John Barber is a music lover, film nut, husband, and father. Last year he set out to watch 365 films in one year, and he lived to tell about it. That means he's seen more bad movies than we even want to think about.
A Challenging Hope: A Review of Anchor Hymns
In many ways, we’re in the Golden Age of worship music. Great congregational music is released every week, it seems. But it’s a rare project that engages the listener with spiritual depth, passion, and musical excellence. Anchor Hymns’ new project Sing, Sing, Sing pulls it off, all while covering difficult subjects like doubt, lament, and suffering.
Read More ›Redemption in the Wreckage: A Review of Drew Miller’s There Will Be Surprises
In Drew Miller’s aptly titled new album There Will be Surprises, unexpected delights lurk around every corner, and the result is a musical and lyrical feast. From the opening phrase, “Father, your world’s on fire,” to the powerful closing track, Miller takes us on a winding journey that explores the complexity of God’s providence and His goodness.
Read More ›Finding a Way Forward: A Review of The Door on Half-Bald Hill
“And the wrens have returned and they’re nesting
In the hollow of that oak where his heart once had been
And he lifts up his arms in a blessing for being born again”
— Rich Mullins, “The Color Green”
Fixed In Post Podcast: Favorites from 2019
Every year, on the Fixed In Post podcast, Pete Peterson and I do a special episode about our favorite films of the year, and every year I include some movies that make Pete say, “I’ve never even heard of that one!” One of the great joys for me is to look past the big box office movies and to find the ones that are a little harder to notice—films that require some digging to spot.
Read More ›When I Think of Heaven
I met my then-future wife in college. Our first date was on December 17, 1996, and just a few days afterward, we each went home for Christmas, her to Hot Springs, Arkansas and me to Orlando. We were a time zone away from each other, and cell phones were yet to be a thing. I knew I’d be talking to her sparingly, and I also knew I was deeply smitten. It’s a hard place to be—young, in new love, and a thousand miles apart.
Read More ›The Broken Seasons
Don’t listen to Adam Whipple’s new record if you’re going through something hard. I mean, seriously, don’t. Don’t listen unless you’re ready to work through those complex, deep-down feelings inside you. But, if you are ready, then oh, boy; The Broken Seasons will deeply reward you. Read More ›
Wayne Brezinka and the Pipe Dreams of a Doofus
Six months ago, I did something insane. My wife was out of town for a writer’s conference, and I packed the kids up and drove two and a half hours to Nashville to go to a “Mixed Media Art Workshop for Beginners,” taught by Wayne Brezinka. It’s important to know that I’m not an artist. Read More ›
Review: Sing Street
A few nights ago, during dinner, I DJed an impromptu YouTube playlist of ‘80s music. Why? Someone mentioned St. Elmo’s Fire (the weather phenomenon, not the classic Brat Pack film). That’s all it took. Read More ›
Film Review: Last Days In The Desert
[Editor’s note: If you’ve been around the Rabbit Room long, the name John Barber will be a familiar one. If you’re new, or just haven’t yet had the pleasure of knowing him, let me introduce you to today’s guest poster. John’s a movie, music, and book nerd—and I mean Read More ›
I Want to Be a Clone: How Steve Taylor Helped Me Find Myself
There’s no doubt that the Rabbit Room is full of my people, but I haven’t always known who my people were. Read More ›
RR Interview: Rebecca Reynolds
Ron Block’s new album, Walking Song, released two weeks ago, and although it has Ron’s mug on the cover, there’s another person that’s responsible for the lyrical content inside. Rebecca Reynolds, long-time Read More ›