Filed under: Music | Tags: album review, artist bio, Hope In The Unseen, Jodie Wachsmann, Kevin Sparkman, Wachsmann
My friend Jodie from Texas…from Nashville…from Texas – just released her first album! It’s really good, ya’ll, so do yourself a favor and go buy it. If you need further convincing, just read my review below! If you want to get to know Jodie and a little more about how she arrived at releasing Hope In The Unseen, read the official bio written by yours truly.
–
Jodie Wachsmann
Hope In The Unseen – album review
For artists, debut albums time stamp the genesis of a career that’s usually marked with glimpses of what’s to come. After the excitement of finalizing artwork and the hype of release parties pass, what’s left is a snapshot of a work in progress. In a society of “What’s next?!” we rarely take the time to experience the moment.
Call it just a good time – call it a personal soundtrack, you can really live into Jodie Wachsmann‘s debut album Hope In The Unseen. Once in a blue moon a first-take release by a take-a-chance artist exhibits the kind of maturity commonly found in a seasoned pro at the peak of their creativity. Raised under the Texas sun, Jodie Wachsmann has obviously been crafting her sound to make this moment as meaningful and lasting as possible.
Although the tone is immediately set as a fun, high-energy pop record with “On The Inside,” one thing you can’t call this project is singsongy. A budding writer, this is one attribute that she will refine with time. Big and concise choruses throughout combined with several strong hooks makes up for the occasional wordy verse, however. The end result is a very introspective and telling collection of tracks. After all, Jodie does have something significant to say.
The chorus of the title track beautifully answers the verse and powerfully carries the banner for the album’s theme (There is hope in every sunrise / Light piercing the dark / A harvest appearing after a long, hard drought / Amid the dark shadows that cloud her mind / I believe, there is hope in the unseen). Among the many great but shallow records out there today, it’s refreshing to come across an artist who offers a project full of hopeful and positive messages without sacrificing the integrity of its sound. Hope In The Unseen is a masterfully produced project and Jodie tells it like she means it.
“In The Waiting” might have been intended as the proverbial spiritual, but piggy-backing on the album’s vibe several songs reveal Jodie’s beliefs, quite frankly, in the unseen. “Hold On To You” (But this called for more than my comfort / You said “cling to Me”), “Again & Again” (Again and again, He walks this road with us / Where He knows our deepest need / Where He can love us beyond imagination / If we would only open up / And pour our hearts out to Him), and “Open Your Eyes” (Would you open your eyes / And you will see / A guiding hand to lift you up to set you free) provide for some the biggest and more spiritual moments on the album.
Certainly the most radio-friendly song on Hope In The Unseen is “Found.” In the vein of Hilary Duff and Miley Cyrus, somehow this track is just at home in dad’s iPod as it is at his daughter’s sweet-sixteen party. As if we needed it, “Rollercoaster” allows us a closer look into who the real Jodie might be, but in a more light-hearted narrative than some of the more descriptive tunes on the record.
Experience new artistry displayed at the destination of a long journey. Take a moment and take it in. Take a seat or take it with you. Take a chance on Jodie Wachsmann – blue moon’s and debut albums like Hope In The Unseen only come around every so often.
- Kevin Sparkman
–
Click HERE to read Jodie’s official bio.
–
Preview: Check out the new music on Jodie’s MYSPACE page!
Buy: Hope In The Unseen on compact disc HERE
Also available on iTunes!
Check out highlights from last visit to Texas to interview Jodie, catch up on the latest of the album pre-release, and even play a gig!
Filed under: Light Talk | Tags: homeless, mckendree church, music city, Nashville, united methodist
The past two Tuesdays have been interesting ones in the life of McKendree Church. It’s amazing what will happen to your front lawn when you start up the grill and throw a few dogs on the fire.
In an effort to better utilize our God-given location in the heart of Music City, we wanted to open up our front lawn area during the lunch rush hour in hopes of meeting a few new folks, stirring up engaging conversation, and offering a free meal to our neighbors.
As soon as the the scent of burning coals filled the air last Tuesday it was Nashville’s displaced population taking over our front lawn – not the business men and women I was expecting. I must confess that I was a little upset at first. Mainly, I didn’t want to be accused of perpetuating homelessness by offering handouts. There was nowhere to hide, we were right there on one of this city’s main day-time stages.
Once the fire was hot enough to grill and serve the food, there were over fifty men and women that do not claim addresses sprawled out all over our lawn and front steps. Then something crazy started happening. I noticed that the very same business men and women that I anticipated spending this hour with begin to avoid our stretch of the sidewalk. Groups of people full from lunch and carrying their bags of leftovers and foam cups half-empty with soda were making the extra effort to cross to the other side of the street before having to walk in front of our church.
Again, confessing my attitude, I was right there along with them. Would I have done the same thing if I didn’t have to be there helping with the cookout? Then I was reminded of Jesus, and how He calls us to “do for the least of these” (Matt. 25:40). I also think He implies the “NO MATTER WHAT” rule to this passage!
Hear me – I’m no better than anyone else because I decided to stay and converse with those hungry, homeless, and unemployed people. I’ll have you know that my attitude was in the same sorry place the very next Tuesday! However, rather than fearing what another man might accuse me of doing from a distance, I will choose to (reluctantly as it may be at times) leave my “boat of safety” (Matt. 14:22-33) and venture out onto the water to see what Jesus might be up to. Fear | NOT!
Question: What would happen if the business community and the displaced population were to share a meal together on Tuesdays on our front lawn? (Next event: THIS Tuesday @ 11:30a on our front lawn)
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 9/11, A Day Of Service, Jesus, NASCAR, Obama, September 11
Filed under: Light Talk, Odds & Ends | Tags: choate eye associates, glasses, jesus needs new pr, matthew paul turner
Greetings friends, neighbors, Nashvillians, and the world… This will be a short K-Blog II post – lots to do today. But I was so excited about my new face accessory that I had to share it with you and would love to know your feedback – GOOD or BAD.
(If it’s bad, I got these glasses from Dr. Stephanie Judkins at Choate Eye Associates in Goodlettsville, TN. Please direct the criticisms there!)
And despite the fact that I highly respect him (and think he’s a handsome guy…in or out of his glasses), I’m not trying to look like Matthew Paul Turner. Nor did I merely put a link to his blog here just because when ever I do that I seem to get a spike in visits to my blog! 
Here ya go, and thanks for your feedback!
Ok, back to work now on the “puzzle graphic.” Some of you will be getting a piece of a puzzle in the mail very soon. Bring it with you to McKendree Church on June 28!
Filed under: Music | Tags: belmont university, coldplay, hamish hamilton, Nashville, phil collins, u2, viva la vida, whitesnake
Like some guys, I do not have a lucky shirt. But some guys do. One such guy who has admitted to having a lucky shirt goes by the name Hamish Hamilton.
I have been a fan of Hamilton’s work since I was a student at Belmont University when we watched the U2 Elevation Tour Live from Boston dvd on the big screen in Massey Concert Hall during an end-of-the-year party for Frank Baird‘s CREW. I now own the U2 Vertigo Tour dvd and Phil Collins‘ Finally…the First Farewell Tour dvd – all directed by Hamish Hamilton.
Thanks to my friend Stephanie Judkins who insisted that I would be “putting up with her,” I was invited to go see Coldplay last Saturday night at the Sommet Center. It was an AWESOME show! But this blog is about a guy with a lucky shirt, remember?
Before Coldplay goes on, I notice a tall guy with thick rimmed glasses standing just in front of us in the gated area where the front of house console was located. It looked just like Hamish Hamilton! So I walked up to him, nudged him on the shoulder and said “I loved your work on the Phil Collins dvd.” The guy gives me a blank stare for what seems like 2 minutes. He then says “You recognize me from that?! You are the first person EVER to come up to me and tell me they recognize me from the Phil Collins dvd! It’s usually U2…and even Whitesnake…but not Phil Collins!” He was totally blown away that I had said this to him.
To commemorate the experience, I did what I normally do not do in these situations – I took a picture with him! (Sorry, Hamish. And sorry for the floods of people asking to take their picture with you ho had no idea who you were!) Check it:
Me & Hamish Hamilton @ Coldplay Nashville '09
I was very impressed with his kindness and willingness to not only conversate, but to admit that since ’04 I was the first random person to drop the Phil bomb on him. In addition, he also was very kind to every person that was talking to him around his little work station inside the front of house world. He told me that he is directing the upcoming Coldplay dvd for this current tour and observed him taking notes during the show in Nashville. It’s obvious he was busy and could have shrugged us common-folk away. He seemed like a very genuine kind-of guy. You know, like “one of the guys” you go to the pub with to watch the big game. Thanks, Hamish – keep making killer videos and can’t wait to get the Viva La Vida dvd!
Here’s some of Hamish’s work:
Phil Collins Finally…the First Farewell Tour (buy):
U2 Vertigo Tour (buy):
U2 Live from Boston (buy):
Interesting angle here: Hamilton control truck/director cam during “Where The Streets Have No Name”
Hamish Hamilton interview from ’05 I found on YouTube:
Blog from coldplay.com: Greetings From Nashville
Filed under: Sports | Tags: Amp Lee, Bobby Bowden, Casey Weldon, Charlie Ward, Chris Weinke, Deion Sanders, Doak Campbell Stadium, Florida State Seminoles, Gene Deckerhoff, Peter Tom Willis, Peter Warrick, Punt Rooskie, Thad Busby
I’ve been bad. No, I’ve been BUSY. However, this blog was intended and created to document the very busy times in leading up to Rev. Stephen Handy’s first day at McK (which is just 3 short weeks away – yikes!). One thing I didn’t realize was just how busy I would be. It’s been SO crazy that I’m almost resigned to just recounting these things later when I have a second to think.
So why blog right now? 1) Probably just finished one of the busiest weeks of my life (I’ve been saying that every week lately). 2) Just to escape all of the mental pressure for a brief moment I actually had the idea for this post in the shower the other day! While I enjoyed that short moment of escape I knew that I would really enjoy the 20 minutes or so it would take to write this when I would finally be able to sit for a while.
Two new things for K-Blog II with this post. 1) Trying out the WordPress app for the iPhone for the first time. 2) Added a new category: Sports. Yes, this will be about college football in July. Weird, I know, but I tend to have the most random thoughts in the shower when it’s the only time I’m really away from any forms of multimedia.
I like Top 10 lists. Here’s one:
Top 10 Teams at FSU in the Bowden Era
#1, 1999: Wire to wire National Champs. Can’t really argue against the fact that this was one of the best teams of all time – PERIOD. Chris Weinke at QB, who would eventually win the Heisman the next season. Peter Warrick, who would have won the Heisman in ’99 if he didn’t go shopping at Dillards. Ron Dugans at wideout. Beat Michal Vick in the Sugar Bowl, wins over Miami, UF…heck, everyone in ’99. One of the most dominant teams in college football history.
#2, 1987: Only lost one game by one point – a heartbreaker at home to Miami by going for two instead of taking the tie and probably the National Championship with it. ’87 simply gets the nod over ’93 because of overall margin of loss and Bowden’s passion to get the outright win on the field of play. A 34-6 win at Bo Jackson’s Auburn and FSU’s 1st win vs. UF since 1980 are obvious highlights. RB Sammie Smith CB Deion Sanders were the studs of ’87 and helped to lay the foundation of winning at FSU. Nail-biting win over Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl to end the season.
#3, 1993: Here’s my best memories – 14 play goal line stand vs. Kansas in the Kickoff Classic to preserve the shutout win, Devin Bush picking off a pass and taking it to the house vs. Miami, Warrick Dunn going for 73 yards (check my stats) at Florida Field and whooping it up in the corner of the endzone with recruits visiting UF that day (ha ha!), 3 or 4 shutout wins, Charlie Ward winning the Heisman and then turning pro…in the NBA! Oh by the way, FSU’s first ever National Championship coming 3 years before UF could ever claim that title. Not bad for “that school up north” who had only been playing football less than 50 years.
#4, 1979: I was only like 2ish so I don’t remember any details, but this was FSU’s first 11-0 regular season. Was Larry Key the RB then? I think the QB was Jimmy Jordan?? I do know the ‘Noles lost to Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. Wonder what would have happened to this dynasty if they would have won the Championship this early in Bowden’s career in Tallahassee? Still, pretty crazy that talks of championships were happening in ’79.
#5, 1996: I was gone on tour this entire Fall. I did, however, see 2 games in person. Game 1 vs. Duke and the last game in the SuperDome which is one that I would like to forget. Still, looking back on it, if UF had to win their first National Championship at least they had to go through the ‘Noles to get it. At the end of the season, the two teams split the season “series” and if it wasn’t for the blessing of UF having the SEC title game to spring forward, the ’96 squad would probably end up being #2 or #3 on this list.
#6, 1997: A mediocre UF Gay-tor team upsets the ‘Noles in Gainesville and ruins a perfect season and most likely the National Championship. Big wins at USC, Clemson, and UNC kept FSU at the top of the polls and unblemished until the pressure cracked the Tribe at the end. With Thad Busby at QB a big win vs. Ohio St. in the Sugar Bowl was a nice cap to this one-loss (by only 3 points) top-5 team.
#7, 2000: Chris Weinke gets FSU its second Heisman Trophy winner and takes the Seminoles all the way to the National Championship game vs. Oklahoma. I honestly can not remember much about this season. I was a year into music school in TN and even though they were at the top of the polls all season long I just didn’t have the access or the time to follow them as I wanted. Did we complete the regular season undefeated? I think the combination of not as many memories and a bowl game played even sloppier than the ’92 Cotton Bowl puts this team down on the list for me. It’s really hard to win 2 National Championships in a row in college football. Any takers on the Gay-tors doing that this year? Anyone want to see Tebow get hit so hard his helmet pops off and his bloody mouthpiece flies out with teeth stuck in it?! ME!!
#8, 1988: Game 1 – a 31-0 loss at Miami. The subsequent games to follow…a week after week beat down to pay for that bad loss. This season includes probably the most iconic moment in FSU and Bowden football – the Punt Rooskie. “Butler…down the sideline!” I can still hear ‘ol Gene Deckerhoff screaming that to this day! I also remember Deion calling out the punt return like Babe Ruth pointing to right field and then DELIVERING! Other than Peter Warrick, when was the last time we saw that swagger with the results to back it up? Introducing Peter Tom Willis whose first ever pass was a TD bomb on the first play of the game at South Carolina. Oh, Deion Sanders literally ends his collegiate career by intercepting an Auburn pass in the endzone to preserve the win. Best athlete in college football history. Want to argue? BRING IT!
#9, 1998: Six Weinke interceptions at NC State led to a bad week 2 FSU road loss. Turning the season around and building the foundation to a Heisman career, Weinke gets the ‘Noles back on track just in time to suffer a season ending neck injury against Virginia the game before Florida comes to town (which we won 23-12). A crazy year, multiple factors and several planets had to align for FSU to make it into the National Championship game against Tennessee in the Fiesta Bowl. Still, with an inexperienced backup QB, the ‘Noles came within 2 plays of the ’98 National Championship (a bad read/misplay by CB Mario Edwards that led to a long TD & a bad call on a Janikowski squib kick at the end of the game).
#10, 1989: Open the season 0-2 to So. Miss’s Brett Favre and a Clemson team out for revenge. Finish the season 10-0 and lay the foundation for Team of the ’90′s. Big wins at LSU, Syracuse, and Florida (which I think was Emmitt Smith’s last regular season game as a Gay-tor?) made those 10 wins even sweeter. The ‘Noles finished #2 in the polls and was considered the hottest team in the country at the end of the year. In fact, FSU started a string of being in the top-25 every week from week 5 of the ’89 season until week 10 of the 2001 season!
Honorable mention:
1994: Choke At Doak! FSU down 31-3 to Wuerffel and the Gay-tors with 10 minutes left in the 4th qtr. and ended up tying UF to a 31-31 final. I don’t care how many seats they add, the Doak will NEVER rock as hard as it did that day! FSU wins round 2 in New Orleans to finish 10-1-1.
1992: Charlie Ward’s first season as QB. Wide Right II as our only loss of the season was by 3 to Miami. For some reason, if this field goal was missed for the win instead of the tie, I think the ’92 team would have been in the top-10.
1991: Casey Weldon, Amp Lee, and Terrell Buckley provided for some memorable moments during this season. One of the most memorable games in FSU history, a 51-31 win at Michigan. Swamp-fest in ‘Tally on a rain-soaked field vs. Syracuse. FSU was in the National Championship race the entire season until a nasty win in bad weather at LSU proved costly as key members suffered injuries. Let’s face it, the last 2 games of the regular season just SUCKED as they proved to be the darkest 2 games in FSU history (Wide Right I and a 14-9 loss at UF). A sure Championship season would have to wait 2 more years.
Filed under: Light Talk, Movies, Music | Tags: Amy Grant, C Me Dance, dc Talk, Facing The Giants movie, Fireproof the movie, Mercy Me, Michael W. Smith, Veggie Tales
A bit of news before I start this post: Sorry for not keeping up with this blog the past week or so. For any of you that followed K-Blog I you know that it fizzled out pretty quickly due to my lack of activity. I am determined to not let this happen with K-Blog II, but I can tell you that there is a lot going on these days! Some of which I will continue to blog about soon – some of which I will need to keep to myself until the appropriate time…so consider that your teaser to stay tuned!
And now on to our regularly scheduled program…
A colleague of mine recently showed me a movie trailer for an upcoming feature film that will apparently be released by a Christian film/entertainment conglomerate. (the title of this blog is called “Bringing Our Best” – just remember that) First, before I show you the trailer, note that the name of the movie is “C Me Dance.” I obviously haven’t seen the movie yet and I’m sure that there is symbolism for the use of the letter “C” in the title. However, I just wanted to point this out as it will set the tone for the rest of this blog.
Okay. Strap on your seat belts. Please watch the following:
There has been recent success in this genre of film with movies like Fireproof, Facing The Giants, and the Veggie Tales suite of films. Other than a few of the Veggie Tales flicks, I have not seen the others, but I’ll go on their critical acclaim that they are going to be an exception according to this blog.
So here’s the debate: why does most Christian entertainment suck? I know, I know – I live in Nashville and a lot of you are I’m sure rolling your eyes and saying to yourselves “Why did he have to bring that up again?!” Well, I did because I was shown that darned movie trailer!
Loosely quoting my boss, Pastor Tom has often stated in response to worship meeting discussions that “Christian music will never be as good as the world’s music because the devil, the chief musician, has already claimed his influence on secular music.” There’s wisdom in that thought and I, for the most part, believe him. Seriously, when was the last time a Christian album has caught fire and taken the world by storm? Apart from a few singles here and there such as Michael W. Smith‘s “My Place In This World,” and Mercy Me‘s “I Could Only Imagine,” I don’t think it has ever happened. I also think that is mainly due to the fact that there is such a thing called the “Contemporary Christian Music” market – but as most of you know that is a topic for a whole other K-Blog special!
Think about it, though. When Amy Grant recorded her pop or “secular” album as us crazy Christians called it, she went global. Her songs didn’t have much to say. Remember “Baby, Baby?!” They weren’t necessarily “secular” or “un-Christian” in my book, but she blew up with a record that was full of nothing but catchy hooks, great production, and concentrated marketing. Many Christians wrote her off and quit being Amy Grant “fans.”
Or how about when dc Talk released “Supernatural?” At least the vibe that I received from Christians at the time was “this is weird,” or “it’s too out there for CCM music,” or “they have left their fans…” Personally, I feel that this album was their best work mostly because I think it stands up with some of my favorite and also critically acclaimed mainstream releases of all time. That is opinion, but I find it peculiar that it was not received in the Christian market like their previous releases were celebrated. (check the sales reports vs. “Jesus Freak”)
Do we as Christians accept and actually welcome mediocrity? Are we comfortable with this? Does this debate also encircle the same debate of “Comfort Zones?” Why do we stay in our comfort zones as Christians? What are we so afraid of??
Why are Christians on average the weakest tippers at restaurants? Why do food service workers continually hate working on Sundays when they know that mostly Christians will be coming after church? Why are we labeled as the rudest to our servers and leave the smallest gratuity??
And finally, why do we have to be known as the group of people that releases horribly written, performed, and produced movies into theaters across the nation? Should a committee be formed to stop such things from happening?! This, and the things mentioned above, are all reasons why I think Christians get such a bad rap in today’s culture. We are not bringing our best. We are not being taken seriously.
Are we walking our talk? Are we truly seeking to bring Christ’s message of hope IN today’s world (remember: IN the world, not OF the world – we really don’t have a choice. Earth is it.) Here’s my message to Christian artists, musicians, movie producers, and anyone that brushes any facet of Christian entertainment: bring your best. Search yourself and your projects and ask yourself this question: “Am I bringing my best with ________?” (fill in the blank)
Go all out. Lose a little sleep. Take a few extra steps. Spend the money it really takes. Then ask the question again: “Am I truly bringing my best??” There’s a world watching and waiting to take another good thing down. Don’t give it that opportunity!
At the end of the day if you truly feel in your heart that it’s the best you could have done, but still have doubt it will hold water – stop! Then do what is necessary to get better. I have a feeling many might disagree with this point and tell me that I should rely more on God to carry it through. I disagree. I believe God calls us to bring our best. After all, what we do – we do for the King.
If you were commissioned to make a sword for the king to use in battle, would you deliver a sword to him that was 99% finished and then tell him “My lord, all you have to do is 1% of the sharpening that is left and it will be ready for slaying your enemies!” No, I have no doubt you will bring the best sword you have ever made to the king, or you will scrap it and try it again.
Do this, and I know it will really “piss”…er, um…“tick off the devil!”
Filed under: Light Talk, Odds & Ends | Tags: Instant messaging, McKendree Church UMC, Ping.fm, text messaging, Twitter
I have to admit – I just realized what the term “micro blogging” means. I have been Twittering for quite some time now, all the while not realizing that I was micro blogging. I love it. In fact, I think I am addicted to it! I have found myself sending Twitter updates via my cell phone while driving. In fact, it seems that I prefer to Twitter & text while driving! That is, however, another topic for another time (hopefully I won’t be writing that blog from a hospital bed).
I’ve even gone so far as to incorporate Ping.fm to update all of my “sites” (or “ping” them) with my micro blogging all at once. Apparently I’m too busy to update each once. I am.
The subject of Twittering came up Sunday at church when a man that I recently met but have tremendous respect for mentioned that he just signed up for a Twitter account. I don’t think he really gets it yet, but probably initially signed up just to see what the buzz was all about. After laughing about it for a minute, he said something to the group of us that were standing around listening that I thought was profound: “Today we have never been more connected, yet at the same time more interpersonally disconnected.” (paraphrased)
It’s so true. I probably text with my father more than I talk to him. It’s probably something that he has resolved to, rather than a preferred method of communication. It’s frustrating when I can’t text my sister because I know she doesn’t have it on her mobile plan, and my friend Jodie in Texas just took it off her phone all together. ARGH! I was relieved when Pastor Tom got the hang of texting. We text all the time now! Unless we’re face to face however, we don’t really talk much.
I mean, what’s the big deal? It’s so today. It’s so convenient. It’s so matter-of-fact and to-the-point especially when you need a quick response or a short answer without much discussion or time investment. It’s easy. It satisfies the curiosity itch that each of us has at least a little bit inherently built into us. “Does someone really want to know what I am up to at this very moment?!” Well, yeah, someone does.
As I am building the new website for McK (don’t laugh, I’m not a web designer…hopefully it will start to look better soon!) I have added a Twitter widget to the home page. So now officially McKendree Church now Twitter’s! …really?!
I guess where I’m going with this is that I hope that as technology increases, our willingness to hold onto those primal and necessary means of interpersonal communication also continues to become important and critical. I guess in a way we need to become aware – again – that it’s important to build relationships on a solid foundation. Christ the Rock. Talking to that person on a regular basis. Being available to them if they need someone to talk to. Serving your friends, neighbors, and family on your own accord.
I have certainly been convicted. Now, I’ve got to go catch that Instant Message that popped up on my screen a few minutes ago – cya!
Filed under: Light Talk, Music | Tags: Aerosmith, Alicia Silverstone, Nashville Rescue Mission
This is not in any way meant to be a commercial, but rather a blog about a commercial. If you live in the Nashville area and listen to one of the sports radio stations on the air (personally I bounce around based on the content) you have no doubt heard commercials for an upcoming telethon for the Nashville Rescue Mission.
Have you really listened to these commercials closely? I have yet to hear any of them not using a mainstream soundtrack featured somewhere in the ad. Of the 4-5 times I have heard these ad’s I honestly can’t tell you which songs were used, but I knew of them at the time they sounded over my car radio. However, as I drove into town today a 5-minute spot came on between segments that was very memorable.
It was basically a commercial for the upcoming Nashville Rescue Mission telethon all based around Aerosmith‘s song “Amazing” – in its ENTIRETY! It was quite powerful how they intertwined audio vignettes of people’s testimonies throughout the song. Although operating a motor vehicle in the rain at an average of 73 MPH (to be exact!), I was completely lost inside of this commercial on FM radio…
Check out the lyrics to Aerosmith’s “Amazing”:
I kept the right ones out – and let the wrong ones in
Had an angel of mercy to see me through all my sins
There were times in my life – when I was goin’ insane
Tryin’ to walk through the pain
When I lost my grip – and I hit the floor
Yeah, I thought I could leave but couldn’t get out the door
I was so sick and tired of a livin’ a lie
I was wishin’ that I would die
It’s Amazing
With the blink of an eye you finally see the light
It’s Amazing
When the moment arrives that you know you’ll be alright
It’s Amazing
And I’m sayin’ a prayer for the desperate hearts tonight
That one last shot’s a permanent vacation
And how high can you fly with broken wings?
Life’s a journey not a destination
And I just can’t tell just what tomorrow brings
You have to learn to crawl before you learn to walk
But I just couldn’t listen to all that righteous talk
I was out on the street, just a tryin’ to survive
Scratchin’ to stay alive
On several occasions I have witnessed personal testimonies from people who have graduated from the Nashville Rescue Mission’s variety of programs and all of them almost echo what is mentioned in “Amazing.”
This blog post can potentially turn into one of those “Christians should not be OF the world” topics. But hearing this ad did set my mind adrift along those lines. So is it okay that NRM used this song in their commercial? Before I started typing this blog I went on YouTube and watched the video for this song. Not only did it take me back to 10th grade and caused me to wonder where Alicia Silverstone has disappeared to, it also confirmed for me that NRM probably would not use the video in a television ad if they wanted to avoid any controversy in the buckle of the Bible belt.
For me – I love it. I give NRM a big “two-thumbs up.” In the right context I think elements like Aerosmith’s “Amazing” are completely appropriate within the realm of spiritual experiences and worship of God. After all, we are all people. We are all made in the image of Christ – even Steven Tyler. Music is a gift from God. Instruments have essentially been crafted by the very hands of God. I don’t think we have to be bound by strictly what is written in a hymnal; what is considered “worship music,” or for Heaven’s sake put under a label of “Contemporary Christian Music” – BARFFF!!!
In many ways I feel like a lot of Christians are finally starting to crawl out of the box on this issue. Then again, and sometimes as soon as I am energized by forward thinking, something or someone within the realm of the church causes me to shake my head and wonder if we will ever get it? So thank you Nashville Rescue Mission for thinking outside of the box and for doing what it takes IN the world to reach the people OF the world.
Oh, and thanks for advertising on sports radio. That’s really cool! I wouldn’t know if you’re also doing a telethon on Christian radio because I don’t listen to it.
Filed under: Odds & Ends | Tags: Dumb & Dumber, McKendree Church UMC, Stephen Handy
“ch – air”
“CHAIR!”
The one who has motivated me to get back into regular blogging, Stephen Handy, is out of town on business this week. His energy is infectious to say the least – so there’s no doubt that I have already missed his presence. Also, we normally meet on Tuesday afternoons to have strategic sessions for McKendree - or “Mac-K’s” as he calls it (get used to it, folks!).
So today I choose to blog about a chair.
I have been working at Mac-K’s since September 2007. I inherited an office and with that office came a desk chair. Well…what was left of what once used to be a desk chair! It was 1) UGLY, b) stinky, and 3) made noises that is best described by this video:
I somewhat fixed its appearance by draping a t-shirt over it given to me by my friend Jacob. This also helped a little with the stinky-ness. At least the back portion of my shirt didn’t go home smelling like that chair! But there wasn’t much I could do about that SOUND! It truly was the most annoying sound in the world!
About a month ago I was so annoyed by that chair that I thrust it out of my office and told the head custodian to deal with it appropriately. I think it ended up in the dumpster! Since then I have been sitting on another chair that was in my office (it was either that or pull the couch up to the desk!). It’s not a desk chair, just a normal chair – so it really didn’t fit quite right.
Out of the blue today my colleague Jordan popped into my office and said “hey man, there’s that new chair in that back office that no one is using – can’t you be using that?!” YESSS – I CAN!! In fact, that chair has been sitting in an unused office for several months now just begging for my bottom to be filling its cushion… The second DUH moment I’ve had in as many days!
brown chair
It’s so plush – so comfortable – and yet, SO QUIET!
So here’s the after thought:
Now that I have this amazing and well-oiled desk chair – I hope that I will not be sitting in it as much as I sat in that squeaky old contraption that is now in the trash. Isn’t that just like LIFE?!
It’s true. I hope that I will be so busy spending face time with people in need or with people in prayer that I won’t have much time to sit and enjoy the beauty of having that chair. I hope God calls us at Mac-K’s to be such movers and shakers in our community that the shiny new brown chair will live well past its warranty because of little use.
This is my prayer for the future of McKendree Nashville. I hope that we are so involved and active in our surrounding communities, other churches and ministries, local, state, and even national government…you name it…all in an effort of making a difference for Christ in our world that my brown chair is rendered useless.
