Archive for the ‘sojourn’ Category

Every Man

Jun 14, 2008 ramblings, sojourn

It’s not easy to write about someone I don’t personally know. Though every time I’ve seen and listened to Tim Russert, he made me feel as if I did know him. His approach to journalism as personal as it gets, whether president or military leader, he never pulled punches. But as deep as his questions got, he was not harsh,  demeaning, or biased. Tim Russert was a man for every man.

He probed to make us think, and in turn, make us more effective people and Americans. The pending campaigns and elections need Tim’s centered, balanced approach to the issues, who will fill this gap? In the grand scheme of God’s sovereignty, it sure seems like the most interesting of timing for Tim’s passing.

How do I miss someone I didn’t really know? Not sure, but I’m fairly certain, the impact of his death will have far reaching implications in a political climate where trust is all but completely eroded. Let every man take note, we can do better, and it starts with taking Mr. Russert’s lead — seek truth with dignity and respect and settle for nothing less.

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Paint

Jun 7, 2008 happenings, ramblings, sojourn

Last night I played a gig with Rick Spreitzer and Kevin Edwards at the Green Rice Gallery in NoDa… very enjoyable. I mean, people flowing through all evening, looking at the various artwork hung on walls and placed on stands, sipping wine and beverages, munching on treats — lots of smiles and conversation. All this going on as the three of us sat in a corner and jammed acoustically (me on electric bass) to Rick’s original indie music, sort of an art on art foundation.

Rick mentioned at one point, “starving artists don’t just paint”, which I thought was a great off-the-cuff line, unfortunately, I’m not sure  anyone heard it through the buzz of chatter. We were not turned up very loud and had a sort of muffled edge, so during a 10 minute break, we tweaked the sound then took off for a 2nd set. As the night progressed I felt as if we were less the foundation and more an art piece in the corner. Some folks commented as they’d wrap around the walls viewing art, buy a CD, or stand and listen longer than most before moving on. The flow of ever-changing faces was really fun to watch.

All in all, the night, which I actually wasn’t even looking forward to because I’d had such a busy and at times oppressive week, ended up being a wonderfully relaxing and inspiring time. As we packed up, the buzz between Rick, Kevin, and I continued. When the owner paid Rick, she said she hopes to have us back. We roadie’d the gear into a night totally lit with sound and energy from all the people on the streets and both the indoor and outdoor bands at the Muse and beyond. I’ve been hanging out in NoDa, albeit infrequently, for a few years and have observed it become what I saw last night… good for all. Business owners must love it, the folks that hang must love it, and other than the fools that choose to rely on crime to feed their vices, it’s really a pretty eclectic, peaceful scenario.

Funny that out of all that is enjoyable, reality comes back and paints our next hours, days, and chapters. I got home more tired than I thought I was… barely lasted an hour before my eyes were shut, battled the fact I needed to sleep about 30 more minutes, then just went to bed. Overslept, wasted half the morning, now I’m writing this entry… be right back, I need some more coffee… OK, I’m back. So, today will be “busy” with whatever I need to get done, would like to do, and maybe a little day dreaming. But reality will “paint” my thoughts and actions, and influence my hopes and dreams.

I heard on the news last night (in between dozes) that Al Sharpton is coming back to Charlotte to tongue lash our law enforcement agencies for shooting a young black man that was waving a gun at police. It would be nice if he’d come and stick his nose in the crack houses and gang dens and try to make some sense of that mess, too. Maybe take a ride through some once thriving neighborhoods now littered with for sale signs, which are perpetual lawn ornaments. Who wants to buy a house in a neighborhood that’s either gang controlled or where owners don’t care enough to mow their grass, much less maintain their houses — black, white, Hispanic… whatever! Hey, Al, why don’t you get in a Charlotte cop car on a Friday night and experience what they see and deal with on a daily basis?

And I’m so perplexed by the “Got Hope” t-shirts for B’Obama… give me a break! The Dem’s have had control of the house for almost two years now… nothing. Gas prices up what, $1.25? States in the great northwest are poised to deliver alternative energy, but for the red tape… where are the Dem’s? We’re still spending BILLIONS on space programs — who cares the dust on Mars is red — where are the Dem’s?

Our country’s livelihood is at stake, most just complain about it, hope is at a premium. If the only hope we have is to vote in a new president, that’s not a hope with much (if any) substance. My hope is in that which I can’t fathom or see, the hope promised by the word of God, which is in and of itself God, at least to me. My hope is based on promises so misconstrued and twisted by man, mis-labeled as “religion”, that I can understand why it seems so few choose to travel this narrow path. This hope paints a picture of peace for eternity, and in my heart. But along with this hope come the promises of life… struggles, fears, pain, and despair.

It’s up to me which brush I choose — the broad or the pencil thin tip — and what colors I paint, black and white, shades of grey, or a broad palette of lush colors I create from the basic set. We are all painters, artists in this life, it’s how we express and portray our hope that makes us who we are, to ourselves and those with whom we share our lives. It’s up to me to determine if hanging on to what I know is worth the possibility of missing out on adventures I’ve yet to imagine.

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T-Minus

May 30, 2008 ramblings, sojourn

These days seems just about everything is deadline driven. From dinner at 5:30 to get the kids somewhere by 6:15, to the next powerpoint at work, or preparing for my next trip — whether to Nashville or the grocery story. Good news is, I can do this! The bad news… I tend to stress and get caught up in details instead of enjoying the process and the moments that matter. While recently reading through some scripture in 1 Kings about Solomon’s wisdom, I realized, this is where I want to be — asking for and receiving wisdom into and for my life, just as Solomon did.

So I’m thinking I won’t have the whole jurisdiction over all these countries and peoples, and that’s cool with me, I have enough to handle with the single family in our household. And I don’t need to be great at everything I do, but be faithful and do things with the right heart and hope in that which I can’t see.

I can be a rather poor reader, usually 3-4 books at a time, struggling to finish any or all of them, sometimes having to restart and skim through a book to get reoriented. I’m currently going through “Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren, and finishing up the sections on seeing life from God’s view… life is a test, life is a trust, life is a temporary assignment (in a temporal place). Interestingly, before reading these chapters, I’d just written some songs easily tied back to these perspectives.

Kinda cool… then I think about practical application.

Of the three elements, trust is the one that frequently eludes me and pretty much causes the most turmoil in my life. To me, trust means totally reliquishing control. Should be easy seeing as I really don’t have control of anything to begin with except the choices I make. Some decisions should be black and white, right vs. wrong. It’s those where wisdom, instinct and desire collide that keep me on my toes, sometimes at the edge of a cliff, trying to balance choices against making “right decisions”.

Truth is, I’m at a point where I time should be one of the most compelling factors in choosing for the rest of my life. If I live to 100, my days are but the strike of a match in light of eternity… if I miss out on what today has to offer, tomorrow might be my eternity. Time to think about the countdown and live with a bit more reckless abandon and ferver.

God’s word says ask for wisdom, I’m asking … am I trusting?

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Real Life

May 19, 2008 sojourn

I don’t know about you, but a good bit of my day is spent settling battles between my head and my heart, including choices about how I use time, spend money, who and what I serve, when or if to sleep, you know, life stuff. At least for me, there’s no way to pin down how all my free time is used, like some surveillance system that catalogs and trends, nothing overly geeky. Though my “real life” is often full of illusions and distractions leading nowhere, for all intents and purposes I’ve got it made. Of course, you wouldn’t know it when the “whine-o-meter” starts spiking because I’m not getting my way or being fulfilled, at least from an earthly perspective.

Of late, however, news of the horrific tragedies caused by natural disasters around the world, and the fact our nation appears to be missing the big picture in dealing with challenges we face, I’m seeing things in a different hue. Kids growing up without moms or dads, our elderly battle depression and lonliness as their generation fades away, the cost of living across the board sucking the life out of so many, and generic indifference poised to inflict lasting, detrimental impact… but then I see the Sunday school worker dressed in the same clothes, wearing that same smile and I wonder, could this be me? Or a school teacher of 20 years who refuses to give up because of the ridiculously insufficient pay or the disrespect of some students because even though she may never see the fruit of her labor, she has hope for the outcome… would I have the guts to do the same?

Real life… it’s not about what I do, but who I really am based on choices I’ve made at crossroads in life, and my imperfections are healed by humility and grace. I want to live knowing that my contributions to this world do matter, but should be made quietly without expectation of acknowledgement or reward. While this is inherently not my nature, I can’t ignore the stirring in my heart, and there are forces around me speaking loudly, too. Whether in the form of a song, a comment, a newspaper article or a blog, a sermon, I’m seeing, hearing and seeking from a different perspective.

If I’m to be more deciscive, and make choices that really matter, I need to tear down the walls that keep me from searching out my identity and purpose in life… not the world’s version of life, but real life. It’s time to take off the mask of pretense and be real with myself. To see that who I am in every waking hour can make a difference in situations I’m a part of… it’s going to take peeling off more of the old me if I want to get to living out my real life.

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Recognize

May 1, 2008 faith, songwriting

A few weeks ago, I sat in a coffee shop with a co-writer discussing a song idea about God’s will for our lives. She’s lots more experienced at co-writing and very patient, so I really enjoyed the learning process and think we’re on track to write a good song. She sent her notes, I reviewed mine and noticed she’d written down the word “recognize” early in our session, but it wasn’t necessarily focal to our discussion.

When I finally got back to working on the song last week, I couldn’t shake the notion of how I pray and wait for some tangible means of discerning God’s will for my life, when faith says answers come when I choose to pursue God through His word, prayer, and a willingness to risk failing in the context I’m able to see results.

So what triggers my heart to recognize God’s will? James tells us to pray in faith for wisdom and every good thing from above… discerning when I’m praying for a heart’s desire that may not line up with God’s will is a mystery that may only be solved when I align my prayers and faith with God’s word. Newsflash — this means spending LOTS more time reading, studying, contemplating, praying, worshiping, and living in Spirit & Truth.

Admittedly, I’m writing this entry as a bit of a free write to flush out a second verse. But something tells me God is going to show me more — I pray He does!

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Bones & Stones

Apr 13, 2008 faith, songwriting

All the political hype these days is wearing me out, and the tide is still rising. There’s a fervor around pending elections we haven’t seen in many years, which at face value seems a good thing. But I heard a comment recently from a woman campaigning for a senatorial candidate who recently stood up to our president and declared his shame for the actions of our commander in chief, as if this should be a quality of significance to sway voter’s minds for this candidate vying for a senate seat. Yep, lots of folks are mad, our country is “reeling”, the economy is “strained”, and once the war and health care get resolved by a new president, new party, everything is going to be “OK”.

Kidding, right? Politicians judging politicians, and “we the people” choosing sides based on their “trustworthy” rhetoric. When I hear statements about how “either Clinton or Obama will do”, we just need a Democrat in the White House, I get even more concerned about what’s at the core of our problems in the world today.

Jesus said, let those without guilt cast the first stone at the sinner (paraphrased). Who among us doesn’t have bones stashed in a closet that may someday become a skeleton hung on the front page of a newspaper or blog for all to see and judge? Like many (if not most), I’m quick to “qualify” others. The bones stashed in the back of my closet don’t even make up a skeleton because I’ve not taken time to truthfully inspect my own flaws and heart issues, so there is no form. If the bones represent my selfish pride and deception, my lack of compassion and putting my imaginations and desires ahead of God, then I need to deal with myself first, not blame someone else for problems, whether perceived or real.

As I see it, the choices we have for our next president leave lots to be desired. They keep stumbling over their own words, waiting to pounce on each others “flaws”, tickling the ears of those who believe a new president (or any other human) is going to make life “better”. Newsflash, it all starts with humbling ourselves as a nation (2 Chronicles 7:14) and addressing real issues. Most folks in financial trouble don’t budget, they overspend wildly on credit cards, and refuse to seek the wisdom of experienced, honest counsel when making life altering financial decisions. Lots of people who are out of work have the opportunity to modernize their skills and improve their quality of life, most won’t because working at the mill or plant is all they’ve ever known. Obesity and dependency on a plethora of substances is rampant. Immigrants who enter this country illegally get better and more frequent health care than our senior citizens living month to month on a pittance of social security. Our neighborhoods are at war with gangs, pedophiles, and lifelong criminals who evade the law and impact our livelihood — but if we get out of Iraq, everything is going to be OK… right?

We laugh at Leno’s “Jaywalking” segments, when he asks people about well known history and even current events and they haven’t a clue as to the answer, funny, huh?. People who flood across our borders illegally rant about their supposed rights, but won’t stand to pledge allegiance to the flag; and our kids can’t sing Christmas songs if a teacher allows a child of non-Christian faith to stand against American tradition… the country we fought so hard and so long for is slipping through our hands so we can all join a sing-along around a global campfire — I for one don’t buy it.

How’s a new president going to solve what’s really wrong?

We’ve twisted, demeaned, and ignored God’s Word for decades. Our society continues eroding, so we point fingers at the president, our government, local, state, or federal, or whoever we can find to blame. I wonder what would happend if we took all the faith we put into politics and turned our eyes and hopes back to Heaven? Maybe, like, humbly ask God to restore this nation, to take us back to the mindset of our fore-fathers? Things are so complicated — the only thing I know to do is cast the vote I’m entitled to this coming November, and trust God to work out the rest. Sometimes going back to square one, back to simple, is the answer. God promises fresh grace and new mercy for each day, it’s up to us to go there to receive it.

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WAJ-Notes

Apr 5, 2008 sojourn, songwriting

Wow (whew… etc), just back from a week in Nashville, I’m sorting through the wheat and chaff, notes and stuff everywhere… so glad I took all my WAJ notes in the back of the workbook! One of my goals upon return is to share what I captured, so here goes… please keep in mind these are my perspectives in the moment, if anyone that was there sees something I totally mis-captured, please let me know, thanks!

9a: Finding Creativity When You Don’t Feel Creative - Belinda Smith

  • Belinda stressed the indispensable value of Sheila Davis’s “The Songwriter’s Idea Book”, and how showing up for scheduled time to write (something that’s gotten away from me the last six months, or so) honors the giver of our gifts, a sobering reminder
  • She also led us in a couple of exercises to help with activating the right brain and squelching the “inner critic” that can stifle creativity, but stressed the need to get back to the focal point when the meandering gets too fragmented
    • For instance, imagine a scenario and build a short list of words based on the scene, then develop a list of potential titles (free the linear mindset/capture the scattered)
  • One other note I captured is to scan movie titles for those you haven’t seen and write the song behind it. We discussed a couple of titles and it was really cool to hear the variety of perspectives each one generated

 

10a: Co-Writing Secrets - Maurice Carter led a panel (M. Funderburk, T. Labar, S. Krippayne, K. Stokes) on keys to and importance of co-writing

  • Preparation: Know your co-writer’s expectations; build relationships; bring multiple ideas to the session, the idea I’m passionate about may not feel the same way; could be lyrical or musical start points
  • Distractions: Flexibility is key, be open-minded to all ideas but know when to graciously pass on an idea that’s just not working for me
    • Be vulnerable; share and receive… be in it for the long-haul; consider it time well spent from more than a songwriting perspective
    • Be careful not to settle… I have to love the idea but be willing to let go once I’ve tried to “sell” the idea; dialog in spirit and truth
  • A weaker lyrical hook is OK as long as the melody is a home run
  • The writers shared that 80-90% of all the songs they write are co-writes

 

11a: Developing Great Ideas - Belinda Smith led a panel (S. Siler, K. Matthews) on taking ideas from good to great

  • It’s not about competing with other writers but with myself, am I getting better?
  • See the story in the idea
    • Filter the list
    • Co-writing is the school for writing and the acid test for ideas
  • Key characteristics of an idea
    • Can the idea be approached from more than one angle?
    • Can I get to the hook from multiple perspectives?
    • Does the title move me?
    • Can I sing the melody two weeks later?
    • Is this a topical/theological contribution that’s fresh… fill gaps in areas not currently being discussed
    • Write the same idea in multiple genres/persons/POV
  • Good or Great?
    • Live the experience from the listener’s perspective… is their a transformation moment?
    • Tell the truth!!!
    • Make the listener think: how did the writer know this is me in this moment?
    • Lead others into the emotion you feel

 

1p: Going from Good to Great - Dave Clark

  • Does the song draw the listener whether the listener is ready or not?
  • Does the song appeal beyond “taste” boundaries?
  • Don’t let bad listening take the place of good writing (Dave stressed this being the key note of the session)
  • Emotional equity - get personally invested in the song
  • Quote by Greg Maddux on staying true to the great idea: “I would rather give up a hit on a good pitch than strike someone out on a bad one.”
  • Study political speeches - especially inaugural speeches
  • Separate what too personal to generalized details, put specifics into developing the emotion in the idea

 

2p: Audit Critique Session - S. Siler/C. Cates

3p: Critique Session - K. Matthews/K. Stokes

 

4p: Writing for the Country Market - Brian White/Don Poythress

  • It’s not always going to be OK… people lose jobs, get sick, divorced, etc.
  • CCM has a tendency to play it safe, Country just plays the card
  • Try using an everyday man mentality in worship songs (Tomlin has done this)
  • Don’t write a song that says I’m lonely, make the listener feel lonely
  • Furniture - nouns (Wiseman explains with pictures… The Good Stuff)
  • Not many new ideas, it’s all about developing fresh angles

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Perception-Reality-Truth

Mar 30, 2008 faith

When I woke up this morning, I sensed (very strongly) God had something different in mind for this Sunday morning. I found the church where Don Poythress leads worship, Abundant Life, in Mt. Juliet. It’s a modest building with a small congregation, one seemingly surrounded by several large churches I saw along the route in. Their sign says they are an “interdenominational” congregation.

Worship was well so done. Seems several of the church elders are on the worship team, quality musicians and everything sounded as one would expect this close to the heart of Nashville. At one point during worship, a woman asked to speak, and shared a phrase she’d had laid on her heart some time ago, she felt this was the moment to share it:

Perception is reality, but not always truth…

I don’t know if she knew that one of the guitarists, Jim LaVerde, an elder, associate pastor and assistant leader of the worship team, would be filling in for the senior pastor today. But her prophetic word really set the stage for the context of the rest of the service. Don had shared (somewhat apprehensively) before service started that today’s service would be very much out of the ordinary. Truth is, I believe this service could be the main reason God brought me to Nashville this week.

Jim embarked on engaging the congregation in dialog around the “American Church”. He started out with accounts of personal experiences with religiosity, and national averages for church attendance. With Don and one of the other elders flanked to his right, he then began asking questions of the congregation regarding the level of fervency, if not urgency, that appears to be absent in many congregations across the country.

The responsiveness, and genuiness of the congregation was humbling and convicting, and what I thought most cool about it all, is that while there are struggles and our passions may waver and wane, there is a lot of good work in progress, quiet servitude, based in love… for God’s glory.

Who knows if I’ll ever set foot in that building again, or ever come back to Nashville. I do know this, the challenge before me is much greater than any dream about music or writing. Hearing and seeing what I was privileged to witness today lifted my spirits and has me thinking about my focus and priorities. It’s time to bow in thanksgiving and ask the Lord to help me find my way into and through places I didn’t know I could or should go. It’s time to get beyond perception by trusting the compass of his word, which leads to truth. The key here is to trust when I don’t understand, and have faith for the outcome.

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Johnny Cash Parkway

Mar 30, 2008 faith, sojourn, songwriting

Today I briefly got to see the northeast side of the Nashville area as I made the quick jaunt to the Write About Jesus one day workshop. I only wish I’d left earlier to get a look around, but once I pulled into the Community Church of Hendersonville (on Johnny Cash Pkwy) where the event was held, I never got out to scope the town… that is, beyond the Starbucks just down the street.

The day was a blessing in so many ways, from the writers in attendance to the really cool groups of instructors assembled by Sue Smith to lead the sessions. The fact that these folks are all believers working in the music business in perhaps one of the last true havens for songwriters is a testament to the work for which God wants us to use our gifts. I feel the level of sincerity and care expressed in the instruction was different – refreshing and enlightening.

I’ve many favorite moments, from the teachings, interactions, and the songs shared by five writers at the end of the day. First, from a teaching perspective, while the attitude was light and inviting, the instructors came to teach, and teach they did. The panel on co-writing triggered the revelation that I’m ready, ready to take my writing to the next level through co-writing. Of course this is way easier said than done because I don’t live in Nashville, and I’m currently not in any writing relationships in Charlotte. Not to say there isn’t the potential for building these relationships (in Charlotte), that’s something I’ll need to work at. Bottom line: the quite successful writers on the panel made it very clear, going it alone is a tough road, co-writing increases potential for success in commercial markets.

Second was the Dave Clark session on how to go from “good to great”. Here’s a man with tons of experience in the business as a writer and publisher with a clear message –we’ve allowed our listening habits to infect the quality that goes into crafting songs. He talked about “emotional equity” and how investing in the emotional framework is the difference between settling and driving out a powerful song that’s general enough to touch the hearts of a broad spectrum of listeners.

I audited a critique session and had one song critiqued. The level of expertise and honesty was humbling yet easy to swallow. Again, a grace filled example of what the WAJ community is about. I met a couple of young writers, one of which appears to be on the fast track to a pub deal. Of the songs I heard, most of which were gospel or inspirational genre, the quality was way above average, a couple of them very close to cut-table, at least this was the sense I got from the critiquers.

Lastly, the songs Brian White, Molly Reed, and Don Poythress in the round, followed by individual performances by Scott Krippayne and Kyle Matthews put the sweet icing on a very rich cake. I’m not kidding myself into thinking the challenge isn’t great or the prize potentially unattainable… it’s about faith and seeking out God, and whether it’s His will or a winter wind I’m chasing remains to be seen. Time to pray, listen, and obey.

I’m overjoyed that my wife encouraged me to make the trip and invest the money to attend the workshop. In the morning I’ll further process the whole thing, and, Lord willing, draft out a lyric that I can turn into song by Monday or Tuesday. For now I’ll ready for bed and spend some quiet time thanking God for his hand in all this, from the provision to make this financially possible, and the servants he equipped to share and impact those of us that attended the one day WAJ worshop in Nashville – what a blessing!!!

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Road-ie

Mar 28, 2008 sojourn, songwriting

The drive from Charlotte-Nashville went well, especially once I realized I was getting to town in Central Time. The best part about getting there “early” was I got to see Jane Godfrey, who was in town to record a podcast that never happened due to technical difficulties. We hadn’t seen each other for some time, so though ever so brief, we had an enjoyable chat. As she departed, I realized I need to eat, and made a beeline for the local Food Lion, in the rain, Friday rush hour, interesting to say the least.

As my frozen dinner microwaved into existence, I booted up and got surfing. Couldn’t get the schedule for the Write About Jesus workshops to save on my PC so I went retro with pencil and paper and wrote it out. For the best, at least this way I’ll actually look at it and make some choices. Pretty amazing lineup of sessions, it’s going to be hard to choose, for sure.

To say I’m weary is kidding myself, I’m beat. My grandiose notion of making it out are all but extinguished, not even a quick jaunt up the street to watch the Davidson-Wisconsin game, which I’ll surely kick myself for in the morning. The trick now is to stay awake long enough to a reasonable hour in high hopes of a solid 7-8 hours of  sleep… OK, do I hear 6-hours?

7:00 AM is the target for getting around and heading out for some semblance of breakfast, surely a good cup of coffee. According to the schedule, we jump with both feet into the teaching at 9:00. There are open critique sessions every hour, I’ve got 2-3 songs, but will likely keep it to two because there are some really good, and unique, sessions I want to take. I think I’ll go for Belinda Smith’s, “Finding Creativity When You Don’t Feel Creative” session first, because this is definitely an area where I struggle. At times the wear and tear of corporate jousting is a valid excuse, but it comes down to being able to get over the hump because the day job has no end in sight. 10:00 is going to be tough because there are two sessions of interest, neither repeats. One a Co-Writing Secrets panel, the other titled “His Words, Your Words”… I’ll have to play this hour by ear.

This list goes on, I’m thinking I’ll most likely hold off till the afternoon on a critique, but ultimately, I want the day to be low key for me. I just want to soak up all I can enjoy… wow, Davidson is doing a number on Wisconsin, could it be?

Over the next couple of days I’ll scribe out thoughts on what I learned and impressions of the one day event in Hendersonville. Can’t wait to see and hear what God has in store for everyone that attends. I pray a special blessing for all those traveling distances, and for the instructors as they impart their God given wisdom to make us better writers and artists, not for the sake of music or the industry, but for the sake of the Gospel.

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