On Philosophers and Creators – Holland Davis Responds
I sent my post on The Rise of the Modern Day Levite to some of my friends and I wanted to include a response from Holland Davis:
There are philosophers and creators…. philosophers talk about what they want to do… creators just do it…
There are alot of philosphers in the church that just talk about what they want to do and how they wish that they would be allowed to do it… the creators just do it and let the chips fall where they may…
We just planted a church called Worship Life… we’re just going to create and see what happens. I encourage all the other creators to do the same… and if it means they have to create outside the walls of the church… then let’s see if they really take the gospel with them or if they are just looking for their own personal self expression.
That’s how I’ve always lived out my art.
Very good points. It does seem that the purely creative person doesn’t wait for someone to open the door for them, or just sit around talking about creating … they create.
Let’s join them.
The Rise of the Modern Day Levite – Bringing The Arts Home To The Church
A facebook friend sent me the following message a few days ago:
Hi Randy,
I’ve been pondering for a while the place of the creative arts in the Body of Christ. I feel that the arts are a way to communicate the heart of God to those who don’t know Him and to those who are yet to know Him. My hearts to desire to see the arts returned to a place of honor as a way that God shares His message. I’d love to see a community where the artist connect and a place where the churches/organizations can connect with an artist. Anyway, just a bit of what’s inside. It would be great to hear your thoughts on the matter.
Blessings, J
This reminded me of my conversation with Dennis Jernigan back in 1995:
The first time I hung out with Dennis was at IHOP (the all night pancake place … not the all night prayer place) after we had both appeared on James Robison’s Life Today program in 1995. It was that conversation that turned my heart toward the arts and praying for the “modern day Levites” (artisans, worship leaders etc.) to return to prominence in the Body of Christ. Dennis is the one that coined that designation. I started praying that they would not continue to be shunned as “extra,” … or weird … but embraced as a necessary manifestation of worship, communication and communion. And, I think the Lord is answering those and millions of other prayers along the same lines.
Should Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Be Repealed?
A High School friend (we will call Mr. Cars) I reconnected with on Facebook recently sent me an intriguing message/musing about DADT (Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.) I have reprinted it here in its entirety (with permission.)
Have you weighed in about the current push to end don’t ask/don’t tell and remove the prohibition against gays serving openly in the armed forces?
Before putting you on the spot for your thinking, here’s my streamoconsciousness. I’m against removing the requirement that folks attracted to the same sex in the military keep that to themselves.
I haven’t read/studied the issue, and I’ve only come at it from the perspective of the armed services being very peculiar functional and goal-based organizations, not analogous to other subcultures, associations, and the culture/society at large.
You don’t have to do or accomplish anything in particular to be a citizen. Born here? Congrats. Most of us aren’t required to promise or take any kind of oath to be/remain Americans. It’s automatic no matter what we think or say. Even breaking the law doesn’t get citizens kicked out of the county. It can get us punished, because the alternative is anarchy. But for those of us for whom citizenship is automatic, there’s not much we can be/think/say/do to be disqualified from citizenship.
The church says bring all your past, problems, and perversions and we will take you as you are. But contentedly stay as you are, and you’ll be disciplined, maybe even kicked out. We promised or took oaths. Having been raised from the dead spiritually and desiring to be transformed are the qualifications for joining/remaining. Like me, members can show a remarkable lack of progress and be shot full of conflicting and troublesome beliefs/views/confessions/behaviors and still…we’re in.
SuperBowl 44 Saints vs Colts Second Half
We started a comment thread on my facebook page and Facebook started getting wonky about the number of posts so I am moving the “live commenting” here.
I See Bluebirds Whisper
Had to get my eyes dilated today. It’s been a few years and now that I am over forty … gotta’ be more consistent with these type of things.
My eye doc said, “Your eyes look fantastic. They are really really really healthy and they are really really really nearsighted.”
I really really really love my eye doc.
Some of my facebook friends were worried about me driving the mile from my appointment to home. I took this picture to show them how I got home safely: Bionic sun-shades.
After looking at this picture, don’t you agree that some seriously random super human capability should be attributed to these shade roll-ups? The “I see whispering bluebirds” title was my contribution to the amazing abilities of these bionic shades.
I know, not that funny but … come on … my eyes are dilated.
The other thing I discovered today is the brightness adjustment thing on my monitor(s) … I don’t like waiting for the dilation stuff to wear off.
American Idol Premiere Boston Tryouts Open Comment Thread
I had quite a few people tell me they enjoyed doing the comment thread thing on facebook and twitter last year when American Idol was on so, I thought I would try to do it this way. Feel free to leave comments about the show throughout the show in the comments here on the blog. I actually have a phone call at 8pm for about 45 minutes 
but it is a phone call I am looking forward too so it is really a 
So, I will join in after the phone call. I think this will work better than the Facebook threads we did last year because you can reply directly to each comment (reply link at the bottom of each comment) and that will help the conversation flow. We will see how this works
2009 OUT! Come On In 2010 – Some Favorites
So, it’s a little late in the day to be posting this but … I am determined to get it done before Midnight! (it is a long post, most of it and a video after the jump.)
Favorite Movie – Avatar
Hands down. I know that most of my conservative brethren break out in hives over the movie as being liberal propaganda … all I know is , it was a great, simple, epic story with amazing artwork and technological advances. It is a historic moment in movie making history and liberal ideology infused or not … I know what I believe and I know I believe this was one of the best movies ever made.
Favorite Song – Pocketful of Sunshine
Pocketful of Sunshine is a song by Natasha Bedingfield. It was released in 2008 but it remained my consistent most played song on my iPhone. I love it. It is a great song and reminds me of my prayer journal time with the Lord. It helped inspire me to go back to handwriting my prayer journal. Also, Kim Hill did an amazing job singing this song at our Exodus conference last summer.
Today Is World AIDS Day
Cross-posted at the Exodus Blog
***
Whether you identify as gay, a Christian on a post-gay journey, or simply someone who pays attention, you know that the AIDS pandemic has been a terrible tragedy across the world. To help raise prayer and awareness on the annual World AIDS Day, I wanted to post a few links.
The Red Campaign has two social media hubs you can follow at Twitter: http://twitter.com/joinred/ and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/joinred
Christopher Yuan, a friend and AIDS Activist has a blog and you can follow him on Twitter.
There is also HIV: He Intends Victory outreach and Rick and Kay Warren’s efforts through Saddleback Church.
MORE:
Grace and Gay Men (my personal testimony of finding out a former partner had died of AIDS)
AIDS Organization “Muzzling” Christians. Why? What to Do? (read the post, there is a twist to it that contextualizes the title completely differently.)
Taking Our Place
At church one of my friends is a great single Mom to three great kids, one girl and two boys. I have watched them growing over the past few years and they are a delight. The oldest boy, we will call Kevin, loves to joke around, skinny, dark hair, freckles and does a dead on impersonation of Drew Barrymore’s cadence.
Funny kid.
Today, I looked over and while he had left his mother’s side quite a while ago to join the tweens/teens section on the front row to our left, it was very cool to see him today having fun among his friends. They were singing, talking and being a part of our church. They even looked like they wanted to be there and were having fun! The thought came to mind, “He’s taken his place,” and I felt very encouraged for him.
On another note, some sad news also happened. Our worship leader Abby, had to fly home last week because her grandfather passed away. In her place the guitar guy, we will call Blond Faux Hawk Dude, stepped up to fill in the gap as worship leader. In times past when he has led a song, he sounds like a cross between Third Day and Scott Stapp.
Excellent. I really like Third Day and Scott Stapp.
Pray For Haiti – Relief Resources
Picture credit goes to AP via FoxNews.com
Watching the horror unfold after yesterday’s devastating earthquake has been breathtaking. It’s times like this that you see the good in humanity. Everything gets put in better perspective as we focus on rescue and aid to our hurting brothers and sisters in very dire circumstances.
Many bloggers, facebook and twitter folk are compiling many links to various resources seeking to help out in Haiti. Of course the most common I have seen is the Red Cross.
The Anchoress, a very popular blogger has compiled a great list of ways to help Haiti. So has Michelle Malkin. Fox News has also compiled a list of reputable organizations. Musician Wyclif has always been involved in helping Haiti and has his own outreach through his site at yele.org.
I am watching for other Christian resources arise … there are a lot of them … but please add any prayer requests, reports or links to ways to help in the comments. I will update this post too.
UPDATE:
Just found this on the Desiring God Blog