Music Review - No Far Away by Chris August

When I was a youth pastor, we had a monthly magazine for students and one of the things it included was a music review. I used to enjoy writing those reviews, so I thought it might be an interesting element to add to my blog.

I just recently picked up a copy of the debut project by Chris August called No Far Away. His first radio release Starry Night is tearing up the CCM charts and I really like it, so I thought I'd give the rest of the project a listen. I am SO glad I did!

Produced by veteran music producer Ed Cash (Leeland, Matthew West, Bethany Dillon), this debut release has more of the feel of something offered by a seasoned singer/songwriter than a new artist. The songs are poetic and crafted in an interesting way that presents a clear message without sounding cliche! A couple of my favorites that I suspect you'll probably end up hearing on Christian radio is the project opener You and I, that sounds like something John Mayer would write if he weren't so depressed and 7x70, a beautiful ballad that celebrates forgiveness.

August's voice is one of those that is immediately recognizable and one that I think will have a long shelf life on Christian radio. It is somewhat similar to Adam Young of Owl City - clear and powerful with just enough prowess to display some interesting turns on the melody lines without bogging things down and becoming 'showy.'

Chris August is a very talented young man, performing much of the music on the project himself with the help of Ed Cash and some other talented Nashville players. If you enjoy fun, energetic pop music and beautifully singable melodies, this would be a great CD to put in your car and enjoy over and over. I know I have!

Home Alone Turns Thirty!

What a shock to the system! Are you kidding me? The Home Alone kid turned thirty today? It seems like that movie just came out a few years ago. I was young and just starting out in my adult life! Where did all the years go? Did they leave for a Holiday Vacation without me?

I feel like I'm alone trying to defend my midlife from greasy bandits who want to steal all my time and energy and leave the water running.

I'll fix them! I'll connect a heating iron to the front door, tar and feather them at the window, pour water on the front steps to freeze and swing paint buckets down the staircase at them! You're not going to make off with my midlife greasy bandits! I don't care how old and creepy Macaulay gets!

Does this sound senile? Sorry, that wasn't me. That was the audio on some old movie clips I spliced together to fool you!

Building Mosques and Playing Nightclubs

Why did God give us the talents we have? Ultimately, they're for His glory. Often times, those same talents will benefit us as well, but they're first and foremost about Him. Let's say you're a carpenter. You have talent and skill that allows you to build a beautiful building. That building doesn't have to be a church to bring God glory. It would be great to use your abilities to build a place of worship, but whatever you build can glorify God if you do it in the right way. Wouldn't you agree? But, what if someone asked you to build a Mosque? Or a strip club? Or an abortion clinic? Would you still be glorifying God by using your talent to build those things? I don't think so.

What about the musician? On the one hand he has an opportunity to use his gift at a church that is bringing people every week into the marvelous light of God's love and grace and forgiveness. God is actually using His talent to help accomplish this! On the other hand there are bars and nightclubs where people go and drink alcohol until they get stupid and wreck their lives and destroy their families. Why would anyone choose to leave a setting where God is using his talent to bring people to Christ in order to take that talent and use it to entertain the drunkards destroying their lives. I will never understand this until my dying day!

The Bible tells us we are to come out from among them and be separate and touch not the unclean thing and He will be our God and we will be His people (2 Corinthians 6:17). I know that doesn't mean we drop out of every aspect of life on earth and live in a commune somewhere. However, there's got to be a place that this commandment fits into our every day lives: Perhaps like in building mosques and playing nightclubs.

She said "Yes"

Donna and I celebrate twenty-nine years of marriage today! Twenty-nine wonderful years with the woman I love! I am truly a blessed man.

To celebrate we went to New Orleans for a weekend away. We dined at John Besh's restaurant August. John is a Top Chef Master who is known all over the world! We enjoyed a wonderful meal in a beautiful setting. I love the architecture of downtown New Orleans.

After eating, we had tickets to see Brian Regan at The Mahilia Jackson Theater. Brian is one of our family's favorite comedians so needless to say, Robin and Chase were a little sore when they found out we were going to see him without them! Regan did not disappoint - what a funny guy! All of his jokes were new material we had never heard before. I'm thinking Comedy Central has to be doing a new live recording soon. Just a sample: What happens when you have second thoughts about making an appointment to visit with Native Americans? You have reservation, reservation reservations! (LOL!)

This morning we got up and went to the French Quarter. After breakfast we strolled around and enjoyed the work of local artists then went to the National WWII Museum and watched the 4-D Documentary produced by Tom Hanks called Beyond All Boundaries. If you haven't seen it, you should.

It was a great weekend, it's been a great twenty-nine years! I'm so glad that so many years years ago she said "Yes."

Stepping (Back) Up To The Mic

As a teenager, like many, I wanted to be a performer when I grew up. I took up the guitar at age twelve and started writing songs. I had a few bands through the years and thought, "One day I will do this for a living." Needless to say, it's not the path God chose for me. After becoming a Christ-follower, I almost immediately formed a band and started writing Christian songs, performing in youth groups, Detention Centers, Camps, you name it. I assumed it would be my ministry, but God had other ideas. However, music always had a role in the ministry God gave me. For over fifteen years I led worship in the three youth ministries I led and assisted with the music ministries in those churches. When I moved back to Lafayette to become the Lead Pastor here at Crossroads Church I no longer participated in the music presentation of our church. I've been very involved in selection, but hardly ever in performance.

Recently, our Music Pastor started having problems with his voice and needed some help with worship leading. I started taking on more and more of those responsibilities in our mid-week service until Pastor Coy Watson's voice has a chance to heal up. (He actually has a tear on one of his vocal cords, so please keep him in prayer. I miss his singing like crazy!) I must admit I have enjoyed getting back on the mic and I realize there's a satisfaction associated with this aspect of my calling that I have really been missing. This past weekend, I stepped out and did a cover of the Needtobreathe song "Something Beautiful." This is probably only the third or forth time I've actually done a solo at our church in over eleven years. I had a lot of fun doing it. I'm not going to give up my day job, but I might take on an assignment now and again just for old time sake.

The Doctor Is In(sensitive)

Let me say from the onset, I have only heard Dr. Laura's show a couple of times. I actually share many of her conservative convictions. From what I understand, she usually has very practical, many times even biblical advise for her listeners. Yesterday, she got it dead wrong!

If you missed the coverage of what happened, here's a brief explanation: An African American woman called into the show to complain about her Caucasian husband whose friends and family often make racial comments that make the woman really uncomfortable. The doctor immediately suggested that the lady might just be over-sensitive then proceeded to demonstrate some of the greatest insensitivity a person could muster. When the woman (very politely) informed Dr. Laura that they even use the 'N' word sometimes, the radio host pointed out that many in the black community call each other that word all the time and that it bothers her because it seems to be a double standard. She went on to point out that we now have an African American president, implying that people should just get over it and move on.

To her credit, Dr. Laura issued an apology today, but the damage is done. You just can't simply unsay the things she said. The interesting thing is, I think I understand where she's coming from, to a degree. No one should use the 'N' word and if someone is truly against racism, they should never justify the use of it under any circumstances. I also agree that it seems like the election of our first black president should have leveled the playing field a little bit and yet the opposite seems to have actually happened. Now if one doesn't agree with the policies of the president, they're accused of being a racist. There is a frustration rising among whites these days, but it does not give anyone a license to do and say the things Dr. Laura did yesterday. There are deep wounds in the African American community from years of bigoted mistreatment, but that doesn't give anyone the right to slap the 'racist' label on people who aren't.

I suppose racism may be more deeply rooted than ever before in some segments of both the black and white communities, but there are many of us that want it to go away once and for all and never rear it's ugly head again! It's true that some may be over-sensitive, but in my opinion the greater sin would be insensitivity! So instead of peddling bad advice to unsuspecting listeners, I would admonish Dr. Laura, Physician - Heal thyself!

A King Meets His King

R.S. King, a beloved pastor for over forty years here in Acadiana, went home to be with the Lord Monday at 91 years old. What an incredible legacy he leaves behind. This is one of a hand full of men who came into south Louisiana in the early 20th Century and paved the way for Evangelical Pentecostalism in this area. Without guys like Pastor King, Crossroads Church would not exist today and we thank God for this wonderful man and the ministry God gave him. He was a pastor's pastor.  When I first arrived in Lafayette in the mid 80's I rarely visited a hospital without running into the man. He was always there, reaching out to the sick and the needy. The Bible talks about those of whom this fallen world is not worthy and R.S. King would certainly fit in that category. He wore his name well. He was a king among men and now this king has finally met his King at his heavenly home! 

His funeral will be held at First Assembly of God in Youngsville Saturday, August 14 at 1:00 p.m. 

Celebrate Our Progress

Well, the day has finally arrived! After almost three years our plans are drawn, our financing is secured, our contractor is hired and this week, we break ground on our new Fifteen Hundred-seat Worship Center. Our contract states that it will be completed by October of 2011, just fourteen months from now! The expansion will include a large gathering area, a nice cafe and bookstore and a new office area for all of our staff except our Youth and Master's Commission personnel whose offices will be housed in our existing facility. That facility will be renovated and completely turned over to Youth and Children's Ministry, providing enough room for those departments to literally triple in size.

With our new auditorium we will be able to go to two weekend services and accommodate Three Thousand adults. Our Children's Ministry typically runs 1/3 of our adult numbers, so with just two services we could accommodate Four Thousand people and with three services we could accommodate Six Thousand people! That's more than twice what we're currently averaging each weekend!

I have no doubt that it won't take that long for us to need to go to three services! I can see this expansion taking the lid off our growth and allowing us to explode! We will draw up plans for a third phase the minute we need to go to a third service so we don't repeat the mistakes of the past.

I know the construction will provide plenty of inconveniences for those who attend our services week to week, but our people are so excited about making room for increase they will be thrilled to patiently endure the next fourteen months. The truth is, Crossroads Church has never been that convenient to attend as it is! People attend a church located in a very difficult location to get to (we're the church everyone can see and few people can find), endure difficulty parking and finding a seat, select from multiple services and bring their children up and down stairs to their classes because God is present in our services and lives are being changed!

Normally, when a store or a place of business has construction work going on, they'll post a sign that says "Pardon our progress." I think our sign will say "Celebrate our progress!"

Let the celebration begin!