I would like to thank the academy...

I have had the privledge and honor of being one of the counseling interns at Eastside Academy this last school year. My job there was to meet one on one with roughly 10 students every week for counseling. It also included, teaching classes, running a group, and simply being present with these students. I have been so blessed by the experience. I have been encouraged, challenged, and loved by both the staff and the school. I was given the place to be me as a counselor - to explore my styles of practice, and to build authentic relationships with incredible people.

And in all of this I got to see the power of relationships. The power of a listening ear and what a caring/non-judgemental spirit can do in people's lives. I got to see the power of the Gospel. The redeeming power of loving, serving, forgiving, and being with others just as Christ has been with me and the world. I got to see students press on in a journey to becoming clean and sober. Celebrating someone having achieved two weeks of sobriety and others having reached over a year! Experiencing people press forward and accomplishing the goals that they set out to do - finishing school, getting a job, staying away from negative influences, and much more. Seeing people move to a place where they can recognize there strengths and weaknesses and not live into the negative labels that have been put on them. And today I saw 7 of these students graduate from High School. I can't even come close to sharing the emotional rollercoaster it was to see! I love these kids, I am so proud of them, and I am so excited to see where they will go from here!

So with all of that said I would like to personally thank everyone at the academy [Eastside Academy] and its graduating class of 2005 for the many blessings that you have given me! I count it a complete honor to have gotten to know you, learn with you, and most of all to journey with you in all that was an incredible school year! Thank you for providing a place in which authentic living can occur and the redeeming power of the Gospel is felt! May God bless you and keep you and may His face shine upon you and give you all peace!

Define or not to define...

Ok so back to the whole definition of "Christian Music/Artist" thing! After reading the great responses from the post "WHAT MAKES CHRISTIAN MUSIC CHRISTIAN?" I am left with some more thoughts and questions. Why do we need a "definition" of "Christian." I can't honestly put a clear cut definition to Christianity or to whether someone is a Christian or not. I can have my opinions, but can I really know and do I really need to know? I don't think so. And I don't really think God is all about labelling us CHRISTIAN or NON-CHRISTIAN (which is a word that is not even in the Bible). I think God is more concerned about us living the life we were designed to live in relationship with Him. One of justice, mission, mercy, service, sacrifice, and above all unconditional love and forgiveness.

And even more, what difference does it make if a song is "Christian" or by a "Christian Artist" or not? If it speaks truth, it draws me to a deeper understanding of God, or beckons me to worship, isn't that enough?

God influences and uses people for his glory - Christian or not. I think that is what is so amazing to me about being made in the image of God. It is not an option for us to be image-bearers. It is what we do with our image-bearing (of God) selves that is optional. When we come to a personal understanding of who we are and who God is in relationship to us, than we are more able to understand how we are to live! Then through this relationship we can follow His example, His will, His way more realistically.

O.K - talk about a rant... I am done for now! I love this! Somebody talk to me :)

What's your theological worldview?

I found this quiz thanks to Mark O some of the questions are very interesting. Some took a lot of thought for me. I know anyone can make a quiz, but I really liked this one and found it to be very thought provoking.

Here is what they said about me...

"You scored as Emergent/Postmodern. You are Emergent/Postmodern in your theology. You feel alienated from older forms of church, you don't think they connect to modern culture very well. No one knows the whole truth about God, and we have much to learn from each other, and so learning takes place in dialogue. Evangelism should take place in relationships rather than through crusades and altar-calls. People are interested in spirituality and want to ask questions, so the church should help them to do this." Emergent/Postmodern 82% Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 71% Charismatic/Pentecostal 61% Neo orthodox 61% Reformed Evangelical 50% Roman Catholic 46% Modern Liberal 46% Fundamentalist 43% Classical Liberal 43% What's your theological worldview?

Follow the links above to take the quiz yourself. I think my results would be even stronger taking it again. Some of my answers were a little soft. If you got a few minutes take the quiz and tell me what you think!

Enjoy!

Bono & Christian Music...

So I found this really interesting clip of U2's lead singer [Bono] talking about worship music and "Christian/Gospel" music. I found it on a page from Relevant Magazine's website. I think it adds some great thoughts to ponder along with the last two posts about what makes music "Christian." Here is a quote from it...

"God is interested in truth, and only in truth. And that's why God is more interested in Rock & Roll music than Gospel... If you can't write about what's really going on in the world and your life, because it's all happy-clappy... Is God interested in that? I mean, 'Please, don't patronize Me!'" - An interview with Bono

Listen to the whole clip by clicking here Bono Clip and tell me what you think

Enjoy!

You make the call!

So coming from the last post here is an powerful example of how a "non-Christian" artist can create a beautiful song and how it can speak of the Gospel. Below you will find a clip I used for The Mix! one night for a worship experience. It is VERY powerful and has some strong images, but I think you will enjoy! It is using the song "The Reason" by the band Hoobastank.

I recommend you maximizing the size of the clip to full screen. After you view it tell me what you think and you make the call. Do you think it can 'qualify' as a 'Christian Song?' Click here to view the video...

TheReasonWorshipExperience

What makes Christian music Christian?

As a lover of music, I find myself often falling in love with the lyrics, melodies, and rhythems of songs that are not of the "Christian Music Genre." Sometimes in fact, I find these songs to express the Gospel or good news of the hope of glory and redemption of our souls even more so then most of the music I hear on the "Christian" music stations. Why is that? What makes a song or lyric Christian or not? Is it the writer, is it the words, is it the content, is it the emotions that come from hearing it, or something else? One of the things I love most about The Message is that it is story. And we relate to it because we all have our own story. And for me music is in many ways the creative way people tell the stories of life and the interaction of God within it - through song.

Examples of songs that I believe speak of/illustrate the stories of the Gospel...

I Grieve - Peter Gabriel
God Put a Smile Upon My Face - Coldplay
Devils and Dust - Bruce Springsteen
Sometimes - U2
Blowin In The Wind - Bob Dylan
Save Me - Dave Matthews
Everything - Alanis Morissete
Jesus Walks - Kanye West
The Reason - Hoobastank

I am not saying that every lyric of these songs are "theologically accurate" nor do I believe they need to. I am simply saying that these lyrics/songs/stories speak to the matters of the heart in such a way that causes people to ponder the things of God. AND I LOVE THAT! I could go into this more, but a friend and professor of mine wrote an incredibly good article on this topic. I'd love you to read it and I'd love your thought on this conversation.

Click here to read the article ischristianmusicchristian?

And even more so I would love any songs that you would add to this list [knowing this is no where near complete]. Songs that have nudged you deeper into your walk with God.

Lavalamp Prayer...

So I love the way the emergent church is creative with its exploration of spirituality and spiritual formation. Taking on the traditional concept of light being a sign of hope and the presence of God I found this unique prayer tool. Check it out.

Lavalamp Prayer

National Doughnut Day...

Hey did you know that today is National Doughnut Day! What does that mean to you? Well if you live anywhere near a Krispy Kreme you get YOUR CHOICE of ANY DOUGHNUT in the store FOR FREE! I believe that this day originally started by the Salvation Army back in the day to help honor people who served our country in various ways. But don't quote me on that.

Yesterday I had a doughnut from MIGHTY O's. It was totally organic and vegan. And surprisingly tasty. Anyways, just go eat a free doughnut in honor of this special day!