Perfect Harmony (May/June 2017)

SEVEN PROMISE KEEPERS CANADA

MEN / GOD / LIFE

UNDER THE INFLUENCE? ASSESSING THE RISKS OF SECULAR SONGS

THE TROUBLE WITH CRITICISM A LOOK AT THE STATE OF CHRISTIAN MUSIC

PERFECT

Harmony THE MUSIC ISSUE

MAY / JUN 2017 ISSUE 54 NEWSSTAND PRICE CDN $4.95

It’s why we do it.

It’s why we do it.

t’s simple really . . .

It’s simple really . . .

We do it because others can’t or won’t.

We do it because others can’t or won’t.

We do it because liking something on We dojust it because on acebook won’t liking get it something done.

Facebook just won’t get it done.

nd we do it because we’re serious And we do it because we’re serious boutabout fulfilling thethe Great Commission. fulfilling Great Commission.

We it doBECAUSE it BECAUSEWE WECAN. CAN. We do 2 SEVEN MAY / JUNE 2017

Learn more about Mission Learn more Fellowship about Missionand Aviation Aviation Fellowship andisolated our vision of seeing our vision of seeing isolated people physically and spiritual people physically and spiritually transformed in Christ’s name. transformed in Christ’s name.

www.mafc.or www.mafc.org 1.877.351.9344 1.877.351.9344

CONTENTS

18

COLUMNS 6 // PK Podium Joyful Noises 8 // Lives Worth Leading The Music of Leadership 30 // Sports Scene Duchene finds assurance in God, country music

FEATURES 18 WHERE DOES THAT SONG TAKE YOU? Can music really cause us to think differently? Though we might think ourselves to be beyond the realm of influence of the secular songs we sing, perhaps we ought to consider the impact our words can have on the faith of those around us.

22 CAN WE CRITICIZE CHRISTIAN MUSIC? When it comes to thinking critically, some might think that Christian music would be above reproach—after all, how can someone not like a song about praising Jesus?

SEVEN music critic Steven Sukkau shares his thoughts on the state of today’s praise and worship tracks.

22 26

26 LIFE BEYOND THE HIGHLIGHT REEL

32 // The Single Life Music to My Ears 33 // Out of My Depth 4 Things Not to Do When Leading Corporate Prayer

DEPARTMENTS 10 // The Pulse Bits. Blips. Beats. Blurbs.

14 // Music Reviews Introspection Meets Dance 34 // Power Play Toys. Tools. Technology.

For Christian hip-hopper Trip Lee, living as a Christian is about more than strength that comes through faith—and often just the opposite. While he’s quick to point out the good things in his life, it’s his struggles that have brought him closer to Christ. Aaron Epp shares Lee’s story.

MAY / JUNE 2017 SEVEN 3

ON THE COVER

SEVEN is a Christian magazine for Canadian men that exists to help men lead more fulfilling lives and leave enduring legacies.

PERFECT HARMONY

Unlike anything else, music has the ability to bring us to life—to entertain, to excite, and to elicit a response, particularly when the song is calling us to worship. But music can also lead us down other paths, if we’re not careful. And even Christian music can induce a mixed response from time to time. This issue, we look at the stories behind the songs, and seek Jesus in the melodies we sing.

The name reflects the seven promises that form the basis of the Promise Keepers organization, which works with churches to minister to men across Canada.

1 // A promise keeper is committed to honouring Jesus Christ through worship, prayer, and obedience to God’s Word in the power of the Spirit.

2 // A promise keeper is committed to pursuing Christ-centred friendships with a few other men, connecting regularly, understanding that he needs brothers to help him keep his promises.

3 // A promise keeper is committed to practicing biblical integrity: spiritually, morally, ethically and sexually.

4 // A promise keeper is committed to strengthening families and marriages through love, honour, protection, and biblical values.

5 // A promise keeper is committed to supporting the mission of his church by honouring and praying for his pastor, and by actively giving his time and resources.

6 // A promise keeper is committed to reaching beyond racial, social, economic, generational, and denominational barriers to demonstrate that power of biblical unity.

7 // A promise keeper is committed to influencing the world by his fervent love for God while loving his neighbour, seeking justice for the poor and oppressed, and making disciples of Jesus Christ.

Photo by Ray Neutron

Publisher PROMISE KEEPERS CANADA

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

EDITORIAL

PROMISE KEEPERS CANADA

Editorial Director JEFF STEARNS

KIRK GILES

Questions and comments

Box 20099 RPO Brant Hills

Managing Editor ROB HORSLEY

Promise Keepers Canada

regarding editorial can be sent

Burlington, ON L7P 0A4

to rhorsley@promisekeepers.ca,

(905) 331-1830 info@promisekeepers.ca

ADVERTISING

JEFF STEARNS

or mailed to Promise Keepers

RICK VERKERK

Promise Keepers Canada

Canada at the address provided.

rick@promisekeepers.ca 1-888-901-9700

MATT BREIMER

Postmaster, please send DESIGN

address changes to:

DEVON WAGENAAR

Box 20099 RPO Brant Hills,

ROB HORSLEY

Devon J Andrew Design Inc.

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ISSN 1916-8403

Promise Keepers Canada

The PK Canada logo features a maple leaf, indicating our dedication to serve the men of Canada.

An arrow breaks into the maple leaf symbolizing the impact we believe God wants to see Promise Keepers and men making in our nation. A special thank-you to all the pastors who continually encourage us to communicate God’s truth with grace and love.

4 SEVEN MAY / JUNE 2017

THE FAITHLIFE FINANCIAL DIFFERENCE

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PROTECTING YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE

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LIVING YOUR CHRISTIAN VALUES

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/ JUNE 2017 SEVEN 5 BUILDINGMAY A BETTER WORLD

PK PODIUM

JOYFUL NOISES LITTLE ELSE CAN BRING OUR BODIES TO LIFE

BY KIRK GILES

I

do not have one musical bone in my body—just ask my kids. However, I do love music.

Today’s culture reflects a consumer mentality people have when it comes to music. A guy named Glenn McDonald has identified more than 1,260 genres of popular music. Just think about that for a minute—people have narrowed their preferences to such a degree that, if McDonald is correct, has resulted in more than 1,200 different variations of music. It’s no wonder why we have had so many debates. Everyone has a different opinion as to what the best/right type of music is.

In the Christian community, music has certainly been one of the most polarizing elements of life. People debate how loud music should be played, what style of music is good, and what kind of lyrics are appropriate.

There are few things in life with the ability to impact our emotions like music. It can lift the soul of the person who is tired and weary, or it can be a place to vent for the one who is stressed and angry. Music can make you laugh, or it can make you cry. It can give you energy, or it can help you fall asleep.

Music is also an important part of the story of the Bible. According to Smith’s Bible Dictionary, there are at least 18 different types of musical instruments listed in the Bible. The Israelites were often told to sing, shout, dance, and make a joyful noise. There are many Christians who read over these verses without paying much attention to the commands that are given. We have our own idea of what it means to respect and revere God in our worship music, but rarely compare our idea of music to God’s idea as revealed in Scripture.

I find it very exciting to see the continued presence of Christians in the world of music. Some of the most gifted musicians that we hear on the radio or whose songs are popular on iTunes are also people who have decided to follow Jesus. They are using the talents God has given to them to make the world a better place, and to lift the spirit of many who are facing dark times.

In this edition of SEVEN, we explore the world of music. Whatever your personal tastes are, I want to encourage you to celebrate the good that is happening and to enjoy the rich and diverse expressions of music we experience in our culture. Music is a gift God has given to us to enjoy and to glorify Him.

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KIRK GILES is the president of Promise Keepers Canada.

However, his most important roles as a man are husband to Shannon and father to Carter, Joshua, Sydney and Samuel.

All of life is ministry “I think every believer is called to be in fulltime ministry whatever their life situation.”

Caleb Courtney [MTS] is a husband, father of four, high school teacher, worship leader and just completed the Master of Theological Studies program. He knew he could only afford a one-year leave to complete his masters, so he began planning a few years ago. Caleb has seen God open every door along the way. A percentage of Caleb’s salary was saved to fund a leave from his teaching job, and he received scholarships and awards. He also took advantage of flexible course modes such as online, evening and one-week intensives. This made it possible for him to still put his family time first.

Caleb is now returning to work and plans to take on more of a teaching role at his church.

“People have this idea of full-time ministry as being full-time in a church,” he says.

“I think every believer is called to be in fulltime ministry whatever their life situation.”

Tyndale offers flexible full-time and part-time study options to meet your needs.

Learn more. Visit Tyndale.ca or call 1.877.TYNDALE. MAY / JUNE 2017 SEVEN 7

LIVES WORTH LEADING

THE MUSIC OF LEADERSHIP

STIR YOUR SOUL THROUGH SONG

BY COLIN MCCARTNEY

I

have a confession to make. I actually like a Broadway song.

That’s right—I said it. I really dig a Broadway tune. I still love rock, R & B, even some hip hop and rap. I guess you can say I have an eclectic taste when it comes to music, so add Broadway tunes to the list as well. Or, at least, one Broadway tune called; “Do You Hear The People Sing?” This song is from the Broadway hit, Les Miserables.

If you have seen the play (or the movie version that came out in 2012) then you will know the setting for this stirring anthem. Les Miserables was written in 1862 by Victor Hugo as a historical novel about the French Revolution and is recognized as one of the greatest works of the 19th century.

It is the story of an ex-convict named Jean Valjean who breaks parole after serving 19 years for stealing bread to feed his sister’s starving child. All throughout his life Valjean is being pursued by a “letter of the law” police Inspector named Javert. Along the way Valjean experiences mercy and grace from a priest that transforms his life and in return, he gives mercy and grace to others in need. Though Valjean is a man of great kindness and constantly does good for others, Javert will have nothing of it and he continues to hunt Valjean down. This story is a tremendous illustration of the gospel message of sin, condemnation and redemption.

One of the epic scenes in the play (novel or movie) occurs when young idealistic French revolutionaries, tired of the mistreatment of the poor, barricade themselves on a street to

8 SEVEN MAY / JUNE 2017

make their stand against the mighty army of France. Their passion for justice is heard in the song they sing, the song, my song, that I love. I remember the first time I heard this song. I was sitting in the cheap seats in a theatre in downtown Toronto and I have to admit, I was wiping the tears from my eyes when I heard these words sang with passion and hope.

And the verses proclaim: Will you join in our crusade?

Who will be strong and stand with me?

Somewhere beyond the barricade Is there a world you long to see?

Then join in the fight That will give you the right to be free!

Will you give all you can give So that our banner may advance Some will fall and some will live Will you stand up and take your chance?

The blood of the martyrs Will water the meadows of France Now that’s a song that should be sung in churches and at mission conferences around the world. What drew tears to my eyes is that I couldn’t help but see the faces of people I love who do not know Jesus. I saw those hurting ones that I serve in government housing neighbourhoods facing hunger, poverty, incarceration, hopelessness— people lost without Christ! Then anger began to swell in my heart. A righteous anger kept building up inside of me against Satan, oppression and injustice

and I began to sing, right there in the theatre, with all my heart and soul as I pictured a group of Christian revolutionaries joining me in singing: Do you hear the people sing?

Singing the songs of angry men?

It is the music of the people Who will not be slaves again!

When the beating of your heart Echoes the beating of the drums There is a life about to start When tomorrow comes!

I wanted to challenge the Church to join together as I sang; Will you join in our crusade?

Who will be strong and stand with me?

Somewhere beyond the barricade Is there a world you long to see?

Then join in the fight That will give you the right to be free!

Every ground-breaking movement is energized by music. Just ask those who sang “We Shall Overcome” as they marched though Salma with Martin Luther King Jr. So, what is our revolutionary song? What is the song of the church? I found a great one from Les Miserables. What’s yours?

/ COLIN MCCARTNEY is an ordained minister, speaker, and a bestselling author.

He is also the founder of UrbanPromise Toronto and now leads Connect Ministries in Toronto where he, his wife Judith, and their two children reside. For information in booking Colin as a speaker, please visit www.connectministries.org.

Impact lives with the gospel Join the movement!

gideons.ca/join

THE PULSE

BITS / BLIPS / BEATS / BLURBS THE LATEST NEWS FROM PROMISE KEEPERS CANADA

BITS / BLIPS / BEATS / BLURBS

ALL IN NATIONAL MEN'S CONFERENCES

10 SEVEN MAY / JUNE 2017

REGISTRATION OPENS JUNE 1

/ 2,500 YEARS AGO, a Greek philosopher looked at the world around him and commented: “The only thing that is constant is change.” Imagine if he could have seen our world today.

Technology is changing at an ever-increasing pace. Self-driving cars, Internet-enabled appliances and powerful smartphones are realities that seemed like science fiction only a few decades ago. Advances in health care are allowing us to live longer and healthier lives than at any other time in history.

AND YET, NOT ALL CHANGES ARE GOOD. Pornography is as close as the phone in your pocket. Technology that promised to bring us closer together instead increases our isolation, and the pace of our lives only seems to be escalating. We are all busy and distracted.

Society’s values also continue to change. Actions that were once recognized as harmful are now celebrated as liberating and brave. Separated from the anchor of God’s Word, our culture finds itself adrift and tossed about by every whim of teaching.

The technology may be new, but the ideas are not. The heart of the problem is a much older one.

We long to be more than we are. The yearning to grow and lead lives of significance is a good desire. God created us to lead meaningful lives. It is when we listen to other voices and ignore our Heavenly Father—trying to place ourselves at the centre of everything—that we stumble and things begin to crumble.

THERE IS HOPE. At the All In National Conferences we will explore God’s plan for leading significant lives.

Whether you are exploring faith or have been a Christian longer than you can remember, All In will challenge, motivate and equip you to stand firm and navigate the world around us.

SESSION 1

SESSION 2

FOUND: GOD’S WILL

KINGDOM BUILDING

What is God’s will for my life? In this session, we will explore five biblical principles for understanding God’s desire for us, and how to experience the will of God.

To do the will of God, one must be related to Jesus. We need to repent of our small kingdom mind —‘the kingdom of me’— and instead focus on seeking His Kingdom first. This will result in living out His will in our lives and gaining a life with eternal impact.

SESSION 3

SESSION 4

THAT’S THE SPIRIT!

RISKY BUSINESS

Every man wrestles with his sinful nature; we so often do the things we don’t want to do. In this session, we will share practical applications and tools for men to be Spirit-filled, as they deal with daily temptation.

Ever since our fall into sin, we have been exiles, aliens and strangers in this world — longing for our eternal home.

Standing up for what is right may mean criticism, personal attacks or even persecution. God has not left us alone.

He is greater than all of this. God will guide us and equip us to stand firm.

Jesus asks us to be All In.

THE TWO-DAY CONFERENCES WILL ALSO INCLUDE A SESSION ON HOLY MARRIAGE AND A SPECIAL YOUTH BREAKOUT SESSION ON LOVE, SEX AND DATING.

OCT 21, 2017

National Conference

>> Calgary, AB

OCT 28, 2017

National Conference

>> Grande Prairie, AB

NOV 17/18, 2017

National Conference

>> Toronto, ON

FEB 23/24, 2018

National Conference

>> Ottawa, ON

MAR 9/10, 2018

National Conference

>> Winnipeg, MB

MAR 16/17, 2018

National Conference

>> Edmonton, AB

MAR 23/24, 2018

National Conference

>> Regina, SK

>> Registration opens June 1, 2017. >> Visit for more info or to register: www.promisekeepers.ca/all-in.

MAY / JUNE 2017 SEVEN 11

WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE? THE BACKWARDS STORY OF JOSHUA HARRIS

PODCASTS EQUIPPING YOURSELF TO STUDY GOD’S WORD / IN CANADA, ONLY 14 per cent of Christians read the Bible at least once a week. John Neufeld from Back to Bible Canada discusses why this trend is happening, and why it’s so important that we don’t follow it. He also discusses some practical ways to make Bible study a part of our regular routine.

SOCIAL ACTION AND THE GOSPEL / HANK DE JONG is the Executive Director of EduDeo Ministries, a Canadian organization serving children in developing countries with quality education rooted in a Biblical worldview. Promise Keepers partners with EduDeo to send men on shortterm “HANDS” trips where they help build Christian schools. In this episode, Hank talks about what Christcentred education means for developing countries, and why it’s so important to get involved.

RACISM IN CANADA / THERE’S A COMMON misconception that here in Canada we don’t really deal with racism. Many people believe it’s a historic issue, or that’s exclusive to the United States.

However, for many in our country it is certainly a present-day reality.

Dr. Lennett J. Anderson serves on the Advisory Board at PK Canada and pastors in Halifax. Nova Scotia has been dealing with racism for a long time, but has more recently has been experiencing a slew of raciallytargeted crimes, including a consumer racial profiling case involving one of Lennett’s congregation members.

/ IF YOU LOOK at the story of most of the people who have written bestselling Christian publications, it goes something like this: went to school, became a pastor, wrote a book. Not so with Joshua Harris. Little did he know when he wrote the Christian culture phenomenon that is I Kissed Dating Goodbye in 1997, that a few years later he would be pastoring a young megachurch, and then, at 40 years old—and after a decade of pastoring—going to seminary.

MENTORING YOUR CHILDREN IN MARRIAGE / AS PARENTS, WE often struggle to figure out what our role is when it comes to guiding our adult children and sharing wisdom with them—particularly when it comes to marriage. The Marriage Mentoring Initiative from FamilyLife Canada exists to help couples who may feel like they’re alone in their struggles by partnering with other couples to walk alongside them.

Kirk caught up with Brent Trickett from Marriage Mentoring Initiative, discussing not only how we can be mentors to the younger generation, but how to keep our own marriages strong when the children grow up and leave home.

>> Find these and other podcasts at: www.promisekeepers.ca/podcast.

12 SEVEN MAY / JUNE 2017

MAY / JUNE 2017 SEVEN 13

MUSIC REVIEWS

BY STEVEN SUKKAU

AARON SHUST

THE BRILLIANCE

MERCYME

LOVE MADE A WAY (Centricity Music)

ALL IS NOT LOST (Integrity Music)

LIFER (Independent)

/ A MASTERFUL worship writer, Aaron Shust has taken many of his most well known songs and captured them with the electricity of a live album.

Though unlike some live collections, Shust’s rocksteady voice shines on Love Made a Way. Throughout, the telltale concessions of a live album are likewise gone. The eleven tracks are full of nuance and clarity, I almost wish there was a more raw sound.

While Shust has one of the most pleasing voices in the industry, there are also some great accompaniments here including the perfectly paired duet with April Greebright on “My Hope Is in You.” The album also puts into perspective Shust’s writing chops.

Sunday morning staple “God of Brilliant Lights” exemplifies Shust’s powerful worship lyrics.

“He draws his children in, He’s the light of the world. He’s not afraid of our filth, He will never turn away.”

Many times I was surprised to find hit worship song after hit worship song was a Shust piece.

Finally, “My Saviour My God” is a song to stand the test of time in the hands of a master of his craft.

In the end, Love Made a Way is a great compilation of praise and worship that never falls prey to empty platitudes or making a show out of a worship offering.

/ WORSHIP DUO David Gungor and John Arndt have created one of the most refreshing, exciting and pensive albums that might fall into the praise and worship category.

There is plenty of evidence both Gungor and Arndt come from a background of leading worship, but you likely won’t hear their work during a Sunday morning worship service as their post-rock pushes into the realm of experimental worship.

Yet throughout, the eleven tracks are meditative. Gungor’s voice is delicate and emotive, backed by equally moving piano and punchy back-up choirs.

All of it services the pair’s lyrics that articulate their awe and adoration of God in imaginative, and thoughtful ways.

“Gravity of Love” declares: “This is the hope of every land, just as the universe expands, you’re love is reaching… holding everything.”

But the duo is also keenly aware of the suffering and pain in our world.

On “Will We Ever Rise” Gungor sings, “Broken people, we can be made whole… love is breaking us… remaking us.”

All Is Not Lost is the best blend of lyrics that positions your heart to be mindful of God in your everyday existence, and music that is exciting and easy to listen to.

/ IF MERCYME’S last album, Welcome To The New, was an introduction to more of an upbeat pop offering, Lifer is jumping headlong into the new style without looking back.

After numerous number one singles, MercyMe continues to push their sound, leaving the familiar behind for a new sound for their ninth studio album.

Channeling more of a Justin Timberlake vibe for title track, MercyMe seems to be trying to get listeners dancing, a far cry from the slower, introspective ballads they’re most known for.

While previous albums have dabbled in more electronic, upbeat pop, they were often the outliers.

Here on Lifer they are the norm.

While sonically the new album is exciting and fresh, the slower standout track “Even If” allows Bart Millard’s vocals to really shine.

Throughout Lifer is marked by a fun, almost cheeky tone. The listener can’t help but believe being a Christian is actually a lot of fun.

On “Best News Ever,” Millard sings of the life Christ’s sacrifice ushers us into: “What if I were the One to tell you that the fight’s already been won. Well, I think your day’s about to get better.”

/ STEVEN SUKKAU works for Golden West Radio and resides in Winkler, Manitoba.

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we’re passionate about what we do.

share your passion, too.

Help CHange Men’s lives and grow Your Business.

beasponsor@promisekeepers.ca MAY / JUNE 2017 SEVEN 15

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WHERE DOES

THAT SONG TAKE YOU? UNDERSTANDING THE NON-NEUTRALITY OF MUSIC

W

ay back when rap music was beginning to garner more mainstream appeal and radio play, I was a really, really white guy. Okay, I’m still a really, really white guy—can’t seem to do much about that since too much sunshine just makes me a really, really pink guy. Sigh. I digress.

Way back in those days I was teenager. And, as hip hop started to become popular even a white guy like me from small-town Ontario got the groove.

During one of my teenage summers I worked one of those jobs that make you keenly aware of what you’re never going to do for a living. As I repeated the same thing day after day in the sweltering July humidity I listened to FM radio play

BY PHIL WAGLER

some of those first great rap songs.

I particularly enjoyed “Let Your Backbone Slide” by Maestro FreshWes. I wasn’t quite sure what letting my backbone slide was all about, but was fairly certain it wasn’t about stealing second base. Regardless, I was learning to love something new which greatly enhanced the musical repertoire I had grown up with— mostly the bluegrass gospel music and country music of my parents.

So, now, if I happen to hear that tune, or others from that era—“Can’t Touch This!”—guess where I’m transported? No, it’s not to some breakdance posse I joined; I’m way too uncoordinated for that! Rather, it’s to that tedious summer job with

MAY / JUNE 2017 SEVEN 19

the pungent industrial smells and long hot days with a crackling radio. Oh, and I’m also taken back to one other memory: my new friend Dave.

Dave was a couple years younger than I when he moved in with my family. He’d been kicked out of his home when he became a follower of Jesus and moved from the big city to my small town. He was another addition to our family that had a habit of taking in strays and misfits. I’m an only child, but on three different occasions my parents opened their home to young men needing a place to call home. Dave was the last of these, and he came by my invitation, so clearly I picked up the family habit.

I had been growing in my own renewed faith and I saw Dave as a younger brother in Christ whom I could disciple and influence.

Perhaps, as I reflect now, he was too much of a project in my eyes and I didn’t love him enough. Turns out, I think he helped my following of Jesus more than I helped him, and it is here that Maestro Fresh-Wes slides back into the story.

Dave was more street-smart than I. Given the brokenness of his journey as a young man he was, as I have learned more fully over the years from those who share similar paths, quite gifted in smelling what was fake…or as we knew it where I grew up: manure (among other descriptors). So, one day—and I can remember where I was standing— he helped me see where the songs I was listening to were taking him: backwards. You see, it turned out that he was watching my life more than I thought, and Maestro’s hits coming from my lips and his new spiritual shift were unhelpfully colliding. I was, in effect, stepping on my younger brother’s faith and pulling him back into a world that he had been finding

20 SEVEN MAY / JUNE 2017

THIS LITTLE QUESTION REMAINS A HELPFUL DISCIPLESHIP TOOL WHEN IT COMES TO HOW I ENGAGE MUSICAL CULTURE: “WHERE DOES THAT SONG TAKE ME?” freedom from. It wasn’t Maestro who was wrong; it was me.

Now, I hope you’re getting the point. At issue here is not the lyrics or morality of an artist. People sing about all kinds of stuff, hung on various beats, that simply is the stuff of life—including sex, violence, and a good party. Even the scriptures melodize or lyricize these things (trying reading Song of Songs to your ten-year-old, or check out Nehemiah

8:9-10 where the people of Israel are told to stop weeping about their sins and go have a party). What you hear on the radio and read in Scripture is often not that far apart if you listen for the heart of the matter. Scripture often normalizes and agrees with what a rapper is angry about or a banjo twangs about and uncovers the God story at the root of what we experience pleasurably or painfully and points to redemption and restoration in Christ

IF A SONG MESSES WITH A CHILD OR A BROTHER OR SISTER IN CHRIST . . . IT IS RIGHT AND GOOD TO STOP THE NOISE.

as the hope we’re all crooning for. So, at the heart of our interaction with music is discernment about where a song takes me, and by extension, where it takes my brother or sister.

You see, in my case, Maestro FreshWes took me to a new genre, but it took Dave somewhere else: back to a life he didn’t want anymore and was trying to unlearn. His emerging faith was being taken apart by my musical freedom and I knew in that moment— thank you Holy Spirit!—that Maestro had to go for his sake, and ultimately my own understanding of what it truly means to place another above yourself; including your own personal preferences and freedoms.

So, all these long summers later, this little question remains a helpful discipleship tool when it comes to how

I engage musical culture: “Where does that song take me?”

If a song, regardless of the genre or label leads to deeper consideration of the fuller meaning of life, purpose, joy, love, and friendship then it’s taking me to places where the reign of God beckons and the Spirit of truth is free to roam, awaken, and transform.

I have discovered this many times in surprising ways. Artists like Mumford and Sons, U2, and Johnny Cash have done this for me along with David Crowder, Needtobreathe, and Steve Bell. I can think of two profound moments in my discipleship journey so far that are marked by music: one through a Christian Rock group, the other through a Disney movie soundtrack of all things (and no, it wasn’t Frozen!). In both cases, the song took me somewhere holy and transforming as the Spirit used the poetry and creativity to turn my thoughts, as the Apostle Paul writes, toward that which was true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).

But, we know, not all songs take us to such good places. Some songs, while irritatingly and sometimes sinisterly catchy, take us down dark paths that awaken our dark sides. You can’t attend a sporting event without suddenly tapping your toes to “Raise a Little Hell” only to wonder if that’s really good for the soul, let alone the soul of my son sitting beside me. Other tunes of all styles and genres can awaken lust, greed, anger, dissension and rebellion in us and take us places we ought not go. For some of us that begins to sound too legalistic, but it’s really more about diet and paying attention to what you feed your soul. You know that snack you decided to eat before bed only to regret it at two in the morning? Well, this is that principle applied to your spiritual health: if you know that song and the thoughts, emotions,

or temptations it awakens in you is going to give you spiritual heartburn, well, maybe heed the Spirit and the wisdom that says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23).

Finally, if a song messes with a child or a brother or sister in Christ, then as I learned with my friend Dave, it is right and good to stop the noise. Music is formational. It’s why the Church of Jesus has always sung theology in various forms, why commercials have jingles, revolutions and nations have anthems, and why we have moments in our lives where we say “they’re playing our song.”

So, if there’s music that takes someone God has entrusted to my care to unhealthy places then I should discern this carefully, even discuss it communally, and not be afraid to say, “if this causes another to stumble, then I’ll never hit play again.” (paraphrasing 1 Corinthians 8:13). The point, after all, is not law, but love. Do I love that person and their well-being more than I love my freedom and playlist? Where will this song take them? Will it take them backwards if they’re a young disciple? Will it awaken things too soon if they’re a child (Song of Songs 8:4)? Do I love enough to consider all this and set aside my wants?

All this matters. After all, music is a reflection of the image of God in us.

We create tunes, make great harmony and even noise. It’s beautiful, miraculous even, but it’s not always neutral. So, learning to ask “Where does that song take you?” can help uncover what we really value and who we really love.

/ PHIL WAGLER was never very good at letting his backbone slide. He now sets his backside down in Surrey, BC and continues to love a variety of music.

MAY / JUNE 2017 SEVEN 21

FEATURE

CAN WE CRITICIZE CHRISTIAN MUSIC? THE CHALLENGES OF CRITIQUING SUBJECTIVE EXPERIENCES

BY STEVEN SUKKAU

22 SEVEN MAY / JUNE 2017

I THINK MOST CHRISTIANS CAN AGREE, IT’S A LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRISTIAN MUSIC. Some may remember the CD burning parties in the mid-90s. Spurred on by well-intentioned youth leaders, junior high students would gather to purge their music collection of every artist and album that wasn’t explicitly Christian.

It inevitably led to some awkward scenarios. Many may have played out like those depicted on the shortlived cult classic TV show Arrested Development.

Michael: "I mean, have you settled on an artist’s work to burn?"

George Michael: "Well, I was thinking Eminem for awhile."

Michael: "Sure."

George Michael: "But, you know, everyone’s gonna be burning Eminem, so, you know. Then I got this Pat Boone album, but the guy’s Christian. But, you know, I don’t know, somebody’s gotta burn, right?"

While I wouldn’t buy my daughter an Eminem album, (or nowadays condone her streaming it) there is something lost when we deconstruct art into black and white categories.

Certainly there is a powerful, emotional, and especially spiritual affect of music, and one not to be taken lightly.

Playing praise and worship in the background while I work, I can feel

MAY / JUNE 2017 SEVEN 23

WHAT IS UPLIFTING AND SPIRITUALLY STIRRING FOR ONE PERSON, CAN BE TRITE AND FILLED WITH MEANINGLESS PLATITUDES FOR ANOTHER.

our home office awash in something of a sanctified space.

But as someone who views media critically and tries to convey those musings to others in hopes of informing them of a work’s value or alignment to their particular taste, it becomes exceedingly tricky when wading into the Christian music scene.

What is uplifting and spiritually stirring for one person, can be trite and filled with meaningless platitudes for another.

No critic is worth the electricity to power a word document if they believe they can put a value on someone’s spiritual experience with God. Praise comes from the heart, and only God truly sees the heart.

Hopefully, all a critic can humbly provide is, not a standard necessarily, but a definition of richness in art and music, then measure a work based on the earnestness and thoughtfulness of the creator.

Instead of “does this song feature references to Jesus Y/N?”, perhaps a

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more accurate guide to our critique can be adapted from Archbishop Joseph Raya’s view of art.

“Those who produce beauty, alleviate suffering, organize parades, provide rest to the weary, inspire thankfulness, compose music, and create art are the hands of God. For God made creation and the human person to share in His own delight in living.”

I find Raya’s quote a useful rubric for critiquing music: is it beautiful?

Does it provide rest to the weariness that creeps into our minds and hearts?

Does the album inspire thankfulness, or delight in living?

Unfortunately, the reality I’ve noticed and reflected on the last number of years is not all Christian music is created equal. Some months I struggle to find the words to meter out a critique of Christian art.

The last year or so especially, I’ve noticed Christian music pulled by the insatiable gravity of generic pop and positive self-talk. In this time, I have noticed some troubling trends in the

Christian music scene as a whole.

Like an invisible black hole pulling everything to its center, band after band is softening their sound to be more palatable to as many ears as possible. Shiny, synth sounds replace the grungy rock guitars. Maybe it’s the natural progression of time and taste, but my fear is more and more everyone is moving towards sameness.

I think of one of my favourite bands The Afters.

They were a refreshing alt-rock outfit with delicious guitar hooks but unconventional in their timing and melody, an almost off-kilter rhythm at times, but kept their sound from becoming predictable.

Like so many others, they too recently traded their raw rock for polished pop/electronic sheen. I could provide example after example of similar stories; I need only look through my music review archives.

It’s not to say CCM is getting worse—if anything, the sounds many bands enjoy are becoming more refined, more sophisticated digitally, but nonetheless they’re all seemingly climbing the same mountain, only to arrive at the same peak, indistinguishable in look and sound.

However, there are absolute bright spots as well. David Crowder, for example, continues to blaze a bold path that incorporates the new digital landscapes that today’s technology provides, while keeping a beating heart in his music.

There’s a false solemness or seriousness that pervades so much Christian music, one that is catered more to seeming spiritual, almost enviably spiritual, to other Christians rather than, you know, just being a person responding to a big romantic God. Crowder’s music, especially the album Neon Steeple and his latest, American Prodigal, are great examples

of albums that can be called Christian music, but are also just fantastically crafted tracks that reveal a genuine faith that is in turns desperate, fun, and vulnerable to doubt as a result of living in a big scary world.

I would love to see more bands worry less about smoothing out any edges or lyrics that might not fit with the broadest audience possible, and instead accept the associated risks of being different. I would love to see more CCM artists let their doubts guide the searching hearts, and bring those real questions to the feet of Christ in their music, and wrestle.

But this, I find, is the part that keeps me up at night. It’s not easy to justify grading religious art, especially as people have different but real spiritual experiences with a lyric or melody others could find shallow.

I’ve had real spiritual experience with a lyric or melody I later realized was poorly articulated or juvenile.

The uncomfortable truth is this: sometimes God uses crap art to move us. Just look at your favourite music from junior high. And that’s ok.

But hopefully we don’t stay there.

I like to think our relationship with music and art matures, just as our faith does. After a time we hunger for more. The proof is in the fruit. Does your favourite music make you look at the world in a new light? Does it resonate with your faith as well as your doubts? Is it true to your most vulnerable experiences, does it make you say, “yes, I felt that way, I didn’t know others did as well.”

Or, does the music or entertainment you feed on keep you placated, or reinforce everything you already believe? Does it push out of your mind everything that makes you feel uncomfortable, replacing it with a safe, unchallenging space, but ultimately a worldview that doesn’t take reality into account?

In other words, is it comfort food?

This doesn’t give anyone the right to judge a piece of art or music as worthless to everyone if it didn’t resonate to one person at that exact time in their thought life.

What we listen to in junior high has meaning and resonance to us at the time. Hopefully as we get older we find new music that reflects the complexities of the life we’re entering into.

All critics can do is point to art that is drilling closer to the core of human experience. In the case of religious art, or music written from a Christian person, whether as a means of evangelizing or expressing the impulse to create as an offspring of The Creator, we can say “this piece of art” has come from a more matured, searching heart and soul.

And yes, I believe we can also scale that offering on beauty and artistry.

Critics are servants, for some pointing to a piece of art that took more dedication and perseverance to ascertain its deep meaning. Christian music is no different, as it balances praise, beauty and searching.

Thinking back to those high school days, our well-meaning leaders were so eager to draw a line between the secular and the sacred. Richard Rohr describes this endeavour as a false dichotomy. Instead, he says there is no secular or sacred—only the sacred and the desecrated.

And desecration is accomplished by our own lack of fascination, humility, curiosity and awe. Throwing away my Limp Bizkit album was probably a blessing in disguise, but trading it for a Creed album wasn’t necessarily the answer.

I still listen to a lot of what would traditionally be called “Christian music.” It’s good to fill your soul with “positive praise” but the danger with platitudes is eventually, knowing they don’t always reflect the reality we live in, feel-good music can push

us to become disenfranchised over time.

The power and artistry of music, and perhaps all art itself, is to make old things surprise us where we thought no new facet lurked.

Anything less than that might be fit for the burn pile.

/ STEVEN SUKKAU works for Golden West Radio and lives in Winkler, Manitoba. He is also the resident music reviewer for SEVEN.

Check out this month’s reviews on page 14.

MAY / JUNE 2017 SEVEN 25

FEATURE

LIFE

Beyond THE HIGHLIGHT-REEL

BY AARON EPP

26 SEVEN MAY / JUNE 2017

HIP-HOP’S TRIP LEE OPENS UP ON FAITH, FATIGUE, AND FINDING PURPOSE •

n the surface, Trip Lee has it all together.

The acclaimed hip-hop artist has five hit albums under his belt, including two that have debuted within the Top 20 on the Billboard 200.

Last December, Lee—born William Lee Barefield III—released The Waiting Room, a 10-song mixtape meant to tide fans over until his sixth proper fulllength is ready for release. It contains some of his strongest work to date.

The 29-year-old is a successful author with two books to his credit: 2012’s The Good Life and 2015’s Rise Up: Get Up and Live God’s Great Story.

As if the music and writing career weren’t enough, Lee is also the teaching pastor at Cornerstone Church, a congregation in Atlanta, Georgia.

Lee has been married to his wife, Jessica, since 2009, and they have two children, Q and Selah.

It’s a seemingly enviable life, but one that Lee is quick to point out has its challenges.

Sitting backstage during a tour stop in Orlando, Florida, Lee says that if it weren’t for his Christian brothers and sisters, he wouldn’t be where he is today.

“I never want to paint a picture like my Christian life is ever like these beautiful, long sprints of perfection with these perfect strides,” Lee says.

“Any time I’m on the right path, I’m limping on the right path, often being

•

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dragged by Jesus down the right path through lots of other means and other Christians helping me. (That’s) been one of those things that has helped me limp along the path, and that’s the same stuff I need if I’m going to stay on the right path for the rest of my life…

This isn’t a journey you go on alone.”

The albums, the tours, the critical acclaim, the books, the church ministry—those are just the highlight reel, Lee says.

While Lee’s ministry does require him to have a certain amount of spiritual maturity, underneath the surface, there is brokenness, sin and hurt in his life, just like there is in everyone else’s.

“The highlight reel” just doesn’t show it.

“I’m a complete person with things that the Lord has grown me in and things where I’m still weak and the Lord needs to grow me (further),” Lee says. “My hope is that people never see any public figure, anybody who’s a believer that you know of, and assume that they have it all together and they’re perfect.”

Knowing that no one is flawless gives Lee inspiration.

“When we make people perfect heroes, I don’t think it’s even as inspiring that way,” he says. “When we paint a more accurate picture, like no, here’s a broken man who the Lord has brought a long way, that’s way more

inspiring. That seems like something I can aspire to, or that the Lord can do in me.”

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Lee’s greatest challenge is living with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). It’s a disorder characterized by extreme tiredness that doesn’t go away with rest, and can’t be explained by an underlying medical condition.

It’s something he’s suffered from since the fall of 2007, when he was a freshman in college.

When it’s particularly bad, as it was the week before this interview, Lee can be in bed for more than three quarters of the week.

Chronic fatigue costs him time with his family, and it can make him unreliable when it comes to workrelated deadlines because he’s never sure how he’s going to feel on any given day.

To make matters worse, many people don’t know what CFS is, and when it’s explained to them, they still have a hard time fully believing that such a disorder exists.

Lee expresses his frustration explicitly on “Longer,” the ninth track on The Waiting Room: “I’m sick of the pain, I’m finna complain / My doctor is lost, man, illness is lame / ‘07 it came, and it’s never the same / It’s killin’ my job, it’s been killin’ my name / My label

MAY / JUNE 2017 SEVEN 27

is mad, and I’m feeling shame / They not hearing back when they call me, and man / My new book overdue, and my brain is a mess / So what I’m-a do?

‘Cause my publisher’s stressed / I’m shepherding too, I keep letting them down / ‘Cause my body can crash, then I’m never around / Nowhere to be found, but I’m in the bed / That’s for weeks at a time, and it’s dead in my head / My wifey she hurt, the pain in her eyes / She trying to be strong, and just take it in stride.”

The verse ends with Lee saying to God, “I’m asking today / How long will it be ‘til you take it away?”

“It’s been the hardest part of every part of my life,” Lee says of CFS. “It’s been 10 years of praying that the Lord would heal me, and it’s been 10 years of asking for the strength to get through things, and it’s been 10 years of… there being many more bad days than good days.”

“What that can do is slowly chip away at your trust in God, or it can chip away at your trust in yourself and make you trust God more,” he continues.

Although it’s difficult at times, Lee chooses the latter option.

“There are some weeks where I do great and I fight for joy and depend on God, and some weeks where I’m just dragging myself around, pitying myself,” Lee says. “I feel like with every year, the Lord gives me more

28 SEVEN MAY / JUNE 2017

grace to kind of navigate stuff in better ways, more godly ways, to be better at trusting him in the midst of it.”

“It’s very clear that he’s using this to refine me, to make me more like him, to make me trust him more and to show himself to be the strong God that he is.”

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Lee’s 2014 album Rise ends with the song “Sweet Victory.” In the chorus, vocalist Dimitri McDowell sings, “I feel thorns where my crown was / I be weak, but I’m alive / From the dusk until dawn, yeah / I’ll survive because I got sweet victory / Nobody can take it from me, sweet victory / ‘Cause I got sweet victory.”

The song deals with Lee’s illness.

In it, he attempts to describe what life feels like, loss after loss after loss, but remembering that there is victory in Jesus.

“Jesus defeated all my enemies for me, he defeated sickness for me on the cross, he defeated death, he defeated the grave—Jesus defeated all that for me,” Lee says. “I think I would be hopeless and just under a dark cloud of death if I didn’t know that.”

Asked what he would say to young men today if there was one message that he could impress upon them, Lee responds that he wants them to know that they were created for a purpose.

“You were made by God to make much of God,” Lee says. “There’s a story God is telling about himself that is the greatest story ever told, and you get to play a role in it.”

Sometimes our fallen nature leads us to want to tell our own story in which we’re the star. Lee can relate— that’s often how he felt as a young man.

At the same time, he says, living for anything other than God is like using a Ferrari for target practice.

“That’s what we’re doing with our lives when we’re spending it on stuff that’s so much lower than what we were created for,” Lee says. “That Ferrari was made to go fast, that Ferrari was built for the specific purpose— that’s why it has that engine… (Similarly), the Lord made you in a specific way for a specific purpose.”

“The thing that we were made for it is actually better, it is more fulfilling, there’s greater joy, it’s life in abundance,” Lee adds, pointing to Psalm 16:11, which reads in part, “At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

“We’re out here chasing pleasures that last 15 minutes or, at the most, last 70 years,” Lee says. “At the right hand of God are pleasures forevermore, and that trumps 15 minutes or 70 years every time.”

Just because there’s abundant life in Jesus doesn’t mean we won’t experience hardships in our lives, Lee adds. His own imperfect life is proof of that.

What we do know, though, is that God is with us in the midst of our trials, and God will not let them destroy us.

“If I put my hope in him, build my life on him, even as that hard stuff comes, it doesn’t take away those joys,” Lee says. “There is abundant life in Jesus that cannot be stolen.”

/ AARON EPP is a freelance music journalist who lives in Winnipeg.

EMPOWERING THE ONLINE GENERATION WITH STORIES

THAT MATTER

WATCH FULL EPISODES AT

THISISMETV.COM MAY / JUNE 2017 SEVEN 29

SPORTS SCENE

DUCHENE FINDS ASSURANCE IN GOD, COUNTRY MUSIC

AVALANCHE FORWARD NOT DETERRED DESPITE TEAM STRUGGLES

BY CARTER BROOKS

One of the best ways that Duchene has been able to take his mind off of hockey is through music.

F

rom the earliest of ages, hockey, music, and faith have been the three biggest pieces of NHLer Matt Duchene’s life. Although now owning a dog and recently becoming engaged to longtime girlfriend, Ashley Grossaint, Duchene is still able to maintain his connection to both music and faith, even through the difficulties of an arduous hockey season.

Duchene’s Avalanche have found themselves sitting as cellar dwellers for the past two seasons. With wins extremely hard to come by, Colorado is currently on pace for the worst statistical season in franchise history since relocating from Quebec City in 1995.

“My faith is definitely one of the biggest things in my life that I lean on,” Duchene says. “You know, it has definitely been tested this year, but it’s the foundation of my life, and I try

30 SEVEN MAY / JUNE 2017

to live that way every day.”

The 2016-17 NHL season has not been kind to the 26-year-old centreman. With just 36 points in 62 games played, Duchene has found difficulty scoring goals—something new for the former prolific junior hockey sniper. But through his troubles, he has been able to stick to his beliefs and his Christian upbringing, relying on his connection with God to help him through the difficult times.

“I just try to stay true to who I am, true to my roots and true to my faith,” he says. “I feel that I have done a good job of that so far, and it’s definitely something that I know I will make sure that I stay with and continue that way. As a kid my family went to church quite a bit. Obviously it was tough with hockey at times, but my parents made an effort to take us there and just get the Word into

us. I think it was the right way to be brought up for sure.”

While playing a professional sport, attending Sunday morning church services becomes extremely difficult, if not impossible. But luckily for Duchene and others, there are options readily available for Christian athletes.

“We have Tim Burke with Hockey Ministries International in Colorado, who runs our chapels,” Duchene says.

“Tim comes in and we get together for about a half hour. It’s nothing crazy, nothing too long, but it’s good just to get the Word into you and to be thinking about the right stuff. Those chapels always seem to come at the right times. Especially with it being such a trying season here, HMI been a big part of how I am trying to get through it.”

Although HMI is able to provide peace and guidance for its athletes

Photos courtesy of Will Borys

through chapels, phone calls and visits, a lot of the time the ball is in the court of the athlete.

“It is definitely HMI that keeps me involved for sure,” Duchene says. “But I also have a Bible app on my phone that I used to read a daily verse… which I try to keep on my mind all day. I pray a fair bit, but I also believe that you can be a practicing Christian without going to church every week, for sure.”

One of the best ways that Duchene has been able to take his mind off of hockey is through music. As a wellseasoned acoustic guitarist, Duchene has already had the opportunity to get to know many of his country music idols. From playing ‘NHL 13’ with Dierks Bentley on his tour bus, to sharing the stage with Lee Brice during the 2016 NHL All-Star weekend fan festival, Duchene’s country music roots are alive and well.

The many ties between Christianity and country music have often been noted. For Duchene, it is both the Christian themes and the many childhood teachings that speak volumes to him through his favourite music genre.

“Country and Christianity really go well together,” he says. “I can just relate to it all around as it’s just the way that I grew up. I feel as though some of the songs are about my life, so that’s definitely why I like it as much as I do. My two favourite Bible verses are Philippians 4:13—“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,”—and Hebrews 6:19—“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

Those two have really kept me going through the tough times this year.”

Although this hockey season did not go according to Duchene’s plan, he knows that 2016-17 was just a

very small wrinkle on a much larger canvas.

“I really don’t know if there is anything else faith-wise that I can do, except be positive and realize that God has a big plan for everybody here,” he says. “I just try to keep telling myself that as times continue to get tough. You just try to be the best person—the best Christian— you can be every day. It’s easy to get wrapped up in stuff sometimes, but you just have to stay true to your roots and who you are.”

/ CARTER BROOKS is a news writer and sports columnist situated in Winnipeg, Manitoba. On top of reading and writing, coaching hockey is his favourite pastime. Carter can be reached at carterbrooks1994@gmail.com.

MAY / JUNE 2017 SEVEN 31

THE SINGLE LIFE

MUSIC TO MY EARS

WHAT DRAWS YOU CLOSER TO CHRIST?

BY PAUL BOGE

I

s the music I listen to drawing me closer to Christ or pushing me further away?

Music has the incredible ability to encourage us, inspire us and to assist us in worshipping God. Our Christian faith is a musical, singing faith. We have an incredible past and present repertoire of godly music across many music types throughout many nations.

But like all good things, there is also a worldly counterfeit that seeks to change God’s design. And we would do well to look at our lives to see what we listen to.

Have a look at your playlist—at the top 25 most-played songs in particular. Can you defend that list?

Could you recommend your playlist as the best choice in music for you to grow in your walk with Christ?

One of the mistakes we make as Christians is that we presume to know what affects us, and how much it affects us by. Music is an area of life where simple mistakes can be costly to us and those around us. Wrong music not only robs us of a chance to grow closer to Christ, but it can also subtly

32 SEVEN MAY / JUNE 2017

place wrong thoughts in our hearts and minds. “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” (Galatians 6:9) My favourite music is Handel’s Messiah. While it’s normally played most often at Christmas, I listen to it year round. The combination of brilliant music and scripture makes for one of the greatest musical arrangements I have ever heard.

George Frideric Handel wrote the Messiah in only 24 days. The text written by Charles Jennings is comprised of 81 Bible verses from 14 different books of the Bible. Passages include: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. His yoke is easy and his burden is light ( for My yoke is easy and my burden is light). King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Worthy is the Lamb. Amen.

Music can be a difficult subject to debate. Christian music only?

Christian and some clean secular?

How much secular and what kind?

These and other questions are worth pursuing. As a dear friend of mine says: “The things that draw you closer to Christ—do more of those.

The things that take you away from Christ—do less of those.”

Worship in music can be a great experience for God to reveal Himself.

Sometimes the unexpected happens.

I remember exactly where I was and what it felt like to be in a praise in worship service when God suddenly laid it on my heart to write a book. I wonder if I would have missed out on that had I not been there.

If it’s not drawing you closer to Christ, it’s pulling you away. And we need to challenge ourselves to consider that drawing closer to Christ starts with what we let enter our mind.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

/ PAUL BOGE is the author of Father to the Fatherless: The Charles Mulli Story and five other books. He is single and works as an engineer in Winnipeg.

OUT OF MY DEPTH

4 THINGS NOT TO DO WHEN LEADING CORPORATE PRAYER

ALLITERATION CAN BE AWKWARD

BY PAUL CARTER

P

raying in public can be absolutely terrifying. People are watching and try as we might, it is very hard to forget that. The good news is that people are very gracious.

They appreciate the effort and they appreciate progress. Towards that end I humbly offer the following four suggestions.

1. AVOID TELLING STORIES I don’t mean telling a story before leading in corporate prayer; I mean telling a story during corporate prayer.

I don’t know why I do this. God knows who I met with this past week, He knows how that conversation went, and so it’s almost certain that I am not telling this story to inform God of a need. Rather, I am telling this story to inform people of a deed that I did and for which I would like to be suitably praised.

Don’t do this when you lead in corporate prayer. Rehearsing God’s deeds can be useful; rehearsing your own is absolutely not.

2. AVOID PREACHING SERMONS I caught myself making this mistake just a few weeks ago. I realized as I started praying after the sermon that I had forgotten to share one of my most brilliant insights and so, on the fly, I tried to work it into the prayer.

Prayer and preaching are fundamentally different.

Prayer is speaking to God, preaching is speaking to people. Prayer after the sermon should be about responding,

not regurgitating and elaborating.

Just pray.

3. AVOID GIVING ANNOUNCEMENTS Often in our services the corporate prayer time follows the announcement time and just like I can forget a line from the sermon and be tempted to slip it in, so too I can forget a key announcement and try to slip that in.

Don’t do that.

There’s nothing wrong with finishing your prayer and then mentioning that there is another important announcement that you forgot to make. There’s never a reason to pray “Dear Lord, please bless the youth retreat as they gather at 5:30 pm with their sleeping bags and toothbrushes packed in their water proof knapsacks. Bless them likewise as they hand in their $55 registration fee and their signed waiver forms.

Help them to understand that if they don’t have those things they won’t be able to attend the event. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

That is not a good prayer under any conceivable circumstance.

4. AVOID POETIC PERFORMANCE Jesus warned his disciples not to pray so as to impress other people (Matthew 6:5). That is a constant temptation for anyone who prays in public. I have caught myself praying in “KJV”. I have caught myself using elaborate alliteration. I have “warped” and I have “woofed” for no apparent reason.

We’ve all done it and we should all stop.

This is one of the reasons why I generally recommend that people not write down what they mean to pray in public. Written prayers will incline towards poetry. God does not require a crafted phrase. The Bible says: “A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalms 51:17 ESV) Pray from the heart. If you need to jot down a few points on a piece of paper, so be it, but avoid a fully written script. Let your public prayer be the overflow of your private love for Christ.

Do you love God? Are you thankful for His grace? Are you concerned for the lost?

Are you eager to grow? Tell Him that.

If you are worried that you will ramble without some sort of structure then use the Lord’s Prayer. There are six petitions that you can use to wrestle your thoughts into some sort of balance and cohesion. You probably already have that memorized, so you should be good to go.

Remember friend, you are not trying to communicate your intelligence or maturity to your church, you are trying to express your gratitude and need to your God.

/ PAUL CARTER is a husband, father, and the lead pastor at First Baptist Church in Orillia, Ontario. He sits on the Executive Council for The Gospel Coalition Canada.

He hosts a devotional podcast called Into The Word that you can find on iTunes or at www.intotheword.ca.

MAY / JUNE 2017 SEVEN 33

POWER PLAY

TOYS / TOOLS / TECHNOLOGY DEVICES FOR DEFENCE AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

BY SANDY MCMURRAY

ROBOT LUGGAGE

// piaggiofastforward.com Introducing Gita, the personal cargo vehicle from Piaggio, makers of the Vespa scooter. It looks like a little blue barrel on wheels but it acts more like R2-D2, following you wherever you go and carrying your stuff.

Gita is designed to carry up to 40 pounds of cargo in a compartment big enough for two grocery bags. It uses signals transmitted from a belt you wear to map your path and follow along behind. The cool thing is that it “learns,” creating a 3D map of its surroundings. Once you have set a path, Gita can take the same route again later without you.

Gita works indoors and outdoors, on sidewalks and streets, and even up and down ramps. The battery inside is good for about eight hours of walking.

There’s no word yet on how much it will cost to have an electronic valet follow you around. Stay tuned. The future is almost here.

34 SEVEN MAY / JUNE 2017

GUTTER CLEANER

// amazon.ca Speaking of helpful robots...

The Looj 330 cleans your gutters so you don’t have to, blasting away leaves and dirt while brushing the gutters clean. The four-stage auger spins at 500 RPM, breaking up clumps of stuff, then lifts and throws them up and away from your roof as sweepers and a scraper clear the remaining debris. All you have to do is get it into the gutter and switch it on. Looj travels down your gutter on its own, sensing and adapting to debris to provide the most effective cleaning.

The Looj can clean up to 30 feet of gutter in 5 minutes. Its waterproof design makes it effective against wet leaves, and makes cleanup quick and easy—just spray with a hose when you’re done. The detachable handle is also a remote control that gives the operator forward and reverse control of the robot, and control of the spin direction of the auger.

At just under 2 inches high and 3 inches wide, Looj fits in most gutters, including most K-style aluminum, copper, metal or vinyl gutters. The Looj sells for about $400.

WATER POWER

// hydralight.net Modern gadgets need power but you won’t find a charging station in the woods or on the beach. Portable batteries can be heavy and solar power doesn’t work on cloudy days. What other options are there?

The Hydra-Light SC1C-L lantern/charger turns water into portable power. To start the power generating process you just add water to the internal energy cells. You get LED light plus quick charging for mobile phones and other small devices powered by USB. Hydra-Light’s water-activated energy cells contain a metal alloy and eco-friendly elements that can be stored dry prior to initial use for upwards of 25 years. When you add water, they produce a steady flow of electric current. Unlike batteries, the power output remains constant throughout the life of the cell. Cells can be dipped repeatedly and are easily refurbished.

Now that’s a bright idea!

DEFEND YOUR CASTLE

// amazon.ca A man’s home is his castle. Are you prepared to defend yours?

First things first: you need to dig a moat. Then learn about crossbows, bulletproof shields, and catapults. It’s all right here in this handy manual, Defending Your Castle by William Gurstelle.

As you read about historical battle tactics you’ll find out how the weapons worked. When you’re done you will be ready to defend your modern home from Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan, a Viking hoard, or a pack of brain-starved zombies.

Step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and photographs show you how to build a dozen projects, from scale models of Da Vinci’s Catapult to a full size working Carpini’s Crossbow.

Some assembly required. Archers not included.

HABANERO MAPLE BACON

// tenderbelly.com You’re thinking about bacon again aren’t you? Smoked and dried to perfection, with maple sweetness or hot pepper spice, or both? Mmm. Where can I get some of that?

Tender Belly, based on Denver Colorado, supplies bacon and other pork products to restaurants all over the U.S. They make their bacon from the ultratender bellies of Heritage Breed hogs, slow curing it for 12 days to absorb the flavour of their signature dry-rub spices.

You can order Tender Belly bacon, ham, sausages, and whole hogs from tenderbelly.com. Remember their slogan: “Bacon. It’s good for ya!”

WRECKTANGLES

// thinkgeek.com Captain Jules’ WreckTangles are twisted puzzles that will either delight or madden you. No screens. No batteries. No Internet.

These puzzles require only your brain, your hands, and your patience.

There are eight different models: three easy ones that can be solved in just a few minutes, three harder ones that are good for parties or car trips with a bunch of people, and two that might keep you guessing for a long, long time.

Some people have a gift for spotting the solution to puzzles like these. Others just keep them around to occupy kids and grandchildren.

Each puzzle comes with a stand and, more importantly, a solution.

36 SEVEN MAY / JUNE 2017

SCRUBBA WASH BAG

// thescrubba.com Scrubba is a portable washing machine, designed for campers and travellers who want to carry fewer clothes. You can stop washing your socks and underwear in lakes and hotel sinks. With a Scrubba Wash Bag you can do a load of laundry wherever and whenever you want.

This is basically a modern take on the old washboard.

The inside of the bag has a pattern of bumps that scrub the dirt out of your clothes when you massage the bag. Just add soap and water and you’re ready to go.

Scrubba is pocket-sized—small enough to take anywhere. It’s powered by you, so there’s no need for batteries. If you have a Scrubba wash bag you’re just three minutes away from clean clothes.

SKYWALL DRONE CATCHER

// openworksengineering.com Radio controlled cars, planes, and helicopters are cool, but flying drones are faster, lighter, and way cooler. The latest hobby drones come with built-in cameras, so you can soar high and take photos and video from the clouds.

Drones can also be a nuisance or downright dangerous. Military drones are now routinely used for unmanned missions that can result in injury and even death.

Enter the SkyWall100—a shoulder-mounted net launcher designed to physically capture an aircraft and control its descent to the ground. In other words, it’s a drone catcher.

SkyWall can fire three types of projectile nets: one to captures a drone, one with a parachute to lower it to the ground, and one that also jams electronics. It can stop drones flying as fast as 23 miles per hour and weighing up to 6.6 pounds.

For now, SkyWall technology is available only to law enforcement agencies and the military but a consumer version is likely to follow. Then we’ll see how well it works on racoons and flying squirrels.

/ SANDY MCMURRAY writes about games, toys, and gadgets at funspot.ca.

NEXT ISSUE

Summer Here Comes

Sometimes it’s nice to take a break—everyone likes a getaway, whether it’s a trip out of town, or a plain-old ‘staycation’ at home. But do we ever come back any

more rested? Next issue, we examine the practices and merits of “self-care,” as well as a look at the latest set of summer blockbuster movies. Just in time for Canada’s 150th, it’s our SEVEN Summer Spectacular!

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