 |
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Friday, August 27, 2010
Great Way to spend 7 Bucks!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Active Water
My students and I were introduced to a great organization this summer at CIY Move. It's called activewater and they are currently working to make clean water more accessible in Zambia. Dirty water causes or facilitates many diseases - many people die from sicknesses that may not be a big deal here because we have sanitary knowledge and water. Activewater is working to dig wells and install water purification systems that are helping give life to areas that have been afflicted with water born diseases, as well as educating the people about sanitation and hygiene.
We're going to be doing some fund raising for Activewater this fall. We'll be hosting a benefit concert in September. 100% of the ticket price will go to activewater. (Incidentally, if you work in an organization that would be interested in helping us sponsor the event, let me know.)
VOTA will be the main feature, with Delusions of Pluto opening. The show will be awesome, but the life that will be shared because we care will be incredible!
Friday, June 05, 2009
Grace & Holiness
Marshall's preaching this week about our response to homosexuality and I am leading music this Sunday. I am usually pretty careful to choose songs that meaningfully connect with the message (at least in my mind there's a connection) so this was a little bit of a challenge. (There aren't a whole lot of songs that treat homosexuality in the context of worship!) But I've been thinking lately about how hosed we'd all be without God's grace. He's holy and he can't stand sin - any of it! We may have a kind of gag reflex to some sins that seem particularly heinous to us, but it all causes God to wretch. It's easy for us to be judgmental about sins that we might not struggle with, but the truth is that without God's grace, we're in the same position as those we condemn.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Producers 2
"Making Donuts" follow up #2
"Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives."
------------------
A couple years ago, I was feeling like lots of stuff was bottled up inside me that wanted out. I thought painting might be a good outlet/release. I'm the kind of person who can't draw a straight line without a ruler and art as it's usually thought of has never been my forte. A wood planter I made in 8th Grade ended up as a pencil holder - but that was better than the clay pottery bowl that became grandpa's ashtray/coin cup. (Don't ask.)
I'm not sure I've ever really painted anything, so I'm not sure where the desire to paint was coming from. My mom made me do fingerpaints with my brother once, but I'm way too tactilly defensive for that I guess. Seriously, have you felt that stuff squishing between your digits? And for some reason, the fingerpaint smell has always made me gag. So naturally, with my newfound desire to paint and a little Christmas money I bought a paint set and a couple brushes and some little canvas boards to start out with.
I still haven't painted anything. The set is in the woefully misnomered 'work'shop in our back yard. Sad.
How often do we bottle up the creativity God's placed within us?
A friend of mine who is the worship leader here at WestWay recently uncorked. He's an insanely gifted musician and has been leading worship about 10 years or so. Actually, I remember him playing drums for worship back when churches didn't allow drums... a bit more than 10 years ago! So he collaborated with some friends with the equipment & talent to pull the project together, and released a CD of music he's written for worship over that time. It's fun to hear people commenting on how they've enjoyed or been touched by what he's allowed to bubble up. (You can hear some of Shane's music here and buy the CD as well.) When we release the God given creativity within us, He is producing tools that will benefit those around us.
Got a CD in you? A painting? Books or stories?
What is it that's building pressure?
Let it out.
"Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives."
------------------
A couple years ago, I was feeling like lots of stuff was bottled up inside me that wanted out. I thought painting might be a good outlet/release. I'm the kind of person who can't draw a straight line without a ruler and art as it's usually thought of has never been my forte. A wood planter I made in 8th Grade ended up as a pencil holder - but that was better than the clay pottery bowl that became grandpa's ashtray/coin cup. (Don't ask.)
I'm not sure I've ever really painted anything, so I'm not sure where the desire to paint was coming from. My mom made me do fingerpaints with my brother once, but I'm way too tactilly defensive for that I guess. Seriously, have you felt that stuff squishing between your digits? And for some reason, the fingerpaint smell has always made me gag. So naturally, with my newfound desire to paint and a little Christmas money I bought a paint set and a couple brushes and some little canvas boards to start out with.
I still haven't painted anything. The set is in the woefully misnomered 'work'shop in our back yard. Sad.
How often do we bottle up the creativity God's placed within us?
A friend of mine who is the worship leader here at WestWay recently uncorked. He's an insanely gifted musician and has been leading worship about 10 years or so. Actually, I remember him playing drums for worship back when churches didn't allow drums... a bit more than 10 years ago! So he collaborated with some friends with the equipment & talent to pull the project together, and released a CD of music he's written for worship over that time. It's fun to hear people commenting on how they've enjoyed or been touched by what he's allowed to bubble up. (You can hear some of Shane's music here and buy the CD as well.) When we release the God given creativity within us, He is producing tools that will benefit those around us.
Got a CD in you? A painting? Books or stories?
What is it that's building pressure?
Let it out.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Possibilities
I was listenning to a podcast sermon by Erwin McManus earlier today, where he quoted Benjamin Zander, conductor of Boston Philharmonic. This is what he (Zander) said:
"My job is to awaken possibilities in others."
What more succinct and appropriate description of youth ministry is there? I was reading this morning as Jesus was taking the Pharisees to task for their 'lordly' outlook: "Because we know God's law so well, we have authority to tell you what to do." Jesus pointed out how they really did know the letter of God's law very well, but were utterly failing at living out the heart of it. They couldn't obey, but grabbed for power by trying to make everyone else obey, then pointing it out when those people failed.
Youth ministry can be like that. We who lead in ministries that are geared for youth can easily spot the shortcomings of those we lead. It's not hard to find their failings and point them out so sharply that our students let themselves be defined by those failings. But what if our view of our "job" really was "to awaken possibilities" in our students? To uncover and draw out what God has placed within our students? Then what would become?
"My job is to awaken possibilities in others."
What more succinct and appropriate description of youth ministry is there? I was reading this morning as Jesus was taking the Pharisees to task for their 'lordly' outlook: "Because we know God's law so well, we have authority to tell you what to do." Jesus pointed out how they really did know the letter of God's law very well, but were utterly failing at living out the heart of it. They couldn't obey, but grabbed for power by trying to make everyone else obey, then pointing it out when those people failed.
Youth ministry can be like that. We who lead in ministries that are geared for youth can easily spot the shortcomings of those we lead. It's not hard to find their failings and point them out so sharply that our students let themselves be defined by those failings. But what if our view of our "job" really was "to awaken possibilities" in our students? To uncover and draw out what God has placed within our students? Then what would become?
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Team Leading
The Coops were out of town for a funeral this weekend, so I was asked to lead worship Sunday. Even though it was kind of last minute and the preparation time was less than normal I really enjoyed it. There were a few awkward moments during practices - mostly because the songs that I'd chosen were not familiar to all of the team. I really appreciate their flexibility. Things went pretty well, and the feedback has been positive.
I have done a lot less leading music lately and I've missed that. Our Wed. night student crowd seems to like it when we do music, but I haven't been able to put together a team to lead. So usually I'm leading with just my guitar. It was nice to play with a band again!
This weekend reinforced for me a couple thoughts I've been having lately:
1) I need to be doing more worship musically with our students. There are a few students who have been learning guitar and drums. I need to do more to foster their development and encourage them to use their musical gifts to lead people in expressing our love for God. When I first started in ministry, I could barely put three chords in the right order. God broke through that wall and enabled me to lead anyway, then eventually provided some students who learned to play. For whatever reason, I've been hesitant to follow that same path here. I've been afraid to let kids play who are more prone to mistakes - too concerned with the shiny, glossy finish on the music. I'm done with that. If the rhythm is off or a chord is out of whack once in a while - it's still worship if the heart is right.
2) I need to be leading the student ministry with more of a team. There are a handful of wonderful youth leaders here who really care about the students and are heavily investing themselves in the students. But we need more - we need to be functioning cohesively. Which is why I'm hosting a brunch this weekend for a group of people that I hope God is moving toward a place in that team. We need to define our process of discipleship more simply and make sure we all see where we can most help in that process.
I have done a lot less leading music lately and I've missed that. Our Wed. night student crowd seems to like it when we do music, but I haven't been able to put together a team to lead. So usually I'm leading with just my guitar. It was nice to play with a band again!
This weekend reinforced for me a couple thoughts I've been having lately:
1) I need to be doing more worship musically with our students. There are a few students who have been learning guitar and drums. I need to do more to foster their development and encourage them to use their musical gifts to lead people in expressing our love for God. When I first started in ministry, I could barely put three chords in the right order. God broke through that wall and enabled me to lead anyway, then eventually provided some students who learned to play. For whatever reason, I've been hesitant to follow that same path here. I've been afraid to let kids play who are more prone to mistakes - too concerned with the shiny, glossy finish on the music. I'm done with that. If the rhythm is off or a chord is out of whack once in a while - it's still worship if the heart is right.
2) I need to be leading the student ministry with more of a team. There are a handful of wonderful youth leaders here who really care about the students and are heavily investing themselves in the students. But we need more - we need to be functioning cohesively. Which is why I'm hosting a brunch this weekend for a group of people that I hope God is moving toward a place in that team. We need to define our process of discipleship more simply and make sure we all see where we can most help in that process.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Philosophy of Music...
"After they talk and stuff at church, why do they always play sad music while they pray?"
This question came to me after a time of response that followed a sermon at a youth event this last weekend. I didn't have a very good answer. A lot of things flashed through my mind, but none of them would have satisfied the inquisitive young man who'd asked the question.
To manipulate a desired response...?
To keep a mellow vibe...?
To encourage thoughtful response of what you've just heard...?
The only thing I could honestly say on the spot was, "I'm not really sure."
Something else struck me also: "sad music". If a song doesn't reach a certain tempo, that makes it sad? The reason this part of his question raised so many more questions for me is probably that I tend to gravitate toward songs that move along at a pace that allows me to think introspectively. (Maybe I'm a slow thinker, so that means slower songs.) But if what seems "thoughtful" to me seems "sad" to a good portion of my students, what am I communicating?
God is sad...?
God is slow...?
God is only found in the slow music...?
That's not the message I want my students to take to heart. Music's sometimes a tricky issue in the church. Everyone perceives it differently. It'll take a lot of work to form a well-rounded, healthy 'philosophy of music' in ministry. I've just been reminded I need to reevaluate that once in a while. Thanks Andrew.
This question came to me after a time of response that followed a sermon at a youth event this last weekend. I didn't have a very good answer. A lot of things flashed through my mind, but none of them would have satisfied the inquisitive young man who'd asked the question.
To manipulate a desired response...?
To keep a mellow vibe...?
To encourage thoughtful response of what you've just heard...?
The only thing I could honestly say on the spot was, "I'm not really sure."
Something else struck me also: "sad music". If a song doesn't reach a certain tempo, that makes it sad? The reason this part of his question raised so many more questions for me is probably that I tend to gravitate toward songs that move along at a pace that allows me to think introspectively. (Maybe I'm a slow thinker, so that means slower songs.) But if what seems "thoughtful" to me seems "sad" to a good portion of my students, what am I communicating?
God is sad...?
God is slow...?
God is only found in the slow music...?
That's not the message I want my students to take to heart. Music's sometimes a tricky issue in the church. Everyone perceives it differently. It'll take a lot of work to form a well-rounded, healthy 'philosophy of music' in ministry. I've just been reminded I need to reevaluate that once in a while. Thanks Andrew.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Failure?
I've noticed I am really affected by "how things go" on a typical Wednesday night. Some nights just click and I go home with a ton of energy. My wife says she can tell how things went by my demeanor. I can't even go to bed for a while until the excitement wears off. Other nights, I get home exhausted.
Tonight was one of those nights. Things just didn't go very well. Lots of new students and "the group" wasn't really doing much to welcome them. Kids' attention scattered everywhere. I left out a song from the projection program (kind of hard for them to sing a new song when they can't even read the words). Didn't speak well enough to keep their attention. Clean up kids didn't/couldn't stick around.
Maybe I beat myself up a bit, but it just didn't go that well and I was feeling pretty down. When everyone was gone I plugged my Zune into the sound system and started to vacuum the room. Lots of popcorn and chips on the floor (no spilled drinks, though - a little silver lining for the night). As I finished cleaning the floor and put the vacuum away, I was reflecting on all of this and just how unhealthy it is - for me, my family, the ministry itself. I turned off all the lights and sat in the still room to pray and think about it. As I prayed, an awesome song called "Only You" from David Crowder played. It's really about how it's only God that matters. As I offered myself up to God I was reminded of how success/results/impact is really in His hands not mine. I need to be reminded of that often.
Maybe you do, too. So don't forget. Ours is the responsibility to respond in faith to His Voice. His is to accomplish what only He can.
Tonight was one of those nights. Things just didn't go very well. Lots of new students and "the group" wasn't really doing much to welcome them. Kids' attention scattered everywhere. I left out a song from the projection program (kind of hard for them to sing a new song when they can't even read the words). Didn't speak well enough to keep their attention. Clean up kids didn't/couldn't stick around.
Maybe I beat myself up a bit, but it just didn't go that well and I was feeling pretty down. When everyone was gone I plugged my Zune into the sound system and started to vacuum the room. Lots of popcorn and chips on the floor (no spilled drinks, though - a little silver lining for the night). As I finished cleaning the floor and put the vacuum away, I was reflecting on all of this and just how unhealthy it is - for me, my family, the ministry itself. I turned off all the lights and sat in the still room to pray and think about it. As I prayed, an awesome song called "Only You" from David Crowder played. It's really about how it's only God that matters. As I offered myself up to God I was reminded of how success/results/impact is really in His hands not mine. I need to be reminded of that often.
Maybe you do, too. So don't forget. Ours is the responsibility to respond in faith to His Voice. His is to accomplish what only He can.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
A little musical diversion...
I was tagged by Knotter a friend in the blogging world.
If I were to list what I was listenning to intently right now, it would be Future of Forestry over and over. (A great band you may have never heard of.) But since that's not really what the tag is all about, I'm hitting 'random' right now and here's what's coming out in the next ten slots...
1. - Sarah Kelly, Still Breathing
2. - Sarah Kelly, In Your Eyes (so much for random)
3. - Jadon Lavik, His Name Shall Be Called
4. - Audio Adrenaline, Rejoice (Whoah! That's been a while!)
5. - Jars of Clay, Faith Enough
6. - Future of Forestry, Sunrising (I promise I didn't cheat!)
7. - Tree 63, I Stand for You
8. - Jars of Clay, Only Alive
9. - Tree 63, I Will Never Be the Same
10. - Audio Adrenaline, You Still Amaze Me
Realized part way through that this is only pulling from 'recently added' (although not new) stuff - explains the 'unrandomness' of repeating bands! Oh well. That's some of what I just heard. Maybe I'll edit this post and do a more diverse 10.
----------
Here's a better random sampling (and a much better playlist I might add - that wouldn't get me kicked off the radio show I'm on)
1. - The Fray, Fall Away
2. - Chris Tomlin, Uncreated One
3. - Disciple, Scars Remain
4. - Newsboys, I Am Free
5. - Falling Up, Escalates
6. - Sanctus Real, I'm Not Allright
7. - Fair, The Dumbfounded Game (another great band you may have never heard)
8. - Pillar, Awake
9. - Sarah Kelley, Still Breathing (The song that never goes away!)
10. - Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Christmas Jam (the epitome of randomness!)
I suppose I should tag someone, so how 'bout Gman, Kari, and Meghan
--Incidentally, the next 2 random songs that came up was Thinking of You from Future of Forestry (those guys are awesome) and Grace from U2 (another of my favorites).
If I were to list what I was listenning to intently right now, it would be Future of Forestry over and over. (A great band you may have never heard of.) But since that's not really what the tag is all about, I'm hitting 'random' right now and here's what's coming out in the next ten slots...
1. - Sarah Kelly, Still Breathing
2. - Sarah Kelly, In Your Eyes (so much for random)
3. - Jadon Lavik, His Name Shall Be Called
4. - Audio Adrenaline, Rejoice (Whoah! That's been a while!)
5. - Jars of Clay, Faith Enough
6. - Future of Forestry, Sunrising (I promise I didn't cheat!)
7. - Tree 63, I Stand for You
8. - Jars of Clay, Only Alive
9. - Tree 63, I Will Never Be the Same
10. - Audio Adrenaline, You Still Amaze Me
Realized part way through that this is only pulling from 'recently added' (although not new) stuff - explains the 'unrandomness' of repeating bands! Oh well. That's some of what I just heard. Maybe I'll edit this post and do a more diverse 10.
----------
Here's a better random sampling (and a much better playlist I might add - that wouldn't get me kicked off the radio show I'm on)
1. - The Fray, Fall Away
2. - Chris Tomlin, Uncreated One
3. - Disciple, Scars Remain
4. - Newsboys, I Am Free
5. - Falling Up, Escalates
6. - Sanctus Real, I'm Not Allright
7. - Fair, The Dumbfounded Game (another great band you may have never heard)
8. - Pillar, Awake
9. - Sarah Kelley, Still Breathing (The song that never goes away!)
10. - Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Christmas Jam (the epitome of randomness!)
I suppose I should tag someone, so how 'bout Gman, Kari, and Meghan
--Incidentally, the next 2 random songs that came up was Thinking of You from Future of Forestry (those guys are awesome) and Grace from U2 (another of my favorites).
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Need for Music...
A professor at seminary got me interested in a blog done by Dick Staub. He writes about different elements of culture and creativity and interaction between the church and the world we live in. This morning, I was reading this post about the Necessity of Music. He has some great quotes from Rich Mullins.
In a letter to his label, he once wrote,
I want to be involved as much as possible in church work. I want to work in settings that are specifically designed to challenge people, to encourage people to seek their life in Christ. I would like not only to sing but to teach…to "hang out" with people, to be accessible, to model faith [to] them, to be with people, not as a performer, but as a practitioner of the faith.
I saw Mullins 'perform' a few times, but after reading that I know why I never felt comfortable calling it a performance. He didn't perform with his music, he worshipped His Creator through it and drew the audience into participation in worship as well. Another time Mullins said,
You don't write because the world needs your music; you write because you need to make order, to organize things.
Just the other day, I was talking to a former student (who is a musician) about some music I'd written several years ago. We'd used the songs in worship there in Auburn and at camp, and I've used a few of the songs out here as well. But she asked me about what I'd written lately...
Not much. Somewhere in our move a year and a half ago, I misplaced the box where I kept my creativity. (I think I left it next to the one full of security and confidence.) I've missed it. Thanks Megan for challenging me to unpack that box again... I needed it.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
What do you listen to?
Saw this video from Community Christian Church in the Chicago area. They're doing a series on what it means to follow Christ. The other two clips in the series are good too. Go to youtube (click on the logo in the video) and check them out (or you can find them at marko's blog, too.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
The Best 6 Bucks I Didn't Really Spend
Last Christmas, I recieved a gift card for a church bookstore in town. I don't get over there very often, so I still had a few dollars unused on the card. I happened to be in the area a couple weeks ago with a few extra minutes, so I stopped in to see what I could find. Just before I got to the music area, I found a small table full of clearance stuff. Books, music, CD's, etc. (They even had some old cassettes!)
"Everything $2."
The words called to me. I don't know, maybe I'm cheap, but if there's a table full of $2 items, surely there's something worthy. In addition to the book about U2 that I blogged about last week, I got Derek Webb's "I See Things Upside Down" CD, and Charlie Peacock's book "At the Crossroads", which I've been reading. For 6 Bucks! For 6 Bucks that someone gave me!!!
This book is about the Christian music industry. Some good points, some shortcomings. Actually it deals with some similar themes as "Walk On" did, but from within the industry itself. Peacock advocates a more complete kingdom vision - God's story everywhere in everything, as opposed to Christian music being reduced to 3 mentions of Jesus and better days to come when he returns. Living a life that is fully integrated with that kingdom vision.
It's been a very enlightening book, and a challenge to pay attention to the ever-expanding nature of the Kingdom of God and the beauty of creativity that is a part of the nature of His image bearers.
As he is speaking to the fact that there are so few examples of music from Christians that deal with the broader (but less easily labeled) aspects of God's Story, he mentions a passage from Song of Solomon: "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth - for your love is more delightful than wine." This lyric wouldn't go over so well as a "Christian" lyric in CCM.
But ironically, within five minutes of reading that page, the Derek Webb CD that I bought that day played a song titled "Better Than Wine" that deals with just that theme! And now is a song called "T-shirts (what we should be known for)" is speaking to the same topic as much of the book. Then again, Derek Webb is being seen as somewhat of a rogue element in the Christian Music Industry. But I bet he's read this book, too.
Either that, or, he and Charlie Peacock are living the same Story...
May I live it too...
And you with us.
"Everything $2."
The words called to me. I don't know, maybe I'm cheap, but if there's a table full of $2 items, surely there's something worthy. In addition to the book about U2 that I blogged about last week, I got Derek Webb's "I See Things Upside Down" CD, and Charlie Peacock's book "At the Crossroads", which I've been reading. For 6 Bucks! For 6 Bucks that someone gave me!!!
This book is about the Christian music industry. Some good points, some shortcomings. Actually it deals with some similar themes as "Walk On" did, but from within the industry itself. Peacock advocates a more complete kingdom vision - God's story everywhere in everything, as opposed to Christian music being reduced to 3 mentions of Jesus and better days to come when he returns. Living a life that is fully integrated with that kingdom vision.
It's been a very enlightening book, and a challenge to pay attention to the ever-expanding nature of the Kingdom of God and the beauty of creativity that is a part of the nature of His image bearers.
As he is speaking to the fact that there are so few examples of music from Christians that deal with the broader (but less easily labeled) aspects of God's Story, he mentions a passage from Song of Solomon: "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth - for your love is more delightful than wine." This lyric wouldn't go over so well as a "Christian" lyric in CCM.
But ironically, within five minutes of reading that page, the Derek Webb CD that I bought that day played a song titled "Better Than Wine" that deals with just that theme! And now is a song called "T-shirts (what we should be known for)" is speaking to the same topic as much of the book. Then again, Derek Webb is being seen as somewhat of a rogue element in the Christian Music Industry. But I bet he's read this book, too.
Either that, or, he and Charlie Peacock are living the same Story...
May I live it too...
And you with us.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Monday, August 21, 2006
Walk On
Just finished reading this from Irish Presbyterian minister, Steve Stockman. I'd almost picked it up a while back, but didn't have the money, but I found it at a bookstore for two bucks so bought it last week.If you like U2, it's a pretty interesting look into the spiritual depth behind much of their music. If you don't like U2, this might give you a reason to try again, with fresh ears to hear their message.
The 2001 edition (the one I found) obviously doesn't include anything past their Elevation tour, but there is a new edition out from Relevant Books that includes everything through How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, which some say is their "most spiritually profound" album yet.
The book may make you think about this band (among other things) in a very different way. What does a living/visible faith really look like? Has the church tried so hard to not be "of the world" that we really don't live "in the world"? Do my actions and my words make the same statement about my self/belief/God?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)