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."