I recently confessed my love for vinyl records and their particular “vibes.” In the original post I said that the reasons for my pickiness was a post for another day. Well, today is that day. Let’s dive in!

For me personally, the number one criteria for whether or not I will purchase an album is this: Can I listen to this entire album from start to finish. If I am going to spend anywhere from $20-$50, I want something that is good from cover to cover. I want to know that when I put an album on the table and drop the needle, that I am going to be captivated and entertained throughout. The challenge is that I have rarely listened to every song on an album I’m interested in, making it hard to know for certain¹. So, most of my album purchases are more like calculated risks than guaranteed wins.

Because its way too difficult and time consuming to skip tracks on an album, whether I know every song or not, I am going all in on any album that lands on the turntable. There is an upside to this. I have discovered some really great songs that I never would have heard otherwise. On the other side, some of my favorite songs are not in my vinyl collection because I know the rest of the album doesn’t hold up. In those scenarios, I save the one hit wonders for streaming in the car².

Because of all of this, vinyls have become more to me than a simple habit or collection. They have become a reminder to slow down and take the whole experience as it comes. These records have encouraged me understand the entirety of an artists body of work and shown me that by understanding more of the stories surrounding the songs, I can understand the very familiar songs in new or deeper ways³.

This reminds me of a couple of things that are important to me as a follower of Jesus. First, we should always seek to engage with scripture in this way. It’s so easy to pull a verse or a few words from the Bible and use them as support for our own narratives. There have been many times in my life that I have been guilty of using a few words or a phrase from the Bible to support my goals, my personal comfort, and my own agenda. But God’s word is so much bigger than these things. His word is for me, but it’s not about me and I need to be reminded of that regularly. Far too often, we pull verses like, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13), out of their original context and use them to help us feel good. But without the full context, we miss the fact that Paul wrote that verse in prison and he was talking about enduring very real suffering, not scoring a touchdown or beating our mile time.

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Here’s an example. There is an older country song that a good friend recommended to me a few years back. At first listen, I thought this song was about drugs and promiscuity. I was shocked that this friend would recommend this song. Later, I realized that the song was actually about listening to records and I now think that lyrically, it is one of the most creative and well written songs I had ever heard. At first listen, I pulled a few lines out of context and heard something completely different than what the artist intended. But, I think that was the point. Just like the full context can bring deeper meaning to a song, the full context of scripture is vitally important to understanding what God is truly trying to say to us every time we engage with it.

The fact that my album collection (filled with everything from pop to country and classic rock to 80s hairbands) can remind me to engage with scripture more authentically is proof for me that God can use anything He chooses to speak to His people. It actually reminds me of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church. In this letter, Paul is pleading for unity in the body of believers and encouraging them to fight against division in the church. He is asking them to be known more for what they are for than what they are against. He is teaching them that it is Jesus that unifies them and sets them apart as members of God’s family. As he ends the first chapter he says,

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:27-31 New International Version

It amazes me that God regularly uses things as seemingly foolish as my record collection, which is ultimately a stack of plastic, to invite me deeper into His word. It shows me that He never stops pursuing me and will always find me wherever I am. In the same way, I am confident that He is looking for you wherever you are. Make sure you are listening and watching for those invitations to journey deeper with Him.

1. Except for ‘Georgica Pond.’ Every note on that album is absolute fire.

2. Except for IV by Toto but only because I found it for like $8.

3. If you listen to Taylor Swift, you know what I mean. Some of her songs have hidden meanings that are only decoded by listening to the entire album!

Notes:

*This post is part of a series of posts called “For the Record.” This series is all about what I have learned through the hobby of collecting vinyl records. “For the Record” captures the heart of what the “This Awesome Life” blog and podcast is all about; hearing God speak through everyday moments. Use the links below to read the other posts in this series:

Part 1: The Thrill of the Hunt.
Part 3: No Skips
Part 4: No Turning Back
Part 5: Weight for It
Part 6: Setting the Record Straight

*A few years ago, I wrote another series called, “How to Pretend You’re From New York.” It was a fun series about an anniversary trip my wife and I took. If you want to check it out, here’s a link to “Part 1: Tourist Traps and Chain Resturants.”