robby stewart // my journey

I heard David Bazan (of Pedro the Lion fame) speak about Galway Kinnell. I respect Bazan’s songwriting and figured I should read what he was reading. Just a few minutes ago, I finally acted on that notion and I am blown away. I have lots of thoughts and grand notions about things to write and all those are worthless unless I act on them.  So I put on some Coma Recovery and started with what Wikipedia mentioned was Kinnell’s most famous poem, “Saint Francis and the Sow.” This part blew me away and I knew I had to share it: though [...]

AKA, what did I learn and/or experience in Park City, Utah at the Sundance Film Festival. In short: Watch the black & white screen Make things seem so much simpler “They say if you’re not confused, you’re not thinking enough.” Hogan from Little Birds. My head is hanging low I hear the sounds of victory moving through me and in me There’s dignity in suffering, but there’s also dignity in accepting the inevitable.” Cody Curtis from How To Die In Oregon. I wish my camera was made as well as my eyes were. I wish my pictures could show you [...]

This was the first time I have ever read anything by Max Lucado, besides the occasional tweet anyway. I really didn’t know what to expect. Sure, I’d heard a few of his UpWords radio devotionals, but I really didn’t know much about his body of work. Truth be told, I probably would be in the same boat had it not been for the marketing team behind BookSneeze.com. The book is simple and an easy read if you are only looking at the words themselves. The meaning behind the words, however, is a completely different story. It’s soul shattering and ego [...]

Amazing Grace is probably the most recognizable sacred songs of all time.  There are many different versions of the song. It’s played at all types of gatherings, whether it be worship services, funerals, during intense battle scenes, and more.  There’s even been a major motion picture about the song, but it’s amazing how little most of us know about the hymn. A lot of times when something gets really popular, meaning is lost.  The story  is lost, either through familiarity or through removing words.  There’s a great story within the verses of Amazing Grace most of us know, but there’s [...]

There’s a story that illustrates one’s personality or temperament perfectly and is simplistic in nature.  Using the idea of going on a boat ride, these are the basic personalities: Stability = An “S” wants to make sure we have maps, GPS, a plan to get there, a place to stay, and a complete itinerary once we get there. Theory = A “T” wants to know why we’re going on a trip in the first place, why are we going on a boat, and when is the “R” going to stop jibber-jabbering. Action = An “A” pushes the boat into the [...]

“Plan B” is a great book by Nashville pastor Pete Wilson. The book tackles the issue of what to do when things don’t work out according to our own plans. I felt the central theme of the book is: “When life isn’t turning out the way we had hoped, we almost always default as if God has abandoned us.” Pete includes several antidotes form his own life and people he has known to give clear illustrations of ways. He also includes examples from the Bible and puts some of those characters’ lives and decision in a different context that we [...]

It’s pretty easy to find foreign films and even easier to find foreign bands, but when it comes to TV, the same does not hold true. It seems rather odd that most other countries, especially the English-speaking ones, regularly air American shows, but not with American broadcasting.  Most American TV studios insist on retooling good/successful shows from abroad instead of simply airing them here. Sometimes the U.S. version comes out OK (as in Sanford and Son, All In The Family, The Office, Three’s Company) but most of time, they end up being atrocious (Kath & Kim, Viva Laughlin, Coupling). Those [...]

Holidays seem to bring about an abundance of posts, but I’ll keep this one rather short. This is a tweet from last year from singer/songwriter Justin McRoberts. I was stuck by the power of its simplicity. This is a video for a song I mentioned in my soudtrack for Easter post.  It’s by Mineral, who to this day, remain one of the most influential bands of all time in my life and in the life of thousands of others.  Even though Chris Simpson didn’t intend for this to be a song about Easter, I listen to it with a set [...]

Earlier today I watched the Good Friday movie from Mars Hill during it’s live stream for Sydney (you can catch it throughout the day here), and a few things occurred to me.  One of those ideas was to put together a playlist of my favorite Easter songs. Some of these are blatant, some are oblique, some are great songs all-around, some are not, and some might not even reflect the writer’s original intent.  But they do portray different emotions, aspects, and perspectives, and stages of the Easter story.  Enjoy. Cool Hand Luke – “This Is Love” Dana Key – “The [...]

Anyway, I’m excited about a few upcoming changes: I’m getting out of Greenville and moving to San Diego. I looked at the possibility last year, but decided against it.