I was honored with the opportunity to contribute to a friends music webzine, Country Music Pride. If you fancy, you can check out my article here. This site is an incredible resource for everything country music related and beyond and the beyond is what I love about it.
Truly though, can the country be taken out of rock?
29 July 2009
28 July 2009
Jesus Freakin on a Theological Tuesday
Personally, there is nothing inside of me that agrees with the term Jesus Freak. The implications of such terminology as supported in the song, “Jesus Freak,” written by Toby McKeehan and Mark Heimermann was a quite popular song in the world when I was younger. It has never inspired me, until now.
The Southern Californian post Jesus-Culture church of the late 70’s in my opinion had a radicalized post-hippy extremist view of Jesus’ role in counter culture. Where terms like, “Real Men Love Jesus, His Pain Your Gain, and My Boss is a Jewish Carpenter,” came from. There were T-shirts, stickers, and a mass media explosion of terminologies, theologies, and cultural views of Jesus that were created in this time. I propose this is the reason why my generation hates Jesus and I don’t blame them.
This transition was hell-bent on teaching it’s ideals that, in my opinion, were angry, prideful, and thus silly. They worked to propel a movement that is now near extinction just like Muscle T’s and Mullets. Thank God.
People base their understanding of Christianity off of the only movement they have experienced. It makes sense. If all you know is the last 20 years of Christianity and you have tried reading the Bible in that context it is easy to spot a farce, a generally useless book, and an empty hopeless world without a God. Why would anyone embrace a world of holier then thou people and empty fear-filled followers that have divorced their God given personalities and passions to saturate their minds in half-assed theological study? I will quote my roommate Matt here, “God doesn’t need more lawyers to defend him; he needs more servants to serve him.” There is a place for apologetics but it is an expertise. Take Ravi Zacharias for an example he is one of the most brilliant men in the world. Check him out.
Then there are other people who I have experienced who continually obsess over the crimes of Christianity past. It seems there is some kind of validation or justification of hating modern Christianity based off of not only its current state but also the Crusades. The Crusades? Really? The Crusades? In my mind that is like hating France and the French for the Napoleonic Wars, hating Germany and Germans for WW1, and hating Rome, Italians, and Latin for Rome’s near domination of the ancient world. Securus Te Projice. ¡Por favor!
So as you can see there is nothing wrong with acknowledging that lovers of Jesus may be viewed as radical, uncultured, or even outcasts, but the glory is not there (obviously!!). There is no pride in being a freak. However, being faithful, joyful, loving, peaceful, patient, kind, good, and gentle is enough reason to believe isn’t it? I often wonder at the possibility of this reality. These are certainly triumphs and worthy victories for any human life.
What will people think if they hear I am a Jesus freak? That statement is a trap like: Does your mom know you are dumb? or Do your friends know you are stupid? It is time to move past these self-imposed cultural stereotypes and become a people who are honest with themselves and others in saying we are all human. There ain’t no disguising the truth.
The Southern Californian post Jesus-Culture church of the late 70’s in my opinion had a radicalized post-hippy extremist view of Jesus’ role in counter culture. Where terms like, “Real Men Love Jesus, His Pain Your Gain, and My Boss is a Jewish Carpenter,” came from. There were T-shirts, stickers, and a mass media explosion of terminologies, theologies, and cultural views of Jesus that were created in this time. I propose this is the reason why my generation hates Jesus and I don’t blame them.
This transition was hell-bent on teaching it’s ideals that, in my opinion, were angry, prideful, and thus silly. They worked to propel a movement that is now near extinction just like Muscle T’s and Mullets. Thank God.
People base their understanding of Christianity off of the only movement they have experienced. It makes sense. If all you know is the last 20 years of Christianity and you have tried reading the Bible in that context it is easy to spot a farce, a generally useless book, and an empty hopeless world without a God. Why would anyone embrace a world of holier then thou people and empty fear-filled followers that have divorced their God given personalities and passions to saturate their minds in half-assed theological study? I will quote my roommate Matt here, “God doesn’t need more lawyers to defend him; he needs more servants to serve him.” There is a place for apologetics but it is an expertise. Take Ravi Zacharias for an example he is one of the most brilliant men in the world. Check him out.
Then there are other people who I have experienced who continually obsess over the crimes of Christianity past. It seems there is some kind of validation or justification of hating modern Christianity based off of not only its current state but also the Crusades. The Crusades? Really? The Crusades? In my mind that is like hating France and the French for the Napoleonic Wars, hating Germany and Germans for WW1, and hating Rome, Italians, and Latin for Rome’s near domination of the ancient world. Securus Te Projice. ¡Por favor!
So as you can see there is nothing wrong with acknowledging that lovers of Jesus may be viewed as radical, uncultured, or even outcasts, but the glory is not there (obviously!!). There is no pride in being a freak. However, being faithful, joyful, loving, peaceful, patient, kind, good, and gentle is enough reason to believe isn’t it? I often wonder at the possibility of this reality. These are certainly triumphs and worthy victories for any human life.
What will people think if they hear I am a Jesus freak? That statement is a trap like: Does your mom know you are dumb? or Do your friends know you are stupid? It is time to move past these self-imposed cultural stereotypes and become a people who are honest with themselves and others in saying we are all human. There ain’t no disguising the truth.
27 July 2009
Music Monday Success!
Today was my first Music Monday. This may require some explanation... This whole idea has been constantly on my mind to create activity days for myself so that I can spend each day of the week devoted in focus to one overarching theme, thus Mondays are now Music Mondays.
It started yesterday as I created a massive brainstorm session in which I isolated about 7 items that make me happy and proceeded to label each day of the week according to one of each interest. So instead of waking up in the morning and wanting to do all seven things at once and then blowing off everything to go to the beach I now have a semblance of structure.
Brainstorm Below:
So for music Monday I:
- Played bass for about an hour. Mostly some Wilco, a little Weezer, and a sad attempt at some Brubeck Jazz
- Ate breakfast burrito of my own making
- Went to Barnes & Noble and did some Music Magazine snooping
- Read the beginning of a book called A Musician's Guide to Reading and Writing Music while getting my car washed
- Went Shopping
- Went to the gym and listened to The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust by Bowie (CD of the day)
- Listened to a great podcast by Kris Vallotton
- Had a protein shake and a salad for dinner!
- Shared a bottle of wine with my roomies
- Played a little guitar
So over all it was an amazing day.
I know there are a couple non-music oriented activities on there... let me explain. Obviously I have to eat... and the breakfast burrito was exciting enough for me to mention. My Magazine snooping is considered research. Any real rockstar will tell you that it is important to have a clean car, and that going to the gym is a must. Take Usher as an example: He has a strict eating regimen, mandatory workout routine, private chefs, and STILL gets lipo on his stomach to pull off his look. Now I would be lying if I said I didn't want his abs, but truly I am not interested in that sort of lifestyle just to parade in my underwear in front of thousands of women every year.
The only six pack I want (if that is what it takes) is actually an 18 pack of my favorite new beer from Fresh and Easy!
It tastes like Corona but is 1/3 of the price. I love you Freezy.
Enough commercials already... I am happy with my Music Monday and am very much looking forward to see what Theological Tuesday will bring!
It started yesterday as I created a massive brainstorm session in which I isolated about 7 items that make me happy and proceeded to label each day of the week according to one of each interest. So instead of waking up in the morning and wanting to do all seven things at once and then blowing off everything to go to the beach I now have a semblance of structure.
Brainstorm Below:
So for music Monday I:
- Played bass for about an hour. Mostly some Wilco, a little Weezer, and a sad attempt at some Brubeck Jazz
- Ate breakfast burrito of my own making
- Went to Barnes & Noble and did some Music Magazine snooping
- Read the beginning of a book called A Musician's Guide to Reading and Writing Music while getting my car washed
- Went Shopping
- Went to the gym and listened to The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust by Bowie (CD of the day)
- Listened to a great podcast by Kris Vallotton
- Had a protein shake and a salad for dinner!
- Shared a bottle of wine with my roomies
- Played a little guitar
So over all it was an amazing day.
I know there are a couple non-music oriented activities on there... let me explain. Obviously I have to eat... and the breakfast burrito was exciting enough for me to mention. My Magazine snooping is considered research. Any real rockstar will tell you that it is important to have a clean car, and that going to the gym is a must. Take Usher as an example: He has a strict eating regimen, mandatory workout routine, private chefs, and STILL gets lipo on his stomach to pull off his look. Now I would be lying if I said I didn't want his abs, but truly I am not interested in that sort of lifestyle just to parade in my underwear in front of thousands of women every year.
The only six pack I want (if that is what it takes) is actually an 18 pack of my favorite new beer from Fresh and Easy!
It tastes like Corona but is 1/3 of the price. I love you Freezy.
Enough commercials already... I am happy with my Music Monday and am very much looking forward to see what Theological Tuesday will bring!
22 July 2009
Reach for the Stars
I am in love with a dream...
and for someone who really loves being in love
I suppose there could be worse things.
and for someone who really loves being in love
I suppose there could be worse things.
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