Moved all Posts

In order to make things easier on us, I have moved all posts in this little blog to our Family Blog.

Public Confession of Sin?

Over the last 200 or so concerts I have talked about sin quite a bit.  At the same time I have observed that many churches, both those of my home denomination (which is PCA), and others who are evangelical, conservative, and would say they attempt to be biblical, talk very little about sin or confession of sin.   Many times all that is done publicly is for someone to thank God for forgiving us.  Certainly there is nothing wrong with that.  But actually confessing our sin is something else altogether.  It seems that to a certain degree in order to not appear like the Roman Catholic Church we have done away with, or diminished as much as possible, the practice of confessing our sin together as the family of God.

This, in my view, once again, is swinging the pendulum to far.  A large portion of the Scriptures talk about sin.  A large portion of the church forget at best, or disparage at worst, the bible’s emphasis on sin.  Why?  Perhaps it’s our perception that sin doesn’t sell or make people feel encouraged.  But grace does.  The obvious problem, however, is that we don’t need grace if we aren’t sinners, and so grace becomes an impotent concept that is relegated to the sphere of the sentimental.  

I am not afraid of the topic.  In fact, I find confessing my sin along side others a wonderfully encouraging and uplifting experience that is based in the reality that an Almighty Father longs to embrace his wayward child.  The parable of the Prodigal pictures a father running to throw his arms about the repentant son.  

Public confession of sin as the family of God should be revitalized.  Perhaps we can even regain the practice of confessing “our” sin rather than only confessing “my” sin.  Yes, the Lord works with individuals, but he also has a long history of working in, and through groups of people.  The church is a group, a covenant family.  I pray that when we come together on a Lord’s Day that we can confess together, be humbled together, and thereby be uplifted together by the Strong Hand that bore all sin.  Why carry the burden?  Confess.

A Beginning (Or, An Essay on Why We Homeschool)

In my last sophomoric years of high school I was busying myself with fishing, finding ways to hurt myself on motorcycles and skateboards, fixing VWs, and dressing abnormally so that I could be an individual. However, there were many other “individuals” that looked just like me: confused.

I had taken piano, and while I loved the instrument and loved to play, I didn’t really love to practice. It was during this time that my older brother, Seth, brought home an electric guitar. Also, in between swinging on vines and riding three-wheelers and break-neck speeds, my best friend and I hung out in his dad’s basement where guitar parts lurked and tempted. I set myself to building a guitar – or rather throwing one together. With parts that didn’t match and a few nails (yes, nails) I hammered out an authentic slide – well, I wouldn’t really call it a guitar- but it made a sound and that was all I asked of it. Then, perhaps out of pity, my friend’s dad let me take his old 12 string!

This was a time of discovery. While working at the local guitar shop, Golden Frets, I was introduced to James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel, Little Feat, and all sorts of music from the 60’s & 70’s. Seth brought home Johnny Winter, Stevie Ray Vaugn, and other blues artists. Soon, high school was background noise, except for Alice Berry’s choir class (and the electronic class where we got to use tools), where I began to love medieval and classical choral music. I was still taking sporadic piano lessons and stumbled my way through a Gershwin or Bach piece every now and then, too. I sold my motorcycle, and bought my first instrument – an electric bass. That led to a punk band, three notes, and soon boredom. Strangely, that led to praise music, and more boredom. That led to odd meters and strange guitar chords just for fun, and somehow, all this was being expressed in song writing, more out of laziness than genius, since it took too much time to learn other people’s tunes. Now that I think about it, though, I did take the time for James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel, Don McClain, etc. Alone in my bedroom, standing in front of a record player, I worked hard figuring out how to play Sweet Baby James, Fire & Rain, Feeling Groovy, Vincent, and so many more. Stary Stary Night was warped, and I had to use just the right combination of a penny, paperclips and tape to get the player to not skip.  Then there was the Segovia recording.  I almost gave up, but I struggled through one piece, only to realize later that I had completely omitted the internal harmonic voice! Oh well, it instilled in me a love of classical guitar.

Somehow, through all this it never occurred to me that I should take lessons, or that I should study music.  In fact, I was determined not to be a musician. So many were snobbish and broke. I opted for aviation and mission work. That never panned out and here I am, snobbish and broke. I still think I’m an individual, and I’m probably still confused. I’m still writing, but less out of laziness and more out of love now. Love (that is, God) has carried me through adolescence, both good and terrible influences, major trials, and has even kept me sane while being a musician. God is merciful. And it’s just a beginning.

What’s Coming

It was suggested that I blog a bit about my inflences, interests and thoughts on whatever.  So, over the next year I’m going to try to do just that.  I will also talk about upcoming project ideas and more.  Hope you enjoy!