Darrell Klaver has been playing organ and piano at Community Church of Kamrar, Iowa for decades. CCoK is my wife’s “home church” (where she grew up and where her family still worships). It is a small but mighty church in the exact middle of nowhere.

I think I used to smile and chuckle a little bit in an “isn’t that quaint” fashion at Darrell’s extremely skilled, if a bit melodramatic, organ playing that reminded me of a turn-of-the-century silent film accompaniment. (Yes, an extremely arrogant judgement, and no, I’ve never seen a silent film.)

Darrell is in his mid-eighties, a very recent widower, and currently lives in the same assisted living facility that my grandfather does. This is where we encountered him tonight while paying Grandpa a visit on Kate’s first birthday.

Nancy asked Darrell how he’s been and he replied, “Not too well.’ Suffering from the same medical and emotional conditions any eighty-something recent widower who is all alone except for the occasional visit from family members would. He was also recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, though, “My hands are holding up so far.” He had also returned from the funeral of a longtime friend and fellow CCoK member who recently died of sudden and rapid cancer, just an hour prior.

Darrell was delighted to see Kate and and talk for awhile with Nancy. We asked if maybe he could play a few songs on the small Kurzweil keyboard in the sitting room. He quietly obliged. We went on with our visit with Grandpa.

After a few minutes I started recognizing the hymns he was playing. Majesty, The Old Rugged Cross, and What a Friend We Have In Jesus. I struggled a bit to hold back tears (which are coming back as I recount the scene). I took the above picture quickly and at a distance because I lacked the courage to explain the tears should he ask, and I didn’t want to disturb his beautiful playing.

This man, back from a funeral visitation, recently widowed, alone in a nursing home, newly diagnosed with a chronic, degenerative illness, and what was coming out of his heart?

Majesty, worship his majesty;
Unto Jesus be all glory, honor, and praise.
Majesty, kingdom authority,
Flow from his throne unto his own, his anthem raise.
So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus.
Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus, the King.
Majesty, worship his majesty,
Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all kings

and

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

and my personal favorite

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

He finished with a rather rousing rendition of “God Bless America”, quietly got up, shut the keyboard off, and headed back to his room. We managed to catch him to thank him and share some birthday cupcakes with him.

I wept because I realized my pride in scoffing at his playing for years. True I loved him and appreciated him and his faithful service to that church, just didn’t think much of the music. What a fool I am. This man is ten times the worship leader I am.

I pray that when I am in his position, my heart will be in the same place. Thank you Darrell for your example. I’ll be sharing this with you next time I see you. If I’m able.

I was playing my guitar earlier today, and as usual Elena walked over and asked to start strumming the guitar. The difference is that this time, she started singing along. The tune was indiscernible, so I assume she was inventing it.

I think I captured the lyrics fairly accurately. Here they are.

Once upon a time
there was a happy little lady
and her name was mommy
and her name was mommy
and her name was mommy

And she was playing with her magic ball
and she was going to the potty
but she was not going in her pants
she was going all by herself
she was going
she was going
she was going
she was going
she was going
but not forever and ever.

Horrible plastic smiles

Hohner headless guitar

Fake drum track

What’s not to love?

True evidence of God’s sovereignty in salvation: that anyone was saved in the 80s…

I have roughly 30GB of music. My iPhone contains 8GB of data. How to choose, how to choose…

Step 1: Create a folder in iTunes called “top ten best songs”

Step 2: Go through your playlist and add songs to that folder.

Step 3: Roughly 5GB of music later, you should have about enough.

Step 4: Sync.

Matt: humming annoying song

Nancy: “If you’re trying to impress me, that song isn’t helping.”

Matt: “What if I tried a different one.”

Nancy: Rolls eyes

Matt: sings “You never close your eyes, anymore whe…”

Nancy: interrupting “Okay, THAT makes me want to close my laptop and hit you over the head with it!”

Matt: laughs “Can I blog this?”

(The above quote has little to do with this article other than it’s by one of my inspirations, and it’s about art and inspiration :-D)

Every artist has their inspirations. Almost all (their are extremely few truly brilliant, original creatives out there. In fact, I’d argue that there is only one) emulate other people they esteem to be extremely good at what they do.

So here’s a question for those who consider themselves to have an art (of any shape or form) out there. Who are your inspirations? Who do you look to as a mentor-from-afar. Who do you hope to emulate in your art? Who inspires you, challenges you, and by virtue of their excellence, keeps you humble?

Of course the correct answer is Jesus, but other than that, who do you look to for instruction and inspiration? Here are a few of mine.

Web Design:

• Cameron Moll
• Dan Cedarholm
• Veerle Pieters
• Jon Hicks
• Jesse Bennet-Chamberlain
• Mark Priestap

Fronting a band / Leading Worship:

• Bono
• David Crowder
• Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters)
• Rich Mullins
• James Hetfield (Metallica)
• Derek Webb

Preaching:

• Mark Driscoll
• Steve Jobs
• Henry Rollins
• John Piper
• Mark Darling
• Noel Heikkinen
• Louie Giglio
• Rob Bell (* I’m not entirely comfortable with his theology, but his communication ability is phenomenal.)

I love The David Crowder Band. I love pretty much everything they do. They are the most innovative band operating in the Christian ghetto wing of the music industry these days, and probably rank up there in the wider world of the music industry as well.

I haven’t ranted and raved about the new album yet because I was looking for a way to describe my general “meh” reaction to this album. Then I read something in Christian Music Today that made it click for me:

“Whereas A Collision was epic and almost unwieldy in album length (as well as length of song titles), Remedy seems downright tame with just 10 songs (of which the longest title is a familiar hymn). The sound incorporates all the band elements—acoustic and electric guitars, bass, drums, programming, DJ turntables, and violin—without shifting wildly between genres like before. Leave it to David Crowder Band to simplify their process and make it seem like a progression by offering their most accessible album since Can You Hear Us? in 2002.”

Basically this is a really really nice way of saying that the album, while really good, and while better than anything else out there currently, is not as good as Illuminate, A Collision, or any of their other stuff in between.

All that to say it is definitely still worth getting, there are good songs on there. The Nuge plays on a track in it. But it’s not their best work.

Buy this album.

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis mystery all: the Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Charles Wesley, 1738

We need more quiet reflection, and deeper study of God’s word. We need shared meals, more prayer, more confession (to one another). We need more proclamation of God’s amazing grace and righteous judgment (maybe not in that order).

We also need more loud music. But that music needs to be played skillfully (and in our day, mixed skillfully on skillfully designed sound systems). (Psalm 33, 47, 150)

I think she’s right about the “pop” nature of this loud music (and art) though. Throughout history the church has lead the charge in art (and, well, culture in general). Now we settle for cheap copies of art, hurried ripoffs of other artists’ work.

Why doesn’t any of the above happen? Because we are too busy. I personally am too busy. We don’t have the time to create. That is a huge loss. Something I’m currently mourning and trying to repent from. God help me.

[tags]David Crowder Band, Remedy[/tags]

You can also pick up the new single for your iPod (or whatever) on iTunes.

[tags]David Crowder Band, Crowder, Remedy, CCM, Music[/tags]

I wasn’t able to be at the interview, but it’s probably just as well.

Now, if only they could get their TV content to be just as sweet…

Purevolume, then Virb, now MTV… hey, MySpace, you paying attention? Anyone? Anyone? Didn’t think so…

How much would you pay for one? ($15?)

What color would you prefer?

This would be a limited edition, first run, titled “Armageddon” (or something like that).

From Brandi Powers, the Ames clear channel station (105.1 Channel Q) DJ that deals with all the local music:

Clearly, the most professional and tightest act of the competition. They screamed performers. Very gifted musically, as well as vocally, both singers showed diversity with their voices and blended well together. The exemplified song diversity. They had amazingly smooth song transitions, you can tell they practiced the set A LOT. The set progression was perfect. Each song built on the next, surprising you that it could get better.The drummer was fun to watch, they packed The M-Shop, and the song structure…wow. The happy pop rock was something we hadn’t yet heard, and it was a real treat. Their CD, while good, does not do them justice. They were nearly flawless. Oh, and Pat, you aren’t pretentious. You’re good.

And from Andy Cusack an Entertainment Editor for the Des Moines Register:

These guys were the most professional, tightest act. I would swear they had been together forever when seeing them. Their blend of catchy, smart, well-played pop rock was a treat. The songwriting had good hooks, and it displayed a restraint that exemplified good taste. It made me want to pull out my old Cheap Trick and Squeeze records and listen to them all day. If you hear some recordings of this band, I think it does no justice whatsoever to its live show. Granted, this is the only time I have seen them, but based on this one short set, I don’t really understand why these guys don’t enjoy at least the amount of local celebrity that the Nadas do. Room for improvement: 1) You looked like you were having a great time on stage — get into it just a bit more. Play like it’s the last show you’ll ever play in your life. 2) ?

Thanks guys. See you tonight! 11pm, Central Campus.

I never wanted more than the beauty of your kiss.
Somehow I get lost in the sound of this singing.
But, you’re beautiful tonight, in your ultraviolet light.
Kiss me softly and sing to me. I’d give anything…

I never wanted more.

Show me how to do it,
help me find a way.
I’ve got nothing left to live for.
No one else is staying,
but you,
always you.
There is only you.

This song has inspired me to think about leading worship at The Rock, and my personal songwriting in general in a different light.

Sorry to be so sappy. I was moved to tears that night though. You had to be there. And even if you were, you might have missed it. The song made me realize, somehow, that even if I lost everything that I “have” in this world, my gorgeous wife, my beautiful daughter, my faithful friends, my wonderful family, that i would still be left with the one thing that mattered.

Not everyone can say that.

Last night I had the distinct privilege of watching The Violet Burning play at a very small venue in Ames.

From their Web site:

“All my life I have been looking for light I cannot find within me.”

This is not only a lyric from Drop-Dead, the latest record from The Violet Burning, it is a theme that has connected with thousands of loyal fans who call this groundbreaking artist one of the great and influential rock groups of this era. With ten years of touring the United States and Europe , the Long Beach , CA. based band have established themselves as a great band that can deliver a moving experience live, as well as in the studio. Drop-Dead continues this path; a connection with the listener by putting ones heart on display.

Indeed it was a moving experience live. Wish you would have been there. Check out the rest of my photos.

[tags]David Crowder Band, Squirrels[/tags]

I took a blogthing quiz “What Kind Of Rocker Are You” and it told me I’m an Emo Rocker. The heck I am!!

Metallica, Face to Face, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Foo Fighters, Rage Against The Machine. It all comes together. Loud, Fast, Hard, Manly. This is music. This is the sound of my heart, soul, and mind. There are so many emotions that can be eschewed from ones soul this way. Lyrics should be straightforward, thick, and deep. Guitars should be crunchy, visceral, gritty. Say what you mean to say, do it loudly, and don’t stand on pretense or ceremony.

I’m not entirely sure why I’m posting this other than that I’m watching a Face To Face DVD (“The Only Goodbye”, Live from House of Blues Hollywood) and thinking to myself: this is music. Trevor Keith is such a man. I need a bigger amp and a louder guitar.

Flame away.

[tags]David Crowder Band, Music Video, Anime, Foreverandever Etc[/tags]