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.
Seeing the Musical Wicked – Again! A Brief Review
Some friends and I went to Tampa Friday night to see Wicked being performed at the Tampa Performing Arts Center (TPAC). It was fantastic … of course. I saw it in London last May and was thoroughly impressed with it there. However, the Apollo Victoria Theater (London) is a much smaller venue than the TPAC and I have to say, while the quality of the plays were phenomenal on both sides of The Pond, sitting in the 2nd balcony among 10 (15?) times the people clearly distinguished both experiences. In London, I went on a Tuesday night when all of the college students decided to go. I dressed up (a little more than business casual) for the play but the kids around me were literally in jeans and one girl had flowers all in her hair.
Connecting The Past With The Present
Today I sent a couple more facebook friend requests to High School acquaintances that I hadn’t seen or heard of in almost 24 years. To date I have reconnected with about 40+ of them. I have also reconnected with a lot of Christian friends that I haven’t seen in 8 or more years (since moving to Florida from Texas.)
I have to say that the whole experience is a little surreal. Surreal in that many of these folks have very specific memories attached to them at the age I remember them from. To see them today, their interests, their families, their beliefs, humor, joys, worries, funny pictures … random status updates … I have to say, it has been an incredible blessing to witness their lives now beyond but still informed by the context of “back then.”
Paige and her awesome career and kid, Ken is a solid Christian and very encouraging, Ed still loves gadgets as much (or more) than I do, Patrick is still making a living as an Actor and Jonathan is an excellent musician/singer. Dean and David (twins) keep me laughing. Oh and Kristi, the girl I was so mad at for beating me out as the Youth In Government President our Sr. Year is now one of my favorite Farmville friends!
Then there is Pati cracking me up talking about the time we drove from San Diego to Dallas with Blake in one straight 24 hour shot while she snored the WHOLE time in my little Ford Focus.
Wow.
Amira is crazy (in a good way) as ever and just sent me a song list for my iPod I have dubbed “The AmiraMix.” She’s a soul sister and when she says she loves me and I am her favorite Jesus freak … I know she means it in the truest sense of unconditional love and that love is mutual.
As I reflected on this tonight, sitting here at my keyboard, there is a sense of being deeply blessed. Blessed with a knowledge of many different kinds of relationships that leads to a desire to seek God’s face on how this all can point to relational wisdom. A wisdom that He has ordained to only come through the passage of time. The past brought into the context of today … it’s awesome to watch and meditate on.
I am so glad God made us to be like Him … with the desire to know and be known by others.
… very grateful.
Pink Glove Dance – AWESOME Video for Breast Cancer Awareness
I actually got choked up by the end of this. It’s a beautiful expression of support, joy, fun, creativity, everyday people doing extraordinary things. I have to say this is probably my favorite viral (social media) video of the year.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEdVfyt-mLw&feature=player_embedded]
Guest Blogging at Vagabondrun
Kyle asked me to write a review of Hillsong United’s new song “You Hold Me Now.” He gave a very kind intro to my review. Here is an excerpt:
Okay, now that I have rambled, I will introduce you to today’s guest blogger. Mr. Randy Thomas will be giving a full review of what this song means to him. The truth is, I don’t really know Randy very well. He’s merely a fellow Blogger(RandyThomas.org)/ Twitter(@RThomasETC) user that I found in a Carlos Whittaker organized online gathering. While thinking of people that could review this song, God placed Randy on my heart to ask. Truthfully, I hesitated in following through with the tug for a couple days. This song meant more to me than any other song on the album and I didn’t want someone I didn’t really know writing the review. I wanted to KNOW that the review was going to be amazing. However, God told me again to ask him, so I did. Let me tell you, it was definitely no accident that God gave Him the position of writing the review for this song and not another. He wrote these sentences in the email with his review that just affirmed that God had chosen Him for this, and not me:
“I literally cranked this out. Cried all the way through it but just know it is a brain dump. It may be more accurately described as a heart dump
.”
No more dragging this on. Below is the song, so take a moment and listen to it. Afterward there will be no listing of the complete lyrics. However, Randy goes over all of the lyrics within his review. I hope you’re ready to be rocked and broken.
So, go read the review. I pray it blesses you as much as it blessed me to write it.
Of Vampires and Violins
I have barely blogged the past couple of days and just been doing things I like to do.
A sampling would be that I got my hair cut, got the car thoroughly cleaned (finally), shopping for my cute niece Isa for her birthday, shopping for two other wonderful little girls … and myself (yay new sneakers!)
So, let's talk about violins now.
In the background (email) Cheryl and BT are making classical music suggestions. So, they are making some *really* good ones. I emailed them the following:
I actually do listen to classical every once in a while
kind of like football … I don't keep up with the players or stats but
I have a general feel for the rules
before, if God's voice were one single musical instrument, I would say
it would be human vocal chords with the violin as a close second.
I am sick of most pop music. Hip Hop and Rap are ridiculous (for the most part.) I am in a rock phase and if there was ever a season for me to branch out (more) to classical … this would be it. We shall see how it goes.
Is Adam Lambert Chasing Off My Friends?
Tonight on Twitter I tweeted (but it is gone now … I dunno what happened, I didn’t delete it)
I think Anoop or the piano red head(ish) guy should go home. Still don’t
have a favorite on AI. Adam Lambert would be in the lead though.
My Twitter updates also automatically update my facebook status. This led to a discussion on facebook about everyone’s favorite singer on American Idol (AI … well about six of us talked about AI related stuff.” However, I noticed my astronomically high facebook friends forever count (exaggerating) dropped by four people … immediately. And I lost a Twitter friend as well.
Hmph.
Randy Thomas Sings Mariah Carey Classics
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4D9ecuq9fw&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1]
