Oh Fall...

After a short reminder of Summer warmth and the fruits of Spring, we have returned to the overcast, drizzly gray weather of Fall's retreat into Winter.  Not long ago I was driving with the windows down in shorts and a t-shirt, but warm layers and "Thank God's" for heaters have taken their place.  And for better or for worse, my mood seems to follow the weather patterns rather closely.  Joy has been hard to find recently.  My soul mirrors the backyard with painful resemblance; decaying remnants of once flourishing plants, leaves littering the grass as reminders of what once was, and a cool breeze that smarts of the long winter to come.  While that metaphor may be a bit dramatic, I think it holds a good bit of truth.  The change in seasons is a good reminder.  There are some bands out there who have done a good job of capturing a similar sentiment.  Perhaps my favorite is from the group Gratitude:  "Oh Fall, you're a comfortable lover, but I just can't take all the decay."  I tried my hand at my own:

There is nothing

Quite like Falling

Vibrant colors

All around

Where we once were

What we will be

Constant rhythms

Keep us home

We start to change

The colors fade

What is to become of us?

Decaying sign

Of better days

First we must come

Crashing down

But no matter what happens, we always have the assurance that we shall see the sun again.  New life will sprout, clouds will clear, the warmth will return.  Yes, we shall see the Son again.

Iron Man

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17).  My take on that verse used to be quite limited.  I understood it mostly just in terms of religious pursuits and mortification of sin.  While those are certainly parts of the sharpening process, I have discovered another.  

Recently I felt compelled to take financial matters into my own hands and pursue any part-time job I could find.  After having door after door slammed in my face, one finally opened.  Only two days passed and I felt that something was very, very wrong.  I realized that there was absolutely nothing about that job that was related to me, my passions, my pursuits, my talents, my skills, or my goals.  Part of that realization came from a co-worker at that job, who has absolutely no idea that he had such an impact on my life.  He only spoke a couple of sentences, but that was all it took for reality to come flooding into my mind, heart, strength, and soul.  By the grace of God, I am out of that job and already hired in a field that is directly related to my passions, pursuits, talents, skills, and goals.  I would be foolish to say more, as I have not worked my first day yet.  But still, the promise that it holds alone is tenfold over the other.

My girlfriend also played an important role in this whole process.  She is constantly voicing truth to me in so many ways, even though I don't listen to her very well.  She acts as a light to my darkness, a shelter to my chaos.  

This period in life has also reunited me with an old friend.  We have always remained strong friends even though we haven't had much time to interact for the last four years.  Again, by the grace of God, we are experiencing similar circumstances and feelings, which has sparked a fire in our hearts that cannot be ignored.  As a result, we are both working towards goals and seeking dreams that otherwise would have quite possibly been left to wither and fade.  

To all three of these peculiar versions of prophets, I owe a great deal of thanks.  I have learned that community means much more than the people you like, "man" sharpening "man" does not mean "male" sharpening "male," and that perseverance does not take on a lesser value if done alone.  The clanging of spiritual iron is not confined to things that bear the label "accountability" or "small group."  In addition to those, and perhaps stronger than them, are the angels in our midst; angels that more resemble resented co-workers or untimely rainy days than white, winged, harp-playing children.  

Keep your eyes open for angels - they're everywhere.  Keep your iron hot - you never know when you might get struck.

God bless.

Last Night = HUGE Success

First off - thank you so much to everyone who came to the benefit concert last night. It was a HUGE success and I hope everyone had as much fun as I did. There was lots of great music - check out Motive for Motion if you ever get a chance, good guys and good music - lots of great food and drinks, and best of all...lots of great people. I made some friends and hope you all did too. Perhaps we shall meet again, hopefully in the not so distant future!

I would also like to thank everyone who bought CDs. It blows my mind every time that someone buys one, and I hope that it blesses you to listen to it as much as it blesses me to make it. You are supporting so many things by purchasing them, and especially last night when some of the proceeds went to Why the Woods. If you didn't get a chance to buy one - just comment and I can certainly take care of that!

Most importantly, God was there with us. Everything that was said, sung, and prayed is for His glory.

So by all means...new and old friends alike...keep in touch via this blog, myspace, facebook, etc., and great things are sure to happen!

Community

It's been a long time since I have posted, but the good news is that the reason I haven't is because a lot has been happening.  Due to sorting out logistics in regards to school, jobs (or lack there of), church, recording, shows, etc., my time for  blogging has been pretty slim.  But I do have a few thoughts to share with the world of cyberspace if you don't mind...

   

After years of random phone calls and emails, I finally got the chance to reconnect with a very good friend from high school.  We sat on the patio of a restaurant one night and discussed everything from personal life to philosophy to examining the effects of a post-modern society on the college population.  One thread that ran through the latter topic was that of community.  We were both amazed at how much technology has developed even in our lifetime, but also interested in the fact that some of the biggest websites today are social networking sites.  Our world is one in which you can almost be entirely self-sufficient - able to learn just about anything online, purchase anything you want online, instant gratification in many ways - and yet what is the one thing that the majority of people reach for online?  Community.  Yet I would argue that we are starved for community even though we have access to it 24/7 at our fingertips.

  

It wasn't a coincidence that Adam was lonely even with all the animals of Eden.  It wasn't because they hadn't invented Skype that church meant gathering together in one place with other believers.  No, community is an essential part of the human experience.  Community is about sharing in the struggles and joys of everyday life, helping one another, human interaction and contact, and the pursuit of things greater than ourselves.  Community is not about how many wall posts you have, MySpace hits, or followers on Twitter.  Hiding behind a cell phone or computer screen makes it easy to forget about what true community looks like.  And besides, it means you get to do it all on your own time.  Don't want to talk to John Smith right now?  You don't have to!  Don't want to disappoint your best friend by telling him you can't come to his birthday?  Just hit "not attending" on the Facebook invite!  Now, I have a Facebook and a MySpace, and I too do all of these things and more.  And yes I am well aware of the benefits that it provides us.  But it is important to remember a balance, and that while there are things that it helps us with, there are also dangers that it presents.

  

In a time of economic trouble, it has been interesting to watch as people begin to band together.  We are all sharing in a national financial situation.  I'm not sure there's a stronger bond forming agent than adversity.  We are struggling together.  And it is a time when churches, neighborhoods, offices, and whole cities would do well to pay attention to their communities, and to what it means to be a friend, neighbor, co-worker, pastor, brother, etc.  The new CD I have been working on is partly inspired by these things.  I will go into more detail in a later post after the CD is released, but for right now let me just say that everything from the message in the music to the products used for the packaging are meant to support and encourage community.  Reply to a blog, attend a concert, write an email, call up an old friend, start a Bible study, volunteer at a homeless shelter, tutor...  Whatever form it may take on for you, all I care about is that you are involved in the multiple communities to which you belong.  Community cultivates humility, healthy suffering, service, and joy, among many other things.  It is the way we understand God, it is how He chose to be with us, and it is the way in which we can strive towards sanctification in the face of trial.  

  

So to my online community and beyond, thank you for being there for me, and I pray that the mercy I have had extended to me might be extended in return to all those in need.  Extend community and all that entails, as Robert Benson would say in his fantastic book A Good Neighbor, "To those who have been given to you, and to those whom you have been given."

New Shows Added!!!

I hope this post finds you all well. Two new shows have just been added and can be seen at the right side of your screen.

The first is at a Shakespeare & Co., a wonderful little bookstore/coffee shop in Kernersville. Come out and enjoy a great cup of coffee or smoothie, check out their excellent selection of books, and enjoy friends and music. I have also heard that there is a wine bar nearby as well as a beautiful courtyard - so pray for nice weather...but no matter what the weather is like, it will be a night you will not want to miss!

The second show listed is at Son's Light Coffee House in Boone, which I highlighted in my previous post, and it is a benefit concert for Why the Woods - which I also highlighted below, so please check out their websites. I am not kidding when I say this place is phenomenal. I absolutely love being in Boone (especially in the Fall!), being with these great people, and I am amazed every time at how supportive they are of local music. So take a road trip, make a weekend vacation of it, do whatever you want but you should definitely be there Friday night!!! Great cause, great people, great coffee, great music, great fun.

More details on that show soon...other artists...new songs revealed...keep checking back for updates!!!

God bless.

Son's Light Ministries and Why The Woods

It has come to my attention that I have not posted anything in quite some time.  After thousands of emails complaining about such a catastrophe, the new post is finally here.

  

I recently had the opportunity to attend the High Country Praise Festival in Boone, NC and had a great time.  There was good music, engaging speakers, and most importantly - great people.  The event was put on by Son's Light Ministries, and if you have a spare few minutes I would highly recommend you taking the time to check out their website to learn more about what they do.  Everyone involved in that ministry is truly a servant of the Lord and they are all really, really great people.  Son's Light is also very involved with another ministry called Why The Woods, and here is their Mission Statement straight from their website:

  

"WhyTheWoods is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization passionate about showing the Love spoken and lived by Jesus Christ. Our mission is to enable others to pull themselves out of poverty and/or hopelessness by empowering them with Love, Hope, and Knowledge. We go into the woods, the wilderness, the jungles, the deserts, the mountains, the city streets, and beyond to show others His love and His peace."

  

It is a ministry that was started by Billy Riddle, an Appalachian State University football player and senior this year who is such a great guy and has already done so much for many people.  I have had the privilege and honor of playing a couple of benefit concerts at Son's Light Coffee House for Why The Woods and would not trade those experiences for the world.  With the money raised from those events, they have already provided the people from the village of Wadupe in Sudan with clean drinking water - and that is just the beginning.  They are focusing their efforts now on providing education for the village.  Please take time to learn about the great things God is doing and to find ways of helping out.  

  

So if you're ever in Boone, make a point to stop by Son's Light Coffee and say hi, they would love to see you.  Take care.

One day of Divinity School Orientation down, three to go.  As with any type of orientation, there was a ton of information thrown at us all at once, but as a whole I walked away feeling like I was a little more prepared than when I first showed up.  All of the professors and incoming students were approachable and excited for the new semester.  Today there is a student panel, so we are sure to get the E! True Hollywood Story version of Divinity School by actual students.  Sunday evening we have dinner with the Dean, and then finally on Monday we register for classes.  

  

So nothing too terribly exciting in this post, but as I get further into school, this will be a perfect place for me to share what I've learned and ask some tough questions for us to think about and discuss.  I heard several times yesterday during orientation that the Divinity School experience  is just as much about community as it is about the classroom - and that means community on and off campus.  I really appreciate all of your support and will hopefully have a more exciting report coming soon!

  

(And make sure you check out the new show listed to the right of your screen!)

Music Monday

It's Monday once again...or should I say "funday"...and that means more music!

Suggested Listening: Better Than Ezra - "Closer"

These guys have been around since 1988, and are from the great state of Louisiana. They have gone through some changes (including the death of one of their members), but are still going strong with their own sweet blend of southern rock. One of their biggest hits, "Good," came off of their 1993 release Deluxe, but I find Closer to be a much more accessible and listener-friendly record. First released in 2001, Closer has a stellar track list and excellent audio production. Seriously, start at track 1 ("Misunderstood") and listen straight through to the end. This is truly a solid album that I would recommend to fans of any genre. "A Lifetime," is a story about a girl dying in a car crash on her way to graduation. It is a sad story, but the song is inspirational, and I guarantee you will not be disappointed. If nothing else, listen to both tracks that feature DJ Swamp - "Extraordinary," and "Recognize" - you'll be glad you did.

Grade: A

Notable New Releases for Aug. 18:

Third Eye Blind – “Ursa Major”

Reba McEntire – “Keep On Loving You”

Sister Hazel – “Release”

Colin Hay – “American Sunshine”

MUTEMATH – “Armistice”

Happy listening!!!

Wake up, O sleeper, and rise from the dead...

"The last thing the faithful wish for is to be disturbed."  --Peter J. Gomes

  

My heart grows more weary every time I read that quote.  The truth of it is an anchor that threatens to pin the Church to the ocean floor.  It has become increasingly more common to hear discussions about "Americanized Christianity" and the way our church communities have become nothing more than neighborhood Novocain dealers to help us make it through another week.  Surely there are exceptions to this (possibly) exaggerated accusation, but the point must be made nonetheless.  We want church, and even God for that matter, to work for us.  We want the songs that make us feel worshipful, we want the service to end in time to beat the lunch crowds, we want Bible study to begin and end in the classroom, and we want sermons that inspire us just enough so that we can admit to ourselves we know the right things to do...but not so much that we discipline ourselves to change our ways.  We have found insipid safety of routine and hung a big fat "Do Not Disturb" sign on every sanctuary door, altar, and crucifix.  

  

Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead...

  

The contributing factors to our paralyzed state are too numerous to count, but include such things as the influence of media, widespread use and advancement of technology, increase in self-dependency, and even downright ignorance.  And ignorance, I believe, is the problem that every church has the ability and responsibility to address.  Small groups and Sunday school have been compared to "spiritual daycare" (Gomes again), music ministers' and worship leaders' artistry has moved from music to manipulation, and pastors/preachers/ministers have become timid enough that the church is more about comfort than transformation.  I am not convinced it is the fault of the church leadership, in fact I am almost convinced that they are not even the half of it.  I believe a major contributing factor to these digressions is the powerful voice of the congregations.  If people are not "getting out of church" what they want, their voices are loud and clear and are all but impossible to ignore.  However, that being said, the leadership and laity must necessarily work together in order to restore sustenance and meaning to their church communities.  Which brings us back to one of my proposed solutions: education.  If the church could provide the opportunity for people to become educated, provide them with opportunities to experience, and provide purposed community involvement, I suspect we would see some life breathed back into our congregations.  When the congregation can articulate why a service is ordered the way it is, or have a very very very basic comprehension of church history or doctrinal beliefs or the religions of the world, or see how every song, prayer, Scripture reading, sermon subject, and Bible study topics are interwoven to create a holistic learning and spiritual experience, the Awesomeness and utter Majesty of God will be all the more real.  It is only in His infinite wisdom and grace that we should venture forward in these things.

  

I feel free to say all this because I too am guilty of complacency, comfort, and ignorance.  This is a call born out of finding myself as Lazarus did, in the dank back corner of a tomb with the voice of Jesus Christ telling me to come out.  I need a community and a church to help me hear that voice, and what I have said here is a collection of thoughts that have been brewing over the last few years.  There are probably things I have overstated or am wrong about, but there is also so much more to be discussed and explored.  I once heard a sermon that asked the question, "Are we looking at Jesus in a glass case, or feeling His breath on our face?"  Please, please entreat me as I entreat you: Wake up O sleeper...

Music Monday

Welcome back to Music Monday!  Boy are you in for a treat...  

 

Suggested Listening: Ray LaMontagne - "Till the Sun Turns Black"

 This is Ray's sophomore release from 2006 that absolutely blew me away.  His raspy, sincere voice is what he is known for, and there is good reason for that.  It has a lot of tonal qualities that can effortlessly send him from a soft acoustic love ballad to a grooving blues jam.  The album opens with "Be Here Now," a sweeping epic piece that makes me want to lay down in a field of flowers.  "Three More Days," and "You Can Bring Me Flowers" mark two of the more upbeat parts of the album, the latter having one of my favorite lines on the album - "You can bring me flowers, baby, when I'm dead and gone."  "Lesson Learned" is by far the most powerful song lyrically on the album, and I highly highly suggest you listen to it.  The record closes with "Within You," a fitting end to a very well planned track list.  If you like folk/blues/acoustic then Ray LaMontagne needs to be at the top of your listening list.  Besides...who can say no to a beard like Ray's?

  

Grade: A

  

  

Finally, here are the Notable New Releases for this week:

 

The Roots – "How I Got Over"

Showbread - "The Fear of God"

George Strait – "Twang"

Starflyer 59 - "Ghosts of the Past"

Willie Nelson – "Lost Highway"

Thrice – "Beggars" (exclusive iTunes release 8/11 – follow up physical release 9/15)

  

Enjoy and happy listening!

Funday

The other day I saw a weekly pill organizer.  I'm sure you all know the kind I'm talking about: there is a box for each day of the week.  On the top of each box, there is a letter indicating which day of the week the pills are for.  So the top reads as follows:  SMTWTFS.  That's when I got to thinking...

 

People are always talking about how terrible Mondays are.  All the time I hear people complaining about how much they hate Mondays, or how great it is when Monday is a holiday, or they have a "terrible case of the Mondays."  Well...what if perhaps, we changed the name of Monday to Funday.  It has nearly the same sound, but instead of striking fear and dread into the hearts of millions, it would put a huge smile on their faces.  Then, everyone would be just a wee bit more excited to arrive at Funday at the end of a fun weekend.  

 

And the icing on the cake is that the initials of the days of the week become a palindrome:

SFTWTFS.

 

Oh the wonders of the human mind...

Music Monday

Welcome to the first installment of a new weekly (or biweekly?) feature I like to call Music Monday.  The world of music is so diverse and so incredibly huge that it can often be intimidating, which often scares people into an aural straightjacket of overplayed 8-tracks and repetitive radio tunes.  The idea behind Music Mondays is to educate, communicate, and liberate minds and ears to the resplendent sound waves of musical men and women from around the world - and even right here in the Triad.  Between album reviews and new release listings, concert reviews and updates, suggested listening, and thoughts on music theory and its impact, there is sure to be something for everyone's taste.  

 

Concert Review - B.A.S.I.C. 

Last night I got the opportunity to go listen to B.A.S.I.C. (Brothers And Sisters In Christ) at a free show at First Baptist Church on W. Friendly Ave.  Advertised as a Christian Funk/Rock band, the group consisted of 7 members - male lead vocal/guitar; female lead vocal; female keys/bgv; male saxophone/bgv, drums, bass, electric gtr - and an occasional guest musician on various brass instruments.  The show was originally scheduled to be outside, but was moved indoors because of the weather.  Personally, I think that was for the better because the sound was mixed very well, which would have been a challenge in the outdoor space they had.  The Fellowship Hall was a great place for the show, complete with food and drink, and a lot of people there to support the music.  The first few tunes had a great groove to them with excellent vocal jazz harmonies.  Then they pulled out some CCM tunes (think Blessed Be Your Name, Mighty to Save, Open the Eyes of My Heart, etc.) and put their own reggae/jazz/funk twist to them.  It wa

s nice to hear a fresh take on some old worship standards - which also gave the crowd a chance to sing and worship with them - but I was really hoping to hear some more originals.  While the band was tight as a whole, the male lead could have been a lot stronger.  In the end, the musicianship of the bassist, female lead, saxophonist, and drummer stood out above the rest.  I give them some props for coupling CCM with this genre and putting their own unique spin on it.  From their comments and general stage presence, they seem like great people and they love what they do.  Unfortunately I could not find any website or info for them, but if you hear of another free show and have nothing else to do, you should definitely check it out.

 

The Grade: B-

 

Suggested Listening - The Secret Machines: "Now Here is Nowhere"

 

 

Since 2000, The Secret Machines have been rocking stages and stereos around the world.  

Most often described as mixing psychedelic/experimental music (i.e. Pink Floyd) with more modern driving rock music, they have come to know themselves as "space rock."  This is evident in their 2004 full length debut album, "Now Here is Nowhere."  The epic 9 minute first track, "First Wave Intact," hits hard with a driving beat and haunting melody that will have your head nodding in no time.  "The Leaves are Gone" comes in as Track 3 with ambient sounds and vocals loaded with reverb, making you feel as though you're about to orbit Saturn.  "Nowhere Again" follows that, their biggest hit to date.  After a few twists and turns, you arrive at the incredible Track 7, "You Are Chains," which has lyrics reminiscent to Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" that you are undoubtedly going to want to reflect on - "When you are chained with a chain with an iron ring bound to a rock on which you stand, so large you can't see from its surface......If you hadn't come when you did, I might still believe I was never in chains."  They also just recently put out their 3rd full length which I have unfortunately not had the chance to check out yet.  But do yourself a favor and check out this album. 

 

Notable Tracks: 1, 2, 4, 7

The Grade: A-

 

If you like this concept, checked out the music, know of any shows, or anything at all, please comment and let us know.  Remember: local people make local artists possible.  God bless.

Meditation

Over my four years at college, I became familiar and increasingly fond of the contemplative tradition.  I had the privilege to be taught about practices ancient and new, as well as to participate in current debates about contemplative thought and spirituality.  The contemplative tradition is too vast and rich to outline here, but this timeline is a fairly decent introduction to the history of spirituality and contemplative thought.  One of the more practical and extremely beneficial things I learned from studying this tradition was the practice of meditation.

Real quick: meditation is often a tough word for many people, myself included.  So perhaps a few clarifying statements are in order.  First, meditation is often thought of as being a strictly Eastern practice.  While the Eastern tradition is rich with meditation practices (some of which are heavily borrowed from even in our Christian tradition), it is not limited to just those religions or traditions.  In fact, if you check out the timeline mentioned above, you will see that the Christian tradition is rich with meditation practice back even to the Biblical period.  Second, the goal of meditation is not always "nothingness" or "total disconnection."  Again, there are certain traditions in which that is the primary focus/goal, but that does not encompass the fullness and richness of a meditative lifestyle.  I would even go so far as to say that Christian meditation practice is indeed the opposite of "emptiness" - it actually cultivates the heart, mind, and soul for compassion, peace, patience, worship, and life to its fullest in the fullness of Christ.  Finally, meditation used to bring images of people in robes sitting in the lotus position in rooms full of candles to my mind.  Once again, those practices do exist in this diverse world, but that does not restrict meditation practice to such an environment.  There are meditation practices that can be done for hours in the solitude of ones own room, and there are practices that can be done in the short moments you are sitting at a stoplight (and those practices are oftentimes designed to be done that way!).

What it comes down to is that we have become disconnected from this and many other traditions of Christianity.  I hope to have cleared up a few things in the paragraph above, because all too often people place meditation within Buddhism and leave it at that.  But if we can educate ourselves on the subject, I firmly believe that it will open up our hearts to the Spirit in a lot of new and exciting ways.  I am a firm believer that we cannot know where we are going unless we know where we have been, and I find it very unfortunate that this part of our rich Christian heritage has been left out of many communities of faith.  Not everyone may have room in their prayer life or their personality for meditation, but I at least believe in letting people have the option.  So here is an example meditation and a few resources to get you started:

Counting Your Breaths:  Sit with your back straight and hands relaxed in your lap.  If you are sitting in a chair, place both feet flat on the floor.  Close your eyes and allow yourself to slow down.  If a thought comes into your mind, do not try and blot it out, but simply let it come in and let it go out, as if it were a scrolling marquee at the bottom of a television screen.  Take in a deep breath, letting the air reach deep into the belly and expanding the diaphragm, and then let it out.  That is breath one.  Keep a mental note of which breath you are on, and if you get distracted and forget, start over at one.  You might be surprised how hard it is to get to ten!  What this does is help center your mind and allow you to focus on simply being present.  I would also recommend reading/meditating on two verses for this practice as well: Genesis 2:7 and Matthew 6:25-34.  We are reminded of the breath of God entering our nostrils and giving us life, as well as to be present here today.  We are not to be anxious, for the Lord provides us with all we need to live today.

Resources:

"The Sacred Art of Lovingkindess," Rabbi Rami Shapiro

"What Christians Can Learn From Buddhists About Suffering," Gordon Peerman

"Always We Begin Again," John McQuiston II

"Soul Making," Alan Jones

Other contemplative authors such as: Thomas Merton, Thomas Moore, Frederick Buechner, or Marjorie Thompson

I am highly interested in starting a meditation group.  Something that would meet maybe once a month for an hour or two.  We would have handouts on contemplative and meditative thought and practice, time for discussions, and most importantly a time of meditation.  If anyone is interested please let me know and we can try and get this started.  Like I said, I highly recommend this to any and everyone.  There will certainly be more posts about meditation in the future, as this was already longer than I intended and there is just so much more to say.  Happy meditating!

Sunburn - The Light of His Glory

I want to say a big, big, big thank you to everyone who came out to the show at Tate St. Coffee last night.  Joe Next Door and I really appreciated all the support from those who made the trek out to Greensboro, as well as from those who wanted to be there but could not.  I know I had a blast, Joe Next Door had a blast, and we hope you did too.  Local people make local artists possible.

Also, to those who might be visiting the blog for the first time, take a look at the very first post on here if you have a moment.  It offers a sort of "vision statement" for the blog and the music at the bottom of the page.

Last night I played the song Sunburn, which is on the CD, but is a rarity for me in a live set.  It is one of the more cryptic and personal songs that I have written.  Because of that, I wanted to post the lyrics so that it might make a little more sense, and hopefully bring the deeper meaning to the surface.

Sunburn

I found you there in the farthest reaches of my consciousness

Searching for God knows what

You reached out to me like I was a beggar in the gutter

You came at me like a punch to the gut

You said, "My love will sting like a sunburn."

"I won't offer much in return..."

"But I will love you just the same.  I will love you just the same."

You took me down all the darkest roadways and alleys

Showed me things I had never seen

And as a mime, I could say that I hate you

But I think you know just what I mean

"My love will sting like a sunburn."

"I won't offer much in return..."

"But I will love you just the same.  I will love you just the same."

Let your love shine down, let me see the love I know

Let your love shine down, let me see and let me know, that..

Your love will sting like a sunburn

"I won't offer much in return..."

"But I will love you just the same."

"And my love will hurt like a rug-burn."

"But we live and we learn...

and I will love you just the same.  I will love you just the same."

"I will love you just the same."

I found you there in the farthest reaches of my consciousness

Searching for God knows what...

The very beginning stages of this song were inspired by a sermon I once heard, in which the pastor likened God's love to getting hugged while you're sunburned; there is pain, but through love.  In a similar way, God takes us in His embrace, and we feel the effects of sin sizzling on our skin in the Light of His Glory.  Another great image to describe this type of occurrence is in C.S. Lewis' The Voyage of the Dawn Treadder, when Aslan "un-dragons" Eustace (coincidentally mentioned in the sermon this morning!).  So this song is about God taking me on an introspective journey into my impure mind and broken heart.  The chorus is a conversation that ensues after being shown my brokenness between God and myself.  He says to me, "My love will sting like a sunburn," suggesting somewhat the cost of love and discipline.  My response is grateful but afraid (after seeing my condition) that I will not receive this amazing love, "I won't offer much in return..."  Then the true joy comes with His response, 

"But I will love you just the same."

That is the best news we could ever hope to hear.  No matter what has been done, or left undone, His blood covers all, and His steadfast love endures forever.  Each word is purposeful, and I could ramble on and on explaining each detail, but I fear that would actually do more harm than good.  So I hope this illuminates the song a little more, but more so I pray that we can constantly remind one another of this simple yet essential truth.  

Thanks again to all those who came and listened, talked, got a CD or card, and let me share my songs - I am forever grateful.

...there your heart will be also.

At my church we are moving through a sermon series on the Seven Deadly Sins. This coming week is on greed, or avarice. The image is Punishment of the Avaricious and the Prodigal, a woodcut by Gustave Doré (1890). Doré has a series of images that were done to accompany Dante's Inferno, which can be viewed here if you're interested. The scene depicted by Doré caught my attention for several reasons. First, all of the men look like they are in a great deal of pain, or at the very least exerting most of their energy. Second, the destination is not in the frame, which suggests to me that there is a possibility that there isn't one. Third, I thought they were pushing boulders, until I saw the central figure's burden has a rip in it that is dropping coins. And finally, none of their faces are fully visible. Their hidden countenances made it a lot easier for me to see my own on their weary and burdened bodies.

In a time when the economy is at the worst it has been in my lifetime, and occurring when I am fresh out of college and supposed to be entering the "real world," it has been quite easy for me to spend most of my days worrying about storing up treasures for my future on this planet. I openly admit, and feel that I am in good company, that I have a very real fear of the future and not having money. When we live in a world where we are told constantly by every form of media possible that money can buy happiness, it's hard not to notice the thinness of your wallet. So my solution is to try and accumulate as much as possible, and to hoard and make it last as long as possible. Part of me knows I have enough for essentials and the means to survive, but the other part of me wants to be certain that I will not be empty. But judging by the look of Doré's nine men, not even money will provide happiness and fullness of life. Perhaps Doré wanted to suggest in his depiction of greed that money can easily be mistaken for mere stone, and in the end will be worth just as much. Perhaps Doré wanted the viewer to notice that these men have no faces because their identity is more accurately displayed by their possessions. Where is our identity found? Where is our security found? What are we laboring for, and for whose glory?

²²Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. ²³Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ²⁴Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ²⁶Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? --Luke 12:22-26

This passage is quite easy to read, and fairly simple to comprehend, yet I have the hardest time living it. My anxiety and fear of the future gets out of control easily, and I put my full weight on my own strength and understanding, leaving me face down on the floor. The Lord truly is the provider, sustainer, and fulfiller of all things. Luke 12 is a great place to be reminded of that. Just as Doré's men provide each other with company in their pursuit of storing up riches, so too do we need each other to support us in the pursuit of His face, all the while seeking to store up treasure in the Eternal Places. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Luke 12:34).

This story has both humbled and encouraged me. As I leave you with this, I hope it does the same.

Around the end of the nineteenth century, a tourist from the United States visited the famous Polish rabbi Hafez Hayyim. He was astonished to see that the rabbi's home was just a simple room filled with books. The only furniture was a table and a bench.

"Rabbi, where is your furniture?" asked the tourist.

"Where is yours?" replied Hafez.

"Mine? But I'm only a visitor here."

"So am I," said the rabbi.

(Taken from The Spirituality of Imperfection by Ernest Kurtz and Katherine Ketcham, New York: Bantam Books, 1992, p. 34)

There are two I's in ministry...

I have been reading The Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen this summer, and came across this quote:

 

"The Christian leader, minister or priest, is not one who reveals God to his people - who gives something he has to those who have nothing - but one who helps those who are searching to discover reality as the source of their existence.  In this sense we can say that the Christian leader leads man to confession, in the classic sense of the word: to the basic affirmation that man is man and God is God, and that without God, man cannot be called man.  In this context pastoral conversation is not merely a skillful use of conversational techniques to manipulate people into the Kingdom of God, but a deep human encounter in which a man is willing to put his own faith and doubt, his own hope and despair, his own light and darkness at the disposal of others who want to find a way through their confusion and touch the solid core of life."

 

I have a hard time recalling the exact location of Bible verses, my recall of the nuances in various Christian doctrines is not top notch, and I often find myself sympathizing with the pains and struggles of those around me rather than knowing what to say to help them through.  My first instinct, then, is to say that I am not cut out for ministry.  But over the last few years, and furthered now by Nouwen, my definition of ministry has been greatly expanded.  If I can simply be present with someone, simply listen and engage them in where they are, then ministry is happening.  I was with a friend recently, and all I did was be present and be myself, and by the end of the night I felt as though my soul had been nurtured, and my friend felt the same.  My hope is that the music I write works in a similar fashion.  I pray that people might listen and say, "Wow, I know that feeling..."  At that point, ministry is happening, and two souls are meeting together in the embrace of the Spirit.  There is a saying in a couple Eastern traditions that goes something like this:

"The divine in me meets the divine in you."

In other words, wherever two or more are gathered, there He is also.  Any moment can be ministry.  And the exciting thing is, it will probably be just as much ministry to your soul as it is to those present with you.

TONIGHT'S SHOW CANCELLED!!!

Attention all! As you can see on the right side of your screen, tonight's show has been cancelled due to some mix-up in details. But have no fear, this just means that next week is going to be twice as awesome...so twice as many people should show up for twice the fun! Sorry for any inconveniences.

Also, look for a new post coming soon...

Tension and Transition

IMPORTANT INFO:

1. Two shows have been added which can be viewed on the right hand side of your screen. I am opening for a great band made up of even greater guys. I got a chance to hear Joe Next Door at their EP release show last Saturday and they rocked the house. Be sure to check out their website here! I'll be starting at 8:00pm sharp on both dates so get there a little early. And if that isn't enough reason to come out and have a great time, you'll be able to support local businesses Maya Art Gallery and Tate Street Coffee as well. It is sure to be a night of music and fun so I hope to see you there!
   
2. The music you hear is provided by BandBox, a service dedicated to making music as available as possible with as little stress as possible. Soon, (which roughly translated means I have no idea when), the music will be available for download, so keep your eyes- and ears - open!
   

In other news...

My words are few at the present moment. But there are two words that have been persistent through the verbal drought: "tension" and "transition." And how often those words come hand in hand. For most of us the tension is in the transition of government, workplace, and/or family. For me specifically, I have found a lot of tension in the transition from college to home. Yet in most transitions, the tension comes not only from the difficulty of change in itself, but from the positives and negatives that lay on either side of us. Behind us are the joys of familiar places and sorrows of past mistakes, while in front of us are the excitement of new possibilities and the fear of uncharted territory. It's what Parker Palmer might call "standing in the gap." Perhaps it's what the Puritans meant by the "valley of vision." It is what I have come to know as the present. For where we are going cannot be the same place as where we stand. But we should take heart in knowing that the tension in transition means at least we are moving, and indeed should pray it is always so. I don't have a remedy for the pain, nor knowledge of what we'll face tomorrow. I have only a few encouraging words:

"It's true what they say, that we're all sinners. But one day we'll be made new. With His love shining down and His grace all around, wrapping His arms around you. Take heart and rise again, until then."

--From "Until Then" (listen below)

"Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

--Psalm 61:1-2

Always We Begin Again

Welcome to my official website!

It may not be apparent, but this site is many years in the making.  For nearly eight years I have been struggling to discern what direction my music needed to take.  After starting down many different avenues, multiple red lights have directed me here.  Or should I say us...

"Us" is appropriate on many levels.  1) My girlfriend, Hazel, is as much a part of this as I am.  We have become increasingly convinced over the last two years that our forces were meant to be combined in creating a multimedia ministry through music and visual art.  Everything from album art to font choice (Hazel's specialty) has been done on purpose and is meant to point towards the greater goal.  Which brings us to the next level of us...

2) It is not just about the music, art, or thoughts that we share, but it is more about the dialogue and shared struggles that I hope result from the music and writing.  The goal of my music is not to advance me in the entertainment world as a musician or an artist, but to be a catalyst for conversations and reflection between individuals and within communities.  If we aren't talking and meeting together, then what are we doing?  I am but a participant in this; one member of a complex body.

3) Most importantly, all of this has only been possible by the grace and sovereignty of God.  If it were left completely up to me, to us, the result would be empty at best.  As we all participate in the human experience, it is imperative for us to constantly seek after the face of God.  He is truly the Artist.  But it is not enough to simply expect that we could sit idly by while He does everything.  We are expected to be active participants in our own lives.  

The hope is that this would be a plethora of music, art, poignant postings, and mindless musings collected in a humble effort to stumble along in this sacred journey.  We will laugh, we will cry, it will be better than Cats.  There will be lyrics posted, art displayed, humorous thoughts, and religious reflections that we hope will supplement the music and lyrics.  And that is just the beginning...

In the spirit of the Benedictine Rule: "Always we begin again..." (Also the title of a great little book by John McQuiston that I highly recommend.)

Lap bars down. Arms in the air. Let's enjoy the ride.