When I was a kid, I could have a pretty serious outlook on life sometimes. I was introspective, doing a lot of carefully thinking and caring deeply about everything that seemed important to me. And those qualities aren’t bad but, like any good thing, they can get out of balance. I remember one time my [...]]]>

When I was a kid, I could have a pretty serious outlook on life sometimes. I was introspective, doing a lot of carefully thinking and caring deeply about everything that seemed important to me. And those qualities aren’t bad but, like any good thing, they can get out of balance. I remember one time my Dad told me I really didn’t have to take life so seriously; I thought it through for a while and realized he was right.

I do my best to find balance but still end up swing too far to one side or the other of that line; making light of things I ought to take more seriously or taking too seriously things that I shouldn’t.

One thing I’ve noticed is that when you don’t take trouble as seriously in your own life, you tend to not take it as seriously in other people’s lives either. And that’s fine as long as it’s something they’re able to laugh about. But if it’s something that really bothers them, we ought to be sensitive to that and be able to empathize and be an encouragement.

Do you ever have a hard time trying to find a good balance on what to take seriously and what to laugh off? Any thoughts on how to do a better job at that?

“And they shall know you by your disapproval.”

Or is it that Christians are supposed to be known by their love? And sure, we’re supposed to be continually changed to be more and more like Christ. But let’s not confuse roles here. I’m not so sure we’re supposed to be forming everyone else in the [...]]]>

“And they shall know you by your disapproval.”

Or is it that Christians are supposed to be known by their love? And sure, we’re supposed to be continually changed to be more and more like Christ. But let’s not confuse roles here. I’m not so sure we’re supposed to be forming everyone else in the world into the likeness of Christ. Isn’t that God’s job? And it seems like He’s most interested in starting with *us*…

Sure, it’s polite if a person avoids swearing when they’re near a Christian who’d rather not hear profanity. But should you demand it? That seems selfish. What’s the motivation there? You don’t want to dirty your ears?

And this line of questioning can apply far beyond simple word choice. What about the homosexual lifestyle, filing for divorce or having an abortion? Maybe there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, but it’s worth at least asking the question, “How should a Christian respond when a non-Christian acts… like a non-Christian?”

I’m not trying to be combative. I’m really just trying to figure out how I’m actually supposed to respond to people I’m in contact with every day; to friends and coworkers who don’t have a close relationship with God.

Are Christians supposed to be some kind of a special forces “sin police?” Or is it possible that unconditional love is our best path toward bringing change? And what sense is there in expecting or trying to get a non-Christian to simply act like a Christian? Who does that help?

And of course, we have the same moral obligations that anyone else would. If we see a person actively abusing someone else, we should take action to help the victim. And taking that thought further, all sin has a victim, even if the only victim is the one committing the sin. So I suppose that might muddy the waters here a bit.

What do you think? What should the Christian reaction be when a non-Christians does something uncouth or otherwise offensive to Christian sensibilities? A pained expression? Silence? A smile of approval? It’s not an easy question!

When some people say that God is all they really need, what do they mean by that?

We clearly have other physical needs, and God has created us to need attention and affection and interaction with other people – needs that go beyond our physical needs.

So is this just a [...]]]>

When some people say that God is all they really need, what do they mean by that?

We clearly have other physical needs, and God has created us to need attention and affection and interaction with other people – needs that go beyond our physical needs.

So is this just a romantic idea, or is there some truth and real value in telling God that He is all we need? What do you think?

I was talking to a long-time friend earlier this week who mentioned how they hate it when there are “gray areas” in relationships, elements of the friendship left undefined – so you don’t know what your standing is.

Years ago, I couldn’t relate to that feeling as much as I now can, though I always [...]]]>

I was talking to a long-time friend earlier this week who mentioned how they hate it when there are “gray areas” in relationships, elements of the friendship left undefined – so you don’t know what your standing is.

Years ago, I couldn’t relate to that feeling as much as I now can, though I always have liked to have things out in the open. I like to know the lay of the land underneath and around me. And I tend to want to do for others what I would like to have done for me. Yet there are people who don’t like to be told things directly, or who are not ready to hear the bare-faced facts (or sometimes even a carefully prepared and tastefully presented morsel of truth). And of course there are times and settings where some things are alright, and others where and when they are probably not appropriate.

So there are some people who will not tell you what they think about a situation or friendship no matter how much you ask them to do so. And there are others who just plain don’t want to know what you think about a situation, even if it could be very helpful to them if they’d be willing to be a little more receptive.

What do you think? Do you have any suggestions on what might be the most helpful way to approach either of these sorts of people? What tendencies do you lean toward?

I’ve often wondered if some of the things we would like to think of as wisdom may [...]]]>

I recently ran across an interesting saying at the end of a music video that a friend had posted to Facebook (Jeremy Fisher – “Scar That Never Heals”). It was the Zimbabwean proverb “a coward has no scars.”

I’ve often wondered if some of the things we would like to think of as wisdom may actually be an overactive drive for self preservation or even just plain fear.

What do you think? How do we find the balance between being reckless daredevil maniacs and recluses who never risk anything? Our thoughts, words, and actions can be influenced greatly by how much we focus on self and how much we focus on others. When it comes to selflessness, *is* there a balance we need to find? Many of us are in the position that would seem to require us to preserve self – for the sake of others we love. How do you reconcile these things?

So music is a big part of my life and I realized some time ago that writing is one of the particular aspects of music that I’m most interested in. Since that realization, I’ve begun to study more intently about writing music, or at least begun wanting to study this sort of writing more intently.

One [...]]]>

So music is a big part of my life and I realized some time ago that writing is one of the particular aspects of music that I’m most interested in. Since that realization, I’ve begun to study more intently about writing music, or at least begun wanting to study this sort of writing more intently.

One thing I’ve gathered from books and discussions is that rewriting is a critical part of the writing process and actually may be the primary differentiation between enthusiastic amateurs and seasoned professionals.

Unfortunately, I’ve also realized that I have no idea how to rewrite. Perhaps the first step in learning to rewrite is to simply start doing it – even though you don’t really have it all figured out. So I’m gonna start with that. My goal is to just start putting consistent time into this even though I don’t know what I’m doing quite yet.

I’ve also read (in “TuneSmith” by Jimmy Webb) that over half of our American (and potentially the rest of the world’s) catalog of popular music is the result of a collaboration between two or more people. Guess what. I don’t have any idea how to successfully collaborate either. I’d bet it takes some degree of mutual trust and respect between the collaborators. Despite my wet-behind-the-ears status, I’ve recently begun to just start trying to do a bit of collaboration and see what comes out of it.

How ’bout you? Getting into anything where you don’t know what you’re doing quite yet? Got any tips on the two particular dilemmas I’ve mentioned above? Got the start of a lyric or some great music you’d like to try to collaborate on? Tell me all about it!

So a couple months ago, Mark Lee (from Third Day - who played two nights ago on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno) made a great blog post entitled “There isn’t a statue of a critic.” Here’s some of what he said:

“Look for the good in the world and talk about that. [...]]]>

So a couple months ago, Mark Lee (from Third Day - who played two nights ago on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno) made a great blog post entitled “There isn’t a statue of a critic.” Here’s some of what he said:

“Look for the good in the world and talk about that. Be an encourager. Take risks. … Try to make the world a better place. … Avoid being a critic at all costs. It’s no fun, and it brings people down. I’m going to say it one more time: find the good and praise it. If it’s not there, make your own.”

 That’s great advice! I also love the well-known lines from Theodore Roosevelt on the subject:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

For some reason, I’m often drawn to point out the exception, to play the devil’s advocate. I don’t care to be argumentative, and I actually don’t often look to start or join a debate. Maybe it’s just that I think bringing in another view is just part of the process of seeking out truth. Or maybe it’s the exception that proves the rule! ) Often, it’s not as much a matter of one thing being wrong and another right as finding an additional consideration.

This said, let me point out the one place where a critic adds value. If you are the “doer of deeds,” you must view your own work with a critical eye… at least at some stage in the creative process. This could extend to those near you as well. What about with friends of yours that are also producing art of some kind? All of us are probably pretty fragile in some ways – though perhaps we’d rather not be (and I think it’s good for us all to have at least one friend who think everything we do is great). However, it may be helpful to have some friends who are willing to chime in with other thoughts as well.

Do you think there is a place for critique among friends? If you’re specifically asked to give input on a work in progress, that seems like a pretty clear opening, but even these times should be treated carefully. Where and when and how do you think critique can be a good thing? Any suggestions on how to do this best?

Oh, and Mark… when I was looking on SXC.hu for a picture to use with this post, I couldn’t even find a *photo* of a critic… )

-= another Watercooler Wednesday post =-

Thought I’d try to start a conversation about heroes today.

Do you have any heroes? People who you look up to who have done something great to impact the lives of many or to impact the lives of those [...]]]> Hey there! Here’s another post that’s part of the Watercooler Wednesdays discussion on arts and culture.

Thought I’d try to start a conversation about heroes today.

Do you have any heroes? People who you look up to who have done something great to impact the lives of many or to impact the lives of those closest to them?

Rich Mullins has been a hero and role model of mine, and I’m really glad that he chased after what he was made for. He lived a passionate life of sacrifice and service, doing the things with excellence that had been placed in his heart by God. Like his Creator, Rich also created beauty and spoke life-giving words.

What do you think the world would be like if your hero had never lived or had left their work undone? I know that without Rich, we’d be missing a lot of really great writing and music, and I think there are quite a few people who would have gone without a pretty special friend as well.

How ’bout you… Do you have an idea of what you were made to do or how the world will be different if you don’t follow through?

I believe that there is a purpose God intended for every part of His creation, and that if we don’t fulfill our purpose, other people lose out. On the other hand, if we live life with passion and go after the purposes that God made us for, imagine how the world will be different once we’re done!

Those reading this who attend church regularly know that you can get very busy with church – even to the point of having practically no time left for anything else. I’ve grown up my whole life going to [...]]]> Today is Sunday and I got to thinking about being involved at church and in church-related organizations.

Those reading this who attend church regularly know that you can get very busy with church – even to the point of having practically no time left for anything else. I’ve grown up my whole life going to church every week – usually twice on Sunday and once on Wednesday evening. For a good chunk of that time I helped every week with the music, and that means getting there early for every service as well as coming in for a practice on another night during the week. (Sometimes Sundays don’t end up seeming very restful.) On top of that, if you’re in a Bible study or small group of some sort, there’s another night of the week that you’re busy with church folks. You could join the men’s or women’s group or a leadership team of some sort, add in another Bible study or small group for good measure, and have five nights of the week absorbed within the Church. I’ve been almost that busy with church stuff before. Sometimes you can become so surrounded by the church that you are effectively isolated from everything else.

There’s quite a contrast between that and my current situation here in Seattle. Not that it was a huge shock; God let me know before I got out here that this would be a time of clarified focus, with many of my normal activities trimmed out. The church I’m going to has a single service that is held a couple of times during the weekend; my roommate Scott and I tend to go to the Sunday evening service. Just one service a week, and I’m not even helping with anything at church. Given the fact that I often have to work or be on call on the weekends while I’m out here, it would be difficult to make any commitment at church anyway.

Now don’t get me wrong. I love being involved with the worship team at church back home. I love the small group I’m part of in Michigan; the people there are such an encouragement to me, and I miss them a bunch! We always meet with God in such a special way, and I look forward to that evening so much. (Earlier last year, I actually cut back from being involved with *four* small groups – they all had people I loved to see and share with – but that was a little excessive!)

Here’s another take on the church thing. Dr. Lance Wallnau (LanceLearning.net) talks about something he calls the Seven Mountain strategy. Historically, a large majority of Christians have focused on and centered around the organization of the church – either by vocation or avocation. Even those of us not working directly for the church often spend much of our time and energy at church or on church-related activities. On top of this, we tend to almost belittle other pursuits – thinking that going into full-time ministry is following the highest possible call. This mindset seems to be at least partly responsible for the position we find ourselves in today, where Christians have little voice in politics, news, entertainment, and a number of other areas. Lance talks about what could happen if each of us pursue the talents and dreams God has given us – outside of the church. Of course we wouldn’t want to swing from one extreme to another… However, he goes on to outline seven areas of influence that shape our culture: Religion, Family, Education, Government, Media, Arts and Entertainment, and Business. His advice is to become an expert in your field, a leader in your sphere of influence, and then use that platform – once you’ve earned the attention and respect of others – to change the world around you. I’ve tried to think about what this would mean – what this would look like – for a Christian musician, and it’s not an easy question. As with many other questions and balancing acts in the Christian life, I think it’s something that each of us need to seek wisdom and revelation on from God.

Anyway, what do you think? Should we be mostly involved with the church and church culture, or is it better to have more availability to be involved in the world outside those four walls? Though I personally suspect that the right level of involvement varies from person to person or even for a particular person at different stages in life, I’d really love to hear your thoughts on this!