What Contemporary Christian Music Means to Me

-

Way back in 1979, when I first started going to Bible College (Baptist Bible College to be specific in Springfield, Missouri) I was introduced to the idea of Contemporary Christian Music through Amy Grant. Not a bad start given her phenomenal success that would come along later. The issue was that I really enjoyed my rock music and it was causing some consternation with my fellow students and the administration.


My good room mate, Marty was kind enough to turn me on to the sweet sounds of Amy Grant and others in this burgeoning genre of music. I also picked up on Contemporary Jazz through Chuck Mangione (I did have a tendency to stumble on to the greats in the genres of choice) but that is for another day. I also started listening to Keith Green, Tim Shephard, the Cruse Family, Petra, etc. which gave me music I could actually relate to not like the rock music of the day. Never did drugs, slept around or crashed cars (Detroit Rock City for you Kiss fans never really applied to me).


So, even now these 40 years later I still listen and enjoy Amy Grant and all the rest. Should I ever get down and feel my walk with God is faltering, I run right back to this music which is so uplifting and renews my spirit.


CCM does seem to be making a comeback of sorts, I always thought it was such a wonderful way to reach those of us who were so engrained in pop styles and rock music. Given my current age when country music beckons I still long for a good pop song with fine string orchestrations with piano.

Now, I realize how much I have missed since I left Bible College. One song in particular that really speaks to me is Amy Grant’s “Better than a Hallelujah” from her “Somewhere Down the Road” album. So many times I think I just don’t realize that there is a beauty in our frailty. No matter how well thought out our intentions, I know I am closest to God in my most vulnerable moments. A broken heart is a very powerful means to realize how much we need the Lord.


So many new songs to be discovered since I last frequented the Contemporary Christian Music catalog which gives me such joy to rediscover the old songs and discover all the new material. Some songs just seem to be so timeless and so many others just speak to me so clearly.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What If?

-
In all of the English language, no two words personify hope and the unexpected as What If.  These 2 words form the basis for most if not almost all stories we hold near and dear to our hearts.  It is a very prolific technique for exploring a new idea for a novel, screenplay, poem, prose and any other form where words dominate.  Personally, I like to ask the What If? question for any point in my life where I had to make a decision that formed the iconic fork in the road.  What if I had not married her?  What if I hadn't left this college?  What if I had not finished college, what might I have done?  Given the way life went, what if I had pursued my true dream instead of the safe path I actually followed? What if can also be applied to purely fictional enterprises like What if our legal system was more of a lottery than a process.  In other words, you are accused, they roll the dice which determines guilt, innocents and the length of your prison t...
Read more

Are You Paranoid or Just Careful?

-
Throughout my life I have been lumbered with this particular label and not in a particularly flattering way mind you.  Paranoia seems to be used very loosely when describing someone who may just be a bit more careful (or informed?). Some of us may have a very good reason to believe that we are being watched, followed, targeted by groups (yes if the government) or otherwise nefariously engaged.  I believe the problem is people lull themselves into a false sense of security.  False in the sense that it makes no sense whatsoever that anyone is at anytime immune to violent attacks.  Now will that attack be from a terrorist, organized crime or government entity, who knows.  The point is, as my psychology professor use to say, sometimes someone is following you.  No one wants to believe that we are not completely safe at any given moment.  However, there are events that seem to threaten that particular point of view.  My own take on this situation is ...
Read more

Conscientious Objection

-
Way back when I was in the process of graduating high school, we along with probably every other high school in the union were required to take the ASVAB test (ASVAB, or Armed Services Vocation Aptitude Battery, is a test given to determine suitability to serve in the armed services). The test covered among many other topics, mathematics, simple, applied and theoretical and tools by showing you a picture and you have to determine what said tool was designed for.  I was shall we say deficient in my advanced knowledge of math and some of those tools looked more like implements for torture than anything else.  Needless to say, I did not do well in these areas but exceeded quite effectively in all other areas.  Since I was determined to pursue a career in the ministry (Fundamental Baptist Minister to be exact), insufficient mathematical skills were not a concern.  Since doing well on the test, I was contacted by the US Army recruiter in our little tow...
Read more