Here is something a little different... I have ideas for a few books I would like to write, each a little different from the others. One is a reflection on the Christian college experience, and the title of the book ("30,000 Well Spent") is taken from the title of a poem I wrote during my first semester at college (you can find it somewhere on this blog). Here is an idea for the start of this hypothetical book, introducing the first time I stepped foot on campus. For this book concept I will hopefully keep writing ideas on here, whilest I keep you in the dark on other book ideas... because, lets be honest, they may never happen and thats just embarrassing if I talk up all these ideas and never actually do any of them. Enjoy.
Her eyes were a green labyrinth I was utterly prepared to be lost in. Her brown hair danced delicately in the Chicago summer wind. Her smile inspired my back to straighten proudly despite the two fifty pound bags I dragged behind me. This was it, my first moment on campus and I met the woman of my dreams, the girl who's voice could calm the chaos stirring in my soul.
Fortunately my parents were kind enough to lag behind as I made my entrance onto campus and into the consciousness of my new love. They wanted to share with me this monumental moment of walking onto campus for the first time, but they gave me space to get some barring on my new surroundings. They were not going to get in my way during my great moment of truth: the first words I would utter to my dream girl.
Not sure what to say I opened my mouth all the same, trusting on God's grace and my own instinct to guild me in the most important conversation of my short life. Words began to press themselves over my tongue making their way over my lips when suddenly my green eyed angel spoke.
"Hi." Music to rival the holy choir.
"Hey." I cleverly retorted, hoping that in one small word my California coolness would dazzle this quaint Midwesterner.
"Can you sing?" This chick is forward! We've only known each other for a few seconds and already she is enquiring about the deeper parts of my soul. She must be a poet. Can I sing?... Can I sing?!...
"No. I'm not much of a singer." If she is not impressed by my humility then she is not the woman I fell in love with.
"Come on, you can sing a little." She sees in me more potential than I even see in myself. She will be my muse.
"Trust me; the whole world is better off if no one has to hear me sing." In that last word finality invaded our endless love. Her vacuous green eyes became stone black. Her soul receded, refusing to bear itself any longer to this musical Neanderthal. I looked to my right to see where my lost love came from. The table read "choir" in bold letters. She was a recruiter. Her eyes swore she loved me but they were filled with empty flattery and lies.
We never spoke again.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Reflections on Lost Part 1: Guarding Your Heart (or "Conviction loves company")
Even though the six members of my family live in three different time zones we still love doing stuff and sharing our lives together. So when my brother decided he would start watching Lost this December all of us decided to come along with him. My parents watched episode by episode, usually one a day. My sister watched as she was able. In the time I began watching Lost the Lord saw fit to give me an unusually large amount of time off from work so I was able to burn through episodes, loving every minute of it.
For the people who don't know Lost is a show designed to mess with the audiences' head. As I watched the first two seasons questions built up in my head, questions numbering in the hundreds. By the final episode of the second season only about two of my questions were answers and I had at least another fifty. The show thrives on mystery and providing explanations for those mysteries in ways the audience could never expect.
In starting to watch Lost I was conscious of the fact that I was over six years behind the times. I was one of the few who hadn't been wrapped up in the Lost mania up to this point. Many people in my life loved the show and discussed it, but up to the point of me actually getting interested in the show it was all just useless ramblings. Then all of a sudden I was into the show and all that rambling had meaning and could unlock secrets I was not yet prepared for.
To truly appreciate the show as it was intended I had to keep myself from hearing spoilers about later episodes. I had to experience each twist and turn as the original audience did. I had to keep myself uncorrupted. But corruption was everywhere. Discussions on Lost were all over the internet. All my friends at work loved talking about television shows they were watching and Lost was one of the most commonly discussed. I had to do my best to keep myself from learning too much too soon, thus ruining the surprises waiting for me.
One day when my friend was trying to text me spoilers about the show because they were too excited about it to not share it with me I fought passionately against them, begging them not to ruin anything for me. I would get to the point they were at soon enough, and we could talk about it then, but if they reveal this bit to me now they would rob me of the shock and joy they were experiencing. After explaining that to them, and threatening to not be their friend anymore, they relented and left to experience Lost with fresh eyes.
With the crisis averted I let out a victory cry (yeah, sometimes I talk to myself) "A man has got to guard his heart! That's right!" Then that stupid statement got me thinking... I had watched three seasons of lost in so many weeks and had managed to keep myself from having one moment or surprise ruined. I got to watch three seasons with the same shock and surprise as a person who watched each original episode.
How did that happen? Because I worked my butt of to make sure nothing was ruined. I was conscious of conversations at work, being sure to steer clear of anything that might corrupt my innocence. I resisted the urge to click on websites that talked about Lost (no matter how much I wanted to read about their thoughts on Locke or the black smoke or anything else). I didn't even tell anyone I was watching the show so they wouldn't ask questions that would lead to spoilers. I made a conscious decision and kept to it.
All those thoughts flooded my mind in an instant and I was convicted. My heart got heavy. I put more work into keeping myself pure in regard to Lost than I do with the rest of my life. Proverbs 4:23 tells me to guard my heart for it is the wellspring of life. I need to protect it from the corrupting influence of sin. But I haven't been too diligent in that. I've allowed myself to see, hear, and touch things of this world I had no business being a part of. Curiosity and sin led me to seek out things I was not yet ready for, it made me go after pleasures that were forbidden. While I knew how important it was to keep myself from the corrupting influence of sin I did it all the same. Part of me had resigned itself to believing that it wasn't possible to live in this world without getting a substantial amount of its dirt on you. Then this whole Lost thing happen and I thought maybe it is possible to keep oneself uncorrupted from the world. But I have to want it.
For the people who don't know Lost is a show designed to mess with the audiences' head. As I watched the first two seasons questions built up in my head, questions numbering in the hundreds. By the final episode of the second season only about two of my questions were answers and I had at least another fifty. The show thrives on mystery and providing explanations for those mysteries in ways the audience could never expect.
In starting to watch Lost I was conscious of the fact that I was over six years behind the times. I was one of the few who hadn't been wrapped up in the Lost mania up to this point. Many people in my life loved the show and discussed it, but up to the point of me actually getting interested in the show it was all just useless ramblings. Then all of a sudden I was into the show and all that rambling had meaning and could unlock secrets I was not yet prepared for.
To truly appreciate the show as it was intended I had to keep myself from hearing spoilers about later episodes. I had to experience each twist and turn as the original audience did. I had to keep myself uncorrupted. But corruption was everywhere. Discussions on Lost were all over the internet. All my friends at work loved talking about television shows they were watching and Lost was one of the most commonly discussed. I had to do my best to keep myself from learning too much too soon, thus ruining the surprises waiting for me.
One day when my friend was trying to text me spoilers about the show because they were too excited about it to not share it with me I fought passionately against them, begging them not to ruin anything for me. I would get to the point they were at soon enough, and we could talk about it then, but if they reveal this bit to me now they would rob me of the shock and joy they were experiencing. After explaining that to them, and threatening to not be their friend anymore, they relented and left to experience Lost with fresh eyes.
With the crisis averted I let out a victory cry (yeah, sometimes I talk to myself) "A man has got to guard his heart! That's right!" Then that stupid statement got me thinking... I had watched three seasons of lost in so many weeks and had managed to keep myself from having one moment or surprise ruined. I got to watch three seasons with the same shock and surprise as a person who watched each original episode.
How did that happen? Because I worked my butt of to make sure nothing was ruined. I was conscious of conversations at work, being sure to steer clear of anything that might corrupt my innocence. I resisted the urge to click on websites that talked about Lost (no matter how much I wanted to read about their thoughts on Locke or the black smoke or anything else). I didn't even tell anyone I was watching the show so they wouldn't ask questions that would lead to spoilers. I made a conscious decision and kept to it.
All those thoughts flooded my mind in an instant and I was convicted. My heart got heavy. I put more work into keeping myself pure in regard to Lost than I do with the rest of my life. Proverbs 4:23 tells me to guard my heart for it is the wellspring of life. I need to protect it from the corrupting influence of sin. But I haven't been too diligent in that. I've allowed myself to see, hear, and touch things of this world I had no business being a part of. Curiosity and sin led me to seek out things I was not yet ready for, it made me go after pleasures that were forbidden. While I knew how important it was to keep myself from the corrupting influence of sin I did it all the same. Part of me had resigned itself to believing that it wasn't possible to live in this world without getting a substantial amount of its dirt on you. Then this whole Lost thing happen and I thought maybe it is possible to keep oneself uncorrupted from the world. But I have to want it.
Well Meaning Promises (or "thus spake the grumpy old man part 1")
I'm twenty-five and single. I don't say that for you to feel bad for me. I don't need your pity, it won't make me any less single and it won't buy me food, so pity is useless. I've had a lot of people feel compelled to comfort me in my current state, sometimes that comfort is fished for, often it's not. And most of the time I have no idea where it comes from at all.
More often than not I'm told "don't worry, she is out there somewhere," or "God's got a great girl for you," or "if soandso can get a girl so can you," etc. It's not just about being single, I get this kind of comfort for a lot of things: "Don't worry, you will get a good job someday," "Someday you'll have a car that doesn't have a big dent in the back of it that people laugh at." Stuff like that. And I have to wonder: Where do these promises come from? How can you guarantee any of this?
Existentialism promised me life defined by pain and difficulty, broken up by moments of levity and joy that are to be cherished and never taken for granted. But make no mistake, in existentialism to live is to suffer. So sad!
The Bible makes several promises of the Lord caring for His own and never forsaking them, but those promises are made to provide comfort because we are also faced with the reality that to be a Christian we must take up our cross, be salt and light, forsake our old life with its passions and desires, seek truth, deny ourselves, face persecution, persevere through trials, etc. I am promised two things: 1) that to be a Christian in this life is to be at war with a world consumed by sin and rebelling against the God I serve, and 2) the Lord will always be with me to love and guide me through all of this (and more than that that this life is temporary, I wait for the joy of heaven that minimized all the trials in this world).
But nowhere do I find a promise that I will meet a beautiful girl and get married. Nowhere is there a mention that I will have a car that doesn't threaten to break down every couple of months. Nowhere am I promised a job that will help me save for a retirement (that is only good if I'm on this planet long enough to enjoy it) or will get me enough money to not have to have ramen noodles be a common part of my diet.
There was a girl I was seeing a while back and she had some things she was worried about. What she wanted to be told was that everything was going to be okay, that the problems would be taken care of and so she didn't need to worry. That might have been the right thing to say at the time, I don't know. But that isn't what I said, which might be the reason for why I said "I was seeing" rather than saying "I am seeing"... who's to say? All I could say was that no matter what happens the details are not in our hands anymore. What is done is done, but no matter what we will deal with it and take each challenge as it comes, trusting that the Lord is guiding our lives.
I deeply appreciate my friends and family trying to comfort me. But I have to keep reminding myself and others that even if I never have any of these things Jesus is still Lord, and someday I will be with Him in paradise. That is what I'm living for and that's the thought that helps me wake up in the morning. Certainly sometimes I wonder if there is a girl out there for me and what she might be doing at any particular moment, and sometimes I wonder what it would be like to own a car where the steering column doesn't sporadically rattle inexplicably. But my comfort is in who Christ is, not in what I have. Jesus is still Lord regardless of marital status or possessions. I pray that that would be what brings us joy, not temporal things.
More often than not I'm told "don't worry, she is out there somewhere," or "God's got a great girl for you," or "if soandso can get a girl so can you," etc. It's not just about being single, I get this kind of comfort for a lot of things: "Don't worry, you will get a good job someday," "Someday you'll have a car that doesn't have a big dent in the back of it that people laugh at." Stuff like that. And I have to wonder: Where do these promises come from? How can you guarantee any of this?
Existentialism promised me life defined by pain and difficulty, broken up by moments of levity and joy that are to be cherished and never taken for granted. But make no mistake, in existentialism to live is to suffer. So sad!
The Bible makes several promises of the Lord caring for His own and never forsaking them, but those promises are made to provide comfort because we are also faced with the reality that to be a Christian we must take up our cross, be salt and light, forsake our old life with its passions and desires, seek truth, deny ourselves, face persecution, persevere through trials, etc. I am promised two things: 1) that to be a Christian in this life is to be at war with a world consumed by sin and rebelling against the God I serve, and 2) the Lord will always be with me to love and guide me through all of this (and more than that that this life is temporary, I wait for the joy of heaven that minimized all the trials in this world).
But nowhere do I find a promise that I will meet a beautiful girl and get married. Nowhere is there a mention that I will have a car that doesn't threaten to break down every couple of months. Nowhere am I promised a job that will help me save for a retirement (that is only good if I'm on this planet long enough to enjoy it) or will get me enough money to not have to have ramen noodles be a common part of my diet.
There was a girl I was seeing a while back and she had some things she was worried about. What she wanted to be told was that everything was going to be okay, that the problems would be taken care of and so she didn't need to worry. That might have been the right thing to say at the time, I don't know. But that isn't what I said, which might be the reason for why I said "I was seeing" rather than saying "I am seeing"... who's to say? All I could say was that no matter what happens the details are not in our hands anymore. What is done is done, but no matter what we will deal with it and take each challenge as it comes, trusting that the Lord is guiding our lives.
I deeply appreciate my friends and family trying to comfort me. But I have to keep reminding myself and others that even if I never have any of these things Jesus is still Lord, and someday I will be with Him in paradise. That is what I'm living for and that's the thought that helps me wake up in the morning. Certainly sometimes I wonder if there is a girl out there for me and what she might be doing at any particular moment, and sometimes I wonder what it would be like to own a car where the steering column doesn't sporadically rattle inexplicably. But my comfort is in who Christ is, not in what I have. Jesus is still Lord regardless of marital status or possessions. I pray that that would be what brings us joy, not temporal things.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Entertain Me! (an exploration of "Christian art" with personal recommendations)
One of the most interesting, thought provoking, rage inspiring conversations I am want to have with fellow Christians is about the place of Christians in art, and the concept of Christian art in general.
note 1: There are men who have dissected this topic in far more detail than I am able to do here, so until I can write a book on it I recommend looking into them if you have the time and or passion, if you live near me you can borrow them. Franky Schaeffer (not to be confused with his father Francis, the esteemed mid-twentieth century theologian) wrote a critique on Christians in art called Addicted to Mediocrity that boldly looks at everything from music to bumper stickers (and there are ironic and funny drawings in the book too) and its just under 150 pages so its an easy read. The lead singer of Stavesacre, the Crucified, and Outercircle (mentioned below) wrote a book about being an artist in the "Christian-rock industry" (which is a sinfully ridiculous term in my opinion and the writer of that book agrees). His name is Mark Salomon and his book is titled Simplicity. For the really intense student on the subject (I don't know if anyone I know but me has been nerdy enough to read all three of these books, especially within a month's time) you can check out the U2 biography At the Edge of the World where the band is followed for close to a decade and they discuss Christians and their place in the exploration of the arts. You may not agree with all of these books (and if you disagree with me here you may not agree with any of them) but they are interesting to check out.
Note 2: this essay highlights artists I respect and therefore I believe they should be appreciated and enjoyed. Therefore each of the bands and books has been linked so you can easily get to them on amazon. It's kind of lame, but I thought I'd be helpful and might inspire you to actually check them out.
end of notes.
There deserves to be an indepth study on the progression of Christians and their place in the artistic world. I have neither the space nor resources to do that right here but it needs to be done someday, soon if I had my way. In a modified version of that work I can say that the place of Christians in art has changed dramatically over the centuries. As in the sciences Christians were at once on step with the rest of the world (or even more progressive than what was happening artistically in the world). Art was dedicated to exploring Christian themes in a creative and innovative manner. Creative minds were investing themselves into creating new works of art to be shared with the world, and those creative minds were dedicated to the best possible product, not just a product that was good, but better than anything else created. Things have changed. Rather than being in step with society Christians have become imitators of modern culture. We have been content to recreate and Christianize what is rather than to innovate artistic mediums. Consider how many Christian artists are presented as Christian alternatives to what is happening in popculture (usually at least 5 years behind the trends). When boy bands were huge and prepubecent girls were pining over Justin Timberlake and Nick Lache some Christian executive decided it was time to create a Christian boy band. Frank Peretti (a good writer in his own right) has been marketed to me as the Christian response to Stephen King. KJ52 seems overly fixated on Eminem. And DC Talk answers the question what if U2 and Sugar Hill had a baby and it became a Christian? I'm not trying to detract from the talent of the examples given, but showing rarely are they encouraged to do anything innovative or risky. They go with the flow of culture, giving a Christian alternative to what is carnal and popular.
This is not the best we can do! Art is one of the greatest tools we have to communicate our faith, deal with our struggles, gain encouragement, and find refuge in times of pain. Art is a gift from God, not a tool in the hands of Satan that we need to exorcise. If it is a gift from God, and we are his people we should feel the responsibility to produce and consume the best art possible, not settle for merely what is available. We need to call our artists to a higher standard. We need to subject our pocketbooks to a higher standard. One way to honor Christ is to be people who communicate our faith through art in the best way possible (possibly calling into question our choices in automotive paraphernalia, clothing designs and music choices). Art should communicate in a way that is new and interesting, that digs into your soul and shows you something that was lying dormant, that you can run to and be soaked in its warmth and encouragement, that you can identify with on a level that is entirely personal. It should convict your heart. It should inspire change. It should instigate thought and discussion. It should (in some respect) make you uncomfortable. Good art changes things where it is displayed and demands a response. We need to be interacting with that kind of art more often, and seeking it out where ever it is. Read an old hymn (A Mighty Fortress is Our God, or Amazing Grace) and compare it to modern day praise songs, in my opinion, often something is lacking from the latter. Those songs can stir the soul, not because they are played on an organ but because artist creativity is wonderfully on display.
Because this is my conviction I have decided to point out some art that has had this effect on me and I am confident will resonate with others as well. Check them out and look for your own and lets continue this conversation of searching for art that is innovative, creative, and honors Christ.
1) Stavesacre. For my money this is one of the best bands I have ever heard. I have been listening to them for ten years and their music continues to speak to me. I am encouraged, convicted, challenged and refreshed when I put on one of their albums. But I am never bored. Their lyrics hit on universal themes like depression, loss, hope and perseverance, but spend most of their time hitting on the greater themes of grace, redemption, and victory. They ask probing questions (one song lyric states: "I couldn't tell you why good people suffer, I couldn't tell you why the bad ones run free, God showers blessings on the righteous and the wicked, I only know that that covers me." Gives me chills), and seek to examine life for what it is rather than for what we wish it were (no cliche Christianese phrases used here). The Members of this band are artists who deal with real issues of being a Christian in a fallen world. Nothing is sugar coated, and nothing is trite or simple. They were a band that sought to be part of the music discussion of their time rather than to emulate it. If you like them and have some more punk roots you might consider checking out the singers other bands Outercircle (my personal favorite punk band), or The Crucified - the band that really got punk music into Christian ears.
2) Most music by artists who are Christians that is innovative is not as easy to find as the less-than-stellar examples of "Christian music." The simple reason is that innovation is risky and most people want something easily digestible. To borrow the from the milk verse meat model of truth most people would rather sip through a straw then chew. Or at least that's how executives see it. Executives who market to Christians are no different. From my research and talking to people in the industry standards of integrity are no higher in the Christian business world than in the real business world. For some its just easier to negotiate so they chose to live in it. Because of this finding music that resonates takes a little work. It takes research. Uneducated buying off the rack is inexcusable unless you don't have access to the internet (which clearly isn't you blog reader). There is myspace, purevolume and a plethora of other sites where you can hear music and google is a great way to search artists and read about them (interviews, bios, etc). Often finding music that is progressive means listening to musical styles that are a bit more progressive, which means adapting your ear. One of the great bands to come from Christian artists was known as Overcome. They have distortion and screaming but of any band I have listened to they weave scripture into their lyrics like no one else. Their songs are filled with encouragements and challenges, all born from a rich understanding of the teachings of Scripture. They go were many bands don't (lust, greed, doubt, etc) and use creative lyrics to communicate hope. They also have the most intense modern worship song that I have ever heard (I'm not using hyperbole, ten years of owning that cd it can still make me fall to my knees and weep). Granted all that is done through screaming, but why not give that a chance. The quality of the music and especially of the lyricism demands that we try and listen to something that is foreign. It does make me sad that a gigantic number of Christians have lost out on being challenged and encouraged by this band because they do not care for the musical style.
3) Often research is your only way to find good artists who are Christians, there are a few bands I fell in love with only to discover later that they were Christians (Attack! Attack! is an example of this, another hardcore band but a fun one with some nice lyrics and musical concepts). Many Christians have gone, what I believe is, the noble route and tried their hands in the secular market. I am not against artists who stay within Christian based record or publishing companies but I think some of the best work is done by those who are trying to make it in the real world. Not listening to a band because they are on a Christian label is the same as not listening to a band because they are on a secular label. Some of my favorite bands remain on Christian owned labels (Project 86 who is my favorite band is on a Christian owned label-buy all their albums and thank me later!). But my cynicism keeps me from fully trusting most bands who wave the Christian banner too high, not because I am ashamed of my faith but because I am proud of it. I don't want it being disrespected. This whole Christian music industry (that has only really had any life since the mid 90's) has created a strange sort of bizarro music world. If you say you're a Christian you automatically have a built in audience, regardless of talent or work ethic. Well meaning Christians want to support Christian bands, thereby supporting their brothers and sisters in the faith. This is a noble intention but there has to be more to it than that. In the same way as I want the best dentist operating on my grill I want the best artists to inspire me. Yes, I would love to go to a dentist who is a Christian but that takes more research than finding a dentist with an icthus (Jesus fish) in his ad in the yellowpages. Often the bands who are Christians and make it within the mainstream of music are the best we have to offer (the best within the Christian market are often those who settle to be in that market to be an encouragement and challenging voice for Christians, examples Project 86, MewithoutYou, and Emery). In my opinion the best example of Christians operating in the secular world would be Thrice. As far as I understand, up to this point, not all members are believers from this band. Artistically they are well respected. They dare to do things that are new and different, preferring to create a new experience rather than float on their past successes. Each cd is different than the last but they are all remarkable and all sound like Thrice. Thrice and Staveacre I believe are the two most commercially accessible bands I have listed. Dustin Kensrue, the lead singer of Thrice (who also has a solo project) is one of the best lyricists I know of. He is self aware of the topics and issues he hits on. His lyrics are deep and rich in meaning. He can make you want to rise up and change the world, and he can make your heart break, the emotional range is there in spades like no other band. They offer hope in a way that is refreshing and creative while many bands are all too comfortable to bath in cliches. In addition he is heavily influenced by CS Lewis which make for some great song concepts. Finally their lyrics are some of the best poetically, using imagery that is vivid and can capture your imagination if you allow yourself to do anything but listen passively.
4.) C.S. Lewis, The Space Trilogy buy these books and read them immediately. I am not being cute here! Before you even think about Harry Potter or Twilight again read these books. But be ready for crazy imagery, literary references, and metaphors (in other words, these books will make you think, which is an amazing and beautiful thing). Why are you still reading this blog? Buy those books!
5.) The most mainstream of Christian music I listen to is pretty much just Derek Webb. Admittedly I am not an avid listener. I only have his first cd but it gets regular play along with the other bands listed (often when I am in a quieter and more reflective mood). I started listening to him because my indy roommate from college told me that he looked like me and he wrote the kinds of songs I would sing if I had any musical talent. This made me laugh so I picked up the cd. Webb pulls no punches and says stuff Christians need to hear but often don't like to, calling into question our allegiance to our country when it contradicts our faith, raising questions of pacifism (I'm working through that one...), and dealing with what its like when you know all the words you're supposed to say but you don't feel any of them in your heart (popularly called hypocrisy). Check his music out and be prepared to hear a thing or two you might not agree with. That's a good thing! It forces us to come to terms with what we believe. Side note: most Christian theology was born out of arguments against wrong doctrine. In the same way we shouldn't be against hearing things we might not agree with, perhaps it will strengthen our own beliefs, or make us change our wrong beliefs.
6) If you are interested in really looking into a band that is progressing rather than floating with the tide (in addition to Thrice) you have to listen to Norma Jean. Norma Jean continues to surprise and thrill with every new cd. Their newest album rests on a new kind of scream/singing that they have flirted with up until now. They continue to sound original while most ever other hardcore/rock/metal band tries to sound like Norma Jean's previous album. Lyrically and creatively they stand alone, introducing complex themes and expressing emotions like few others can. They are also one of the best bands at creatively quoting Scripture (quoting Isaiah and Ezekiel is always a good way to go) which serves as a way to strengthen themes they are addressing rather than simply paying lip service to their audience.
7) I have an OCD kind of habit I have no intention of breaking: I frequent books stores, I can spend hours just looking around at books. When I am there I will spend a large amount of my time looking through the Christian fiction section. I do this to either prove or disprove my thesis in my own mind. My thesis is this: all Christian fiction is either by Frank Peretti or modelled after Frank Peretti (meaning it is a dark and almost scary look into the supernatural and the powers of darkness) or it is about girls living on the prairie (sometimes the location is moved to rural England or something like that but almost always the character on the cover is wearing a bonnet). I search through the shelves to find a book that breaks this mold and does something different. In my search thus far I have found one book The Almost True Story of Ryan Fisher by Rob Stennett. The book's cover tries to tie this work in with authors like Kurt Vonnegut, and the author himself also mentions Christopher Moore as an inspiration. He doesn't reach their level of brilliance or their depth of social criticism or satire but it is the first of its kind that I know of: a modern day piece of literature that does more than cater to the formula. In addition it touches on some of the subjects I have discussed here. The main character is a real estate agent who decides if he puts an icthus (Jesus fish, in case you forgot in the last few minutes) on his ads then he can get a built in Christian clientele and increase sales. And just like it would in real life, it works! He then goes on to attempt to create a mega church. Is the satire and criticism as well executed as someone like Vonnegut has always been know for? No. But it is the start of something good I hope. This is a book that raises more interesting questions than it answers, and I think that is what art is supposed to do. Bono would agree with me, if you read At the Edge of the World you will see that. My prayer is that we will become a culture that actively engages art rather than passively consuming it. Art can make our lives rich rather than just providing background noise. We just have to let it.
note 1: There are men who have dissected this topic in far more detail than I am able to do here, so until I can write a book on it I recommend looking into them if you have the time and or passion, if you live near me you can borrow them. Franky Schaeffer (not to be confused with his father Francis, the esteemed mid-twentieth century theologian) wrote a critique on Christians in art called Addicted to Mediocrity that boldly looks at everything from music to bumper stickers (and there are ironic and funny drawings in the book too) and its just under 150 pages so its an easy read. The lead singer of Stavesacre, the Crucified, and Outercircle (mentioned below) wrote a book about being an artist in the "Christian-rock industry" (which is a sinfully ridiculous term in my opinion and the writer of that book agrees). His name is Mark Salomon and his book is titled Simplicity. For the really intense student on the subject (I don't know if anyone I know but me has been nerdy enough to read all three of these books, especially within a month's time) you can check out the U2 biography At the Edge of the World where the band is followed for close to a decade and they discuss Christians and their place in the exploration of the arts. You may not agree with all of these books (and if you disagree with me here you may not agree with any of them) but they are interesting to check out.
Note 2: this essay highlights artists I respect and therefore I believe they should be appreciated and enjoyed. Therefore each of the bands and books has been linked so you can easily get to them on amazon. It's kind of lame, but I thought I'd be helpful and might inspire you to actually check them out.
end of notes.
There deserves to be an indepth study on the progression of Christians and their place in the artistic world. I have neither the space nor resources to do that right here but it needs to be done someday, soon if I had my way. In a modified version of that work I can say that the place of Christians in art has changed dramatically over the centuries. As in the sciences Christians were at once on step with the rest of the world (or even more progressive than what was happening artistically in the world). Art was dedicated to exploring Christian themes in a creative and innovative manner. Creative minds were investing themselves into creating new works of art to be shared with the world, and those creative minds were dedicated to the best possible product, not just a product that was good, but better than anything else created. Things have changed. Rather than being in step with society Christians have become imitators of modern culture. We have been content to recreate and Christianize what is rather than to innovate artistic mediums. Consider how many Christian artists are presented as Christian alternatives to what is happening in popculture (usually at least 5 years behind the trends). When boy bands were huge and prepubecent girls were pining over Justin Timberlake and Nick Lache some Christian executive decided it was time to create a Christian boy band. Frank Peretti (a good writer in his own right) has been marketed to me as the Christian response to Stephen King. KJ52 seems overly fixated on Eminem. And DC Talk answers the question what if U2 and Sugar Hill had a baby and it became a Christian? I'm not trying to detract from the talent of the examples given, but showing rarely are they encouraged to do anything innovative or risky. They go with the flow of culture, giving a Christian alternative to what is carnal and popular.
This is not the best we can do! Art is one of the greatest tools we have to communicate our faith, deal with our struggles, gain encouragement, and find refuge in times of pain. Art is a gift from God, not a tool in the hands of Satan that we need to exorcise. If it is a gift from God, and we are his people we should feel the responsibility to produce and consume the best art possible, not settle for merely what is available. We need to call our artists to a higher standard. We need to subject our pocketbooks to a higher standard. One way to honor Christ is to be people who communicate our faith through art in the best way possible (possibly calling into question our choices in automotive paraphernalia, clothing designs and music choices). Art should communicate in a way that is new and interesting, that digs into your soul and shows you something that was lying dormant, that you can run to and be soaked in its warmth and encouragement, that you can identify with on a level that is entirely personal. It should convict your heart. It should inspire change. It should instigate thought and discussion. It should (in some respect) make you uncomfortable. Good art changes things where it is displayed and demands a response. We need to be interacting with that kind of art more often, and seeking it out where ever it is. Read an old hymn (A Mighty Fortress is Our God, or Amazing Grace) and compare it to modern day praise songs, in my opinion, often something is lacking from the latter. Those songs can stir the soul, not because they are played on an organ but because artist creativity is wonderfully on display.
Because this is my conviction I have decided to point out some art that has had this effect on me and I am confident will resonate with others as well. Check them out and look for your own and lets continue this conversation of searching for art that is innovative, creative, and honors Christ.
1) Stavesacre. For my money this is one of the best bands I have ever heard. I have been listening to them for ten years and their music continues to speak to me. I am encouraged, convicted, challenged and refreshed when I put on one of their albums. But I am never bored. Their lyrics hit on universal themes like depression, loss, hope and perseverance, but spend most of their time hitting on the greater themes of grace, redemption, and victory. They ask probing questions (one song lyric states: "I couldn't tell you why good people suffer, I couldn't tell you why the bad ones run free, God showers blessings on the righteous and the wicked, I only know that that covers me." Gives me chills), and seek to examine life for what it is rather than for what we wish it were (no cliche Christianese phrases used here). The Members of this band are artists who deal with real issues of being a Christian in a fallen world. Nothing is sugar coated, and nothing is trite or simple. They were a band that sought to be part of the music discussion of their time rather than to emulate it. If you like them and have some more punk roots you might consider checking out the singers other bands Outercircle (my personal favorite punk band), or The Crucified - the band that really got punk music into Christian ears.
2) Most music by artists who are Christians that is innovative is not as easy to find as the less-than-stellar examples of "Christian music." The simple reason is that innovation is risky and most people want something easily digestible. To borrow the from the milk verse meat model of truth most people would rather sip through a straw then chew. Or at least that's how executives see it. Executives who market to Christians are no different. From my research and talking to people in the industry standards of integrity are no higher in the Christian business world than in the real business world. For some its just easier to negotiate so they chose to live in it. Because of this finding music that resonates takes a little work. It takes research. Uneducated buying off the rack is inexcusable unless you don't have access to the internet (which clearly isn't you blog reader). There is myspace, purevolume and a plethora of other sites where you can hear music and google is a great way to search artists and read about them (interviews, bios, etc). Often finding music that is progressive means listening to musical styles that are a bit more progressive, which means adapting your ear. One of the great bands to come from Christian artists was known as Overcome. They have distortion and screaming but of any band I have listened to they weave scripture into their lyrics like no one else. Their songs are filled with encouragements and challenges, all born from a rich understanding of the teachings of Scripture. They go were many bands don't (lust, greed, doubt, etc) and use creative lyrics to communicate hope. They also have the most intense modern worship song that I have ever heard (I'm not using hyperbole, ten years of owning that cd it can still make me fall to my knees and weep). Granted all that is done through screaming, but why not give that a chance. The quality of the music and especially of the lyricism demands that we try and listen to something that is foreign. It does make me sad that a gigantic number of Christians have lost out on being challenged and encouraged by this band because they do not care for the musical style.
3) Often research is your only way to find good artists who are Christians, there are a few bands I fell in love with only to discover later that they were Christians (Attack! Attack! is an example of this, another hardcore band but a fun one with some nice lyrics and musical concepts). Many Christians have gone, what I believe is, the noble route and tried their hands in the secular market. I am not against artists who stay within Christian based record or publishing companies but I think some of the best work is done by those who are trying to make it in the real world. Not listening to a band because they are on a Christian label is the same as not listening to a band because they are on a secular label. Some of my favorite bands remain on Christian owned labels (Project 86 who is my favorite band is on a Christian owned label-buy all their albums and thank me later!). But my cynicism keeps me from fully trusting most bands who wave the Christian banner too high, not because I am ashamed of my faith but because I am proud of it. I don't want it being disrespected. This whole Christian music industry (that has only really had any life since the mid 90's) has created a strange sort of bizarro music world. If you say you're a Christian you automatically have a built in audience, regardless of talent or work ethic. Well meaning Christians want to support Christian bands, thereby supporting their brothers and sisters in the faith. This is a noble intention but there has to be more to it than that. In the same way as I want the best dentist operating on my grill I want the best artists to inspire me. Yes, I would love to go to a dentist who is a Christian but that takes more research than finding a dentist with an icthus (Jesus fish) in his ad in the yellowpages. Often the bands who are Christians and make it within the mainstream of music are the best we have to offer (the best within the Christian market are often those who settle to be in that market to be an encouragement and challenging voice for Christians, examples Project 86, MewithoutYou, and Emery). In my opinion the best example of Christians operating in the secular world would be Thrice. As far as I understand, up to this point, not all members are believers from this band. Artistically they are well respected. They dare to do things that are new and different, preferring to create a new experience rather than float on their past successes. Each cd is different than the last but they are all remarkable and all sound like Thrice. Thrice and Staveacre I believe are the two most commercially accessible bands I have listed. Dustin Kensrue, the lead singer of Thrice (who also has a solo project) is one of the best lyricists I know of. He is self aware of the topics and issues he hits on. His lyrics are deep and rich in meaning. He can make you want to rise up and change the world, and he can make your heart break, the emotional range is there in spades like no other band. They offer hope in a way that is refreshing and creative while many bands are all too comfortable to bath in cliches. In addition he is heavily influenced by CS Lewis which make for some great song concepts. Finally their lyrics are some of the best poetically, using imagery that is vivid and can capture your imagination if you allow yourself to do anything but listen passively.
4.) C.S. Lewis, The Space Trilogy buy these books and read them immediately. I am not being cute here! Before you even think about Harry Potter or Twilight again read these books. But be ready for crazy imagery, literary references, and metaphors (in other words, these books will make you think, which is an amazing and beautiful thing). Why are you still reading this blog? Buy those books!
5.) The most mainstream of Christian music I listen to is pretty much just Derek Webb. Admittedly I am not an avid listener. I only have his first cd but it gets regular play along with the other bands listed (often when I am in a quieter and more reflective mood). I started listening to him because my indy roommate from college told me that he looked like me and he wrote the kinds of songs I would sing if I had any musical talent. This made me laugh so I picked up the cd. Webb pulls no punches and says stuff Christians need to hear but often don't like to, calling into question our allegiance to our country when it contradicts our faith, raising questions of pacifism (I'm working through that one...), and dealing with what its like when you know all the words you're supposed to say but you don't feel any of them in your heart (popularly called hypocrisy). Check his music out and be prepared to hear a thing or two you might not agree with. That's a good thing! It forces us to come to terms with what we believe. Side note: most Christian theology was born out of arguments against wrong doctrine. In the same way we shouldn't be against hearing things we might not agree with, perhaps it will strengthen our own beliefs, or make us change our wrong beliefs.
6) If you are interested in really looking into a band that is progressing rather than floating with the tide (in addition to Thrice) you have to listen to Norma Jean. Norma Jean continues to surprise and thrill with every new cd. Their newest album rests on a new kind of scream/singing that they have flirted with up until now. They continue to sound original while most ever other hardcore/rock/metal band tries to sound like Norma Jean's previous album. Lyrically and creatively they stand alone, introducing complex themes and expressing emotions like few others can. They are also one of the best bands at creatively quoting Scripture (quoting Isaiah and Ezekiel is always a good way to go) which serves as a way to strengthen themes they are addressing rather than simply paying lip service to their audience.
7) I have an OCD kind of habit I have no intention of breaking: I frequent books stores, I can spend hours just looking around at books. When I am there I will spend a large amount of my time looking through the Christian fiction section. I do this to either prove or disprove my thesis in my own mind. My thesis is this: all Christian fiction is either by Frank Peretti or modelled after Frank Peretti (meaning it is a dark and almost scary look into the supernatural and the powers of darkness) or it is about girls living on the prairie (sometimes the location is moved to rural England or something like that but almost always the character on the cover is wearing a bonnet). I search through the shelves to find a book that breaks this mold and does something different. In my search thus far I have found one book The Almost True Story of Ryan Fisher by Rob Stennett. The book's cover tries to tie this work in with authors like Kurt Vonnegut, and the author himself also mentions Christopher Moore as an inspiration. He doesn't reach their level of brilliance or their depth of social criticism or satire but it is the first of its kind that I know of: a modern day piece of literature that does more than cater to the formula. In addition it touches on some of the subjects I have discussed here. The main character is a real estate agent who decides if he puts an icthus (Jesus fish, in case you forgot in the last few minutes) on his ads then he can get a built in Christian clientele and increase sales. And just like it would in real life, it works! He then goes on to attempt to create a mega church. Is the satire and criticism as well executed as someone like Vonnegut has always been know for? No. But it is the start of something good I hope. This is a book that raises more interesting questions than it answers, and I think that is what art is supposed to do. Bono would agree with me, if you read At the Edge of the World you will see that. My prayer is that we will become a culture that actively engages art rather than passively consuming it. Art can make our lives rich rather than just providing background noise. We just have to let it.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Boldness (or "the lost art of nose picking")
I desire to be a bold person, to speak out against injustice and declare truth even when the whole world stands against me. I want to defy conventions and rebel against the status quo that exists purely for the sake of existing. I like to think I am bold. I've spent my life reading about bold men in the Bible and playing with action figures that typified boldness. So I know a thing or two about it. But I admit I am not always the boldest crayon in the box (that works right?).
This whole idea comes out of left field I will admit it. I haven't thought on the topic of boldness or reflected on my personal level or ranking on said topic in some time. But the thought came screaming out to me two days ago when I saw the greatest display of boldness since Teddy Roosevelt dug that huge hole in Panama.
But before we discuss that, a tangent:
The other night I was hanging out with some friends when a girl quickly stuck her finger up her nose to give the inner wall a little scratch. She wasn't digging for anything, it was quick and very ninja like, but it was clear she did it. She was just stealth enough that it could have been that she was not wanting anyone to see her dirty deed. At first I dismissed it as a nose ring adjustment until I realized her nose ring was on the other side of her nose. Then I realized what had happened. But was I going to call her out on it? No way! Propriety and a fear of being beaten up by a girl kept my mouth shut. I was going to leave her unrebuked for her nose picking ways. Then she got called out on it by a girl who lacked both my propriety and fear of bodily harm.
"You just picked your nose!" The girl declared.
"Yeah..." The nose picker retorted. "You don't? Everyone does. People just act like they don't. I'm not ashamed. Look everyone does it... Soandso, you pick your nose?" Soandso nods. "Whatsherface, you pick your nose?" Whatsherface blushes and looks away. "Tyler you pick your nose?"
I boldly respond "Hu? Oh, I was... well... not with... I'm... I don't really... Dude, I'm not gonna answer that."
"See? Everyone picks their nose." As she restates her thesis everyone else recontemplated their whole world view.
End tangent.
The next day I am heading off to the east coast to see my parents for the holidays. For a myriad of reasons I am sleepless and tired. I braved a day of table waiting, packing, driving through tremendous rain storms (they weren't so bad, I'm just trying to stack the deck here), a sleepless night with Mel Brookes' classic films, and airport security to get where I am now: my gate at the airport.
Needless to say I'm tired. People are doing that thing where they rudely put their suitcase on the chair to their left and their jacket on the chair to their right (I'd judge them but I was doing the same thing before nature beckoned me to her porcelain temple) so there are no available seats. I'm fading in and out of consciousness where I stand.
When my eyes jerk open to right sleeplessness I am looking into the face of a little Asian woman.* She is picking her noise. She is really going at it. This isn't a gentle scratching of the surface. This is a throwback to the gold rush. This lady is digging like she's trying to win an Olympic medal.
As I witness this my mind fades for an unknown amount of time to the conversation about nose picking at the party. I think about playing Apples to Apples. I think about how true it is that everyone picks their nose. Sometimes its a necessity. And sometimes its just feels good. I think about how everyone says you shouldn't do it, but everyone does. Whether you're rich or poor, everyone has had a finger venture up the mountain's tunnels to see what they might find. I thought of the phrase everyone picks their nose. Which led me to think about the phrase everyone poops. Which made me think of the children's book with its profound yet simple message. There should be a book about nose picking. Should I do my own illustrations? Could their be a Christian message in it? Could it be a series? Could it make me enough money to buy a minivan with automatic locks? Could it make me enough money to buy a automobile that isn't a van so girls won't laugh when they see me? Too much to hope for. Why is it always the pretty girls who are comfortable with nose picking? Why does picking my noise feel so good when society tells me its so bad? Are each of our index fingers specially designed by God to perfectly fit our nostril?
I come back to reality to find the lady is still picking her nose. She hasn't quit. And it dawns on me: she is looking right at me! She has been looking at me this whole time. And I've been looking at her! This whole time my mind has been wandering into the land of nose picking philosophy I've been looking at this little Asian lady as she aggressively digs up her nose. She knows I'm looking at her and she picks her nose all the same.
This must be how the Grinch felt when Christmas morning came and Christmas came all the same (without packages or bows, etc) and all the Whos down in Whoville were singing their Whocarols.
Me looking at her should have sent her into a proverbial tailspin of self consciousness and doubt. She should have pulled that little finger out of her nose and ran to the other side of the room to avoid eye contact with me forever. There she could spend the remainder of our time waiting for the plane praying she isn't in a seat next to mine. But she doesn't.
SHE DOESN'T!!!
She picks her nose like she is daring me to judge her for it. With every little twist of her hand she defies cultural norms and my watching. With that simple upward thrust of her index finger she tells the world and little me sitting in the middle of it "I know how you want me to behave, but I will not do it. I will not conform to your arbitrary standards. We all pick our noses, I'm just bold enough to do it freely, without fear of judgement or rejection. If this world can not respect me for the nose picker I am then I want no part of this world and its restrictions. I want to be free."
Since then I've thought about my own boldness in life. I don't know how courageous I can be in the face of adversity, but I pray for the strength to be myself, stand by my convictions and fight injustice no matter the cost. I want to take a stand, not sit on the sidelines whiles others do all the work.
I haven't picked my nose in public yet, but I've thought about it, and that's a start.
*race accomplishes nothing more than providing a picture. I am not accusing all Asians of being nose pickers.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Silence (or johnny cage, john cage and the one thing i learned from a history of american music class)
Growing up Johnny Cage was the cool kickboxer in Mortal Kombat who cared as much how he looked as how he fought. He had his styling early 90's raybands and an attitude to match. To be honest I was alway parshal to Subzero, but I was often accused of cheating by mercilessly freezing my opponants and then kicking them in the face-what in fighting game vinacular was called being "cheap." When my brother or friends would get sick of this they'd force me to pick someone other than the masked ice-cold dinamo who could manifest coldness at will (insert cold hearted girl parallel joke if you so choose). I was tempted to pick Scorpion with his skeleton head and that rope that flew out of his hand, but since he was Subzero's rival and sworn enemy it didn't feel right. I couldn't cheat on my prized fighter. So I turned to Johnny Cage. The professional actor who got his jollies by kicking people in the head in illegal tournaments to the death.
Fast foward 8 years. My Sega Genesis gathered dust (yeah I had a N64 but everyone knew not to play Mortal Kombat on that, there was no blood.), and I was off to college.To get music credits I took a history of American music class. Early in the class we were told to pick an individual musician to do a research report on. Now my knowledge of American music at this time was pretty much relegated to screaming and punk rock angst, so I had no idea who I was picking. I would let chance be my guide... or was it fortuidous?
The way I picked my subject was simple, he had to meet three criteria: 1) he had to be someone who was scheduled late in the semester to maximize my ability to procrastinate. 2) He had to not have anyone else sign up for him so I wouldn't have to partner with a weirdo. 3) He had to have a cool sounding name.
Enter Johnny Cage, the ficticious kickboxing superstar of my youth.Okay his name was actually John Cage but it was close enough. And if he was cool enough for the creators of Mortal Kombat to name a character after him then he was cool enough for me (I may have been giving the creators too much credit in being cultured, I've found no proof that he was intentionally named after the musician John Cage, it could just be a coincidence...).
John Cage was a professional musician who was also a philosopher and adapter of his own form of Buddhism that bares only slight resemblances to the easter religion. He was, what could be described as a rouge musician/composer. He developed his own rules and used his music to communicate his philosophies on life, art, and existance.
At one performance he created a piece that was named after the measure of time it was to be performed in. The thing was he had no music. He sat at the piano and counted the time, at the appropriate moment he would turn the page of nonexistent music, all the while sitting in utter silence. Certainly many people were uncomfortable with this unorthodox performance. Some people must have assumed a joke was being performed on them. Others, completely terrified by silence shuffled in their seats as they waited for eternity to pass.
What was the point? Cage wanted people to hear the music in silence. He claimed that silence was never silent as all, that there was music in the rustling of seats and heavy breathing of patrons. Even when no external noise can be found at all the body provides a symphony of its own: heart pounding, lungs sucking in oxygen and pushing out carbon dioxide, and stomach churching in gluttonous hunger. Music was everywhere. There was beauty in the beats of life. There was beauty in silence.
The weeks that have passed have been busy ones. There is always something to distract me, entertain me, or challenge me everywhere I turn. I can fill my life with noise quite easily until I pass out from exhaustion. Even then I'm half tempted to doze off into darkness to the toon of Further Seems Forever or Johnny Cash's My Mother's Hymnal album.
I have friends who need to talk to me, and friends with whom I desperately need to speak. I have an endless supply of sound at my disposal.
Then I broke down. Not in any dramatic way, this wasn't anything fit for a soap opera. My body just had enough. I went to my barn and laid in silence. I sat alone. I was quietly. The rhythm of the fan my only companion.I listened to my heard beat and felt my brain pulsate in my temples. Wind crept through the broken screen creating a faint whistle. And I remembered John Cage.
I remembered that there was music in silence. That silence could energize me and refresh me. I could, if I allowed myself, be covered in the silence of my apartment and there find rest.
In that silence I found not only music, but miracles to inspire. As I breathed in I was a witness to a personal miracle, life continuing. In the chaos of day to day life I take advantage of breathing, I'm not a doctor but I know enough to understand that the whole breathing thing happens pretty much on its own, without my willful contribution. As I'm dealing with disgruntled customers at work, or teenagers in need of time and care at church I continue breathing like its my business.
Every breath reminded me that I'm still alive, here by a will external to my own. In that silence as I listened to the music of my own breathing I was reminded that God isn't finished with me yet. Each breath is a miracle given by the Lord, and eventually those will cease. Eventually those breaths which have been numbered since my birth will end and I will go home. I don't fear that day. And I don't watch for it with morbid curiousity. But I am aware its coming. The music of silence shows me that time has not yet come. There is still work to do. I'm still living.
I believe our culture acts against us when it makes us uncomfortable with silence. With so much entertainment and noise at our disposal silence feels like the enemy. But this is a trap. This is a lie. The enemy wants us surrounded by noise to keep out the time of silent reflection. To keep us from enjoying the sound of our own heart beat, and the reminder that our creator has not given up on us. It keeps us from enjoying the music of silence, which is a great tragedy.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Poopeology (the theology of pooping)
Pooping is God's gracious gift to we sinners that reminds us of the sin from which we have been saved and of the salvation that we have undeservedly found in Christ. We are shown, in subtlety, the depths of our own depravity; seeing what we, unconsciously, are able to manifest through the simple activity of eating and passage of time. We can see in these moments, if we allow ourselves to, that we are truly great sinners. And there is no answer to being a great sinner than to find a far superior Savior. So when we find ourselves in these moments of release we should not let time pass idly, rather we should allow it to remind us yet again the great depth of sin in which we have found ourselves, and the great salvation that is brought to us through Christ.
If we allow ourselves to, we can be reminded of our great salvation even in the minutest of activities.
[this blog is dedicated to Brandon, Wes and Jerod who requested this blog be written... blame them!]
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