I’ve been one poor correspondent, I’ve been too, too hard to find, but it doesn’t mean you ain’t been on my mind.
What can I say? It’s holy week and I have a lot of other writing to do. Blessed Easter.
And in case that quote sounds familiar: America, "Sister Golden Hair"
With Faith and With Feathers,
David
Monday, March 29, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Heard It in a Love Song
When I was a youth pastor one of my favorite lessons was one I taught on media. I shared with the youth that they needed to pay attention to what they were watching and listening to. I said I thought that media (movies, tv, songs) could be divided into three categories as they related to Christian faith: explicitly Christian, reflecting values counter to Christian values, or supportive of Christian values without being explicitly Christian. I used music to illustrate the point because it tended to be the most portable and I really like music.
The Raspberries, “Go All the Way” was used to illustrate a song that contained values counter to Christian values.
I used a song from a band called, Second Chapter of Acts to illustrate a song that is explicitly Christian. I don’t think this band is around any more but I have two of their albums on vinyl.
I used the U2 song, ‘Pride: In the Name of Love” to illustrate a song that was not done by a group that billed itself as Christian (though Bono is Christian and talks about his faith) but had values that were in keeping with Christian faith.
The basic message was pay attention to what you take in. You don’t need to just listen to Christian music, but if all you’re watching and listening to counters Christian values, that has an effect on your heart, mind, soul. My own listening tastes tend toward music that is often consistent with Christian values (though not always – I like The Raspberries song), but is not “Christian music.”
I thought about this last night while on a treadmill in a hotel in Nashville where this week I am at meetings for the United Methodist Committee on Faith and Order and General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. The evening devotion was a read from Psalm 121, an expression of trust in and celebration of God’s care. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in. As I was on the treadmill listening to my iPod Shuffle, among the songs I heard were:
The Rascals, “Groovin’”
Leo Sayer, “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing”
Both these songs are celebrations of the goodness of life. Neither mentions God, but I can add God’s presence.
Heard it in a love song, can’t be wrong (The Marshall Tucker Band).
With Faith and With Feathers,
David
The Raspberries, “Go All the Way” was used to illustrate a song that contained values counter to Christian values.
I used a song from a band called, Second Chapter of Acts to illustrate a song that is explicitly Christian. I don’t think this band is around any more but I have two of their albums on vinyl.
I used the U2 song, ‘Pride: In the Name of Love” to illustrate a song that was not done by a group that billed itself as Christian (though Bono is Christian and talks about his faith) but had values that were in keeping with Christian faith.
The basic message was pay attention to what you take in. You don’t need to just listen to Christian music, but if all you’re watching and listening to counters Christian values, that has an effect on your heart, mind, soul. My own listening tastes tend toward music that is often consistent with Christian values (though not always – I like The Raspberries song), but is not “Christian music.”
I thought about this last night while on a treadmill in a hotel in Nashville where this week I am at meetings for the United Methodist Committee on Faith and Order and General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. The evening devotion was a read from Psalm 121, an expression of trust in and celebration of God’s care. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in. As I was on the treadmill listening to my iPod Shuffle, among the songs I heard were:
The Rascals, “Groovin’”
Leo Sayer, “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing”
Both these songs are celebrations of the goodness of life. Neither mentions God, but I can add God’s presence.
Heard it in a love song, can’t be wrong (The Marshall Tucker Band).
With Faith and With Feathers,
David
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Three Days In a Life
Friday was a strange day. Woke up feeling blue and out of sorts. Any number of little things went wrong, small disappointments and frustrations confirming that this was a lousy day. I fought with negativity most of the day – not my favorite internal conversation, but it was there and I have had this conversation before. Thankfully I was alone much of the day. I was not good company. By day’s end, the clouds were clearing. Julie, Sarah and I traveled to the Twin Cities to spend time with our daughter Beth.
Saturday was an entirely different day. In the morning we went shopping with Sarah looking for a prom dress. It will be her last high school prom and while dress shopping has never really been on my favorite list of activities, being there with and for Sarah was special. In the afternoon I participated in a clergy panel at a conference at the University of Minnesota Medical School. The conference was sponsored by Med Students for Choice, and my daughter Beth had asked if I would be willing to be part of that panel. I was pleased to participate, and even more pleased that Beth asked. It was wonderful to be with her as she was with some of her med school classmates. After returning to Duluth that evening, Julie and I went to a local venue to listen to our son David play back-up mandolin for his friend Ryan, who is a singer and guitarist. I could not have had a better day, for I got to spend parts of it with my wife and with my children. I am blessed with a wonderful family.
Sunday – church was great. It was Girl Scout Sunday, and someone else preached and did a very nice job. We shared communion and that is often moving and meaningful for me. Following worship I participated in a class which this week was led by a guest. We had asked a local university instructor who is from Haiti to share his family’s experience with the recent earthquake. All who heard were moved by his story and the story of the people of Haiti.
Whatever ghosts were haunting me on Friday, and I know they will return from time to time, had been chased away. Negativity will rear its ugly head again, but I will struggle with it and against it. I have much to be thankful for, and there is healing work to do in the world.
With Faith and With Feathers,
David
Saturday was an entirely different day. In the morning we went shopping with Sarah looking for a prom dress. It will be her last high school prom and while dress shopping has never really been on my favorite list of activities, being there with and for Sarah was special. In the afternoon I participated in a clergy panel at a conference at the University of Minnesota Medical School. The conference was sponsored by Med Students for Choice, and my daughter Beth had asked if I would be willing to be part of that panel. I was pleased to participate, and even more pleased that Beth asked. It was wonderful to be with her as she was with some of her med school classmates. After returning to Duluth that evening, Julie and I went to a local venue to listen to our son David play back-up mandolin for his friend Ryan, who is a singer and guitarist. I could not have had a better day, for I got to spend parts of it with my wife and with my children. I am blessed with a wonderful family.
Sunday – church was great. It was Girl Scout Sunday, and someone else preached and did a very nice job. We shared communion and that is often moving and meaningful for me. Following worship I participated in a class which this week was led by a guest. We had asked a local university instructor who is from Haiti to share his family’s experience with the recent earthquake. All who heard were moved by his story and the story of the people of Haiti.
Whatever ghosts were haunting me on Friday, and I know they will return from time to time, had been chased away. Negativity will rear its ugly head again, but I will struggle with it and against it. I have much to be thankful for, and there is healing work to do in the world.
With Faith and With Feathers,
David
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