*Chad Jarnagin

I am very sad to hear of Michael Jackson’s passing, on several levels…

He was THE artist that inspired me to pursue entertainment in the early part of my life. Growing up in the 80’s he was IT. I even danced around on the hardwood floors of my bedroom. In my opinion, MJ was the biggest entertainer of my lifetime. The fact that Thriller is STILL the biggest selling album of all time is just one of the reasons he has been a household name for 3 decades. His artistry was always ahead of his / our time.

I was one that never wanted to believe the accusations, even-though it was hard to imagine them to not be true on some creepy level. MJ’s story is one of great art, song, music, and blurry twisted disfunction… All the strange, out of the norm actions, stories, and obvious image…

Michael Jackson dead at 50 yrs of age. Crazy. Sad. Sobering. Fame’s definition seems to be irrelevant at the end of it all huh?

Perspective- Thousands of people died on the same day as MJ and Farrah. People, children out of public awareness.

I came across this as I was studying this morning… “Too many are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem to be more afraid of life than death…” At the risk of sounding dramatic, deaths like MJ’s should enlighten us to a urgency to live life to the full. One of the very things Jesus came to us with / for.

The thought that even the “king of pop” stood before the “King of kings” yesterday was a sobering perspective. No matter how great, talented, influential, or popular one here on the planet is, there’s always the bigger picture. What we all do with the portion of influence that we all have?

September 2009 will bring us all some new hottness from Paramore… and I will say that it is rad!

For now, catch them on tour w/ No Doubt.

615 represent.

Last week, Jen and I took Elijah to Cincinnati for his 1st Reds game (a series in which we swept Houston). This night was like nothing I’ve ever really experienced. Elijah will probably not remember a thing from the night, but I will recall it for as long as I have breath. I come from a baseball family. An uncle and a cousin both pitched in the major leagues. My dad almost signed a minor league deal. And another uncle was a scout for 2 different major league clubs, including the Reds. Where my father and I weren’t very close, he and I always shared a love for the the game.

My dad passed away in DEC of 07. He and I were never close enough to go to a pro game together. Never close enough in proximity or relationship. Last Tuesday at the game w/ Elijah, I realized that 9 months into his life, he and I had already experienced something that my dad and I were never able to do together.

Growing up close to Cincinnati and loving the game of baseball just seemed to go hand in hand. Our beloved Reds are the heart beat of the culture. I remember going to my 1st game at Riverfront Stadium in 1982. It was magic. My step dad knew how much it would mean to me, and he eventually made it happen. I’m grateful for those memories.

I have gone on to make many trips to Reds games, and have actually performed the national anthem at several games over the past few years. There’s a lot of magic in Cincinnati for me. Everything from Skyline Chili, Graeter’s Ice Cream to coming over the hill in KY overlooking the Queen City… Now, I get to begin memories with my little boy… who I hope will grow up to be a Reds fan like his dad. If he were to end up helping the club’s pitching cause one day, I wouldn’t complain.

I have to add that Elijah lasted thru a 45 minute rain delay and the entire 9 innings. I was proud.

“Jesus didn’t come to make us safe. He came to make us brave.” -Gary Haugen, International Justice Mission.

Safe by definition…
-secure from liability to harm, injury, danger, or risk: a safe place.
-free from hurt, injury, danger, or risk: to arrive safe and sound.
-involving little or no risk of mishap, error, etc.: a safe estimate.
-careful to avoid danger or controversy: a safe player; a safe play.

We believers tend to have a sense of entitlement to be heard… but don’t we need to earn that right? We can’t earn that right by continuing to make crappy art that is predictable, bland, one dimensional, & “safe”. When will we be free to cease responding and reacting to the world, grabbing hold of what has already been created and making our own “safe” version, and begin to create culture that isn’t a sub-culture?

I realize these aren’t new thoughts. If you’re tired of hearing discussions like this, feel free to stop right here. But if you want to dream with me, keep reading.

I am sitting on 2 dozen unfinished songs for fear of them being lame. For every 1 song that I write or co-write there are 6 others that I just don’t feel are even close to being ready. Maybe they’re too raw, transparent, or not sing along friendly. But, if Jesus came to make us brave as Mr Haugen stated, why am I also falling prey to the fear of taking risks in my art?

If we are truly free in Christ, one would think that freedom would translate into the pinnacle of creativity w/ no walls or lids instead of finding it recycled, predictable, and full of “insider” language. The moment we default to the safe “happy” place and judge those creating on the edge, we have become ineffective and out of touch.

God, I’m sorry for not always offering You my very best. My own insecurities sometimes pull me to my own safe happy place, but that’s not where You live. My heart belongs to You. You continue to inspire us to new heights to create outstanding works for Your worship and Your glory. NOW, may we get up and bring you our BEST art. Be it raw, risky, and uncomfortable. May it flow from us, to You as an offering.

Shalom.

After seeing this article on Time.com, some discussions started breaking out here and there. I saw someone tweet about this and said that they don’t believe people should use Twitter in church. Others have even said that using the Bible apps to read the Bible in church instead of using paper Bibles is somehow wrong.

The interesting thought, is why would we be “distracted” from the fact that someone in our row would be reading the Bible from their phone instead of a hardcopy of the Good Book? Or the fact that a worship leader or teacher / speaker would be reading from their phone? Should it matter if we speak these words of life from a screen or from a page?

On the Twitter topic, I actually enjoy reading some of the friends I follow on Twitter while they are at church. Some great insights can be shared in real time. Personally, I do tend to use my iPhone app to read the Bible on and off stage. However, I don’t tweet very often during service times. But, I have & will when my pastor brings a point that I want the world to see/ hear.

This could be some good and fun convo if you all will help. SO, what do you all think?