I went to Cincinnati last week and had a wonderful time. Just going there brought up memories of my childhood growing up on the Ohio River in Ravenswood, WV. I have to admit that the first thing I discovered was that you can’t really fly from Norfolk to Cincinnati. It just doesn’t work. Fortunately, leaving Cincy to come back to Norfolk wasn’t a problem.

I went to Cincinnati to visit the Wesley Foundation (United Methodist campus ministry, pictured left) on the campus of the University of Cincinnati (UC). The house is one of the better-kept Wesley Foundation houses I’ve seen, perhaps in part due to input from Board members associated with UC’s nationally-ranked School of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP).

The first morning I was able to join the university’s Campus Ministries group for a training session on interfaith dialogue provided by the Interfaith Youth Corps (IFYC) of Chicago, IL. I had the pleasure of meeting our facilitator, Hannah McConnaughay, IFYC’s Outreach Education and Training Associate, who led us in 90 minutes of training and lively discussion.

Ashley Cheung, Interim Executive Director for UC’s Wesley Foundation, who had taken me to the campus ministries event, then brought me back to the Wesley Foundation for lunch with about 40 students. Ashley is a Deacon in the United Methodist Church and graduated from St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, MO.

After lunch, I met with Abby Wilson to discuss Wesley’s internships and social justice programs. Abby told me about the Wesley Foundation’s involvement at Wesley Chapel Mission Center. Abby, who joined AmeriCorps after graduation from UC, told me about some of the challenges facing the poor who live in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine and West Price Hill neighborhoods.

After meeting with Abby, Becky, the director of the Wesley Chapel Mission Center, and Ken, a senior DAPP student at UC, took me on a tour of the campus. I especially enjoyed visiting the nationally-ranked  College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), which was featured on CBS Sunday Morning earlier this fall, DAAP (mentioned above), and Nippert Stadium (pictured at left) which is home to the undefeated UC Bearcats who will meet Florida in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.

After a break, Matt Holt, a member of the Wesley Foundation’s Board, and Jeff Tilman, a professor at DAAP, took me to dinner at the Thai Cafe. Jeff entertained us with stories about his father, a mathematical genius who had his first patent at age 15. But the highlight of the evening was the waiter who kept refilling Jeff’s glass of Sprite with water… no matter how many times we reminded him.

While in Cincy, I stayed at The Clifton House, a lovely Bed and Breakfast (New Orleans room where I stayed pictured at right). When I opened the front door to enter Clifton House, I was greeted with the sight of a beautiful Victorian-era Christmas tree standing on the landing midway up the grand staircase. The next day, when I took a short afternoon break and was laying on my bed, I could smell fresh brownies baking in the kitchen below. Heavenly, and highly recommended.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME , HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR MEEEEE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! AHAHHAHHA my 18th berfday was yesterdayyyy just for the recorddd! and it was grrrrrrrrrreat! i’ll tell you more in detail about it cuz i guess we didnt really talk on the phone. SO on friday night, we were just doing our usual, and at midnight my suitemates surprised me with red velvet cupcake and presents and stuff! YEEEEE so i finally got a handmade blanket from my friend YESSSSS and a sex in the city DVD (dvd #2 in my family collection LOLLL ) a handmade carousel thingy thats SUPER COOOLLL that i must show you one of these days, a UCSD Shirt, a necklace and matching earrings, and a scarf! woo hoo FUN STUFF. and then we were chilling there when all of a sudden, mark and ck and vijal and a few other people from muir college that i dont think you know…but they came over and surprised me too! they had other yummy desserts and a candle for me to blow out! vijal also got me a wallet and a card that can grow a little rubber man into a BIG HUNKY MAN if you stick him in water! ahha so i started growing him already. he can grow up to 600% his size in about 10 days. so funnyyyyyyyy. and this other girl, who didnt come, but gave mark to give to me, also gave me a butterfly card LOL and what i thought was a pomegranite flavored juice, but apparently its pomegranite flavored beer! HAHHA dont worry, its like really little percent alcohol though. and NO i havent drank it yet.  and yeahh JUST WHEN I THOUGHT IT WAS OVAAA, another huge group comes in from CCM, its like the christian club thing we kinda joined? and they brought me CAKEEE! LIKE A HUGE HOMEMADE CAKEEE! oh my goshh i <3 CCM they’re so niceeee! like really nice! cuz the girl who made the cake for me, i seriously only met her the day before when she and this other guy named daniel from the servant team came over to my suite and gave me a christmas stocking care package for finals! SO CUTEEE. and seriously, i hardly go to the meetings but i really wanna tryyyyyyyyyy! but yeahhh theyre so niceeeeeee. so then we ate cake and all that jazz. and then most of them left, and then we watched sex and the city. remember how we all wanted to watch that movie that one time but it was R? lol yeahhh the movie was alright. really lonnnnnnnnnnnnnng! i ended up sleeping at like 4 on friday night. so on saturday morninggg i got up around 11 which is surprisngly early because i slept so late. and then we were gonna go shopping that day but my other suitemates didnt wake up till like 3!!! WOWOWOOW right? yeahh so i mostly vegged around that day. and the sky was SOOOOOOOOOO DARK AND GLOOMYYY . like omgoshhh it has never been like that gloomy here. then around 5 i went to a chem review session. stayed there for like half an hour, and decided it was useless cuz the t.a. was just writing a buch of basic stuff on the chalkboard. then went to the library to discuss with christine our plans to go……ICE SKATINGGGG! WEEEEEEEEEEE so yepp ended up about 6 of us, me, stephanie, julie (my roomate and suitemate) and ck, vijal, and melanie (vijal’s roomate) went skating. stephanie was nice enough to drive us there, about only 10 minutes away by car. everyone else was being lame and wanted to study for finals -____- so yehhh we got there at 8 and ice skated until about 10:30pm. i saw my other friend there and apparently she skated for 11 years so she started teaching us some moves! ahahaha but yeahh it was super funfunfunfun! and so on sunday, we finally did our postponed shopping…we went to fashion valley, its an outdoors mall thats really nice. it has like super high end designer stuff but also affordable stuff. reminds me of fashion island at newport. and i did some early christmas shopping for my sister and myself. LOL i bought a sweater thing for me and pj pants for my sister and also some JUICY tube socks! theyre soo cuteee:) and yeah we finally got back around 2:30 and ate and napped and got music from julie and now here i ammmm.

I NEED TO STUDY FOR FINALS. muhahhah i have my optional math one first on wednesday night, my chem one on thursday afternoon,and then mmw on friday morning. so im coming back friday afternoon! weeeeeeeeeee I CANT WAIT. but yeah let me update on you on math. SO as of right now, i have a B in the class. i got a B on the second midterm that i was studying so hard forrr   so if i dont take the final, i’ll end up getting a B in the class, but if i take the final, it repalces my two midterm scores, which i got a B on for both. so i dunno what to do yet. i dont wanna study for math anymore cuz i studied so DANG hard for the second midterm. but, i just might go and take the final, but not necessarily turn it in to be graded. and yeah, i failed my third and last chem quiz on friday. -____- ahhhh i reallyyyy need to study chem!!! and mmw i just need to review and catch up on some reading assignments. when are your finals again?

OH and let me update you about dance stuff now. SOOOO theres a dance concert like thing here on campus called WinterWorks. and i was debating whether or not to audition for it since my “friend” amy, was auditioning it too, and i didnt really want to see here 24/7 you know, but i finally did. AND I GOT IN!!! for one of the pieces anywayyy! and she didnt! SO HAH. Lol okay but yeahh im glad i got in so i can finally be a part of somethingg! the dance is supposedly about a pregnant girl and is more hip hop based, so it is kind of ironic that i got in  LOL i guess i can ‘fake it until i make it’. ahha yepppp

and im still looking for a job…….how is that going for youu?

and VEGAS VEGAS VEGAS! YESSSSSSSSSSS we should do something for sureeeeeeeeee! we’re driving down there that day the 21st so maybe like a dinner or something? or the next day shopping? or idk a movie and bowling for the kids while adults go gambling at the orleans cuz they have those stuffs! how many people total are you going with again? its just the four of us i think.

but just yeah FALL QUARTER IS OVAAA no more lectures! oh but i must tell you about my schedule next quarter. i bascially dont have any class on monday and only one discussion friday morning, which means ALMOST A FOUR DAY WEEKEND! WOOOOOOO HOOOOO BUTTTT my tuesdays and thursdays are so freakin packed. like seriously i have class from 8 am until 8 pm -_____- i dunno how im gonna survive. and then i have like one discussion on wednesday too. BUT for my wednesday classes, im still waitlisted for physics so if i dont get in that’ll get rid of some tues. thurs. classes. and i wont go into detail here, but i basically got screwed over for my mmw and had to switch to a tues. thurs. night class instead…. which means i cant really go to ccm meetings! cuz its thursday nights. so unless i go  latee but i really want to go!

oh and so during the rest of the week. hmmm we had a winter wonderland crafts activity thing at erc. we made gingerbread houses! but mine kind of collapsed so i just ate the candy and threw it away LOL and there was snowflake cutting and whatnots. oh yeah, our suite is also decorated to celebrate hannukah cuz one girl is jewish so she decked it out in hannukah decorations. i’ll have to show you one day.

and okay i think thats it. THIS WAS LONG. alright,see you soon!

-fugly

“He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure” Isa. 33:16

The man to whom God has given grace to be of blameless life dwells in perfect security.

He dwells on high, above the world, out of gunshot of the enemy, and near to Heaven. He has high aims and motives, and he finds high comforts and company. He rejoices in the mountains of eternal love, wherein he has his abode.

He is defended by munitions of stupendous rock. The firmest things in the universe are the promises and purposes of the unchanging God, and these are the safeguard of the obedient believer.

He is provided for by this great promise, “Bread shall be given him.” As the enemy cannot climb the fort, nor break down the rampart, so the fortress cannot be captured by siege and famine. The Lord, who rained manna in the wilderness, will keep His people in good store even when they are surrounded by those who would starve them.

But what if water should fail? That cannot be, “his waters shall be sure.” There is a never-failing well within the impregnable fortress. The Lord sees that nothing is wanting. None can touch the citizen of the true Zion. However fierce the enemy, the Lord will preserve His chosen.

—Faith’s Checkbook

My eight year old son recently asked me who I thought was the best guitarist.

That’s a tough call to make for the “Guitar Hero” generation,

but a least we have You Tube and other sites to compare styles,  fingering technique and all that sort of thing.

Here are three clips with two of my favorite guitarists.

Clip One Yes (70’s era and later years) Guitarist Steve Howe.

Live from the Rey-layer Tour in 1975 at the QPR here’s the Intro to to the utimate Prog rock tune “Close to the Edge.”

As for guitar player number two I couldn’t decide which clip was better of CCM legend Phil Keaggy so I posted both.  

Here’s “Time” and “A Royal Commandment.”

“I have much people in this city.” Acts 18:10

This should be a great encouragement to try to do good, since God has among the vilest of the vile, the most reprobate, the most debauched and drunken, an elect people who must be saved. When you take the Word to them, you do so because God has ordained you to be the messenger of life to their souls, and they must receive it, for so the decree of predestination runs.

They are as much redeemed by blood as the saints before the eternal throne. They are Christ’s property, and yet perhaps they are lovers of the ale-house, and haters of holiness; but if Jesus Christ purchased them He will have them. God is not unfaithful to forget the price which His Son has paid. He will not suffer His substitution to be in any case an ineffectual, dead thing. Tens of thousands of redeemed ones are not regenerated yet, but regenerated they must be; and this is our comfort when we go forth to them with the quickening Word of God.

Nay, more, these ungodly ones are prayed for by Christ before the throne. “Neither pray I for these alone,” saith the great Intercessor, “but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word.” Poor, ignorant souls, they know nothing about prayer for themselves, but Jesus prays for them. Their names are on His breastplate, and ere long they must bow their stubborn knee, breathing the penitential sigh before the throne of grace. “The time of figs is not yet.” The predestinated moment has not struck; but, when it comes, they shall obey, for God will have His own; they must, for the Spirit is not to be withstood when He cometh forth with fulness of power–they must become the willing servants of the living God. “My people shall be willing in the day of my power.” “He shall justify many.” “He shall see of the travail of His soul.” “I will divide him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong.”

—Morning and Evening

Flyleaf have just released a video for the song “Beautiful Bride” which comes off their new album, Memento Mori, which is in-stores now.

August Burns Red is currently on the road in support of their “Constellations” disc. “Constellations” has risen as high as 24th on Billboards Top 200. The boys are being blessed by God with some “crossover” success…

UPDATE! (by cm:ftd) Living Sacrifice’s forthcoming release “The Infinite Order” has been pushed back!

Read the full  stories and much more @ FTD Music News

Matthew 7:21-27 (NASB95)
²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
²² “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
²³ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’
²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
²⁵ “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.
²⁶ “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
²⁷ “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

“There is no spot in thee.” Song 4:7

Having pronounced His Church positively full of beauty, our Lord confirms His praise by a precious negative, “There is no spot in I thee.” As if the thought occurred to the Bridegroom that the carping world would insinuate that He had only mentioned her comely parts, and had purposely omitted those features which were deformed or defiled, He sums up all by declaring her universally and entirely fair, and utterly devoid of stain.

A spot may soon be removed, and is the very least thing that can disfigure beauty, but even from this little blemish the believer is delivered in his Lord’s sight. If He had said there is no hideous scar, no horrible deformity, no deadly ulcer, we might even then have marvelled; but when He testifies that she is free from the slightest spot, all these other forms of defilement are included, and the depth of wonder is increased. If He had but promised to remove all spots by-and-by, we should have had eternal reason for joy; but when He speaks of it as already done, who can restrain the most intense emotions of satisfaction and delight? O my soul, here is marrow and fatness for thee; eat thy full, and be satisfied with royal dainties.

Christ Jesus has no quarrel with His spouse. She often wanders from Him, and grieves His Holy Spirit, but He does not allow her faults to affect His love. He sometimes chides, but it is always in the tenderest manner, with the kindest intentions: it is “my love” even then. There is no remembrance of our follies, He does not cherish ill thoughts of us, but He pardons and loves as well after the offence as before it. It is well for us it is so, for if Jesus were as mindful of injuries as we are, how could He commune with us? Many a time a believer will put himself out of humour with the Lord for some slight turn in providence, but our precious Husband knows our silly hearts too well to take any offence at our ill manners.

—Morning and Evening

One listen to Rez Band’s first album and I was blown away. And when I found out about the church they belong to that was it for me. From then on they were my favorite band.

Jesus People USA is very much involved with helping the poor and homeless in Chicago’s uptown area. I spent part of a summer working in their soup kitchen and living at the commune.

Oh! Wait! I forgot! This is supposed to be a blog about music! My bad!

From Rez Band’s debut album (circa ‘78) here’s the song Waves.

And just for the record, the screaming DJ at the beginning of the clip, I can do his radio rant, word for word.

“AND THE HITS JUST KEEP ON COMIN’!!!

I thought this was quite a provoking thought from a great thought leader on the tension of ‘The Worship Industry’. This definitely creates more questions than answers for those of us ‘Worship Leaders’. We can tend to be suckers for the ‘feeling’ and when it’s not experienced there are many things we are quick to blame. I think we are doing ourselves and our communities a disservice when we allow the barometer of our experiences to become an industry of good feelings.

The real art is creating environments that are engaging and yet honest in their every intent. It is quite the tension. I really do think I carry a heart to create environments in which we worship honestly. I love gatherings that allow me/us to live in light of our wins and our struggles/failures. I think we need to expose both with equal value, it’s real life. Honest worship is the lament and the praise. The bowed down low and the lifted high. Recognizing our failures help us know how to celebrate our wins at another level. Recognizing, together, that we’re all in the same boat and life isn’t always a sugar coated treat is so important in our churches. People are sick, people are well, people are winning, people are losing, people fail and people succeed. This is the teeter totter of life and in all things Christ is making a way to bring glory to the Father in our ins and our outs. Following Jesus is not always as easy as we sometimes wish it could be, it’s a journey. It’s a long journey of consistent dependence on Christ, He is the Hope of Glory and we must lean into him in every season.

Worship Leaders: Do you feel like your environments and mindset provide a place for you to break the mold of ‘The Worship Industry’ which has it’s roots in pleasing the consumer? Are you finding it a task to sing things true of the reality of what it looks like to follow Jesus? What songs are you singing that bring out the lament and what songs bring out the praise? Is the art we’re creating really art or are we writing songs to produce the consumer feeling? Is the art we’re offering our communities really art or is it just an attempt at evoking that ‘feeling’ that we like, on one side or the other.

Interesting conversation. Join in!

{HT Jarrett Stevens}

(I am completely aware of my ineptness as a writer and also just as aware that Steven will probably never see this.)

Dear Steven,

I had a friend that introduced me to your music right around the time of More to This Life. I can’t honestly say that I became an instant fan. (I was one of those into bands such as Whiteheart, Stryper, Degarmo & Key, Whitecross, etc.)  Back then I would throw your cassette into my player and almost have to make sure none of my friends were around to hear me listening to “country” or “Kentucky Bluegrass Rock”.  I would eventually get over the ridicule and along the way, be quite amazed at the power of your lyrics. (I have never quite gotten over my love for 80’s Christian Rock/Metal.)  I remember seeing you in concert in good ol’ Shawnee, Oklahoma.  It was just you and your guitar and maybe a track or two.  I seem to recall songs like Dyin’ to Live, Tuesday’s Child and  a few others.  You won’t remember, but I ate at a table next to yours at a restaurant called Harry Bears (home of the upside down shake) after the gig at OBU.  At the time, I was working for a little radio station in OKC(KOKF) and was somewhat familiar with your music…but still not really a fan.

Being that time is something none of us can barrow, In between the years of 1987 to today, I have seen you in concert more times than I have fingers and our paths have crossed a time or two. (you may not remember the guy in a bookstore in OKC who was wearing a Mickey Mouse Ears hat from Disneyland who asked you a question regarding the movie The Apostle.)  I also had you record spots for my show over the telephone and had you sing Happy Birthday to a friend of mine. (had I remembered some copyright laws connected to that little song, I probably would have never asked )  So to say I know you would not be the truth.  Rather, I know your music and I know your Savior.

I knew guys with Mullets like yours.  I knew guys who would try their best to sing with a voice like yours.  I knew girls who wanted guys to sing songs like yours. I wanted to write songs like yours!  It wasn’t until I met a God like yours that I became a fan.  You recorded so many songs of rescue and redemption.  The one that continues to stick with me to this day is My Redeemer is Faithful and True.  While I know that it was on your first album and it probably proves my age, this song STILL gets into my spirit and keeps me wondering why Jesus rescued a guy as wretched and dark as me.  (but this letter isn’t about me.)  I am not sharing anything with you that you don’t already know when I say that your music shaped and changed my generation.  (and those after)

I received a phone call from a friend in Franklin, TN on that day a year and a half ago.  Like many, I was shocked, filled with sadness and much heartbreak.  I honestly remember thinking many days later, “I wonder if he will keep singing?”  I will have had my first baby girl in March of 2009. (Lyla) There are moments friend, when I will hear one of your songs and the tears will just begin to roll off my face.  The funny thing is, it has never been that when I hear your Cinderella song or even today when I heard your newest song, Heaven is the Face.  But even as I sit here to write, I am thinking of the lyrics to My Redeemer is Faithful and True and it is this song that causes me to well up with tears for you and your family.  Yes, because I am sad for you,  Yes, because it is such a tremendous and unfathomable loss.  Yes, because it is too much for a human to endure. But I think the tears are more than that.

I believe you know better than most how faithful and true the God of this Universe (and all others) truly is!  I believe you know what real pain and real heartache looks, feels and tastes like.  In the CCM article I recently read you said, “In this life, you’re going to grieve, but what does it look like to grieve with hope?”  Paul and Silas and you.  That’s what it looks like.

Thank you for using your gift.  Thanks for the memories and the mullet.  Thanks for showing me what it means to be a true fan. (of the King of all Kings)

JZ

p.s.  I truly believe there are thousands and thousands of fans who are grieving with hope. 

Speaking of eclectic, here’s the strangest pairing since Anita Dunn put Chairman Mao with Mother Theresa, my two favorite music videos.

One is a serious Christian Rock video and two is a crazy J-Pop video.  The former is by Mercy Me and their tune “I can only Imagine.”  The song about the joy of heaven.  You’ll see everyone holding up pictures of their loved one’s who’ve passed away.

This song really hits close to home since my mother passed away just last year.

The latter video is by Polysics.  They’re like a cross between early B-52’s and Devo on Red Bull extreme.  And it doesn’t get any more extreme than “New Wave Jacket.”

My two favorite videos, the oddest pairing you’ll ever see.

“Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels.” Revelation 12:7

War always will rage between the two great sovereignties until one or other be crushed. Peace between good and evil is an impossibility; the very pretence of it would, in fact, be the triumph of the powers of darkness. Michael will always fight; his holy soul is vexed with sin, and will not endure it.

Jesus will always be the dragon’s foe, and that not in a quiet sense, but actively, vigorously, with full determination to exterminate evil. All His servants, whether angels in heaven or messengers on earth, will and must fight; they are born to be warriors–at the cross they enter into covenant never to make truce with evil; they are a warlike company, firm in defence and fierce in attack. The duty of every soldier in the army of the Lord is daily, with all his heart, and soul, and strength, to fight against the dragon.

The dragon and his angels will not decline the affray; they are incessant in their onslaughts, sparing no weapon, fair or foul. We are foolish to expect to serve God without opposition: the more zealous we are, the more sure are we to be assailed by the myrmidons of hell. The church may become slothful, but not so her great antagonist; his restless spirit never suffers the war to pause; he hates the woman’s seed, and would fain devour the church if he could. The servants of Satan partake much of the old dragon’s energy, and are usually an active race. War rages all around, and to dream of peace is dangerous and futile.

Glory be to God, we know the end of the war. The great dragon shall be cast out and for ever destroyed, while Jesus and they who are with Him shall receive the crown. Let us sharpen our swords to-night, and pray the Holy Spirit to nerve our arms for the conflict. Never battle so important, never crown so glorious. Every man to his post, ye warriors of the cross, and may the Lord tread Satan under your feet shortly!

—Morning and Evening

I’m not really the right person to ask to write record reviews, and I’ve found this one very difficult to write. It’s not so much a review as my own response to the record, and to and trying to analyse my own response.

Story by the Sout Project collective, was produced in Cape Town. As the producers describe it story | The Sout Project:

This fresh expression of ‘world emergent’ music has been conceived and recorded in Cape Town South Africa.

While deeply engaged in diverse musical traditions and oozing creative musicality ‘Story’ is more than just an album it represents a vision woven into song. Eclectic and ecumenical the music emerges from a spiritual journey which is being shared by many others across the world.

I listened to it a couple of times. It was pleasant. It was OK. But I find it difficult to get excited about it.

I would describe it as “restaurant music” — something to be played as the background to conversation over a meal. There seemed to be remarkably little variation in tempo or volume or style from one song to the next, and that is one of the characteristics that make good restaurant music, something heard in the background, but not overpowering, where no one is listening to the words. In some parts, especially the beginning, this impression was strengthened by the words being drowned by the accompaniment.

Saying that worries me, because it feels like damning with faint praise. So perhaps the fault is with me rather than with the music. That is why I say I am probably the wrong person to be asked to review this kind of music. And I can think of two reasons for that:

First, I’m the wrong generation.

The music in Story might well appeal to young people today, people in their 20s. But I am a child of the 1960s. Back then “contemporary Christian music” was modernist and dull. “Relevance” was all the rage, and most Christian theologians and musicians were trying to make Christianity “relevant” to the modern world, and especially urban industrial society. So most of the hymns of that period oozed modernity, like Ayn Rand’s heroines saluting smoking factory chimneys as signs of entrepreneurship and progress.

God of concrete, God of steel
God of piston, God of wheel

The use of contemporary jargon characterised the “contemporary Christian music” of that period, and there are echoes of this in Story, where there are phrases like “unsustainable ways”. There is some advance, though, in the recognition that the “concrete and steel” lifestyle was not sustainable in the long term, but the use of contemporary “relevant” jargon dates it quickly.

Back in the 1960s the best “contemporary Christian” music (or spiritual, because it wasn’t all Christian) was produced by secular pop groups. Mass in F Minor by the Electric Prunes was one example. But instead of using contemporary “relevant” terms and language, it was actually a setting of the old Latin Mass. They also did a version of the Kol Nidre, the Jewish mourning ritual. There was also Missa Luba, a setting of the Latin Mass to Congolese folk tunes.

But then I asked my son to listen to it, to get a different generation’s opinion, and he said it was not really his kind of music, though he knows some people who would like it.

The second problem is that I am the wrong culture, the wrong church

After being an Orthodox Christian for over 20 years, I suppose my tastes and expectations for spiritual music have changed. Two other Orthodox Christians, both of my generation, listened to Story with me (one was my wife), and their response was more or less the same as mine. It is pleasant enough listening, but doesn’t excite us. My wife said she wouldn’t listen to it at work. She listens to old pop music or Russian chant.

So perhaps it’s a cultural difference as well, or a denominational one, if you prefer.

The producers were clearly aware of the multi-cultural nature of South Africa’s society, and tried to include different languages — English, Zulu, Xhosa, Hindi. There were also different instruments from different cultures, though the differences seemed to be obliterated as all seemed to be shaped into a common style, with a single tempo, a single volume.

It reminded my wife of The Fisherfolk, a Christian group that was popular in the 1970s and 1980s. It reminded me of Era, a group that my son likes, though he didn’t seem to like this one as much.

If Sout are to produce another album, I would suggest that they check the balance of the singing and accompaniment, as the accompaniment often drowns the singing. And also perhaps vary the tempo and volume occasionally. It was the same percussion all the way through that made it seem monotonous. But perhaps that was what is intended, and is part of the signature style of the group, and so it might not be a good suggestion.

I’m sorry I can’t be more positive about it. I feel a bit like the bloke in the car ad a few years ago who said that the car (a Fiat Palio) was nice, and the owner objects. “Nice! You are calling my car ‘nice’? A cup of tea is ‘nice’, Mrs Warren at the nursery school is ‘nice’.” But that’s about all I can say about this record. It was quite pleasant to listen to, it was OK.

But I’m probably the wrong person to ask. I don’t have an iPod, I don’t download music, I don’t listen to podcasts, I don’t even have speakers on the computer on which I’m writing this.

FTD’s Daily Verse

Romans 8:12-14 (NASB95)
¹² So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—
¹³ for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
¹⁴ For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

“And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The Lord is able to give thee much more than this.” 2Chronicles 25:9

A very important question this seemed to be to the king of Judah, and possibly it is of even more weight with the tried and tempted O Christian. To lose money is at no times pleasant, and when principle involves it, the flesh is not always ready to make the sacrifice. “Why lose that which may be so usefully employed? May not the truth itself be bought too dear? What shall we do without it? Remember the children, and our small income!” All these things and a thousand more would tempt the Christian to put forth his hand to unrighteous gain, or stay himself from carrying out his conscientious convictions, when they involve serious loss. All men cannot view these matters in the light of faith; and even with the followers of Jesus, the doctrine of “we must live” has quite sufficient weight.

The Lord is able to give thee much more than this is a very satisfactory answer to the anxious question. Our Father holds the purse-strings, and what we lose for His sake He can repay a thousand-fold. It is ours to obey His will, and we may rest assured that He will provide for us. The Lord will be no man’s debtor at the last. Saints know that a grain of heart’s-ease is of more value than a ton of gold. He who wraps a threadbare coat about a good conscience has gained a spiritual wealth far more desirable than any he has lost. God’s smile and a dungeon are enough for a true heart; His frown and a palace would be hell to a gracious spirit. Let the worst come to the worst, let all the talents go, we have not lost our treasure, for that is above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. Meanwhile, even now, the Lord maketh the meek to inherit the earth, and no good thing doth He withhold from them that walk uprightly.

—Morning and Evening

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“Spices for anointing oil.” Exodus 35:8

Much use was made of this anointing oil under the law, and that which it represents is of primary importance under the gospel. The Holy Spirit, who anoints us for all holy service, is indispensable to us if we would serve the Lord acceptably. Without His aid our religious services are but a vain oblation, and our inward experience is a dead thing. Whenever our ministry is without unction, what miserable stuff it becomes! nor are the prayers, praises, meditations, and efforts of private Christians one jot superior. A holy anointing is the soul and life of piety, its absence the most grievous of all calamities. To go before the Lord without anointing is as though some common Levite had thrust himself into the priest’s office–his ministrations would rather have been sins than services. May we never venture upon hallowed exercises without sacred anointings. They drop upon us from our glorious Head; from His anointing we who are as the skirts of His garments partake of a plenteous unction. Choice spices were compounded with rarest art of the apothecary to form the anointing oil, to show forth to us how rich are all the influences of the Holy Spirit. All good things are found in the divine Comforter. Matchless consolation, infallible instruction, immortal quickening, spiritual energy, and divine sanctification all lie compounded with other excellencies in that sacred eye-slave, the heavenly anointing oil of the Holy Spirit. It imparts a delightful fragrance to the character and person of the man upon whom it is poured. Nothing like it can be found in all the treasuries of the rich, or the secrets of the wise. It is not to be imitated. It comes alone from God, and it is freely given, through Jesus Christ, to every waiting soul. Let us seek it, for we may have it, may have it this very evening. O Lord, anoint Thy servants.

—Morning and Evening

Continued training  in the dojo Divine…

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
¹⁵ Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

“Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people . . . Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.” Leviticus 19:16,17

Tale-bearing emits a threefold poison; for it injures the teller, the hearer, and the person concerning whom the tale is told. Whether the report be true or false, we are by this precept of God’s Word forbidden to spread it.

The reputations of the Lord’s people should be very precious in our sight, and we should count it shame to help the devil to dishonour the Church and the name of the Lord. Some tongues need a bridle rather than a spur. Many glory in pulling down their brethren, as if thereby they raised themselves. Noah’s wise sons cast a mantle over their father, and he who exposed him earned a fearful curse. We may ourselves one of these dark days need forbearance and silence from our brethren, let us render it cheerfully to those who require it now. Be this our family rule, and our personal bond–SPEAK EVIL OF NO MAN.

The Holy Spirit, however, permits us to censure sin, and prescribes the way in which we are to do it. It must be done by rebuking our brother to his face, not by railing behind his back. This course is manly, brotherly, Christlike, and under God’s blessing will be useful. Does the flesh shrink from it? Then we must lay the greater stress upon our conscience, and keep ourselves to the work, lest by suffering sin upon our friend we become ourselves partakers of it. Hundreds have been saved from gross sins by the timely, wise, affectionate warnings of faithful ministers and brethren. Our Lord Jesus has set us a gracious example of how to deal with erring friends in His warning given to Peter, the prayer with which He preceded it, and the gentle way in which He bore with Peter’s boastful denial that he needed such a caution.

—Morning and Evening

“Seeking the wealth of his people.” Esther 10:3

Mordecai was a true patriot, and therefore, being exalted to the highest position under Ahasuerus, he used his eminence to promote the prosperity of Israel. In this he was a type of Jesus, who, upon His throne of glory, seeks not His own, but spends His power for His people.

It were well if every Christian would be a Mordecai to the church, striving according to his ability for its prosperity. Some are placed in stations of affluence and influence, let them honour their Lord in the high places of the earth, and testify for Jesus before great men. Others have what is far better, namely, close fellowship with the King of kings, let them be sure to plead daily for the weak of the Lord’s people, the doubting, the tempted, and the comfortless. It will redound to their honour if they make much intercession for those who are in darkness and dare not draw nigh unto the mercy seat. Instructed believers may serve their Master greatly if they lay out their talents for the general good, and impart their wealth of heavenly learning to others, by teaching them the things of God. The very least in our Israel may at least seek the welfare of his people; and his desire, if he can give no more, shall be acceptable. It is at once the most Christlike and the most happy course for a believer to cease from living to himself. He who blesses others cannot fail to be blessed himself. On the other hand, to seek our own personal greatness is a wicked and unhappy plan of life, its way will be grievous and its end will be fatal.

Here is the place to ask thee, my friend, whether thou art to the best of thy power seeking the wealth of the church in thy neighbourhood? I trust thou art not doing it mischief by bitterness and scandal, nor weakening it by thy neglect. Friend, unite with the Lord’s poor, bear their cross, do them all the good thou canst, and thou shalt not miss thy reward.

—Morning and Evening

1 John 2:15-17 (KJV)
¹⁵ Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
¹⁷ And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

“For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.” 3John 1:3

The truth was in Gaius, and Gaius walked in a the truth. If the first had not been the case, the second could never have occurred; and if the second could not be said of him the first would have been a mere pretence. Truth must enter into the soul, penetrate and saturate it, or else it is of no value.

Doctrines held as a matter of creed are like bread in the hand, which ministers no nourishment to the frame; but doctrine accepted by the heart, is as food digested, which, by assimilation, sustains and builds up the body. In us truth must be a living force, an active energy, an indwelling reality, a part of the woof and warp of our being. If it be in us, we cannot henceforth part with it. A man may lose his garments or his limbs, but his inward parts are vital, and cannot be torn away without absolute loss of life. A Christian can die, but he cannot deny the truth. Now it is a rule of nature that the inward affects the outward, as light shines from the centre of the lantern through the glass: when, therefore, the truth is kindled within, its brightness soon beams forth in the outward life and conversation. It is said that the food of certain worms colours the cocoons of silk which they spin: and just so the nutriment upon which a man’s inward nature lives gives a tinge to every word and deed proceeding from him. To walk in the truth, imports a life of integrity, holiness, faithfulness, and simplicity–the natural product of those principles of truth which the gospel teaches, and which the Spirit of God enables us to receive. We may judge of the secrets of the soul by their manifestation in the man’s conversation. Be it ours to-day, O gracious Spirit, to be ruled and governed by Thy divine authority, so that nothing false or sinful may reign in our hearts, lest it extend its malignant influence to our daily walk among men.

—Morning and Evening

I was delighted to be able to receive a copy of The Sout Project’s debut, entitled Story, in advance of its launch next week on 11 Dec.

The Sout Project is the brainchild of Nic Paton, who has been around in the South African music industry a longer time than most actually know. His experience and talent as a composer and producer on the album really shines – with truly brilliant instrumentation that is a pleasure to listen to with a set of headphones on (how one should always listen closely to an album, in my opinion).

The first thing that must be said about Story is that it is by no means a commercial album. From a musical point of view, don’t expect pop, rock, rap, electronica or anything that most of us are used to; from a lyrical point of view, don’t expect the usual either.

Story has been labelled a Christian worship album in various places by Paton, who has made a point of saying that it isn’t your standard run-of-the-mill Christian Contemporary Music (CCM) worship album. I’m grateful for that as I’m a little tired of all the usual stuff we see floating around, usually with cheesy pop tunes and cheesy lyrics to boot. Seriously, a five year old can come up with “I worship you my King, to you I sing” and most of us probably know how little depth a great deal of CCM has. There’s nothing wrong with simple lyrics and music, but we need a bit of simple and depth in the mix.

Personally, I love world music and when Paton first told me about the idea of Story I got very excited. I imagined a mix of Sting and Paul Simon and perhaps a bit of 80’s Peter Gabriel all thrown into the mix. I think a Gabriel influence is definitely evident on this album.

I’ve been wanting to experiment with different musical styles from all over the world in worship for ages myself, but just have never quite had the resources. So I was very stoked when someone else echoed my heart in this respect.

Track one on the album sees the popular author Brian Mclaren narrate and sing over the famous Irish traditional hymn “Be Thou My Vision.” He is joined by a choir, a child, and a number of other singers. It opens up the theme of the album nicely and has some wonderful violins and bongo rhythms, and what sounds like sitar, amidst some great arrangements; but it is not a very strong song in my opinion. We’ll get to the theme of the album when we discuss the lyrical content below.

Track two is great. The song features the Xhosa traditional bow player Madosini. Right from the beginning anyone who loves world music will be hooked from an instrumentation point of view. When listening on headphones there’s a great eclectic African mix on this song that I really enjoyed, with some choir coming in at the end. The song really shines at the end with great arrangements.

Aumen (track three) has a fantastic electronica arrangement at about 2:15 minutes in, with the song having built up to this point. The vocals are great from this point as well with really enjoyable sitar solos coming in a little later. The song builds up nicely and continues to surprise as it goes. I’m not a fan of the narration a little later though.

Track four, “Be Still”, is probably my least favourite track but it mixes nicely into track five. Track five, “Held”, is pretty average in my opinion, until about 2:40 minutes in when a beautiful classic guitar solo reminiscent of something we’d hear from Sting shines through. It could have actually gone on a little longer it’s that enjoyable!

Track six sees a change of pace. The song is best described as a world-music electronica dance piece. The melody on this one is really great and the African vocals are fantastic, alongside the inclusion of a host of different instruments. I’m sure there’s a vuvuzela in there somewhere. Paton was having fun with this song. The song reminds me of Goldfish in some ways.

The pace slows down with track seven, “Instrument”, which sounds like a medieval tune. It’s nice and would do if one is in the mood for it.

“Meditation with Mechtild”, which is track eight, has some wonderful synthesisers and sound effects (even birds in the background) alongside a wonderful mandolin (I’m sure it’s a mandolin) piece that repeats over the track again and again. Here we meet some ethereal planes and the song does well in that respect. It mixes wonderfully into track nine, “In All Things”. One doesn’t pick up that these are two separate tracks on the CD until the last track comes up.

“In All Things” sees a change of pace but continues in a similar vein with surprising arrangements. The song is sung in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa – a nice touch. From about 3:05 minutes in the song surprises with a change of rhythm completely and incorporates some medditeranean vibes. I really enjoy this about it.

“Bigsmall”, the last track of the album, is probably the weakest of the album, with more Brian Mclaren narration at the end. It closes the album nicely from a theme point of view but I wasn’t too stoked about it in many other respects.

I’ve praised the instrumentation on Story and looked at each song separately. I need to obviously say something about the vocals. The fact of the matter is the vocals are not stand-out amazing; but the idea of the album is more to express than impress, in my opinion, and I appreciate that from an artistic and musical point of view very much.

Now, onto the theme and lyrical content. A review needs to be as objective as possible and lyrics are as important to an album as everything else. John Mayer’s new album Battle Studies, for instance, irritates from a lyrical point of view and drags down the album a great deal. Since Story is said to be a Christian album – and a worship one to boot – I need to keep this in mind when reviewing the album.

Story aims to be more ‘earthy’ in its worship than ‘heavenly’ – which means that its trying to get away from the ‘ethereal plain’ of a lot of worship music. I love the idea and musically this comes across.

The album is very syncretistic in its musical content and in its lyrical content this is also the case. The issue is that this is worship, and that involves theology; the problem is that when theology gets syncretistic it gets controversial, and Story is no exception.

Obviously, with having Mclaren open the album, Christians who know anything about him need to be prepared for a little bit of syncretism. Although Mclaren has often claimed he is not syncretistic, Story is, and this makes it difficult for the standard run-of-the-mill Christian to feel comfortable worshipping to certain songs. In particular, “Aumen” and the meditation with Mechtild spring to mind. Although your standard run-of-the-mill Christian (which I admit is a pretty general term and really doesn’t explain much) probably wouldn’t be interested in this album anyway.

When it comes to worship I’ll usually spin some Matt Redman on my Ubuntu Rhythmbox who I know is usually going to belt out some heart-felt tunes with great theology. His new album “We Shall Not Be Shaken” is really good, for interest sake.

I also think David Crowder Band’s “A Collision” is fantastic; pity American audiences didn’t take to it too well.

But I do usually struggle to find anything in worship music that is different. Redman gets my vote due to his heart and theology, and some great tunes; other guys get no votes as there appears to be little heart, cheesy theology (to put it simply) and bubblegum tunes that you’ll be sick of in a week. Hillsongs United can give you goosebumps, sure, but very few songs last longer than a few months. However, we still sing “Better is One Day” (Matt Redman) at my church and that song is really old now.

What do I think of Story with regards to all this? Well, the tunes are certainly not congregational, but that’s OK I think (it doesn’t always have to be). The album sure has heart, but I’m not too keen on the theology.

But even if I was ok with some of the theology presented I still think the lyrics could have been much better. Lyrics are where I struggle the most in music writing, so I don’t think I’m one to talk when looking at my own skill in this; but I know what is good, and The Sout Project can do better.

Overall, could I worship with Story? No. That’s because of my own theological take on things. Do I enjoy it? Yes. It certainly is a great debut, musically, and fits my world-music tastes in a wonderful way. One or two tracks may even work really well on an African/Electronica/Eccentric Putamayo album of some sort, which is a great compliment as far as I’m concerned.

From a purely sound point of view, Story sounds much better on a set of headphones than it does going through most of the sound systems I used, except for a good hi-fi. I think the mix is done nicely but the mastering might be the real problem here. A good mastering would have given the album the boost it needs to stand out a little more. From the credits it looks like the album was mastered using Pro-Tools and, while this gives a fairly OK master, it doesn’t give it the edge a mastering technician would be able to give it. Mastering is expensive, though, and this is an independent undertaking – something that must be kept in mind.

Conclusion? A great debut with wonderful world music, simply beautiful instrumentation and excellent arrangements. However, the vocals and the lyrics need improving and the mastering is something that should be considered for future installments.

As far as the packaging goes, Story looks great and has some great style and artwork. I’m not too much of a fan of the picture montage inside, but everything else about the packaging conveys the theme and is very creative and original. I really liked it. So well done Sout, hoping to see a follow up come out of this.

See www.soutproject.net for more details about the album.