Lend an Ear to a Love Song

"Lend an ear to a love song
Ooooh a love song
Let it take you, let it start
What can you hear in a love song?
If you can feel it,
Then you're feelin' from the heart.

All the emotions true feelings of life is what music of love is about
If you are listening with peace in your heart and no doubt

So listen now to a love song
If you can hear it
We will never be apart."

How do you review the album that truly started it all? How do you put into words the start of a musical style that not only swept a nation but changed a generation? I'm really not sure, but I'm going to give it a shot anyway.

The name "Love Song" is largely unknown to the modern generation of Christian musicians and consumers. Which is sad, truly sad. Most of us, if we were required to trace our musical roots, would eventually find the family tree coming through this branch.

Back in 1972, Chuck Girard, Tommy Coomes, Jay Truax, Bob Wall, and John Mehler actually knuckled down and recorded eleven of the songs they had been playing over the past two years. The result was this album, their self titled debut, "Love Song".

The first item of note on this album is, of course, the music itself. It may be simplistic, it may not be refined or perfected like what so many of us are used to in professional music, but it has two things that make it stand out and grab at least my attention; talent and life.

These guys may not have sprung for a lot of studio time or have been the best at finding time for rehearsals, but they all knew what they were doing and did it well. From Chuck on lead vocals and keyboard to John on the drums, these guys really had (and still have, actually) real talent in their musical offerings.

Second, and more importantly, this music has life. Life comes from purpose, and these guys had a purpose like none other. They were sharing the perfect love of our Savior and it shows. Their singing, their playing, and their very attitudes not only show this fact to us, they scream it at us in a way that can't be ignored. From the fun country-funk number "Front Seat, Back Seat" to the soft acoustic ballad "Welcome Back", everything they did was focused on the message. They had a message worth sharing and they were going to share it with the talent God gave them.

Which brings me to my next point, the songs themselves.

The first thing that most people will notice about the songs on this album besides the fact that they are very, very 70's in nature is that they are simplistic; some would say overly so. This may be true and is a criticism that I would agree with...to a point.

The one reason that I think they can get away with it is because everything matches. Yes, the melodies are simplistic, but so are the lyrics and with that simplicity comes an honesty and realness that's frankly hard to find in modern music. These songs were written by new Christians; men who were experiencing the Love of God for the very first time. The songs they wrote weren't deep or profound, but they were honest and personal.

This can be seen starting right off with the title track. It's short, it's simple, it's symbolic, and it's indirect, but it's amazing. Let's use this as a transition into discussing the style of the album.

It starts, as I said, with the very slow, pretty and, as Chuck said it, Disney-ish "Love Song", but moves right into the bright, energetic, and folk-rock-ish "Changes", and then back down to the slow acoustic "Two Hands." That's pretty typical of the album. It's never hits a rut. It's always changing and expressing a different emotion of our lives in Christ.

The same is true of their musical style. On this one album they played almost every popular style of the day. From the funk and fun of the Beatles to the sweet tones of James Taylor style ballads, they have it all. They were even able to work in a couple rockers with hints of an acid feel in "Freedom" and "Let Us Be One" (Both with lyrics fit perfectly to the sound, I might add).

The only consistent pattern that can be identified is a decidedly cheerful outlook. Even when they go soft and slow, the message and emotion of the songs are positive and bright. They were songs of joy from the hearts of men glad to be changed. Songs of sorrow would come, but not on this album. This album was sung as a love song to our Savior.

And that, as they say, is that. Based on style and simplicity, no, this album isn't going to be a constant listen for everybody, or even most people. But don't let that deter you. Whether you're a musician or just a listener who, like me, enjoys musically induced highs, this album is worth at least a single listen both for it's historical significance and it's fresh and honest look at the Christian life; something we tend to look at from a very stale perspective sometimes.

"So listen now to a love song
If you can hear it
We will never be apart"

Off Sides...Against the Defense

My grandpa's a great guy. He really is. Sure, we don't really agree on everything, or maybe even most things, but most of that comes down to practicality and implementation not concepts or values.

We've had some really good conversations in the last few days. We've agreed, disagreed, torn into each other, and ended everything laughing at how alike we are. It really is hilarious.

All of this has a point though. The other night we were talking about values and core beliefs. It was a great conversation and lots of fun, but I said something that really got me thinking. I know, that's weird. Usually it's the other guy who says something to make you think. But this one was all me. I said something that I'm beginning to reconsider.

I used this phrase:

"Christianity aside..."

I was trying to express that this particular feeling of mine would be the same even if the Fear of the Lord wasn't part of the equation. (fear of hurting Him, not Him hurting me...but that's a topic for another time)

But here's what I got to thinking. That's not really possible. It's simply not possible, or shouldn't be, to separate a follower of Christ's feelings and beliefs from the fact that he is a follower of Christ. Christianity is life. This is especially true for those of us who grew up in Christian families. Everything we think, even if it's contrary to what we've been taught, is looked at through the lense of Christian thinking.

It's an interesting thought. It's also kinda cool. I can't be separated. Christ is within me. I'm a new man. That's just who I am. No more, no less.

And heck, what's to be ashamed of? It's the gospel. Real power in real people to show real love. How good does it get?

"So that as sin has reigned to death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." ~ Romans 5:21

Groovy Desktop

Here it is folks, some of you have seen this. Many of you hoped you'd never have to. For those interested or scared, here you go. This is what has graced my desktop for some several months now. Laugh at it, use it, poke your eyes out, it's your call.

(Nope, not the real post I promised, I'm sorry. Here's the deal. My grandma passed away this weekend and that has kind of thrown off my schedule. I'm leaving at 5 tomorrow morning to be with Grandpa for about a week. Please pray that I'll be able to show the love of our Savior to him while I'm there.)

Apologies...

I'm sorry. I went off and left without telling you all that I was going.

Not only that but I'm typing this to let you know that I'm taking this current week off to try and readjust to life on the ranch. Lord willing, I will have a nice, deep, fun post up Sunday or Monday, a week from now.

See you all then!

So La-la-la-la Live Out Loud!

Credits for this find go do my brother, Dallas. He found this gem and I couldn't believe how awesome it was. It's not old, but it personifies the attitude of evangelism that the Jesus Movement had. Passionate love that drove them to share that love with everyone they met.

That's the kind of love I want to share.

Gone Fischin'

Ok, sorry. This was supposed to go up yesterday. I was just having way too much fun up here in Wichita to remember that fact. Yeah, my apologies.

Today, we have a very special post. I've been barely restraining myself from posting this since before I actually started this blog. Now, it's really nothing that special, just a tip off to another guy's site, but an amazing guy's site.

The Fischtank

That's John Fishcer's website. I don't have a lot of time to explain, but for those of you unfamiliar with his name, John was a pioneer in Jesus Music and a huge influence in the lives of many, many people even today.

He's got some great stuff up on his website and I'd like to especially draw your attention to his "Catch of the Day". It's an amazing resource that has blessed me more than I can really say.

So yeah, check it out, let him know I sent you, and let me know what you think!

Anytime, Anywhere For God

"You know, during the early 70's, there really was no CCM industry.. There were no Dove Awards, no Christian top 40. In the early days of Maranatha Music, we didn't even have contracts. We actually thought of putting any royalties from all the group sales combined into a big pot and whoever needed rent money that month could be helped. It wasn't a record company business. It was a fellowship and a ministry.

In the early 70's our role models for ministry were Pastor Chuck Smith and all he had to say and teach, Love Song and some of the other groups, but mainly the book of Acts and the rest of the Word. In Acts the thirteenth chapter it says that as Paul and Barnabas ministered unto the Lord and fasted that the Holy Spirit spoke to them and they were sent out on a missionary journey. They didn't go to get exposure or because they put out a new C.D., or had one good paying gig and wanted to fill in the calendar with more paying gigs. No, they went because the Holy Spirit led them. Paul said that the love of Christ constrained him. It was this love that motivated his activity. Not selfish ambition. Or trying to build some sort of career. I could go on, but I think you get the idea." ~ John Wickham (On left in the above photo of "The Way")

"Those were the best years in Contemporary Christian Music. There was an innocence then that is not there now. No record companies, no charts, no big bucks contracts, just music, ministry, and Jesus. Your motives for being in it were tested just by the fact that there was no money in it. You were in it for God or you weren't in it. We (the group Love Song) didn't know we could say no. If the phone rang with an invitation to play somewhere, we felt it must be God. We would sometimes play 2-3 times a DAY in those days. We would just get in our vans and take off, we never knew what we were getting paid, or how big the crowd would be, it was just an opportunity to preach the gospel. The glue that held the group together was our drive to see souls saved. Man, it was good." ~ Chuck Girard (Second from right in the above photo of "Love Song")

Wow, aren't those quotes good? Yeah, they may be a little cutting on the modern music "scene", but they're good nonetheless.

You think about it though, and it really is cutting when focused at the music industry of their day too. There were labels, record deals, money, concerts, the works. Yet, despite the fact that they didn't work like that at all, they were wildly popular bands. They packed out almost every large arena in southern California and hundreds of similar ones across the country. Can we get a little praise to the Spirit for that one? Yeah, that's pretty fantastic.

But you know, there's another way that it's cutting; and cutting a little closer to home. John and Chuck hit on something in these quotes. They hit on an attitude of ministry. The word "missional" has been bouncing around Christian circles recently, and I like it, but I think that too many people are trying to over complicate something that's really simple.

We're supposed to have an attitude of ministry in everything we do. We're supposed to look at everything from the perspective of how we can further the kingdom in this particular situation at this particular moment. Ever single time we interact with another person is an opportunity to minister and we should look at it as such.

There's two points in particular that I were made in the quotes that I think are particularly important to note. The first one was from John's.

When we're ministering, that should be it. It shouldn't be for the money. It shouldn't be for the fame. It shouldn't be because it's fun (though often it is, God's just like that), it should be because it's what we're on this earth to do. We shouldn't do our will in ministry, but the will of our Father. It shouldn't be what "works best" that dictates how and when we minister, but the leading of the Spirit that tells us the work God has for us each day.

The second one, and arguable the more important and more difficult one, was made by Chuck. The size of the crowd doesn't matter. Who it is doesn't matter. What matters is that it's an opportunity to minister for the Kingdom. How can we pass up something like that? We shouldn't be looking at who it is, how it will look, or what we or others will think of it, we should just jump in and minister anytime the door is open. Jesus took the time to play with children and talk with prostitutes, drunks, and the thieves. Those weren't exactly the popular crowds. Nor was it glamorous. And yeah, he took a lot of flack for it. He still does, as a matter of fact. But you know what? He was doing the work of the father. How can we do any less?

Now this is hard. I'm not going to pretend otherwise. You know something else? I'm pathetic at it. I really am. But you know what? I'm striving to be better about it and by God's grace, I am growing closer to Him. That's the key, right there.

No, this "missional" concept really isn't new at all. It wasn't even new in the 70's. It all start way back about two thousand years ago. We just need a little refresher course every now and then.