Music Monday 14 - Lady GaGa's Christmas Tree

On Saturday I wanted to listen to both Lady GaGa and Christmas music. I tweeted that Lady GaGa should make some Christmas music so I could listen to both at the same time. Some friends told me that Lady GaGa had indeed made a Christmas song and, thanks to my iPhone and a solid 3G connection, I was able to download the song while finishing up dinner at BJs. Not really to anyone’s surprise, though, the song, called “Christmas Tree,” has less to do with Christmas than it does with sex.

I am all for musical artists freely expressing themselves. Music is a great way to express thoughts and ideas, even if those ideas are contrary to my own worldview. I may not agree with everything NWA or 2Pac said, but they gave me insight into an aspect of American society from which suburbia had sheltered me. I am a little disturbed, however, when songs or ideas are taken out of context and warped to fit something else. Lady GaGa can sing about poker faces and disco sticks all she wants, but does she have to hijack Christmas in order to communicate her worldview?

Another example of a song taken out of context comes from the film Watchmen. In that film, Leonard Cohen’s song “Hallelujah” was played over a sex scene. The word “hallelujah” literally means to praise Yahweh; it is a very specific word with a very specific intention. The singing of that word seemed completely dissonant with what was happening on the screen. The song itself, however, uses the word “hallelujah” for its own purposes; ignoring the word’s very specific meaning and intention.

Obviously my view on Lady GaGa’s song and on the use of the word “hallelujah” in music and film is shaped by my worldview. I’m a Christian and I am more sensitive to our culture’s use of Christian imagery, holidays and words. As Christians, though, how are we supposed to respond when our larger culture uses aspects of our faith for its own gain? Should we shun anything other than Christian culture? I don’t want to only watch Kirk Cameron movies.

A lot of people have already discussed how Christians should interact with culture and, instead of rejecting the larger culture, Christians should do their best to redeem culture. That doesn’t mean just making Christian knock-offs of popular culture; I can just imagine Christian Ed Hardy shirts that trade bedazzled tigers and snakes for bedazzled doves and angels. Redeeming culture means creating culture that is inspired by a faith in Christ and honoring to God. We shouldn’t necessarily create something Christian intended solely for Christians. We should create something of value influenced and inspired by Christ that engages people from all walks of life.

How do you think Christians should interact with a culture that uses and possibly abuses Christian imagery, holidays and words?

Theology Thursday 10 - James 4:5

4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? -James 4:4-5

The Bible uses many images to describe God: he is our father, he is our groom, he is our helper. I am most uncomfortable with the image of God as our jilted and jealous lover. This passage in James suggests that God jealously longs for us and is afraid of losing our affection to the things of this world. It’s uncomfortable to think that God longs for me and wants to be a in a relationship with me, so much so that he’s worried I’ll turn to something else instead of him. I think I struggle with this image of God because I think of him as some lovelorn teenager, pining over his crush that won’t even look at him.

That’s an inaccurate image of God. God isn’t like Bella, swooning and worrying about whether or not Edward is going to be in class today. God’s jealousy and passion for us goes deeper than some schoolboy crush. When I had a crush on a girl and felt a tinge of jealousy, that jealousy was completely unfounded because there was no expectation that my affection should be returned. God has created everyone, though, so his jealousy is completely founded; God created us and it is only right for him to assume that we should turn our affection toward him.

When I think of a jilted and jealous lover, I think of some sort of stalker creeping around, making mix tapes and sending notes with letters cut out of a magazine. That image is true for some amount of the population but it doesn’t apply to God. God isn’t a creeper; he’s just a creator that grieves when he sees his creation walking away. God is jealous for us because he created us and he wants to be in a relationship with us, which is why he is so willing to pursue us. God’s jealousy is completely justifiable and I’m thankful for it because without that jealousy, without that desire to pursue humanity, we may never have been reconciled to him through Jesus Christ.

How do you feel about God’s jealousy for you?

Leadership Wednesday 12 - Call of Duty

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 came out last week and it has become one of the fastest selling video games ever. The popularity of the game is based on its multiplayer component, where players from all over the world can play together online in competitive matches. I can attest from personal experience that the game is rather addicting and it’s easy to pour a few hours into the game, trying to get as many kills as possible while helping your team win. It is nice to get a team win, however the main focus for most players is on individual statistics; if I can get 20 kills and only 10 deaths, who really cares if my teams loses?

That kind of “me first” attitude is all right in the world of video games; nothing of value hinges on whether or not one team or another loses. In the real world, though, and the world of leadership, that kind of attitude can destroy organizations or, at the very least, hurt the efficacy of a team. It’s so easy to worry about our own productivity and our own future, that we can often put the team on the backburner; the team can become an afterthought to our own personal motives and intentions.

It’s easy to put the team on the backburner because the rewards and accolades for individual success are much greater than those for team success. A player on the worst baseball or basketball team can cash in on a huge contract if he has individual statistics that overshadow the record of the team. As leaders, though, we need to realize that if our teams succeed, then we’ll succeed as well. We don’t lead in order to find personal success, but there’s no greater success than seeing a team we lead succeed and do well. It’s a reward in itself knowing that we provided leadership for a group that went above and beyond, reaching levels of success that we couldn’t have even imagined.

When have you succeeded because your team succeeded?

Topical Tuesday 13 - Leonid Meteor Shower

The Leonid Meteor Shower occurred on Monday night and, depending on where one looked up, there could have been hundreds of meteors flashing across the night sky. According to scientists, the best seat on planet earth to view the shower would have been in Asia. I was encouraged, though, when I heard that the meteors would be viewable from North America as well. So on Monday night, technically early Tuesday morning, my roommate and I bundled up in our Snuggies, went outside and stared up at the heavens.

Living in the suburbs we didn’t actually see any of the meteors. There was way too much city glow to see the few meteors that would have been visible from North America. It was rather relaxing, though, lying on the hood of my truck staring up at the sky. Even though we couldn’t see any meteors, it was a clear night and we could see a number of stars.

Staring at the stars has always been my favorite way of experiencing creation. A lot of people enjoy a walk through a meadow, sitting on the beach as the waves crash upon the shore or going for a hike through the mountains. I enjoy those things, but I best experience creation and God’s greatness through creation while staring at the stars. The magnitude and the bigness of everything related to stars and planets boggles my mind and helps me to reflect on the magnitude and greatness of God.

What aspect of creation helps you to worship God?

Music Monday 13 - Television Show Theme Songs

Television shows used to have the greatest theme songs: light, happy tunes that played over credits and scenes from the show. Beginning a sitcom with a theme song was great. The theme song provided the opportunity to identify the actors and the roles they played. The theme song also showed scenes from older episodes; it was like watching home movies of the characters on the show. The best part about opening with a theme song, though, was the song itself.

Some television theme songs have become iconic. The themes for The Brady Bunch, Friends and Saved by the Bell are immediately recognizable. When I hear that bell go off in the theme for Saved by the Bell, like Pavlov’s dogs, my mouth begins to water as I anticipate the good times I’m about to have with Zack, Screech, Jessie and Mr. Belding. Looking back on Saved by the Bell, everyone wanted to date Kelly Kapowski, but now I think I would have rather had a hands-on principal like Mr. Belding; Mr. Belding really put the “pal” in principal. My principal in high school was distant and aloof; he never once called me “son.” School administrators should be forced to attend a seminar with Dennis Haskins so they can learn how to be better principals. Characters like Mr. Belding stood at the center of Saved by the Bell, but the theme song was almost like another character.

Theme songs today just don’t match up with their counterparts from older sitcoms. The shows themselves are much better, smarter and funnier; but who wouldn’t want to hear a Brady Bunch-like theme song for The Office? The song could play over the opening credits and set up the whole premise for the show, just in case we forgot what we were watching. I have no desire to go back to multi-camera sitcoms with laugh tracks. The new crop of comedies like Community, Modern Family and Scrubs are so much better than Family Ties, Who’s the Boss and According to Jim. However, even though I like today’s sitcoms much better, I miss the theme songs. It would be hilarious, even if for just one episode, 30 Rock used a theme song like Growing Pains and had Alec Baldwin sing a duet with Alan Thicke.

What is your favorite television theme song?

Leadership Wednesday 11 - James 3:1

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. – James 3:1

I know that not every leader is a teacher, but every teacher is a leader.

School teachers are leaders to classrooms full of students.

Sunday school teachers are leaders to young Christians.

Small group leaders lead people in discussions and authentic relationships.

Preachers are leaders of congregations.

When we teach, we’re leaders because we are shaping the minds and actions of those we’re teaching. James understood this influence and warns those who teach to take it seriously because they are held to stricter standards.

I’ve read James 3:1 before but, as I was going over it again, it really stuck out to me or struck something within me. Jesus saved some pretty choice words for the Pharisees who were leading the people astray; I can’t imagine Jesus taking any kinder to a teacher leading people astray today. Strict judgment also seems to wait for teachers who live lives that don’t reflect what they teach. These teachers may not intentionally lead people astray, but eventually their unaligned lives could have an unintended impact. Teachers have a tremendous amount of influence but are also given a tremendous amount of trust. If that trust is ever broken, influence will give way to disillusionment and learners will begin to go astray. Teaching is serious business, which is why James says not many should presume to be teachers.

So here am I, presuming to be a teacher. We know what assuming does; does presuming do the same thing? And if not for you, does it still do it for me? Who am I to presume that I should be teaching anyone? This week alone I’ve led small groups, taught high school and junior high students, and I am planning for a sermon to our church’s main congregation. Who am I to teach that many people?

The answer is that I’m nobody. Nobody at all.

Yet I feel like I’ve been called by God to teach and that calling has been affirmed by a number of strong Christ-followers whom I implicitly trust. That may seem presumptuous but I have faith that it’s not. I have faith that it’s God’s calling, not my presuming. Yet, if I accidentally presume too much, I can always trust in grace.

How presumptuous is it to think that we can teach?

Topical Tuesday 12 - Big Brother Twitter

NFL running back Larry Johnson was released by the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this week. Johnson has been troubled by personal issues before, including throwing a drink in a woman’s face at a club. Earlier this season after a game, Johnson posted a gay slur to his Twitter account along with questions about the competence of his head coach. Johnson was suspended for the second time in a year and was released following the end of the suspension. This story, and others like it, brings to light the issue of organizations monitoring the social networking of their members.

Twitter and other social networking sites provide an opportunity for people to speak their minds. In Larry Johnson’s case, what was spoken got him into trouble. Obviously the Kansas City Chiefs organization and the media monitored what Johnson posted to his Twitter. Should other organizations do the same?

Pete Wilson opened up that discussion on his blog; he asked the question of whether or not churches should monitor their employees’ Twitter accounts and other social networking interactions. A number of people left comments saying that churches shouldn’t have to resort to monitoring their staff’s Twitter accounts. They believed that if the situation has gotten so bad as to require monitoring of Twitter accounts, then there are much deeper issues that need to be addressed. Obviously there need to be healthy working relationships among staff members outside of social networking; those relationships would most likely address any issues before they made it to the Internet. But that doesn’t mean churches and their senior leadership shouldn’t monitor what their staff is tweeting.

As Larry Johnson proved, someone can get into a lot of trouble in 140 characters or less. No matter how great the relationships are, someone employed at a church could have a bad night or a terrible experience during a service, and turn to Twitter to vent. It’s for those moments that churches, or at least senior leadership, should be monitoring the tweets and social networking of their staff. Leaders, especially paid staff, are representatives of the church and what they say, whether audibly or virtually, has an impact on the church’s reputation and image.

Both my immediate supervisor and senior pastor follow me on Twitter. If I said something that cast the church in a bad light, I would expect them to address that with me; especially if we had a good relationship. Sometimes, no matter how good the relationship, though, unexpected tweets pop up, and those need to be monitored and addressed.

Churches shouldn’t monitor every word typed or posted by members of the congregation. Leaders are held to a higher standard, though. Monitoring of tweets isn’t a sign of some dystopian, Orwellian future; it’s part and parcel with being a leader. If we want complete freedom with our 140 characters, then we need to reconsider how much we want to lead.

What do you think? Should churches monitor their paid staff’s interaction on Twitter and other social networking sites?

Music Monday 12 - What Do You Want to Sing Next Sunday?

It’s easy to talk about worship songs we don’t like. I’ve already spent some time talking about those worship songs we love to hate. It’s fun to complain about the songs we don’t like and mostly harmless. It’s also a much better way of releasing frustration than jumping the worship leader in the parking lot or leaving anonymous comment cards, which you make sure are hand-delivered to the pastor. In the end, though, it’s better to talk about the worship songs we do like.

It’s better for us.

It’s more edifying for our friends.

It’s more encouraging to worship leaders.

There is such a wide scope of worship songs, though, so we need to narrow down what worship songs we’re talking about. Someday we might get into everyone’s favorite Keith Green worship songs or our favorite worship songs that only get played because they were on Christian radio. For today, though, let’s come up with our current favorite worship songs; the newer ones we’ll get excited to sing next weekend in church. Here are a few of mine.

Open Up the Sky
“Open up the Sky” is a song written by Jonathan Stockstill. We have been singing this song with our high school group for a few months and it is one of my current favorites. I like how the song sounds, but I am especially moved by the words of the chorus.

Open up the sky
Fall down like rain
We don't want blessings we want You
Open up the sky
Fall down like fire
We don't want anything but You

The chorus is a good reminder that we shouldn’t seek a relationship with God only to receive his blessings. We should just want to be with God for the sake of being with God. I honestly can’t say that I am always solely satisfied with God, independent of his blessings, but the song at least gets me to think about that possibility and strive for it.

Your Love is Strong
“Your Love is Strong” was written by Jon Foreman from Switchfoot. The song is from Foreman’s Spring EP and, upon first listening, doesn’t seem like it would make a good worship song. However, it’s a simple song in that its lyrics are allusions to the teachings of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount. The chorus is also simple; it is just the line “Your love is strong” repeated over and over again. In the context of worship, we’re singling that line to God, telling him that his love is strong. But, repeating that phrase over and over again, allows it to sink into our minds and hearts. It’s a simple truth that God’s love is strong, but it’s also a powerful truth. It’s a truth that, if embraced, can change the way we live our lives.

Hosanna
“Hosanna” is one of the ubiquitous Brooke Fraser songs being sung in churches today. Brooke Fraser is a member of Hillsong and Hillsong United and, even though I have a crush on Brooke, that’s not why I picked this song. It’s an amazing song of praise and worship that really beings me into God’s presence. I like the idea of singing the same song to Jesus that the people lining the streets on Palm Sunday sang to Jesus. Hosanna is a cry for salvation and we shout it out to the only one who can save us; we shout out hosanna to God and he will hear us. My favorite part of the song “Hosanna” is the bridge.

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

I like the bridge because it shows us that we can’t really cry out to the God who saves without opening our eyes and acknowledging those around us who need saving. God is the one who saves but, as his followers, he wants to use us to bring the hope and promise of salvation to those in need.


I can’t count the number of worship songs I’ve sung over the course of my life. I probably can’t even count the number of worship songs that I’ve got memorized. Worshipping God through music is one of God’s greatest gifts and blessings to his followers. It allows us to take something so moving and emotional, and direct it toward our heavenly father. Honestly, there are some songs we enjoy singing to our heavenly father more than others. It’s not wrong to like some songs more than others, but it is healthier for us as worshippers and as participants in worship services to focus on the songs we like than on the songs we dislike.

So, currently, what is your favorite worship song?

Theology Thursday 09 - The Possible and The Impossible

I have been reading Fresh Start by Doug Fields. The book focuses on how we can get unstuck from wherever we are and have a fresh start in our relationships with God. One of Fields’ main points is that we are only responsible for the things that we can do. It is impossible for us to change ourselves; that is something only God can do. So, instead of trying to do the impossible and transform our lives, we simply need to do what we can and trust in God’s grace to do the rest. In short, we do what’s possible and then God does the impossible.

I have been thinking a lot about that principle over the past few weeks and how it relates to different aspects of our lives with Christ. I applied that principle to my thinking about social justice. I definitely cannot solve all of the problems in the world or stop every injustice on the planet. I can, however, contribute in ways that are possible for me and trust that God will do something amazing; I do what is possible for me and trust that God will do the impossible. So while supporting two World Vision kids won’t make everything right, it is something that I can do and then trust in God to do the rest.

This principle also has implications for our relationships with Christ and the process of sanctification. It is impossible for me to transform myself; I just can’t do it. I can do all the right things and avoid all the bad things but, in the end, it is up to God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit to transform me. I can’t transform myself but I can cultivate my life to better prepare it for that transformation. That is the value of spiritual disciplines and doing all those “good things;” those practices and actions don’t transform us, but they put us in a much better place to be transformed. It is through a miracle of God’s grace that he takes our small efforts and completely transforms us.

The Christian life is about so much more than just doing good things; it is about encountering unending love and amazing grace.

That love and grace transform us.

That love and grace sanctify us.

That love and grace make us more the people we were created to be.

Love and grace are foundational to a life with Christ and they transform us and make us new. We trust in God to do the impossible through his love and grace. However, we don’t just sit idly by, waiting for love and grace to transform us. We need to live our lives and do something; we need to do what we can and prepare our lives to be transformed. We don’t trust in disciplines and actions to transform us, but we know that they cultivate a life and ready it for transformation. The impossible is transformation. The possible is us preparing ourselves for that transformation.

What “good things” help prepare your life for transformation?

Leadership Wednesday 10 - Fear and Catherine Rohr

Two weeks ago I learned that Catherine Rohr, the founder and CEO of Prison Entrepreneurship Program, resigned from her position. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice banned Rohr from entering prisons after it had learned that she had inappropriate relationships with former inmates. Rohr confessed to inappropriately close relationships with PEP graduates following her divorce in December 2008.

I remember first hearing Rohr’s inspiring story in 2007; I loved hearing about her commitment to the organization, the work she was doing and the leadership principles she implemented. Now, in light of what she’s done, I’m not angry, just saddened by the brokenness of humanity that continues to wreak havoc, in personal lives and organizations. I certainly hope Rohr will continue to grow and that new opportunities will come her way but there will always be some amount of remorse over what could have been.

Mixed in with my sadness, though, is also a tinge of fear. Catherine Rohr didn’t begin PEP with the intention of resigning after a few years because of some indiscretions. No leader ever begins any venture with the intention of failing due to moral failure, yet so many leaders seem to end up in that place. I’m scared that someday I’ll have an affair or do something else and ruin any amount of leadership capital I’ve earned during my life. I don’t know if that kind of fear is healthy or not. I don’t live my life fixated on that terrible possibility, but I also don’t live my life and pretend that something like that could never happen to me.

What do you think? Is it healthy to fear the possibility of a moral failure?

Topical Tuesday 11 - Halloween? Bah Humbug!

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That video is from last Friday’s Today Show where the hosts all dressed up for Halloween as various Star Wars characters. The video is a little long but toward the end the Ewoks, who were allegedly drunk, begin acting out and confirm what Return of the Jedi told us: Ewoks know how to party.

Partying really does seem to be the focus of Halloween these days. I remember when I was younger and the focus for everyone seemed to be on children dressing up and going trick or treating. Now it seems that the focus is on finding the best party to which people can wear their skimpiest and most revealing costume. Obviously I’m no longer a child and I don’t yet have children, so it’s possible that I no longer see the trick or treating aspect because I’m not a part of that world. But, from talking to a number of people, trick or treating seems to be down across the board and adults seem to be claiming Halloween as their own more and more every year.

Really, my disdain for the current trend in Halloween has nothing to do with parties or adults dressing up or women thinking that lingerie is an acceptable costume. When it comes down to it, I just don’t like Halloween that much. I used to really like dressing up and going trick or treating; it was always fun in elementary school to dress up and see what everyone else in the class was dressed up as. That childhood affinity for Halloween has faded as I’ve gotten older though, and now I only look forward to Halloween so I can see it give way to real holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. I feel like the Ebenezer Scrooge of Halloween but I don’t think any ghosts will visit me because Halloween doesn’t have that many redeemable qualities of which I need to be reminded.

I’m actually very excited for Halloween when I have children of my own. I think it will be a lot of fun to get them dressed up and either take them trick or treating or to some harvest festival at a local church. Until that point, though, I’m happy to ignore Halloween like I did this year and treat it as any other day. I’m an adult and Halloween isn’t for me. And if you’re an adult, it’s not really for you either. Give it back to the kids. Bah humbug.

Music Monday 11 - Who Killed the Video Star?

In 1981, Music Television broadcast its first music video: The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star”. Since that time however, almost 30 years ago, video hasn’t killed the radio star. Songs still get played on the radio and, even in a world influenced by Napster and peer-to-peer sharing networks, people still purchase albums, whether on CD or digitally. So while the radio star is still alive and well, the video star is on its last leg and may not make it to MTV’s 30th anniversary. No one is more to blame for the video star’s demise than the channel that once gave it life: MTV. No channel currently plays music videos as a major part of its programming. There are some obscure channels that show videos at odd hours, but nothing like what MTV and VH1 used to be.

If video killed the radio star, then reality shows killed the video star. The Real World premiered in 1992 on MTV, back when MTV still played music videos. It became a hit for MTV and opened the door for reality television as we know it today. In its first few seasons The Real World was a much different show than it is today. Before, instead of throwing crazy and attractive people into a house with too much alcohol, the housemates addressed real life issues like racism and sexuality. During the third season, Pedro Zamora, a gay man living with AIDS, elevated the conversation of AIDS in America as the disease was brought into homes across America. The early success of The Real World has led MTV to abandon music videos and focus most of its programming on reality television shows like The Hills and Fantasy Factory. I’m not necessarily opposed to those shows, but MTV doesn’t stand for Music Television anymore; little of their programming has to do with music.

I still remember what it was like when we first got MTV at my house; I was very excited to finally get to watch MTV in my own home. That excitement was matched every time there was a new music video premiere; I was still excited in 2001 for the premiere of Michael Jackson’s video for “You Rock My World,” a premiere highly touted by MTV. Now, to watch any music video, I have to go online or DVR a random block of music videos at 1:30 in the morning. That is a far cry from the early days of MTV or even the days of VH1 Mega Hits, a channel devoted entirely to music videos that my friends and I would watch for hours and hours, making comments like Beavis and Butthead.

Video didn’t kill the radio star but the video star is dead. MTV once stood as the flag ship for music programming on television but now it has less and less to do with music every year. Music videos were a worthwhile format for close to 20 years but now they seem to be going the way of the cassette. In the new millennium, air-time for music videos has been waning and with it their significance. Thankfully Michael Jackson and Madonna were making videos in the 80s instead of the 2000s or we might not have classic videos like “Billy Jean” or “Like a Prayer.” While I may not be able to turn on MTV right now and watch some music videos, at least I can turn on my computer, watch “Thriller” and remember what it was like to get excited for a music video.