BOOK REVIEW - "HOW TO GET ANSWERS EVERY TIME YOU PRAY... AS A PERFORMING ARTIST" BY VICTORIA "TORI TELLEM" HOFFMAN

 

I was introduced to Tori Tellem by following the awards on WVIU web radio, where she's station manager. When I found out about this book, it jumped to the top of my "to read" list. 

This book is a great encouragement for performing artists to take the next step in seeking the Lord. There is excellent teaching on prayer including a prayer for revival. On the artist side, I also was built up by her chapter on songwriting and her prayer for song-writers.

I will admit there are a few areas I take a different viewpoint from Hoffman. This doesn't change the fact that Hoffman succeeds in encouraging musicians in this little book, and none of them are important enough to knock this below five points on this review. 

If you're interested in music ministry (or other ministries for that matter), this is a good book to read.

A "BEATLES BIRTHDAY"/BLOG INTROSPECTION

 

Yours truly at Southwestern College, '80 on Clash Day. Photo courtesy of Steve Courteol.

 I have switched to Philosopher font as I'm getting this blog ready to post the day before my "Beatles" birthday ("When I'm 64"). Don't worry, though - my introspection will be basically on this year. 

Do I have the right to feel a little down? Key word is "little." God has blessed this year. I've had some good events this year, and allow me to start with them:

• Becky and I celebrated our 40th year of marriage!!!  Definitely worthy to start the list!
  
• I not only got to judge some speeches/debates for NCFCA this year on on-line competitions, I also was able to attend my first live competition since COVID struck. I also had the honor of meeting Evan McMahon, chair of the Libertarian Party of Indiana during the competition. (Not the first "celebrity I met at these events - several years ago I met then Indy Star political cartoonist Gary Varvel.)
• I have the honor of co-teaching a men's Sunday School class at Northside Baptist Church with Dale Greenly, as well as serving on two committees (missions and prayer) and being on the rotation for operating the video camera. Add to that being part of a Zoom Tuesday night Bible study, where the members take turns leading it. If that's not enough, I'm on a 3 time a week men's phone prayer group founded by Mark Mirza and including Lewis Turner.
  
• I got to attend my first Kingdom Come Festival, and hang out with Chris Bousum, Chad Fenner, Divine Martyr, Undefeated, I Am The Pendragon, BRVVE, Eyes Aflame, and Rusty Shipp! Plus, The Pit is coming up in a couple of weeks, where I might get to hear (finally!) True Revival and Crimson Overtone, as well as New Day Rising (which features several of the Eyes Aflame band members).
  
• I have the honor of seeing Becky flourish in being on the board for the Central Indiana Chapter of Child Evangelism Fellowship.
• Last but absolutely not least, I have spent 24 years with Mid-America Clinical Lab/Quest Diagnostics (6 months as a temp), and have wonderful people to work with (as I have for 24 years).

So with all that, why am I depressed? Actually, I didn't use the word "depressed;" I said "down." And "melancholy" or "philosophical" would be an accurate term. Why?

• I'll start with the biggest one - the others are minor. Last December, I came down with what a pulminologist termed chronic bronchitus.  I've had three CT scans this year, and I have some infection in my lungs; the spots on the earlier scan disappear on the next one, but are replaced by others. On Sept. 26th, I've had a biopsy on my lungs and am waiting on the results, and I'm expected to be put on antibiotics for a year. The doctor said it's not life threatening, but it may have affect on the quality of life.
• Okay, second one is also a major one. I'm at the point of considering retirement. Question is when. No, I don't want to retire too early, but I also want time to enjoy with Becky. But I mention that just because it's on my mind.
  
• Let's look at my artwork. Enjoy that look? You remember my Christmas drawing and my "All My Rowdy Friends Happen To Be Preachers?" Those are the most recent, and they're about a year old now. Songwriting? Haven't done that in years; the only instrument I currently have is a cordless keyboard. Novel writing? That's been dormant for years.
• You may or may not know - the last few years my goal was to read 24 fiction books and 12 non-fiction, and I've been making it. I was getting to the point that I didn't want to push it on the fiction, so I dropped my fiction goal to 12. I have made those goals - so far, I've read 14 non-fiction books and 16 fiction.  But I also realize I'm not taking as much time with fiction as I have been. Nothing to get depressed about, but still it does seem a little sad.
  
• My title mentioned my blog. Regular readers may realize it varies between essays, reviews of books and albums, and interviews. And you may notice that the interviews are, putting it nicely, not as frequent. Here's the number of interviews I've done on this blog: 

2020 - 7

2021 - 14

2022 - 36

2023 - 3 

YIKES! Notice how each year doubled or more, until this year! To tie last year's, I need to average 11 interviews a month! By the way, two of those three were in January, the third in April! 😱 And the interviews are usually my most popular blogs, basically because the interviewee invites their friends.

Again, let me say I'm just a little down. I'm keeping busy with a lot of things. But I do miss drawing, songwriting, story creating, and interviews. (Should I interview my characters? Would that help me get started?)

But I do have a lot to look forward to. Next year's NCFCA champions! Maybe getting to hear some bands/singers I want to hear like Undefeated, TheoTerran, Zahna, Worhol, Daniel Band,  Steve Camp, etc. Maybe a mission trip or two. Maybe developing a chaplaincy for Christian musicians (which may be something brand new). Possibly a trip to see friends out west? Who knows.

Thanks for reading this. If you have a comment? I'd love to hear it!

 

 

IF I WAS RICH ENOUGH TO START A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, WHAT WOULD IT BE FOR?

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary/Boyce College, Louisville, KY

As the title indicates, no, I don't have enough money to start a scholarship program. But if I did, what would I make it for? Well, I have a clear-cut answer for that! Not a list of possibities: my mind's made up!

My scholarship will be specifically for singers/songwriters to get a degree in Bible. No, not a minor in Bible with a major in music. The major should be for a Bible, theology, pastoral studies, or apologetics degree. 

The scholarship would also be only for certain Bible colleges/seminaries. Of course, it would be one that believes the Bible is inspired, infallible, inerrant. It would not only teach that Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6), but that they are training students to go into the world and evangelize. 

Is that controversial enough? Let me go further. That school will also be teaching recent creationism and dispensationalism! Essentials for salvation? No. But both of these views are based on the Bible meaning what it says. A school that doesn't agree with this does not deserve a penny of my money.

What is the purpose of this scholarship? I believe there is a place for musicians in Christian ministry. I also believe there's a need for musicians releasing Biblically based music. For that reason, I'd put most emphasis on a Bible major; the theology would depend on the school. I would see how homiletics training may be of value (which is why I included Pastoral) and I would be excited to see Scripture defended via songwriting.

Any thoughts on this?

 
 

 

 

 

"SHOULD I BE A CHAPLAIN FOR CHRISTIAN ROCK BANDS WHEN I RETIRE?" AND OTHER NON-ROCKING-CHAIR THOUGHTS.

Map hanging on our dining room wall, a gift from a missionary friend. The white circles (on North America and Russia) comprise of L X II, shorthand for Luke 10:2 - "The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray the Lord of the Harvest to send laborers into His harvest."

A good friend of mine (who's a Pastor) tells people that if they're able to retire, then retire while they're able to enjoy it.

I may not look it, and I'm sure I don't act it, but I'm getting to that age. For me, there's an additional factor - I'm a few years younger than Becky, so I not only want to retire while I can enjoy my retirement, but so she  can enjoy my retirement.

So the next question is what should I do when I retire? There are better things to do than sit around and watch TV; in fact, no TV station I know of has earned my viewing. Or I can find some fellow retirees and sit at the coffee shop and solve the world's problems (sorry, but our Government doesn't seem up to the task). And as I'm typing this, I'm listening to an ad suggesting a new career - can you picture me as a truck driver? I can't.

So, leaving the Twilight Zone, there are a few other options. Becky and I have thought about doing a short-term mission trip (up to a couple of years). Or I can get involved with a refugee ministry, something I've had off and on interest since I was in college. Maybe I can get back to writing and see about getting some books published. Far less likely, I can get revive my dormant musical/lyrical talents and start a symphonic rock band or a Southern Gospel quartet. Far less likely, and besides, there are enough good musical groups out there.

Which leads me to something Becky mentioned a couple of times - a chaplain for musicians. After all, I've liked hanging around and encouraging musicians all my life, especially those who are using their skills for the Kingdom. Am I already practicing filling that role?

Currently, I am praying for a list of musicians at least once a week. Some are Southern Gospel vocalists. Some are rockers. Some are favorites for a decade or four. Some are young enough to be my kids. (Should I be their Godfather? I could make them a deal they can't refuse. And yes, I've heard of that movie but haven't watched it).

Of course, I should finish this blog and get to bed so I can be ready for an exciting day at work tomorrow - the number of years I'll continue working may be in the single digits, but it still is years in the plural.
 

 

INTERVIEW WITH SINGER/SONGWRITER/AUTHOR TONI LaSHAUN

JR: Welcome to my blog, Toni! Could you start off by telling how you came to Christ and what interested you in music?

TL: I grew up going to church and I accepted Christ at a very young age and was baptized. Then, as a preteen, I reaffirmed my commitment to Christ. Music has always been a part of my life. My parents surrounded us with music for as long as I could remember, but I didn't really gain confidence as a singer until I started doing musical theater as a sophomore in high school.  

JR: I learned about your music when voting on the WVIU awards, and was especially moved by your song "You Chose Me." What was it nominated for? Could you tell us about the inspiration for that song and what it's theme is? Is this your most recent project? 

TL: "You Chose Me" is nominated in the "Songs That Remind Us of Our Purpose" category for the WVIU Awards. The song was inspired at a time when I was questioning my worth, struggling to find my identity and wondering about my purpose. I was discouraged and disappointed with some of my personal relationships. In my quiet time, I was reminded by Scripture that I'm chosen by God. "You Chose Me" was the fourth single released from the "Strength To Soar" EP. The EP is my first EP and it is out now (released September 30th). 

JR: Your bio mentions that you co-wrote your first cut "Black Sheep" with Brian White and Dave Quirk. As a frustrated song-writer who only rarely has co-written, what is it like co-writing? Who have you had the honor of co-writing with? Has the co-writing gone to unexplored genres like country or heavy metal?

TL: My first co-writing experience was through a Global Songwriters Connection FOCUS event. Co-writing was life-changing! I am really strong with ideas and lyrics and it was awesome to be able to work with people who have other strengths to complete songs. I've worked with several professional co-writers like: Brian White, Tony Wood, Don Poythress, Keesy Timmer and Seth Mosley. I've also met some lifelong friends through co-writing. I think I've co-written the most songs with Jared KF Jones, who produced my EP. I mostly write gospel, CCM and worship, but I have a couple of songs with some country flavor. 

JR: Besides songwriting, you also wrote a book Pray While You're Prey. That sounds intriguing. Would you like to tell us about it?

TL: Pray While You're Prey was birthed out of my frustration as a single Christian. I journaled prayers and wrote out Scriptures that helped me deal with my single season. I shared it with a few friends and they thought it was very helpful. I knew how alone I felt in my situation and I wanted others to know they weren't alone, so I turned it into a book. About seven years later, I added a devotional journal. Then, in 2015, I re-released the book and started publishing the devotional plans on the YouVersion Bible App. I get messages all the time from single Christians about how helpful it is and I'm honored to be able to help and point them to the hope they have in Christ. 

JR: Finally, your web-site tells me you're a worship team leader. How do you select songs for worship, and how does it compare with selecting songs for an album or for a concert? 

TL: For services, honestly, I pray and ask God what the congregation needs to hear and what will compliment the sermons. My pastor and I never really consult. I just go in Planning Center and listen as the Holy Spirit leads. More often than not, at least one song has an uncanny connection with the sermon. When choosing songs to record for the EP, my main goal was songs of hope and encouragement. With other songs, I choose to record or demo those with the greatest chance at finding a home in sync or with another artist.

JR: Thank you very much for your time. What's coming up next musically (or as an author)? How can we keep up with you on-line? 

TL: Right now, I will continue writing and promoting "Strength To Soar." I have a song I was to release next year for Resurrection Sunday. I also have a bunch of holiday songs that I want to record for a holiday EP in 2023 and sync opportunities. Anyone interested in my music or writing can find me at tonilashaunmusic.com, or on Facebook (@tonilashaunchristianmusic) or Instagram (@tonilashaunmusic). Everything is in my Linktree: https://linktr.ee/tonilashaun.
Thank you so much for interviewing me!!!

INTERVIEW WITH SINGER/SONGWRITER CRYSTORIA

JR: Welcome to my blog. I'd like to start with how you came to Christ, and how you became interested in music. Also, is Crystoria your given name, or is there a story behind it?

CH: Thank you for having me. Music has always been a big part of my life. My dad was an independent Country artist throughout my early childhood. I remember experiencing recording studios and touring festivals and family nights that consisted of singing karaoke for fun and watching my family write songs for certain projects my dad was working on. It was a part of our normal life, and I loved it. When I was eleven I would get my first guitar and begin my journey in writing and singing for the years to come. 

My grandmother was a huge influence with my walk in Christ. I remember her talking about God during the summer days when she would come over to watch me. I remember her buying my first bible when I was 12 at a yard sale. I had always found myself in awe with creation. From the stars in the night sky, to the leaves blowing in the wind, I just was in amazement. I found myself often talking to the sky about life without really understanding who God was. As I got older I found myself attending a local church and found myself listening to the sermon and feeling like God was speaking directly to me through the sermon. I knew I needed to turn my life to God and so I did. That year I would cry out to God for His salvation, and get baptized. 

As for my artist name Crystoria it actually comes from a blend of my first and middle name. Crystal meaning pure, and Victoria meaning victory: together they make pure victor,  which is what we have in Jesus! 

JR: Would you like to tell us about your most recent project? Also, congratulations on winning last year's WVIU Music Awards New Female Vocalist 2021. How has that encouraged, influenced, and maybe even stretched your ministry this past year?

CH: Thank you. It was such a humbling experience to be awarded last year at WVIU Music Awards. Moments like such has brought confirmation in where I am at and encourages me to keep pressing forward as I know people are being blessed by the music, the lyrics, and most importantly the message. Even when life may feel stagnant or a bit rough at times the testimonies I receive from people being blessed keeps me going. I've always said if one person can blessed I am thankful and I am blessed; when multiple people are touched by a song it really is something special and truly a blessing from God that leaves me in awe.  

My most recent project released was my single ”Story in the Making”. I knew immediately when Troy Stravos and I wrote the song during a co-write in February of 2022 it was going to be going to production however I didn’t know when that would be. I personally like to let God lead me to what song I will release next. My life was going in a new direction this past summer in many ways I was not expecting; I found myself feeling pulled away from the contemporary christian genre and considering christian alternative and christian rock. With that said I have been in the process of working on entirely different style projects than what I have done in the past and I am currently in the process of rebranding. I found myself closing a chapter of what had been and opening the next. The song ”Story in the Making” made perfect sense to release for this moment of closure and new beginnings as the lyrics sing ”close one chapter open another”.  It really was a release that I will never forget and was truly bittersweet.

JR: Your webpage mentions a group of ladies called "Brave Worship." How did they influence your ministry?

CH: Brave Worship is where so much of my music journey truly began. I have ”written” songs since I was about 12 years old, however I never really considered myself a true ”songwriter” till the last few years. I always imagined songwriters being people who were hired out of college and worked for big record labels. Though there are people like that, there are so many people like you and me just going after their gifts in their everyday life and succeeding. 

Then I connected through a worship leaders group on Facebook with Amanda Blankenship. She was wanting to help more Women in Ohio become aware of Brave Worship (a women’s ministry for songwriters and worship leaders). Next thing I knew I was invited to a Private Facebook group filled with other women just like me with a passion of music, writing, and singing. 

To be real, though, the group quickly became intimidating as I saw ladies releasing music and running active ministries, and I felt unqualified as I simply was a mom of 4 running a small makeup business from my home and writing songs occasionally on a tiny notepad in my living room. I would end up sitting back and just watch the posts come through for the next couple years. The intimidation eventually turned into encouragement as I realized these ladies were so much like me. Moms, house keepers, entrepreneurs, and so forth… we all had something in common: the love for writing music for the Lord. After watching these ladies post for several years I started to slowly share songs I had written and eventually would be lead to a broader division of the ministry Writing Worship.

JR: As a frustrated artist (ceramist, songwriter, drawer, novelist, out of practice with some of those for decades), Krissy Nordhoff's Writing Worship Mentorship sounds like heaven. What was that program like? 

CH: Amazing! Truly Amazing. Writing Worship and Brave Worship are ran by Krissy Nordhoff and her husband Eric. Krissy is an amazing songwriter who has helped write for many artists including Natalie Grant and Tauren Wells. Had you told me ten years ago I would have the blessing of an opportunity to be able to take a mentorship by such amazing and Godly people I would of thought you were talking nonsense, I realized really quickly though Krissy was just like anyone else whose life had been taken down some amazing paths and humbly wants to share what she has learned to help others grow. Her mentorship helped me see the beauty in co-writing and finding confidence in how to do so. It helped me understand the importance of seeking God when it comes to writing for Him. It even brought me closer to God as she encouraged us to two way journal through out prayer times each week. I had barely co-wrote with any one prior to the mentorship. I now have several co-writes a month on a normal basis.

JR: As I'm typing this, you are in the middle of an on-line course you started called Songwriter Social. What motivated you to start it, and what skills that you had developed in your life prepared you for this? How does Songwriter Social resemble and differ from the above mentioned Mentorship? 

 

CH: Yes,  Songwriter Social is an 8 week course I developed to help writers and artists learn how to present themselves effectively and authentically on social media.  In 2015 I sensed God directing me to entrepreneurship around the same time He was encouraging me to write again. I thought it seemed like an odd combo of things to be working on at the time but eventually it really did come together. As I was placing myself in a season of preparation for my songwriting, I was learning how  to brand and market myself on social media for my businesses. I saw the potential for a kingdom mindset working on social media and saw beautiful things take place during my time as an entrepreneur. 

Eventually I would feel God’s tug to let all that go. I remember feeling frustrated with God wondering why He would have me work so hard over the years to just let it all go, BUT GOD, He has His ways, and after I let it all go I would be invited to take part in a private book study for Krissy’s book “Writing Worship“ and I just sensed God saying it was time to focus on music. As months went by I saw artists and songwriters in these groups on Facebook asking for help and advice when it came to their social media. One week in particular I found myself running across two posts from two different songwriters asking if they could still present themselves, or market themselves, on social media if they are not the artist. I immediately  knew the answer and realized there was a need for helping the songwriting community. 

Like Writing Worship, Songwriter Social is taken part in a small group setting virtually. You have a video to watch each week with challenges. However instead of learning about song personalities, worship, writing, and co-writing, Songwriter Social helps an inspired songwriter learn how to brand, network, create content, and time manage on social media all the while staying ”kingdom minded”. 

JR: Thank you very much for your time. What is coming up on the horizon? How can we keep up with your various ministries? 

CH: Thank you so much for having me! As I shared I am in the works of some new music, for those wanting to keep an eye out on the new style I have goals to release the beginning of 2023. You can keep up with my ministries at crystoriamusic.com or through my socials (Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok) @crystoriamusic. May God bless your ministry. Blessings.

 

 

SPECIAL MUSIC: AN IRRELEVANT ITEM FROM THE PAST WHERE IT BELONGS? OR AN UNTAPPED MINISTRY? CHURCH MUSIC PART 4 OF 4

 

The Lute Player by Orazio Gentileschi

 

"How is it then, Brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let everything be done for edification."  1 Corinthians 14:26

Let me start by saying that if you read only one of this four part series, PLEASE read this one. Should you take the time for two, I would add Part 3 as well.

In the previous installment of this series, I mentioned Matt Merker's excellent book Corporate Worship: How the Church Gathers as God's People. As you'd expect, it talks about music. Towards the end, he mentions special music and says it doesn't really contribute to corporate worship and building the local body. I strongly disagree with him, though I also completely agree with what he's saying.

Merker points out that special music often ends up being entertainment. He has a point, and I can think of examples from the sublime to the ridiculous. The sublime was a special done a few months ago at the church I attend. The singer did a moving rendition of a song I was loved. Only problem - it was a song I wanted to sing along with! That selection was written to be a praise song, and I'd be surprised if there's a Sunday that a praise team somewhere in this country isn't singing. But I wasn't invited to sing - I was to listen to someone do my praising for me. The ridiculous? I heard of a person who did an instrumental of "Amazing Grace" to the tune of "House Of The Rising Sun."

I agree with the entertainment side of special music. But can special music be used to edify the church? Absolutely. And if Matt Merker were to hear my argument, he might agree with me.

The norm is that the special music is done by a singer. So if you can rival Sandi Patti or Steve Green in vocal prowess, you'll have a place. It also would help with popularity if you do a song everybody's familiar with and enjoy. But what if the special music person doesn't see it as a musical performance but as ministry potential?

One thought I've had for at least a quarter of a century - special music is ministry of the Word, a second sermon that happens to be about four minutes in length which is sung with instrumental accompaniment. 

Allow me to introduce a candidate for special music that's often overlooked. This would be the singer-songwriter. How would this change the dynamic, assuming it could? Simple - the writer writes songs with the intent and purpose to edify the congregation. 

Two suggestions I have to increase the effectiveness, and both require teamwork between the musician and the pastor. One is for the songwriter to find out what the theme of the sermon is. The second is for the pastor to "commission" the songwriter to write a song on a specific subject. In either case, the special music will be a continuation of the theme of the service.

Do I mean to alienate the non-writing singer? Of course not. There may be a song with background tracks that fits the theme of the service, maybe a song based on the Scripture passage that the pastor is teaching on. 

As a song-writer and as a person who has a heart of encouragement, I strongly desire to encourage songwriters, especially those who want to use their songs for teaching and exhortation as Paul suggests in Colossians 3:16.

Yes, I'm sure my idea is revolutionary. How many singer-songwriters would put edifying their local church over getting a recording contract? Would the congregations encourage songwriters to develop their talent and their ministry instead of hearing someone sing a song they're more familiar with? 

Let me close this be a challenge - what can you do to encourage those in your church, whether it be the pastors/ministerial staff, teachers, singers and songwriters and other artists, and those who need an edifying word?

THANKS TO MY BETA READERS, AND WHAT'S NEXT WITH MY WRITING?

 

I'd like to start today's blog by thanking my Beta Readers: Mary Allen, Kacy Barnett-Gramckow, Heidi Glick, Twyla Jackson, and Joanne Sher. They have read my novel that I've been working on since '07, and provided excellent feedback.

Did I mention that I started writing "An Apologetic For Murder" since 2007? It has been an adventure. 

It started no later than 1995, actually, when I had a concept of a group of six friends working together to solve a murder. I called them the Menagerie: each one had an animal nickname. 

In 2007, I was wanting to write a book promoting apologetics. Of course, as a lay-person with no name recognition, would anybody consider reading a book by little old me? And then, I remembered some friends who were in apologetics/anti-cult ministry mention that they got death threats. 

So the Menagerie found a home - they attended an apologetics conference to find out who was trying to kill an apologist. I also thought of having an innocent bystander - if a hit-man could be called an innocent bystander - intercept a bullet meant for one of the apologists. 

Immediately, there were a lot of characters to develop. There was the six in the Menagerie. Then, there were the apologists, of which there were five (patterned after the book Five Views On Apologetics? Not intentionally but it did have an influence). Add to that seven suspects. Which one did it?

No, I'm not answering the above question, though my Beta Readers know. However, I was half way through writing the novel until it hit me who hired the hit-man and whose bullet said hit-man intervened. 

The novel was finished in 2008. The next year, after looking into some venues for publishing, a self-publishing company agreed to publish it. The following year, that company went belly-up in a way that it ended up on the front page of the local paper and was covered by all the local newsstations on TV. 

Around that time, I read The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Christian Fiction by Ron Benrey.  I had previously read other literature on writing, includint two books on writing Christian fiction. Benrey was the first one to advise getting an agent, and also encouraged going to writing conferences and joining the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers).

So I took his advice and joined, became part of a couple critique groups, and started on my first re-write of the novel. Originally, it had six "main characters." In writing the novel, though, those six characters fell into roles. Two got a lot of "screen time", two were important more for their roles (e.g. the policeman of the group), and two (who happened to be the married couple of the group) were basically supporting characters. So I set to work focusing on the two main characters.

Shortly after, I did a third rewrite, more major than the second. I figured out who the actual sleuth of the group was. So I did something I never thought I'd do, and rewrote the story as a first person narrative. 

Around 2014, the fire faded. During that time I made some half hearted starts, and in 2019 I got serious to rework the novel and seek publication. That's also when I lined up the beta readers.

I did have two concerns with my novel, both of which affected marketability and both were confirmed by the comments of the beta readers. The first was if there were too many characters. The consensus was that the story called for a lot of characters, but yes, I did have a lot of them. The second was if it was too deep theologically for the average fiction reader (and relatedly, not enough action to maintain interest). This concern was legitimate.

Soooo... where do I go from here?  Basically I have two options.

One is to give up on this story. I have two other story ideas (different genres from each other and from my above novel). I also have other talents that are laying dormant such as songwriting, ceramics, and drawing. Add to that an interest in refugee ministry.

The other is to do a third rewrite, and this one will be more major than the other two. The previous ones maintained the same characters, the same plot, the same victim, the same killer. If I rewrite, I will be trimming the characters which will then alter the plot. After all, the seven suspects had motives to kill one of the five apologists, but they weren't after the same apologist. I might get rid of an apologist while wanting to keep the person who wanted to kill him.

If I do start from scratch as I'm proposing, or if I decide to write a new novel, I'll be working with a couple of books. The first is The Chunky Method by Allie Pleiter, to help me in following the two rules of writing illustrated above. The second is Soul Types, which looks at the impact of the Myers-Briggs Types on spirituality.

Should you feel led to pray as I think this over, it would be appreciated.

REVIEW OF "TOD" BY TOD MOSES

 

I'm going to take a slight detour. Most of my reviews and interviews have been focused on explicitly Christian music/fiction/non-fiction. But allow me the opportunity to promote the latest project by my friend Tod Moses.

 

I've known Tod and his music for over three decades. Several of his songs have blessed me over the years, such as "Master In Disguise," "Learn The Lingo," "Chasing After The Wind," "Stand and Deliver," "Salt Shaker," "Higher Ground," and "Standing Behind Me." He's commented that I remember songs of his he's forgotten.

 

One other memory I want to mention involving Tod before getting to his latest project. I decided to put together a Christmas musical titled "Viewpoints," looking at Christ's birth from the views of different people involved like Mary, the Innkeeper, and the Shepherds. I asked several of my songwriter friends to help out., including Tod, who did a great song from the view of Herod. Afterwards, he said he'd like to help with another song. I had one composer back out, so Tod and I co-wrote a song from the view of the Priests who knew where Christ was born but made no move to join the Wise Men in seeing the Messiah titled "Do I Really Care?" That song is one of my favorites of the songs I've written.

 

 But enough about what happened in '93. Let's move to 2020, when Tod released his latest project, "Tod." Stylistically it's different from his other projects I listened to, including fronting the band Fujita 5 - this is a little more blues influenced. And while I'm not a blues fan, and while this and some of his more recent releases are more mainstream than Christian, I completely enjoyed this collection.

He has a pair of strong singles from the project: "Time In The Country" and "Can't Stand Another Day." Other songs that stood out were "Gone Missing" (also released as a single a few years back by Fujita 5) and "Sing On."

 

I've had several great conversations with him on music, Christianity, and other things over the years, and I have appreciated his friendship since we've met in '88.

 

Do you have any friends who are musicians? How have they blessed you?

Hidden Danger Of Arts Revisited

 

Allegory of Painting, Gerard van Honthorst

 Two days ago, I shared a post about one of my heroes leaving one ministry for another. If there was much press about that, it's been eclipsed by Kevin Max, formerly of DC Talk, saying he's now an Exvangelical. If it was just him, that would be one thing, but he's not alone.

This reminded me of a paper I read thirty years ago by my friend Robert Roberg, titled "The Hidden Danger of Art." Roberg, who himself is a singer/songwriter, a visual artist, and a former church planter,  introduced one danger in art before telling a hypothetical story illustrating other dangers. 

I do have some comments about Mr. Max and the state of today's Christianity, but I would at first like to bring up Mr. Roberg's initial critique and add other things that can be a danger of an artist, be it musicians as in Roberg's story or actors/actresses or novelists or visual artists.

The first point Roberg made was the focus of self promoting that is involved in art. I'll admit that I do that with this blog, because I feel it might reach twice as many readers if I do (meaning there will be four regular readers instead of two). True, this is a job that many artists whole heartedly despise. There may not be the ego with these creatives. But it can also lead to a mentality that our success as a musician is up to us, not to God.

Another danger is contained in Proverbs 18:2: "A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart." Art can be an effective form of communication - after all, a picture (or a symphony) is worth a thousand words - but a lot of times it is self expression, emphasizing not what's on God's heart but what's on ours.

Also, art is by nature sensual.  I don't mean that in a negative sense (pun unintentional), but as an objective fact. Paintings draw one's eyes. Music catches the ear. Acting does both. You could say that novelists are an exception, except the best writers are good at making you feel, see, hear, and even taste and smell the setting. Thus, there is a danger of the artist moving from appealing to the senses to being sensual (in the negative sense).

An artist can also forget what is inspiration and what is Inspiration. I've known one musician who arranged Romans 8:1 to music and says it needs to be heard because he wrote it. No, who set the music doesn't matter. Another songwriter claims innocently that it's not him who writes his songs but God. No, my friend used his talents and wrote in his style. 

I love hanging around Christian artists and musicians, and for that matter pastors and missionaries (all my rowdy friends are preachers). For me, sharing their faith is a blessing. But even for me, it can be a danger, because I could start hanging around and listening to and viewing artists that don't have my worldview. "The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray." (Prov. 12:26)

Now, one may ask if being an artist more susceptible to falling away from the faith. I know of two people I admired (one musician, one author) who went from being outspoken Evangelicals to taking a more ritualistic approach to faith to becoming atheists. As mentioned above, it's not rare for artists to become "Progressive."

But let me seem to digress. Nobody really considers news to be art. And many complain of all the crime in the news. One person commented, though, that crime is the exception. There are more people helping others than killing others. The helping is so commonplace, it's not newsworthy. The killing is not as normal, so it's news. Likewise, you're going to hear of the few who are turning from their faith while the many that stay faithful are seemingly (and possibly actually) ignored.

Kevin Max has become progressive and left the evangelical scene. Any indication his former bandmates Michael Tait - who became lead singer for the Newsboys - and Toby Mac doing the same? I haven't heard a peep. Likewise, while Max has moved toward Progressive Christianity, former Zoe Girl Alisa Childers used the lure of Progressive Christianity to strengthen her faith, which you can read in her book "Another Gospel."

So what can we take away from this? First, we need to do as Peter says and make our calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10). Second, we can look for those who are standing firm and encouraging them in the faith. 

Is there an artist you know that you can encourage?