Random Thought #36

I played racketball tonight with a tennis racket and did not die. If you saw how the boys play and how often I get in the way, you would realize that is a huge accomplishment!

I can now blog from my phone so no need for me to set up twitter as well. If anyone wanted to know that much about me, they could call me!

Farmers' Market

I am excited that a farmers' market is opening up in a vacant lot across a parking lot from our office. Part of what is exciting is that it is going to be open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. I rarely remember to go to the one on the Arkansas side, but I think it is only open on Saturdays anyway. I love squash and often make it my meal in the summer months. Hopefully I will be able to start buying some squash in the coming days! I cannot wait until corn is in season, but that will be a while.

Three Sweet Little Children

I attended a lunch baby shower today for the baby sister of the little girl in the ladybug raincoat (a gift today from her grandmother - she has the boots and umbrella to match at home!). As I walked in the front door, the other two children were playing. The little boy came running up to me yelling "Cyndida" (his way of pronouncing my name) and gave me a hug. The little girl yelled out "Hi Cyndia! I am happy to see you!" I do not think that I have ever received a better welcome walking into a room!

Why I prefer Christian hip-hop over Christian rock

As some of you readers know by now, I spent some time this week at Freedom Experience, which included a Christian hip-hop artist and a Christian rock band. I am not sure that my hearing will ever recover. I did not mind the Christian hip-hop, but I was not a fan of the Christian rock.

I believe that Christian music is most glorifying to God when it is teaching instead of entertaining. I think that music must be entertaining (to an extent) to glorify God because boring music, even if teaching, will not benefit the listener. Talent is also nice, but neither talent nor entertainment is the primary purpose.

Since teaching should be the primary purpose, I also want to point out that it should not take much to teach truth in song. However, the more truth that a song contains, the more potential you have to teach those around you the truth. I think that Christian music is important because it does teach truth to people who do not understand concepts until they sing about them. For example, many children are able to accept the reality of the Trinity as truth because of singing Holy, Holy, Holy as a child ("God in three persons, blessed Trinity"). Although it may be a concept not understood, it can be accepted as truth when it becomes part of the church conversation, even in song.

I think that both Christian hip-hop and Christian rock have the potential to teach through song. However, I think that Christian hip-hop may be a more effective medium to teaching truth through song. First, rap is a lyric driven music form with the beats taking a backseat to the words of the artist. Rappers are gifted at telling stories in a form that is catchy, quick, but packed full of truth. Second, if you listen hard enough, you can understand the rapper (usually without getting a headache). Although it is fast paced, and therefore hard for some people to catch what is said, many Christian rappers are presenting pure truth in a format that is gifted and entertaining. Third, that type of lyrical flow takes pure talent. I believe that it is a God-given talent, and I am pleased to see young men using that talent to glorify God. Fourth, many of the young men who are rappers are going to seminary or involving themselves in intense Bible study so that they can make sure that what they are presenting is true. These men are committed to biblical music and are concerned that their lyrics are true. This shows me that they understand that they can fulfill their purpose of glorifying God best by teaching through music.

I think that I have been listening to the wrong Christian rock bands, and maybe that is why I am not a huge fan of their music. First, I cannot understand them. The instruments are drowning out the lyrics (even the best secular rock bands know the importance of not allowing the instruments to drown out the lyrics!). The screaming instead of singing makes it hard to discern what is said. How can you teach if the audience cannot understand your words? Maybe I have not trained my ears to hear the words in Christian rock as well as I have in Christian rap, but honestly, the screaming gives me a headache. Second, there is a lack of depth in most songs. A song can be deep and filled with truth without many words (Just Give Me Jesus comes to mind - not Christian rock, but just an example of a simple, truth-filled song). Some songs are shallow with a lot of words (including some Christian hip-hop songs). Most Christian rock songs seem to be in the middle (number of words-wise), yet lacking in deep spiritual truths. I will confess that maybe I am missing the deep spiritual truth because I cannot understand what is being said. Third, I am sure that some do, but I do not hear Christian rock artists speaking things that indicate depth in their own spiritual lives. Part of teaching is training others to follow your example in being committed to learning more about God. I hear Christian rock artists talk a lot about experience (although the group this week did not - so this is not a complaint about their presentation), but not enough about the importance of God's word. Finally, most Christian rock artists incorporate very little of God's word into their music. The best way to convey truths about God is to include how God revealed Himself through His word.

I know that people can point to one or more of these points and say "What about ___________, they do not do this or they do that?" I think that the main point that I am trying to make is that Christians should be discerning in choosing music. Just as discernment is required when listening to teaching and preaching, it is required when listening to music. If there is something theologically incorrect in a song, we should train ourselves to catch it. We cannot allow entertainment to excuse us from the duty that all Christians have to discern. If the audience is more discerning, and encouraging musicians to teach truth over entertainment (but while remaining entertaining), then the quality of Christian music, hip-hop, rock, or otherwise, will improve to a level far above what we currently have available to listen to. I encourage believers to be active instead of passive listeners. Hold musicians accountable for what they sing. Encourage those singing truth. Finally, enjoy music because it is a gift from God.

Random Thought #35

I am terrible at RSVP-ing, yet I get annoyed when people do not RSVP. I guess now I understand a little bit more about the importance, and I think that I should make an effort to RSVP more to prevent others from being frustrated with me.

Blog of the Week - Garfield Minus Garfield

This blog is only funny in a dry humor sort of way, but it is still worth sharing. You take Garfield out of Garfield, and you realize how weird John really is conversing with his animals. Some days are incredibly boring, others mildly funny. It is still worth checking out.

Random Thought #34

I figured out that I get really, really, really cranky if I do not eat lunch by 2:00 p.m. A deposition today prevented me from eating until 3:00 p.m. Fortunately, Merfeld's Bread Co. near our office now stays open until 5:00 p.m. so I could have a lunch that was not greasy or fried to help out with the crankiness.

I think I found ...

... the perfect pair of SHOES! To those of you who know me, you know that I have issues with shoes. I have flat feet so too many tennis shoes hurt my feet bad ... really bad. Even the ones that are supposed to be for people with flat feet. Last year, I found that flat shoes seem to feel better on my feet, but they were harder on my knees. I could walk around all day without my feet hurting (HUGE for my flat feet), but my right knee would swell up at night following the walking around. I purchased a pair of athletic sandals two years ago, but really did not start wearing them until last fall. They seemed to be more of a step in the right direction, but they did not have the proper sole. I have been researching shoes the last few months to see what would be best, but I had pretty much given up.

Last week while at Gander Mountain, I decided to look at the hiking/athletic sandals. They have quite a few good brands, but then I came to a brand that I have never heard of. I looked at the price tag and thought that it was expensive enough to be good. I looked at the sole of the shoe and decided that it was the type of sole that I needed. I bought them. Without even trying them on. I got lucky!

After wearing the sandals for the past week and walking around quite a bit in them, I think I have found the perfect shoe. It is like walking around barefoot but with absolutely no pain in my feet even when I am on my feet for an hour or two at a time. The true test will come at some point in the future when I take a hike somewhere, but right now, these are the best shoes that I have ever worn. The tag says something about the shoes being made for support for women because we do something funny with our feet when we walk, but I thought that was all pumping up of the product when I read it after buying the shoes. Anyway, I highly recommend the Merrell Siren Strap Sport sandal, especially if you have flat feet. The only thing I wish is that Gander Mountain had it in the blue instead of the brown and pink!

Incredible!

Words cannot describe this video, but I am blown away, in part because I love Les Miserables and in part because this is just WOW!

Irony?

Here is one of the headlines on the New Orleans Times Picayune blog today:

"C-Murder joins with ministers to announce anti-violence initiatives"

There is a whole lot more to the story (including C-Murder's own pending trial for ... wait for it ... murder), but wouldn't you think that you would start with something like changing your name? I mean who is really going to take someone who is currently under house arrest pending trial on murder charges and goes by the nickname C-Murder seriously on anti-crime initiatives? I am sure it was a little "do as I say, not as I do" or just an attempt to show the potential jurors that he really is against crime instead of engaged in it. He sure did clean up for the part looking a little Malcolm X-esk in the picture (although I am not sure I would want to portray someone who supported a violent approach instead of peaceful approach, but that is just me) instead of his typical rapper appearance. I, for one, do not buy the act.

Random Thought #33

Part of growing up is learning which funerals to attend, which funerals to send flowers to, and which funerals where all you need to send is a card. Hospital visits follow the same logic. That is the kind of week it has been in Texarkana.