Letterman and Palin

The whacky left is showing that its mean streak is deep. I am mostly conservative, though I don’t always vote for the conservative on the ballot – depending. But one thing I have not witnessed among my conservatives network is the kind of meanness that increasingly is seen in the acidic, caustic comments by the left, like Letterman’s comments about Palin’s daughter.

There is a totalitarian instinct by the utopian left that is counterintuitive. What the utopian left hates most is personal freedom. The earlier part of the 20th century is enough proof that those who believe their way will bring heaven to earth are willing to destroy anyone who gets in their way. Conservatives are not utopian. They do not believe that government or any configuration of political, economic and social relationships has the capacity to bring golden days. Their view of fallen human nature is woven into their opinions and hopes. They deeply believe in the legislative process of debate and the system of checks and balances that keep any one group from a dominance that can restict and threaten freedoms. The hope of the left is the court system, imposition without representation.

Letterman’s comments were so offensive that the conscience of our citizenry reels in disgust. This gets him attention while he struggles with ratings and Conan at another network, but the man has become unlikeable at a level that should affect his future on TV. All parents know he crossed over a line not by an indiscretion but with a willingness to take no prisoners, even children.

Pessimisms

Take courage! Whatever you decide to do, it will probably be the wrong thing.

Ashleigh Brillian

Pessimisms

“The only way to keep your health is the eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not.”
–Mark Twain

People who want the “old hymns” back in church won’t want these back

RE:SOUND has come up with an album of reworked hymns titled The Rain City Hymnal. It’s Seattle style!!!! I like it. But it’s not really what the hymn crowd wants. If the truth be told, they want to sing hymns the old way, too. People who like Doo-Wap music don’t want new versions of it. The 50s sound is what they are looking for. And so it is with hymns. The closer they musically sound to the original, the better.

We have used some Jars of Clay hymn reworks at church. Useful. And singable. Rain City isn’t. It’s another “go and watch someone else sing it” kind of church music. I think I will use some of the cuts in our pre-service or post-service background music, But there is little here for consumption as a group experience.

Praise Team leaders and American Idol

Here they are. Taking their place in line, the new prospects looking for a shot at American Idol. One of the interesting phenomena about Idol is the large numbers of praise team leaders who are auditioning, some of whom I am aware. That’s about what you need to know concerning many of the worship dynamics set loose in the church today.

I am a contemporary music and praise band fan. But the band has all the characteristics of a band, nevertheless – who gets lead, who gets to sing their favorite song, who gets to play more, etc., etc., ad absurdum, ad abnauseum. One beautiful girl who gets all the attention and the band begins to fall apart. One lead guitar and the other instruments are fighting for air. You would think that unless they get their stage time the whole church is going to fold. They forget how little a role they play in what is really going on out there in the living out of discipleship. Yes, people will come to hear them play. People will come to hear anyone who is good play, anyone.

The wise church won’t let these groups get out of control and spin into American Idol dreams. Nothing wrong here that a little Gregorian Chant won’t cure.

Today’s Quote 6/13/09

“Jesus Christ is the sum and quintessence of the gospel; the wonder of angels; the joy and triumph of saints. The name of Christ is sweet, it is as music in the ear, honey in the mouth, and a cordial at the heart… the Mediator of the covenant, the restorer of lapsed sinners.” -THOMAS WATSON