What the most recent blog entry was all about...

If the most recent entry ("...Worship music is garbage...") seemed random and vague, you're not alone. I copied and pasted the article from another site. Several time I tried to add a little commentary to it so you'd know exactly what the stink you were reading. Each time I tried, the site gave me some HTML error, like I wasn't dotting all my i's and crossing all my t's. That would be fine, if I was an expert programmer and were actually writing in a computer language, not in some 10th grade template.

Anyhow, what you read was a portion of an article with Steve Bell. He's a Canadian singer-songwriter who's really talented. Go to his site and buy everything. But if you read the piece, you know he's not into a lot of this new worship music. I think he's got a lot to say about the commercialization of the church. Does it strike you as odd that big-time secular companies will sponsor Christian rock tours? Or that you'll hear car insurance commercials during syndicated worship music programs? Are they all signing off on a statement of faith, that they agree with what is being preached? Do they somehow contribute to "watering down" the message? Do singers/preachers leave the confrontational stuff in their offices so they can collect their big marketing checks? And has the Burger King theology (have it your way!) entered our music so much that we'll sing anything as long as it's being sung in church?

I like the idea that we can think about this stuff. Hey, I don't totally agree with Steve. Some of today's music is great. Simple? Maybe. Musically derivative? Often. But let's encourage those who are getting it right, instead of ripping a whole genre of music. And let's be honest - Steve worries about his songs being heard 200 years from now. Before this article was posted, had you even heard of Steve before? He may be talented, but he's no household name in the US. Not really even in Canada, where he's from.

So there it is. Now you have some background. Clear as mud, no?

Two small issues as we close:

1. don't forget about nanowrimo, starting Tuesday! I've changed the title of my book to "On the Fritz", after the song by Steve Taylor. The book will still follow a pastor on a journey of desire, just a little bit different. Enjoy starting next week.

2. I posted an article about former Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers. Well, she's out on her patootie. I'm not sure if it was a Bush strategy to put up a lightweight relatively speaking. I'm sure Harriet means well, but she just wasn't a unifying figure. I'm sure she's a nice lady. She never struck me as someone who was capable of the job. It's like your Aunt Martha was nominated. She kind of wishy-washy on abortion, same-sex
marriage, and the rule of law. She makes a killer ambrosia salad at Thanksgiving, though. Who will they run up there now? How about Judge Judy? Is Judge Wapner from the old People's Court available? Whatever happened to Rusty the Baliff, anyway?

Whoa. How'd I lose control so quickly? Be safe through Monday night. I'll catch you later for the start of Nanowrimo!

Walk with God...