I was born in 1972 but my formative years were in 8 - 18. Yes, I am a child of the 80's.
I have a brother who is older by4 years and a sister older by 16 months. They both have had a great influence on my life and I love them both very much. Between the two my brother, Reese, had the greatest impact on my life that I feel the effects of still today. He introduced me to Rock 'n Roll.
From my earliest memory Reese has loved rock music. During the early 80's it was Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Dio, Van Halen (DLR days of course!), Motley Crue, Black Sabbath and subsequently Ozzy. And I was right there with him. I loved that stuff! Most of my friends were listening to Journey, Night Ranger, and Loverboy thinking those were rock...pssh. That was Power 99 stuff.
As the late 80's rolled around Reese was all about underground bands and recording videos from Headbanger's Ball. He still liked the hard stuff, but his flavor turned to glam. (Glam is a subset of what is now lumped as 'hair bands'; hair band is an all encompassing label that unjustly groups true rock bands with weenie bands simply because they all had long hair. This travesty is for a later post.)
My music interests also changed during the mid 80's. I started skateboarding and everyone knows when you first start skating you have to relinquish all ties to your former musical interests and pledge your allegiance to punk rock. I gave up my rock roots for a short time, but it wasn't long before I was watching MTV from midnight to 3am on Saturday nights again. My short marriage to punk, abstaining from all the rest, just stemmed an appreciation for different kinds of music. I broke the myth that says you half to only listen to punk to skate.
In the late 80's Poison, Warrent, and Bon Jovi were king. But there were other bands too. Bands like Skid Row, Bulletboys, and Dangerous Toys. These bands were not quite as popular but they were good. Still other, much lesser known, bands Junkyard, Black 'n Blue, and Kix were good too. The Masquerade was my favorite place to go see the less popular bands. I saw a million shows there.
So here we are in the end of the first decade of the 21st century. The mention of a hair band is done only for a laugh at the expense of the genre, Dee Snider is the hair band ambassador for those born after 1981, and Bon Jovi is still doing what he/they can to keep it real.
I'm 35, and on occasion I enjoy popping in Iron Maiden's Live After Death cassette, or circling in the youtube vertigo of rock 'n roll videos....until the other day when I saw a video through unstained eyes.
My friend and I pulled up the video of a lesser known 80's band for the humor factor. The singer had on denim cut off short shorts, some sort of fluffy shirt kinda like Seinfield's ruffle shirt w/o the ruffles, and a straight black cane. A cane! The setting was a old Western ghost town…
My friend's laughter opened my eyes to the absurdity of his attire. I remember when that attire was normal(-ish) so I didn't think anything about it until he pointed it out. I couldn’t stop laughing.
Other than the way they dressed and moved, their lyrics are far from wholesome. Not to sound like Tipper Gore, or my mom for that matter, but if they weren't singing about sex they weren't singing at all. Yes, I know, it hurts me to even say that. But seriously, they could slip in the element of sex anywhere. Listen to the lyrics sometime. What hurt the most is when we watched one of my favorite songs of all time, a song by Bulletboys. I never really thought about the lyrics because I’ve known them so long. But woah, I wouldn’t even say the title in front of someone I just met.
Dangit. I guess ACDC was wrong, rock ‘n roll is noise pollution.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
paying the price of getting what I want
Although I was not an academic overachiever growing up, I have always respected the intelligentsia. I have a high regard for people who are able to use their mental capacity to produce great things. Things like books for instance. As I approach the end of my seminary career I also approach the zillion pages read mark. But it’s not so bad. I enjoy reading. I don’t always enjoy missing out on time with my family in order to be reading, but I enjoy reading.
As my love for reading has grown, so my love for writing. I love to word smith. It’s so much fun; not throwing the perfect spiral 30 yards into the receiver’s waiting cradled arms as he keeps stride right into the end zone fun, but fun none the less. So, for a while now, my secret desire has been to author a book. The desire’s roots have not dug deep enough to sprout a concept, but the desire is certainly there. I would just like a bunch of people I don’t know read my thoughts and wrestle with them somehow.
Well, well, well, it has happened. But certainly not in the way I would’ve liked. Here’s the skinny.
The other day I received an email from my mom. She attached a couple remarks to a forward she had received. I know, I know, it’s a forward leave it alone. But I couldn’t. Exhibit A:
“I don't usually forward much but this man scares me and I believe he is pulling so many uninformed people into his cause. Please put this on your prayer list.
----- Original Message -----
Dear Friends,
As I was listening to a news program last night, I watched in horror as Barack Obama made the statement with pride, 'we are no longer a Christian nation; we are now a nation of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists'.
As with so many other statements I've heard him (and his wife) make, I never thought I'd see the day that I'd hear something like that from a presidential candidate in this nation. To think our forefathers fought and died for the right for our nation to be a Christian nation--and to have this man say with pride that we are no longer that. How far this nation has come from what our founding fathers intended it to be.
I hope that each of you will do what I'm doing now--send your concerns, written simply and sincerely, to the Christians on your email list. With God's help, and He is still in control of this nation and all else, we can show this man and the world in November that we are, indeed, still a Christian nation!
Please pray for our nation!”
I was one of 7 or 8 people my mom forwarded this to; most of which I knew. I couldn’t let this one slide so I replied to everyone. Basically my intent was to share my agreement with the statement because America is not a Christian nation. We have Christians living here, but I would not categorize America as the shining example of Christianity. Exhibit B:
“That's a tough pill to swallow. I like to think America is still a Christian Nation.
However -at the risk of being excommunicated from the family- I agree with Barack on what is quoted here. I don't know the context from which it came, but my definition of a Christian nation is certainly NOT what America is now. Please. Let's consider the movies that Hollywood is pumping out; the television shows that we adjust our schedules to watch; the addictions to alcohol and prescription drugs; and the porn industry that holds public conventions. These are billion dollar industries. Not to mention the decline in church attendance; the romped crime and corruption; the disregard of the two "greatest commandments"; and I'm sure you can complete this list better than I can...
As Christians, Barack's statement should come as no surprise. In fact, we should have been the ones telling this to him, and anyone else running for political office. We live in a post-Christian America. A lot of people confess to being Christians because their parents are Christians or they live in America, "the Christian Nation", but studies show (just about anything George Barna puts out, various Christianity Today articles) that people are 'grandfathered' in to Christianity. These people do not give God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit any consideration as they go about their daily lives. These people are not out in ‘liberal’ California, or ‘manic’ NYC. They're in Snellville, Loganville, Wilmore, and everywhere else from sea to shining sea. These people are our neighbors, family members, and -there was a time- the one typing this email. I'm not dare going to point fingers. Nor am I writing this with a hostile or cynical tone. I'm simply saying that Christians should no longer assume we have home field advantage. Therefore this is no longer a Christian nation.
Things have changed. A little over 200 years ago people lost their lives to protect the sanctity of the Christian morals of this great nation. I hate that the generations following the advent of our Nation's Independence have watered down our Founding Fathers' zeal and have ignored their passion to die for their patriotic and Christian beliefs -all for the sake of freedom. But it's true. I also hate that the following generations have forgotten and watered down the passion and zeal of Someone 2000 years ago that fought Spiritual battles and died in a temporal one -all for the sake of freedom.
This is not a political plea. It doesn't matter which candidate made that statement. What matters is that he's right. But what are we going to do about it? Are we mad enough to tell our friends not to vote for one or the other candidates, should we send email banter to everyone in our distribution lists, or maybe open our Bibles and find some Scripture to back up our argument? Or, do we prove him wrong? Do we show him what James considered pure/faultless religion: looking after orphans and widows, and keeping ourselves from being polluted by the world? (Js 1.27) Or do we take care of the naked, imprisoned, hungry, thirsty, sick, and alienated? (Mt 25. 31-46)
Friends, never in history has the government successfully exemplified Christianity. That duty lies with the people.
-Kevin”
Here’s the rub. This response, that was only intended to go to my friends and family in Snellville, GA and outlying areas, is now being forwarded by a bunch of people I don’t know. Those people I don’t know are adding their own interpretations. One guy enthusiastically uses my email to warn his friends about “the apostasy in the Church of the Living God” and “the time of the anti-Christ’s new world order.”
Huh? Wait a minute. That's not what I'm talking about.
His interpretation has led me to go back, reread, and second guess what I wrote. Wait minute, I'm not supposed to be the one wrestling; it' s the other people that are supposed to be doing the wrestling. You know, the people I don't know...
Hmm. Who knew sharing our thoughts with a bunch of people we don't know would involve the element of frustration of missinterpretation? The New Testament authors are nudging each other right now. Maybe I'll just stick to reading and throwing spirals.
As my love for reading has grown, so my love for writing. I love to word smith. It’s so much fun; not throwing the perfect spiral 30 yards into the receiver’s waiting cradled arms as he keeps stride right into the end zone fun, but fun none the less. So, for a while now, my secret desire has been to author a book. The desire’s roots have not dug deep enough to sprout a concept, but the desire is certainly there. I would just like a bunch of people I don’t know read my thoughts and wrestle with them somehow.
Well, well, well, it has happened. But certainly not in the way I would’ve liked. Here’s the skinny.
The other day I received an email from my mom. She attached a couple remarks to a forward she had received. I know, I know, it’s a forward leave it alone. But I couldn’t. Exhibit A:
“I don't usually forward much but this man scares me and I believe he is pulling so many uninformed people into his cause. Please put this on your prayer list.
----- Original Message -----
Dear Friends,
As I was listening to a news program last night, I watched in horror as Barack Obama made the statement with pride, 'we are no longer a Christian nation; we are now a nation of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists'.
As with so many other statements I've heard him (and his wife) make, I never thought I'd see the day that I'd hear something like that from a presidential candidate in this nation. To think our forefathers fought and died for the right for our nation to be a Christian nation--and to have this man say with pride that we are no longer that. How far this nation has come from what our founding fathers intended it to be.
I hope that each of you will do what I'm doing now--send your concerns, written simply and sincerely, to the Christians on your email list. With God's help, and He is still in control of this nation and all else, we can show this man and the world in November that we are, indeed, still a Christian nation!
Please pray for our nation!”
I was one of 7 or 8 people my mom forwarded this to; most of which I knew. I couldn’t let this one slide so I replied to everyone. Basically my intent was to share my agreement with the statement because America is not a Christian nation. We have Christians living here, but I would not categorize America as the shining example of Christianity. Exhibit B:
“That's a tough pill to swallow. I like to think America is still a Christian Nation.
However -at the risk of being excommunicated from the family- I agree with Barack on what is quoted here. I don't know the context from which it came, but my definition of a Christian nation is certainly NOT what America is now. Please. Let's consider the movies that Hollywood is pumping out; the television shows that we adjust our schedules to watch; the addictions to alcohol and prescription drugs; and the porn industry that holds public conventions. These are billion dollar industries. Not to mention the decline in church attendance; the romped crime and corruption; the disregard of the two "greatest commandments"; and I'm sure you can complete this list better than I can...
As Christians, Barack's statement should come as no surprise. In fact, we should have been the ones telling this to him, and anyone else running for political office. We live in a post-Christian America. A lot of people confess to being Christians because their parents are Christians or they live in America, "the Christian Nation", but studies show (just about anything George Barna puts out, various Christianity Today articles) that people are 'grandfathered' in to Christianity. These people do not give God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit any consideration as they go about their daily lives. These people are not out in ‘liberal’ California, or ‘manic’ NYC. They're in Snellville, Loganville, Wilmore, and everywhere else from sea to shining sea. These people are our neighbors, family members, and -there was a time- the one typing this email. I'm not dare going to point fingers. Nor am I writing this with a hostile or cynical tone. I'm simply saying that Christians should no longer assume we have home field advantage. Therefore this is no longer a Christian nation.
Things have changed. A little over 200 years ago people lost their lives to protect the sanctity of the Christian morals of this great nation. I hate that the generations following the advent of our Nation's Independence have watered down our Founding Fathers' zeal and have ignored their passion to die for their patriotic and Christian beliefs -all for the sake of freedom. But it's true. I also hate that the following generations have forgotten and watered down the passion and zeal of Someone 2000 years ago that fought Spiritual battles and died in a temporal one -all for the sake of freedom.
This is not a political plea. It doesn't matter which candidate made that statement. What matters is that he's right. But what are we going to do about it? Are we mad enough to tell our friends not to vote for one or the other candidates, should we send email banter to everyone in our distribution lists, or maybe open our Bibles and find some Scripture to back up our argument? Or, do we prove him wrong? Do we show him what James considered pure/faultless religion: looking after orphans and widows, and keeping ourselves from being polluted by the world? (Js 1.27) Or do we take care of the naked, imprisoned, hungry, thirsty, sick, and alienated? (Mt 25. 31-46)
Friends, never in history has the government successfully exemplified Christianity. That duty lies with the people.
-Kevin”
Here’s the rub. This response, that was only intended to go to my friends and family in Snellville, GA and outlying areas, is now being forwarded by a bunch of people I don’t know. Those people I don’t know are adding their own interpretations. One guy enthusiastically uses my email to warn his friends about “the apostasy in the Church of the Living God” and “the time of the anti-Christ’s new world order.”
Huh? Wait a minute. That's not what I'm talking about.
His interpretation has led me to go back, reread, and second guess what I wrote. Wait minute, I'm not supposed to be the one wrestling; it' s the other people that are supposed to be doing the wrestling. You know, the people I don't know...
Hmm. Who knew sharing our thoughts with a bunch of people we don't know would involve the element of frustration of missinterpretation? The New Testament authors are nudging each other right now. Maybe I'll just stick to reading and throwing spirals.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
the element of everything
As my life evolves into the intricate narrative that it has become, my goal for this writing outlet is to take time and dissect some of the smaller stories that happen within my metanarrative –yes, I just wanted to say metanarrative.
My narrative immediately includes Becca, my wife, and Cavender, our daughter. A little further out are our close friends, our extended family (which used to be our respective immediate family). A little further than that are our co-workers, profs, and fellow students here at Asbury. After that are the people I encounter either regularly or irregularly every day.
In The Search to Belong, Joseph Meyers discusses Edward T. Halls’ theories about four relational spaces: public, social, personal, and intimate. Beginning with public, each space progressively gets closer to the essence of who we are.
We are better off when we have a healthy balance of relationships within each space; fewer as we get closer to the essence of who we are.
We are better off when we share our lives in common with others; when we have relationships with others; when we contribute to their story and are affected by theirs.
That’s what this is all about. The picture up top is the best snapshot I could find to describe the name of this experiment. The green is me, the blue is Becca, and the pink is Cavender. We are just teeth on a cog that are acting coherently with 6 billion other cogs on this planet. I know, that sounds really crass…because it is. I certainly love my family and others much more than the shiny cast alloy portrays. But as I heard from my prof in this past J-term, “that’s a good analogy, but no analogy has four strong legs to stand on.” True. So don’t take the analogy too literally because I don’t.
So here goes. I hope you enjoy this time with me. Maybe you’ll find me interesting and maybe you won’t. But either way you’ll at least be in my public space and hopefully you’ll let me know what you think so you can contribute to my narrative the way I’ve contributed to yours.
My narrative immediately includes Becca, my wife, and Cavender, our daughter. A little further out are our close friends, our extended family (which used to be our respective immediate family). A little further than that are our co-workers, profs, and fellow students here at Asbury. After that are the people I encounter either regularly or irregularly every day.
In The Search to Belong, Joseph Meyers discusses Edward T. Halls’ theories about four relational spaces: public, social, personal, and intimate. Beginning with public, each space progressively gets closer to the essence of who we are.
We are better off when we have a healthy balance of relationships within each space; fewer as we get closer to the essence of who we are.
We are better off when we share our lives in common with others; when we have relationships with others; when we contribute to their story and are affected by theirs.
That’s what this is all about. The picture up top is the best snapshot I could find to describe the name of this experiment. The green is me, the blue is Becca, and the pink is Cavender. We are just teeth on a cog that are acting coherently with 6 billion other cogs on this planet. I know, that sounds really crass…because it is. I certainly love my family and others much more than the shiny cast alloy portrays. But as I heard from my prof in this past J-term, “that’s a good analogy, but no analogy has four strong legs to stand on.” True. So don’t take the analogy too literally because I don’t.
So here goes. I hope you enjoy this time with me. Maybe you’ll find me interesting and maybe you won’t. But either way you’ll at least be in my public space and hopefully you’ll let me know what you think so you can contribute to my narrative the way I’ve contributed to yours.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
