The Influence by Matthew John Slick

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The Influence (2012)

Matthew John Slick

StoneHouse Ink

If have read the previous posts on this blog, you’ll know that I am a fan of Frank Peretti.  Despite some very real and important theological problems, his books are fun and generally point to an important issue in Christian life.

So when I heard about this book by Matt Slick, I was pretty excited.  I like Slick’s radio show and articles, and while there are still some definite differences in my theology and his, he has considerably better footing than Peretti does.  In fact, the continuation of the charismatic gifts is really the only major area where I differ with him that I can think of off the top of my head, though I’m sure I’d think of something else if I tried.

So I went into this book with great excitement, and I was generally not disappointed. 

“Live Again” by Stryper (The post about filler)

Song: “Live Again”

Artist: Stryper

Album: Reborn (2001)

Track: 6

With “Live Again,” we’re reached the midpoint of the Reborn album, a midpoint that also represents the musical low-point of the disc.  On the one hand, we should really appreciate that Stryper didn’t load this one with filler, which we get a lot of in Christian music.  Of all the tracks on this album, this is really the only one that I don’t like musically.

But this one is definitely filler.  And since there’s not a lot in the lyrics to object to or really even sink our teeth into, I’d like to use this occasion to explore the Christian musician’s obligation to produce good music and to what degree filler is acceptable. 

50 Shades of Q&A

This will be the sum of my blog post about 50 Shades of Grey, and then I’ll address some questions that are surely to come up:

Not only should you not read it or watch it, it is a sin to do so, and you need to repent of that sin.

Easy enough.  Now, on to the questions:

“Passion” by Stryper

Song: “Passion”

Artist: Stryper

Album: Reborn (2001)

Track: 5

“Passion” marks the first somewhat slower ballady type thingy on Reborn, but even here we’re not left with a token slow song for radio play or something.  The choruses kick up the intensity to an otherwise soft and lovely song, and the contrast really makes this one stand out quite nicely.

Let me say this briefly – I like it when rockers put a little punch into their slower songs.  There are many albums where you get whiplash going from hard rock to a piano ballad, but keeping a heavy guitar in the mix allows for a more unified sound on the album.  This song does this well.  We’re several tracks in, and it’s time to lighten up a bit, but Stryper doesn’t do it too much.  They hook you with a pretty melody without lulling you to sleep.

It’s Stryper’s songwriting and arrangements that really make this album work, and that is backed up with some actually profound lyrics. 

We got the news anchor we wanted, but not the one we need

I grew up in Richmond, Texas, a town on the Brazos River of (at the time) shy of 10,000 people.  When I was young, the river flooded rather severely – so much so that our little town got even national media attention.  I remember seeing on CNN how high the river had gotten, and how people were forced to leave their homes.

The number of evacuees from Richmond was something that every news source agreed upon, even the Houston reporters – 20,000 people had left Richmond.  Keep in mind that the entire population was less than half of that, and most of us were fine.  My family didn’t evacuate, and I don’t recall knowing a single family that did.  In fact, I had a friend who lived a few blocks from the river, and he hadn’t left either.  The reporters were either grossly incompetent or they were lying.

Ever since then, I’ve been a bit suspicious of the news media.  That suspicion has deepened in a time where the internet and cable news channels no longer have to come up with news to fill a mere newspaper or hour-long news program, but all day of every day has been commented upon, examined, and filled.  There’s no way we’re not going to have news reported.  The question is whether what is reported is actually news, and is actually worth reporting.  And also, is it true?