Whatever happened to originality?

Just watched part of the Dove Awards again. I know - why?  It is like picking a scab - I know it is not good for me, I just can't help it.  The saddest part is that I really love music.  I love listening to Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns, Jeremy Camp and the rest of the gang...

 

On the Gospel Music Channel, immediately following the Doves was a show called Gospel Dreams.  It is our version of American Idol.  You have got to be kidding..... 

 

Is it that Christian musicians are not good enough to be on American Idol?  Since we are not good enough to compete with the "rest of the world" we will have our own talent show.  There is no way that we can compete with great musicians so we have our own program. 

Wouldn't it be awesome if a Christian took front and center at the Grammy award show?  Wouldn't it be awesome if it was a Christian who won the Idol contest?  Wouldn't it be awesome if people began to associate talent with Christians - on their playing field? 

I guess we will keep peddling our Jesus Junk, t-shirts with really crummy slogans, bumper stickers that are obnoxious, and fish shaped objects for the back of our cars and wonder why no one will take us seriously.

Doves Again

I thought Point of Grace was a group made up of young women...  what happened?  Man does time change some things......

What is wrong with us???

 

Watched most of the Dove Awards tonight.  Not sure why, - guess there was nothing else on.  Anyways, what is wrong with us?  Is it even possible for Christians to be original?  You would think that we would be the most unique, creative, inspired group of people on the planet. 

I guess the problem is that no one thinks.  Look, I love music - I really love music and always have it playing in my home, car, office, where ever I am, but come on..... 

Is it even possible that as Believers we could come up with our own ideas?  The only unique band on the show is Crowder and that is because he is Crowder.  He cannot help but be unique.  But the production value of his number was absolutely awful.   Was anyone at the controls listening?  It would have been nice if they would have turned the mics on.....

Kind of sad when over 30,000 kids will die today on the planet due to bad drinking water, enough money was spent to put on a less than par production that probably could have saved the lives of thousands.  We are so screwed up. 

The Reality of Death and Life

Ministry is a crazy calling.  You experience almost every realm of emotions and situations known to the human race in any given week.  Death has become all too of a common experience.  Way too many people we know are dying - way too many.  But the question that I have found myself struggling with lately is this:  are we really living?

 

Recently a friend had to travel  great distance to attend a funeral of a dear friend who has had a profound impact - not only on my friend's life, but evidently on many, many people.  This man lived his life in such a way that many over a period of years were so impacted that when the news of the sudden death hit, all plans changed and people traveled to be there.  I would guess, although I have never met this man, he knew how to live.  He knew that we get one chance at it and the only thing that matters is what we do with it for God and for others.  That is living..... God and others. 

 

Jesus summed it up all the time  -  Love God - love others.  That is the recipe for life.  Man do we confuse it....  job, money, stuff, reputation, more stuff, more debt, more reputation......  and in the process we never live.  We just exist.

God save us from existing and burden us to live before we die.  Love God - Love People.  Pretty simple.

Saturdays

As a kid I loved Saturdays.  Nothing to do and no expectations except having fun and relaxing. 

As an adult, I hate to admit that I have let Saturdays become just like every other day.  No time to relax, always doing something, no different than Monday thru Friday. 

Saturdays should be for fun.  Spending time with the family, getting things done around the house, and an occasional nap.  Usually I spend much of Saturday getting ready for Sunday, but that has to stop. 

Recently I was on a trip with my parents taking my dad to a clinic to try to get him some help physically.  While I was gone from home, the reality of the fact that I only get to do this once hit home.  Not sure why, just did. I will only get to parent Andrew at 13 and Justin at 12 once.  I better do it right.  Right now they actually like being around me.  I know the day is coming when they will think I am Bozo, but until then, I had better take advantage of being a dad - their dad.

Saturday - a day I will learn to love again; a day my family will learn to love again.

Trip is over

Just got back in the office from taking my dad to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.  Nice to be with my brother for a few days and to see dad improve a bit over the couple of weeks there.  I am so thankful that we made it there and back without incident.  Now we need a little time to see how the changes in the medication and diet help.   Continue to pray for him.