Old, New, and Change

OK, I know that what I'm about to say amounts to heresy for a few die-hard Southern Gospel fans out there, but just hold on. This past weekend Liberty toured for the first time in New Mexico. It was a great trip and fun to sing to crowds who had never heard us before. We've met so many wonderful people over the last few days. One guy who I really enjoyed getting to know a little bit better was Big Al Thomas from Albuquerque. Big Al has the oldest syndicated SG radio show in America. It's been going since 1972. Anyway, he's a fan of a lot of those classic SG groups such as the Speers, the Statesmen, the Blackwood Brothers, the Downings, and many more. He's a walking encyclopedia of Gospel music. Anyway, I told him that I had very few recordings of the Statesmen and none of the Blackwood Brothers. Well, if he didn't get me some of their best albums. What a guy! So, the last few days I've been listening to these greats from years past.

Now, admittedly, these guys are off the charts when it comes to the talent level. They didn't have Pro Tools, vocal overdubs, Melodyne, or any of the other recording enhancements available to today's groups. If one person made a mistake, everybody recorded the whole song over. Most of the time they are spot on. Very impressive! I also appreciate what these groups did to pave the way for Southern Gospel as we know it. Driving through the night in a sedan, 2 guys in the front, 3 in the back trying to grab some sleep before the next concert, that's a tough life. Long before Ernie Haase and Signature Sound were criticized for their "dance" moves, the Statesmen and Blackwood Brothers were tearing up the stages with their dynamic performances and fancy footwork. They paid the price for where we are today.

But...I have to be honest with you, I don't like their music as much as I like today's Southern Gospel music. I'm ducking as I type this, because I know you SG purists out there are flinging your hand about trying to find a bottle or tomato to chuck at me. You're thinking I'm off my rocker, and "if that's the way those Liberty boys are then I'm through buying their music". You have deduced that I'm obviously some Southern Gospel neophyte who doesn't have an appreciation for the classics or, even worse, some CCM-wannabe SG commie who yearns to be relevant rather than true to the genre. Sorry to disappoint you, but none of that is true. I would venture to say that outside of my disappointingly minute stockpile of classic quartet recordings I know as much or more than most fans/artists of my age. I have followed Southern Gospel music as long as I can remember. My first heroes weren't sports stars, but rather quartet members. I say all that to say that my opinion is as valid as any other.

Southern Gospel music, like any other, has evolved over the years. Groups such as the Oaks and Imperials (just to name a couple) began to incorporate a more contemporary edge to their songs and performances back in the 70s. SG became even more closely aligned with country music (who went through their own changes during the same period), using country licks and instrumentation on studio albums. My observation is that as CCM moved from the inspo/pop sound of the 80s and early 90s to commercial rock n' roll, SG groups stepped in and incorporated those styles into their songs and recordings. Today, Southern Gospel is about as diverse a genre as you'll find. Quartets such as the Melody Boys carry on the classic quartet harmony; the Inspirations, the Primitives, and other like groups carry on the Appalachian sound; groups like the Isaacs or Crossway are as good as or better than any group played on the country FM station, groups such as the Martins and the Talley Trio have found a niche in a more inspirational sound, while the Hoppers, Legacy Five, Gaither Vocal Band, Gold City, and others have made their recordings a mixture of yesteryear's simple lyricism and today's progressive rhythms, melodies, and arrangements. And, that's a good thing. I find the song selection and lyrical strength of albums from today's marquee groups to be greater than their predecessors. I enjoy the sound of a full orchestra that occasionally graces a power ballad accompaniment. I appreciate the rhythm sections and guitars that are now standard on current recordings. I'm enjoying where this SG evolution has taken us.

While I'll always appreciate the heritage of Southern Gospel and have a respect for what the SG trailblazers were able to accomplish with so little, I can't go as far as to say they were better. I'm not convinced.

I've noticed that everyone has an affinity for the music that they grew up with. They're zealous about the groups that they listened to during their teenage/early-20 years. So, that being said, I'll admit that my favorite SG quartet is the Cathedrals. Are they the best ever? I don't know. But, they're still my all-time favorite.

A lot of this glorifying of the past comes from a deeper philosophical root that exists in many of us: an innate inability to accept, much less embrace, change. It doesn't just happen in Southern Gospel, it happens in broader society. For some reason it seems more pronounced in the church-world, though. Now, it might be that my perspective is skewed due to the fact that I've been in ministry since college, and that it's still out there in secular culture, too. My point is this, though: we tend to view the past through rose-colored glasses. We become comfortable with our likes and dislikes and the older we get the more inflexible our tastes become. Because, that's really what it comes down to: taste. In the church-world it should be about the message not the (excuse the cliche) method. Now, I know that in some instances more emphasis is given to being relevant as opposed to redemptive (thanks for the wording, Pastor Dave), but I don't think that this is usually the case. I think that most churches, music groups, whatever, are trying to present the message in such a way that is relevant and practical to the parishioner, the concert-attendee, whoever the target audience happens to be. And to do that, change is necessary. Face it people, our world isn't pre-Vietnam anymore. We're not even pre-September 11 anymore. Our culture is constantly evolving. While our fundamental, biblically-based belief system must not change, we should always be evaluating our presentation, approach, and/or technique. Change what doesn't work.

Based on their history, if the Statesmen were around today they would be one of the most progressive Southern Gospel quartets on the road. But, they're not here. So, enjoy, support, and encourage the groups that are doing it right. For that matter, enjoy, support, and encourage your church/pastor/ministry team when they do it right. If you're having problem with changes, evaluate what is contributing to your discomfort. Is it because it's outside the bounds of your particular tradition? Is it because it's not biblical? Is it because you simply despise change? Loosen up. Change, when made for the right reasons, can be exciting and liberating!

I'm not sure how I got here with all this rambling, but there you have it. Don't stay who you are. You're either growing, dying, or dead.

Faves

I really like the Smart Playlist feature in iTunes. It allows you to quickly compile songs from your main music library according to a particular category, for instance genre or year. So, I decided to see what my favorite albums were from specific years. **Disclaimer: I'm sure there were other great albums recorded during these particular years, but this is the Top Ten from my playlist. If you wish to purchase those albums for me, I will accept them with joy.** Here's what I found from the last few years:

2007
Casting Crowns The Altar and the Door
-one of the best albums, lyrically, that I've ever purchased
The Hoppers The Ride
-the best album they've produced for more than a decade
Legacy Five Know So Salvation
-in spite of the fact that this is a cover project, this album is second only to their "Live in Music City" in my opinion; the best table album of the year
Crossway A Beautiful Thing
-the guys took a jump to a whole new level with this recording; their pop-country approach works
Brian Free & Assurance Real Faith
-not quite as good as last year's "It's So Good", but still a great recording lyrically and vocally
tobyMac Portable Sounds
-one of the few Christian rock artists that consistently produces top-tier recordings; I can't stop singing "Made to Love"
The Isaacs Big Sky
-The Isaacs have one of the best bands in the biz; it's nice to see them branch out a little bit musically; after seeing them live, they're one of my favorites right now
The Perrys Look No Further
-I don't think the Perrys are capable of putting out a mediocre album; they have an uncanny knack for adroitly picking the right song for the right voice that few SG groups seem to possess
Rascal Flatts Still Feels Good
-I'm a fan
Kingdom Heirs True to the Call
-Straight-ahead Southern Gospel done the right way

2006
The Perrys Come Thirsty
-My favorite project of 2006; I like every song on this album, especially "He Will Hide Me" and "Come Thirsty"
Legacy Five Live in Music City
-My favorite Legacy Five album; "Strike Up the Band", "Peace", and "My, My, My" are favorites; they were on top of their game that night; of course, this was Roger's last album so there is a sentimental attachment
Brian Free & Assurance It's So God
-I've been a fan of BFA from the beginning and I can honestly say that they've never done anything in the realm of this recording; Lori is going to tell me that I should have put this at the top; it was the only CD we listened to in the car for about 5 months; unreleased songs "It's All About the Blood" and "When the Lord Says Go" are a couple of my faves
Gold City Revival
-on a normal year, this album would top my list, but 2006 was the year for incredible albums (reminds me of 1986; go back and look how many great recording were released that year); anyway, Revival is my favorite Gold City album since "Preparing the Way"; Daniel Riley tears up"Aint' That What It's All About" and "Truth Is Marching On"; then you throw in the great lyrics of "Preach the Word" along with the classic "I'm Rich" and you have yourself a great project; Aaron McCune has a stellar debut as the GC bass
Audio Adrenaline Adios: The Greatest Hits
-I wish that I had listened to these guys early on; they don't fit the profile of most bands I enjoy, so I pretty much ignored their music; their music is, well, it's just fun; while they don't have the deepest lyrics I found them to be very entertaining
Gaither Vocal Band Give It Away
-Wes Hampton's debut recording took awhile, but eventually became one of my favorites (Abby, you win); the more I listen to Wes, the more I like his smooth voice, especially on "I Will Go On"; the slow ballads are all winners on yet another great GVB release
Phillips, Craig, and Dean Top of My Lungs
-These guys will always be in my Top Ten groups. I know that when I buy their CD I'm getting my money's worth; this album was a little bit edgier, heavier guitars and more driving beats; "Your Name", "Saved the Day", and "Amazed" are all incredible worship songs; God has used PCD more than any other group across the years to speak to my heart through their passionate, authentic songs of praise and testimony
Booth Brothers Harmony
-the best table project from anyone up to this point; I like this better than any label album; Jim Brady's version of "Home" is worth the price of the album
David Crowder Band B Collision
-This was the first album I picked up by these guys and I was immediately hooked; they have this eclectic bluegrass-fused-with-rock vibe, sort of like Little Roy Lewis meets Sonic Flood; I like David's odd-sounding crooning; I've never enjoyed banjo so much
Josh Turner Your Man
-I finally jumped on the bandwagon; actually, it's his songs that I like so well; he definitely has his own niche in the country market

2005
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir I'm Amazed...Live
-this CD features some incredible songs of testimony and praise; Jason Crabb's version of "I'm Amazed" is a standout; my favorite recording from 2005; this is the CD to listen to during your devotional time
Collingsworth Family God Is Faithful
-arguably the Collingsworth's best recording to date; not a bad song on the album; "God Is Faithful" would be on my list of all-time favorite songs, what a message; Kim's interpretation of "How Great Thou Art" is another highlight
Bart Millard Hymned No. 1
-MercyMe's front man goes for an earthy, country feel on this recording; it definitely works; I'm hoping No. 2 comes out shortly
Booth Brothers The Blind Man Saw It All
-while the Booth Brothers had several solid releases, this project took them to the front of the class; I'm not an emotional type of guy, but when I heard "Yesterday's Battles" for the first time I couldn't stop the tears; I listened to this CD about 30 times or more before I finally moved on to something else; I kept coming back, too
FFH Voice from Home
-another classic release from one of my favorite CCM groups; I like the album's theme, God speaking to his child
Il Divo Il Divo
-Wow! That's all I have to say...wow!
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
-"If This Is What God Wants" and "Forgiven Again" are my faves off this solid project
Sugarland Twice the Speed of Life
-I really like this group; the lead vocals are distinctive and sung with country attitude
Third Day Wherever You Are
-one of my favorite Christian rock bands brings it on another classic release
Tree63 The Answer to the Question
-I heard the title song on the radio and drove straight to the bookstore and bought the album; their version of "Blessed Be Your Name" is the best I've heard so far; "I Stand for You" is another great song of testimony

Me and My Girl

I'm trying to figure out if my left eye is always that large or if it's the distortion from my lens. You'll notice Kassady is in her dress-up clothes again. I do believe she wears her princess garb more than her real clothes. We definitely saved money last year. She is destined to be in one of those cheesy outdoor pavilion shows at Disneyworld. As you can see, I set the bar high for my kids.

Asleep

They get along so well while sleeping...

Kassady Kandids

Yeah, I now know what that phrase "2 going on 16" is all about. Miss Hot Stuff.

Cheesin'

All of a sudden, Kass has taken an interest in puzzles. She has done all of Trey's 24 piece puzzles, with no help I might add, and is begging for a bigger one. She wanted to make sure that I took a picture of her and all her handiwork.

Idol Chat

Amidst all the wannabe American Idol judge blathering that abounds in the blogosphere, let me add my two cents worth:

• The winner of this year's competition will come from the guys. They consistently bring it every night.
• I'm glad they pulled out the Beatle's songbook last night. I forgot how many great songs Paul and John have written.
• I want to offer my thanks to America for finally getting Danny Noriega off the stage. He had a great voice, but I couldn't stand his constant posturing.
• Last night Chikezie rocked the house. Who knew? That was a great rendition of "She's a Woman". It was a little schizophrenic, but what else do you expect when a Nigerian tries his hand at bluegrass. My favorite of the night.
• I'm finding myself liking Jason Castro, in spite of his dreads. I enjoyed his performance last night.
• David Cook is a great rocker. He hasn't had a bad song yet. He's my runner-up at this point.
• Carly and Brooke both did a good job last night. Carly kind of reminded me of Bonnie Raitt in her take on "Come Together". Brooke sang one of my favorite McCartney songs, "Let It Be". A little bit pitchy, but nice. I predict that they will be the last women standing.
• Amanda Overmyer may be the only woman who can beat up Chuck Norris. She's a little scary. From Mulberry, IN. Who would have thought it?
• I, like half of America, can't help rooting for David Archuleta. While up to this point he's been the most consistent, last night was awful. He's only going to survive this week's cut based on his performances up till now.

Everything else was awful or forgettable at best. This is a pretty good season, though. Definitely entertaining.

My Pro

Last night's closing ceremonies at Karcher Nazarene capped Trey's first basketball season. Lori, Kassady, and I cheered him on as he enjoyed the evening's festivities. Since this was his first time to play basketball, we enrolled him in the Upward basketball league. He loved it! I had tried to teach Trey the basics, but we don't have a goal at home and the basketball goal at the church is 10 feet. So, though he could occasionally heave in a shot, it wasn't the easiest goal to practice on. He started practicing with his team in January and he gave it all he had. I'm so proud of that boy! He finished up being one of the best players on his team. Last night, his coach told me that out of all the kids on his team, Trey improved the most. He now has a good shot, plays great defense, and has learned how to move without the ball. Not bad for a 6-year-old. A parent from the opposing team congratulated me on his defensive prowess and aggressive (in a good way) play. He said that he and his wife were impressed with how Trey had improved.

I was able to get to only two of his games. Unfortunately, they were on Saturday mornings, so I didn't get to all of them. I did make it to most of his practices, though, and watched Trey work to improve his game. He doesn't let failure get him down. He just works harder. For those of you who don't know Trey's personality that well, he's obsessed with the mental and statistical part of the game. He watched game after game on TV (pro and college) trying to figure out how the guys played defense, how they rebounded, and how they moved without the ball. We were watching a pro game last week between the Suns and the Lakers (I think it was the Lakers) and someone made a great defensive play to strip Amare Stoudamire of the ball. Trey turned to me and said, "that's what I'm going to do on Saturday." Lori said he got over 12 steals, all without fouling. He's begging me to get a basketball goal at our house. We'll see what happens.

Trey with a couple of his buds (Noah and Tyler) from church who played in the same league.

Trey and Coach Kevin

Trey waits for some action on the court.

Announcement of the starting lineups prior to the game.

Another picture out of the archives

And, I found an even earlier photo of Royce preparing for his future in Southern Gospel music.

Open up the archives

I came across some album artwork for 1980's über-group, New Creation. Come to find out Liberty's very own Royce Mitchell was the frontman for this iconic CCM sensation. I think Royce still has those jeans.

An apology, kind of

OK, so it's been a while since I've posted anything original. I'll try to make up for it.

Natural Survival

I'm not one to get all excited about wildlife, but this video is amazing. Lion vs. buffalo vs. crocodile. It's definitely worth watching. You'll be cheering by the time it's over. Thanks for the recommendation, Ellen.

Classic Cathedrals Clip

I love hearing Gerald Wolfe sing "Land of Living". By the way, Gerald is nominated for male vocalist of the year in this year's Dove Awards. Thanks, Dean, for posting this.

Presidential Moves

Oddly enough, this reminds me of Doran.

Billboards

Traveling down the road, we run into some weird billboards:








**Actually, all credit goes to Dan for forwarding these to me.

AI

I am not a huge fan of TV shows. I enjoy ESPN and Fox News and that's about it. Ever since "Everybody Loves Raymond" went off the air, there's not much good available. I just don't spend a lot of time channel surfing trying to navigate through the junk that's on TV. However, there is one show that I will watch somewhat faithfully and it kicks off this time of year: American Idol. I admit it, I actually enjoy the competition (if you can call it that). I pick my favorites early-on and tune in to see how they do. I cheered on Melinda Doolittle last year (and by the way she was, hands-down, the best in the competition) and Taylor Hicks the year before that. This is my third year to watch the show. I didn't have a chance to watch the 12 women last night, but I did get a chance to catch the 12 guys on Tuesday. There are some great voices. So far, I'm really liking David Archuleta. He's hilarious in addition to having a voice much bigger than his 17 years.

There is a weird trend among some of the top 12 guys, though. A few of them are projecting a strange gay vibe in their interviews, attire, and performance. Not cool. I haven't noticed this in the last few years. Bring back Daughtry.

All Shook Up

Well, things have been shaking out here in the west. Literally. This morning about 7:16 AM an earthquake shook things up near Wells, NV about 265 miles from us. It measured about 6.0 on the Richter scale. I hear that some of my friends in the Twin Falls area (about 110 miles from us) had stuff falling off the walls and such. At 7:16 AM I was still laying on my Tempur-pedic mattress and didn't feel a thing. Those Tempur-pedic commercials must be factual.

To recap...

It's been a while since I've posted, so in no particular order are a few observations and comments:

• The IU and Purdue college basketbally rivalry is back. Last night's game had that same intensity that the late-80's and early-90's contests featured. And, yes, we won. Thank you D.J. White.
• Why is Mike Huckabee still running? I don't get it. Are people still sending money his way? Note to Mike: it's over. I still wonder what would have happened with a Huckabee nomination.
• Has anyone else noticed that Hillary's slide began around the same time Bill started taking over the campaign with his magnetic personality? Side-note: magnets do erase hard drives. I'd like to hear the conversations that are going on in the Clinton living quarters. "Bill, I'm going to ask you to campaign for me in North Dakota."
• After dissing on the Dove Awards and their egregious Southern Gospel awarding, they go and get it right. This is the first time in a long time that I have agreed with most of their nominations. Go figure. For a full list of nominations, visit the Dove Awards website.
• The Hoppers CD, The Ride, is becoming one of my favorite CDs released in 2007. After their exiled time in the Spring Hill caverns, they have once again taken ownership of their productions. The overall lyrical strength of the album is above and beyond anything produced in their Spring Hill days. They also have produced a companion live DVD entitled The Ride: Live in Wilmington (I think; I left it on the bus). This video is the first Southern Gospel production that rivals the Gaither Homecoming series in the camera quality, lighting, etc. They're baaaaack!
• I'm really enjoying a Christmas present from Lori: An Inconvenient Book by Glenn Beck. It's a very easy read, but in the midst of the humor and ADD moments expected from Beck you're going to be educated on the global warming fallacy, the danger of radical Islam fundamentalism, and the emptiness offered by today's gargantuan pornographic industry. That's just an overview of the chapters I've read so far. Go buy it!
• What change is Obama talking about? He's been really abstract so far.
• Just saw The Jumper. It's OK, nothing more. Plot is pretty weak. I was a little disappointed. After the Bourne series, I expected more of the same. Not so.
• Liberty had a fantastic weekend. I love Arizona. I now know where I'm going to go in the winter when I'm 55.
• Our new CD, Say It Again, is now out. It's definitely our version of a "table project", but it's a fun listen. We cover "I Can See the Hand", "Ride That Glory Train", and "Temporary Home" among others. One of the most popular (in concert) songs on the recording is "Light at the End of the Darkness". This is an old Imperials song that has a powerful message. It also features a cover of the Mills Brothers "Cab Driver". Actually, Royce re-wrote the lyrics and it's titled "Bus Driver". It's going over big in concert. We've added some "moves". That's a very generous interpretation, especially as it pertains to Doran. The CD also has a song from Doran called "Baritone Whine". The title says it all as Doran try to work up sympathy for his status in the group. Pathetic, really. You can order the CD on our website.
• Guess where I took Lori for Valentine's Day? To the Grace Bible Church OAKS (Older Adult Kids) banquet. Nothing but the best for my wife! Actually, I was asked to emcee the banquet and to sing with our church quartet (consisting of myself, Pastor Dave, Matt Ritchey, Allen Ezell, and pianist Julia Keep). There was a lot of laughter that night. And, Dave and Julia, your attire was just fine! Thanks, Jolene, for inviting us to be part of the banquet. I'm blessed to have such an incredible wife! Lori, I love you!
• Nice try, Jody and Carrie, on hijacking my blog. Ain't gonna happen!
• I'm working on a video page for the Liberty Quartet website with web-guru Jon Plank (erstwhile keyboardist for the now-defunct trio Allegiance). I want to share the crazy stuff that happens behind-the-scenes as we travel around the country. You deserve to know the real Royce Mitchell.
  

That's about it. I hope you've had as much fun as I have the last week and a half.

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards as they relate to Christian music are a joke. They are almost to Christian music what Dove Awards are to the Southern Gospel genre. While the phrase "Grammy Award winner" looks good in your publicity packet, it really doesn't mean much. When looking at the Grammy Awards voting process one can quickly understand how some of the winners are selected. I'm pretty sure there aren't many Southern Gospel experts on the Recording Academy roster. So, that's how you end up with some of these winners and nominations which serve only to make one scratch their head. Of course, the resulting amalgamation of Southern, Country, and Bluegrass Gospel will be a little odd. Check out this year's nominations and winner (in orange):

Category 55

Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

• Amazing Grace
  Bill & Gloria Gaither And The Homecoming Friends
  [Gaither Music Group]
  
• Journey Of Joy
  Karen Peck And New River
  [Daywind Records]
  
• Everybody's Brother
  Billy Joe Shaver
  [Compadre Records/Music World Entertainment]
  
• Salt Of The Earth
  Ricky Skaggs & The Whites
  [Skaggs Family Records]
  
• Tell Someone
  Kenny & Amanda Smith Band
  [Rebel Records]
  
• I'll Fly Away: Country Hymns & Songs Of Faith
  Various Artists
  Ed Cash, producer
  [Sparrow Records]
  

Even the CCM categories can look a little odd. Look at the nominations and winner for album of the year:

Category 54

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

• The Altar And The Door
  Casting Crowns
  [Beach Street Records/Reunion Records]
  
• A Deeper Level
  Israel And New Breed
  [Integrity Music]
  
• True Beauty
  Mandisa
  [Sparrow Records]
  
• Stand
  Michael W. Smith
  [Reunion Records]
  
• Portable Sounds
  TobyMac
  [ForeFront Records]

Now, I have 4 of the 5 albums listed here. And, as much as I enjoy Mandisa and Israel & New Breed, their albums aren't anywhere close to Top 5 material. TobyMac and Casting Crowns would be legit nominations, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Smitty has become the Bill Gaither of CCM, garnering nominations based on reputation rather than the worth of his productions. I wonder what would happen if SG and CCM albums were truly judged by a recording's merit rather than being a forgotten award floating around in the Black Hole of Fields 11-whatever? Just a thought.

If you're an artist or an industry exec and want to make a difference, here are the membership requirements.

Bassman

OK, when is the last time McCain helped out a church praise team? Governor Huckabee does a little plunking on a Southern Gospel classic. Thanks to Daniel at Southern Gospel Blog for the find.

The Little Chair Episode

OK, I can't resist. Let's watch Bobby Knight throw that chair one last time...

Sports

Before the day is done, I have to comment on two sports stories:

1. Congrats to the Giants for knocking off the Patriots in the Super Bowl. Maybe this will shut up all of the New England bandwagon fans. I hate the Patriots. I really do. Now, I'll give them props. They had an incredible season and Tom Brady was the year's best quarterback (and that's hard for a Peyton Manning fan to spit out), but I was so tired of hearing the "greatest ever" term thrown around. Thank you, New York. And, now, would you idiot commentators quit dogging Eli? It made my night. It really did.

2. I just heard this evening that Bobby Knight retired from coaching. Say what you will about the General, there were few better coaches when it came to the fundamentals of the game. He taught his men how to play team ball, a concept that is sadly lacking in today's NCAA game. While Knight's legacy at Indiana is tainted by his inability to control his emotions and his tongue, he will always be the IU coach in my book. And while I didn't always agree with how he expressed his opinions, it was refreshing to have someone who told you what they thought, not some carefully calculated soundbite that might look good in a newspaper column. I'm going to miss seeing him stalk the sidelines at Tech. Bobby Knight is truly one of the all-time greats.

Royce wants to help, too

The other day while we were in Menlo Park, CA Dan decided to wash the bus. We had come through a lot of snow and slush so the bus was filthy. I had gone into the hotel to check us in and I came out on this scene. Dan had asked Doran to help him, so they were working hard at scrubbing and rinsing. Royce's feelings were hurt that he wasn't asked to contribute. Well, after the last bus-washing incident involving Royce and clorox, Dan won't let him near the bus. So...after contemplation, Dan came up with a job for Royce...

He held up his end of the work real well.

Striking It Rich

Yesterday, we flew out of Boise to Ontario, CA. I say "we" in the loosest sense, because our wonderful piano player, Doran, failed to notate on his calendar the fact that we had a Thursday concert. So, he woke up around 7:00, puttered around the house for a while, checked the weather, and climbed back in the bed. Meanwhile, we're waiting at the airport, calling Doran's cellphone, hoping he'll pick up. He never does. We load the plane and take off. Doran gets back up and around sometime around 9:00, picks up his phone and notices that he's missed several calls from all of us. He couldn't catch any of us on the phone so he called Donna, Dan's wife, to ask if he's missing something. She said, "Yeah, you're missing something. You missed the plane!" After a very long day, he showed up at about 6:20 PM in time for our 7:00 concert. I'll let him fill in the rest of the day's details on his blog. It was hilarious!

Anyway, the 3 of us had a layover in Las Vegas. Of course, there's a slot machine on every corner of the airport. We had just walked around a corner when we heard bells and whistles blowing and a bunch of people cheering. A guy had just won $1,061,000. He was in shock. His hands were shaking and he could hardly talk. It was a pretty wild sight. He's the bald guy to the extreme right of the picture. If you click on the picture, you can see the total on the middle machine.

I might have mentioned that I was part of a non-profit organization to him. I can't remember...

Beefing up my iTunes playlist

If you're like me you have a bunch of cassette tapes collecting dust in a storage container out in the garage. I have about 300-400 cassettes that I collected up to, oh, about 1993. I never got rid of them, but I never listened to them either. I always told myself that I would transfer them to CD sometime (yeah right). Never happened. So, through 3 moves, from Indiana to Ohio to Idaho those tapes have always accompanied me. Kind of like baseball cards, you know, which is a whole different post.

Anyway, I investigated different options to transfer my cassettes to a digital format: freeware, new sound cards, everything I could think of. I never did find freeware that I was happy with, the new sound cards were too expensive, so over time I just forgot about it. Well, one of my Christmas presents was the Xitel INport Deluxe for PC. This handy little product has taken all of those complicated steps out of the cassette to digital format process. Simply plug one end of an RCA cord into the cassette deck and the other end into the Inport adaptor and plug the adaptor's USB cable into your computer. It's that easy! Now, you do have to transfer in real time, no short cuts there, but the end result is so rewarding. The accompanying software includes a click corrector that allows the user to clean up the files. The LP Ripper allows you to trim tracks, isolate tracks, whatever you need to do to get them ready to import into iTunes or whatever jukebox program you use. The tracks are recorded in wav format, but there's a little free add-on available for download that allows you to convert them to mp3s. I highly recommend it. I'm rediscovering some great music. For instance, in the last few days I've imported:

Dean Hopper: Solo But Never Alone
Mid South Boys: Shoulder to Shoulder (an awesome album)
Take 6: So Much 2 Say
The Talleys: Typical Day
Christ Church Choir: All Praise
Gold City: Portrait
Russ Taff: (self-titled)
Perfect Heart: I Hold a Clear Title
Michael English: Freedom
Wayne Watson: How Time Flies
Heavenbound: We Are Those Children

If you want to get rid of all those extra cassettes and don't want to mess with importing them in, box them up and mail them to:

Keith Waggoner
16702 Ardyce Ave.
Caldwell, ID 83607

I'll give them a good home. I promise.

Church

This morning I had breakfast with a guy who had this to say about his church:

"I was raised in a strict fundamentalist church who was obsessed with being right. We might have been small, not growing, but that didn't matter 'because we're RIGHT'! As I got older I went through a dark time in my life and got away from church. About two years after my divorce I showed up at church a broken man, nervous. But those people loved me. You know looking at it now it kinda reminds me of the Oakland Raiders: they take people who are on the downside of their career, believe in them, and give them another chance. That's what my church did for me. They loved me and helped me come back to Jesus."

Is that an awesome testimony or what? That's what a church should be about.

By the way, his church is Boise Calvary Chapel. I don't know anything about the church, but I'm impressed. It's not the first time I've heard that from their attendees. I've never met Bob Caldwell, but the fact that his people are willing to lay down their lives for him (in a good way, not a cultist way) speaks volumes about his ministry.

Reminds me of the line from the JD Sumner & the Stamps song: "What kind of church would my church be if every member was just like me?"

Soapbox Rant

OK, I admit it: I'm a music freak. No, not because I sing in a group, not because I graduated with a degree in music, nothing like that. I just enjoy music. It's one of the pleasures God has blessed us with and I revel in it. You know, I'm thankful ol' Jubal got things rolling back in the day. Music has evolved from that time to now, taking on new forms, sounds, and meaning. In one of my recent posts I shared how I was discovering great music that I never knew existed. I now have 15,090 songs loaded on iTunes. I like to hit shuffle and wait to see what comes up on the playlist. To give you an idea, here's what I've heard in the last 45 minutes or so:

The Lefevres: Without Him (Southern Gospel)
Boston Pops Orchestra: Long Live the King (a Tribute to Elvis)
Phillips, Craig, and Dean: The Chipmunk Song (Christmas)
The Hoppers: Old Time Religion (Southern Gospel)
Squire Parsons: You're Not Alone (Southern Gospel)
Michael W. Smith: Agnus Dei (Praise and Worship)
Erich Kunzel & the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra: Live and Let Die (Movie Score)
BackTraxx: Passage (background music)
Avalon: The Christmas Song (Christmas)
Vineyard Music: I Believe in Jesus (Praise and Worship)
Ray Stevens: In the Mood (chickens crowing this jazz standard)
Out of Eden: Paradise (Christian R&B)
Jonathan Heath & Paul Stetler: Ring the Bells of Heaven (sacred instrumental)
Kathy Troccoli: Sounds of Heaven (CCM)
Geoff Moore and the Distance: Home Run (CCM)
Alan Jackson: Silent Night (Christmas)
Peter Duchin: Day by Day (easy listening instrumental)
Michelle Swift & the Maranatha Singers: You're Worthy of My Praise (Praise and Worship)
The Rambos: He Looked Beyond My Fault (Southern Gospel)
Fletch Wiley: For the Beauty of the Earth (Jazz instrumental)
Steve Taylor: I Blew Up the Clinic Real Good (satirical take on extremists who blow up abortion clinics; Christian Rock)
Ernie Haase: Redemption Draweth Nigh (Southern Gospel; from a Gaither taping)

Looking over the list, I enjoyed them all. Well, I don't know, that whole chicken clucking thing on In the Mood did get a little old. Obviously, there were some songs I enjoyed more than others for some reason or another, but I did like them all. I feel the same way about church music.

I've been in about every type and stripe of church that you can imagine in the last 2 years. Everything from Presbyterian to Charismatic, Nazarene to Southern Baptist. One thing that all churches seem to share is an intolerance for each other's music styles. I'm talking about within the church, not Nazarene vs. Baptist. Some of the most awkward moments I've been part of have involved this stupid debate. Yep, that's right: stupid. While talking to the music pastor or senior pastor, I've often been interrupted by some agenda-driven individual who will blurt, "I'm glad we're finally getting some real music in this church" or some inane comment like that. On the other hand, we've been to churches where it was all the praise team could do to talk to us, with us singing that inferior, irrelevant music and all. They tried their best to tout their musical grandiosity and make us feel inferior. Whatever. Both sides are wrong.

Some try to make it an issue of old vs. young. So, they divide up the church and go to 3 styles of services: traditional, contemporary, and modern. I have no problem when a church hosts several services because they have to, but when you do it because we can't agree on the songs we're singing, something is wrong. I have a good friend who hates new "7-11" music (that's the sneering reference used by traditionalists for praise and worship music). I led the music at his church and it just so happened led a couple of Gospel songs that he liked (one of them was Blessed Assurance). After the service, he grabbed my hand and told me how much he appreciated me leading the "good" songs. He had made a comment to me before, so I asked, "What are the good songs?" His response was "something that's old, says something, and has stood the test of time." My response was "thank God someone had the good sense to start singing Blessed Assurance before it stood the test of time or it wouldn't have."

I've been on both sides of the coin. I know what it's like to get criticized because I'm singing "new" songs. And, I know what it's like to feel pressure to not include hymns in my worship leading. I've also learned that at the end of the day neither groups know what they're talking about. And, the intolerance of both sides is splitting the church. It's done it in more than one instance.

I'm convinced that God directs the sensitive worship leader to the right songs for a service, just like he leads the pastor to the proper passage and theme. As a worship leader, if God calls you to lead 7 new choruses or 4 old hymns, than so be it. Lead what He directs. Don't throw in a token song, you know, one to appease a certain segment of the congregation. And, don't run away from any one style of music. The reality is, good and bad songs have always been written. Their worth isn't determined by when it was written. Judge a song on the merits of it's message, not it's age. Discover the church classics; you'll be enriched. Listen to contemporary compositions; you'll be stirred. If you're not a worship leader, take the same recommendations. Open up your minds. There is no spiritual significance in traditionalism or modernism. Relevance is mostly determined by intentional application.

This morning I was reading in Ephesians 4 about living a life worthy of the calling we have received. Unity isn't some unattainable, pie-in-the-sky concept. It is Christ's goal for His bride. I just touched on music, because it seems to be the hot-button issue that I run into the most. We need to make the effort to be unified in our love, respect, appreciation for each other. We're the church! So, the next time you go to church, intentionally worship. Get past your initial misgivings about whatever. Dwell on the words, learn the melody, and sing a new (or old) song unto the Lord.

And, to think, I didn't put 2 and 2 together until I turned on iTunes while working here at my desk.



Closing Thoughts
By the way, I've found that most of those praise team members and musicians who initially look down their noses at us, are some of the first to come up to us at the end of the concert, sharing how much our ministry touched them. And, they sheepishly admit that they liked the music. They don't say that because we're the best musicians. We're not (well, at least I'm not). They say it because we sing the songs God leads us to sing for that time, that place. And, no, we don't sing the same set every concert (sound of gunshot; another myth falls).

In contemporary churches, guess what our best-selling CDs are? You got it, the Timeless Treasured Hymns series.

Oh yeah, one more: If a person under 40 comes to the product table, guess what CD they invariably buy? Uh-huh, a CD from our Timeless Treasured Hymns series. Hmmmm...

Try this: tell your worship leader how much you appreciate their song service on Sunday. It's not going to kill you, I promise.

Breaking News!!!

OK, for all of you Libertyheads out there, here's the latest news from the homefront. We have just signed with Associated Management Group out of Meridian, ID to handle all the behind-the-scenes details of the ministry. They have assumed the responsibilities of office management, product distribution, booking, and mechanical licensing. Obviously, there is so much more that they will be doing for us, but those are the initial endeavors. This will free us to focus more on what we're best at: singing. It's a privilege to partner with Rick, Dee, Judy, Kay, and everyone else at AMG. You will actually touch base with a real person when you call the Liberty Office. Now, that's a novel idea! Be sure to welcome them to the Liberty team. You can contact them at:

liberty@libertyquartet.com or bookings@libertyquartet.com. Our office number has remained the same.

Of course, you can still contact the Liberty guys from the website.

God is good!

Snow Day on Ardyce Ave.

Last week, we had quite a bit of snow around our place. School was canceled for Trey, which brought him much joy and hyperactivity. We had a fun time in the white stuff.

Kassady and Lori immediately started on building a snowman.

I made sure that I jumped in at the end to make it appear as though I contributed to the project.

Trey is obsessed with football these days. He knows all the statistics for pro, college, you name it. He loves going outside to "run plays". He's figured out a good crossing route, 5 and out, and his favorite, the Hail Mary.

Of course, the snow is good for making those diving catches.

Kassady was just happy to be there.

Add

OK, I didn't realize so many of you guys went to an ACE school. Feel free to share your own additions to the ACE list...

I love ACE

For those of you who don't know anything about Accelated Christian Education...well, congratulate yourself (and go ahead and skip to the next post). For the rest of us...this is way too close to home.

You know you have been to an ACE school when...

• You know Ace and Christi will one day end up being together.
• You cried when Ronnie crashed his bike.
• You have had a class mate tell you to be quiet because he or she is trying to get an Accelerated Christian Education.
• You all look exactly alike for gym.
• You know what "cool-lots" are.
• You think that an 84 is failing.
• You have been or dreamed of being on the Pastor's Honor Roll.
• You had only one option for a language class (the language that teacher spoke).
• Riding in a bus is exciting and new for you.
• Snow days just mean doing your work at home.
• A demerit ruins your day..
• You go to school in a basement.
• Three Seniors graduating is a huge class.
• Memorizing 30 verses of the Bible in 3 hours is a piece of cake.
• You get angry when your friends in public schools complain about dress code rules.
• Flirting is a sin.
• Your English teacher is your Math teacher, Science teacher, Food prep teacher, Gym teacher, ect...
• All the ten year olds have comb overs.
• Convention is the light at the end of a tunnel.
• You get excited when you get to put a gold star on your star chart.
• The hot guy/ girl in your school is your cousin.
• You think that a student body of 50 K-12 is too big.
• You abide by the six inch rule.
• The cool guy in class is a nerd from another school.
• You never have back problems cause your PACE's are lighter than text books.
• If you wear a hoodie you are considered a "druggie".
• You will get detention if you cough in class.
• You want to marry Ronny or Christi.
• When you have to beat the little kids to THE microwave.
• When you know that there is this one kid who is just going to prison in ten years (once he gets his MySpace).
• You get excited when you get a new bathroom pass.
• You know everything about everybody... including the teachers.
• You wish you had a Pastor like Pastor Alltruth.
• There is no point to homework slips.
• You counted down from 500 PACE's until you graduate.
• You hate red pens but you love green ones.
• Having the GREEN pen is the highlight of the week.
• Openings are the worst time of the day.
• You get very fast at putting your Ipod or gum away when teachers are comming.
• You get rules named after you for the terrible things you have done (chewing gum, burping ,throwing PACE's across the room ect.)
• You are surprised to know there are other ACE schools out there....somewhere
• You get detentions randomly for having the nerve to stand up to stuff thats wrong, that in a way they tell you to stand up for.
• You know that once you throw 30 papperballs down the wall of peoples desk its only a matter of time till the teachers look away again and they all get pelted back to you.
• You keep away from those "other" childeren... who are your brothers and sisters who go to public school.
• You knock down the Christmas garland from on top of the offices and get in trouble because it pulled all the other garlands down.
• You actually feel lucky because you have no finals.
• You can recite all of pastors stories along with him.
• You actually begin to wonder what will happen to each of the ACE characters by the time that last English PACE rolls around.
• You feel a huge wave of relief the first time you go to convention and find that most of the kids from the other ACE schools are pretty much normal

*This group is for anyone who understood all of these statements or know somebody who does!

• You know what ACE stands for.
• Ace is not a playing card, its a boy.
• you spend your days in the learning center
• If you have ever gotten your finger slammed in the divider.
• If you have ever been 4 PACE's behind in a subject because the order hasn't come in yet.

You look at all the spelling errors in this message, and realize that an ACE student typed it!

OK, this is hilarious. Thanks, Sheila, for sharing with an ACE grad.

Presidential Prelection

I've enjoyed keeping up with the presidential primaries of both parties. The calculated speeches, the acerbic barbs couched in innocent repartee, and the constant calls for "change" (though the change advocated is never clearly defined) all point to the interesting race that's shaping up. I declared early on that I was really impressed with Huckabee. That was before his somewhat questionable record came up, which it always does in these primaries. There were several issues that caused concern. I appreciate his Christian worldview, but it takes more than just being a Christian to get my support. From the sounds of the blogs of some of my friends, we should vote for him just because he's evangelical and a really good guy. Well, I'm a Christian and a really nice guy but I'm not qualified to be President. I want to see a plan for the future that makes sense. Don't just wow me with impassioned delivery (can you say Obama?). Clearly define what your plan is for this country. Financially, this country's in a mess and somebody better have a plan to reduce our national debt, repair our Social Security system (or come up with a good privatization program), and cut the pork that seems to inevitably find it's way into every spending bill. I want to see a realistic plan for what's going to happen in Iraq, what we're going to do about our dependency on foreign oil, and what we're going to do about free trade. I would like for a candidate to clearly define their position on illegal immigration, one that is realistic and can be enforced. What are we going to do about our plodding tax system, the rising cost of healthcare/insurance, and our broken educational system? Of course, there are several social issues that bother me, as well. I haven't seen anyone who has clearly defined who they are.

I'm not sure who I support to be honest with you. I do like Huckabee's Fair Tax proposal, though I'm not sure how it would impact 501(c)3 organizations.

There's an program I heard about on Fox News that I found interesting. Try out the Candidate Calculator for yourself.

For the record, my #1 choice ended up being Tom Tancredo, followed by Huckabee and Romney.

Trey and Emme

The other night we had Marc and Talisha over to watch the BCS championship game,which was a total bore, and chow down on hot wings and popcorn. We have high-class tastes (I'm not talking friends here, though Marc and Talisha both have very blue blood) which also include paper plates. Anyway, we're downstairs switching back and forth between the game and the Fox News New Hampshire coverage, when we hear Kassady yelling something about Trey having marker on his face. Now, my kids do a lot of crazy things and when you throw Emme (one of Trey's very best friends) and her creativity in the mix you have a perfect storm. So, immediately Talisha calls up to see what's going on and Emme replies that Trey asked her to put eyeblack on under his eyes, like the football players, you know (he's obsessed with playing football). We immediately assumed the worst. I could just see Trey with permanent black marker on his face. Marc and I burst out laughing and I yelled for Trey to come downstairs. He and Emme sheepishly walked into the living room to show us their handiwork.

There was relief written all over Lori's face (Talisha's, too) when they saw the dry-erase marker in Emme's hand. We laughed and laughed over this one. Actually, I was impressed with Emme's artistic endeavor.

Gamer

Kassady has turned into quite the little gamer. She has this video game system called V-Smile that she loves to play. It has a bunch of educational games that help them learn to spell, count, and read. I say that to ease my conscience. Anyway, I thought this was a great picture that captured one of those many Kassady moments.

PJ Trey

A new take on "you've got some big shoes to fill". Trey is into stealing my pajamas each night and running around the house like a madman. And people wonder why I laugh so much.

Me, too

I'm hoping the fact that I posted my own ridiculous New Year's picture will save from the wrath to come (see post below). Let's just say that Margaret spiked the eggnog (with caffeine, of course). After the guys blew away the girls in "Buzzword", a really fun party game, we brought in the new year in style. Well, at least I did.

I gave up on being "cool" a long time ago and settled for "fun".

The Year Got Off To a Good Start...

Stephanie was definitely full of joy (or something) when 2008 rolled around.

***If I don't show up at a concert, church, or any other previously scheduled appointment, please call the police. After posting this picture, I am going to be living the life of Salman Rushdie.

New Year

Trey and Kassady could barely keep their eyes open as we brought the new year in. Is there anything more annoying than those little noisemakes with the paper thing on the end that goes in and out as your blow air into it? I blew my noisemaker incessantly, of course.

Trey spent first moments of 2008 trying to pull his poppers out of the plastic bag.

Christmas with Mom and Dad

It was so much fun to have Mom and Dad out for Christmas. I love Idaho, but I do miss being with my family during the holidays. So,they flew out on Christmas Day Apparently, you can get a good deal on tickets if you're willing to fly on the 25th. They stayed out here for a few days and we had a fabulous time.

I just wanted to post this picture to irritate Sharilyn (I mean, Lynn). I'm expecting a call soon.

Mom didn't let vacation slow down her spending...I mean, we have great deals here in Idaho! It's amazing how fast women can write a check. It makes my head spin. It takes me, oh I don't know, 5 minutes or so to painstakingly fill out that little piece of paper. I do that whole thing where after you write in the amount you take the line all the way to the end of the box. Nobody's going to rip me off and add something in there!

2008

OK, here's a post to move the crying kid off the top of the page. Happy, Dave and Char?

It's been a busy 4 weeks! Liberty has recorded 1 and a half new CDs, done a few Christmas concerts, and retooled for 2008. The Waggoner family hosted Dad and Mom Waggoner (and of course, my wonderful sister Lynn) over Christmas, brought in the New Year with a bang at the Taylors with several friends, finally took down the Christmas decorations, and hauled the (best ever) Christmas tree to the Tannenbaum graveyard. In the meantime, I played racquetball for the first time and found out how out of shape I really am. My reflexes are about 17 milliseconds to slow for the game. That's a lot of fun. I've been following the presidential primaries, watched several college football games (including last evening's yawner of a national championship), made a few new year resolutions, and worked on an incredible new partnership about which Liberty Quartet will soon be releasing information.

So, anyway, I say all that hoping that there will be a spot of sympathy for my pathetic lack of updates. My hopes aren't set that high. I know my audience.

Santa RIP

Speaking of Santa...sorry kids. Thanks, Ellen. That's hilarious!

Trey's first grade class presented a puppet show/musical version of the Christmas story on Wednesday morning in chapel. I got a kick out of watching the kids strain to lift their puppets above the puppet window. Trey's character was Joseph and halfway through one of the songs, Joseph apparently got tired. The puppet slowly started to descend until you could only see its head, then its eyes, then nothing. You could hear the stage whispers of one of the helpers trying to get him to make Joseph visible again (talk about reminding me of FCA dramas). Finally, Joseph slowly made his way back up. Classic material. I wish I would have brought my video camera.

After that, a guest speaker got up to speak about Christmas (I guess). I'm not real sure what the point of his sermon was. He started out by saying that truth is only found in God's Word. Truth is not found in traditions, blah, blah, blah. He then viciously vilified the Magi, calling them magicians and witches and reciting a litany of things they supposedly were involved in (and I'm thinking, "Now that's not in the Bible; how do we know that's true?"). He poked fun at their studying of the stars, once again indicating that the only truth was found in the Bible, which don't get me wrong I believe to be inerrant, the written word of God. He obviously hasn't figured out that there's a difference between astrology and astronomy. And he overlooked the fact that there was a star that directed the wise men to Jesus (that is in the Bible). It seemed that his main intent was to paint the wise men as evil, bad guys. The more I listened, the more frustrated I became at this guy's mischaracterization. These kids are sitting there listening to a person in authority tell them all this, and probably some of them believed what he was saying. You know, when you're speaking to kids, keep it as positive as possible. It just ticked me off. And, then the last thing that sent me over the edge was his leaning down and talking to the little kids about the fact that "we don't believe in all of these Christmas fairy tales, now, do we?" You know, let the parents of the 5 and 6-year-olds determine what they let them believe in. Is it really so bad that a 5-year-old believes in Santa Claus or Rudolph? Is that going to harm them in any way? I don't think so. In fact, just recently on Focus on the Family's radio broadcast (I think it was on 12/10 or 11) they were talking about how fantasy and imagination is a big part of a child's life and specifically mentioned that believing in Santa Claus wasn't a bad thing.

You know, I want my kids to know the real reason we celebrate Christmas (and they do). But, I also want them to enjoy many of the Christmas traditions. We don't tell our kids that Santa is real, but neither do we discourage them from believing in the old fella. Some of us just need to lighten up. Enjoy all parts of this wonderful season!

OK, I'm now getting off the soapbox.

12 Days of Christmas

OK, this is awesome! This Indiana University chorus brings it on this Christmas classic. You're going to love this one.

Software

By the way, for those of you who just don't want to pay the money for Microsoft Office, I have the solution: Open Office. It actually does a good job and best of all it's free. It has an alternative to Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Access,and a couple of other programs. Probably everyone but me knew this existed. Hat tip to my good buddy, Aaron Smith.

Dylan hams it up

For those of you who know my brother Bobby, this video features his son Dylan in his school Christmas program. Bobby told me that when they pulled up to the auditorium, Dylan jumped out of the car, stretched his arms into the air, and said "Showtime!" before sauntering inside.

He gets it honest.

Songs I Love to Hate

Speaking of music, are there any songs that you dislike with a passion?

Here's my list:

I'm Pressing (Dad led this song way too much back in the day)
Achy Break Heart (try to get that song out of your head the rest of the day)
Don't Worry, Be Happy
B-I-N-G-O (thanks to my kids' insatiable desire to sing it again)
Louie, Louie (by the Kingsmen, not the Kingsmen that you are thinking of)
I Wonder as I Wander (the most dreary song of the season)
...and anything by Michael Jackson

What's your list?

Faith in the Bearded One

Last night, Lori and I took Trey and Kassady over to Karcher Mall to see Santa Claus. It was a family tradition when I was a young kid to get my picture taken with the big man. So, I thought the kids might like it.

Now, you have to understand my children's personalities. Trey is a literalist. Everything exists in black and white. It's either true or it isn't. There is no in-between. He examines everything from a logical viewpoint. Kassady, on the other hand, has a raging imagination that never stops. Today, she was arguing with an imaginary friend. Lori told her that if she was going to have an imaginary friend they had to play nice together. That seemed kind of funny to me, like telling the (real) kids to settle down. Anyway, Kassady firmly believes in the existence of Santa Claus while Trey is an avowed skeptic. In fact, Trey has been making it a point to disprove intellectually the belief that his friends hold in the jolly saint. The other night we were over at Dustin and Angie Mori's house and we were talking about all the Christmas traditions that we experienced growing up. I asked if Noah (their son and one of Trey's best buddies) believed in Santa. Angie said, "He did until we had Trey ride home with us tonight!" That's my son.

Anyway, the being of Santa has been a huge argument in our house for the last few weeks. When we walked around the corner and saw Santa, Kassady punched Trey in the arm and said defiantly, "See...I told you he was real!"

Taste Evolution of a Non-Heathen Music Connoisseur

I'm fast becoming a pawn shop junkie, thanks in no small part to my singing buddy Dan Gilbert. There is so much treasure just waiting to be discovered. Especially in the music department.

Growing up I was pretty sheltered musically, which is not all a bad thing, and not something I'm complaining about. However, if it wasn't Sinatra or the Kingsmen (or some variant of those musical styles), it wasn't played in the Waggoner household. As a result, today, I have a great love and appreciation for Southern Gospel and crooners such as ol' blue eyes. I do have to say, though, that I missed out on some fantastic music being produced within other genres. I did get into the whole CCM thing back in the early 90s, but eventually got bored with the sameness of the bubble-gum pop music being mass produced by the mainline labels such as Sparrow, Word, and Benson. Then, I was introduced to Christian groups like Jars of Clay, PFR, and Third Day, groups I still enjoy today, and my taste switched to a more progressive sound. Sitting through Rodney Sones' Music Hit. and Lit. classes at GBS I developed a fascination for classical music of most periods. I never did get into the whole Renaissance movement, but the rest of it intrigued me. I identified more with the music of the Romantic period as well as more contemporary works by Copland, Ives, and their peers. The angry sounds of Wagner's compositions intrigued me as did the weird expressionist music written by Arnold Schoenberg and John Cage. I then started listening to the scores of Hans Zimmer and John Williams appreciating their creativity and ability to enhance the senses with their arrangements. My tastes broadened as I discovered jazz music. Thanks to the Marsalis brothers, Sanborn, Harry Connick, Jr., and Spiro Gyra I found myself listening to music looking for its possibilities. Lately, I've been discovering the great wealth of music in the classic rock, blues, and country genres. Obviously, I don't condone or listen to ungodly lyrics. And, sometimes the image presented by the performer irritates me. However, I have found that there are often positive, thought-provoking lyrics that accompany musical virtuosity in the afore-mentioned styles. I have been enjoying the works of Johnny Lang, U2, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Josh Turner, and Rodney Atkins in the past few weeks.

Much of this music has been found for $1.49 at my local pawn shop. I don't mind taking a gamble on an unfamiliar artist when I'm only paying $1.49. More often than not, I've been delighted with my purchase. And, if not, there's always eBay to help get rid of it.

No, I'm not a heathen, I promise. But neither am I so close-minded to think that the only "good" music is produced by "Christian" artists. In fact, I wish that Christian groups in many instances would step up their level of artistry lyrically and musically. We have been rightly shunned as insignificant and inferior because of a lack of commitment to quality. There are groups that "get it". Those groups include:

Casting Crowns, David Crowder Band, Brent Vernon (great songwriter; he can write with anyone), Steven Curtis Chapman, Crossway, the Perrys (they rarely record a song that doesn't have significant lyrics), and the Booth Brothers.

We (Liberty) are getting there. We have a new recording that is coming out next year that takes a step forward in the lyrical strength department. It's tough and time-consuming to write songs that matter to individuals who while possessing the hope of heaven face the realities of day-to-day life. It's even harder for a group who doesn't sell 25,000 units of a title to find those songs from songwriters outside the group. We're blessed that Doran is continuing to evolve as a songwriter. He's not settling for the "easy" lyric and simple melody. His songs are evolving into A-list quality. You guys will like his new material.

Anyway, that's where I am these days. While I will always primarily listen to and have a preference for good ol' Southern Gospel music I'm continuing to broaden my horizons, experiencing the wealth of artistic talent that God has blessed our world with.

So, thanks Dan. I like to experience that wealth as cheaply as possible (grin).