Finally…a response to Paul Jackson

At last, a return to the music I love.

This entry is in response to Paul Jackson, the lead singer of the reformed and rejuvenated Prophets Quartet that also features such fine singers such as Bill Baize, Ed Hill, and Mike Allen.

Paul has just started a blog of his own...and in his first entry, he asked a question almost as old as professional gospel music itself...is gospel music's primary purpose merely to entertain, or ought their be some sort of ministry as a part of the musical experience?

I have addressed this issue numerous times, on gospel music message boards, on my history articles for Southern Gospel News, and in both written and verbal correspondence with fans, artists, and industry people alike. My position has not changed on the issue in some time, so I'll try to summarize it with as much brevity as I can muster(many would say that that would be a daunting task for me!).

It can be both, or one, or the other...I'll elaborate.

If an artist's purpose is merely to entertain and please its' intended audience with the distinct American art form that is gospel music...there is nothing wrong with that whatsoever. Gospel music has always been very pleasing to the ears and to the heart to begin with, and one can certainly do worse than choosing gospel music if the purpose is only to entertain an audience with good music. The fact is that most gospel music historically has been made, recorded, and performed with that simple objective in mind solely...and all things considered, that's not a bad thing to do at all!

When the added aspect of ministry is introduced, however, it can bring a can of worms into an otherwise calm and simple discussion.

I might say from the outset that contrary to the assumptions of a lot of people, there is no conflict whatsoever in performing music that attempts to persuade the audience to consider and/or accept the gospel message and trying to entertain people with it at the same time.

In fact, I argue that music CANNOT minister effectively to people unless it entertains to some degree, at least!

Consider...if you're listening to a gospel quartet that doesn't sing well or have an enjoyable stage presentation for its' music, how likely are you to pay any attention whatsoever to what they're singing?

The answer of course is, you're likely not. So it follows that you need to have at least a minimum of musical competence if you want audiences to consider what your songs are saying to them.

So then, there is little or no chance of ministry of any kind through music if one is unable to reach its' intended audiences musically. I think we can agree on that much.

But John, you might say...what about artists with compelling personal testimonies who can move audiences to consider the cause of Christ? Don't they have a ministry?

And to that I say, they may very well have some kind of ministry. But unless they are able to reach their audiences musically, it is not a music ministry. It can be a preaching or a parachurch ministry or some other sort, but it's not a music ministry unless music is the primary tool used to minister to an audience.

So it follows that if a person wants to have an effective music ministry then, he, she, or they MUST be at least nominally "entertaining" to some degree at least.

Does that mean showy song endings, lame jokes onstage, or matching suits?

Yes...and no. If any of those things(or others I didn't mention)compel the audience to listen closely to the songs, and consider their message, that would be a valid music ministry as I see it. Or to put it another way...

If those things draw attention to the message of the songs, it's part of a music ministry. If they merely draw attention to the performers, and nothing more, it's not. And THAT is not all bad! As I inferred above, there is nothing at all "wrong" with merely giving people pleasure and a good time through the singing of gospel songs...that is perfectly legitimate. After all, it was listening to artists that did only that and not much else that made me a gospel fan at an early age, and ripened my ears and heart for the tue gospel message some years later, when I was in my teens!

The term "ministry" has almost become a cliche in the last twenty years...artists describe what they do as "ministries" rather than "careers", perhaps unwittingly implying that a mere "career" alone is not pleasing to God somehow, and you need to have a ministerial purpose with your music to legitimately perform gospel songs.

Do I consider say, the Statesmen as musical ministers in the same sense as someone like, say, the Weatherfords...since the Weatherfords declared their intentions to minister with their music, and the Statesmen never did?

Yes, I do...because both artists presented music which proclaimed the most important message in the world, and did so in a musically compelling and dynamic way.

That is not to infer that one of those groups was "better" at ministry than the other...it simply is my conclusion based on my analysis of the outcome of their works in the gospel music field.

Paul, I hope that gives you an insight into my answer to your question...I welcome any comments anyone might have.

UPDATE: Paul, what do you think? I believe I addressed the main issue you brought up in your original blog posting, and I'd like to know what you have to say about it. As of the time I'm typing this, I haven't seen any comment from you...I'd genuinely like to know your opinion of my thoughts...do you agree? Disagree? Could care less?:-) If you can spare a moment or two...weigh in...the give and take is always good.

A special request

OK, this is the last of my personal postings for a while.

I plan on next addressing a topic that Paul Jackson of the reformed Prophets Quartet brought up on his new blog...I've addressed it elsewhere fairly comprehensively, but because Paul asked, I'll address it once more....next time.

This time, though, I'm compelled to ask a special favor of my regular readers for someone very dear and special to me.

I mentioned in my last entry that my birthday was Wednesday...and a person who has arrived on the scene quite recently made it one of my most memorable birthdays ever.

I hope you won't mind if I don't reveal her name at this time...I'm sure you'll ALL know it soon enough!:-) But for now, I want to keep her anonymous for her benefit...she needs her time and space right now.

She is going through a very crucial time in her life right now...she is making major changes in her life, all in obedience to God. Neither of us know what the future holds, but we both know very well Who holds the future, and we're both trusting that the Keeper of that future will see her way clear, as He always has and does.

She is heartened to know that I have so many good friends who read this blog, and that those friends are such stalwart prayer warriors. I ask that you pray for her to stay faithful and obedient...and that she will come out of this time stronger in Christ than ever!

I thank you all for your support, and on her behalf, I thank you for her as well.

I will keep you all apprised on the coming victory, and I thank you once more for indulging me for this request.

Birthday wishes to two special people

No, I'm not one of them.

My birthday was Wednesday, it's true, but I don't feel particularly special in that particular regard.

I want to celebrate the birthdays of two very important people to me...one, a very longtime friend, and a key person in the development of my life, and the other a relatively new friend...who is special to me in ways he probably doesn't even realize.

The old friend is one Bruce Baloian, erstwhile personnel director for the Fresno/Madera Youth For Christ branch in the 1970s(when it was one of the nation's leading such branches), and for the past 25 years or so, a professor at Azusa Pacific University in Southern California. I met Bruce one summer day in 1975, a high school kid hurting for acceptance and meaning in his life, and despite being a relatively smart kid, I had no clue how to find the acceptance and meaning I so dearly craved.

Bruce worked in tandem with three or four other YFC staff members, spending time with me and discussing how important it was to have a proper relationship with Jesus Christ in life to achieve that contentment and meaning I was seeking. It's too bad that nowadays, too many kids that age don't have anyone like that they can call at all kinds of times of day or night, and find a friend that cares enough about them to tell them the truth about themselves, and what they need.

Bruce told me the truth, all right...constantly! Although it appeared that I could hold my own intellectually against his well thought out and careful reasoning about why Jesus Christ was so important, I realized one truth I could not argue against, or contradict.

Bruce and his young wife Karin were happy, pleasant, friendly, and building a family. I was none of those things, and they were everything I wanted to be. If my intellct was so great, why was I so envious of them and what they had?

To make a long story short, eventually, on the evening of October 19, 1975, I realized what I had to do to make my dreams of contentment and purpose come true...I had to get right with Jesus Christ. So, at 8:33 that evening, I did...and I've never looked back.

Am I happy? Well, pretty much...things could be better, but they're getting there! At least I know how to do what I need to do to get what I need! Am I content? Absolutely. There is NO better way to live than to be a willing disciple of Jesus Christ...and I joy in that contenment.

So thanks Bruce, for pointing the way. And now, almost 32 years later, Bruce is still one of my main role models. Whenever I have a major decision to make, I consult a select circle of people...and Bruce is always one of them. His wisdom is deep, and he backs up what he says in his own life and ways.

So, since May 18th is Bruce's birthday, I wanted to take the time to honor him here, in my humble corner of the web. Happy birthday, Bruce.

The other person I wanted to point out here is not only one of my newest friends, he reads this blog(at least I hope he still comes this way despite my silence here of late!)!

I've known of him for almost a year, but I did not meet him in person until the Great Western Southern Gospel Fan Festival held in Fresno last month. He is a singer with probably my favorite current quartet, the Liberty Quartet of Boise, Idaho...easily the outstanding gospel group in the Western United States at present, IMHO!

Those who have read previous entries of mine here where I have mentioned the Liberty Quartet will know why it is I admire them so much...it's in part because of their outstanding musical abilities,.particularly those of their manager and (outstanding)bass singer, Royce Mitchell(himself a good friend of mine now).

But more than that, each member of the quartet has a heart for Christ and their mission, and for each and every fan of theirs that passes by their record table, or writes them a letter, or with whomever they're in contact with for ANY reason. In that sense, they remind me of the old Couriers(also good personal friends of mine)...they sing well, they sing the truth, and they back up what they sing with committed lives.

And if I'm not mistaken(which I am on some occasions!), today, May 18th, is the birthday of their outstaniding and gracious young tenor, Keith Waggoner...who is one person I would point any young aspiring gospel singer to as a role model for how to be a truly successful gospel singer.

Keith is an outstanding man, and one whom I am proud to call "friend" although I have only known him for a relatively short time. Keith, take a happy birthday bow!:-)

One name I cannot omit in all this birthday celebration is Kat McVay of Salinas, someone I met as a result of fellowship on the southern gospel message boards, and is a true, dear friend who also means a great deal to me...Kat, if you're reading this, happy birthday to you! I haven't forgotten you!:-)

Anyway, just thought I'de celebrate some worthy people in my life on their special day! They all deserve it, and help make me what I am today in their own individual ways.

Life goes on

All right, no more cryptic personal posts.

I'm not sure what I DO want to say today, but I do want to clear up some things.

First of all, I'm OK. Nothing has happened to me that has caused me to abandon this blog, other than life situations that have demanded my attention. I fully intend to continue making observations here about life, southern gospel music, and other things that interest me in general. As I've said on previous occasions, when I'm silent for periods of time, it's not because something's wrong necessarily...it's because I don't feel I have anything to say that people would want to read.

To Daniel Mount, I assure you that once I do, this will be the first place I go to say it!

Speaking of Daniel, he has done yeoman work in revamping his blog to make it more attractive to the eye, and more appealing to the inquiring gospel music mind....I applaud this, for Daniel is one of the more ambitious and committed observers of gospel music online going today...and if you love gospel music, his blog is always worth reading.

Oh, and one more thing before I go for today...

One of the items I alluded to in my previous post about being at the "crossroads" is actually a very exciting development in my personal life...and I can hardly wait to share it with the world at large. Some of those who check this space out regularly know what I'm referring to...but as for the rest of you, I can't comment on that further until more develops that I can share. I trust that you all will understand that.

For now, though, I have nothing else to add today...other than I thank all of you who check out this space on my little corner of the web out for coming back...and I hope and pray you'll continue to do so. You KNOW I can't stay quiet indefinitely!

I appreciate and value you all.

At the crossroads

Hi!

Yes, I'm still here...rumors of my passing are not only unfounded, they are greatly exaggerated!:-)

Ever have those times in your life where you seem to be standing at an intersection of two roads, one leading to a place of absolute joy and delight, and the other leading to a similar sort of locale, but one you KNOW is filled with unpleasant detours and obstacles along the way? But still you know that it's a road you must navigate, because there's no other way you'll get to your intended destination lest you travel down that road.

That's where I am, so to speak, at this point in life. At that fork in the road...and I'm simultaneously looking forward to the trip down each one, yet dreading the aforementioned detours along the latter, because they are painful detours I've encountered far too often of late. But still I know I must go...because the joy I know I'll find at the end of that particular road is something I've needed to have for a long time.

And it's not that I have to choose between the two roads...I can go down each simultaneously, and nothing different will happen if I do. I just know that the one that I know has the unpleasant detours is one I HAVE to travel, whether I like it or not! The other undoubtedly has obstacles of its' own, but I don't know what kind or how many. All I know about that one is that it leads to a place I've wanted to be in for a long time....and it's worth whatever I happen to encounter on the way.

It's just that I have to prepare myself in order to go down either one...so I have to exercise care and caution for each journey...lest I not be ready if and when I encounter the obstacles that will be there along each road.

So I've got an interesting pair of trips ahead of me.

And isn't that how life is? You can't just sit around and let it go by. For it to mean anything, you've got to get up and GO somewhere at some point.

Confused? That makes(at least)two of us! I'll know more once I get going down either road...and who knows, I may publish a bit of a travelogue here...so even if you're not along for either ride, you get to see my boring travel movies(though I doubt they will be that boring at all!)in this humble corner of the Web.

Stay tuned!

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