I’ve been doing a lot of traveling lately, mostly driving in the truck by myself. I found myself doing a lot of thinking — Hurricane Katrina, some friends and loved ones who are going through various difficulties…pretty heavy stuff. So, in an effort to maintain my sanity by escaping from some of the pain & depravity I see & feel, I started coming up with my own Ultimate Playlist. To be honest, at first I pretended I was some famous celebrity who was asked by iTunes to compile my own Celebrity Playlist that millions and millions of people would flock to download. I guess when youth ministers become celebrities, my dream will come true. Nonetheless, and to the delight of my throngs of adoring fans, here is the Ultimate Jason Bybee Celbrity Playlist. Run to your local music outlet and / or digital downloading resource and acquire these tunes TODAY!

1. “Tennessee Flat Top Box” by Johnny Cash. In honor of my Dad, who’s favorite artist was Johnny Cash. He has other hits that were far greater commercial successes, but no song reminds me more of one of my favorite images: my dad strumming his guitar, singing a pitch perfect mimic of Cash’s rich baritone. I owe my love of music to my father, so it’s fitting to start things off with his idol.

2. “Dierdre Dances” by Michael McDermott. McDermott’s self-titled album is one of my all-time faves. He’s a little known artist out of Chicago with a knack for writing deep, heartfelt songs that convey humanity in honest terms. Choosing from his canon of classics is difficult, but Dierdre Dances is possibly the most pain-lathered song I’ve ever heard. For those Jacobs out there like me who’ve wrestled with their God, this song will speak volumes. It’s sweet therapy to me, and I owe my friend Scott Freeman for turning me on to McDermott’s music.

3. “Take Five” by Dave Brubeck. They say jazz is the only truly great American art form. For my money, this one’s my favorite. I probably owe Ken Burns for this one.

4. “Used to Be” by Lost and Found. This one will be difficult to find, as it is only on one of their earlier (and I think discontinued) albums, but you can find it on a few live recordings. I heard them perform this song live in November, 2003 and I still remember the goose bumps I experienced. It calls me back to the version of myself I know I can be, rather than the person I often settle for.

5. “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” by U2. More of us relate to this song than we want to admit. I believe in the Kingdom come, too, Bono. That’s what gets me out of bed, brother.

6. “Measure of a Man” by Dennis Jernigan. This song is my prayer for my Joshua. Every father needs to play and pray this song for their sons. Corey introduced this one to me.

7. “Fix You” by Coldplay. I heard that Chris Martin wrote this song for his little girl. Don’t know if that’s true or not, but when I sing it in the car, I sing it to Abby Kate. The lyrics will always reflect my heart for that little girl. And Coldplay’s latest album X&Y is their Joshua Tree.

8. “If I Had A Million Dollars” by the Barenaked Ladies. This one’s for Sunny. Funny as it may sound, this song actually inspired a line from the wedding vows I made to Sunny when we were married. We fell in love with BNL when we were dating. Their live show is always a hit. This song is probably their most well known outside of “One Week”.

9. “Man in Black” by Johnny Cash. The only repeat offender on the list. I had to include this one. It sums up not only who Cash is, but also the attitude all Cash-lovers share in common: standing up for the underdog, the downtrodden, the imprisoned. If Cash is an icon, then this song was his mantra.

10. “Rocky Top” by the Osbourne Brothers. Any true Tennessee native knows the words to this song by the time he can walk. No matter where I am, when I hear this song, I’m taken back to summers in middle Tennessee, Sunday afternoons at Grandmothers, the sounds of katydids and bob whites.

11. “Hard to Get” (demo) by Rich Mullins. This was one of the last songs Mullins ever recorded. It’s written as a prayer to a God who sometimes plays hard to get, a God whose ways are not our ways. It’s an earnest song of reflection and journey…I always appreciate those who are willing to get in the trenches and be real with God, even when it means bringing Him their anger and disillusionment. I wouldn’t want a God who couldn’t handle me being that honest with Him.

12. “You Are My Sunshine”. One of my earliest memories is my Dad playing guitar while I sang this song to my Mom. I even have a recording of it somewhere on an old audio cassette. I once recorded it on a tape I made for Sunny, too. I guess it’s a fitting song to sing to the only women I’ve ever loved.

13. “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand” by Jars of Clay. The newest CD by Jars is pure inspiration: Redemption Songs is a cover album mixed with a hymn record. The result is a fresh vision of songs we’ve known our whole lives. I could listen to this version of this song all day long. Something about it just resonates with me and makes me long for the “not yet”. Someday…someday.

There you have it. I guess by doing this I realized how much music is meant to be shared. I’m indebted to some good friends for introducing me to some of my favorite songs and artists. I’m so thankful God created us as relational, creative beings with the ability to appreciate good music and even better friends. God bless.