Is it just me, or do you ever wonder why we write/listen to/enjoy songs that have lyrics that glorify our staying on Earth instead of being in Heaven?

Don’t get me wrong– some of my FAVORITE gospel songs have lyrics about being kept here.  But I do wonder why we get so excited at the notion, particular when (as Christians) we know the promise of eternity that awaits just on the other side.

Clearly, the unbeliever owes a debt of gratitude for being given another day– it’s another shot at trusting in Christ and accepting the gift of salvation.

But for the believer– what’s the big benefit to being here?

I’m not saying it in a “I hate my life” type of way, but the Bible says that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.  And I’m sure we can agree that Heaven is a far greater place than Earth.

And while we shouldn’t pray for our own earthly demise, I think it says a lot about our heart posture (maybe we cherish this life a bit more than we ought) when we shout and dance over the fact that God “spared our lives” or “kept us another day” when we “could have been dead, sleeping in our graves” (I’m not so sure we’d be sleeping, anyway).

I know this could raise tons of theological questions as well– do we immediately go to be with the Lord, or do we hang out until Christ returns– I’m not really trying to go there.

But I’m wondering why– when our faith teaches us the glory and beauty and “HOME”-ness of Heaven– why do we cling to this earthly existence so much?

I think we have a shallow view of Heaven.  And maybe we have a puffed-up view of Earth.  I think we would do well to embrace a less fearful stance on passing to Heaven.

Jesus took the sting out of death, but some of our gospel songs put it right back in there.

Is it just me???

Is it just me or is (was?) Men of Standard a gospel group in a separate league from other male gospel groups of the past decade?

Their style and artistry is reminiscent of the excellence we got from The Winans and Commissioned, coupling great songs with great vocals.

With Ike and Lowell’s attention rightfully on their respective solo projects right now, I’m sure they’re not releasing a group project in the very near future, but let this post serve as my public plea–

WE WANT MORE OF WHAT Y’ALL DO… THERE IS NOT ANOTHER GROUP LIKE YOU IN GOSPEL TODAY… YOU ARE WHAT WE WANT.  PLEASE, AND THANK YOU.

Peep the video below to enjoy “Yet Will I Trust In Him,” probably my favorite tune from them (warning, in advance– the very last line is cut off… arggh!).

Is it just me???

Is it just me, or is there some really great theology in the music recorded by The Winans?

My wife actually brought this to my attention a week or so ago, but then this weekend, I was listening to some of their music (again) and I thought “as usual, she’s so RIGHT!”

Take, for example, the song “Goodness, Mercy and Grace.”  It’s almost like an academic dissertation on why God’s goodness, mercy and grace is even something to sing about.  The first verse talks about how we couldn’t go anywhere or do anything without God’s goodness, mercy and grace.  Then, the second verse talks about how it even extends to UNBELIEVERS–

Your mercy covers sinners, too, as they go on their daily tasks.
They don’t know that it’s really You, and they don’t even bother to ask.
But Your grace goes right on covering them ’til You bring them into the knowledge of the Truth.
By your side, You can open their eyes so that they’ll realize that it’s really You.

Seriously?! No knock against current songwriters, but how many are writing about God’s character these days from the standpoint that it is His grace that, ultimately, brings unbelievers to salvation?  In fact, who is even taking time to address such topics in their songs?

Or take a look at “Redeemed” (emphasis my own):

Chorus: It was not a haphazard event, nor a secondary scheme, but it was the PLAN of the Lord to redeem.

Verse: Calvary didn’t just HAPPEN to be. It was there before the world began. He decided to die for you and I, even before Adam sinned.

WHAT?! That’s the GOSPEL set to MUSIC. Those are the types of lyrics that don’t just declare– they educate.

Again, no knock against songwriters and artists who don’t have songs like that– I believe God has called some to edify and encourage believers by reminding us of our identity and authority in Christ through song, or to simply give God-focused music that inspires and uplifts.  Everyone’s got a lane and I’m not knockin’ any artists who don’t go there with their songs.

But I do wonder where the new generation of MUSICAL EDUCATORS are… those who have theologically RICH content interwoven with incredible musicality. I see a couple, but I definitely don’t see enough.

Is it just me???

Is it just me, or is the music that Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship puts out kinda like… unparalleled in contemporary choir music?

When you survey all the hits over the past decades, I can’t think of any choir with as much GREAT music.  I can listen to EVERY song on EVERY album and be completely content… no, GIDDY about how good it is.

I think you’re my fave, Hezekiah Walker.

Is it just me?

This is a harsh reality and I don’t really have a way to sugarcoat it, so I’m just gonna type it– your music is new, but it’s not good.

And I don’t mean “not good” in the sense that it’s evil or doesn’t glorify God. I think God knows your musical heart and is pleased with your offering of praise. If you’re yielded to Him, He loves that, and I’ll prolly see you in Heaven. We’ll do lunch.

I’m talking about when you make it and try to SELL it…

See, I get lots of press releases, emails, tweets and smoke signals from artists and their camps– “NEW music”… “NEW single”… “NEW video”… “NEW artist”… “NEW mixtape.”

And all of it is incredibly true! It’s all NEW. And we, as a society, looove “new” things. We love having the new phones, the new apps, the new houses, cars and clothes. We even love having the new perspectives, new revelations and new points-of-view. Newness abounds and we eat it up. We crave it.

But, I think I’d settle for GOOD over NEW any day. And that’s particularly true in music.

From the influx of messages I get about how “new” something is, I fear that many are mistaking “newness” as the primary virtue of music.

When the adjectives used to describe your music focus more on its novelty than its quality, there’s a problem.

You “practically live” in the studio, huh?  That’s not necessarily admirable.  Sure, it means you’re able to constantly create, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re creating GOOD music.  Of what value is it if we’re machines cranking out tons of goods that break after a couple of uses?  How dope are we in the vocal booth, or mixing on the board, if our shiny new tunes lose their luster after a few spins, and everyone is on to the next “new” thing?

And this isn’t just for new artists– it’s for established ones, too.  And actually, it’s not just about music– it applies to me and my blog, me and my work, me and my… whatever.

Let’s not allow our best “selling points” to be that the item is new.  Let’s be able to say that, once tested, everyone agreed that it was GOOD.

Your music is only “new” until it’s not.  But truly good music never grows old.

Is it just me?

Is it just me, or is anyone else noticing how many moves Light Records is making?

I alluded to it last week, in discussing how well their team had coordinated publicity, radio and retail to make a splash for William McDowell.  But as I continued to think about it, I was reminded that they JUST signed Ricky Dillard, JUST signed Dorinda Clark-Cole (didn’t we all think she was going to Karew?!), and is releasing a compilation project with some great new tunes via GospelFlava.com.

They may be an “indie” label, but they’re making some major strides.  I see you Light Records!

Is it just me?

Is it just me, or does CeCe Winans’ Throne Room album depict one of the greatest worship experiences in gospel music?

I can’t really pinpoint another album that so seamlessly creates a worship ENVIRONMENT and experience– it transitions beautifully, until you literally feel like you have entered into the throne room of God, spent some incredible time with Him, and left… to return again soon.

Maybe I’m being extra, but there are very few musical projects that give me an experience with God like this one.

Is it just me?

Is it just me, or is Myron Butler a bit underrated in the gospel industry?

He has released three reeeally good projects since his earlier successful days with God’s Property.  He’s a great songwriter and producer.  He produced and arranged the daylights out of the vocals on Marvin Sapp’s latest project, Here I Am.  He brings innovative music to the table EVERY time.

But I don’t feel like he gets his due.  His latest album, Revealed… Live In Dallas, should be higher on the charts.  His latest single “Speak” should be gettin’ more spins at radio and could be heard more in churches.

I dunno… I just think that people lump him into a category with a bunch of other artists/groups with similar formats– but they’re not the same.  At all.

Is it just me?

Is it just me, or does anyone else reeeeeallly hope the powers-that-be at BMI will honor Walter Hawkins at their annual BMI Trailblazers Awards during Stellar Awards weekend in Nashville this January???

The only problem– BMI honored The Hawkins Family in 2006.  In that tribute, they included music from both Walter & Edwin… too much to do a repeat?

I dunno.  But oooh, it’s just such a PERFECT fit.  Then, broadcast that bad boy on gmc again?!  Whaaat?!

Come on, somebody… is it just me?!

Is it just me, or don’t we need a major tribute to Walter Hawkins at the Stellar Awards in January 2011?

I’m talkin’ MAAAAJOR… like, get the folks together and start preppin’ and rehearsin’ TOMORRUH.

*shrugs*

My ideal tribute would include Richard Smallwood, Donald Lawrence, Donnie McClurkin, Kevin Bond, The Hawkins Singers… and a few others.

Anyone?  Who would your ideal tribute feature???