We are getting ready to start a 4 week series in church on God’s love called “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” We were trying today to think of some nice popular and fast love songs to play as walk-in and/or walk-out songs in the services. You got any suggestions? We were struggling. We ruled out the title song because of subject matter IN the song. I suggested “Wicked Game” by Chris Issack, but for obvious reasons that one got axed, along side of “I Wanna Sex You Up” by Color Me Bad when Chris suggested it. A few Beatles tunes came up, but seriously, what else?

Thanks in advance for your service.

-Travis

I stumbled across this article today on the Consumerist. It ‘confirms’ that coat hangers work as well as Monster Cables for home theater speaker cable. It makes you wonder how many products out there are purely or mostly hype and not so much quality. What do you think? What products are mostly hype?

-Travis

If this doesn’t bring technology and theology together, then I don’t know what does. I found this story on CNN. Apparantly, started by a hunch, an Itallian musician has studied the Last Supper long enough to determine there is music written into the art. Of course, you have to read it backwards and connect some “methodically chosen” dots for the notes, but hey, could it be?

Sounds a bit Da Vinci Code-ish, I know, but there is no catch at least. The musician claims it is a piece that would respectfully accompany the emotion of the picture. Read the article and let us know what you think. I’m skeptical myself, but, I’m always septical, so, who cares right?

It seems a bit random that the guy doing this decided where to draw the staff for the notes to rest on and then he decided which pieces of the painting represented notes. Bread, hands and who knows what else were deemed worthy of a note. What about the interesting pieces that didn’t get notes? Sometimes a painting is just a painting. Does everything really contain some sort of subliminal message?

Anyway, what do you think?

-Travis

I was browsing the articles at Relevant Magazine and found this one on the new Radiohead album and its VERY different release method. Basically, Thom Yorke, Radiohead’s front man has not been to fond and supportive of the music industry lately. He took it to a new level with this move. A few simple mouse clicks and you could ‘make your own offer’ on “In Rainbows,” their new album. I admit that I got it for free, but it was my mistake that got it that way. A friend told me that you got it free if you went there, so thats what I did. You can offer whatever you like, and they will take it.

I am not here to discuss the quality of music on it. (I think its great.) I want to know what you folks think about the release method and what it means to the music industry. Will it have any effect at all? Will other big names follow suit? Will the greed of the people keep it from mattering? Will Lassie save Timmy from the tree trunk on his leg and the cougar on his face!?!?! Only time will tell.

I think its a neat test if nothing else. Radiohead is not the first band to do this and won’t be the last, however, they are one of the bigger names to do this. I think that with the internet revolution combined with the digital music revolution, we will see a lot more of this. Maybe it won’t be free album downloads all around but I bet we will see more and more bands distributing their own music from their sites without publishers and without a TON of the overhead to remake. Everyone is already used to getting music without a CD or a cover to read, thanks iTunes! And if you still want that CD for the car, then you can burn one easily and cheaply.

I know one thing. I would buy more music if it was cheaper, and one way to get it cheaper is to take out the middle man.

What do you think?

-Travis

Holy cow. I have to share this video I stumbled upon. I confess I LOVE seeing technology used in big ways in worship settings. I think that music and media are the languages of the people. I know it isn’t a MUST have, and I know that I do not represent everyone’s opinion here. I have some good friends that I would label ‘anti-production’ when it comes to ‘doing church.’ I just agree to disagree, Ron Burgandy would be proud.

There is more to worship than big sound, big screens and big lights. The heart has to be there, the passion, all that stuff that I guess I need to acknowledge. That being said, I KNOW that when I have more senses engaged, I am more engaged. When I get wrapped up by the sounds and all that ‘good stuff’ I love it. I focus in, I can get lost in worship in that moment. The flip side is how distracting it can be for me. I have to watch myself. I will end up spending the first 10 minutes of a big event evaluating equipment and production value. The next 10 minutes I will critique the front of house mix. After about 20 minutes I am in though. HaHa. I also believe that good production value helps the Church.

I know, I KNOW, I KNOW that Jesus doesn’t need me or my computer. However I am pretty confident he chooses to let me minister along side of him. I LOVE when a worship experience excels in technical production. I think this shows the world that the church can be an exciting and engaging experience. One possibly worth even giving a shot if you can get that 16 year old away from MTV and the movie theater. I consider it a modern time mission trip type of cultural relevance. So be it fortunate or unfortunate, the culture I minister in is overwhelmed with media. I think Jesus likes being in that media. And a last disclaimer… I think Jesus likes to be in the calm quiet, other-than-the-world stuff too. I just don’t think ‘we’ need much help and encouragement going there.

So without further delay, the AMAZING 12 minute intro to the Hillsong Conference. Let me know what you think of that Amazing Grace when you get done.