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Friday, February 29, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Plight of the starving musician
New gear or groceries?
I could stand to lose a few pounds, but my kids really should eat...
Decisions, decisions.
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Now playing: Nick Lapointe - Back to Right
via FoxyTunes
I could stand to lose a few pounds, but my kids really should eat...
Decisions, decisions.
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Now playing: Nick Lapointe - Back to Right
via FoxyTunes
Friday, February 22, 2008
Kinda awkward, yet not...
You may have noticed the cool new button over to the left. Yes, you now can contact JRod and leave a voice message for him. Right from this blog. (well, your phone is needed, too.)
Crazy.
Thought it would be cool. I try to be an early tech adopter. It is 2008. Just don't mess it up, people.
To all of you stalker-like folk out there - I can post the audio of your message here for the world to see, so don't get all weird on me, alright?
To all others, I wouldn't post anything without your permission (unless you are Hi-larry-us). I promise.
Don't feel like posting a comment? Need to reach me? give me a ring.*
*This is a limited time promotion that may be ABRUPTLY ended at the blog author's discretion. Yes, the Flying Monkey has a say as well. Don't feed the Monkey, people. And DON'T make him mad. Really.
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Now playing: The Perrys - Second Opinion
via FoxyTunes
Crazy.
Thought it would be cool. I try to be an early tech adopter. It is 2008. Just don't mess it up, people.
To all of you stalker-like folk out there - I can post the audio of your message here for the world to see, so don't get all weird on me, alright?
To all others, I wouldn't post anything without your permission (unless you are Hi-larry-us). I promise.
Don't feel like posting a comment? Need to reach me? give me a ring.*
*This is a limited time promotion that may be ABRUPTLY ended at the blog author's discretion. Yes, the Flying Monkey has a say as well. Don't feed the Monkey, people. And DON'T make him mad. Really.
----------------
Now playing: The Perrys - Second Opinion
via FoxyTunes
Pat Boone
Say what you will about the man in white shoes, he sure does have keen insight into where Hollywood is today (link below)...
Hollywood Salutes It's WMDs
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Now playing: Gold City - When The Holy Ghost Shows Up (We'll Have Church)
via FoxyTunes
Hollywood Salutes It's WMDs
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Now playing: Gold City - When The Holy Ghost Shows Up (We'll Have Church)
via FoxyTunes
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Faithful
There will always be someone more talented. Better looking. Smarter. More gifted. Someone who has more experience, higher education, better insight, superior ideas.
Someone always has more money, better resources, more cunning plans.
But if you fully give God all that you have, no one can be more faithful.
In the grand scheme of things, that's what counts. All too often we look at what we don't have. Our limitations and shortcomings. God doesn't want to hear about what you could do "if only...", God wants to know that you are doing everything you can with what you have.
One wise man once said God won't trust you with a scepter until He can trust you with a broom.
Faithful.
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Now playing: 33Miles - There Is A God
via FoxyTunes
Someone always has more money, better resources, more cunning plans.
But if you fully give God all that you have, no one can be more faithful.
In the grand scheme of things, that's what counts. All too often we look at what we don't have. Our limitations and shortcomings. God doesn't want to hear about what you could do "if only...", God wants to know that you are doing everything you can with what you have.
One wise man once said God won't trust you with a scepter until He can trust you with a broom.
Faithful.
----------------
Now playing: 33Miles - There Is A God
via FoxyTunes
Monday, February 11, 2008
The Role of Music
Music Cannot Change the World, Says Neil Young
No, I'm not a big fan, but the surrender of a formerly starry-eyed "change the world with a song" idealist is intriguing. Here is the gist of the article if you decide not to follow the link...
It appears that Mr. Young's disgust stems from the fact that his 2006 Anti-War Tour had no impact on voters.
As songwriters, we sometimes have an overly inflated view of the power of what we do. Please, don't misunderstand me. I would be one of the last to write off the transcendent power of music. Music can stir the soul in ways that the most eloquent of speakers envy. Songs have offered hope to the hopeless, comfort to the troubled, and strength to those enduring great hardships. The skilled marriage of lyrics and melody occasionally give us a peek into the heavenly. The healing power of a song has been well documented.
But, alas, I reluctantly have to agree, music cannot change the world.
I have racked my feeble brain to find a single instance. I'm sure we could find personal anecdotes concerning how a song touched a soul, softened a heart, or gave resolve to a wavering spirit. Many of my dear readers (okay, at least one of my two readers...) could name at least one song that helped then through a rough patch along life's road. But, please, if you can think of one that CHANGED THE WORLD, leave me a comment.
Herein lies the quandary. More often than not we singers, songwriters, worship leaders, etc., act as though music is the main focus in the body of Christ (and consequently the main event in corporate worship). Additionally we have somehow declared that Music=Worship. (I know, someone is ready to pull out their "Worship is a lifestyle" bumper sticker - That's a totally different discussion...Um, maybe we'll tackle that one later.)
My point is that as vitally important as music is, and as incredibly powerful as music is, 1st Corinthians 1:21 plainly states that God has ordained preaching as the primary method to bring the lost into the way of Salvation. Music is indeed powerful in the capacity for which God intended it. But it shouldn't usurp the preaching (foolish as it may seem) of the Word of God.
So here is where I'm hoping some of you will pipe in. I have searched the New Testament and find nowhere where music is to be used as an evangelistic tool. Nor do I see where it is to overshadow the preaching of Scriptures. Am I saying that is what is currently happening? Not sure.
Tangent alert - We do have a brief list of music's use within the context of the Body of Christ (Eph 5:19, Col. 3:16). I realize that the list does not say these are the only uses (plus I only looked @ NT references), and I'm sure that some could relate an experience of how a song opened the door to salvation. I seem to recall reading an article years ago that stated that Christian music is overwhelmingly purchased by, wait for it, Christians (something like 98%). So, according to that, our music isn't really reaching the world...at the retail level, anyway.
So, without getting worked up into a lather or shouting at each other, what are your thoughts when it comes to the place music current holds in the church and more specifically music as evangelism? Do you see music going beyond it's Scripturally intended role, or does it need more space? Scripturally should we focus our music toward the lost or dually toward God and the body of Christ, or all three?
----------------
Now playing: Travis Cottrell - Sanctus
via FoxyTunes
No, I'm not a big fan, but the surrender of a formerly starry-eyed "change the world with a song" idealist is intriguing. Here is the gist of the article if you decide not to follow the link...
"I know that the time when music could change the world is past. I really doubt that a single song can make a difference. It is a reality," Young told reporters.
It appears that Mr. Young's disgust stems from the fact that his 2006 Anti-War Tour had no impact on voters.
As songwriters, we sometimes have an overly inflated view of the power of what we do. Please, don't misunderstand me. I would be one of the last to write off the transcendent power of music. Music can stir the soul in ways that the most eloquent of speakers envy. Songs have offered hope to the hopeless, comfort to the troubled, and strength to those enduring great hardships. The skilled marriage of lyrics and melody occasionally give us a peek into the heavenly. The healing power of a song has been well documented.
But, alas, I reluctantly have to agree, music cannot change the world.
I have racked my feeble brain to find a single instance. I'm sure we could find personal anecdotes concerning how a song touched a soul, softened a heart, or gave resolve to a wavering spirit. Many of my dear readers (okay, at least one of my two readers...) could name at least one song that helped then through a rough patch along life's road. But, please, if you can think of one that CHANGED THE WORLD, leave me a comment.
Herein lies the quandary. More often than not we singers, songwriters, worship leaders, etc., act as though music is the main focus in the body of Christ (and consequently the main event in corporate worship). Additionally we have somehow declared that Music=Worship. (I know, someone is ready to pull out their "Worship is a lifestyle" bumper sticker - That's a totally different discussion...Um, maybe we'll tackle that one later.)
My point is that as vitally important as music is, and as incredibly powerful as music is, 1st Corinthians 1:21 plainly states that God has ordained preaching as the primary method to bring the lost into the way of Salvation. Music is indeed powerful in the capacity for which God intended it. But it shouldn't usurp the preaching (foolish as it may seem) of the Word of God.
So here is where I'm hoping some of you will pipe in. I have searched the New Testament and find nowhere where music is to be used as an evangelistic tool. Nor do I see where it is to overshadow the preaching of Scriptures. Am I saying that is what is currently happening? Not sure.
Tangent alert - We do have a brief list of music's use within the context of the Body of Christ (Eph 5:19, Col. 3:16). I realize that the list does not say these are the only uses (plus I only looked @ NT references), and I'm sure that some could relate an experience of how a song opened the door to salvation. I seem to recall reading an article years ago that stated that Christian music is overwhelmingly purchased by, wait for it, Christians (something like 98%). So, according to that, our music isn't really reaching the world...at the retail level, anyway.
So, without getting worked up into a lather or shouting at each other, what are your thoughts when it comes to the place music current holds in the church and more specifically music as evangelism? Do you see music going beyond it's Scripturally intended role, or does it need more space? Scripturally should we focus our music toward the lost or dually toward God and the body of Christ, or all three?
----------------
Now playing: Travis Cottrell - Sanctus
via FoxyTunes
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Get some free learning...
...to keep you occupied while I attempt to get my act together.
10 Universities Offering free Online Writing Courses
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Now playing: Brian Free & Assurance - You've Got to Pray
via FoxyTunes
10 Universities Offering free Online Writing Courses
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Now playing: Brian Free & Assurance - You've Got to Pray
via FoxyTunes
Friday, February 01, 2008
Under the Weather - part deux
Missed two days of work this week. Went to work after the first day off and ended up with a meeting that I wasn't ready for. I had already met with the President of Global Operations and put an agreement in place, so it was a matter of just getting the nitty-gritty (that is a highly specialized business word meaning, well, uh...nitty-gritty) from a department director. If I hadn't taken notes I probably couldn't tell you one thing we discussed. Oh, the joys of Dayquil.
It just so happens that my family collectively has had three doctor visits in just as many days. The two middle kids (in case you are not a JRod family stat aficionado, I have four children) have ear infections. Our youngest has an ear infection AND influenza with a touch of pneumonia. It is a wicked flu strain that is even hitting those who got shots. My firstborn is also sick with a cough that won't go away.
And then there is me. I am the whiniest of all of us kids.
At least that is what I think I heard my wife mutter as she walked by this morning.
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Now playing: Ronnie Freeman - Better Than This
via FoxyTunes
It just so happens that my family collectively has had three doctor visits in just as many days. The two middle kids (in case you are not a JRod family stat aficionado, I have four children) have ear infections. Our youngest has an ear infection AND influenza with a touch of pneumonia. It is a wicked flu strain that is even hitting those who got shots. My firstborn is also sick with a cough that won't go away.
And then there is me. I am the whiniest of all of us kids.
At least that is what I think I heard my wife mutter as she walked by this morning.
----------------
Now playing: Ronnie Freeman - Better Than This
via FoxyTunes
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