jars cover

jars cover
2/6/02
9:39 AM
GARY CHAPMAN
Page 1
RACHAEL LAMPA ON SUICIDE
ccm
OUR DOVE FORECAST
M U S I C to C H A N G E your W O R L D
jars of clay
responding to injustice with hope
Inside CCM, brook
2/6/2002
1:46 PM
Page 3
INSIDEccm
march 2002 content
ALL ACCESS
9
In the Running
Nominees for the 33rd Annual Dove
Awards are here. Find out who’s in,
who’s out and who just might win.
11
10 Questions
With Crystal Lewis
13
Page Turners
15
Spin Control
16
Music That Matters
19
Story Behind the Song
20
Songwriter Regie Hamm reveals
how toothpaste and wallpaper
breathed life into Avalon’s hit song
“The Glory.”
22
Opening Acts
COVER STORY
Get to know East West.
22
Jars of Clay challenges people of faith to walk with bold
intentions to help those in need of hope. by Janet Chismar
32
FEATURES
26
Gary Chapman unexpectedly finds hope.
by Lucas Hendrickson
30
A new book on the spiritual life of U2 challenges the
motives and mission of the Christian music industry, while urging
artists to leave the safety of its ghetto. by John M. De Marco
32
The tragic suicide of a childhood friend has given Rachael
Lampa a new vision for what God expects from her.
by Cheryl Johnston
DEPARTMENTS
4
Foreword Thinking
From the editor
8
Feedback
Your letters
26
34
Shop Talk
Gear for aspiring
musicians
37
In Review
A buying guide for
albums, videos
and books
www.ccmmagazine.com
44
On Tour
Concert reviews
and dates
49
50
By the Numbers
Consider This
Our last word
from author/artist
John Fischer
03.02
ccm | 3
Foreword Thinking v.5
2/6/2002
10:17 AM
Page 4
CCM MAGAZINE
volume 24 issue 9
FOREWORDthinking
from the editor
The mission of CCM MAGAZINE is to rock
your world with the transforming power of
the gospel as seen through the lives and
music of today’s best Christian artists.
Founder
John W. Styll
Happy Easter!
Recently, I had the joy of meeting my new nephew, Layton Bradley. It was the first time I had
ever held a child less than a day old. I smiled. I cried. I listened to his heartbeat. I smelled the
“new baby” scent. Holding little Bradley that day was a beautiful reminder of hope.
A Puritan theologian by the name of William Gurnall said, “Hope
fills the afflicted soul with such inward joy and consolation, that it
can laugh while tears are in the eye, sigh and sing all in a breath.”
Gurnall calls this sensation “the rejoicing of hope,” a phrase he
translates from Hebrews 3:6.
Hope is a word that tends to be overused and perhaps
misunderstood. We use hope to express deep-rooted wishes or
desires. We offer prayers of hope to those who mourn or who are ill.
Many use the term hopeful as a statement of confidence or security.
But how do we as followers of Christ convey real hope? How does
the hope that we find in Jesus become a tangible significance in
someone else’s life?
This past New Year’s Day, my friends and I ventured into Washington, D.C., to a place called
Miriam’s Kitchen to feed the homeless. I have been to the shelter several times before, yet this time
was somewhat different for me. Surprisingly (and despite the holiday), the kitchen was overflowing
with volunteers. I was given the relatively simple duty of official “juice provider.”
After covering my table with cups filled with watered-down lemonade, I was able to sit down
and watch the room move. There was a lady at the door wishing each patron “Happy New Year!”
There was a man in the corner writing the day’s menu on a chalkboard. People were moving
briskly in and out of the kitchen as if they were making breakfast for the president. Some of my
friends were in the back storage closet rummaging through donated coats, choosing what was
acceptable to keep and what needed to be thrown away. I was handing cups of weak lemonade to
each person who walked by. All of us were quite aware we weren’t saving the world, but we all felt
like we were.
I thought to myself, “Is this real hope?”
When Jesus walked into places like Miriam’s Kitchen, He carried with Him the power to heal.
He said phrases like, “Go and sin no more.” He could simply speak and have crowds enamored by
His teachings. Jesus was the living example of hope. And although I have that same power living
and breathing inside of me, my service pales in comparison to what Christ accomplished with His
hands and feet. Often I become discouraged with my inability to convey the depth of hope that
Jesus offers.
But the beautiful truth of the gospel teaches us that despite our weaknesses and shortcomings,
Jesus can use the simplicity of our service to bring the searching, the broken and the doubtful into
a relationship with Him. God can take a simple cup of lemonade and make it a life lesson for an
individual. The truth is, I may have found more hope from Miriam’s Kitchen than the patrons did,
but that doesn’t negate the deed. Hope is a truth that all of us experience differently throughout
our time on Earth. Whether it’s holding a newborn baby, feeding the homeless, teaching Sunday
school, spending time with family, sending flowers to a loved one or merely watching an old movie
that makes you ponder life, hope lives and breathes in all aspects of our lives. Never let your
environment keep you from experiencing and offering hope.
Blessings to you,
mturner@ccmcom.com
4
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03.02
Executive Editor
Editor
Rick Edwards
Matthew Turner
Managing Editor
Tracey L. Bumpus
Associate Editor
Sarah Aldridge McNeece
Administrative Assistant
Contributing Editors
Sue Halford
Jerry Chamberlain
Christa Farris
John Fischer
Kent Morris
Tim A. Smith
John J. Thompson
Contributors
Andy Argyrakis
Marcia Bartenhagen
Lou Carlozo
Janet Chismar
Anthony DeBarros
John M. De Marco
Shawn Hendricks
Lucas Hendrickson
Michele Howe
Steve Knight
Kerry Maffeo
David McCreary
Nicole C. Mullen
Mike Nappa
Stephanie Ottosen
Jeff Schmid
Lisa Tedder
Michelle Tumes
Production Director
Ross Cluver
Art Director
Brook Hines
Associate Art Director
Andy Beachum
Editorial Intern
Kristin DeMint
Circulation Director
Assistant Circulation
Manager
VP, Sales & Marketing
Senior Advertising Director
Marketing Coordinator
Advertising Manager
Account Executive
Senior Administration
Director—Advertising
Advertising Coordinator
Buffy Booker
Kimberly Johnson
David W. Berndt
DeDe Donatelli-Tarrant
Michael TenBrink
Daniele Kimes
Pat McAbee
Jo Anne Scaife
Carol Jones
Main Office
104 Woodmont Blvd., Third Floor
Nashville, TN 37205
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3.02 Feedback v.3
2/6/2002
10:21 AM
Page 8
FEEDBACK
your letters
QUESTION
I respectfully ask, how a
group, Creed, gets a
recommendation from
CCM [In Review, January
2002] when it has a CD
out that uses God’s name
in vain? Am I missing
something? Has there
been a change?
Kevin Kilpatrick
via e-mail
A WALK TO
FORGET
I was very disappointed in the article in
January’s issue about A Walk to Remember.
As a Christian, I was very offended by the
amount of [foul] language in this movie.
In your article, you said that it lacked
“smoking, sex and excessive swearing,” yet
I believe there was excessive swearing. I
found your article well written and
knowledgeable, however I believe your
readers deserve to know that the [foul]
language and sexual innuendos in this
movie are quite frequent.
Rachel Davis
Selma, IN
DIFFERENT CALLINGS
I wanted to respond to the call to arms
written by Kevin Wray about Caedmon’s
Call in January’s Feedback section. Kevin
touches on the very real problem we as
Christians face when we refuse to move
outside the Christian subculture in order
to go to those places that, I believe, Jesus
would go Himself in order to reach the
lost (bars in particular). While some
Christian artists have spent time making
this a part of their ministry, it’s not (and
doesn’t need to be) a part of every artist’s
ministry. An artist’s spiritual gifts have to
be taken into consideration when
deciding where to serve the body. If
George Barna is correct, we have a
staggering amount of people within the
church who have a marginal (if not
nonexistent) relationship with God. If
artists decide to help the church by
equipping the saints for ministry, we
8
| ccm
03.02
should encourage their
efforts and not criticize
them for not being
where we think they
should be.
Matt Morrison
Marion, IN
CLIFF RESPONDS
Kudos to Kevin Wray for
highlighting an
important issue facing
Christians. I suspect we
agree on these matters more than he
appears to believe. He says there is a great
need for Christians to be involved in
church. We strongly agree.
The apparent difference arises when
Wray writes, “I can think of 100 other
ways to encourage Christians than getting
more involved in church.” Perhaps I
misunderstand him, but this is what I
infer from Wray’s letter: Christians hang
out with each other too much; Christians
already are involved in church where nonChristians don’t bother to set foot; if we
were truly concerned with making a
difference we would take our faith where
the non-believers are—bars and clubs.
The funny thing is, I agree with Wray
on most of what he said. If he would
waste his hard-earned money on coming
to one of our shows, he would hear us
talk about the need for Christians to get
their hands dirty, to live among nonbelievers where they are, not to be overly
focused on preaching Christ but to be
equally focused on living Christ. He
would also hear us exhort Christians to
commit to one local church. Because
many Christians don’t have a home base,
heavily invested in a local church, they
sometimes lack maturity. We all need a
“Cheers,” that local body of committed
Christian relationships, to nourish and
fortify us so that we can make Kingdom
forays into bars and clubs.
My remarks in the November CCM had
a different group of Christians in mind
than Wray does. I was thinking of...
Christians who hop and shop from this
Bible study to that parachurch group to
this worship service to that church. I was
taking aim at selfish, consumer Christianity
in which the individual is obsessed with
“my needs and where to get them met.”
Perhaps I shouldn’t have said “get involved
in church,” and I should have said
“commit to church.” Our joy is found not
in ceaseless questing to have our individual
needs met, but in the covenant
community’s worship of the King and in
sacrificial service to our neighbor.
Cliff Young
(Caedmon’s Call)
NIKKI SUPPORT
I have a great deal of respect for Nikki
Leonti for being as honest and vulnerable
as she has been about her pregnancy
outside of marriage. To those who are
looking for “perfect Christians” for role
models, I say good luck finding one. As
for Lynne Mininger’s comment [Feedback,
January 2002] that an artist’s music
should be pulled because of sin—well, if
that were the case, we would have no
Christian musicians and no CCM
MAGAZINE for that matter!
Vicky Lizka
Columbus, OH
HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN...
I was blown away by Lynne Mininger’s
comment that all artists’ music should get
pulled because they’ve committed the
same sin. As a Christian songwriter, I
struggle with the fact that I’m a sinner
every single day. Am I worthy of my
calling? Am I doing the job I’m called to
do? I may not be committing adultery,
but who are we to judge which sin is the
most grievous in God’s eyes, and pull only
that music?
Elizabeth Jordan
New York, NY
We welcome your comments. Address letters to
Feedback, CCM MAGAZINE, 104 Woodmont Blvd.,
Third Floor, Nashville, TN 37205; fax 615/385-4112,
attn: Feedback. Or e-mail feedback@ccmmagazine.com.
Always include your full name, address and phone
number. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
Subscription Questions:
call 800/333-9643
or visit our customer service link at
www.ccmmagazine.com.
3.02 All Access v.8
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Powell, Anderson, Mullen, Lee, Carr, Nordeman and Avery (l-r)
SOMETHING OLD,
SOMETHING NEW
FOR THE MOST PART PREDICTABLE, THIS YEAR’S DOVE
NOMINATIONS STILL BRING A FEW SURPRISES
O
n Jan. 23 some of last year’s biggest Dove winners, Nicole C. Mullen
(Songwriter of the Year), Nichole Nordeman (Female Vocalist) and the men
of Third Day (Group and Artist), gathered at Nashville’s Frist Center for the
Visual Arts to announce the nominees for the 33rd Annual Dove Awards.
The spot for top nominee ended in a four-way tie between Steven Curtis
Chapman, Toby McKeehan, Nicole C. Mullen and Rebecca St. James, who
all received eight nominations. Kirk Franklin, Michael W. Smith and Third
Day also received multiple nominations.
“Hopefully it solidifies in people’s minds in Christian music that we’re here,
that we’re not just a flash in the pan,” Third Day’s Mac Powell said of the band’s
nominations. “Hopefully people have recognized that we can make good music that
affects people, so it’s just very encouraging.”
While the nominee list did not point to a single buzz-making artist, as was the case
with last year’s Third Day nominations, several nods, or the lack thereof, did spark
interest or raise curiosity.
“I moved to Nashville to write songs for people… but I couldn’t get anyone to
record my songs. That song, ‘Welcome Home,’ was passed over by people who
wouldn’t record it…,” new artist Shaun Groves
told CCM MAGAZINE as he spoke about the
irony of being nominated for Song of the Year.
“There was a time I wondered why God was
giving me these songs that no one would sing….
Now I see that He wanted me to record those
and wanted me to share that with people.”
Groves, whose debut, Invitation to Eavesdrop,
released last summer, received five Dove
nominations, the most of any new artist,
followed by The Benjamin Gate with four nods.
In the New Artist category, Downhere, Sara
Groves, Joy Williams and ZOEgirl joined
Groves. Oddly, Mercy Me and True Vibe—the
two best-selling new artists of 2001—were not
nominated. And last year’s New Artist of the
Year, Plus One, received no Dove nominations.
This year’s Male Vocalist, Artist and Group
nominees looked startlingly similar to last year’s
crop. Four out of five nominees in each category
remained the same: for Male Vocalist, Fernando
Ortega dropped out and was replaced by David
Phelps; Selah gets its chance this year for Group,
nudging out Plus One; and Jaci Velasquez
dropped out of the Artist running to be replaced
by Nicole C. Mullen.
Aside from the threesome’s surprise Group of
the Year nomination, Selah was also nominated
in three different categories with three different
songs: Song of the Year (“Press On”),
Inspirational Song (“Wonderful, Merciful
Saviour”) and Traditional Gospel Song (“Hold
On”). P.O.D. was nominated for Song, Group
and Artist of the Year, but, despite its
Lee and Mullen
03.02
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Avery and Nordeman
Carr, Lee and Anderson being interviewed
Powell being interviewed
Powell
WHEN THE DOVES FLY
ARTIST
•
•
•
•
•
OF THE
YEAR
Steven Curtis Chapman
Nicole C. Mullen
P.O.D.
Michael W. Smith
Third Day
No questions asked,
P.O.D. should go home
happy. Unfortunately, many
of the voters are still
unfamiliar with this rap-core
band’s music, which gives
ample room for Steven
Curtis Chapman or Michael
W. Smith to be all smiles
when the winner is named.
Mullen
Carr and Powell
domination in the genre, the thrashing foursome was ignored in
the Hard Music Album and Song categories.
Making forays into the instrumental world, both Michael W.
Smith (Freedom) and Chris Rice (The Living Room Sessions:
Hymns) were nominated for Instrumental Album of the Year.
In other new ventures, all three dc talk solo albums were
nominated in separate categories—Toby Mac’s Momentum for
Rap/Hip-hop/Dance Album; Kevin Max’s Stereotype Be
for Modern Rock/Alternative Album; and Tait’s Empty for
Rock Album.
The 33rd Annual Dove Awards will be taped on April 25 at
the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. Television distribution
and a host for the event were still pending at press time. To be
eligible for a Dove nomination, albums must have been released
between Nov. 1, 2000 and Oct. 31, 2001. For a complete listing
of Dove nominees, go to www.ccmmagazine.com.
—Sarah Aldridge McNeece
HERE’S
THE SKINNY ON WHO WE THINK WILL WIN AND SHOULD
WIN IN SOME OF THIS YEAR’S BIG DOVE AWARD CATEGORIES.
OF THE
MALE VOCALIST
YEAR
FEMALE VOCALIST
OF THE YEAR
OF THE
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Steven Curtis Chapman
David Phelps
Mac Powell
Mark Schultz
Michael W. Smith
This is Mac Powell’s (Third
Day) second year to be
nominated in this category,
and he deserves to be
recognized. But often lead
singers of bands are
overlooked and voters will
most likely lean toward
this year’s Worship king,
Michael W. Smith.
Natalie Grant
Nicole C. Mullen
Nichole Nordeman
Rebecca St. James
CeCe Winans
Nicole C. Mullen. Can we
get a witness?
NEW ARTIST
YEAR
Downhere
Sara Groves
Shaun Groves
Joy Williams
ZOEgirl
Shaun Groves has wooed
many with his down-toearth songwriting and his
candid approach to deeper
thinking about faith. Sadly
though, big vertical hair
doesn’t match up against
girl power. ZOEgirl’s
perfect pop will likely win
out with voters.
GROUP
•
•
•
•
•
OF THE
YEAR
Avalon
P.O.D.
Point of Grace
Selah
Third Day
There is stiff competition in
this category. We think
everything should “come
together” for last year’s big
winner Third Day. However,
many conservative voters
have been dying for the
chance to vote for first-time
nominee Selah. We could
see a surprise win by the trio.
—Matthew Turner
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SPRING 2002 TOUR GUIDE:
SNAPSHOTS OF THIS SPRING’S OFFERINGS
If you didn’t get your fill of shows from the fall’s lean touring season,
the hefty spring lineup should satisfy you. To help you figure out
which shows you’ll want to attend, CCM MAGAZINE presents a
snapshot of some of this spring’s offerings.
Jars of Clay teams up with special guests
Jennifer Knapp and Shaun Groves on the
“Eleventh Hour” tour, criss-crossing the
country, stopping in over 45 cities starting
this month. Third Day’s “Come Together”
Norman
tour with Bebo Norman and Australia’s Paul
Colman Trio joins the fray, slated to hit 53 cities from coast to coast.
Steven Curtis Chapman hits the roads again—after recovering from
vocal problems—in support of Declaration.
Contemporary Pop Tours
Picking up where they left off last fall, Point
of Grace teams with FFH, and Avalon
continues its “Oxygen” tour with Mark
Schultz and Joy Williams. Plus One, with full
band in tow, set out on a headlining tour at
the end of February, joined by ZOEgirl,
Avalon
Natalie Grant and Phat Chance. Also this
spring, 4HIM teams up with The Katinas, hitting cities from the East
Coast to Colorado through late April.
Lewis
Anything that would involve
mathematics or politics.
Jackson, Thriller; Billie Holiday;
Led Zeppelin; Radiohead, Ok
Computer; Radiohead, Kid A;
and Sting, ...Nothing Like
the Sun.
3. What was your first job
and what did you learn from
it? My first real job was working
at Ganahl Lumber… behind the
cash register. I learned that you
always have to pay attention…, because when people would
come up with a handful of bolts or a piece of wood, I would flip
through the book and, not being able to find whatever they
had…, I would just say “Oh, here it is… yeah, that’s five cents.”
4. What’s your favorite Bible story and why? The first one
that comes to mind is when Peter walks on the water. Peter
couldn’t do the impossible—or what seemed to be impossible—
so he took his eyes off of Jesus. When his focus was off, then
he sank. It’s such a parallel to our lives as Christians....
5. What do you value most in your friends? Loyalty and
Worship Tours
Rebecca St. James sets out this month in support of her latest album,
Worship God, with openers Ginny Owens, Go Fish and Fusebox.
Worship rocker Circadian Rhythm plays the college circuit from March
to mid-May with Riley Armstrong and Matt Brouwer. In addition,
Delirious has planned a U.S. tour for March through April.
Acoustic Pop Tours
Watermark and Fernando Ortega are partnering to
play 35 cities starting in mid-March. Enhancing the
show are a rhythm section for Watermark and a full
band for Ortega. Ten Shekel Shirt, along with
Matthew Perryman Jones, is hitting 30 cities from
the Midwest to the Northeast.
Rock/Alternative Tours
Skillet
1. What profession would
you never want to have?
2. What is currently in your
CD player? I have six: Michael
Standout Tours
Watermark
TENQUESTIONS
WITH CRYSTAL LEWIS
Skillet continues its “Alien Youth Tour” this
month. The “All the Way Live” tour offers a
rock fest featuring Thousand Foot Krutch, Ace
Troubleshooter, Justafide and Nifty Tom Fifty.
Wrapping up this month is The Supertones’
“Live and Clear” tour, also featuring PAX217,
Slick Shoes and Kutless.
—Stephanie Ottosen
PHOTO: LOUIS DELUCA (BEBO NORMAN)
faithfulness because I’m always gone, and it’s almost
indescribable to come home to people who still love you and…
are still inviting you to things.
6. If you’re ever a grandparent, what do you want your
grandchildren to call you? Granny.
7. If you had to pick a song to be your theme song,
what would it be? Sade, “Nothing Can Come Between Us.”
8. If you were president for a day, what would you do
first? I’d have my girlfriends over [for a] luncheon and then I’d
have all the guys from my band over for a big game of flag
football on the lawn.
9. What is the most meaningful present you’ve ever
received? I went to Venice, Italy with my husband and he gave
me a new wedding ring and we actually officially got re-married
in the Catholic church by a priest who didn’t speak English.
10. What is the most relied-upon spiritual truth in your
life? Psalm 32. In all different situations I can look to that psalm
and be ministered to.
—Kerry Maffeo
03.02
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Page 12
Kingdom
Bound
2002
August 4 -7
“...Come, Now
Is The Time
To Worship”
Ps 95:6 .
Audio Adrenaline
Delirious?
Carman
Third Day
OC Supertones
Skillet
Paul Baloche
Mary Mary
Dayna Curry
Heather Mercer
Mike Skupin(Survivor I I)
And More
*Artist Subject to Change
Camping
Amusement Park
Water Attractions
Kids Ministry
CWF
Between Buffalo
& Rochester, NY
At Six Flags Darien Lake
Kingdom Bound
Ministries
800-461-4485
www.kingdombound.org
Destiny’s Child with Caesar
GOSPEL AND GENERAL
MARKET ARTISTS’ PERFORMANCES
HIGHLIGHT STELLAR AWARDS
McClurkin
The 17th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards took place on Jan. 12 at the Atlanta Civic
Center and aired in syndication through mid-February. To kick off the show, hosts Yolanda
Adams and Donnie McClurkin recalled the tragedies of Sept. 11, then focused on the
celebration of family, friends and diversity. Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers then took
over the stage and had the crowd immediately celebrating with their Stellar-nominated song
“In the Sanctuary.”
Host McClurkin was the evening’s top winner. He took home six statuettes, including
Male Vocalist of the Year, Traditional Male Vocalist and Traditional CD for Live in London
and More. Sean Combs, Faith Evans and Hezekiah Walker presented McClurkin with the
esteemed award for Artist of the Year.
Carr, the most-nominated artist of the evening, left with five awards, including
Group/Duo of the Year, Contemporary Group/Duo and Contemporary CD for Awesome
Wonder. Adams, last year’s biggest winner, was awarded two statuettes—one for Female
Vocalist and another for Contemporary Female Vocalist—while Kirk Franklin won two
awards for his Kingdom Come soundtrack.
However, Franklin’s Rap/Hip-hop Gospel CD win for the decidedly urban sounds of
Kingdom Come rekindled an ongoing concern within the hip-hop community. “The hip-hop
category lacked any true hip-hop artist and album nominees,” commented Tim Smith, urban
columnist for CCM MAGAZINE and host of Detroit-based hip-hop radio show “Musical
Expressions.” “Several people have contacted me from the hip-hop community voicing their
concerns regarding this situation. True hip-hop artists… are overlooked in the nomination
process, an oversight that also happens for the Dove Awards.”
New Artist of the Year went to the diverse gospel/funk/rock choir Excelsior for its God @
Work project. The choir won over higher-profile nominees Natalie Wilson and the S.O.P.
Chorale, Damita and B.B. Jay.
Richard Smallwood with Vision performed “Anthem of Praise” in tribute to Albertina
Walker, who received the James Cleveland Award, a lifetime achievement award, which honors
those who have made meaningful contributions to the world of gospel music. Walker accepted
the award by joyfully leading the crowd in a round of call and response “hallelujahs.”
Fred Hammond rejoined his Commissioned counterparts in one of the most-anticipated
performances of the night. The reunited ensemble performed a medley of songs that will be
featured on its upcoming Commissioned Reunion Live album.
Other performance highlights included Destiny’s Child singing a gospel melody and
Michelle Williams (Destiny’s Child) joining Shirley Caesar for “Steal Away to Jesus.” Franklin
and choir brought out a stomping performance of “Hosanna,” from his February release.
For a complete list of winners go to www.ccmmagazine.com.
—Marcia Bartenhagen
12
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PAGETURNERS
Page 13
More Than
Myth
WHAT YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS ARE READING
Unafraid (Tyndale) by Francine Rivers is a novel about Mary,
the mother of Christ. I was inspired by the way that God used
an ordinary girl (according to man’s standards) to birth the
extraordinary Christ. It was also interesting to me that the
same heart that “rejoiced in Christ her savior” would also be
pierced through with pain. Francine did her homework on this
one and has created an excellent book that allows you to take
a step back in history, feel Mary’s joys and sorrow and see
what it means to be “unafraid.”
The second book I’ve been reading is entitled Redeeming
Love (Multnomah) and is also by Francine Rivers. It’s a
beautiful love story loosely based on the book of Hosea.
Again I was confronted with the depth of the love of Christ
and His infinite mercy toward us. Francine’s style of
writing is inviting and by the end of the first chapter,
the reader is completely captivated. I must admit…
I’ve read this book twice now.
—Nicole C. Mullen
Mullen released her sophomore
Word album, Talk About It, last year.
ONTHERECORD
OPINIONS FROM EDITORS, INSIDERS & FANS
The Lord of the Rings
is much more than
a captivating myth.
Lent is a concept that probably raises immediate concerns and strong
opinions amongst some evangelical Christians. Some may see it as an archaic
tradition that is fraught with legalistic tendencies, but others see it as a tender
time of reflection through discipline. I thought that I would offer some
thoughts as a person who comes from a Baptist background, but also cherishes
the value of the liturgical church and its beautiful reverence for tradition.
Lent began in the… early church primarily [as part of ] preparing a person
for baptism.... As the centuries progressed, this tradition seemed to be
appropriate for Christians preparing for Easter. So, Lent began on Ash
Wednesday and ended on the day before Easter.
There is a biblical significance for the timing of Lent, which marks the
prayer and fasting of Jesus in the wilderness for 40 days…. Lent does not
include the six Sundays between Ash Wednesday and Easter.
Throughout the ages, Lent has been taken to unhealthy extremes and, on
the other side of the coin, some would say it has been neglected.... Some
would disagree with the aspect of penitence throughout Lent, arguing that
His grace is sufficient. I see it as having an opportunity to deny ourselves of
something and remember Jesus…. This for me creates a sense of renewal in
my faith and a thankfulness that Jesus gave His life for me, which is the
ultimate sacrifice….
So I hope that during this season, whether you choose to practice or reject the
idea of Lent, you will find the time to ponder on the powerful meaning of
Easter and become renewed in your walk with Jesus.
—Michelle Tumes
I
n his new book Mark Eddy Smith
reveals Tolkien’s Middle-earth as
a training ground for our lives.
There we learn about Christian
virtues–like hope, faith, courage
and community–from Frodo and his
friends. And as we follow their
journey we find biblical wisdom
for passing through this, our own
strangely wonderful world.
“Smith’s gentle account of Tolkien’s
ordinary virtues gets to the very
quick of the great storyteller’s
vision.” COLIN DURIEZ, author of
Tolkien and the Lord of the Rings
0-8308-2312-3, $10.99
InterVarsity Press
Tumes released her third album, Dream, last September. Share your
opinion online at www.ccmmagazine.com or write us at Feedback, CCM
MAGAZINE, 104 Woodmont Blvd., Third Floor, Nashville, TN 37205.
P.O. Box 1400
Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
630.734.4321 www.ivpress.com
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BIG APPLE GATHERING New York City’s Radio City
Music Hall will never be the same. It was there that
Hezekiah Walker and his Love Fellowship
Crusade Choir recorded their upcoming album
live, to be titled A Family Affair II. Special guests
included popular female duo Mary Mary, along
with Ricky Dillard & New Generation. Also, right
before the Christmas holiday, Walker and LFCC,
along with the ensemble Love Unlimited and the
choirs from his Love Fellowship church, recorded a
live Christmas project that will release later this year.
RACING FOR A CAUSE The
E.R.A.C.E. Foundation—
created by dc talk—and
legendary Nascar driver
Darrell Waltrip have teamed
up to sponsor the inaugural
Darrell Waltrip Grand Prix,
scheduled for this Memorial
Day, May 27. The event is a
“mini-Indy” go-cart race that
provides racing entertainment
dc talk, Waltrip and mini-Indy race supporters
for spectators as local
corporate teams compete to benefit community organizations in Franklin,
Tennessee. Formed in 1997, the E.R.A.C.E. Foundation is an organization
committed to eliminating boundaries and unifying people across all races
and ethnicities.
MUSIC FOR THE NATION Recently a number of Tyscot Records’ artists began
calling the label voicing their need to be a help to the people of this nation in
light of recent events. They wanted to help uplift the spirit of the people of the
United States, especially those victims and families affected by the attacks on
this country last year. The end result was a compilation project featuring those
Tyscot artists performing songs encouraging America and the world to trust
God. The project, entitled One Nation Under God, features such artist as
Randall “Fats” Blakely, Rev. Dan Willis, Bishop Larry Trotter,
Dr. Leonard Scott, Franklin “Bubby” Fann, Joshua’s Troop and Deitrick
Haddon. A portion of the proceeds from the project will be donated to the
Salvation Army, earmarked for those who lost loved ones during the crisis.
UP ON THE ROK Uprok Records has inked a deal with
emcee KJ52. Word has it that he is already holed up
in the studio, hard at work on his new record. Also
leaking is that the project will feature guest
appearances by Grits, Mars Ill and more. Stay tuned
for more details. On another note, the label says to be
on the lookout for these new releases in the coming
months: Take Two by Ill Harmonics, BK & Associates
by BK & Associates and The Ball Point Composer
by Freddie Bruno.
RAP & SING? Those hip-hop hounds who have been
wondering if the Righteous Riders could sing as
well as they rap will soon have that question
answered. On the group’s upcoming sophomore
release, Mount Rushmore, the Riders will be both
rapping and singing on top of some phat tracks.
Making this singin’ thing go is the crew’s newest
member, Jason, who they say can croon with the
best of them.
JARS PAY PER VIEW Jars of Clay’s first-ever pay-perview concert debuts March 3 nationwide. The event,
which will premier two days in advance of the
release of the group’s fourth album, The Eleventh
Hour, will be carried on several national pay-perview systems including DirecTV, INDemand,
EchoStar, Cablevision and TVN beginning with the
premier and continuing for at least 30 days. The
two-hour special, which was taped on Jan. 16 in
front of an intimate live audience in Nashville,
includes an advance look at the songs from The
Eleventh Hour and performances from the guys’ long
string of hit singles. The event is being produced in
cooperation with Spring Communications, a payper-view company that has previously worked with
Destiny’s Child, Alabama, Train, WWF,
Barenaked Ladies and others.
A LOVING TRIBUTE Before deployment to
Afghanistan, soldier Brian “Cody”
Prosser gave his wife Shawna a copy of
Rebecca St. James’ Transform CD,
which included the song they considered
“their” song, “Wait for Me.” After a
friendly-fire accident claimed his life, St.
James participated in the soldier’s
St. James, Prosser and Chaplain Jack Woodford
memorial service in Bakersfield, Calif., and
performed the song in the couple’s honor. Prosser was a member of the United States
Army’s 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
B Y T I M A . S M I T H ( U R B A N ) , J O H N J . T H O M P S O N ( R O C K ) A N D C H R I S TA F A R R I S ( P O P )
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SIGNING ON THE DOTTED LINE With a sound that’s a little bit Lifehouse but also
reminiscent of rock ’n’ roll powerhouses like Third Day and Creed, BEC
Records has added a new Oregon-based band Kutless to its roster. Putting
college on hold for a while to focus on the band, the group presents its message
of hope to everyone who’ll come and hear it during basement parties at the
house they share. (Bet their neighbors love that!) Look for Kutless to hit the
road with The Supertones this spring.
ON THE TUBE It seems
38th Parallel
INDIE NO MORE Hard-rock band 38th Parallel from
Ames, Iowa, turned many heads with an independently
released EP the guys promoted while opening for bands
like Five Iron Frenzy, Ace Troubleshooter,
Stavesacre and Relient K. The band recently signed
with Squint Entertainment. In a press release, co-lead
vocalist Mark Jennings described the band’s sound as
“a heavy groove mixed with vocal melodies and
harmonies with darker not-so-urban hip-hop and
spoken rhythm.” The band’s debut album, produced in
New York and Nashville by Tony McAnany (P.O.D.,
Jennifer Knapp, Missy Elliot) is scheduled for release
on April 30.
NEW DEAL Contemporary gospel great Rance Allen,
a.k.a. “The Preacher Man,” who is best known for such
hits as “Miracle Worker,” “Something About the Name
Jesus” and “You Make Me Wanna Dance,” has inked a
deal with Tyscot Records. You can look for new music
from him some time this year.
you just can’t watch TV
these days without
seeing your favorite
Christian artists. First
of all, last month’s
American Music
Awards gave props to
the lovely Yolanda
Adams with the first
AMA gospel music
award given for Best
Contemporary
Mullen on “Good Morning America”
Inspirational Artist. If
you watched the show, you also may have caught fellow nominees Steven
Curtis Chapman and Donnie McClurkin as presenters in the Best Female
Country Artist category. Chapman also recently exercised his acting chops as a
band director with a life-threatening illness in Billy Ray Cyrus’ cable show
“Doc” on the PAX network. Cable TV watchers also may have caught guitar
whiz Jennifer Knapp’s act on Oprah Winfrey’s Oxygen network, where she
performed “Light of the World.” And if you’re a morning person, you may have
caught the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir on “The Today Show” or an interview
with Nicole C. Mullen on “Good Morning America,” where she also sang “I
See You in His Eyes” from Let’s Roll, a tribute CD for the Todd M. Beamer
Foundation. Todd was one of the passengers on United Flight 93 on Sept. 11
who confronted his attackers. The disc, which includes a multi-artist
collaboration of “The Lord’s Prayer,” hits store shelves March 11.
MUSICTHATMATTERS
Last year in November my brother was
killed. It was the hardest time in my life.
Normally I’m an outgoing
person, but in the months
that followed I became very
withdrawn and angry: angry at
the guys who shot him... angry at everybody.
Every day I just stayed in my little miserable
world, never talking to anyone, not even God.
Every night I’d shut myself up in my room and
cry myself to sleep. But one night I was
listening to my Out of Eden CD [No Turning
Back] and the song “Draw You Near” came on.
They were singing, “You can turn
your eyes to the heavens/And their
Creator’s watching on you/With
arms of love to hold you, and draw
you near.” And I realized that... I had a terrible
misconception of God. He wasn’t looking down
on me saying, “I wish she’d just get over it.”
But He understands and is waiting for me to
come to Him. So I started talking to God.... It
“If that song didn’t touch
anyone else, it touched me.”
LaShonda Harper
Milledgeville, GA
wasn’t easy. It was
hard for me to
totally trust God—
to let go of
everything and let
Him heal me. I still
don’t think I’m there, but I’ve come a long
way. If that song didn’t touch anyone else,
it touched me. I pray that God will bless
Out of Eden the way their music has
blessed me.
What’s your story? How has Christian music changed your world? E-mail us at tellccm@ccmmagazine.com with a letter (300 words or less) that tells how a song, an album
or an artist has impacted your life. Submissions must include your full name, address and phone number to be considered for publication.
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STACIEO RRICO
say it again
Follow-up release
to the chart topping
debut album,
Genuine
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER With the recent acquisition of Word Entertainment by Time Warner,
plans for the release of Sixpence None the Richer’s follow up to the breakthrough self-titled
1999 release finally got back on track. According to new Squint manager, Hugh Robertson, the
album is now slated for a June 2002 release through the Word Distribution system in the
Christian market and WEA in the mainstream. Though the bulk of the album was completed in
the summer of 2000, the band added one new song, a romantic pop tune called “Breathe Your
Name” that label sources cite as a possible first single. They also hit the studio again in early 2002
to record two more new songs for possible inclusion. According to Robertson the promotion team
at Warner is excited to get behind the new project, and expectations are high for another round of
success. As of press time, the album had not yet been titled.
THE D.O.G. POUND On March 12, you should be
A SISTERLY ACT Let’s joggle your memory bank.
able to put your hands on the muchanticipated, self-titled debut album from the
D.O.G. Squad. The project features guest
appearances from such hip-hop favorites as
KJ52, Dooney and Antonious. Speaking of
Dooney, his label sponsored a release party at
the Dallas, Texas-based Potter’s House church.
In the house, laying down the rhymes, was the
Groovesound family crew consisting of Lingo,
LED, Heata and A-Rod, as well as Nuwine
and Lil’ Raskull.
Do you recall the young lady who sang the
song “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” during the
piano scene with Lauryn Hill in the popular
Whoopi Goldberg movie Sister Act 2 ? Just in
case your memory has flown the coop on you,
her name is Tonya Blount. What is significant
about Tonya is that she is about to release her
debut album in this month. Although at press
time the project lacked a title, the first single
that you’ll hear played over the radio airwaves
is none other than, “His Eye Is on the
Sparrow.” The project is being produced by
Tonya, Greg O’Quinn, along with a host of
other notables.
SIGNS OF SPRING
IN STORES APRIL 9
www.stacieorrico.com
www.forefrontrecords.com
It’s not only
“March Madness”
on the college
basketball circuit
this month, but a
great 31 days filled
with brand-new
tunes from the
Jones and Owens
likes of Newsboys
and Rachael Lampa. And if those albums
weren’t enough to kick your listening experience
into high gear, the latest from Ginny Owens
ensures that March will roar in a like a lion
with her sophomore effort titled Something
More (Rocketown). Chronicling her
adjustments and the lessons learned from the
past three years of life as a recording artist, the
album is packed with introspection, plenty of
R&B grooves and the bluesy piano vibe that
made her debut so enjoyable. With Monroe
Jones handling the production duties once
again, the disc, which bows March 19, also
boasts a bevy of cover art options. It seems
those crazy Rocketown folks loved the results of
the photo shoot so much, they couldn’t decide
on just one design. Look for three limitededition, monochromatic covers in pink, blue
and green in the album’s initial shipment and a
new multi-colored cover later that will serve as
the “permanent” album cover.
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A CHANGE OF MIND KRS-One, the former head
of the influential mainstream old-skool hiphop music crew Boogie Down Productions, is
moving in a more heavenly direction these
days. His last release, 2001’s The Sneak Attack,
featured at least four gospel/inspirationalflavored tracks, as well as a guest appearance
from award-winning gospel artist Hezekiah
Walker and his choir. His latest effort,
Spiritually Minded, which recently hit the
street, has even more of a gospel feel to it.
Assisting KRS-One to give it that “flava” are
Fat Joe, Rampage and T-Bone.
LIVE AND CLEAR The Supertones releases its
first live album later this month and is
currently crossing the country on the
“Live and Clear” tour with PAX217, Slick
Shoes and new Tooth & Nail act Kutless in
tow. The album, Supertones Live (Vol. 1),
scheduled for release on March 26, follows on
the heels of Loud and Clear and last year’s
tour. PAX217 is set to follow up its “reggaerap-core” self-titled debut with the May
release of Engage. The “Live and Clear” tour
will hit 15-20 cities before it wraps at the
end of March.
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STORYBEHINDTHESONG
Regie Hamm: “The Glory”
Brushing your teeth at the end of a long day is just one of
those routine things. By the time midnight rolls around, most
are exhausted and only dreaming of the fluffy pillow and
cozy sheets that await them.
But songwriter Regie Hamm is just the opposite. For
whatever reason, it’s those moments in the bathroom with
toothbrush in hand and
paste glazing over his
pearly whites that are
the most inspirational.
“I tend to work better at
night,” laughs Hamm.
“When most people
are going to bed and
getting rested for the
next day, I’m just
starting to get creative.”
And on one particular
night a few years back,
Hamm’s bathroom
wallpaper was the muse
that yielded an
impromptu trip to his
home studio to churn
out a portion of “The
Hamm
Glory,” co-written with
Jim Cooper. The tune was once recorded by Truth and was
recently revamped by Avalon for its latest project, Oxygen.
“I have calligraphy wallpaper that has many poetic words
placed from floor to ceiling, and as I was looking around, the
words ‘glory,’ ‘of,’ ‘blood’ each stood out,” Hamm recalls.
“Abandoning my toothbrush, I ran to my studio to see how I
could put such words together.”
Hamm’s passion grew as he sought to untangle the
meaning behind the short series of words. The lyrics
seemed to flow right onto his notepad, including lines like:
“The glory of the blood/The beauty of the body/That was
broken for our forgiveness/The glory of His perfect love/Is
the heart of the story/The glory of the blood.”
“I basically tried to put into words the mystery of what
happened when Jesus died and cleansed us,” continues
Hamm. “The whole movement of Christianity has come
from those drops of blood and the fact that this man came
to die, thus giving life to others.”
It just so happened that Avalon was looking for a song
with such a clear biblical message to be included on
Oxygen to balance out other, less overtly spiritual songs
of encouragement.
“We always have song meetings, and we pray over each
track quite a bit,” says Avalon’s Jody McBrayer. “‘The Glory’
was unanimous from the start because it’s the basis for
everything we are as Christians. It’s an incredibly written
song that’s touched a lot of people with its clear-cut look at
the ultimate glory that comes in what Jesus Christ did for
all of us.”
—Andy Argyrakis
Trump Dawgs
THE BEST OF
Here’s an interesting combo: take a healthy
serving of funk, blend it with a chunk of grungy
aggressive rock, then add a blob of
improvisational jam and you have a pretty good
taste of this first band. Trump Dawgs is what
INDEPENDENT MUSIC former Waterdeep member Kenny Carter got
BY JERRY CHAMBERLAIN
when he invited bassist Anthony Case
(Waterdeep, Christafari), drummer Lester Estelle, guitarist Luke
Sullivant and his percussionist/keyboardist/vocalist cousin Donald Carter
along for the ride. Experience The Art of Crushin’, The Dawgs’ fine fulllength debut. There are flashes of King’s X, Prince, Stevie Wonder,
Living Colour, George Clinton and even Jimi Hendrix along the way.
Influences are updated with the occasional sliver of rap, samples or vinyl
scratching for effect. Guitarist/vocalist and primary songwriter Kenny
Carter says they seek to make music that expresses “all that is funky, all
that is heavy and all that is beautiful.” Indeed they do.
Originally planning to call the group KLT (Kenny’s Little Trip),
Carter switched to the current designation after recruiting friends and
favorite musicians and realizing that the band needed a name all its own.
The heady Kansas City lineup (formed in late 2000) rips it up on 12
tasty cuts, some of which have been finding their way onto the airwaves
lately. Scratch, paw or claw your way to www.trumpdawgs.com to get
your copy of The Art of Crushin’ or send $15 (includes shipping) to
Trump Dawgs, P.O. Box 280606, Kansas City, MO 64128. For more
info, send e-mail to contact@trumpdawgs.com.
Taking on an early Take 6 moniker, Sounds of Distinction’s original
plan was to pursue traditional a cappella along the same lines as its
namesake. But judging by its latest project, His Name Is Jesus, the quartet
has expanded that initial vision, working in contemporary urban and
classic R&B. The CD offers a diversity of styles and allows Corey
Armstrong, Don Jackson, Steve Smith and Lorenzo Williams artistic
freedom within the gospel outfit that Corey’s grandfather, the late Leroy
Armstrong Sr., founded in 1991. All group members are graduates from
colleges around central Mississippi and have toured extensively within
their state. Sounds of Distinction is a promising act to watch and
deserves more exposure. For ordering information, contact MTL
Records, 1261 Tunica Street, Jackson, MS 39209 or call 601/352-1609.
Send me your best material, along with a bio and photo, to Indies, c/o
CCM MAGAZINE, 104 Woodmont Blvd, Third Floor, Nashville, TN 37205.
INDIES
Jerry Chamberlain is a freelance writer/musician/poet, co-founder of Daniel Amos and Boy-OBoy, and a member of Swirling Eddies.
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OPENINGACTS
Get to know East
West
Vergura, Jenkins, Tubbs and House (l-r).
band 411 Mike Tubbs (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) from Huntington Beach, Calif.; House (lead guitar, vocals) from Los Angeles, Calif.;
James “J.J.” Jenkins (bass) from Redlends, Calif.; Bobby Vergura (drums) from Washington, D.C. The band derived its name from Psalm
103:12 (NIV), “...as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” current digs Southern California
new album Dove-nominated The Light in Guinevere’s Garden (Floodgate) released last August. The band’s multifaceted hard rock sound
evolved from elements of rapcore, metal and punk, yielding high-octane fare akin to Tool, P.O.D. and Project 86. “People say it’s our
diversity that sets us apart, but I think it’s our songwriting and vocals,” Tubbs says. favorite cut Radio-friendly track “Let You Go” gets the nod
from three of the bandmates; Jenkins prefers “Nephesh.” influences Tubbs cites Embodyment, Zao, U2 and Metallica as bands that have
considerably impacted East West’s sound. backstory The group recorded a demo in 1996, then released an independent album two years later.
“We tend to pick up the story in the last few years,” Tubbs says, “because that’s when God brought in new people, like Bobby and J.J.,
and we really came together as a unit. Eventually we caught the attention of Tim Taber [former Prayer Chain frontman and Floodgate’s
founder], and soon afterward we got signed.” In addition to extensive performing in the Southern California club circuit, the foursome has
opened for P.O.D., Relient K and Beanbag, and standout cut “Song X” was featured on the Extreme Days movie soundtrack. on the road East
West will hit the road this May and June with Pillar and The Benjamin Gate. role model Oz Fox, former Stryper guitarist. “We met Oz a few
years ago, and he’s been so encouraging and supportive,” Tubbs says. “He even made sure we got on the bill as an opening act at a
Stryper reunion show several years back.” goal “Our mission is to inspire and move people, ultimately giving them a message of hope,” says
Tubbs. “We also want people to question their existence and realize that there’s more to life than getting up and going to work.”
—David McCreary
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“SOME OF THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE CHURCH WAS TO CLOTHE THE NAKED AND TO
F E E D T H E P O O R A N D T H E H U N G R Y A N D T O S H E LT E R T H E H O M E L E S S . ” — D A N H A S E LT I N E
REVOLUTION OF HOPE
JA R S O F C L AY
CHALLENGES PEOPLE OF
FA I T H T O WA L K W I T H B O L D I N T E N T I O N S T O
H E L P T H O S E I N N E E D O F H O P E . BY JANET CHISMAR
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ODMARK, LOWELL, HASELTINE AND MASON (L-R).
completed its fourth CD. The guy in St. Louis is Dan Haseltine; his
TAKE A JOURNEY TO THE EARLY 1990s. In a dark alleyway in St.
sidekick is Charlie Lowell and the band, of course, is Jars of Clay.
Louis, a couple of college-age guys are combing through garbage
The themes for Jars’ latest release, The Eleventh Hour (Essential), are
dumpsters, giving blankets to the scared and freezing who huddle inside
perhaps divinely inspired. The record
them for warmth. Back at
takes you on a journey from isolation
Greenville College in Illinois,
“WE WENT INTO DOING THIS RECORD
and doubt to the anticipation of
the two are part of a band that
T R Y I N G T O C O U N T E R A C T T H E A PAT H Y
Christ’s second coming. Along the
sometimes performs just to
way you visit redemption,
raise money for homeless
THAT OUR COUNTRY HAD BEEN IN FOR
transformation, unconditional love,
shelters and prison ministries.
A L O N G T I M E . ” — D A N H A S E LT I N E
unmerited grace and hope.
One of the friends shares his
Lest you think this is some smooth
thoughts on service: “This is
something we can do that doesn’t just enrich the lives of those we help; it cure-all concocted to tranquilize the nation’s spirit, think again. A few of
the songs drip pure attitude. Take “Revolution”—it’s fresh, energetic,
enriches us.”
almost militant, with a drum-driven rhythm that commands you to
Ten years later the guys are still friends. They still help the
“bang a gong.”
downtrodden and poor. They’re still in a band. In fact, the band just
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“That song was kind of an exercise in having fun in the
studio,” laughs Haseltine, the band’s lead vocalist. After
composing the score, the band wondered, “What images
are conjured up by the music?” Haseltine says it just “felt
like it needed to be” about empowering people.
“We went into doing this record trying to counteract the
apathy that our country had been in for a long time,” he
explains. “There’s a generation of people who aren’t told on
church leaders and meets physical needs of the poor in those
same communities. Some 4,000 church leaders are currently
enrolled in training programs in 27 African countries.
The band’s support of African Leadership follows a
string of humanitarian efforts. After hearing about the
plight of some 200 million Christians worldwide, Jars of
Clay traveled two years ago with Prayer for the Persecuted
Church to China and Vietnam. In 2001, the band
“THE BIBLE IS VERY CLEAR ABOUT
OUR PURPOSE IN STAMPING OUT
I N J U S T I C E . ” —D A N H A S E L T I N E
a regular basis that they really can make a difference. We
wanted to tap into the idea that you can make a difference,
that even as an individual, you can start a revolution. You
can be something that changes people’s minds and changes
people’s hearts.”
Keep in mind, although the record’s release date is
March 5, production wrapped up before Sept. 11. Jars
reflects on The Eleventh Hour through the lens of
hindsight: “We finished in late August, early September,”
keyboardist Charlie Lowell recalls. “All of a sudden, the
terrorist attacks happened and we listened to the songs
we’d written, and they could be seen from a really different
angle. For me, it was exciting to see that we could sit down
with an intent in writing a song and really focus it in a
certain direction, and depending on who listens to it, and
where they are at, it’s going to hit them in different ways.”
The Eleventh Hour wasn’t necessarily designed “to give
answers or make people feel good,” says guitarist Matt
Odmark. However, the band found it encouraging to later
discover “we made a record about the right thing. We
didn’t try to make a cute record, or a funny record, or a
stylish record. We made a record that really cared in a time
when people really needed to feel cared for.”
BEYOND RECORDS
For Haseltine, Lowell, Odmark and guitarist Stephen
Mason caring goes beyond record making. The public
platform God has given them is used as much these days to
raise awareness about persecution and injustice as to sell CDs.
A biblical mandate of service firmly undergirds this band’s
musical sensibilities.
In December, for example, Jars raised over $10,000 to help
support African Leadership, a Christian education and
development organization that offers biblical training for
24
| ccm
03.02
performed a free concert for Amnesty International to
celebrate Amnesty’s 40th anniversary and help launch the
annual general meeting of Amnesty’s U.S. section.
“These are all things we do simply because of the
gospel,” Haseltine explains, “and it’s been great because it’s
given us a heart that is beyond getting numbers of people
to a show.”
Plus, partnering with humanitarian groups opens up an
avenue to reach the unchurched. According to Haseltine,
the traditional ways of doing church aren’t working
anymore. “Even within the Christian subculture, if you ask
people how they accepted Christ, any of the kids in this
generation, they don’t have a date. They don’t have a
specific day where they came forward and accepted Christ,
which shows that this generation is not responding to the
traditional methods of the church.”
Instead, youth seem to respond more to “rubber meets
the road” ministry: “Some of the original intent of the
church was to clothe the naked and to feed the poor and
the hungry and to shelter the homeless,” Haseltine points
out. “And those things have kind of fallen by the wayside
as part of a purpose for the church. We feel that is so
important because that is what’s actually speaking to this
new generation—that their actual needs are being met.”
Partnering with organizations like Amnesty or African
Leadership provides the band an opportunity to make a
tangible difference. “A lot of our tie-ins with these
organizations are simple ways that we can tangibly help a
need outside our communities and out in the world,”
Haseltine adds.
All the guys say they feel led to use the platform God
gave them to effect change and raise awareness. And the
outside world has noticed. William Schulz, executive
director for Amnesty International USA, has called Jars of
CCM 3.02 pg.22-25 jars
2/6/02
9:48 AM
Page 25
Clay “a group that has consistently spoken out on behalf of
the disenfranchised, particularly those persecuted for their
religious convictions.”
Lowell mentions the band’s visit to China and Vietnam.
“We met a lot of Christians over there who suffer for their
beliefs. And a lot of what we learned in the last two years is
just seeing the church as a much bigger institution than the
American church or the Protestants in our country that we
consider family. It really reshaped our vision of the body of
horizontal or vertical. Haseltine agrees: “That’s the freedom in a
lot of these songs. I know contemporary Christendom
sometimes wrestles with, ‘You don’t say Jesus or God enough’ or
define what the relationship is. But I think there’s something
really healthy and challenging about trying to figure that out.
Because we have relationships on Earth that demonstrate and
emulate the type of relationship we are supposed to have with
God, and how far from it we really are.”
Christ when we could sit down with Chinese Christians and
feel like they were our brothers and sisters.”
The trip “blew the doors open” for Jars and generated in
them an excitement and a hunger to know more about
persecuted Christians. Lowell adds, “We wanted to partner
with them, even if it meant just praying for them. While
there’s not a whole lot anyone can do to change their situation,
raising awareness is really important.”
FROM THE HEART
A QUESTION
If you are beginning to conclude that these guys are a cut
above the ordinary Christian, it may help to know that they,
too, wrestle with issues of faith. They know the Christian life
is tough. God doesn’t always provide answers.
One of the songs on the new album, for instance, plainly
asks God, “Where are You?” Lyrically, it seems almost psalmlike, particularly in the haunting refrain, “I’ve got a question.”
“We are excited about a few of the songs in particular, in
light of where our culture is at and what kind of questions
people are asking—really questioning God specifically,” says
Lowell. “There’s a song called ‘Silence’ that’s kind of a difficult
song to listen to. It doesn’t give any answers. It asks a lot of
questions. I’m excited for ears to hear it and for hearts to
absorb it and wrestle with it a little bit.”
Mason jumps in: “In our original order, we wanted to open
with ‘Silence’ because we felt it established a foundational
question that each of us have: ‘Is God there?’ And if we know
He exists, if we are past that point, then has He left us or
abandoned us? And if He hasn’t abandoned us, then when is He
coming back?”
Like any good novel, the themes woven through The
Eleventh Hour are played out in the context of relationship. Yet
you’re never quite sure if the relationships portrayed are
So how did four average guys from Middle America
become so socially aware? What lit the fire in their hearts to
want to help?
Much of it is born from first-hand experience, Haseltine
shares. “We often have brushes with people in difficult
situations.” He remembers those college days—the trips to the
garbage dumpsters and interacting with the homeless. “You
meet these people and initially, it’s scary. It isn’t about having a
heart for them as much as it’s maybe feeling you have a
responsibility to do those things. But once you start hearing
their stories, it becomes a lot less scary, and less of a
responsibility, and more of a passion.”
A similar pattern emerged when Jars personally met the
persecuted Christians—the interaction planted in each
member of the band a passion for dealing with injustice. “The
Bible is very clear about our purpose in stamping out
injustice,” Haseltine insists. “One of our mandates as
Christians is to do those things.”
As Americans and especially as Christians, Haseltine thinks
our “blood should boil” when injustice occurs. He hopes
apathy hasn’t reached the point where even Christians don’t
feel the weight of injustice. “That is something that fuels us,”
he shares. “God makes us very aware when things aren’t set up
the way His kingdom intended them to be.”
Even though many of us have questions about faith we don’t
understand, injustice for people of faith still looms around the
world and many homeless are roaming our streets, Mason
sums up the message that Jars of Clay so eagerly wants the
world to hear: “When we think it’s all over, we’re still not
beyond a point where God can reach us. Christ is hope
beyond true hopelessness.” ccm
For exclusive Jars of Clay info go to www.ccmmagazine.com.
03.02
ccm | 25
CCM 3.01 pg.26-29 CHAPMAN
2/6/02
9:55 AM
Page 26
DARBY the dog, JENNIFER, SARAH, GARY, MILLIE AND MATT (L-R).
SURPRISED
BY
JOY
GARY CHAPMAN
UNEXPECTEDLY FINDS HOPE.
BY LUCAS HENDRICKSON
THE TWO LITTLE WORDS, PROGRAMMED temporarily
on a cell phone’s liquid crystal display, sum up the serendipitous
nature of Gary Chapman’s life.
The two words? “Have hope.”
There’s no way he could have known it would be the topic of our
conversation, no way he could have programmed those eight letters
onto the phone’s screen saver in the scant seconds between exclaiming
“Oh, wait, you gotta see this,” dashing from the room and returning
with the device.
That’s just how Chapman’s life is working these days. He’s finding
meaning, relevance, joy, motivation—yes, hope—in the most
unexpected places. He’s finding it in relationships he thought he’d never
have, in bonds he knows he’ll have for a lifetime and most notably on
this early January morning, in a person he thought soon would be lost
to him—at least on this mortal coil—forever.
26
| ccm
03.02
WORDS FROM THE HEART
Amidst the turmoil surrounding his personal and professional life over
the past couple of years sat Chapman’s mother, Mary, whose health was
in a slow decline. Mary’s heart was slowly failing her, she was becoming
increasingly uncommunicative and Gary, his siblings and their families
were coming to terms with the fact their mother would not be with
them much longer. “The main artery to the left-hand side of the heart,
the real hard-working side of the heart, was 100 percent blocked,” Gary
says. “It was amazing that she was alive.”
In December 2001, things seemed to take a turn for the worse when
Mary suffered a heart attack. An angiogram finally uncovered the
troubled artery, and surgery helped to alleviate the problem. But while
Mary still suffers from many of the symptoms that prevailed over the
past couple of years, something has brought her back around to the
people she loves, even if it’s only for a little while.
CCM 3.01 pg.26-29 CHAPMAN
2/6/02
9:55 AM
Page 27
“EVERY SITUATION THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME OR WILL EVER HAPPEN TO ME,
BIG OR SMALL, HAS BEEN OR WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ONE OF TWO
THINGS TO HAPPEN. YOU’RE GOING TO LEAN TOWARD DESPAIR OR HOPE.”
—GARY CHAPMAN
“Who knows if it was a blood flow thing or just a gift or what, but for
about a day-and-a-half after she came out of that, she was the mom I
grew up with,” Gary says. “She’s a lot more verbal than she was, but for a
day-and-a-half, it was unbelievable. I didn’t realize how much I missed
her until she came back.
“We’re in a coronary intensive care unit, people are dying all around
us, and we’re just standing there laughing,” he continues, smiling at the
memory. “I went out and asked a nurse, ‘You know, I’ve heard of people
dying laughing, are we on the edge here?’ She said, ‘Go... enjoy it.’ We
had a great time. She’s actually doing much better; she’s back home and
surrounded by folks who love her. She’s a tremendous example of hope.”
THE CHOICE
Hope in the middle of, and often in spite of, the unexpected clearly
dominates Chapman’s life as 2002 gets underway. He knows the realities
and the speculations surrounding the end of his first marriage and the
end of his job as host of the The Nashville Network’s “Prime Time
Country” program, but instead of dwelling on those things or dredging
them up, he chooses—be it publicly in an interview or privately when he
sees the greeting on his cell phone—to be reminded of the hopeful
things around him.
“Every situation that ever happened to me or will ever happen to me,
big or small, has been or will be an opportunity for one of two things to
happen. You’re going to lean toward despair or hope,” Chapman says.
“That is going to be your choice, and it is going to be that black and
white. You can wallow in it and just get deeper and deeper and
eventually tunnel into despair. It’s difficult to get out because you go in
facing forward and you can’t see anything else.
“But the reverse is true. If you choose to have hope—and our will is
the most beautiful gift God gave us aside from Jesus—that tunnel has a
light at the end of it. You just keep forging into it and it will eventually
CIRCLES AND SEASONS
Gary Chapman’s new selfmade album, Circles and
Seasons (Crowne), was intended
to be just a one-off song for his
Web site, motivated by Gary
wanting to let that community of
people know what he was up to
and wanting to uncover the
features of a new piece of
recording gear he had acquired.
“Self-made” means just that:
written, recorded, produced,
played and sung completely by
Chapman, created in the small
office on the east side of his
long-time home.
There’s an inherent danger in
being that self-contained on a
creative project, but Chapman
notes that the record simply
reflects this current position in
his life.
“It’s a really good thumbnail
sketch of where I am right now.
It’s not the ‘I’m trying to move
on’ record, it’s the ‘I have moved
on record,’” he says. “I think
there is a tremendous amount of
hope within the thing, and that
first single [‘I Need Jesus’] is just
a simple, primal cry. It’s one of
the simplest songs I’ve written in
my life—maybe the simplest.
That is the core of any [chance]
for hope I have—in Jesus.”
On the whole, Chapman
doesn’t
seem
given
to
overspiritualizing experiences, so
when he talks about recording
this project as being one of the
most spiritual experiences of his
life, you tend to believe him.
“Although there’s great merit
in the collective worship
experience, most of your really
core, wonderful, enlightening
experiences do not happen in a
group. They happen when it’s just
you and God. And I had multiple,
wonderful moments with just me
and God on a way-simple level,”
he says. “It was great solitude
and times of uncontrolled
weeping and laughter and all the
wonderful things that can
happen when it’s just you talking
to God and listening to Him
talking back to you. On many of
the songs, that happened, and
that’s really what I treasure about
the thing. That’s what I enjoyed.
It was a good place to be, and
I’m goin’ back.”
—L.H.
03.02
ccm | 27
CCM 3.01 pg.26-29 CHAPMAN
2/6/02
9:55 AM
Page 28
“I HAD ZERO DESIRE TO PURSUE A
RELATIONSHIP—NONE. IN FACT, I HAD PRETTY
MUCH DETERMINED THAT I WOULD NOT DO
THAT, THINKING IT WOULD NOT BE THE
SMARTEST THING I COULD DO.”
—GARY CHAPMAN
bring you good.
Every time.”
FAMILY MAN
Clearly, it’d be
pointless to talk
about hope in
Chapman’s life
without mentioning the source of a lot of his happiness, life with his
wife Jennifer, whom he married in July 2000, and his kids, Matt, Millie
and Sarah.
As for the story of how he met Jennifer, Chapman admits, “I had zero
desire to pursue a relationship—none. In fact, I had pretty much
determined that I would not do that, thinking it would not be the
smartest thing I could do. But... again, hope came from some place I was
not expecting.”
In addition to the changes in his role as a son and husband, Chapman
knows the challenges of raising teenagers in the dawn of the 21st century
may be the biggest challenge he’ll ever face. That doesn’t stop him,
however, from imparting a sense of, and gathering from them in return,
hope for the rest of their lives.
“One of the things I really believe [that is] essential to becoming the
person God wants you to be is to become a kid. You spend the first 17 or
18 years trying not to be one, and you spend the rest of it trying to be
one,” Chapman notes. “Kids are more pliable, more resilient, they just
spring back, they’re little bungee cords, and I think that’s what God
wants us as adults to be.”
And through the observations you only acquire as a parent, Chapman
sees the message getting across to his kids.
“I see it in my son in spades. He’s very much driven to maintaining
joy, and he’s learning how to do it. That’s not a license to be irresponsible.
Part of that joy is doing the things you know you’re supposed to be doing
and doing them well. Through every responsibility realizing there’s joy in
it and joy at the end of it. That can only produce and reproduce hope.”
It’s those results that drive Gary Chapman today. He continues to find
hope in the places he may not have realized he was looking before, and
those gifts will remain permanently programmed into the ongoing story
of his life. ccm
CCM 3.01 pg.26-29 CHAPMAN
2/6/02
9:56 AM
HOPE FOR
THE HURTING
While Gary Chapman is finding hope
in places he didn’t expect, hope is
readily available in one place that’s
fairly obvious. The Bible is full of God’s
promises. Here are just a few to get
you started.
Page 29
HOPEFUL READINGS
Seasons of Life by Cindi McMenamin
(Harvest House)
Will My Life Ever Be the Same?:
Finding God’s Strength to Hope Again
by H. Norman Wright (Harvest House)
When You Can’t Pray: Finding Hope
When You’re Not Experiencing God
by Al Truesdale (Beacon Hill)
A Reason for Hope in a Time of
Tragedy by John Piper, Joseph Stowell
and Lisa Beamer (Crossway)
Dare to Trust, Dare to Hope Again:
Living With Losses of the Heart
by Kari West (Chariot Victor)
—Compiled by T. B.
When Women Walk Alone: Finding
Strength and Hope Through the
• “The Lord will fight for you; you need
only to be still.”—Exodus 14:14
• “My presence will go with you, and I
will give you rest.”—Exodus 33:14
• “The Lord himself goes before you and
will be with you; He will never leave you
nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not
be discouraged.”—Deuteronomy 31:8
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CCM 3.02pg30-31_stockman
2/6/02
10:15 AM
Page 30
P.O.D.
PHOTO: CHAPMAN BAEHLER
OUT OF THE GHETTO
A NEW BOOK ON THE SPIRITUAL LIFE OF U2
CHALLENGES THE MOTIVES AND MISSION OF THE
C H R I S T I A N M U S I C I N D U S T R Y, W H I L E U R G I N G A R T I S T S
T O L E A V E T H E S A F E T Y O F I T S G H E T T O. BY JOHN M. DE MARCO
There is an endless subject of debate among
Christians who scrutinize the music,
mannerisms and motives of U2. This Irish rock
band has continued to evolve in its craft and its
social justice activism for more than 20 years.
Several mainstream music magazines lauded the
rockers as 2001’s best band, and its “Elevation”
arena tour was a smash among new and
longtime fans. Lead singer Bono’s Jubilee 2000
crusade aimed at forgiving Third World debt
and the band’s stunning performance at the post
Sept. 11 benefit concert have given the group its
hottest public profile in years.
Dovetailing with this spotlight is the new
book Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2
(Relevant), examining the core beliefs and
30
| ccm
03.02
foundations that have driven U2 since its
teenage years, while raising issues of interest to
those who produce, record, sell and listen to the
genre known as “Christian music.” Author
Steve Stockman, a Presbyterian minister based
in Ireland, studied the music and lyrics from
each of the band’s 12 full-length albums and
culled together excerpts from various press
interviews. The author spends dozens of pages
asserting how U2 lives as vibrant a faith as any
labeled “Christian” band, all while eschewing
organized religion, Christian media and their
attempts to place the band within a box.
As the book continues to gain buzz among
Christians—its first print run of 10,000 copies
sold out in one month—several contentions put
forth
by
Stockman
are ripe for
debate and
discussion.
Stockman
castigates
the evangelical, particularly fundamentalist and
televangelistic, Christian subculture for
ostensibly insisting that a band be “Christian” on
the subculture’s terms. Taking specific aim at the
Christian music industry, Stockman claims its
gatekeepers limit the potential of talented
Christian acts, creating “a safe industry ghetto”
that limits creative lyric writing to overt gospel
sharing. He encourages bands to circumvent the
U2
CCM 3.02pg30-31_stockman
2/6/02
10:15 AM
Page 31
“ THE FACT IS, YOU REALLY DON’T HAVE TO BE
ALL THAT GOOD TO BE IN CHRISTIAN MUSIC.”
—BARRY LANDIS, ATLANTIC RECORDS
Knapp
niche and go directly at the general market (a la
U2, which actually had little choice since there is
no Christian music industry in Northern
Ireland), asserting that good music is not
hindered by spiritual lyrics. Reaction to the
issues raised by Stockman has been mixed
among several key voices in the Christian
music industry, all of which express a deep
appreciation for what U2 has done. Atlantic’s
Barry Landis, who helped launch P.O.D. into a
massive general market rock act, says blame for
the “ghetto” rests not with an institution but
with each Christian musician who takes the
“much easier” road to success in the Christian
music market.
“We can all get to some type of Christian
radio outlet, because their criteria isn’t often
playing ‘hits’ but rather ‘giving each ministry a
voice’... so the fact is, you really don’t have to be
all that good to be in Christian music,” Landis
says. He concedes the difficulties of cracking the
general market, but is disappointed that
Christian labels spent more than $100 million
last year trying to reach Christians and less than
$10 million “trying to reach the rest of the world
with our music.”
Rocketown’s Don Donahue echoes many of
Stockman’s thoughts. “I find that when I
experience the ‘Elevation’ tour, I come home
and reexamine what I do, because I feed part of
the [Christian] subculture. I feed part of the
ghetto. For me, the goal of Rocketown has
always been to clean up the ghetto. I’m not
talking about mainstream exposure, but
making the quality of artistry and music better
inside our industry.”
Integrity Music’s Danny McGuffey, however,
says he’s not sure whether he agrees with the
“ghetto” label, and notes that the biggest
Christian “crossover” hits of the last two decades
have been “more ambiguous spiritually and
toned down for that market. The media
gatekeepers will not let the name of Jesus be
preached from secular radio/TV unless it stems
from a more a culturally accepting place, as is
the case in R&B and gospel.”
Gotee Records’ Joey Elwood points out that
many people within the church culture need to
hear the gospel daily. And Elisa Elder, senior vice
president and general manager of Word Records,
makes no apologies for the Christian music
industry aiming at people who shop in Christian
bookstores for the express purpose of buying
overtly Christian music. “That’s our job,” Elder
says. “But for me, I feel I’m also here to serve
artistry. I have certain artists I deal with who get
their joy from staying within the church
musically—they feel called to encourage, edify
and be part of the church choir. That’s what is
most commercially successful for us.”
Elder notes that her “A&R heart” led her to
create the Word Artisan label, which gives artists
like Phil Keaggy and Wes King the opportunity
to express themselves through music destined for
any market in which it finds a fit, producing
recordings that stray beyond the industry box.
Gotee artist Jennifer Knapp has some
experience roaming beyond the “ghetto,”
having played four “Lilith Fair” dates with
artists such as Sarah McLachlan and Sheryl
Crow. “I definitely believe there are artists
who’ve chosen where they want to work, in
terms of their audience,” Knapp says. “For
artists who find themselves familiar with both
environments, it becomes a little bit trickier.
That term ‘crossover’ has become almost like a
curse, rather than someone reaching the fullest
potential of who they are as an artist.” Keying
off of Colossians 3:23-24, the artist says her
personal motto is to live her life to the fullest,
doing the best she can to serve Christ.
Scotty Smith, pastor and founder of
Nashville’s Christ Community Church, has
journeyed with the Christian music industry
and many of its key players for more than 25
years. Smith notes, “I’ve seen ‘ghetto-ism,’ and
right now I’m probably more encouraged in
terms of the conscience of some of the industry
people being captured more by the gospel in
some ways.”
Those interviewed by CCM varied on
Stockman’s take that Christian lyrics will not
close doors if the music is good, with some
claiming that the experience of many bands
proves otherwise. Given the proclivity of the pop
world to shut its doors in the face of overtly
Christian lyrics, Christian artists sometimes face
a delicate balancing act between expressing who
they are and keeping pipelines open to the
mainstream. Walk On notes that U2’s lyrics on
early albums such as Boy and October offered
numerous overt references to Biblical passages,
and then the band became more impressionistic
and subtle in its writing. Songs such as “I Still
Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” led
some Christians to speculate that the band had
departed from its faith.
Landis says he feels the subject of how
Christian artists express themselves lyrically will
dominate the industry’s conversations for the
foreseeable future. “‘Still Haven’t Found,’”
McGuffey says, “is a great example of the fact
that faith is a journey and not a destination. I
think there is a fringe out there that wants to
have their Christian music served up as a cureall to life’s problems, and it seems that most of
the time the successful music in our industry is
only celebratory and victorious. There is
nothing wrong with that, but just seeing it
from that side excludes the rest of life and that’s
the danger. As Christians in the culture, we
need to present music that is real, honest and
breathtakingly creative.”
Knapp feels there is growing room in
Christian music for impressionistic writing, but
also a certain sense of earning the privilege. “If
an artist comes out of the box and everyone is
asking what every single song means spiritually,
you’re dead in the water,” she says.
While the Christian industry debates its role,
U2 shares spiritual principles with the masses
through smart lyrics. Donahue estimates that
about 33 percent of the “Elevation” concert
crowds are hearing the music through ears of
faith, while the rest are simply at a rock ’n’ roll
show. “They don’t understand the connection
they’re feeling,” he says of the 67 percent, “but I
know it’s the Spirit of God.” ccm
Look for the CCM review of Walk On at
www.ccmmagazine.com.
03.02
ccm | 31
CCM 3.02 pg32-33_lampa
2/6/02
10:07 AM
Page 32
FOUNDATION OF LIFE
THE TRAGIC SUICIDE OF A CHILDHOOD
F R I E N D H A S G I V E N R A C H A E L L A M PA A
NEW VISION FOR WHAT GOD EXPECTS
F R O M H E R. BY CHERYL JOHNSTON
Rachael Lampa, though only 16, has
quickly become one of Christian music’s hot
new voices. But recently she was confronted
with an issue that continues to make her
uncomfortable: suicide. The shocking news
that one of her friends took his life last fall led
Lampa to talk about it on stage, which has led
to a lot of backstage discussions with fans.
The friend was a boy from her hometown,
Lewisville, Colo., whom she had befriended in
middle school. In fact, he was the first person
whom Lampa ever felt called to go out of her
way to reach. When they were sixth graders, the
boy’s parents strongly encouraged him to attend
Lampa’s youth group. The other members of the
youth group knew he did not want to join them
and were skeptical about trying to include him,
but Lampa tried to get to know him anyway.
32
| ccm
03.02
Although it had been a while since she had
spoken to him, she could not get the futility of
his death out of her mind. “I feel that if
somebody would’ve shown him just a little
more love—he was obviously empty in some
part of his life—he could still be here today.”
This experience has made Lampa realize that
God expects more out of her than just great
vocals and good Christian manners. In her first
years of high school, she thought she was doing
enough to share her beliefs by openly claiming
to have faith and by avoiding underage
drinking. As an 11th grader, Lampa has come
to realize that she can do so much more.
“When I made my first record I was this
excited 14-year-old who loved every song,
loved all the clothes they gave me. I loved
everything about the process. I was so excited I
was finally making a record that I didn’t think
much about what’s expected of me. It wasn’t
until after the record was finished that I dug
into the songs and found the meanings.”
As Lampa has found the deeper meaning
behind the words she sings, God has shown
her that she is not only responsible for her
own Christian walk but that she can have an
impact on the faith of others. “I’ve had so
much happening in the past year… God has
made Himself so clear and so evident in every
situation that it’s kind of like I’m looking
through a kaleidoscope. I’m looking at things
in a different way. He has become such a part
of my life that it’s indescribable.” This
sentiment is reflected in her song “Brand
New Life” on her newly released album,
Kaleidoscope (Word).
CCM 3.02 pg32-33_lampa
2/6/02
10:07 AM
Page 33
“God put this foundation in my life
that if everything was stripped away—from
my friends to my clothes to my career—I
would still have this one thing left and
rejoice in it.” —RACHAEL LAMPA
The first three nights that
Lampa talked about suicide during
her performance, teens approached
her afterward to let her know that
they were recovering from the
shock of a suicide in their high
schools, too. Teens also started
staying after to confide to her that
they had considered suicide or
knew of friends who were.
Lampa continues to get nervous
when someone admits thinking
about suicide. She gives these fans
time to tell her their story and
what they are thinking, and then
she shares her heart for God.
“We put all our trust in
clothes, popularity, grades,
everything, and when that all
goes crashing down I guess you
could feel like your life should be
over. But God put this
foundation in my life that if
everything was stripped away
from me—everything from my
friends to my clothes to my
career—I would still have this
one thing left and rejoice in it.”
She has discovered that sharing
her foundation can get people
excited about life again.
After the suicide of her friend,
Lampa now feels that it is crucial
“to not sit around and wait” to
share with as many teens as she can
the hope she has in Christ. She
knows that students in her high
school want to do whatever seems
fun and trendy now and think
about God later, and she realizes
more than ever before that her
fellow students need God because
the future is unpredictable.
Lampa’s message on the stage
reflects what she has spent the past
year doing: analyzing her heart.
“What if we all had a heart like
Jesus? What if every day we
decided to clean out a part of our
heart and see what really belongs
there? I think it could inspire
people to be a little more
sensitive… to maybe take a few
seconds and pray for those who are
hurting. We need to be reminded
how powerful it is to have that
love… there is so much power in a
simple smile or a prayer. I always
say smile at somebody like their
life depends on it. It totally could.”
Lampa recognizes that at 16
she doesn’t know how to help
everyone who comes backstage for
advice. Sometimes she comes away
emotionally drained and wishing
she could have done more. “When
people first started coming to me I
immediately went to God and
said, ‘God, don’t let me think I
know anything I don’t know.
These people know that I’m
human and they know that I’m a
sinner, that I’m not perfect. So give
me wisdom, give me words, give
me whatever I need… just remind
these people that all I want is for
them to feel Your love. It has
nothing to do with me.’ When
people come to me, I don’t want
them to go away thinking ‘Oh,
she’s got a lot of good advice.’ I
want them to go away saying,
‘Wow. God can do some awesome
things for me.’” ccm
If you or someone you know needs information on suicide prevention, call the National Hopeline Network
at 1-800-SUICIDE or find the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at www.afsp.org.
P E R S O N A L S T O RY: dealing with suicide
My name is Alli Smith, and I am a
freshman at Madison High School in
Northern Virginia. Last Memorial Day I
experienced a situation I thought I would
never face. That was the day I found out my
boyfriend was missing. When I heard the
news it was hard to keep myself together,
expecting the worst. I cried for hours, not
wanting to participate in any of the day’s
festivities. Later that night my wondering
ceased. I remember the atmosphere in the
house. I can picture my mom’s face when she
said, “They’ve found his body.” No more
information was needed; I knew he was dead.
He had killed himself. I could not believe what
was happening. I walked outside and sat
down on our bench, not knowing what to think
or do, so I just cried. Once he told me that our
relationship was about looking to God and not
ourselves. Here I am, still looking to God,
trying desperately to see Him.
Shortly after he died, another friend killed
herself. I was reluctant to believe it at first. I
couldn’t quite comprehend two friends
being gone in a mere three weeks. Once
more, I walked out to the bench and cried.
My heart was shattered, but slowly, with
time, God is piecing it together. Although it
may never be complete, it continues to
heal. Becoming more intimate with family
and friends, cherishing what I have even
more, writing and talking with my youth
leaders have all been a big part of my
healing. My greatest encouragement has
been experiencing God’s incredible love. I
now have a strong desire to share God’s
love, and I can smile in the midst of my
tears because He reminds me how much
I’ve still been blessed. Each day in prayer I
ask God to renew my strength. I remember
that “The joy of the Lord is my strength”
(Nehemiah 8:10). And as I face each new
day I remind myself to take it one step at
a time.
—Alli Smith
03.02
ccm | 33
3.02 Shop Talk v.3
2/6/2002
10:45 AM
Page 34
SHOPtalk
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34
| ccm
03.02
3.02 In Review v.7
2/6/2002
2:05 PM
Page 37
INreview
your buying guide for albums, videos & books
One to Watch
Something More
Ginny Owens
(Rocketown)
Amid the increasing over-production of pop music, it’s
refreshing to hear an artist whose strengths lie in clear
vocals and a simple acoustic sound.
If only Ginny Owens would stick to her strengths.
Her sophomore release is a good album. But it could
have been a great one, and the main thing preventing it
from realizing its potential is the production. The first few
tracks are particularly over-synthesized, almost
overwhelmed sometimes by electronics—an arrangement
that adds variety but detracts from the pure sincerity of
her voice. Even worse is the effect on the recording as a
whole, because halfway through she apparently changed
her mind about the style, reverting back to a basic
pop/folk sound carried by piano and vocals with only an
occasional flair. The result is a disconcerting lack of unity.
Also frustrating about Something More is its occasional
lack of musical creativity. Several tracks are a little too
reminiscent of Owens’ first album, Without Condition.
“This Road,” while an incredibly powerful song, bears a
striking resemblance to “If You Want Me To” from her
debut. “Be Still” is a beautiful rendition of a traditional
hymn, but its similarity to the inclusion of “Be Thou My
Vision” on her first CD reduces its freshness. “True
Story” ventures in a slightly different direction musically,
but its likeness in sound and structure to Jonatha Brooke
makes one curious whether it’s artistic expansion on
Owens’ part or merely a reflection of creative influences.
Despite the album’s drawbacks, the haunting simplicity
of Owens’ voice can’t really be ruined by any production,
and in several instances her expressive vocals shine. She
wanders from a gutsy alto jazz sound to a soaring clear
pitch with equal grace. The poignant honesty of her
themes invades the freshness of her voice, and it’s hard
not to get caught up in her story while in the midst of it
somehow finding your own. Whether she’s singing a
transparent reflection on her own journey of belief in
“Simply Love You” or retelling Bible stories with startling
individuality in the album’s first single “I Am,” she’s lost
none of the passionate talent that made her first album
so memorable.
—Lisa Tedder
ILLUSTRATION: KURT LIGHTNER
3.02 In Review v.7
2/6/2002
2:06 PM
Page 38
INreview
f
Obvious
Plus One
(Atlantic)
With the release
of its debut, The
Promise, Plus One
came onto the
Christian music
scene at a time
when most
expected the boyband phenomenon to die. However, the David
Foster-contrived group quickly surprised the
industry by earning a gold certification for the
top-selling Christian album of 2000, receiving a
Dove Award and headlining its own tour.
For its follow-up release, Obvious, the group
created a more consistent effort by becoming
increasingly involved with songwriting, then
choosing a high-profile production team:
Matthew Gerrard (Eden’s Crush, Mandy
Moore), Guy Roche (’N Sync) and Tedd T.
(Rebecca St. James) to name a few.
The result is what any boy band would wish
for. It combines high-energy pop tunes with
passionate power ballads segued with the
occasional mid-tempo pop song, all laced with
ultra-catchy lyrics. While comparable mainstream
boy bands often focus on two things—girls and
self—Plus One does a phenomenal job of
offering lyrics with more depth.
The energetic sounds of “Camouflage” and
“I Don’t Care What It Takes” revolve around
the theme of being bold and being real when
spreading God’s love. Both include a very
Justin Timberlake-sounding Nate Cole, layers
of drum loops and an edgy pop sound that
combine for instant album favorites.
“Kick Me (When I’m Down)” was written
entirely by three of Plus One’s members and is
another stand-out edgy pop tune with a
message that may jolt the Christian community:
“Why can’t you be there for me/A friend is no
where to be found/I just don’t understand why
you/Kick me when I’m down.”
The guys offer a softer side through
passionate ballads like “Calling Down an
Angel,” a song that offers prayer for someone
going through a hard time.
If one can get past the Michael Jacksonesque post-syllable grunts throughout the
chorus, the heartfelt “Who Am I?” is a nice
praise & worship ballad with such God-focused
lyrics as “I cannot breathe without Your touch/
For me You came to die/Who am I?”
While the expected trite lyrics make
occasional appearances throughout the record,
overall, Obvious offers a solid effort for fans of
fun pop and vocal harmonies. The album has
edge, passion and, for the most part, thoughtful
lyrics to boot—don’t be surprised if the Plus One
boys have another busy year ahead of them.
—Marcia Bartenhagen
A Place Where You Belong
The Normals
(ForeFront)
It’s hard to
imagine that The
Normals’ third
album, A Place
Where You Belong,
almost didn’t get
recorded. But after
a grinding year on
tour, the alt-rock
quintet was tired,
homesick and ready
for a change.
That’s when ace producer Malcolm Burn
(Midnight Oil, John Mellencamp) stepped in and
offered his New York home as a sanctuary for the
most recent writing and recording process. This
effort reveals a satisfying, richly textured work
complete with themes of hope, fear and longing.
The Normals worked to ensure that no two
songs on this project sound alike, not to mention
similar to other groups. While the band largely
succeeds at resonating distinctively placid folkmeets-modern rock, at times certain mainstream
influences are detectable. For example, “Romeo
A
S
3.02 In Review v.7
2/6/2002
2:07 PM
Page 39
on the Radio” is a dead ringer for Dire Straits,
whereas Tom Petty-esque tune “Less Than Love”
constitutes a subdued version of the rocker’s “Don’t
Come Around Here No More.” That said, the
majority of songs here emerge as truly inventive.
Highlights include sonorous mid-tempo number
“Happiness,” a peculiarly titled musing about
alienation, and standout track “Grace,” which
demands repeated listens not only to grasp
its message (the struggle for single men to
remain sexually pure), but also to savor its vast
aural intricacies.
Those looking for contemplative and
compelling music will find A Place Where You
Belong a destination worth visiting time and again.
—David McCreary
EDITOR’S PICK
Six Inches of Sky
Sherri Youngward
(BEC)
Step inside
Sherri Youngward’s
sparse, neo-folk
dreamscape Six
Inches of Sky and
find rest for your
soul. From the
Scripture-laden
opening track “All
Who Are Weary”
(Matthew 11:28)
to the psalm-like refrain of “First Fire,”
Youngward presents an offering of pure
worship. These songs breathe “worship”
in their simplicity and elegance.
After three previous albums, Youngward
returns on a new label with her acoustic
guitar and thoughtful lyrics front and center.
The laid-back, atmospheric production by
the “Glitter Twins” (Gabe and Solo of the
Rock ‘n’ Roll Worship Circus) holds the
album together despite eclectic musical
swings—from the alt-rock of “Nothing
Compares” to the techno drum loop-driven
“Everywhere” to the alt-country remake of
the gospel classic “I’ll Fly Away.”
Clearly Youngward is a visionary. The
finest example is “Where This Love
Goes,” an amazing, infectious love song
for believers and seekers alike that is sure
to stir their hearts (and dreams).
—Steve Knight
Here I Am to Worship
Tim Hughes
(WorshipTogether)
With his melodic
voice and congregationfriendly songs, Tim
Hughes ranks among
the brightest lights of
the British modernworship movement.
He’s a busy lad, too.
At 24, he’s already
made a mark on
several compilations,
including the I Could Sing of Your Love Forever
series and last year’s All Around the World set.
Now, on Here I Am to Worship, Hughes delivers
his first solo album, a recording that should help
make him as familiar on this side of the pond as
his friend and mentor, Matt Redman.
Hughes’ musical style doesn’t bulldoze any new
ground, though his Delirious-meets-Sonicflood
textures are edgy enough to keep the album
flowing smartly. Instead, the real impact comes in
the intimacy and power of his words. At times,
he’s simple and honest in revealing his need for
God, as in “My Jesus, My Lifeline”: “I’m
searching, I’m longing/Please make me just as
You want to.” At other times, his words are bold,
as on “Maker of All Things”: “Working Your
wonders day by day/You’ll reign forever.”
One major bonus is that Hughes has an ear for
catchy melodies. The songs are easily
2000’s Dove Award winning
New
Artist
of
the
Year
returns with the follow-up to her best selling debut
“... you’re in for a real treat
when Ginny Owens unleashes
her triumphant sophomore
album, Something More.
It simply overflows with insightful,
penetrating lyrics and sounds...”
–cmcentral.com
Available for a limited time,
three exclusive album covers
Featuring the hits
“I Am” and “This Road”
Available everywhere
March 19
See Ginny Owens on tour with Rebecca St. James in March.
Check website for details
www.ginnyowens.com
www.rocketownrecords.com
3.02 In Review v.7
2/6/2002
2:07 PM
Page 40
INreview
f
remembered after just a couple of listens, making
them rich material for savvy worship leaders on
the lookout for fresh music. And the production,
by ex-Sonicflood members Dwayne Larring and
Jason Halbert, offers just the right mix of crunchy
guitars and soothing strings.
Ultimately, Here I Am to Worship finds Hughes
fully stepping out as a leader while leaving the
spotlight open for the One who deserves it most.
—Anthony DeBarros
Squad
Five-0
Squad Five-0
(Tooth & Nail)
Squad Five-0’s
self-titled album is a
rock album that’s
fast and full of
attitude. With the
Squad’s fiery style
and rowdy sound, the group seems to fare
well, though don’t expect too much variety in
this fast-moving rocket ride. The view is pretty
much the same from start to finish.
Jeff Fortson’s gritty vocals are full of energy
and passion, while Dave Peterson’s blistering
efforts on the drums also help lift the album.
Though Squad delivers several solid rock
tunes, some of its tracks tend to melt together.
The album also seems to lack a noticeable
spiritual message that stands out. Beyond its
messages of standing up to your problems,
staying away from drugs and not getting
caught up in the materialistic ways of the
world, the album lacks the spiritual depth that
many believers may look for in their music.
Though it isn’t blemish free, Squad’s quality,
energy and musical talent should catch the
ears of some rock fans and hold on for a while.
—Shawn Hendricks
Kaleidoscope
Rachael Lampa
(Word)
Those who prefer
their music to be
filled with theological
profundities and
mountaintop lyrical
revelations may not
think much of the
latest effort from
teen pop phenom,
Rachael Lampa. On
the other hand,
those who listen to Christian radio mainly for a
comfortable distraction and generally positive
faith messages will find plenty to like in
Lampa’s Kaleidoscope.
“Sanctuary” is easily the most attentiongrabbing melody here. Fusing R&B, pop and
gospel influences, this modern-day spiritual is a
piece that brings to mind artists like Destiny’s
Child or Mariah Carey. The result is both
emotionally uplifting and sorrowful, making it
this writer’s favorite (though the least radiofriendly) tune on the CD.
Other highlights are the rollicking funk of
“Savior Song,” the gentle groove of “I’m All
Yours” and the ballad “Give Your Heart Away”
(which is reminiscent of Lampa’s earlier hit,
“I’m Blessed”).
The real weakness in this album is its
scratch-the-surface treatment of lyrical issues.
For instance, trite phrases like, “The sun is
shinin’ and the grass is green/The birds are
singin’ in harmony” (in “Brand New Life”) and
“No one else could know me/No one else
could hold me/The way you do” (in “For Your
Love”) leave something to be desired.
After the award-winning success of her
debut CD, 16-year-old Lampa can no longer
use her age to get listeners to pay attention to
her music. Fortunately, the tight rhythms and
vocal balladry of Kaleidoscope will bring in fans
on its own merit. Don’t be afraid to make it
your comfortable distraction this week.
—Mike Nappa
3.02 In Review v.7
2/6/2002
10:55 AM
Page 43
INreviewbooks
Tolkien’s Ordinary Virtues
Mark Eddy Smith
(InterVarsity)
With the Lord of the
Rings trilogy’s brilliant
and thus far highly
successful foray from
classic literature to the
big screen, it would be
easy to dismiss
Tolkien’s Ordinary
Virtues as a blatant
attempt to capitalize
on a trend.
But once readers lay
cynicism aside, they’ll
find that Ordinary Virtues is a compelling read
that chronicles what you can learn from Lord of
the Rings and Tolkien’s works that follow. In
short chapters devoid of flowery language,
timeless virtues, like the treasures of
friendship, the importance of generosity and
the contentment found in a life characterized
by simplicity, are highlighted with specific
references to the characters and fictional
landscapes Tolkien has crafted.
Another component that adds interest to the
volume is its introduction. Readers learn about
the impact of Tolkien’s writing on the likes of
C.S. Lewis and why author Smith can be
moved to tears by reading Frodo’s words “I will
take the ring, though I do not know the way.”
Like radio personality Paul Harvey, Mark
Eddy Smith gives readers “the rest of the
story” in Ordinary Virtues by uncovering
spiritual nuggets of truth you may have missed
and offering practical life applications that add
an extra dimension of depth and meaning to
Tolkien’s work.
—Christa Farris
Piercing Proverbs:
Wise Words for
Today’s Teens
Melody Carlson
as a reference point, and the hermeneutics
are clear and simple—but almost too simple
at times, undermining teens’ ability to
comprehend Scripture.
However, if the idea is to introduce the
Proverbs to young people who have had little
or no previous experience with the Bible,
Carlson’s book will serve them well.
—Stephanie Ottosen
Safely Home
Randy Alcorn
(Tyndale)
Many Christians have
become aware of the
plight of the persecuted
church in China through
the efforts of Prayer for
the Persecuted Church
and testimonies from
recording artist Jars of
Clay’s visit to China.
Now author Randy
Alcorn uses his knack
for character
development and an
intriguing storyline to continue to raise
awareness about the situation, while managing
to offer readers a sense of eternal hope in
the process.
Raising the literary bar even from bestselling works like Deadline and Edge of
Eternity, Alcorn introduces two fictional
characters that couldn’t be more different in
terms of life experiences—even if they were
Harvard roommates in the past. While one is
enjoying the finer pleasures of life in the United
States, the other is facing excruciating
religious persecution in China—which sets the
stage for a reunion 20 years later that’s
defined by startling realizations of life’s eternal
ramifications and what it really means to be
willing to suffer for your faith.
Even in dealing with such weighty subject
matter and providing details of devastation that
can’t help but tug at your heart, Safely Home is
still an extremely enjoyable reading experience
that excels in subtlety by making its point
without being overly preachy in the process.
—Christa Farris
Thunder of Heaven
Ted Dekker
(W)
As part three in the
Martyr’s Song series,
Thunder of Heaven
resounds with riveting
action scenes and a
dynamic interchange
between the power of
nature and man. In the
Amazon jungle,
missionary daughter,
Tanya, cannot imagine a
heaven more perfect
than the world she lives
in. Her first love, Shannon, son of nearby
plantation owners, shares and reciprocates
Tanya’s passion, yet their paradise is about to
be shattered by hired killers who murder their
parents. Neither Tanya nor Shannon realizes
the other has escaped the slaughter.
Fast-forward eight years. Each one bent on
discovering the truth behind the deaths of their
respective families, Tanya embraces God’s
path, while Shannon seeks only retribution.
Betrayal, both from within and without,
threatens Tanya’s and Shannon’s sanity and
their very lives. Dekker offers non-stop action
from the get-go, as well as plausible war-zone
scenarios, with the message of God’s hope as
the undercurrent of every event.
—Michele Howe ccm
EDITOR’S PICK
(Multnomah)
Author Melody
Carlson set out to solve
a problem: helping teens
find relevance and
importance in Scripture,
specifically in the Book
of Proverbs. While her
intentions are noble,
Carlson seems to get
caught up in trying to
over-relate to her
young audience.
Her use of suspected
teenage jargon such as “cool,” “chick” and
“wham” may merely annoy the reader instead
of making the text more accessible.
Jargon aside, the idea for the book is a
good one with its short, easy-to-read sections
that are divided by subject.
Carlson’s inclusion of the original Scriptural
text at the beginning of every section is helpful
Every Young Man’s Battle
Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker
(Waterbrook)
Over the years
guys tend to get their
share of locker room
education, so what a
thrill to see a book
written specifically
for young men that
isn’t afraid to be
brutally honest about
their battle with sexual
temptation. Every
Young Man’s Battle
revolves around purity
and becoming men of God. Challenging
guys to be authentic in their walk with the
Lord, the book encourages young men to
find godly role models and mentors.
The authors do an excellent job of
backing up their content with Scripture,
enabling the reader to see firsthand that
God does, indeed, talk about these
temptations in His Word and mercifully
gives ways to resist. It’s also filled with
stories of ordinary men who have gone
through some very real trials and, in some
cases, caused themselves a lot of pain. In
the end, however, Arterburn and Stoeker
show that God heals and is faithful to
forgive and love when His children
choose to come back to Him. This book
is a bold example of straightforward truth
on a topic that is so relevant for young
men, offering a message of hope when
the outlook can often be gloomy. I only
wish someone had handed me this book
when I was 11.
—Jeff Schmid
03.02
ccm | 43
CCM 3.02 On Tour v.7
2/6/2002
11:40 AM
Page 44
ONtour
concert reviews & tours
Michael Card/Sara Groves
Wheaton College
Wheaton, Illinois
by Lou Carlozo
Wheaton College marked the last stop on the fall leg of the Michael Card/Sara Groves
acoustic tour. And for those Card and Groves fans who didn’t get to make a concert date—
particularly this one—what a pity. The emotion and spirit that permeated this show overflowed
at many joyous junctures, from the audience sing-alongs that ignited timeless hymns to the
moment Groves burst into tears, clearly taken aback that the tour was ending.
Rather than split the night into two separate acts, Groves and Card shared the stage,
accompanying each other on songs with an ease that suggested a partnership of decades rather
than months. From the top of the set when Groves lent her velvety voice to the call-andresponse chorus on “Jubilee” this connection was apparent. With bass, a mini drum kit and
Groves’ husband Troy on percussion, the instrumentation was sumptuous, yet left plenty of
room for Card and Groves to fill the hall with their heartfelt singing.
During her lead vocal turns, Groves proved an engaging performer with a voice reminiscent of
Suzanne Vega. Her songwriting reflected an intelligence to match her singing, from the
rollicking “Tent in the Center of Town” to “Every Minute,” slated for her upcoming album, the
refrain of which captured perfectly the tensions believers feel as they walk further with God: “At
risk of wearing out my welcome/At risk of self-discovery/I’ll take every moment and every minute that
You’ll give me.” Groves also had enough confidence to sing Card’s “El Shaddai”—a song Amy
Grant made famous—and embrace it as her own. When Groves tried to exit for a short break,
the crowd beckoned her back.
As for Card, his consummate depth and poetry recall that of the late Rich Mullins, though
Card is as instructional in concert as Mullins was hysterical. Card is the son of a doctor, and one
suspects he might hold the layman’s equivalent of a Ph.D. in biblical scholarship. At one point,
he walked the audience through the finer points of pseudepigrapha—the false writings that
March/April Tour Dates
Surf tour dates by city or state at www.ccmmagazine.com
4HIM
March 1–Farmington, NM
9–Lynden, WA
615/963-3000
ACAPPELLA
March 3–Port St. Lucie, FL
9–Baton Rouge, LA
16–Lexington, KY
28–Garland, TX
29–Marshall, TX
30–Houston, TX
31–College Station, TX
901/641-6810
ACE
TROUBLESHOOTER
March 2–Port Huron, MI
4–Taylorville, IL
6–Kansas City, MO
7–Wichita, KS
8–Council Bluffs, IA
9–Bartlesville, OK
44
| ccm
03.02
10–Oklahoma City, OK
12–Longview, TX
13–San Antonio, TX
15–Dallas, TX
16–Abilene, TX
17–Amarillo, TX
20–Phoenix, AZ
22–Meeker, CO
23–Denver, CO
26-27–Keystone, CO
29–Des Moines, IA
30–Springfield, MO
615/662-7776
ALL TOGETHER
SEPARATE
March 2–Bremerton, WA
3–Lynnwood, WA
4–Portland, OR
8–Sacramento, CA
13–Memphis, TN
14–Nashville, TN
15–Johnson City, TN
16–Morganton, NC
21–St. Petersburg, FL
22–Brandon, FL
23–Jackson, MS
909/684-FISH
15–Akron, OH
16–Fort Wayne, IN
22–Whiting, NJ
24–Lancaster, PA
25–Fayetteville, NC
28–Salem, VA
AMONG THORNS
March 1–North Little Rock, AR 29–Woodbridge, VA
30–Columbia, SC
615/297-2021
615/963-3000
RILEY ARMSTRONG
(see Circadian Rhythm)
812/521-6420
AUDIO ADRENALINE
March 9–Millsboro, DE
30–Shippensburg, PA
615/963-3000
AVALON
March 1–Grove City, OH
2–Elkhart, IN
7–Grand Rapids, MI
8–Plymouth, MI
9–Toledo, OH
THE BENJAMIN GATE
March 8–Racine, WI
19–Wauseon, OH
22–Indianapolis, IN
www.jeffroberts.com
CHARLES
BILLINGSLEY
March 3–Charlotte, NC
4–West Chester, OH
6–Kennesaw, GA
10–Wheat Ridge, CO
15–Winston-Salem, NC
16–Fayetteville, NC
Tour dates courtesy of
.
“
“
“C
“
“
CCM 3.02 On Tour v.7
2/6/2002
11:42 AM
Page 45
Card
set list:
“Jubilee”
“Poem of Your Life”
“The Word”
“Conversations”
“Generations”
“How Is It Between Us”
“Every Minute”
“Tent in the Center of Town”
“Why?”
“El Shaddai”
“Remember Surrender”
“Scribbling in the Sand”
“When Jesus Was a Boy”
“Underneath the Door”
“Soul Anchor”
“Joy in the Journey”
“The Basin and the Towel”
“Pilgrims to the City of God”
“Things We Leave Behind”
“I Will Bring You Home”
“New Jerusalem”
“Immanuel”/
“Come Worship the Lord”/
“Never Will I Leave You”
“He’s Always Been Faithful”
“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
“Grace Be With You All”
address, among other topics, the youth of Christ. “The gospels are
testimony, and they are perfect testimony,” Card said, “but inquiring
minds need to know: What was it like to be the perfect 12-year-old?”
From there, Card launched into “When Jesus Was a Boy,” which
answered the question with this haunting coda: “Just know there are
questions that have no answers except for the ones that you dream.”
During the prelude to “Underneath the Door,” Card told how his
relationship with his father inspired the song’s lyric. “He was a kind man,
but he didn’t understand the difference between living and making a living,” Card recalled.
Leading the audience in the closing hymn sing, Card clutched a red-covered Bible on stage and closed his
eyes. Whatever took hold of the audience in those final moments, it clearly left listeners transported and
uplifted. In a time when so much Christian music, including praise & worship, smacks of show biz gimmickry,
this ending was the equivalent of a baton pass, with Card and Groves not only leading the worship, but losing
themselves humbly in it. ccm
Katie Marshall
Wheaton, IL
“It was great. I’ve always liked listening to Michael Card. He’s always come off to me as a scholar first, and he
knows his stuff very well. He’s a great teacher.”
Amy Christenson
Naperville, IL
“I loved it…. Michael Card is one of the few artists who is actually a musician. It’s music. It’s not just a show. It’s
music with a good solid gospel.”
Brian Wittenberg
Lombard, IL
“It was a great concert. I thought Michael Card shared the stage well with Sara Groves and there was no
opening act versus main act. It was just a night of worship.”
17–Lynchburg, VA
19–Young Harris, GA
20–Knoxville, TN
22–Jacksonville, FL
24–Lynchburg, VA
31–Jackson, MS
770/579-3343
MATT BROUWER
CALIBRETTO 13
(see Circadian Rhythm)
909/684-3474
(see Buck Enterprises)
615/297-2021
BUCK ENTERPRISES
MICHAEL CARD
March 2–Dallas, TX
248/478-6488
BLEACH
BY THE TREE
March 8–Palm Bay, FL
29–Mount Laurel, NJ
30–Lancaster, PA
31–Philadelphia, PA
219/269-3413
March 9–Myrtle Beach, SC
15–Bolivar, MO
16–Springfield, MO
23–Winona, MN
29–Taylorville, IL
30–Pinckneyville, IL
615/297-2021
LINCOLN BREWSTER
March 1–Myrtle Beach, SC
3–Irmo, SC
17–Smiths Creek, MI
23–Everett, WA
28–Birmingham, AL
615/790-5540
BROTHER’S KEEPER
March 2–High Point, NC
205/755-9077
PHOTO: LOU CARLOZO
March 1–The Woodlands,
TX
12–Auburn, AL
14–Oklahoma City, OK
15–Fort Worth, TX
17–Houston, TX
22–Wheaton, IL
23–Defiance, OH
615/790-5540
CADET
March 2–Livingston, TX
615/297-2021
CAEDMON’S CALL
April 20–Upland, IN
615/297-2021
STEVEN CURTIS
CHAPMAN
March 7–Charlotte, NC
9–Woodbridge, VA
12–Hershey, PA
26–Grand Rapids, MI
28–Birmingham, AL
29–Atlanta, GA
30–Greenville, SC
615/383-8787
CIRCADIAN RHYTHM
March 1–Rancho Cordova,
CA
2–Concord, CA
10–Visalia, CA
15–Spokane, WA
23–Auburn Hills, MI
615/297-2021
24–Cleveland, TN
www.worshipcitypraise.com
ASHLEY CLEVELAND
BRYAN DUNCAN
March 3–Elk Grove, CA
6–San Diego, CA
219/269-3413
March 1–Grass Valley, CA
219/269-3413
15–Spokane, WA
23–Enumclaw, WA
661/325-6967
FLIGHT 180
March 8–Green Bay, WI
615/297-2021
THE ELMS
CLAY CROSSE
March 23–Bushnell, FL
615/790-5540
March 1-6–Cape Girardeau,
MO
8–Fort Wayne, IN
9–Centerville, OH
15–New Hope, MN
22–Denver, CO
27–Gainesville, TX
615/859-7040
DELIRIOUS
FFH
March 1–Wheaton, IL
2–St. Paul, MN
22–Tacoma, WA
23–Salem, OR
25–Hollywood, CA
26–San Diego, CA
615/383-8787
March 1–Florence, SC
2–Villa Rica, GA
15–Orlando, FL
16–Conway, AR
29–Dayton, OH
31–Hampton, VA
615/790-5540
JEFF DEYO
JOHN FISCHER
March 9–Palos Heights, IL
March 8–Akron, OH
March 2–Rockford, IL
3–New Caney, TX
615/777-2227
THE DARINS
FORTY DAYS
March 1–Florence, SC
8–Fort Lauderdale, FL
12–Winter Park, CO
16–Visalia, CA
27–Mocksville, NC
615/777-2227
FURTHER SEEMS
FOREVER
March 28–Dallas, TX
617/247-4287
FUSEBOX
(see Rebecca St. James)
www.jeffroberts.com
GAITHER VOCAL
BAND
March 1–Louisville, KY
03.02
ccm | 45
CCM 3.02 On Tour v.7
2/6/2002
1:26 PM
Page 46
ONtour
MERCYME
PETRA
March 9–Indianapolis, IN
770/736-5363
NATALIE GRANT
March 1–Tyler, TX
8–New Orleans, LA
9–Louisville, MS
15–Spokane, WA
18–Waco, TX
22–Plainview, TX
615/297-2021
(see Plus One)
615/248-0800
GEOFF MOORE
2–Bossier City, LA
8–Hampton, VA
9–Florence, SC
22–Philadelphia, PA
23–Fairfax, VA
864/801-9266
STEVE GREEN
March 3–Murfreesboro, TN
8–Broomfield, CO
15–Waverly, IA
16–Wichita, KS
21–Houston, TX
615/662-0335
SARA GROVES
March 9–Dallas, TX
615/383-8787
THE NORMALS
(see Jars of Clay)
615/790-5540
JASON INGRAM
(see Sonicflood)
615/777-2227
JAKE
March 9–Myrtle Beach, SC
14–Oklahoma City, OK
15–Fort Worth, TX
17–Houston, TX
www.jeffroberts.com
JARS OF CLAY
March 17–Atlanta, GA
615/963-3000
JOY ELECTRIC
(see Starflyer 59)
714/963-3521
THE KATINAS
(see 4HIM)
615/963-3000
CHERI KEAGGY
March 8–Davenport, IA
615/777-2227
PHIL KEAGGY
March 8–Grove City, OH
219/269-3413
FERNANDO ORTEGA
March 2–Chicago, IL
17–Austin, TX
19–McAllen, TX
22–Wichita, KS
23–Sioux Falls, SD
24–Red Wing, MN
26–Madison, WI
29-30–St. Paul, MN
219/269-3413
OUT OF EDEN
March 2–Niagara Falls, NY
615/963-3000
GINNY OWENS
(see also Rebecca St.
James)
March 31–Tucson, AZ
615/771-2500
(see Jars of Clay)
615/383-8787
SANDI PATTY
LARUE
March 2–Louisville, MS
16–Dallas, TX
23–Greensboro, NC
800/578-7984
GREG LONG
March 7–Millsboro, DE
615/963-3000
LUNA HALO
March 16–Redding, CA
615/297-2021
March 2–Spartanburg, SC
3–Greensboro, NC
7–Jacksonville, FL
8–Lakeland, FL
12–Fort Myers, FL
14–Kenner, LA
15–Mobile, AL
21–San Antonio, TX
22–Spring, TX
23–Dallas, TX
25–Little Rock, AR
28–Springfield, MO
30–Minneapolis, MN
615/963-3000
POINT OF GRACE
March 15–Miami, FL
16–Valdosta, GA
615/963-3000
SKILLET
March 2–Jacksonville, FL
8–Racine, WI
9–Eau Claire, WI
16–Nashville, TN
19–Wauseon, OH
22–Indianapolis, IN
615/771-9996
SMALLTOWN
POETS
March 9–Tybee Island, GA
29–Camp Hill, PA
615/297-2021
SONICFLOOD
March 1–Hattiesburg, MS
9–Gulf Shores, AL
14–Seattle, WA
15–Newberg, OR
16–Lynden, WA
19–Sacramento, CA
21–San Diego, CA
22–Yorba Linda, CA
23–Fresno, CA
24–Bakersfield, CA
25–Phoenix, AZ
28–Houston, TX
29–Alexandria, LA
30–Dayton, OH
615/777-2227
March 10–Mount Vernon,
OH
16–River Forest, IL
23–Springfield, MO
615/771-2900
THE SUPERTONES
March 1–Mechanicsville, VA
2–Norfolk, VA
8–Scotch Plains, NJ
9–Lewisberry, PA
22–Boaz, AL
615/963-3000
SWITCHFOOT
March 9–Beckley, WV
615/963-3000
TEN SHEKEL SHIRT
March 2–Belleville, NY
10–Seaside, CA
16–Shippensburg, PA
21–Longview, TX
22–Plainview, TX
23–Amarillo, TX
24–Dallas, TX
26–Pinson, AL
28–Birmingham, AL
29–Lilburn, GA
615/297-2021
THIRD DAY
March 1–Phoenix, AZ
2–Los Angeles, CA
3–Bakersfield, CA
4–Visalia, CA
6–San Jose, CA
7–Sacramento, CA
8–Boise, ID
9–Salem, OR
11–Seattle, WA
12–Spokane, WA
14–Oklahoma City, OK
16–Houston, TX
21–Indianapolis, IN
23–Cincinnati, OH
27–Bristol, TN
29–Little Rock, AR
30–New Orleans, LA
615/383-8787
ZOEGIRL
(see Plus One)
615/383-8787
PAIGE
JENNIFER KNAPP
March 2–Rockford, IL
23–Charlotte, NC
615/777-2227
03.02
March 1–Norman, OK
2–Shawnee, OK
3–Lawrence, KS
5–Lubbock, TX
6–Austin, TX
7–College Station, TX
8–Dallas, TX
9–Longview, TX
22–Plainview, TX
24–The Woodlands, TX
25–Houston, TX
615/297-2021
March 16–Dallas, TX
23–Auburn Hills, MI
615/963-3000
SCOTT KRIPPAYNE
| ccm
CINDY MORGAN
March 2–Crystal Lake, IL
15–Alexandria, LA
615/963-3000
SHAUN GROVES
46
March 4–Anaheim, CA
10–Little Falls, MN
11–Talladega, AL
31–Visalia, CA
615/790-5540
PLUS ONE
REBECCA ST.
JAMES
March 9–Mansfield, OH
23–Glendale, CA
615/963-3000
PAX217
March 2–Irvine, CA
9–Lewisberry, PA
16–Anaheim, CA
615/297-2021
ANDREW
PETERSON
March 2–St. Louis, MO
7–Wichita, KS
8–Kansas City, MO
9–Marshall, MO
10–Hillsboro, MO
615/297-2021
CCM [ISSN 1524–7848] is published monthly by CCM
Communications. Copyright: CCM © 2002 by CCM Communications,
104 Woodmont Blvd., Third Floor, Nashville, TN 37205. Contents may
not be reproduced in any manner, either whole or in part, without prior
written permission of the publisher. Editorial: The editor cannot assume
responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and will return only those
accompanied by a stamped, self–addressed envelope. Writers’
guidelines available upon request. Advertising: Neither the advertisers nor
the contents of advertisements appearing in this publication are
necessarily endorsed by CCM Communications. We cannot accept
liability for any products, services, etc., offered in advertisements, but
please contact us if you experience any difficulties with advertisers.
Periodicals postage paid at Nashville, TN and additional offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to P.O. Box 706, Mt. Morris, IL
61054–0706. Printed in the U.S.A.
Subscription/Customer Service Information: Write CCM, P.O. Box 706,
Mt. Morris, IL 62054–0706 or call 800/333–9643. In the U.S.,
$19.95/one year, $35.95/two years, $53.95/three years; Canada, (U.S.
funds) $27.95 per year; all other countries, (U.S. funds) $33.95 (surface)
or $67 (airmail). For address changes or other inquiries, please include
both old and new addresses and mailing label. Allow four to six weeks
for new subscriptions to begin.
CCM 3.02 On Tour v.7
2/6/2002
12:07 PM
HOT
SEX
WILL BURN YOU BAD.
Page 48
CLASSIFIEDS
MUSICIANS/EMPLOYMENT
MUSICIANS WANTED Opening for vocalists, lead, rhythm
and bass guitars, drummers, keyboardist and sound, lighting
and media technicians. Evangelistic outreach to America’s
schools. Full-time tour August-May. One-year commitment
minimum. Partial support must be raised. Call Arc Ministries
at 800/422-4383.
LET THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE your career in music.
www.usgovernmentinformation.com. Free recorded
message: 707/448-0200. (5JZ4)
MUSICIANS WANTED Top national artist agency is currently
auditioning for new Christian parody band. Drums, bass,
guitars, keys, drivers, roadies for tour. One-year
commitments. Talent and sense of humor needed. Send
demo or résumé to P.O. Box 866, Plainfield, NJ 07060.
AWARD-WINNING SONGWRITER/PRODUCER who has
worked with major labels seeking talented Christian singers.
Great original songs. Quality and creativity.
www.bowtierecords.com. 615/824-3375.
PRAISE & WORSHIP SONGS WANTED Don’t miss this
opportunity. We are looking for artists and songwriters who
want to reach the world for Jesus. Amazing major label
project. Beginners to professionals. Please send a cassette
or CD of your songs including lyrics. Please do not send any
song that is currently under contract with another publishing
or record company, but make sure your material is
copyrighted. Worldwide Ministries, 49 Rockview Ave., North
Plainfield, NJ 07060.
SONGWRITERS/SINGERS Master quality demos and
soundtracks of your song digitally recorded! Professional
musicians! 865/774-4671.
KCCHRISTIANMUSIC (.COM) Artists promoting artists,
KCCM Awards, online store, radio program, etc.
RECORDS/TAPES/CDS
F
or when cold showers just
don’t cut it anymore.
It’s all about how you can
guard your eyes and mind. How you
can clean up your thought life.
And how you can develop a battle
plan that really works. Even in the
sex-soaked culture you live in.
Available in bookstores everywhere.
www.waterbrookpress.com
CHRISTIAN DIGITAL MUSIC Enormous selection of preowned CDs! Damaged discs repaired. Cash for your discs.
Free catalog. Send large S.A.S.E. to C.D.M., 4051
Berrywood Drive, Santa Maria, CA 93455-3342. E-mail:
christiandigital@compuserve.com.
Web: www.christiandigital.com.
5,000+ USED/NEW Christian CDs, tapes. cmx@aol.com.
www.bitsmart.com/cmx.
FREE CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC SAMPLER
CD! The Piper, Box 66053, Chateauguay, Quebec, Canada
J6K 5B7. www.thepiper@look.ca.
BELIEVE Melt your heart—rock your soul! The Chatmans
Live in Love CD, $5.00. Quita Records, P.O. Box 1498,
Lawrenceville, GA 30046.
LOOKING FOR YOUR next hit song? www.hitchristiansongs.com.
BUY, SELL AND TRADE quality new and used Christian
music from the ’70s to today’s hottest acts. We specialize in
independent, import, hard to find and out of print titles too!
Visit the all-new www.crossingmusic.com!
incubator
Funding, booking, management & label for nobodies...
www.IncubatorOnline.com
Celebrating 12 years of ministry
SERVICES
MISCELLANEOUS
CD REPLICATION WITH NATIONAL CHRISTIAN RADIO
PROMOTION Oasis CD Duplication offers the highest
quality CD manufacturing and promotes your music to
Christian radio nationwide on the acclaimed Oasis
Inspirational CD sampler. Call for free information:
888/296-2747; www.oasisCD.com; info@oasisCD.com.
JOBS! JOBS! Christian company hiring people to present
educational and motivational programs in schools and
churches nationwide. 800/359-6922. Camfel Productions,
15709 Arrow Hwy. #2, Irwindale, CA 91706.
RADIO/RETAIL PROMOTIONS Proven track record for
labels, independents. 541/888-4222.
Hereignsmusic@harborside.com.
RUGGED CROSS MUSIC Hard to find, out of print CDs, LP
records and tapes. Contact us: P.O. Box 42146, Charleston,
SC 29423-2146; www.RuggedCrossMusic.com;
sales@RuggedCrossMusic.com.
FREE NATIONAL EXPOSURE for unsigned artist at
www.GospelDemo.com. Be a part of the newest and most
innovative Web site in Christian/gospel music.
GospleDemo.com will market your music to the industry and
give you your own Web page complete with photo, bio and
your demo. Log on for details.
48
| ccm
03.02
HOW TO PLACE CLASSIFIEDS
To place a classified ad, send a check (payable to CCM
MAGAZINE), along with your ad copy, by the 10th of the
month, two months in advance of the issue in which you
want the ad. (For example, by March 10 for the May
issue.) Cost: $2.50 a word with a minimum of $20 per
month. Display ads run as follows: $215 (B/W), $295 (2
color) and $345 (4 color). CMYK colors only. Send ad
copy (or camera-ready art for display ads) and your
check to: Classified Ads, CCM MAGAZINE, 104
Woodmont Blvd., Third Floor, Nashville, TN 37205.
Make sure to include a daytime phone number.
By the Numbers v.3
2/6/2002
5:30 PM
Page 49
BYtheNUMBERS
Position
Position
Last Month
Title/Artist
Label
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
2
O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?
Various
3
SATELLITE
P.O.D.
Atlantic
4
BELIEVE
Yolanda Adams
Elektra
9
SONGS 4 WORSHIP: SHOUT TO THE LORD
Various
16
ALMOST THERE
MercyMe
5
WOW 2002
Various
Sparrow
7
WORSHIP
Michael W. Smith
Reunion
8
COME TOGETHER
Third Day
19
LIVE IN LONDON AND MORE
Donnie McClurkin
10
DECLARATION
Steven Curtis Chapman
Sparrow
13
LIFE
ZOEgirl
Sparrow
18
DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN
Various
32
SONGS 4 WORSHIP: HOLY GROUND
Various
17
THE WAY I AM
Jennifer Knapp
33
THANKFUL
Mary Mary
36
CECE WINANS
CeCe Winans
Wellspring
25
MOMENTUM
Toby Mac
ForeFront
24
JUMP5
Jump5
—
WOMAN THOU ART LOOSED: WORSHIP 2002
Bishop T.D. Jakes
28
TALK ABOUT IT
Nicole C. Mullen
—
FREEDOM BAND
Bill and Gloria Gaither and Their Homecoming Friends
20
LIFT
Audio Adrenaline
21
VOICE OF AN ANGEL
Charlotte Church
Word
—
AWESOME WONDER
The Kurt Carr Singers
Gospo Centric
14
SONGS 4 WORSHIP: CHRISTMAS
Various
30
BILL AND GLORIA GAITHER PRESENT: A BILLY GRAHAM MUSIC HOMECOMING, VOL. 2
34
IN THE COMPANY OF ANGELS: A CALL TO WORSHIP
Caedmon’s Call
28
29
30
31
32
27
BILL AND GLORIA GAITHER PRESENT: A BILLY GRAHAM MUSIC HOMECOMING, VOL. 1
—
HYMNS
Shirley Caesar
40
OFFERINGS: A WORSHIP ALBUM
Third Day
—
YOU ARE MY WORLD
Hillsong Music Australia
Integrity
—
WOW WORSHIP GREEN
Various
Integrity
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
—
SONGS 4 WORSHIP: GREAT IS THE LORD
Various
Time Life
—
JOURNEY FOR THE HEART
Blessed
Ultimate
—
I COULD SING OF YOUR LOVE FOREVER 2
Various
23
RESONATE
Sonicflood
—
WOW GOSPEL 2001
Various
Verity
26
FREE TO FLY
Point of Grace
Word
—
CLICHÉS
Greg O’Quin ’n’ Joyful Noyze
—
THE ANATOMY OF THE TONGUE IN CHEEK
Relient K
Lost Highway
Time Life
INO
Essential
Verity
Lost Highway
Time Life
Gotee
Myrrh/Columbia/C2
Sparrow
EMI Gospel
Word
Spring House
ForeFront
Integrity
Bill and Gloria Gaither and Their Homecoming Friends
Bill and Gloria Gaither and Their Homecoming Friends
Spring House
Essential
Spring House
Word
Essential
WorshipTogether
INO
World Wide Gospel
Gotee
(— chart debut, * chart re-entry)
By the Numbers reports album sales from a national monthly sample of Christian and general market retail store and rack sales reports collected,
compiled and provided by SoundScan (© 2002 CCM Communications and SoundScan Inc.). This month the chart reflects January 2002 sales.
03.02
ccm | 49
Consider This v.4
2/6/2002
12:10 PM
Page 50
CONSIDERthis
by john fischer
Hope Givers
This is the time of year Christians everywhere focus on the
death and resurrection of Jesus. It is a time when green shoots of
life push up through thawing earth and the dead of winter dies for
another year. This is when the entire natural world re-enacts the
gospel story one more time just in case we needed another object
lesson. It is a time when hope once again emerges as a believer’s
great possession. We have hope for the future, hope beyond the
grave, hope in a hopeless world, and this year, especially, we all
need to be reminded that such a thing exists.
Hope is usually associated with things getting better, but there
is a widespread pessimism in this country about that very fact.
People are trying hard to believe things are getting better, but
they fear the opposite. Hope, for many today, seems like a
fantasy. That’s why Christians have so much to offer right now.
We have a hope that does not rely on the economy, the
government or the security of our country. Our hope is rooted
in something eternal, and it is for this reason that we can be
hopeful and give hope to others, even
those who do not believe. Hope is
something we can give precisely
because we are Christians, and
we have it.
Hope is not just for us. It is for
people, who for one reason or
another feel shut out. Hope is for
those who have lost loved ones, or
jobs, or homes, or even the will to
live. Hope is for those who feel
frightened—those who no longer
feel secure.
Hope is not hard to grasp. It is
tangible. It is a human touch, an
understanding ear, a kind voice that
says, “You count. You are
important to me.” Hope is
conveyed through human beings. It is in this way that we are the
body of Christ. We are His hands and ears and arms—even
tears, when appropriate.
The responsibility actually falls on all believers, everywhere,
regardless of position, to supply hope in our own sphere of
influence. Hope is not a happy faith in Jesus that somehow
bubbles over to others from our smiling faces and happy songs.
I am recalling a line in a Bruce Cockburn song about how
sometimes, because of a friend’s hopeless situation, the best
thing you can do for that person is sit with them and kick at
the darkness. That may seem like nothing, but two kickers are
better than one. A warm body to share the pain can speak
more than many words, no matter how thoughtful. I think Job,
in the Old Testament, would have preferred this to all the
advice he received from his “friends.”
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People are hopeless because they feel no one has noticed
them. There is no loneliness greater than to be lonely in a
crowd, and the world is a crowded place full of isolated
people. How many times do you read of the killer, the rapist,
the suicide victim: “He was a loner. He pretty much kept to
himself.” Well, who let him do that?
Noticing someone can save a life—sometimes many lives.
When you notice someone you give that person dignity. My
wife noticed a bag lady once in Santa Monica. She had her
routine. She was always making her rounds accompanied by
all her possessions in two shopping carts (three at Christmas
time when she pulled a small discarded Christmas tree in a
cart in the middle). What my wife noticed the most was that
she always stopped in the drug store to
apply lipstick from the samples.
Because of this, my wife now
has a dream to provide a place in
the city where homeless
women can get their
hair done, make-up
applied and a manicure.
It may seem fruitless to
give a homeless person a
manicure, but dignity is
highly underrated. We may not be
able to provide a home for everyone, but a
little dignity can go a long way toward giving
someone hope. And hope can change a
person forever.
Hope comes from tangible love. It’s
immeasurable how much hope another
human being can bring. And this is not
limited to those whose situation is
desperate, like the poor and the homeless,
although their need is especially acute.
Some people hide their desperation behind their wealth, or
their sense of humor or some other apparent asset. You never
know when noticing someone might save a life.
We know that Christ is the ultimate hope for everyone, but
that hope is carried to people by other people who believe like
you and me. Having hope to give to someone in the first place
is proof that faith is real. Without it, there would be little
reason to care. Hope is first known through the tangible touch
of a genuinely caring person. We pray that people will discover
the source of all hope in Christ, but until then,
and regardless of whether anyone makes the
connection, hope comes on the wings of a friend.
John Fischer is an author, speaker and musician
(John@fischtank.com, www.fischtank.com).
For booking information, contact Sheryl Giesbrecht
at 661/325-6967 (SherylGiesbrecht@aol.com).
ILLUSTRATION: DANNY WILSON