A Really Weird Song...

Saturday afternoon I was making my third trip to the hardware store, and as I listened to the local contemporary Christian station, I heard this little ditty coming out of my speakers.

Britney, I'm sorry for the lies we told
We took you into our arms and then left you cold
Britney I'm sorry for this cruel cruel world
We sell the beauty but destroy the girl
Britney I'm sorry for your broken heart
We stood aside and watched you fall apart
I'm sorry we told you fame would fill you up
And money moves the man so drink the cup

I know love goes around the world we know
And you never see it coming back
You never see it coming back
I know love goes around the world we know
And you never see it coming back
But I can see it coming back for you
Yes coming back for you

Britney I'm sorry for the stones we throw
We tear you down just so we can watch the show
Britney I'm sorry for the words we say
We point the finger as you fall from grace

Wow... does this guy (Bebo Norman, a young artist from Columbus, GA) really think that Britney Spears' spending habits, addictions, and bizzare behaviors are OUR fault?? And that we owe her an apology of some sort? And in the grander scheme of things, THIS is what passes for legitimate Christian music? After hearing this meaningless tripe, what a contrast to sit in church not 24 hours later and hear this one:

I boast not of works, nor tell of good deeds,
For naught have I done to merit His grace.
All glory and praise shall rest upon Him,
So willing to die in my place.

My trophies and crowns, my robe stained with sin
Was all that I had to lay at His feet.
Unworthy to eat from the table of life,
Till Love made provision for me.

I will glory in the cross, in the cross,
Lest His suffering all be in vain.
I will weep no more for the cross that He bore,
I will glory in the cross.

I'm not knocking contemporary Christian music - but why do so many artists think the way to reach the world is to take God OUT of their music?

Just my two cents' worth...

What Have We Gotten Ourselves Into?

How well do you know the man who was just sworn in at noon on Tuesday?

*On economic policy: "We should be guided by what works."

*On minimum wage: advocates raising it to $9.50 per hour (do you really want to pay $9.50 for a value meal at McDonalds?)

*On education: opposes school choice vouchers, opposes the teaching of intelligent design as fact, and supports merit pay raises to teachers, with the standards being set by... teachers.

* On energy: opposes the construction of nuclear plants, called McCain's proposal for 45 new plants "not serious, not new" and "not the kind of energy policy that will give families the relief they need." (Meanwhile, his home state of Illinois has more than half of its energy produced by nuclear power plants.)

* On vehicle energy: wants to ban the production of any vehicle that does not get at least 50 miles per gallon by 2030.

* On health care: wants universal health care by 2012, and plans to fine companies who do not provide health care for their employees.

* On housing: proposes a 33% increase in capital gains taxes on the sale of homes.

* On immigration: opposes deporting illegals; supports giving drivers' licenses to illegals; voted against declaring English to be the official language of the federal government.

* On foreign policy: does not believe that Iran, Cuba, or Venezuela pose a serious threat to the U.S.

* On the military: supports growing the number of troops, but wants to kill our missile defense system and slow the growth of Future Combat Systems (the primary military modernization program). Also would make Selective Service Registration mandatory for women as well as men.

* On abortion: has consistently refused to label himself as either pro-life or pro-abortion; voted for funding to provide contraceptives to students.

* On marriage and sexuality: voted against the amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman; supports giving "civil unions" the same status as married partners; "I do not agree... that homosexuality is immoral." "I strongly believe that African-Americans and the LGBT community must stand together in the fight for equal rights." (LGBT is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender.)

Ladies and gentlemen, your president, Barack Obama!

No pressure...

I missed a phone call yesterday morning, and spent the day playing phone tag with the caller, Dr. David Wood. As we talked, I recalled how my phone number got into the phonebook of a world-renowned evangelist. Dr. Wood is the founder of several ministries - Operation Go, The Witness Project, and Faith in Action. After I was recruited to take a PowerPoint presentation and develop it into a video for Faith in Action, Dr. Wood has been steadily providing me with additional projects - some small, some big. I recently finished a 15-minute video on his 6-year strategy for reaching India with the gospel.

 

When the phone rang, I thought he was calling to discuss the latest project he had for me - a previously-discussed plan to update some of their older videos with newer information. "Bro. Ed, I love the India video, but I need to know if you can edit it down from 15 minutes to about 9 minutes. I need to show it at a church next weekend, but I need it to be shorter. Can you produce a shorter version of it and have it in my office by Wednesday?" "Sure", I said, and began working immediately after supper. At midnight, I was finished, and quite proud of my efforts.

 

He called me back today during lunch. "Bro. Ed, I really appreciate your work on cutting that video down to 9 minutes. I'm going to be presenting the India ministry during Sunday School next Sunday morning, and they suggested that we bring a 2-3 minute video segment to show during Sunday School, to whet the people's appetite for the entire presentation Sunday night. Can you cut it down to 3 minutes? This is for the largest church in Alaska (Anchorage Baptist Temple), and this will be shown during a live television broadcast. There is a lot of money for the India project riding on this... and I need it by Wednesday, too."

 

No pressure.......

 

"Sure", I said. I finished my lunch and began working. The fastest way to get this done was to start completely over from scratch, instead of trying to cut and paste a preview video together from the footage I already had developed. Trying to decide which 3 minutes of narration to keep out of a 15-minute presentation was no small feat. Dr. Wood had written the script for the original video, and here I was, leaving 80% of his message on the cutting room floor. I could only hope that the 20% I chose is the right part. I suppose I will find out when he gets the DVDs on Tuesday.

 

It is very humbling to realize that the videos I create will be used to help Dr. Wood share his vision with churches all over the United States. I'm grateful for the opportunity to help their ministry in this small way.