Published on
July 13, 2009 in
Music.
I’ve really been into John Mark McMillan‘s song writing since hearing a song of his this past spring. He’s a gifted songwriter and has a way of saying profound things in simple ways…His album ‘The Medicine’ (see below) is one of my favorite albums right now…I think it has easily cracked my favorite 10 ‘Christian’ albums of all time. He recently posted on his blog about songwriting…it’s worth a read if you are a writer or a creator of any kind.
Enjoy
Here it is: The Promenade: Worship and Song Part 2: Bring It Home?
Favorite line
Don’t give me the “side hug” folks. Write music from your gut, not out of obligation. I want the grit. I want the hard truth. Otherwise your just buzzing like the fridge. We all hear ya, we just don’t notice anymore. – John Mark McMillan
I recently read a book called ‘Leadership and Self Deception’ and in the book it told the story a man who truly believed that as a child he was in a concentration camp. He believed it to the extent that he wrote a book about it and won awards for his writing. But it wasn’t true.
Here is a story of another man who might be suffering from the same level of deception:
BBC NEWS | Europe | US veteran’s D-Day lies exposed
It would be sad if this man were just be a deceiver like some boys (in contrast to men intentionally) on the Bachelorette named Wes. But his stories and ability to continue with them make me think that this guy has just created some memories and really believes them. (Unlike creating the idea that you’re going to be a successful public figure when everyone now knows how cruel of a person you are.)
But if you’re interested in learning more about self-deception and false memories you should really read the book…it’s very very interesting!
So, the city of LA is 530 million dollars in debt, but thought it was still ok to spend 1.4 million on MJ’s memorial…Michael was a great performer, but seriously…We are in a financial crisis people!
Mayor’s office: Michael Jackson memorial cost L.A. $1.4 million – CNN.com
Apparently, we live in an age where this type of mismanagement is acceptable. But the good news is that the government is asking for help via paypal.
The other day I posted an entry that linked to “An Open Letter to Pastors”. I’ve been reading around more about Gary Lamb and I want to say that I’m really hurting for his situation. I’m thankful that he has a clear theology of grace and that he is open to talking about his mistakes. I really respect that he’s not hiding from the issue and is open to it. You can read about it on his blog: GaryLamb.org
As I was reading briefly through his blog I had two observations:
First one, this paragraph is devastating:
BTW, I will be posting another post this week that you don’t want to miss. I have received over 30 emails from pastors (all anonymous) confessing to be involved currently in sexual affairs. As I read these emails it was like someone punched me in the gut. NO ONE knows what you’re going through like I do and I want to give you guys the reality of what your involved in but I want to take some time to allow God to get my thoughts straight before I post.
It is amazingly sad to me that there are 30 church leaders who are currently hiding out in and living their lives in the darkness…I’m thankful that they’ve voiced (anonymously) there sin and they know it’s there. But I’m overwhelmed…I mean, these are just the guys that know about Gary…it’s scary to think how many there are. The affair bit is bothersome for obvious reasons…but the what is happening to these guys internally is the really sad thing for the Kingdom…
Second thing was this…And please know that I am not saying this to shame or belittle Gary as I respect what God has done through and what God is doing in him through this time…
Is this…if you look at his last three posts from top to bottom it goes:
1. Letter people about the consequences he’s paying for his actions
2. Confession online..that’s brave, it’s not an anonymous post…
3. It’s him celebrating 100 baptisms…
Here’s my thought on this: Ministry and work of the Kingdom can still appear like all is well, while leaders are internally dying. ‘Success’ in ministry is not a sin-repellant…if anything it’s the opposite.
I’ll end with this…please pray for me about this stuff. Honestly, I don’t struggle with a lot of ‘normal guy issues’ but this isn’t to say that I’m immune. The slope of moral failure is lots of small bad choices that lead to an apex…and the fallout of it is hard and fast. I don’t want to be a stat or a sad story. I don’t want another career. I don’t want to betray Jen and I’s covenant. I want Maisie to be able to trust her dad always…and this all begins in the small things. So pray that I make lots of really good small choices!
Here is a great post by my friend Lisa. She uses a word that relates with her experience that I can’t use from my own. Here’s the address to her thoughts:
Let’s Put the Kettle On: The Famine and Michael
I’m having a hard time putting my head around the global celebration of a man whose life was flickering out in obscurity just months ago. Why is it that after a person is dead everyone talks about how important, meaningful, and great their lives were? Maybe if Michael Jackson had this kind of support before he died he wouldn’t have had the end of his be so isolating, estranged, and detached. But I guess talking about how great a person is after they are gone is a lot easier than taking up the responsibility and sacrifice that relationship requires. Once again…we come across the idea of famine, only this is the famine of substance that I think Lisa articulates so well…
(just to be certain you know this…my opinions don’t necessarily reflect Lisa’s)
I just read this article that I thought was really good and something that all leaders should take a look at.
Here it is:
Open Letter to Pastors : Inner Revolution
I watched this documentary on Hulu last night:
The Future of Food
To be honest when it was over, I was pretty fired up. The thought that kept going through my head was
The love of money is the root of all evil.
I am not shocked, but I am saddened at how many in our government are creating and ruling on laws that benefit themselves while the American people are kept in the dark.
On top of the political side of the documentary, I was saddened by the ecological side as well! The diversity of foods are being controlled by corporations who make a ‘super seed’ that they can sell to farmers that will grow and with stand ‘Roundup’ because of its DNA manipulation…this just isn’t natural.
On top of the political and ecological issues, I was saddened by the ethical practices of corporations who have patented seeds, that even when scattered accidentally on a farmers property (like from a passing truck) give the corporation right to sue the farmer for ‘patent infringement’. Patent infringement? On a seed? Well, it makes money, a lot of money…just watch the video.
After watching things like this, it makes me glad that we are moving to Europe. When people in Europe fight for their rights, people hear about it because they aren’t inoculated by garbage news stories that take the American attention away from the real issues of life. And beside…When Europeans outraged against genetically altered food, their governments listened, because they didn’t have personal profit at stake!
Here’s the point though…we can speak out against things and get information out. That’s part of why I why I write on here. So watch the movie, be mad, and then start changing things…for the future.
Currently, this is one of the windows on my computer screen.
Over 1.2 million files on my computer are being backed up to prevent possible digital devastation.
I’ve written about this before, but need to say it again (mostly to myself). If you have not backed up your computer files, do it now.
The money* you’ll spend on a hard drive is worth not having the sickening feeling that you’d have if:
1. You just lost all of your pictures of your wife, kids, and experiences from the past year.
2. You lost all of your work files and were in the middle of a big project.
3. You lost thousands of dollars in music files.
Costco, Wall-Mart, Target, Best Buy all sell external drives. About 6 months ago I bought a 500gb hard drive for around 80 dollars. If I had just lost all of the stuff on my computer: music, pictures, thoughts recorded, ministry ideas, movies created, etc…and someone said, “Would you spend $80 to have all of this back?” My answer would be an easy ‘Yes’*
*If I had $80 dollars available at the time. This is not condoning debt or financial irresponsibility!
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