically reminiscent of All That You Can't Leave Behind era tunes.  

And though this record is upbeat, the vibe shifts slightly with the third track.  The Adam Clayton bass line on Scars sounds similar to the thumping on Iris and Volcano from the Songs of Innocence album.  Though new life is just around the corner, we are reminded that our scars sometimes follow us into that new reality, though we don't have to hide or cover them any longer.

The forever that was hinted at in Song for Hal is made explicit in Resurrection Song.  The idea of resurrection might seem either glib or silly in the 21st century, but Bono is not holding back as he joyfully bellows, "If I sound ridiculous, I'm not done yet!".  Bono claims that there are countless signs pointing to forever and echoing John Donne, he exclaims that even death will die too.

The celebration continues on Easter Parade as the piano, bass, and synth drive the song forward while Edge's guitar licks add flourish in the background.  And this is as good a place to mention this as any.  Welcome back Larry Mullen Jr.!  Larry's drumming throughout both Days of Ash and Easter Lily is energetic and creative, providing ass shaking rhythms.  In this penultimate song we hear, "Something in me died, but I was no longer afraid...Kyrie Eleison (Lord, have mercy)."  

Brian Eno provides a synth background as Bono sings emphatically "I will bless the Lord at all times." on Coexist.  The last lines of the song are sung a cappella: "Changes, these changes, Will rain on this parade.  Changes, these changes I am not afraid.  The pages that enrage us - She tears them from the book.  'Save us, save us' sings the girl of Guadalupe." 

Between these two EPs, U2 takes the listener on a journey from death through resurrection and out the other side into new life.  With 12 tracks and over 50 minutes of music, this could have easily been the next U2 album, rather than two surprise EPs.  If these songs are any indication, the next U2 record should be a dandy. - Shay  

Ranking U2's Albums from Worst to First: #1 The Joshua Tree

From the opening keyboard drone of Where the Streets Have No Name to the closing drumbeats of Mothers of the Disappeared, U2's fifth and best album, The Joshua Tree takes the listener on a cinematic aural exploration of big themes - from Cold War political realities of the 1980s through the eternal personal, emotional themes of the human condition.  In fact, mixing politics and the personal is what U2 is probably known best for.  And when they do it well, they do it better than anyone else.

The Joshua Tree is not only a musical masterpiece, but lyrically and thematically it evokes a movie-like journey.  With the American desert as its backdrop, the narrative in song moves from the US to Central and South America to the streets of Dublin south to Africa and all the way down under to New Zealand.  Telling stories of love found and lost in With or Without You, wrestling with faith and doubt in I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, and exploring the full range of grief and bereavement in One Tree Hill, this record is profoundly personal.  In Running to Stand Still, we are taken into the dynamics of a relationship dominated by drug addiction and in Exit we hear the demented thoughts of a cold-blooded killer. But this album is also political.  Bullet the Blue Sky and Mothers of the Disappeared address the Cold War's effect on Latin America, and Red Hill Mining Town deals with Thatcher's policies in 1980s Britain.  

As always, Bono's words, The Edge's strumming, and the rhythm section of Adam and Larry catapults their audience on a musical adventure of imagination.  But where The Unforgettable Fire had been heavy with ambient tonality and an impressionistic feel, The Joshua Tree is more stripped down and straight forward.  It's 11 standout songs that fit together to make one of the all-time greatest records in popular music history.    

U2 The Joshua Tree - Released March 9, 1987

Album Charts - #2 Ireland, #1 UK, #1 US

Worldwide Sales to Date - 27 Million

Singles - With or Without You, #1 Ireland, #4 UK, #1 US.  I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For #1 Ireland, #6 UK, #1 US.  Where The Streets Have No Name #1 Ireland, #4 UK, #13 US.  In God's Country #48 UK, #44 US.  One Tree Hill #1 New Zealand.

Standout Songs - Every Single One

Weakest Tracks - None

Hidden Gem - Mothers of the Disappeared 

This brings us to the end of this blog series ranking U2's albums from worst to first.  U2 has released 14 studio albums of original material.  If they are not all excellent, they are all at least very good.  Their best, especially The Joshua Tree, are some of the all-time greats in rock n' roll history.  Will U2 release a new record soon?  Let's hope they still haven't found what they're looking for. - Shay 

Ranking U2's Albums from Worst to First: #2 Achtung Baby

1991 was one heck of a year for music.  Consider the following albums released that year: Pearl Jam Ten, the self-titled Metallica record, REM Out of Time, Red Hot Chili Peppers Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik, Guns n' Roses Use Your Illusion 1 and 2, and of course, Nirvana's Nevermind.  All of these are classic albums and to put the cherry on the top of an amazing year of music, U2 dropped Achtung Baby on November 18.  

As the 1980s came to a close, there was some fear that U2 might breakup, and as recording commenced in 1990 and 1991 for what eventually became Achtung Baby, the band had to work through personal and interpersonal turmoil as they "dreamed it all up again".  While recording in Berlin, the band came together as one while laying down the early sketches for what became their hit song, One.  Instead of being the moment that U2 splintered into oblivion, the Hansa Studio recording sessions became the springboard for what is in my mind their second-best album.  What makes this record so good is that it is not only filled with excellent songs, but they are at once both experimental and accessible.  There are addictive melodies, explosive guitar parts, rumbling bass lines, hypnotic drumbeats, boosted by sumptuous strings and electronic sound effects.  Some songs you want to dance to, while others make you want to jump in the mosh pit!  The first single released from this album, The Fly, was described by Bono as "the sound of four men chopping down The Joshua Tree."

Though sonically distinct from The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby is similar to the former record in that it carries a certain timelessness.  When U2 are at their best, they create music that has an almost eternal character - evoking at once both nostalgia and a longing for the future, taking the listener to another time and place and then dropping them back home again, not the same, but changed.  The words of TS Eliot capture the effect that a record like Achtung Baby has on a listener:

With the drawing of this Love and the voice of this Calling 

We shall not cease from exploration 

And the end of all our exploring 

Will be to arrive where we started 

And know the place for the first time.

If you haven't experienced Achtung Baby, what are you waiting for?  But don't just listen once.  Like all classic musical pieces, this record demands repeated listening, leading each time to new discoveries.  

U2 Achtung Baby - Released November 18, 1991

Album Charts - #1 Ireland, #2 UK, #1 US.

Worldwide Sales to Date - 18 Million

Singles - The Fly, #1 Ireland, #1 UK, #61 US.  Mysterious Ways, #1 Ireland, #13 UK, #9 US.  One, #1 Ireland, #7 UK, #10 US.  Even Better Than the Real Thing, #3 Ireland, #12 UK, #32 US.  Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, #4 Ireland, #14 UK, #35 US.

Standout Songs - All of them!

Weakest Track - None

Hidden Gem - Acrobat

Achtung Baby may be #2 on my list of U2's albums, but it is really more like 1B to The Joshua Tree. - Shay 

Ranking U2's Albums from Worst to First: #3 All That You Can't Leave Behind

The latter half of 1999 fittingly was a period of looking back on the 20th century and looking forward to the "new millennium".  Historians and cultural commentators spent time reflecting on the 1900s while pushing the public toward the possibility of a new beginning in the 2000s.  Of course, there were quite a few fundamentalists and conspiracy theorists who predicted either a global meltdown with Y2K or the imminent return of Christ, but neither of those things came to pass.

For creatives like musicians, poets, artists, and writers, 1999-2000 offered an opportunity to consider their previous output, even as they dreamed of a new beginning in the new century.  U2 had spent the 1990s experimenting with and exploring new sonic territory on Achtung Baby, Zooropa, and Pop.  They also released a record of imaginary soundtracks with producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois.  They named their supergroup "Passengers" and the record, Original Soundtracks 1.  We are still waiting for Original Soundtracks 2.

So as U2 began work on their 10th studio album, it was inevitable that they too might be in a reflective mood as they pressed onto the third thousand years of the modern era and the third decade of the band's career.  What the band rediscovered was that they have a knack for creating catchy, yet timeless tunes.  Sure, guitar effects pedals can create cool sounds, synthesizers and strings fill out a sonic palate, and drum machines can enhance a rhythm when used appropriately, but there is no substitute for well-crafted songs.  And what the band released in October of 2000 was a batch of well-crafted songs.  The band continued to use the electronic toys and tools they perfected in the 1990s, but the songs on this record would be just as powerful played acoustically around a campfire.   Almost every single track on All That You Can't Leave Behind could have been released as a single, and the songs that were have become staples in the U2 catalogue.    

U2, All That You Can't Leave Behind - Released October 30, 2000

Album Charts - #1 Ireland, #1 UK, #3 US.

Worldwide Sales to Date - 12 Million

Singles - Beautiful Day #1 Ireland, #1 UK, #21 US.  Stuck In a Moment You Can't Get Out Of #1 Ireland, #2 UK, #52 US.  Elevation #1 Ireland, #3 UK, #4 US Adult Alternative Chart.  Walk On #7 Ireland, #5 UK, #2 US Adult Alternative Chart.

Standout Songs - All of them cannot be left behind, but one (see below).

Weakest Track - New York

Hidden Gem - When I Look at the World 

After a decade of pushing their limits and exploring all the soundscapes that might be utilized in producing an album, U2 discovered that at the heart of every good record and every good song is a beautiful melody, a solid bass and drum line, and a catchy guitar lick.  Those three things they took with them into the 21st century. - Shay 

Ranking U2's Album's from Worst to First - #4 Rattle and Hum

 

In 1987, U2 appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, with the periodical's headline declaring the band to be "Rock's Hottest Ticket."  U2 had climbed to rock 'n roll's summit and the view couldn't be better.  They had a #1 album with The Joshua Tree, more hit songs than they could fit into a single set list and were the darlings of the media and public not only in the US, but around the world.  But most bands discover that staying at the top is harder than getting there.  What would U2's next move be?

While on the latter half of The Joshua Tree Tour, a Canadian director named Phil Joanou convinced the band to let him record some of their live shows and to conduct interviews and capture behind the scenes footage for a "rockumenatary".  Initially, the project was to be released in art house theaters, but Paramount Pictures decided to purchase the film, and they released the movie in mainstream cinemas, hoping to turn it into a blockbuster.  The film titled, Rattle and Hum was by no means a flop, but since most hardcore U2 fans saw it in its opening weekend, public interest in the movie soon waned and it was pulled from theaters.  Some critics loved it, while others thought that it was U2's attempt to place themselves alongside the great rock 'n roll pioneers like Elvis, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and BB King.  Actually, what U2 was doing with the film and the accompanying album was paying homage to their heroes who had come before.  And it is the accompanying album, Rattle and Hum that is the #4 record on this ranking of U2's albums from worst to first.

Rattle and Hum is unique in that it is a kind of hybrid recording.  Nine songs are new and recorded in studios, four are U2 originals, recorded live in concert, two are live covers, and two tracks are snippets of other artists performing live.  The double album clocks in at over 70 minutes and the live recordings are interspersed with the studio tracks.  Somehow, this montage fits together nicely and works as both a live and studio album.  Consider the strengths of the studio recordings.  Imagine U2 releasing a new record with the following songs.  

1. Van Diemen's Land, 2. Desire, 3. Hawkmoon 269, 4. Angel of Harlem, 5. Love Rescue Me, 6. When Love Comes to Town, 7. Heartland, 8. God Part II, 9. All I Want is You.  

That's a classic album on its own.  When you throw in live original and cover tunes like Helter Skelter, All Along the Watchtower, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, and Pride (In the Name of Love), you have a classic record with a few bonus tracks to boot!  And though most of these songs are rooted in American blues, country, and rock 'n roll, there are hints in God Part II that the band was beginning to move to a more experimental sound.  

U2 Rattle and Hum - Released October 10, 1988

Album Charts - #1 Ireland, #1 UK, #1 US.

Worldwide Sales to Date - 14 Million

Singles - Desire #1 Ireland, #1 UK, #3 US.  Angel of Harlem #3 Ireland, #9 UK, # 14 US.  God Part II (did not chart).  When Love Comes to Town #1 Ireland, #6 UK, #68 US.  All I Want is You #1 Ireland, #4 UK, #83 US.

Standout Songs - Van Dieman's Land, Desire, Angel of Harlem, Love Rescue Me, When Love Comes to Town, Heartland, God Part II, All I Want is You.

Weakest Track - None

Hidden Gem - Heartland

Rattle and Hum is a fitting ending to the first chapter of U2's work and a creates an interesting segue to their next chapter in the 1990s. - Shay 

Ranking U2's Albums from Worst to First: #5 The Unforgettable Fire

 

In 1984, after wrapping up the War Tour, U2 had climbed nearly to the top of the mountain of rock n roll greatness without having quite yet summitted.  They had released three records with two of them being smash hits.  They had gradually gone from being the darlings of college radio to being a feature on FM pop and rock stations.  They had sold millions of albums, but they were also in danger of simply churning out the same kinds of songs that had given them success in the first place.  If they had climbed so close to the rock n roll peak, the last thing they wanted to do with their fourth record was plateau.  So, in early 1984, the band enlisted the assistance of ambient musician, Brian Eno (of Roxy Music fame) and the young but prodigious talent of Daniel Lanois to produce their next album.

Rather than going straight into a normal recording studio, the band decamped to Slane Castle for added inspiration as they created the soundscapes and audio tapestries that became The Unforgettable Fire.  This record is at once full of hit rock anthems, most notably Pride (In the Name of Love), while also featuring ambient and even esoteric tracks like Promenade, Elvis Presley and America, and MLK.  Somehow, Eno, Lanois, Hewson, Evans, Clayton, and Mullen held it all together, creating a classic record that was not bettered in the 1980s until three years later when the same group of men wrote, recorded, and produced The Joshua Tree.  If the latter record might be compared to an Ansel Adams photograph, the former album might be a Monet or Renoir painting.

     

U2 The Unforgettable Fire - Released October 1, 1984

Album Charts - #53 Ireland, #1 UK, #12 US.

Worldwide Sales to Date - 8.1 Million

Singles - Pride (In the Name of Love) #2 Ireland, #3 UK, #33 US.  The Unforgettable Fire #1 Ireland, #6 UK.  Wire #31 US Main Rock Chart.  Bad #19 US Main Rock Chart.

Standout Songs - A Sort of Homecoming, Pride (In the Name of Love), Wire, The Unforgettable Fire, Promenade, Bad, Elvis Presley and America, MLK.

Weakest Track - 4th of July

Hidden Gem - Promenade 

The Unforgettable Fire is an abstract masterpiece. - Shay

Ranking U2's Albums from Worst to First: #6 War

 

In the early 1980s, "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland were still raging.  For over 60 years Ireland had been divided into two separate political entities.  The Irish Free State, later becoming the Republic of Ireland, consisted of 26 counties and the majority of the island.  Six northeastern counties made up Northern Ireland which remained a part of the United Kingdom.  Hence the official name of the UK is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.  Most Roman Catholics, North and South in Ireland desired the UK to give up its control of the 6 northeastern counties and allow the entire island to be united under the government of the Republic of Ireland. However, in the late 20th century, Protestants (the descendants of Scottish and English planters first given land in Ireland under James I) still made up a majority of the population of Northern Ireland and wished to remain British.  Over time, the tension between the two communities in the north bubbled up into outright hostilities, climaxing in atrocities committed by both sides against one another (and sometimes even against each other).  The British army was called in to "keep the peace", but as is typical with occupying forces, at times the "shit hit the fan".  In January of 1972, British soldiers shot 26 unarmed peaceful nationalist protesters in Derry, killing 14.  It is this incident that informs the narrative of U2's classic song, Sunday Bloody Sunday, released on the War album in 1983.

"The Troubles" in Northern Ireland formed the basis for much of the themes on War, but the idea of human conflict in all of its various permutations is explored on this record.  From the Polish Solidarity struggle in New Year's Day, to the threat of global nuclear holocaust in Seconds, to the immigrant fleeing political violence in The Refugee, to the interpersonal struggles that dating and married couples experience in songs like Two Hearts Beat as One and Surrender, the album takes us down the human path of most resistance.  Bono jokes that it was on his honeymoon that many of the ideas for War came to him!  

Thematically, this album is tightly wound together, both lyrically and musically.  After a brilliant debut record and then a bit of a misstep on their second effort, U2 rebounded fantastically with War.  And with this output, they began to explore some new musical textures, adding violin to Sunday Bloody Sunday and horns to Red Light.  The album ends with a Davidic prayer taken directly from Psalm 40 and simply titled, 40. It is with this album and the subsequent tour that U2 grew from cult status to one of the biggest bands in the world.    

U2, War - Released February 28, 1983 

Album Charts - #16 Ireland, #1 UK, #12, US

Worldwide Sales to Date - 11 Million

Singles - New Year's Day, #2 Ireland, #10 UK, #53 US.  Sunday Bloody Sunday, #7 US Main Rock Chart.  Two Hearts Beat as One, #2 Ireland, #18 UK.  Surrender #27 US Main Rock Chart.

Standout Songs - Sunday Bloody Sunday, Seconds, New Year's Day, Drowning Man, Two Hearts Beat as One, 40.

Weakest Track - Red Light

Hidden Gem - Drowning Man

If Boy is possibly one of the most underrated debut records of all time, War is probably one of the most underrated rock albums of all time. - Shay