I write songs. I've had some success at this, but not near what I would like to have! My goal is for my entire living to be earned from songwriting and photography. I'm not there yet. I say this because I don't want to mislead you into thinking I am industry leader in songwriting or that I am a master of the craft. I'm NOT! I'm just someone not unlike yourself who wants to learn from other songwriters to try and gather as much information as possible in order to be better at my craft.
That being said, I can't tell you HOW many times I have been asked, "Do you write lyrics or melodies first?" My answer is always, "YES!" People want to know formulas. We want a sure thing. We want a guaranteed way to secure the outcome we seek. But in art, as in MANY other forms of life and leadership, there are no formulas in uncharted territory. I can tell you how I wrote my song, ONE. I can go back retrace the things that surrounded me writing ON THE BOULEVARD. But neither of those equations or circumstances were good enough for any of the other songs I've ever written!
A song isn't a formula. It's a conversation. It's 3-5 minutes that your listeners have afforded you to speak something into their lives that when combined with melody, evokes emotion and response. This time that is given to you is earned based on your past track record.
In the songwriting world, part of our lingo involves the word "hook." It is used to describe that part of a song that "hooks" the listener and makes them want to engage with the song either lyrically, melodically, or both. Therefore there are two different "hooks" in every song. There is a lyrical hook, which more often than not is the title of the song. It is the lyric that you can't forget. Then there is a melodic hook. It may be the part you hum or whistle even though you've only heard the song once. If you combine a lyrical hook with a melodic hook, then you really have something
The key to songwriting is to always be receptive. ALWAYS have your antennae up! Have something you can write on or sing into to record your hooks that are going to come to you. And no, you're not good enough to remember that hook that was just "too good to forget." It'll be forgotten in 10 minutes and your hit is history! I use my iPhone for these purposes. The Voice Recorder app and Notes app are both full of simple hooks that I have put down while driving, working, eating, using the bathroom (I know, TMI, but true), etc. I revisit these hooks often to see if there's anything from which to build a new song.
In summary, throw formulas out the window! Just be ready for whatever, whenever you get it!
Friday, August 30, 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
LIFE: Can Racism be Eradicated?
My church, Oasis Church of Nashville, has been led through an exciting sermon series called AT THE MOVIES. Today's message was based on the movie "42." It's the story of the baseball player, Jackie Robinson (who wore the number 42 for the Brooklyn Dodgers), and broke the color barrier in professional baseball. The theme given was unity/disunity and was based around prejudices and racism. So I've decided to write some on the subject. If you're a Facebook Friend of mine, I wrote a post not long ago about equality in America, and some of these thoughts may be the same...but...anyway. :-)
I've been around racism all my life. Not because I came from racist parents, I didn't. It was because of an environment and peer pressure. I grew up predominantly in the south, in Georgia and Mississippi, where even in the 80's, tensions still would rare up from time to time. I remember the KKK having rallies in Commerce, GA, the town where I went to high school, and the city having to cancel the Christmas parade because the Klan wanted to take part in it. I remember saying things back then that I'm now ashamed of, as well as having things said about me. But time, maturity, and Jesus changed me - not necessarily in that order.
In a post I made on Facebook recently, I said that I didn't really believe that true equality could exist in America today. And it can't in our current mindset. I could have gone on for some time about he whole issue, but I made a reference to my church, Oasis, and how it is a diverse church and how inside those walls, racism seems to fade away. My point to the post on Facebook surrounded the "unknowns." How, if presented with two unknowns from which to choose, most people will choose that which they are most like. This could be true with race, culture, religion, sports teams, careers, whatever. Familiarity brings a sense of safety to us. It makes us feel welcome, at ease, and comfortable. So by nature, diversity brings a certain amount of division. It is within the definition of the word.
Yet, as Pastor Danny Chambers pointed out in scripture this morning, division isn't a good thing. We've heard the famous words delivered by Abraham Lincoln in his speech to Congress,
In the movie, 42, Mr. Ricky (Harrison Ford) said something that has stuck with me. Jackie Robinson was known to have a bad temper. Mr. Ricky knew that he couldn't be throwing his temper around if he fight was going to be won. Jackie asks him,
Can we do that, America? Can we, no matter what race because ALL are guilty, can we not pursue our RIGHTS long enough to establish RELATIONSHIP? Paul knew that he was speaking to a diverse crowd when he wrote Galatians, so he quickly pointed out that which was common among them, the relationship with Jesus Christ. That relationship gave them a foundation on which to build. If we're going to be equal, if racism is to die, if prejudice is to be replaced by peace, there must first be relationship. YOU can be the first!!! Find someone different than you and shake his/her hand. Start the revolution!
I leave you with this final thought from scripture. Just in case there is still a deep seeded root in your thoughts about others who may be different in some way than you. Here is what the Bible says about that: Matthew 7:1-2 (GWT). Later, everybody.
I've been around racism all my life. Not because I came from racist parents, I didn't. It was because of an environment and peer pressure. I grew up predominantly in the south, in Georgia and Mississippi, where even in the 80's, tensions still would rare up from time to time. I remember the KKK having rallies in Commerce, GA, the town where I went to high school, and the city having to cancel the Christmas parade because the Klan wanted to take part in it. I remember saying things back then that I'm now ashamed of, as well as having things said about me. But time, maturity, and Jesus changed me - not necessarily in that order.
In a post I made on Facebook recently, I said that I didn't really believe that true equality could exist in America today. And it can't in our current mindset. I could have gone on for some time about he whole issue, but I made a reference to my church, Oasis, and how it is a diverse church and how inside those walls, racism seems to fade away. My point to the post on Facebook surrounded the "unknowns." How, if presented with two unknowns from which to choose, most people will choose that which they are most like. This could be true with race, culture, religion, sports teams, careers, whatever. Familiarity brings a sense of safety to us. It makes us feel welcome, at ease, and comfortable. So by nature, diversity brings a certain amount of division. It is within the definition of the word.
Yet, as Pastor Danny Chambers pointed out in scripture this morning, division isn't a good thing. We've heard the famous words delivered by Abraham Lincoln in his speech to Congress,
"A house divided against itself cannot stand."Now take a moment and read that scripture which Pastor Danny brought to our attention this morning, Galatians 3:28-29 (MSG). Scripture says that we are "all equal." So if we're equal, how can we also be DIVERSE? Good question. One that Paul, the author of Galatians, answers immediately following the declaration of our global equality. He says,
"That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ."Now some of you who may be reading this may not be of any faith whatsoever. So the references to scripture may not be relevant to your current way of thinking. While I believe that a belief in Jesus would TOTALLY revolutionize your life for the better, I will just say for now that belief in the truth of scripture or not, the answer to equality and racism and prejudice worldwide can be summed up in one word: RELATIONSHIP.
In the movie, 42, Mr. Ricky (Harrison Ford) said something that has stuck with me. Jackie Robinson was known to have a bad temper. Mr. Ricky knew that he couldn't be throwing his temper around if he fight was going to be won. Jackie asks him,
"So do you want somebody who doesn't have the guts to fight back?"To which Mr. Ricky replied,
"NO! I want someone who'll have the guts to NOT fight back! The way that we'll win this fight is if we show them that you're a good gentleman and a great baseball player!"I didn't write it down at the time, that quote is a bit of a paraphrase, but most is really close to being correct. Did Jackie have a right to be mad? ABSOLUTELY!!!! Anyone would've been that had to face that kind of crap! But Mr. Ricky knew that if Jackie was going to win over a nation who was already against him, he had to present to them that which he had in common with them. There would need to be a relationship built from the field, even though he would never shake the majority's hand. He was going to have to leave what he knew to be his RIGHTS aside, only for a time, until trust could be built.
Can we do that, America? Can we, no matter what race because ALL are guilty, can we not pursue our RIGHTS long enough to establish RELATIONSHIP? Paul knew that he was speaking to a diverse crowd when he wrote Galatians, so he quickly pointed out that which was common among them, the relationship with Jesus Christ. That relationship gave them a foundation on which to build. If we're going to be equal, if racism is to die, if prejudice is to be replaced by peace, there must first be relationship. YOU can be the first!!! Find someone different than you and shake his/her hand. Start the revolution!
I leave you with this final thought from scripture. Just in case there is still a deep seeded root in your thoughts about others who may be different in some way than you. Here is what the Bible says about that: Matthew 7:1-2 (GWT). Later, everybody.
Friday, August 23, 2013
PHOTOGRAPHY: Shadows or No?
I feel quite unworthy to be teaching things that I'm still learning about myself. But I've had others who have taken time to share some things that they've learned with me, no matter how simple, and sometimes even the simple things mean the world!!! So with that in mind, here goes.
Shadows have been demonized in some circles in the world of photography. Many photographers and many MORE clients just don't feel that shadows are ever a good idea...until they see them. I use shadows a lot. I happen to think they're cool. I will intentionally use shadows to create a look, hide a blemish, give a sense of mystery, and other things. B&W images are often the BEST looking when using shadows. Here, I'll show you. This is one of my favorite images I've ever taken...
Shadows have been demonized in some circles in the world of photography. Many photographers and many MORE clients just don't feel that shadows are ever a good idea...until they see them. I use shadows a lot. I happen to think they're cool. I will intentionally use shadows to create a look, hide a blemish, give a sense of mystery, and other things. B&W images are often the BEST looking when using shadows. Here, I'll show you. This is one of my favorite images I've ever taken...
Notice how the blackness and shadows surrounding Erin make her face POP! I did much of this before ever snapping the photo. This photo was made in an abandoned old building at about 3:00pm. It was pretty dark on the inside. So I stood inside with Erin while her Mom stood outside with a standard 5-in-1 reflector. Using the bright silver foil side, I had her bounce the sunlight from behind the building through the front door and hit Erin's face with it. At post edit, I increased the contrast, used Photoshop to blacken out a couple of things that were still visible, and the rest is pretty much history!
But B&W's are not the only time shadows can be cool. I recently shot Jillian's press kit images. We were in the lobby her apartment building where there was a fireplace with some dark wood facing away from the big window behind it. So for kicks, I placed Jillian against the edge of the fireplace where the outside light would highlight the edge of her hair, lowered my shutter speed just a touch, adjusted the ISO and fired away. The result gave a softness to the photo that we both really liked and the image made it to her final cut. Here. See for yourself...
There's a reason we are called artists. We create ART! We're not copyists. Art is always imitated, but find your way of doing something that someone else would say is wrong in your art. Push your own limits a little and do stuff just to say you tried it. Sometimes you get the winning outcome and sometimes you learn what NOT to do. But either way, you had fun and let out the artist within you. And that will make you BETTER!!! That's all for now. Later.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
BIBLE: Leave 99 and Go for 1
Matthew 18:12-14 (MSG)
I'm one of those sinners. I'm one of the ones who claims to have a relationship with Jesus, yet I've got a past that would lead some to question. I'm not proud of my past at all! I'm reminded of it every day because the devil makes it his business to do so. But in the middle of one of my "past" seasons, I read the above referenced verse and it changed my life! But first, just a little bit of background.
I'm not going to go into what all I've done. It's really not important at all. Suffice it to say that it was something that I shouldn't have been doing as a believer in Jesus, much less as a Worship Pastor in a church! But I validated my poor choices because life, at the time, was hard for me. I, and other staff members at the church where I served, were being abused by the Pastor. There were many more before us (and some since), but I chose to ignore some red flags when interviewing for the job and went anyway. So as a result, my experience was no different than that of my predecessors. This hardship led me to believe I deserved something to make me "feel better." How many of you have learned that life isn't based on how you FEEL?
What I thought was a hardship at the time was made to look like a cakewalk to the season that followed! My wife and I lost EVERY friend we had (for two separate reasons) and for the first time in 20 years of marriage, we found ourselves alone with only each other. For over a YEAR, we had ONE common friend that would get together with us when she could (which due to busy schedules only equaled to about 4-5 times throughout the whole time). I was isolated. My wife was there, but because of my mistakes, I was experiencing guilt, anger, bitterness, and brokenness. I wasn't the model husband at that moment!
It took almost half of that year for God to get my attention and begin the healing process, a process which continues today. I've come a long way, too!!! But along the way, God took me to these verses listed at the top. I had always thought that the 1 that the shepherd left the 99 for was in the category that the church world calls "lost." (meaning someone who does not trust in Jesus as their Savior) But that's not what Jesus is saying here at all!!!
The "1" was once a part of the 100! He was a full fledged part already. Initiation completed. Name on the dotted line. Wool imparted. Black socks doled out. This was a SHEEP! And it was part of the flock! It just wandered off.
Now, the majority of church folk will tell you that hey don't believe in a God that carries a lightning bolt waiting to strike down that heathen sinner who slides his toe across the Spiritual out-of-bounds line. BUT, let one of their own mess up...DIFFERENT STORY!!!! Suddenly it's almost like the whole bunch is pointing not only to the mess, but the mess-er! We can't believe that one of our own would act like that! "Why, scripture tells us we're to have no part of someone who does stuff like that!" Oh no it doesn't!!! That Matthew chapter 18 (from which the above passage is taken) we often refer to as being on "church discipline" isn't focused on that at all! It's a chapter on how to be REDEMPTIVE with someone! Here. Read the whole thing for yourself and make your own opinion.
When shepherds watched over sheep, they carried a staff. It was pointy on one end and had a crooked hook on the other. The staff had three purposes. First, it was a way for the sheep to see the shepherd. It stuck high in the air and was taller than the shepherd, so it was easier for them to see. Second, it was a weapon. Wolves would be out trying to kill he sheep for a tasty meal. And the shepherd, who genuinely loved his sheep much like we would a pet in today's society, would use the pointy end of the staff as a weapon against impending predators. And third, it was a tool of rescue. Sometimes the sheep would be about to get into danger, or would be in water and couldn't swim. The hook on the other end would be used to reach out and hook the endangered sheep and pull him to safety. Jesus was talking to shepherds here. They knew EXACTLY what he was saying and telling them about the character of God!
When we stray, God doesn't leave the 99 to come and execute His wrath on us for wandering off! NO! The wages of our sin are still death! The eternal part is handled if you're a believer, but not the earthly temporal! He knows the wolf, the devil, is out there and that we're in danger! That's right. His leaving is a RESCUE MISSION!!! He comes running, calling our names, and seeking us out. And when He finds us, He doesn't rush over to us. He knows that would startle us into thinking He is going to be angry. Instead, He lovingly calls us back to Him. And if and when we go, He scoops us into His arms and hightails it back to the 99 so that the family is under his safe watch again.
Now here's the hard part, yet it's beautiful at the same time. The shepherd then breaks the leg of the sheep. WHAT?!? I can hear your gasps from here!!! That's right. Why? He does it because though sheep are extremely dumb animals, they have remarkable hearing. So He takes away their ability to run away by breaking their leg, but then He holds them and nurses them lovingly back to health. AND as He does this, He always carries the sheep in His arms with the sheep's ears over the left side of His chest...because that's where His heart is. See, a sheep, when used to hearing the shepherd's heartbeat, won't stray outside earshot of that heartbeat when it's once again released on it's own. There may come a time when it starts to make a wandering move (it's a dumb breed of animal, remember?), but it will be a long while.
That's the way you truly redeem and treat a Christian who's messed up. You bring them back in as fast as you can by gently calling them. Don't bash them or panic and scare them away for good by displaying anger! But doing everything in love, rescue them from certain danger. Bring them in. Hold them accountable by talking away some freedom, maybe. But constantly surround them and cheer them on letting them know that you are there for them and want nothing more than to see them restored. Then understand that it is the Shepherd who makes the decision when healing is done and releases them back among us. That decision is not ours! No matter how many "Christian counselors" we've been to, know, and have in our Rolodex.
This isn't what was done for me. But it's what I'll do for someone! My wife, my parents, and some people I didn't even know prayed for me while Jesus came after me. I'm walking on my leg again. It still smarts a little! But I'm getting there. :-)
I'm one of those sinners. I'm one of the ones who claims to have a relationship with Jesus, yet I've got a past that would lead some to question. I'm not proud of my past at all! I'm reminded of it every day because the devil makes it his business to do so. But in the middle of one of my "past" seasons, I read the above referenced verse and it changed my life! But first, just a little bit of background.
I'm not going to go into what all I've done. It's really not important at all. Suffice it to say that it was something that I shouldn't have been doing as a believer in Jesus, much less as a Worship Pastor in a church! But I validated my poor choices because life, at the time, was hard for me. I, and other staff members at the church where I served, were being abused by the Pastor. There were many more before us (and some since), but I chose to ignore some red flags when interviewing for the job and went anyway. So as a result, my experience was no different than that of my predecessors. This hardship led me to believe I deserved something to make me "feel better." How many of you have learned that life isn't based on how you FEEL?
What I thought was a hardship at the time was made to look like a cakewalk to the season that followed! My wife and I lost EVERY friend we had (for two separate reasons) and for the first time in 20 years of marriage, we found ourselves alone with only each other. For over a YEAR, we had ONE common friend that would get together with us when she could (which due to busy schedules only equaled to about 4-5 times throughout the whole time). I was isolated. My wife was there, but because of my mistakes, I was experiencing guilt, anger, bitterness, and brokenness. I wasn't the model husband at that moment!
It took almost half of that year for God to get my attention and begin the healing process, a process which continues today. I've come a long way, too!!! But along the way, God took me to these verses listed at the top. I had always thought that the 1 that the shepherd left the 99 for was in the category that the church world calls "lost." (meaning someone who does not trust in Jesus as their Savior) But that's not what Jesus is saying here at all!!!
The "1" was once a part of the 100! He was a full fledged part already. Initiation completed. Name on the dotted line. Wool imparted. Black socks doled out. This was a SHEEP! And it was part of the flock! It just wandered off.
Now, the majority of church folk will tell you that hey don't believe in a God that carries a lightning bolt waiting to strike down that heathen sinner who slides his toe across the Spiritual out-of-bounds line. BUT, let one of their own mess up...DIFFERENT STORY!!!! Suddenly it's almost like the whole bunch is pointing not only to the mess, but the mess-er! We can't believe that one of our own would act like that! "Why, scripture tells us we're to have no part of someone who does stuff like that!" Oh no it doesn't!!! That Matthew chapter 18 (from which the above passage is taken) we often refer to as being on "church discipline" isn't focused on that at all! It's a chapter on how to be REDEMPTIVE with someone! Here. Read the whole thing for yourself and make your own opinion.
When shepherds watched over sheep, they carried a staff. It was pointy on one end and had a crooked hook on the other. The staff had three purposes. First, it was a way for the sheep to see the shepherd. It stuck high in the air and was taller than the shepherd, so it was easier for them to see. Second, it was a weapon. Wolves would be out trying to kill he sheep for a tasty meal. And the shepherd, who genuinely loved his sheep much like we would a pet in today's society, would use the pointy end of the staff as a weapon against impending predators. And third, it was a tool of rescue. Sometimes the sheep would be about to get into danger, or would be in water and couldn't swim. The hook on the other end would be used to reach out and hook the endangered sheep and pull him to safety. Jesus was talking to shepherds here. They knew EXACTLY what he was saying and telling them about the character of God!
When we stray, God doesn't leave the 99 to come and execute His wrath on us for wandering off! NO! The wages of our sin are still death! The eternal part is handled if you're a believer, but not the earthly temporal! He knows the wolf, the devil, is out there and that we're in danger! That's right. His leaving is a RESCUE MISSION!!! He comes running, calling our names, and seeking us out. And when He finds us, He doesn't rush over to us. He knows that would startle us into thinking He is going to be angry. Instead, He lovingly calls us back to Him. And if and when we go, He scoops us into His arms and hightails it back to the 99 so that the family is under his safe watch again.
Now here's the hard part, yet it's beautiful at the same time. The shepherd then breaks the leg of the sheep. WHAT?!? I can hear your gasps from here!!! That's right. Why? He does it because though sheep are extremely dumb animals, they have remarkable hearing. So He takes away their ability to run away by breaking their leg, but then He holds them and nurses them lovingly back to health. AND as He does this, He always carries the sheep in His arms with the sheep's ears over the left side of His chest...because that's where His heart is. See, a sheep, when used to hearing the shepherd's heartbeat, won't stray outside earshot of that heartbeat when it's once again released on it's own. There may come a time when it starts to make a wandering move (it's a dumb breed of animal, remember?), but it will be a long while.
That's the way you truly redeem and treat a Christian who's messed up. You bring them back in as fast as you can by gently calling them. Don't bash them or panic and scare them away for good by displaying anger! But doing everything in love, rescue them from certain danger. Bring them in. Hold them accountable by talking away some freedom, maybe. But constantly surround them and cheer them on letting them know that you are there for them and want nothing more than to see them restored. Then understand that it is the Shepherd who makes the decision when healing is done and releases them back among us. That decision is not ours! No matter how many "Christian counselors" we've been to, know, and have in our Rolodex.
This isn't what was done for me. But it's what I'll do for someone! My wife, my parents, and some people I didn't even know prayed for me while Jesus came after me. I'm walking on my leg again. It still smarts a little! But I'm getting there. :-)
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