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Can AI Rock?
I usually don’t ask my AI friend, “Q” for help in writing a blog. I like to write the old-fashioned way, with all the warts and imperfections that come from being human. But, as a musician, I’ve been wondering: Can AI rock when it creates music? Can AI swing when it makes a song? I started my research on this by asking Q what it thought about the blog title. Here’s its response: “Great question—and it’s a good blog title, Jim. Concise, provocative, slightly playful.” Well, that’s an encouraging start, and Q has already dropped an em dash into the conversation. 😉 Q continued… “Short answer (the one I’d put…
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What is Creativity?
I’d like to offer a definition of creativity: Using the resources God has given you to make something that benefits you and others. The first thing to notice in this definition is that we don’t create out of nothing. There are always resources that we draw from. Resources include raw materials, such as paper, pen, piano, pipe. Raw materials also include your culture, your personality, how you were raised. And raw material includes all of the stream of ideas that have flowed down to you through the millenia. Creativity grows out of all the materials that God has given you. Once you have the raw materials, you combine them. Most…
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Sin is the Greatest Obstacle to Creativity
God is the ultimate source of creativity. We’re made in his image and therefore we create. We create from essentially a limitless supply of diverse and abundant raw material. So, even from a young age, we create. And we make some great things! We push ourselves to our limits as artists. Our art reflects who we are – what’s unimportant to us, what excites us. We might even take lessons, get a mentor, etc., all in the service of expressing ourselves. So far, so good, right? Then how does sin slow us down and set-up obstacles to our growth, limit our creativity? Sin… clutters/occupies our thoughts, and saps our energy.…
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The Backdoor to Joy
What is joy? How do you define it? People wonder all the time what joy is. How do you get it? How do you keep it? We try to figure out what will give us joy and happiness. Usually that means I’ll do what I want, when I want, That’s My Prerogative, and you’re not the boss of me. Or as Frank Sinatra sang, I Did It My Way. Is doing it our way the formula for joy, for happiness? No, because if it was, we’d all be doing that. The proof’s in the pudding, right? If living life the way we want brought us real and sustainable joy, we’d…
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What Does it Mean to be Gentle as a Christian Creative?
We’re all worried that we’re going to be taken advantage of. Or, that we’re not going to get what’s ours. The reality is: you might not get what’s yours, and it’s very likely you will be taken advantage of at some point in your life. Almost all creatives have experienced this. Gentleness, a fruit of the Spirit, feels like anti-Darwinism. It seems counterintuitive to say that life may be more than survival of the fittest, and that only the strong survive. After all, if we don’t fight for ourselves, who will? Gentleness is very doable with someone who’s gentle in return, but feels impossibly difficult when someone disagrees or conflicts…
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Held Loose & Fast
There’s no one on earth I can say this to So I’ll say it to you No one who would know what I mean If there was, where would I begin? You fully know the things our eyes have seen While I can’t take away where mine have been To shape the mist that lays Lies in my mind always What means so much to me Means others barely see It won’t be understood Why do I think it should? So for a thought, a truth, a thing that was Pass over past, because What’s so carefully kept from all You understood and saw It’s good that it’s…
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Not Yet
I’m standing next to a gold mine Profoundly deep, abundantly rich Full of everything I’d like The things I want The person I hope to be And yet… I’m just standing here FROZEN Not digging, not mining, just standing What’s holding me back? Am I overwhelmed? Tired? Distracted? It’s right there I could reach out and touch it Like I’ve touched parts of it before But I haven’t dug into it I haven’t gone deep, exploring, discovering What am I waiting for? Infinity’s available! Thank you for your patience with me, Lord Please help me to dive in
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Creativity, Coming & Going
Have you noticed how many creatives have particularly fertile periods of output – times of especially high levels of creativity? Why is that? How do you call the muse? Can you even call it? Why does it appear to fall away? Can you keep it? What is inspiration? Too many questions! For any creative, there are times of heightened connection/awareness of the muse. It’s always best to jump on an idea when it’s fresh. That visit is a combination of time and circumstance – two things which by definition are never exactly replicable. Therefore you must jump, before the time and circumstance take you out of the mindset, the inspiration,…
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Ain’t Nothing Creative There
Satan has no creative ability. The ultimate in creativity is the ability to create something out of nothing. Only God can do that. We as humans have the ability to create, using the materials God has given us. We’re creative because we’re made in his image. Satan would like to convince us of his creativity. So, what can Satan do? Have you considered making a deal with Satan for something? Don’t fall for it. You think you might be getting what you want, but you won’t, and you can’t. Those are empty promises. In reality, you’re being played by playing yourself. Although Satan can’t create, he certainly can lie, and…
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It Rains Diamonds on Neptune
It rains diamonds on Neptune Far beyond our sight In the deep darkness Of an endless night Isn’t this already Beyond our imagination? What else can there be Hidden in creation? A whisper of the miraculous The lightest touch of a presence Displaying wisdom and glory Diversity and abundance And yet, what of our planet? What falls out of our skies? We take for granted Our most important prize God has a joyful bias Toward bringing us pleasure Diamonds and life Beyond measure
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We’re All Living in a Parallel Universe
While scientists debate the possibility of alternate or parallel universes, it’s obvious that at least one parallel universe exists. And it’s right next to us. We can step into it at any time. In fact, most of us go in and out of this parallel universe multiple times a day. How do we access it? Easy. It’s at the touch of a button. Who are we in this parallel universe? We are our name, or nickname, or screen name. It’s our face, but it’s likely our best possible version. It’s the moments of our life, the food we eat, the places we visit. Most of us are quite comfortable expressing…
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Associated Possibilities Do What You Can’t
There are many things in life we simply cannot do. We can’t walk on the moon without a spacesuit, assuming we’re somehow able to get there. Most of us will never be professional athletes. Depositing a billion dollar check is not on our immediate horizon. Is it worth setting impossible goals for our life? Purposefully aiming for something we know is out of reach? On the surface, no. It would seem a recipe for frustration and cynicism. There is, however, a hack you can use with impossible goals. And it’s particularly helpful for creatives.
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Coloring Inside the Lines, and Other Tips to Enhance Creativity
1) The first tip for enhancing creativity will feel counter-intuitive: color inside the lines. It may be artistic heresy to say it, but you’ll find your creativity enhanced when limits are placed on you. Limits will force you to think and respond creatively. Study art or artists who function within restrictions. Film director Orson Welles said, “The enemy of art is the absence of limitations.” Peter Gabriel’s insistence that no cymbals be used on one of his albums helped lead to the pioneering use of the gated drum effect.* Check out the drums on “Intruder,” the first track of this album. After he recorded it, Gabriel said, “Artists given complete…
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What Becomes of it?
It started with a vision Of the future in my imagination Idealized, romanticized, and perfect in conception Pure and lovely in visualization Brought forth, broken through the wall That separates mind from space Thought from senses Real from imagination And then it morphed Into something different And I’m not as sure of it I don’t know it as well It’s kind of like how I imagined it would be But kind of not Different, altered, changed And this is the reality Of something we release into the world Something that others touch and experience Their interaction with it causes The change, the evolution, the application Now it belongs to the…
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We Wouldn’t Practice Without Infinity
We practice in an effort to improve, to grow. To get better at music, relationships, work, life. Why do we do this? Because we’re not there yet. We’re not at our best, our most fulfilled, with all of our potential realized. Is there a limit to how good we can get? Some would argue that there is. However, I think there’s always possibility for growth. Here’s why… You’ll likely get incrementally better by practicing over a set period of time. “Incrementally” may not seem like much, but you are, in fact, getting better. Can you read, watch, study others to learn from them? If so, you’ll improve. If not, you’re…
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You Can’t Help Yourself
Filmmakers often tell us how to react, the emotion we should be feeling. These feelings naturally mirror what the character(s) are experiencing. One of the ways filmmakers do this is by what happens in the very next shot. For instance, if someone is in a scary scene, the next shot might contain a high-pitch sound, resembling a scream. It could be a train whistle, brakes grinding, etc., but it’s there to (at least subconsciously) tell us how the character is feeling. Similarly, if something funny happens in a scene, the filmmaker will start the next scene with someone smiling, or a group of people laughing. These cues give us a…
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Beyond Your Most Poignant Memories
No matter how old or young you are, you have at least one poignant memory full of emotion, sometimes very strong emotion. Our minds bring these memories to us at seemingly random moments – on a bus, eating dinner, watching a parade. These memories can bring up feelings of something lost, or something missed, or something we wish we could do over. Growing older doesn’t always minimize the emotion. What do we do with these memories, especially as Christian writers? First and foremost, it helps to know that, according to the Bible, “…all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to…
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Being. Happy and Fortunate.
Sometimes, particularly after a bad experience, I wonder how God’s heart must break from all the evil that we do to each other. The harm, hate and abuse we pour into each other. It’s bad enough what this does to us, I can only imagine God’s pain from seeing it. There was a particular horror that Jesus experienced. God brutally murdered. Judged and executed in full public display. Jesus’ father forsook him, his friends either denied or betrayed him, his community rejected him. He experienced all of the pain and misery, harm, hate and abuse that we’ve suffered. This means he understands and can relate to us. The resurrection of…
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Artificial Intelligence for the Human Creative
One of the benefits of computer artificial intelligence (AI) is that it gathers together the collected knowledge of the computers that have come before it. AI comes pre-loaded with any knowledge we want to place in it. In addition, AI tests, learns and grows. It constantly takes the information it, and other computers has learned and integrates that knowledge into its memory and algorithms. So, what does this have to do with human creativity?Well, it turns out these same two benefits apply to creatives. First, you have as much access as you want to the creative work that has gone before you. Although you can’t experience everything that has flowed…
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Paul Bielatowicz’s Progressive Creativity
Paul’s bio at his Facebook page tells you some of what you need to know about him… “Paul Bielatowicz has earned a name for himself as a technical guitarist in the Prog Rock genre. Paul has toured the world as a member of both the Carl Palmer Band (Emerson Lake and Palmer) and Neal Morse’s band (Spock’s Beard, Transatlantic). His live performances with these two bands have been well documented on both live albums and DVDs. Aside from his busy touring schedule, Paul’s career as a studio musician has seen him making album appearances alongside Paul Gilbert, Mike Portnoy, Randy George, Neal Morse and Carl Palmer, to name but a…
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Self-Diagnosing Your Creative Roadblocks
God has placed us in a universe in which creativity can flourish. A virtually limitless palette to draw from as we go beyond imagination. But due to a variety of factors, our creative output sometimes declines. What detours can you take around roadblocks to improve your creative quality and quantity? Here are some questions you can use for self-coaching. To get the most out of the questions, be sure to either write down your answers or have a friend ask you. Share your thoughts in the comments section or contact me directly. It may be that you’ve tapped your creative well and there’s not much left. What steps can you…
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Ambient Guitar, Chapman Stick & PBass Meet for the 1st Time!
I recently visited my friend Bill Vencil, the ambient guitar whiz at Chords of Orion. I had dusted off the Chapman Stick and brought it with me. Even though I had some concerns about playing it well, Bill rolled the tape and posted the result at his YouTube channel. That’s Bill’s son, Nathan, on his Fender Precision bass.
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And It Is Wonderful
Psalm 139:13-14 says… For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. This portion of Psalm 139 is about God and us – in that order. And it is wonderful. Biblically, God is always the initiator. In verse 13 of this Psalm, God forms us. This combination of creating and giving life is intrinsic to God. It’s who he is. There is no other life-giving source in the universe. Life pours out of God. Where he is, life is. Where he works, life results. …
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Harry Mantong’s Song of Joy
From his earliest memories of singing in a children’s choir to forming the award-winning Palu Children Choir, Harry Mantong has spread joy around the world. I first met Harry on a crowded elevator at an event in Indonesia. Even among strangers in an elevator, Harry’s natural charisma stood out. It wasn’t a complete surprise to find out later that this same man was a featured performer at the event. Below the transcription of the interview is an audio of one of Harry’s songs. Be sure to check it out! Jim Wall Creativity (JWC): You were a top five contestant in Indonesian Idol. What are your memories of that experience? Harry: I’ve…
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What if Your Art Doesn’t Pay the Bills?
Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. Habakkuk 3:17-19 In Old Testament times you made your living from agriculture. Your financial condition was tied directly to the condition of the fields, fruit, herds and flocks the Lord had…
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Re Sonnet 73
It’s hanging on the wall. The Fender Jazz Bass my father gave me over 40 years ago. It’s a beautiful instrument, capable of such depths of tone and feeling. It has its quirks. The strings are set a bit too high. It takes forever to reach the lowest notes. But the reward for reaching is worth it. Deep, resonating tones that fill your insides and takes you to a place of discovery. Most of the time it just hangs there, growing older with time. Showing, not singing. Lingering, not living. I recently picked it up. It played well, but there was a string at one fret that buzzed. I kept…
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How will You Live as an Artist in God’s Presence?
This is the last of 7 blogs on releasing your creative potential. If our chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever, then the purpose of our art, and our life as an artist, is to enjoy God. Glorifying God and enjoying him. One leads to the other. This doesn’t mean that every moment of our artistic life is a sugar high. Enjoying God is the slow, steady build-up of knowing that being in his arms is the right place to be. Creating art knits our heart to God. This reality is certainly one of the reasons that creativity is a spiritual battle. This battle, this struggle,…
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What are Your Creative Patterns and Processes?
This is the sixth of 7 blogs on releasing your creative potential. A lot of artists shy away from words like structure or discipline. They think it somehow limits their creative potential – that it’s a presumptive usurping of the muse that inspires them. Maybe it is. But perhaps there are a couple of other ways to look at this.
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What’s the Place of Money and Fame?
This is the fifth of 7 blogs on releasing your creative potential. Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.
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What does God-led Creativity Look Like?
This is the fourth of 7 blogs on releasing your creative potential. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 We are God’s creation, his poem, his work of art. We’re carefully, lovingly created and formed for his exquisite pleasure and our deepest joy. We’re created and formed for God’s purpose. His purpose is always good, although sometimes it does not feel that way.
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How Will You Combine Self-Expression and Beyond-Imagination?
This is the third of 7 blogs on releasing your creative potential. “I reached out for something to attach myself to—and I found nothing. But in reaching out, in the effort to grasp, to attach myself, left high and dry as I was, I nevertheless found something I had not looked for—myself.” – Tropic of Capricorn, Henry Miller Self-expression is limiting, but necessary for authentic art. This quote is positive in its finding of self. We should plummet the depths of who we are and be authentic in our artistic expression. And we should seek to continually do this as we grow, develop and change as individuals. And yet,…
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How has God Built You?
This is the second of 7 blogs on releasing your creative potential. Psalm 139:13-14 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. God has made each of us unique. Special. One of a kind. Each of us has something no one else has. And each of us has something the world needs.
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What is the Connection between God and Creativity?
This is the first of 7 blogs on releasing your creative potential. What does God think about artists? Does he care? Does he even notice? If everything was right, if we could clearly see the brushstrokes on the canvas of the created world, then the first words of the Bible would inspire endless creativity, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
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Dave Bainbridge’s Continuous Creativity
Something of Dave Bainbridge’s creative persona is infused into everything he does – and he does a lot. Founding member of the Celtic, progressive-folk-rock band, Iona, leader of Celestial Fire, keyboardist with Strawbs, guitarist/keys player with Lifesigns, member of occasional guitar band GB3, solo artist, and half of the Dave Bainbridge and Sally Minnear duo.
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Wind of New Birth
Wind of New Birth by Jim Wall Today my life somehow changed All of my thoughts rearranged I’ve been seeing the sun from the ocean floor Soon the waves won’t hide it anymore Bright rays of light blind my eyes Rainbow streams down from the skies I’ve been lifted to life on the land Gently placed down on the sand Standing up, walking the earth Dancing in the wind of new birth Healing in the shade of the trees Cooling and resting in the breeze Beautiful and ready is the bride New city drops down from the skies A lion walks out, becomes a lamb Receives the scroll placed in…
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What One Man Can Do
Her blood spilled out until I thought there could be no more. Then she died. Some people say the life of a cop can be exciting, even glamorous. I don’t. Not when you have to live with the memory of an innocent girl dying in your arms. I’m thinking about her, replaying the details of that day in my mind as my partner and I patrol the west side. He looks over and asks, “What’s with you? You haven’t said two words all day.” “Thinking about Shandra.” “I knew it. Why don’t you just see a shrink?” “I have. Didn’t do much good.” For three years I’ve lived with the…
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The Night, by Blake Wall
The night is a thief, its shadows, hiding places and the moon its prying eye. They that walk under its boughs are in dismay, for who knows what in sleeping corners lie. All is silent as night holds its breath, waiting for weary travelers to lay down their heads on cold grass, and then to bestow upon them misfortune. In company with others night claims no hold, but when one walks from warm food and hot fire, be warned, for calamity and injustice is the way of night. Yet dawn is a guardsman, one who drives the night away. For what is darkness but lack of light?
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A Dangerous Christmas Song
Long before I became a Christian, Chris McDonald lodged “O Holy Night” in my brain. We were middle-schoolers, and we weren’t the coolest kids. We were kindred spirits who were okay with being more toward the fringe than the center of things. I don’t think anyone saw any special talent in either of us. Chris, though, had a super-power. He could sing. Really well. One year, just before Christmas, all the students, teachers, and administration assembled in the auditorium. I only remember one thing from that day. Chris McDonald, my friend from the fringes, stood up next to the piano. The auditorium became completely quiet. Then, from the piano, the…
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Jonah’s Call
Jonah's Call by Jim Wall Go down Jonah Down out of your chair Down your front steps Down the road Away from Galilee Down to the sea Down to the deep Down in the beast Go up Jonah Up out of the beast Up out of the grave Up out of the sea Up to Nineveh Up to the city Embrace the word of the Lord Speak the word of the Lord Words: Connell Byrne and Gary Tibbels Music: Jim Wall Featured vocalist: Mark Reeve Guitar and bass: Jim Wall Slide guitar: Mark Reeve Piano, organ: Leonard Wolf Mixed and Mastered by I.T.B. Audio Solutions Produced by Jim Wall
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Two Nails
Four soldiers, sitting there Wagered for his clothes They looked up to the cross where The blood from his wounds still flowed The blood from his wounds still flowed Three women came to see Put their heads in their hands Witnessing up on this tree The slow death of this man The slow death of this man Two nails are on the ground There’s one more to go While people stood all around The body was brought down low The body was brought down low One friend came to the cross Took his body away Wrapped him up in brand new cloth And laid him in his grave And laid…
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What’s Your Creative Lever?
The process of creativity can be daunting. There’s so much raw material to choose from, and things can get complicated fairly quickly. In music, for instance, there is a near infinite selection of note combinations, melodies, harmonies, rhythms, counter and polyrhythms. How’s it even possible to be creative under such circumstances? For Bill Bruford, the answer is listening to the space between the notes. Bruford was the drummer for Yes, King Crimson, Earthworks, and numerous other bands and projects.
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Cockburn’s Creative Life
Bruce Cockburn is a poet, songwriter, political activist, guitarist and singer. His songs have been featured on network tv. His lyrics have been quoted by U2 (“Gotta kick at the darkness ’til it bleeds daylight,” in U2’s God, Part II. From Cockburn’s, Lovers in a Dangerous Time). Cockburn’s artistic output is stunning – a catalog of 30 albums over 40 years. As Wikipedia notes, “Twenty Cockburn records have received a Canadian gold or platinum certification as of 2013, and he has sold nearly one million albums in Canada alone.” I’m sure many singer-songwriters would be thrilled to lay claim to writing just one of Cockburn’s 300 songs. It’s almost impossible to single…
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Emerging
Emerging by Jim Wall In the dark Clueless Dead Moonless night Darkness of despair First light Emerging Awakened A new dawn Shining forth In the light Brilliant Alive Sun drenched day Light of hope Words: Connell Byrne and Gary Tibbels Music: Jim Wall Featured vocalist: Juliet Greene Guitar and bass: Jim Wall Violin: Davey Copeland Mixed and Mastered by I.T.B. Audio Solutions Produced by Jim Wall
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Crack the Sky
Baltimore gets a lot of things right. The Star Spangled Banner, Michael Phelps, and steamed crabs, to name a just a few. And Baltimore got it right with Crack The Sky. From Wikipedia… “Crack the Sky is an American progressive rock band formed in Weirton, West Virginia in the early 1970s. In 1975, Rolling Stone declared their first album “debut album of the year”, and in 1978, Rolling Stone Record Guide compared them to Steely Dan; their first three albums charted on the Billboard 200. The band has never achieved great success outside the Baltimore area. Despite this, they continue to release albums and perform to a small but devoted fan base to this day.” Consider me “small but devoted.” It was love…
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Os Guinness & “The Call” to Artists
In addition to being the great-great-great grandson of Arthur Guinness, the Dublin brewer, Os Guinness has attractively and persuasively presented the claims of Christ to our culture, and each of us, since serving as a leader alongside Francis and Edith Schaeffer at L’Abri in the late 1960’s. Guinness’ book, The Call, is about “finding and fulfilling the central purpose of your life.” It’s a great book for artists to read, with many applicable quotes. Here’s one, from chapter 6… In the biblical understanding of giftedness, gifts are never really ours or for ourselves. We have nothing that was not given us. Our gifts are ultimately God’s, and we are only…
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In Flight
In Flight by Jim Wall Below Spread out Vanishing in all directions The quilt of the earth Marching over The patchwork landscape An amorphous army in odd formation Commanded by an unseen general All around Muted murmuring The omnipresent hum of the machine bird The bump and jostle of invisible terrain Above Fly white banners shredded and torn Painted on the roof Of the cerulean sky High above The thin blue shoreline of the void Burn ancient processional lights Sown across a field of inky black Beyond, infinity Home Words: Connell Byrne Music: Jim Wall Featured vocalist: Juliet Greene Acoustic guitar and bass: Jim Wall Additional guitars: Bill Vencil Mixed and…
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Brett Monk and Mount Hideaway Mysteries
Brett Monk has been a radio, TV and film professional for over 30 years. He is the director and showrunner for the Mount Hideaway series on Amazon. He has acted, directed, and crewed in hundreds of productions over the years. He also planted a non-denominational church where he served as Senior Pastor for 10 years. In addition to his film activities, he co-owns a successful real estate business. Brett lives in Northern Virginia with his wife, daughter, and goldendoodle.
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Matthew Smith and Emotionally Honest Worship
Music in worship. For many churches, it’s a struggle between traditional and contemporary. Is there perhaps another way which honors people’s feelings, glorifies God, and displays unity to a broken world? Matthew Smith uses hymns to help churches guide their people into emotionally honest worship. Matthew is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter who writes new melodies to centuries-old hymn texts. He is a founding member of the Indelible Grace community, whose work has drawn acclaim across denominational lines and is used in churches around the world. I once saw Indelible Grace perform only after walking up and down a line of people outside a sold-out concert of theirs until someone sold me…
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Trespass in Space
This short story was in response to a challenge to write a script that would a) run for 10 minutes of movie time and b) be limited to four characters. I couldn’t help but sneak in that God has made the universe in such a way that exploration and discovery are not only possible, but encouraged… TRESPASS IN SPACE FADE IN: A SPACESHIP DECK – DAY THE YEAR IS 2068. CREW IN THE MIDST OF A DISCUSSION. RIA You don’t want to go down there. BRINK I do. RIA You don’t. Here’s why. You’ve been down there twice already, and the last time you were nearly killed. What makes you…
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From an Infinite Well
The problem with gifts is we always want more. We seem to be wired this way from an early age. Even if we got the gift we wanted for our birthday, it wasn’t too long until we wanted the next thing. Then we grow up, and we think we’re beyond this. Yet, every gift we receives seems to have a built-in time limit, an expiration date past which we receive increasingly diminished amounts of joy. The gifts of good relationships and friendships hold up better, but how often do we expect more from our relationships? No matter how much is given, it’s never quite enough.
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Does God Care about Your Artwork?
Does God care about your artwork? He does. Everyone expresses themselves creatively. It can’t be helped. It’s one of the things we’re born to do. It’s part of what the Bible refers to when it says we’re made in God’s image. (Genesis 1:26.) An essential part of God’s nature is that, beyond all possible imagination of abundance and diversity, he’s creative (Genesis 1:1). We reflect that part of his nature in the abundance and diversity of our art, music, movies, etc. The difference is, God creates out of nothing. We, at best, “borrow” any material we can find and repurpose it. As Picasso said, “Good artists copy, great artists steal.”
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Ambient Guitar Meditation “Soul’s Joy”
Bill Vencil has always been a phenomenal musician and composer. When I first met him he talked about Charles Ives as if he knew him personally. For my part, I shared my profound reverence for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Somehow, Bill and I connected as musicians. Although we don’t get to see each other too often, we recently sat down and “turned on the tape.” Bill posted this video to his YouTube channel, Chords of Orion, where he teaches ambient guitar techniques, demos equipment, and performs. You can learn more about Bill and Chords of Orion at… web: http://chordsoforion.com facebook: http://facebook.com/chordsoforion twitter: http://twitter.com/chordsoforion Or give him a listen here… soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/chordsoforion bandcamp: http://chordsoforion.bandcamp.com spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5wAEU… Chords of Orion on…
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I Let the Deal Go Down
As someone who remembers thinking Frigid Pink recorded the definitive version of House of the Rising Sun, it’s hard to admit falling deep for a bluegrass song. But it happened. A while back a friend lent me a DVD, Best of the Flatt & Scruggs TV Show. This was Volume 1 with episodes from August 1961 and February 1962. Lester Flatt (lead vocal and guitar) and Earl Scruggs (banjo) were at the height of their creative and performance powers. I listened to the first 18 songs. Liked them, appreciated them, respected them. Song 19 sent chills down my spine. It was called, Don’t Let Your Deal go Down. I played…
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How Idols Melt Your Face Off
An idol is anything you place above God. More specifically, anything you love more than God. It’s the thing you dream about, fixate on, want to have. It’s the thing that captivates you. The movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, depicted this perfectly. Agents of Nazi Germany are attempting to locate and control the biblical ark of the covenant. In the movie, the ark represents a direct connection to God and thus power over others. That’s the first idol – the insatiable lust for power – and it is personified by the German character, Major Arnold Toht. The second idol – the desire for eternal life and to to control…
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Always More, and Less is Best
As artists, we sometimes wrestle with the question of volume: how many CD’s to press, how many books to print, etc. I’d like to share a couple of encouragements on the difference between artistic output and publishing volume. The best way to think of it is to always aim for more creativity and output, but be very restrained and measured in your publishing volume.
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We’re all Children of our Time
I always thought old age, death, or insanity would quiet their voices. I’m not insane. At least not yet. And even though I’m not dead, I’m much older. The voices are the songs, movies and art of the 1960’s. They were imprinted on me as my first impressions, my earliest memories. The voices seemed like implied promises. Do whatever you want, whenever and with whomever. Peace, love and happiness for ourselves and for the world. It was a dream that almost became reality. “Almost” is the problem. It has always been that way. The serpent promised in the Garden of Eden that we would be like God, “For God knows that when…
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i.e., by Juliet Greene
i.e. by Juliet Greene i.e. is the first release by Juliet Greene. Songs include… A Touch to Tell Brown-Eyed Spectre Can’t Seem to Breathe You Were to Me To learn more about Juliet and her EP, visit bandcamp.com and search Juliet Greene, or click here.
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For the Greater Good
7 Classic Reads for Creative Christians
The End of All Things
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Take Your Place in Line
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! In the Old Testament book of 1 Chronicles, chapter 16, just after the ark of the covenant was restored in Israel, King David gave to Asaph and his fellow musicians a song of thanks to the Lord. Maybe Asaph helped write the music, maybe the musicians simply performed what was given them by David, but in any case it’s a beautiful psalm of praise. Verse 34 says, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” This phrase, “Give thanks to…” is repeated over and over in the…
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Follow the Gold
Ever have money thrown at you? Israel did, as they left Egypt… Exodus 12:35-36 (ESV) 35 The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. 36 And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians. I’m sure the clothing helped as they went into the desert. The silver and gold, however, what became of that? What becomes of the gifts the Lord has given you? How do you steward over the things God has graciously placed in your…
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Celestial Fire is Hot
Rising from the cooling embers of the extraordinary band, Iona, is Celestial Fire. They are a progressive rock band, and they just released a dvd/2cd set called, “Live in the UK.” In studio or live, Celestial Fire exhibits high-level musicianship and intricate songwriting. Celestial Fire is… Dave Bainbridge (guitars, keyboards, bouzouki, percussion, vocal) Dave was one of the driving creative forces behind Iona. He’s brought his heart and soul to this project. Sally Minnear (lead vocals, vocal looping, acoustic guitar, percussion) Daughter of multi-instrumentalist Kerry Minnear of Gentle Giant. Sally toured as the featured vocalist in Michael Flatleyʼs “Lord of the Dance.” Frank Van Essen (drums, percussion, violin, vocals) Just about…
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Created & Creating
Created & Creating, A Biblical Theology of Culture offers a road map for how every Christian can, and should, participate in creating culture. Written by William Edgar, a professor of apologetics at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. Edgar often writes about music, particularly jazz. Not gonna lie. This book (properly) goes deep into theological reasons for engaging culture. As such, this is a take-your-time-and-think-about-it book. Here’s a passage… “For these reasons, though we do not yet see everything in subjection to our champion (Jesus), we understand by faith that he is leading the new humanity into a heavenly calling (Heb 3:1). The son is building a house far greater than…
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Abundance and The Voice
Stephen R. Covey helped bring consciousness to the concept of Abundance and Scarcity in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Regarding Scarcity, Covey said, “The Scarcity Mentality is the zero-sum paradigm of life. People with a Scarcity Mentality have a very difficult time sharing recognition and credit, power or profit – even with those who help in the production. They also have a very hard time being genuinely happy for the successes of other people – even, and sometimes especially, members of their own family or close friends and associates. It’s almost as if something is being taken from them when someone else receives special recognition or windfall…
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The Price
Does every blessing bring a curse with it? Or, to put it in a non-religious terms, do you feel like you have to pay a price for every good thing that happens in your life? What causes this? There was a time when I would lay on the porch behind our house and look up at the sky. I found it relaxing to daydream and watch the clouds go by. Every now and then I would see a plane flying overhead. I would imagine what it would be like to be on a plane again, going to far-off places. I said silent prayers, “Lord, I would like to travel.” That…
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T-Bone to Chuck to Keith to…
Chuck Berry passed away March 18, 2017. He was 90 years old. Art is a stream that flows from one generation to the next. It’s up to every artist to get their words, music, painting, film into that stream. For T-Bone Walker, it was Call it Stormy Monday, (but Tuesday is Just as Bad). Released in 1947, Stormy Monday is a classic blues tune which goes straight to the gut. Nestled among the song’s 7th and 9th chords is a solo which contains the essential elements of rock and roll guitar. Note bending, chromatic runs, double stops: it’s all there – measured, paced, prowling, ready. Chuck Berry picked up this…
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What Worship is All About
James K. A. Smith’s book, You Are What You Love, offers a great description of what worship is all about… “While worship is entirely embodied, it is not only material; and though worship is wholly natural, it is not only natural. Christian worship is nothing less than an invitation to participate in the life of the Triune God. In short, the centrality of embodiment should not be understood as a naturalizing of worship that would deny the dynamic presence of the Spirit. To the contrary, the Spirit meets, nourishes, transforms, and empowers us through and in such material practices. The Church’s worship is a uniquely intense site of the Spirit’s…
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Your Head is a Living Forest
Ambient guitarist Bill Vencil performs an ambient guitar meditation close to the ridge line of a national forest. For more on Bill, and his Chords of Orion project, check out… web: http://chordsoforion.com facebook: http://facebook.com/chordsoforion twitter: http://twitter.com/chordsoforion soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/chordsoforion
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Best Bass by Committee Ever
How many things are better by committee? Some, perhaps. In music, having a key instrument covered by committee would seem a recipe for disaster. On 8 different albums between 1967 and 1971, The Doors used 11 different bass players, some albums featuring more than one. The Doors did not have a bass player on stage when they played live. Their keyboard player, Ray Manzarek, took care of that. In the studio, Manzarek was concerned that his keyboard bass did not have the “articulation” needed, meaning that keyboard bass doesn’t cleanly break through the mix. So, how did The Doors make it work? They chose some of the best studio musicians…
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7 Classic Reads for Creative Christians
A little encouragement goes a long way. There are many Christian writers who have wrestled with what it means to be an artist not only in a secular culture, but also in a church culture that hasn’t always supported them or their creativity. Here are 7 classic reads to help you in your journey…. Art Needs no Justification, by H.R. Rookmaaker. Razor thin at 61 pages, this book neither wastes, nor minces, any words. Rookmaaker describes the historic role of the artist, implications for today, the church’s response, and the Christian artist’s task. The last chapter offers some guidelines for artists. Here’s an excerpt: “If in this way art…
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Top 5 Cover Song Interpretations
Cover songs are often musically similar to the originals. However, every now and then, an artist or band will completely reinterpret a song, and take it to a place the songwriter never dreamed of. It’s not that the cover is better. Quite often, both the original and the cover stand alone as great songs. The five songs in this list are so good, you may have thought were originals. Blinded by the Light. Bruce Springsteen’s original was rebuilt, note-by-note, by Manfred Mann in 1976. Whereas Springsteen relied on his often underrated word-smithing abilities to morph memories into images, Mann squeezed every measure through a sonic vibe of synthesizers, processors and atmospheric…
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I Owe Iona
I owe Iona. Big time. When the Lord rescued me from sin and stupidity in the late 1970’s, I was certain I would find no Christian music equal to the bands I was used to. Nothing to compare to King Crimson, Genesis, Yes, Gentle Giant, Jethro Tull, etc. And then a celtic progressive rock band (who knew such a thing existed!) deposed all my preconceptions of what Christian music is and can be. Iona, from the UK, is proof that the Lord really does give us the desire of our hearts. A few days ago, Iona posted at their website that they will no longer record or tour as a…
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Duran Duran and the Hound of Heaven
A hundred years ago there was a poem by Francis Thompson called The Hound of Heaven. In it, God’s divine grace pursues us like a hound. It begins… “I fled Him, down the nights and down the days; I fled Him, down the arches of the years; I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways Of my own mind; and in the midst of tears… … From those strong Feet that followed, followed after. But with unhurrying chase, And unperturbèd pace, Deliberate speed, majestic instancy, They beat—and a Voice beat More instant than the Feet—” Many years later, Duran Duran recorded Hungry Like the Wolf. The easiest, most obvious, and certainly…
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Chord Progressions, Melodies, and Mountains
Melodies are what make songs pop. Melodies give life and vibrancy. Melody makes music memorable. This could be seen as bad news for chord progressions. Melody (and its intimate friend harmony) are the glitz and glamour of song-writing. Chord progressions, though, should not be taken for granted. They form the structure on which melody plays. Notes without a chord progression underneath are just melody. With a chord progression, they’re a song.
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Goya’s Vision
One of Francisco Goya’s most famous paintings is Saturn Devours His Son. There are many interpretations of this painting. From the first time I saw it, I felt that it represented the difference between God and Satan. Whereas God is loving and merciful, going so far as to send his son as a redemption and restoration for us, Saturn (Satan) devours his children. The image has alway stuck with me. It’s a reminder of the difference between death and destruction, life and love. I’ll go with love.
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Brought Home
the noise has died down it’s quiet all around not a sound as I lay here i can’t see stars i feel no sun i am undone in this darkness all that time… seemed so real the touch, the feel with each passing day the memory fades the shapes slip away i’m losing myself bit by bit in this grave night without end i hear your voice whisper “I am the way, the truth, the life.” your arms surround me you lift me up, and you take me home
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Polycarp: Destroyer of Gods
Somewhere in Ohio, a cast and crew with an average age of around 22 has taken on a 2nd century story. It’s the story about a bishop named Polycarp, and the immense effect his martyrdom had on the early church. What are you willing to live for, and what are you willing to die for? This independent movie needs our support. Go to kickstarter, get behind this movie and contribute what you can. Follow this link to make your contribution: polycarp-the movie
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Who is Jesus?
Ever wonder what it would be like to come back from death? To tell us what heaven is like? If such a place exists, how would you describe it? Would you say it was filled with indescribable love, beauty, and happiness? There was a man standing on a beach 2,000 years ago, near a sea called Tiberius. In the early morning light he saw men in the distance, rowing toward shore. They had spent the night fishing. He yelled out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” They answered no. He told them to throw their net out once again, this time on the right side of the boat. With…
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Keifer’s Big Chance
It was a wisp of hair that first caught his attention. He had been waiting there a while. Nothing to do. Nothing to pass the time away. Stare at the clock, stare away. People came and went. He knew his name would be called eventually, but it was taking forever. She brushed it back. Her head was partially raised and she was looking in his general direction. He hadn’t noticed her before and he was sure she wasn’t looking at him now. She was simply brushing at a wisp of hair, tucking it behind her ear. She probably wasn’t even aware she did it. She seemed deeply entranced in something…
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Expressions and Intentions of the Creator
In his book, The Holy Spirit, Sinclair B. Ferguson shares this gem about the work of the Spirit in re-ordering and beautifying God’s creation, and the Spirit’s prompting of this work through God’s people… “In pursuing his purposes among his called-out people, God’s Spirit also granted gifts of design and its execution to men like Bezalel and Oholiab (Ex. 31:1-11; 35:30-35). Again there is a significant theological pattern operative here. The beauty and symmetry of the work accomplished by these men in the construction of the tabernacle not only gave aesthetic pleasure, but a physical pattern in the heart of the camp which served to re-establish concrete expressions of the…
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Steve Turner – Poet and Explorer (part 3 of 3)
In part 3 of the Jim Wall Creativity interview with Steve Turner, he discusses interview techniques, being a detective, and his upcoming book on culture. INTERVIEWING INFLUENTIAL SINGERS AND MUSICIANS Jim Wall Creativity (JWC): If I could go a little bit into how you go about your particular profession. I’m just dying to know the answer to this. In your acknowledgements in The Man Called CASH: The Life, Love and Faith of an American Legend, you quoted Johnny Cash as saying, “In that book you told me things I didn’t know about people I’ve known all my life.” How do you do that? Turner: He might have been referring to…
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Steve Turner – Poet and Explorer (part 2 of 3)
In part 2 of the Jim Wall Creativity interview with Steve Turner, he discusses influences, exposure to art, and Hans Rookmaaker’s take on The Who. ON ARTISTS THAT INFLUENCE AND INSPIRE HIM Jim Wall Creativity (JWC): Just to go off in a different direction. Which artists fascinate you and why?” Turner: Bob Dylan has meant a lot to me, what he was and the kind of integrity he had – the way he combined stylishness with ideas about religion and politics, his use of language and rock music – that whole bundle of things that I was interested in. That all came together with him. Allan Ginsberg. I like his…
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Steve Turner – Poet and Explorer (part 1 of 3)
Steve Turner combines an artist’s passion with a journalist’s curiosity. His published poetry includes Tonight We Will Fake Love, Nice and Nasty, Up To Date, The King of Twist and Poems. His poetry collections, published for children, include The Day I Fell Down The Toilet, Dad, You’re Not Funny, The Moon Has Got His Pants On, I Was Only Asking and Don’t Take Your Elephant To School. His books, biographies and articles are too numerous to list, but include Hungry for Heaven: Rock and Roll and the Search for Redemption, Van Morrison: Too Late to Stop Now, Cliff Richard: The Biography, A Hard Days’ Write: The Stories Behind Every Beatles…
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For the Greater Good
“If you begin to realize every moment in your life happened for the greater good of who you are, [that] can really elevate you and change your whole trajectory.” -Tyler Perry, quoted in Success Magazine
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Because We Can’t Help It
The most basic truth of art is that we create because we’re made in God’s image. It might also be the most controversial.
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A Proper Seduction
Timing and desire. Here’s a a passage from Keith Richard’s book Life. Gus was his grandfather. “Gus was leading me subtly into getting interested in playing, rather than shoving something into my hand and saying, “It goes like this.” The guitar was totally out of reach. It was something you looked at, thought about, but never got your hands on. I’ll never forget the guitar on top of his upright piano every time I’d go and visit, starting maybe from the age of five. I thought that was where the thing lived. I thought it was always there. And I just kept looking at it, and he didn’t say anything,…
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Steve Jobs, Silica and Sand
They say that the integrated chip, the building block of the personal computer revolution, is built on a wafer of silica – also known as sand. Steve Jobs did it all and fascinated us every step of the way. His entrepreneurial skill, creative spirit, and insistence on excellence impacted almost every aspect of our technological lives. And yet, of all the things that Jobs accomplished, what will last? Not just for the next years, decades, or even centuries. But forever. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I…
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Off the cliff onto…
Creating something when you have skin in the game – when you are sacrificing something to do it – is like walking off a cliff onto a wide plank. As you go forward, the plank becomes a balance beam 4 inches wide and you get scared. Then the beam becomes a rope and you have to keep walking across to get to the other side, but you feel like you’re going to fall off any moment. The rope becomes string, then a thread. It turns dark, and you hope to heaven you can make it.
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Your Memory Becomes Mine
Everything in your world Becomes part of my world Your memories and emotions Your wishes, dreams and desires There once was a separation I wanted to fill and connect To see things like you do To feel them like my own Now we’re together Two being as one Sharing memory Touching the same space A flash of brilliant light Which will never fade Increases its intensity As flesh and bone decay
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Quotes from Great Authors
Here’s why I like these authors… Malcolm Muggeridge: “Every happening, great and small, is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message.” Flannery O’Conner: “All my stories are about the action of grace on a character who is not very willing to support it, but most people think of these stories as hard, hopeless and brutal.” Oz Guinness: “Christianity is the only religion whose God bears the scars of evil.” Francis Schaeffer: “Each generation of the church in each setting has the responsibility of communicating the gospel in understandable terms, considering the language and thought-forms of that setting.” Alexander Solzhenitsyn: “Man…
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The Next Big Thing (One Step From Addiction)
A bright new thing that I have seen Been on my mind and in my dreams It’s attractive I know Pulls me in, won’t let go Before I know what’s happened I realize I’ve been taken
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How’s This Compare with Your List?
“I love songs about horses, railroads, land, judgment day, family, hard times, whiskey, courtship, marriage, adultery, separation, murder, war, prison, rambling, damnation, home, salvation, death, pride, humor, piety, rebellion, patriotism, larceny, determination, tragedy, rowdiness, heartbreak and love. And Mother. And God.” – Johnny Cash
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Who’s Gonna Drive You Home?
Gary was a plumber. I was training to be one. Driving to work one day he turned up the radio and told me to listen to the lyrics – something he often did when he wanted to make a point. The song was Who’s Gonna Drive You Home, by The Cars. Who’s gonna tell you when It’s too late Who’s gonna tell you things Aren’t so great You can’t go on Thinking nothing’s wrong, but bye Who’s gonna drive you home tonight Gary pointed out that the Holy Spirit uses songs like this to talk to people. I was still fairly young as a Christian and had not thought of…
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The End of All Things
According to a well-known evangelist, the world was supposed to end today. Thought I’d riff on that concept… Molten lava flows by; fireballs hurl hundreds of feet through the air. Resting on a rock, awaiting the inevitable, Frodo says, “I’m glad to be with you, Samwise Gamgee, here at the end of all things.” (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King) Time collapses; the world fades. Suddenly the eagles arrive. They are unheralded, unexpected. They pick up Frodo and Sam and carry them home to safety. This is not unlike what artists feel when they are struggling. Everything around them seems to be falling apart and it…
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Scarecrow, by Connell Patrick Byrne
Connell is a visionary artist. This painting, Scarecrow, is acrylic on canvas, 11×46. Here are Connell’s thoughts on this painting… “Discarded scarecrow hung on heavy timber, regaled in wind-torn garment and crimson shawl. A pork-pie crown to mock the king. The dried-up crop of human bondage hemmed in by a thick black wire as storm-clouds fill the wide horizons. A field of corn, dried up, dead, vanishing in the distance. It is my life, my heart; a prisoner hemmed in by the barbs of my own guilt. And there is God, not outside and far off. Calling for me to heal myself. But this scarecrow God, incarnate in flesh, joins me in this field…
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Prayer at a Dead End
I wonder why this is? How did it come to this? What is in your heart, your mind? What are you thinking this time? This is a mystery I know this isn’t me I know myself And what I’ve felt It never ends, it never stops I’ve prayed about it a lot It’s in the Lord’s hands And He knows what He’s doing He is most wise, loving, powerful I trust Him now and Forever
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For People Like Us, in Places Like This
The A-7th chord sends a chill down my spine. I’m guessing it’s an A-7th because it has that open, resonating feel to it. It’s played several times during “Think It Over” by The Call. And every time it’s strummed, it pins the words down to something deeply emotional. Listening to it recently I couldn’t help but jump up and google Michael Been, the writer and bass player behind most of The Call’s songs. I so clearly remember seeing them perform at Hammerjack’s, a nightclub in downtown Baltimore, near the docks. You had to be careful at Hammerjack’s because a few steps in the wrong direction – and you were in…
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Don’t Give Up
To the artist… If you’re lucky you’ll live long enough to see the seed of your work planted. You may even see it die. Truly fortunate, you’ll see it raised.
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Milton, Star Trek, Lewis, and my friend Davis
Davis asked us to read it in the fall. We didn’t know he was going to pass away, suddenly, unexpectedly. He had just agreed to lead our small group, and he gave everyone a copy of The Great Divorce, an allegory/fantasy by C.S. Lewis. I had not read this book before. During the winter, Davis was admitted to the hospital and continued his journey to heaven from there. The first time I read The Great Divorce I couldn’t stop thinking about Davis. The second time I read it, which was last week, I still thought of Davis, but this time I was better able to understand and appreciate the flow…
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A Realm for Which the Soul Aches
“The task of the artist is to sense more keenly than others the harmony of the world, the beauty and the outrage of what man has done to it, and poignantly, to let people know. Art warms even an icy and depressed heart, opening it to lofty, personal experience. By means of art we are sometimes sent dimly, briefly, revelations unattainable by reason, like that little mirror in the fairy tales. Look into it and you will see not yourself but for a moment, that which passes understanding, a realm to which no man can ride or fly and for which the soul begins to ache.” – Alexander Solzhenitsyn, quoted…
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Scrubbing Off the Rough Edges
Roger Moore of the Orlando Sentinel begins his review of the movie “The Grace Card” with the following paragraph… “One depressingly common thread among faith-based films is the way the conflict is watered down and life’s rough edges are often scrubbed off. It’s OK to put out a movie with a message. But rendering even potentially dramatic stories so inoffensive that they bear no relation to reality makes for middling drama.” Do you agree with Moore’s critique? How close to “reality” is close enough for a faith-based artist?
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Hip Hops, Blues Rocks, Jazz Bops
Life has a rhythm. Because God put it there. When hip-hops, blues rock and jazz bops it’s because of one thing. Time. Time is a created entity, put into three-dimensional existence by God. Without time, there would be no music – nothing to play against. Without time, music, and life, would have no improvisation, counterpoint, syncopation, harmony, diversity. It’s all here for us, orchestrated by the hands of a loving, powerful and creative God. Rock on.
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Beyond This
I ALWAYS KNEW IT WAS THERE. The trick was getting to it. I fell into a chasm to find it. Pressing ever deeper, darker. It was the only way I knew how to look. Gradually my eyes opened and I thought I glimpsed it. The smell, the look, the taste, the touch. It was close, but that wasn’t it. And still I wanted it more. I had to have it. Being alive meant searching for it. Mist sometimes covered my path and I would be lost for months. Most of that time I wasn’t even aware I had forgotten about it. The place, the money, the people made me forget.…
