There’s something so essential about good rock music. It scrapes the weight off your soul like a cheese grater. Tuesday was one of those heavy days, so I left the office late in the afternoon with the Foo Fighters. I have their new album. It’s amazing.

I had to get out. I needed to go hiking. With my iPod in hand I left. The music blared and the sun broke. I felt alive. I hiked a while down a trail till I came upon an old railroad bridge that ran over the Stillaguamish River. I make my way to the middle of the bridge and sat down, watching the river race by. As I sat there I noticed something in the water. There was one a first. Then another. Then tons of them. Salmon were running and upstream, right under me. I watched them for a while, making their way upstream.

Jumping and struggling with such a passion to get nowhere in a hurry. What lay ahead? Spawning and death. I wondered why they were in such a rush. It reminded me of our lives. We’re in such a hurry to die. We don’t think of it like that, but that’s what we’re doing. Always staying busy. Always on that upstream push.

I sat and meditated for a while, praying and praising God. I just let the peace of creation soak in all around me.

As I hiked back to my car one things occurred to me. I swim upstream too much.

One of the perks of being in youth ministry is the fact that we get free music!

I’ve been listening nonstop to Skillet’s new album Comatose.

Great lyrics, great energy, great message! Great 80’s esque rock ballads. Listen to it here.

4 our of 5 picks

My scale:

1-(just plain awful) starfield or K-Fed  or Amy Grant

2- (at least I’m not gagging) Kenny G or Michael W. Smith or Carmen or any American Idol contestant/winner

3- (I won’t turn the dial on the radio if it comes on) Newsboys or Casting Crowns or Bryan (or Ryan) Adams

4- (I will buy this one - so should you) Switchfoot or Third Day or Aerosmith

5-(I am in the presence of greatness! If you don’t own this, I’ll pray for your soul) U2 or Crowder or the Foo Fighters