Musik

Watched an old movie tonight with my wife. Notting Hill. Sappy - laugh if you must. The score for the movie is quite brilliant. The main theme has so much texture and they were very creative with the way it was weaved through out the film.
I was once a fan of making mixed tapes. I once made one for a particular girl who I happened to be dating. I had several great tunes on this tape. If you know me, you know how much time I put into this 60 minute tape. It took 3 rough mixes to get it all together. At the end, I took great care to put 3 instrumentals that I thought to be quite nice.
I knew we would never last when she finally listened to the tape all the way through and said "most of the songs were nice, but why'd you waste the end of the tape with that music with no words?"
I could have pushed her out of the truck.

The Leader of the Band Has Died . . .

I was sad to read that Dan Fogelburg passed away yesterday morning. There are so many influences that pushed me toward music. Fogelburg is one of the bigger ones. When I think of singer/songwriters, he is one of the first that comes up. His delivery of heavy lyrics in such a sincere package of melody always shot right through my heart.
When I was a kid, I used to go to work with my father any time I had a day off of school. I can remember his alarm clock going off and being tuned to AM 750 in Atlanta. Back in the day, they used to play music during their morning broadcast. Great AM classics from Dan Fogelburg, Stephen Bishop, the Beatles, Julian Lennon. All sappy - all have shaped my view of music. I'll never forget riding to the job site with my dad nodding in and out of sleep with all of this music in my head. I can still remember the first time I heard Fogelburg's "Leader of the Band". I always feel overwhelmed when I hear "Same Old Lang Syne" - I once LIVED the experience described in that song . He put into words what I have only wished. I will miss him greatly.

A Smarter Germany

BERLIN (Reuters) - German federal and state interior ministers declared the Church of Scientology unconstitutional on Friday, opening the door for a possible ban on the organization.
Federal Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and 16 state interior chiefs agreed "that we do not consider Scientology an organization that is compatible with the constitution," Ehrhart Koerting, Berlin's interior minister and chairman of a ministers' conference in Berlin, told reporters.
Germany does not recognize Scientology as a religion. seeing it as a cult masquerading as a church to make money. Scientologists reject this view.

WHAT!! - A cult!?!?!? I'm shocked.

Big 10"

Spent the evening at L & A's house. Every Wednesday, in fact. It's become a tradition that makes our week complete. A ALWAYS cooks and there's always plenty to drink plus Top Chef, or 80's movies, or Project Runway. It's the best part of the week.
So last night, L & A had procured a bottle of Mt. Gay Rum, a bottle of Kahlua, and a bottle of So Co. L broke out his records and he and I began to pontificate about vinyl and why it is far superior to any other audio source.
I know you guys like your MP3s and your audio files from iTunes. I own an iPod - I love being able to have all of my music at my fingertips. I love being able to purchase tunes at the push of a button.
But there's something about a record. The art work is huge. You can actually see the details in the pictures ant paintings (for example, the album cover for Axis Bold As Love).


If you meet a person who has an album lover, there is an automatic kindred there. When you have albums, you have to be REALLY careful - they break, they scratch, and the have to be stored properly or you'll ruin them. They're a responsibility. A friend of mine had about 30 records he wanted to get rid of. He gave them to me. I walked into his music room and there sat one of of the most amazing collections I had ever seen. He had been collecting since he was 11. He had thousands. It was like looking at an extension of him. He had touched them, smoked around them, listened to them in college when he experimented with LSD. These things were amazing. He gave me an original 1977 Wings Over America that has been out of print since 1988. I had been looking for it forever - you know "Maybe I'm amazed" - the live version? Yup - it's on there. He GAVE them to me. He may as well have given me 20 years of his life - it felt the same to me.
I will always prefer vinyl to MP3 - analog to digital. I was born about 20 years too late.

On 2nd Thought

Have you ever committed to something - REALLY committed. Not like "hey it's the new year, so I need to hit the gym for two weeks". Really. Committed. To something - like with your whole life.
My wife and I are in the middle of said commitment. I find myself becoming restless because I feel like I am only doing a fraction of what I am called to be doing. Maybe it's the fact that I just turned 31. Maybe it's more. I think it's MUCH more than that, and I don't know how to go about fixing that. I asked my friend L last night if he was doing what he was passionate about. He responded "no". I asked him why not, and he gave me a very heart-felt reply. It's the same as mine. There is too much comfort in the status quo and I am just lazy enough to not try. It's a sad thing, but it is refreshing to be in honest community with someone like that.
I know I am called to play music. I know I am called to lead people in worship. I know that where Stef and I are is a stepping stone and not the end of the journey.
Like I said I am restless. The fact of the matter is I need to start actually writing my own material again and put it out there instead of complaining that things aren't happening like I had intended them to. Something about a "bull and his horns".

Stay tuned - I have a feeling some stuff is about to start happening . .

Remedy

I spent the evening with my wife and a couple of friends. We bought tix to go see David Crowder in Columbia. Columbia, for those of you who may not have been there, is a hole. It's a little stinky and it takes over an hour to get there. That, coupled with the fact that I felt like I had been emotionally taken outback and worked over with a lead pipe means that I was not really all that pumped for the show. I was wrong.
We got there, and caught the end of Phil Wickham's set. Just him and an acoustic. That seems to be the bravest thing to me. Anyone can go up and be surrounded by a raucousness called a band. When it's just you and the acoustic - you'd better bring it. Derrick Webb does that well, too.
So - 20 minutes for a set change and then Crowder and the boys took to the stage. Of course, they played your favorite tunes, but they also rolled out new material from their new CD, Remedy. It is an album about no longer just serving the oppressed in mercy, but actually seeking justice for them. Very cool stuff considering where I find myself these days occupationally. David always makes the crowd feel right at home, and then politely knocks you on your butt with his insight and wisdom.
He had also rigged a controller for Guitar Hero as a midi controller and played it for a song as well as the beloved keytar. Although we usually spend Wed. evening with L & A, (and hopefully they'll invite us back after we ditched them TWICE to go see shows . . .) I needed to go see Crowder. It reminded me of why I play music and write songs.

Ben Stein

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing?

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best Regards.

Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein

Where'd I put those keys . . .

peopleofthe504 : i think i barfded

S : on your pants?

peopleofthe504 : in mai pantses

S : whoa - impressive. Head up butt?

peopleofthe504 : saw mai bfast!

S : nice. I found my keys once in college - long night.

peopleofthe504 : bad morning

S : not for my keys

peopleofthe504 : oh holy night

S : couldn't get my day started - or my ass in gear

peopleofthe504 : o no you di-int just say that
ROFLR OFLR OFLROFLROFLROFL
pun master
S : it's what I do

INANITY, MISTER: petri dish

INANITY, MISTER: petri dish

a complex existence...: Puppy Troubles in Fall Time...

a complex existence...: Puppy Troubles in Fall Time...

INANITY, MISTER: the swiss? bliss

INANITY, MISTER: the swiss? bliss

Speak

I am always scared spitless when someone takes it upon themselves to speak for God. I have spent the last 2 weeks working on a worship project with a guy here in the Charlotte area. He was heading a multi-cultural event for a national conference that was taking place at a large church here in the area. I was invited to play acoustic and help out. It didn't hurt that it was a paying gig, but I was not in it for the cash. If you know me, you know that the music is more important than the money - but the money is a nice addition. He promised talented musicians to round out the event, and I was excited but skeptical.
After numerous e-mails and phone conversations, we had our first rehearsal on Monday. All along this guy was telling me that he felt like God had put this thing together and that He had brought all of the musicians together. He had been praying for this to happen and our meeting was foreordained. I was guarded, but still excited. I had invited a drummer friend of mine along as well as a lead guitar player that I know.
The first rehearsal was awful. No charts were provided. We barely had time to listen to the music. It was tough. I was supposed to be in leadership, but there were 4 people giving orders, and there was no room for suggestions.
I didn't want to be a jerk, but I made a push for us to get the tunes charted. All of the guys wanted charts. I e-mailed the coordinator and made a plea for all of us to get some music in front of us or run the risk of being a part of a tremendous rain wreck. I guess it was too much work - or maybe professionals don't need charts. whatever . . .
I guess God changed His mind today. My friends and I were dumped from the project. Maybe it's so we don't go down in flames. Maybe that guy didn't know what the heck he was doing and we all got taken for a ride.

STOP

What a great weekend!
I finally took some time and took a much needed vacation with my wife. We escaped on Friday and headed to Wilmington, NC with our puppy. Cell phones were turned off and e-mails were ignored. We did NOTHING, and it was glorious to say the least. Of course, it is now Monday and we are both back at work. Ouch.
It was good to realize that all that needs to happen at Crosspoint
does not rely entirely on my being there. I have been blessed with a great team that stepped up and made things happen in spite of my absence and the absence of a few other key players (LEP, TR, AP). There will be more vacation time in the future, to be sure. Stef and I have already booked a cruise with Cruise Deals.Com (shameless plug for LEP) for February. It will be our first, but hopefully not our last. Make sure you take time in your life to stop and unplug from the insanity. Your spouse and your body will thank you.

FAIL

I am always surprised at my attitude concerning success. Success is elusive. It is measured on a scale of dollars and cents, profit vs loss and numerical values that are easily rendered, compiled and compared. If someone gave me $50 to invest ad I turned it into $500, then I am considered successful. (please, send me your cash. I'll make no guarantees, but I'd love to have it!)
Yesterday was one of the hardest days I have personally had as a worship pastor. Thursdays rehearsal was awesome. Everyone know their parts and we played them with excellence. I could not he wanted more from my group of musicians. Then Sunday rolled around. An entirely different group of circumstances developed. By the time we spent the 2 hours necessary to set up, it was apparent that we were in for a long day. We sound checked, and could not gel. Maybe it was me - maybe it was something far greater than me. That remains to be seen.
Regardless, we finally took the stage at 10:00 and plowed through. There was a moment during the second set that putting down the guitar and running seemed like a viable option, and it crossed my mind several times. Still, we played on and finished. I slunked off stage and slipped into my seat and felt defeated. Like I had just taken a test that I was destined to FAIL!

To my surprise people in the crowd later revealed to me that it was one of our best sets and that they loved the new tunes. People worshiped in spite of my best efforts to drive the car into the ditch. It is very strange to be on stage and be apart from the worship that is happening all around you. I think that at some point, my control needs to be relinquished.

I need to re-assess my view of success.

Strat

I spent the week working on my Strat (Fender Stratocastor for those of you who don't speak guitar). My folks bought it for me a few years ago, and it has been ignored due to fear and the fact that I don't have a sweet amp to play through.
I am a keyboard player by trade. I have been forced into playing guitar because it's been tough finding musicians for Crosspoint.
I decided to take the Strat out of the case and actually use it.
I usually lead worship with my Taylor 314 CE that I bought a few years back. I was impressed with the tone that came with such a little guitar. Plugged in, it sounds even better. I also have a nice Takamine G series that I have given thought to putting a Fishman expression system in. There is also the beater 12 string that sits around in my office. Somewhere, my wife is rolling her eyes at this point, because all of this is on top of the 3 keyboards (Nord Electro II 73, Alesis Micron, Kurzweil PC 88) that I own.

I have a thing for gear.

It is not healthy.

To get the Strat where I wanted it, I had to put new tension springs on the bridge. I decided to add 2 for a total of 5. I was having trouble keeping it in tune with the standard tuners it came with, so I bought a sweet set of Fender locking tuners (for DIRT cheep). I was also afraid of dropping it on stage ('cause I'm a klutz ...), so I bought a set of strap locks.

Now the ruckus can ensue.

I am particular about tone, but short on cash. I use the BBE Sonic Stomp to fill out my over-all presence (acoustic and electric) as well as the BBE Green Screamer. A nice BOSS chorus peal (acoustic and elecric), DD6 delay, a BOSS Compression/sustain topped off with a very necessary NS-2 noise suppressor (acoustic and electric) have created a rather nice tone that I can plug direct and not worry about stage noise.





I'd still rather have a Fender Twin Reverb.
My wife rolled her eyes - again.
It is a work in progress . .

decision

While risking my life in Charlotte traffic today in an attempt to get some stuff done, I started thinking about how we live our lives. There is a certain member of my family who has appointed himself the spiritual guide to everyone. This is no exaggeration - I mean EVERYONE. It drives us crazy. At family gatherings everyone tries to hide-out or avoid him all together. He still finds us and corners us as starts telling us how he has it all together and how many people he "Led to the Lord" and that we should be doing the same and are we "saved" and would we like to be. It feels like being beaten with a Schofield Bible around the ears and neck. The problem is, we all know someone JUST LIKE HIM!!! Maybe a friend or co-worker or a co church-attendee. They have a corner on the market of "truth"

I do not believe that truth is relative. There are absolutes, otherwise the entire universe would come unraveled. As a Christ follower, I have to cling to truth everyday or my life would come unraveled. Redemption, grace, mercy - all of these are more than necessary . They are cornerstones of what I have chosen to be and believe to be truth. Some people have added their 2 cents worth and decided that that, too , is truth.
Not so.
Jewelry, makeup, music, card playing, mixed bathing (which sounds like a swim in a Kitchen Aid appliance), and a laundry list of other things have all been debated for years. Don't even get me started on alcohol and tattoos. We'll be here for days . . .

We have to decide, and fairly soon: what do we as Christ followers and human beings want to be known for? Do we want to be the ones who have all of the answers and all of the rules perfected so that we look righteous OR do we want to be the ones who love people (ALL people no matter if their lifestyle and choices don't match with what we believe to be true). This is a decision that we will have to all wrestle with as we journey with Christ.

retry

I am painfully aware that I can't spell worth a dern. I must be drinking Slowenbrau.