16 May 07 The Deep End

I’ve been invited back for another round of pool.  Seems the invitation, that I thought was just one time, was intended to be an open invitation.  I’m probably the pool playing equivalent of a high school football homecoming opponent.  If you don’t understand the comparison find and ask someone that lives or has lived in Texas.

Speaking of pool, tonight our Bible Study 201 class will dive into the deep end of mutual submission from Ephesians 5.  What exactly does it mean to "be subject to one another in the fear of Christ"?

What does this look like in a culture of power and influence?  I mean if everyone is holding the door open who’s going to walk in the room?

The intriguing thing about this section of scripture, to me anyway, is that we are in such a rush to prove who is in charge that we charge right past the idea of mutual, voluntary cooperation. 

Abigail and Brittany Hensen have learned the value of mutual, voluntary cooperation.  Though their circumstance is involuntary, they have discovered that by working together through mutual shared submission they thrive.  One of the experts, speaking about their existence, said something like "they’ve learned the value of cooperation and compromise."

The thing about our community and our relationships in general is that we can always choose to walk away from relationships.  This leaves no visible incentive for cooperation and compromise.

15 May 07 Wait A Minute . . . Or Two or Three Weeks

Work on the house has slowed, not that there is nothing to do it’s just that we’ve reached that point where some big things need to be done (for which we are relying upon others) until we can keep going. The frustrating part, and some of you have been here, is the schedule. It never works out according to your planned schedule.

But then again, most things hardly ever do.

That might be why more Christians should be involved in this type of work. It teaches patience, builds strength, character & endurance.

As a bonus, if you can make it through the project and still love those around (and still be loved by them) you’ve figured out how to live for Christ.

14 May 07 Musical Influences (Epilogue)

What more can I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Jars of Clay, Steve Green, Steven Curtis Chapman, Rebecca St. James, Twila Paris, 4Him, Phillip Craigs & Dean, David Crowder, Tim Hughes, March Shultz, Chris Rice, Caedmon’s Call, Burlap To Cashmere, Delirious, Sonicflood, Third Day & Audio Adrenaline.

At this stage of my life, in the CCM realm, I’m tuned to Kutless, Starfield, Chris Tomlin, Big Daddy Weave & my favorite Irishman Robin Mark. If you don’t have Revival in Belfast I & II you should.

As to new discoveries, I ask my brother-in-law every so often to give me CCM recommendations and he’s not failed me yet.

The interesting trend is the musical taste I share with the kids. Madison will tell you her top five is FFH, Seven Places, Salvador, Tree 63 & Casting Crowns. Reese will tell you his top five is Newsboys, Newsboys, Newsboys, Steven Curtis Chapman and Newsboys. Should I be concerned that we enjoy listening to the same music? I friend of mine talked about expectecting not to like the music his kids listened to and how that was ok.

Now my kids don’t appreciate The Statler Brothers and other stellar musical groups but in the realm of CCM, for now, we are in the same CD case.

10 May 07 Musical Influences IV

Just in case you’re wondering I won’t be writing from now on regarding CCM.  I will only publish as many posts on CCM as there are Rocky movies.  So by my count, that should be about 12 to 15 more posts.

Rich Mullins, Michael Card and Keith Green quickly reached the top of my favorites list and are my CCM comfort food. 

I didn’t come across Keith Green until after he died in the plane crash.  His music is full of passion and energy.  I would have loved to have been in a live audience.  Beth says he used to give away his music during concerts.  He wanted people to be blessed by his music and giving away his music was his offering.  Some time ago I read the life story of Keith Green (No Compromise) and developed a great appreciation for his body of work.  His music is an example of someone struggling to find his way, using his gifts for God’s glory.

I’ve seen both Rich Mullins and Michael Card in concert before.  Both in smaller venues.  Both excellent.  I still remember the day I heard the news that Rich Mullins was killed in an automobile accident.  That Sunday morning in church (meeting at the Black Angus in Eugene, Oregon) we opened services with Step By Step.

All three of these artists feature excellent musical skills.  However, it is their passion for the Lord and powerful, spirit filled message they communicate through song that strengthen my faith, refreshes my spirit and compels me to pursue the heart of God.

09 May 07 Musical Influences III

Bad CCM?  Sounds like the end result of eating at a disreputable eatery. 

Speaking of disreputable, the notion that all Christian music is inherently good because it is "Christian" is simply not true.  In fact, quite the opposite.  Some of the worst music out there, from a musical point of view, is in the "Christian" realm.   The insistence that it is good because it has the Christian label actually damages CCM’s credibility.  Mediocrity and non-scottishy music does not honor and glorify God.

Perhaps it is just a taste thing but Christian heavy metal, Christian rap and Christian butteflies, unicorns and rainbows are not part of my CCM collection.  Dare I say that these forms of CCM are examples of bad CCM?  I apologize to all you Stryper, Whitecross, Neon Cross, Deliverance, Tourniquet, Vengeance Rising and Mortification fans out there.  Apologies also to all you Gospel Gangstas, I  just don’t get it.  I know, I’m old.

Wait a minute, what about Petra?  I own one album (Beyond Belief) and that’s as hard core as it gets for me.

My preference is for music that draws me in - musically and poetically.  It’s not a volume issue.  I say crank it up.  The better quality music the better it will sound louder (and vice versa).

08 May 07 Musical Influences Part Deux

Now that I had been introduced to this genre of CCM it was time to wade deeper into the stream and discover new artists.  Amy Grant was easily the most recognizable name at the time but it wasn’t until much later that I actually purchased any of her albums.  With a few exceptions, I seem to have an ear for male artists and wonder if that is common tendency for others based on gender.  Do I prefer the sound because of being a guy?  Is it a sign of gender prejudice?  Me?  No way, at the time I could sit and stare at - I mean listen to -  Heart, Pat Benatar, Linda Ronstadt and Stevie Nicks all day long.

I would come across others who were already immersed in the CCM stream and purchase based upon their recommendations.  Some of my early purchases were Benny Hester, 2nd Chapter of Acts, Russ Taff, Matthew Ward and Sandy Patty.  I can still see my cassette tape case and remember it growing and expanding one cassette at a time as did my appreciation, taste and discernment.

I would soon discover, however, there is such a thing as bad CCM.

07 May 07 Musical Influences

I used to be a classical music geek.  Whilst everyone my age was listening to pop music I was elbow deep in the classics.  During my high school years (79-83) I began to get a taste of some different musical influences.  You know, the hard stuff like Journey, Chicago, Styx, and who can forget Toto?  By the way, Toto is in concert tonight in Fresno - it’s only two hours away . . .

In 1983 my musical taste underwent a major shift.  Michael W. Smith released his debut album (Project) and I was hooked.  For whatever reason his music captured me and never let go.  I have a video of him in concert.  The kids make fun of me every time I make them watch the video.  They can’t get over the hair, the clothes, the stage antics.

I own every album and find myself coming back to his music on a regular basis.  I count Michael W. Smith as my first musical influence in the world of "Contemporary" Christian music.

Friends are friends forever . . .

04 May 07 To The Work

We drove back to Stockton yesterday, eager to monitor the work progress by contractors on our house.  It was a relief to see that work had been done in our absence.  We scheduled some texture and plumbing work for next week and dove in to some much needed yard work.

After driving 6 hours we had some energy to expend.  We only worked for about 5 hours but total productivity might have equaled a full day’s work.

It reminded me of the first day of work on our Mexico Mission trips.  Driving to the airport, flying to Long Beach, driving to Ensenada seems to take forever.  The moment we hit the ground we are ready to strap on tool belts and get to work.  We seem to get a lot of work done the first afternoon / night.

You wake up the next day and are very sore.

03 May 07 A Reason To Get Together

The best part of a lectureship is seeing people from year to year. Spiritual nourishment aside, catching up and keeping up with friends is both the cake and the frosting. The lectures and classes are simply the tupperware container.

You can’t convince people to take a week of vacation, take a few days off and drive somewhere to catch up and keep up without the pretext of lectures and classes.

I’m convinced this is why Sunday evening services held on as long as it has. No one, from the preacher on down, wants to come back and hear another sermon and go through a scaled down version of AM services. They do want to see each other.

You can’t convince people to come back to catch up and keep up without the pretext of an evening service.

Strange.

02 May 07 Pepperdine Lectures

The Pepperdine Bible Lectures began yesterday and as many from Stockton will attest I attended a lecture.  Stop the presses.

Greg even attended.  Surely the Lord is coming back!

The speaker had a difficult task last night with the opening lecture from Jeremiah. 

How do you tell people to shape up and be Christ instead of being a Church?  And those who make an issue out of whether or not c in church so be capitalized or not would have had great difficulty.  He walked the fine line between metaphor, application, humor and conviction in the attempt to make the point.

What happens when we are unable or unwilling to hear the word of the Lord?