Your Facebook status updates note your intense displeasure over North Carolina voters approving Amendment One. Since as a North Carolina resident you had some actual say in the matter, and to your credit you put boots on the ground by manning the phone banks urging your fellow NCers to vote no, I suspect the last person you want to hear from right now is your überconservative California uncle. However, since as you know I seldom do what people prefer, and considering how I am perhaps the only Republican Deadhead on the planet, my take on things thus leaning toward the individualistic, I’ll chime in.

First, it’s important to note, as you have, that Renee Ellmers, who I hold in the highest regard as a solid conservative who lives in the real world, opposed the amendment. Her stated reason that, while she is opposed to gay marriage, the amendment overreached by also banning civil unions is significant. I know there are those on the right screaming Ellmers should be thrown off the tea party train for this alleged crime against humanity, but since there are always purist zealots ranting about how the slightest variance from their definition of The Way Things Ought To Be is cause for political excommunication it’s no big. I imagine you get the same loose marbles on the left. Well, even looser than the usual loons, a/k/a 99 44/100% of all liberals. (Just making sure you haven’t forgotten I’m your uncle. But I digress.)

It’ll doubtless be no surprise to you that you and I hold different opinions on gay marriage. What may surprise you is the difference. You support gay marriage. I don’t support it. Don’t oppose it either. When it comes to gay marriage, I’m pure honey badger: don’t care. Deeply, profoundly, overwhelmingly don’t care.

My opinion is the state shouldn’t be in the marriage business period. It should issue civil union licenses, without which a couple cannot marry, solely to those who qualify; again in my opinion it should be two consenting adults not from the same family and over twenty-one (I’ve never met a nineteen year old who was ready for that marriage thing which usually takes place after the wedding… and yes, I’m still Uncle Grump). Marriage should be strictly a church issue with zero state participation. Obviously San Francisco’s Metropolitan Community Church would have a different marriage policy than the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption. That’s all right. There is a difference between legal status as a couple and being married. The former is a state matter; the latter a church matter. If a denomination doesn’t believe gay marriages are legitimate, that’s their right. And vice versa. Marriage should be in the eyes of the church. Period.

Note I said two consenting adults, from which one might infer I support gay marriage. I don’t. To me, marriage is one man and one woman. I have gay friends. I pray they find successful relationships, and I’ve counseled more than one on their relationships; not in an effort to dissuade them but rather in the hope of helping them become a stronger couple. That doesn’t mean I believe they have the right to marry each other. If what I suggest above were to become law they could, and I’m fine with that. But not in my church. That doesn’t make me a hater. It makes me a believer in traditional marriage, and it’s my hope that belief will be respected.

Which leads me to the next point: respect. I hope you don’t fall prey to demonizing people who see things, and vote, different than you. I doubt you will; you’re a smart kid (and you’ll always be a kid to me even though you’ve hit the big 4-0). It’s a repulsive thing when people go off the deep end and go off personally on those who see things differently. Don’t go there. Stay calm; stay respectful. Use logic and reason to make your point. If someone continues to disagree, let it be and move on to someone else. Always, always be the better.

There is another aspect to respect. Namely, respecting the people’s will. North Carolina’s voters have strongly stated their preference in defining marriage. So be it. That doesn’t mean resigned acceptance; that response to elections is reserved for when officials are chosen for office. In that case, you shrug your shoulders, analyze where things went wrong and start working on doing better the next time around. You know, like I did after 2008?

Back to Amendment One. I know there will doubtless be court challenges. Don’t support them. Why? Even if they succeed, nothing will be accomplished. A similar measure will be back on the ballot, and a whole lot of ticked off people will vote for it, angered that some judge or judges ignored their previously stated will. A legal win that alienates a majority of the people is as Pyrrhic a victory as possible. You don’t want that win. You want the real deal. That will come by going Marines: winning over hearts and minds. Certainly it will take longer than legal challenges. But it’s the right way.

Those are my thoughts on the subject, dear niece. As I said when I first started blogging, it’s one man, one voice, one opinion; conside it as you will. Take care. My love to you, the hubby and rugrats.

P.S. A side note. Couple of quotes for you:

“In an August 2008 vetting session, we talked about gay marriage. That’s when I told them about Tilly, my junior high friend and college roommate, who, after college, decided to openly live the lifestyle she chose with her partner. To me, she was still Tilly. I loved her dearly — loved the whole Ketchum family. I explained to Schmidt that I opposed homosexual marriage, but that didn’t seem too controversial in the campaign since the Democrat candidate for president held the same position.”

And:

“I had been in office two weeks when the Supreme Court required us to offer health benefits to the same-sex partners of state employees.

“I support the traditional definition of marriage. One man & one woman to make a marriage. And I don’t support efforts that can lead to changing that definition.

“But on this issue, the court was the lawful interpreter of the state Constitution. The promise I had made when being sworn into office was to uphold the Constitution. That meant I would be bound by the judiciary’s ruling. So when conservatives in the legislature passed a bill that would prohibit state benefits for same-sex couples, the court ruled it unconstitutional, so I vetoed it.

“A few angry lawmakers visited my office, outraged that I hadn’t bucked the court. A couple of them said I should have been willing to go to jail over the issue.

“And if the people want to amend the Constitution via referendum, I told the lawmakers, they have the right to battle it out and do so.”

You know who said these things, right?

Sarah Palin.

And you know Dick Cheney is an open advocate for gay marriage, right?

People can surprise you when you let them.

Said all that to say this. One of Patheos’ Catholic blogs is Standing on My Head by Father Dwight Longenecker. In a recent post he ripped and ridiculed not only Christian rock itself, but the very notion of it being suitable for ministerial, let alone liturgical use.

Shall we examine his foolishness… er, rationale?

A friend of mine used to quip, “When you’re talking about Christian music it’s pretty safe to substitute ‘bad’ for ‘Christian’.

A friend of mine used to say the moon is a gigantic dusty grapefruit. I didn’t believe him either. But at least he wasn’t a smug, sanctimonious ass.

Who hasn’t had to endure a Christian rock band or sit through a worship with some aging trendy strumming a guitar and inflicting folk music or light rock on everyone?

Gee. I’ve endured many a Christian rock band. I recall many of them giving altar calls at the end. I recall many, many people coming forward to give or recommit their lives to Christ as a result of those altar calls. One of those people was… me. As to worship, I also recall many a moment of folk or light rock bringing many people into a deeper relationship with Jesus, encouraging them to follow Him more closely and be better servants to one another and the world. One of those people was… me. Somehow I doubt Fr. Longenecker has ever been to an actual Christian rock concert or heard quality contemporary worship/praise music. Which, despite his upcoming assertions to the contrary, does exist. In droves.

Why is it that so often Christian music is so awful?

Because the modern church, with few exceptions, has done such an abominable job of finding, nurturing, supporting, and promoting artists? Naah, couldn’t possibly be that.

I think there are a couple of reasons. The first is that the musicians and their audience mistake a worthy message for talent.

Uh, no. If that was the case, every everything every Christian record label releases would sell. It doesn’t. People do both care and have the wisdom to discern what’s worth a listen.

Then they get a martyr complex if they’re criticized. “You’re obviously not very spiritual if you can’t enjoy my music!

Wrong again. I don’t mind if people don’t enjoy my music or that of the artists I like. Where I do call into question someone’s spiritual discernment is when they apply their cultural bias and personal preference to their alleged discernment. Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean it’s not good and therefore cannot possibly be used by God. I know people who think Pink Floyd is the worst garbage on the planet. Does that make it so? No. So don’t waste my time bringing your petty preferences, inflated with pseudo-spiritual tripe, into any discussion of art’s value or quality. Like what you like; dislike what you dislike. But don’t drag God into it.

The second problem is that the audience are often either totally uncritical or they haven’t the ability to criticize intelligently. Too often the audience actually like the crap that is being dished up.

We’ve addressed this already. Telling people they’re mindless drones for their musical tastes isn’t exactly what I’d consider a strong opening to winning over hearts and minds. Or winning souls for Christ. Or drawing those who already know Him closer.

The third factor is that market forces are usually not in play. Market forces often have a surprisingly sharp and salutary critical effect. Market forces weed out the junk, but in the Christian market they’re doing it for love, not money, so no one is telling them to get off the stage ’cause it won’t sell.

Already addressed this as well. But hey, keep flailing away at that deceased equine if it makes you happy.

These are all the practical problems. There is, however, a deeper problem. Christian popular music is almost always pretty bad,

Feldercarb. (Look it up.)

but the problem with most “Christian” music is that it is secular music with Christian words.

And what, pray tell, makes music secular or sacred? The style? The sound? Are you telling me God’s such an impotent wuss He can’t use whatever variation of His language — for music is God’s language — He pleases for His purpose? What emasculated God are you following? Not the one I know and in my stumbling, bumbling way serve.

In any decent art style and substance are supposed to match up. The meaning and the media are supposed to harmonize.

Which far more often than not they do. Except to those with open mouths and closed minds.

Most “Christian” music is taken from the secular world. Whether it is the music of Broadway musicals, Country Western, Las Vegas ballad crooners or light rock or heavy rock and roll it’s secular not sacred.

Again… it’s music. Music in and of itself is neither sacred nor secular. Did Paul Simon’s “American Tune,” which is an adaptation of an excerpt we know as “O Sacred Head Now Wounded” from J.S. Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion,” which is itself an adaptation of Hans Leo Hassler’s love song “Mein G’müt Ist Mir Verwirret” turn what started life as a secular tune, turned into a sacred one by Bach, back into a secular song? Really?

When you then add sacred words to the secular music there is a natural disconnect.

To people who serve a whipped puppy masquerading as God Almighty, yes. Or if you prefer, to those who are so petrified of themselves they can’t handle life, thus run and hide and cry out for the bad people and/or things to go away. I’m hardly the strongest person you’ll ever meet when it’s sin-resisting time, but I don’t need musical burqas to protect me from the beat menace.

That’s why so much Christian music (even when it is well written and well performed)

You said there wasn’t any. Make up your mind, will you?

doesn’t really work.

Feldercarb on a stick.

Oh sure, people might like it.

How dare they!

They might even have nice feelings about Jesus by listening to it,

What? People enjoying the notion of there being a loving Savior? Obviously a Satanic trap.

but the secular music was designed to produce certain types of feelings,

So? God can’t use it? Do we really need to repeat how small your God is?

and why should those warm sentimental feelings or hard emotional feelings be linked with worship?

Uh… because we’re human.

We might like listening to Christian country Western or a sweet Broadway type ballad about Jeezus or we might get all hyped up listening to Christian rock, but is it worship? Is it really inspiring us to draw closer to God? Is it really deepening our spiritual life or is it just music we like which makes us feel good and it makes us feel even better because it talks about Jeezus too?

Let’s think back a bit about something mentioned above that takes place during so many of those “awful” Christian rock concerts. Altar calls. Exhortation toward Bible study, fellowship and discipleship. Obviously thin disguises for warm fuzzies. But back to reality. You see, Fr. Longenecker, maybe — just maybe — in spite of your sarcasm in regard to and loathing of contemporary Christian music, God uses it anyway. The evidence is all around you. Too bad you’ve chosen to close your eyes to His work.

Forgive me for being cynical,

Don’t push your luck.

but think about it.

I have. Which apparently puts me one up on you.

The worst example is Christian Rock music.

And here we go…

At the risk of sounding too puritanical,

Reality isn’t really a risk, sir.

rock and roll music was, from the beginning highly sexualized, laden with rebellious, heavy and nasty rhythms

Nasty? What is this, a Janet Jackson revue?

linked with the drug culture–designed to alter consciousness and demolish self restraint. The acid rock and heavy rock was also obviously

Obviously.

linked with an occult and demonic sub culture.

And because a few losers played the devil game, stealing God’s language, we’re supposed to concede? Uh-uh. We’re stealing it back.

So you want to put cozy Christian words to all that?

Try listening to the Rez Band song again, then get back to me on that “cozy” thing.

To my mind that’s like putting a gospel tract inside a porn magazine.

Why not? We’re supposed to be reaching sinners, aren’t we?

The same criticism applies when the musical style is not quite so bad as acid rock. You name the popular secular style–the music wasn’t written to deepen prayer, lead to worship or open the soul to the sacred. It was designed to produce shallow emotions about love and romance at best, and lust and sex at worst.

Because we as Christians have been so shallow we’ve let the world run wild. We haven’t promoted our artists. We’ve held them back at best, actively ridiculed and opposed them at worst. We have made ourselves culturally irrelevant. We have paralyzed ourselves into being afraid of our own shadow. We have abandoned the things of God and settled for perpetual self-appointed second class status. That’s why we’re losing.

Pope Benedict XVI comments on this in his book The Spirit of the Liturgy. He acknowledges that down through the ages this has been a recurring problem in the church. Sometimes the hymn writers put Christian words to beer drinking songs. At other times they adopted the popular operatic style. Now they adopt light rock, hard rock, and virtually every other secular style.

Yeah, it was really rude of our forefathers to try and use God’s language for its intended purpose.

The antidote is to be more aware and appreciative of sacred music.

We are. You’re not.

There is a kind of music that on its own–even without words–is designed to open the mind and heart to the sacred.

Yes. It’s called “whatever God wants to use.”

Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony which evolved from it–is the music of worship.

I happen to love Gregorian chant. But it is not the only arrow in God’s musical quiver:

Especially in the liturgy this is the music which we are supposed to use because the music lends itself to worship.

As does most everything else when you let God be God and stop trying to squeeze Him into your box of what He can and cannot do.

It opens the heart and mind to a new dimension and reveals the spiritual aspect to our lives in a way that secular music with Christian words does not.

I’m sure this would be true… if there was such a thing as secular music.

That’s what sacred music is. What is required is catechesis about this music and an effort to appreciate it. Truly sacred music is an acquired taste. It takes some effort. It also takes some effort to produce it at a good and worthy level.

So when are you going to put in the effort, Father?

The problem in most mainstream Catholic parishes is that they’ve had nothing but crap music in church for as long as anyone can remember. The people actually think its okay because they have never heard anything else. They take on board the blend of muzak, Broadway tunes, folk music and light rock thinking that this is all there is. Then if they ever do hear Gregorian chant or sacred polyphony they hold their ears and say, “Geesh, why does Father want to bring in all that gloomy music? We’re outta here.” Alas. Its true.

Yeah, sucks when people want to live in the twenty-first century. Again, I love Gregorian chant and traditional hymns. They’re wonderful. But they don’t always work. Our God is a mighty God. Why, then, attempt to tie Him down as to what He can use? Let God be God. He’s much better at it than anyone else.

Does this mean that Christians should listen to nothing but Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony? Is that all we should ever use in the liturgy? The purists would say so.

I’m very happy for them having discovered backwards time travel and all.

But I’m of the opinion that we have to work with what we’ve got. We have to meet people where they are and move on from there.

Which you are doing in this article exactly how, reverend?

Chant and polyphony are the foundations of the music we should use. In addition to this we have the library  of sacred hymns (and there’s enough there to warrant another blog post completely) the worthy ones of which will serve to complement the words and actions of the sacred liturgy.

Fr. Longenecker… please go away. And don’t come back until you’ve gained some wisdom.

Again you announce while you whirl and bounce
Intentions to pounce on the beat menace
No woman or man could ever withstand
The devious plans of the beat menace

Come to lay you low, we’ve come to vex your soul

Feeling the heat, hell at your feet
Don’t even speak of the beat menace
Something to take away your innocence
Someone to blame it on

Helps you to defeat
Dancing in the street

Come to lay you low, we’ve come to vex you

Resolved in your mind- the nature of crime
Is to swallow the line of the beat menace
Imagination’s on the rise again
So hide your heart away
Dust off the fears and guilts and lies again
The beat is here to stay
Your satellite can reach that Eskimo
He buys a suit and tie
Re-styles his hair like girls in Tupelo
And sings “Sweet Bye And Bye”
He’s meeting all your strange requirements
He thinks you can’t be fooled
He’ll get the rules and laws and sacraments
By sending checks to you

We’ve come to bring you low

(Crossposted at The Conservatory.)

To any and all who been blessed by the life and gifts of Terry Taylor,

It is with much regret that I come to you with a desperate prayer. Our dear friend and brother, Terry Taylor, is experiencing one of the direst personal struggles of his life. Since the cancellation of Catscratch, his financial situation has been dismal to say the least. His wife and daughter both teach at a pre-school to help make ends meet week to week but it hasn’t been enough and two years ago they lost their home in foreclosure. As many of you know, Terry, who is uninsured, has had ongoing medical problems for the past five years, with last year being particularly troublesome and expensive. The bills have mounted steadily and the late fees continue to add more misery. Last month their little apartment was burglarized and items of great sentiment were stolen. As an unwanted culmination to one of the toughest years in the life of his family, this past weekend his daughter Noelle was rushed to the hospital and had to have emergency surgery to remove her gall bladder. He hasn’t wanted us to share his story and burden his fans and we’ve been trying some creative new ideas to raise Terry’s income but this last blow has broken the camel’s back and nearly broken Terry’s spirit. I know many of you would want to help our brother in this time of personal crisis. If we all gave $10 or $20 it would go a long toward relieving this burden for their family. Some of you may be able to give more; some less. Anything would help right now.

We’ve set up a relief fund that can be donated to through Paypal. Please visit www.DanielAmos.com and click the donate link in the upper left corner. Be sure and click on “Update Total” after you enter the amount. If you’d like to donate in some other way, please email tom at eveselis dot com.

Thank you for hearing and for being the support you’ve been to Terry and his family for these many years.

Sincerely and with much love and gratitude,

Tom G., the Townsends, the Lost Dogs, and Terry’s family

Please help if you can.

A couple of Lost Dogs songs (Terry’s the lead vocalist on each):

Guess I’m done. Once more.

I doubt there will be another edition or revision. Can’t say for certain, of course. If God says go, I have no choice in the matter. But for now, I’ve completed what I set out to do. What I was called to do.

I did the work the best I could. It’ll never be perfect. That said, I did do the work, bringing it to fruition.

So what’s next? I don’t know. I might try another round of publicity, and I need to revise the Kindle version to match the revised print version. First, though, I’d like to finally and permanently rid myself of whatever has been attacking my sinuses and one of my lungs the past several months, dragging me down just enough to where I’m seemingly forever stuck in-between being well enough to get things done and being too sick to do anything. Most aggravating.

As for writing, when I can I’ll work on developing this modest little brand, and also get back into more regular NASCAR writing. When I can.

I can’t say thank you enough to the people who along this road have encouraged, challenged and helped me complete the work. God bless you all, for you have truly been a blessing to this ragtag soldier.

The work is finished. Again. Maybe for the final time. But not the last time. That is hopefully far, far away as I do my best to be the person God has called me to be. That work, and all it entails, is far from complete.

For this I rejoice.

Anyway, here’s the new cover. A little different than First and Forgotten:

Let me know what you think. Thanks!

A week ago yesterday, I was in Corona attending a concert that featured Undercover, Crumbächer, the Lifters, Mike Roe of the 77s and Lost Dogs, and the Choir Acoustic. I was positioned in the lobby with my book, of which I sold a few copies. Not many, but a few.

The day’s news was dominated by the horror that had taken place in Tucson. A madman, one about whom one cannot easily dismiss the thought of demonic possession, had shot a Congresswoman, subsequently fatally shooting and wounding others before being subdued. It was a dark day. The concert was a welcome relief.

I preface this next statement by noting I’ve never been a believer who sees demons in every ill-timed sneeze and Beelzebub lurking behind every corner waiting to strike. That said, I sensed during Crumbächer’s set an oppressive spirit, the kind that drives people into isolation from each other. Others there that evening sensed it as well.

Still, the spirit did not prevail despite its best efforts. During Undercover’s set, the closing song “Devotion” moved me into a rare state, one of being overwhelmingly aware of the Spirit and God’s love in my life. As noted above I’ve never been a holy roller, but the depth of what swept through me during the song is inexpressible with mere words. Those of you who have tasted God’s presence in your life know. Everyone else? I pray one day you also will have the kind of moment that transcends mental and physical boundaries. You can’t live there, nor should you waste your and God’s time in perpetual pursuit of such moments. Rather, let them come to you. And then get back to the daily, flush with knowledge that the daily is never all there is to life.

The political daily has been obscenely hideous since the Tucson madman’s bloody rampage. There was an immediate cry that the gunman must have — must have — been fueled by the right. Even as evidence quickly mounted that his actions stemmed from nothing of the sort, but rather a madman’s jumble of Christ- and Christian-hatred, bizarre cult-like teachings and utter failure to grasp reality, pundits both amateur and professional became borderline madmen themselves as they hurled baseless accusations against Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh and others. The public rejected their rants. Palin masterfully answered the charges:

Sarah Palin: “America’s Enduring Strength” from Sarah Palin on Vimeo.

Yet they raged on, never once apologizing when the weight of evidence became so great it was too much to continue with the lies.

Now, despite the overwhelming evidence that political discussion had nothing to do with Tucson, the left is chanting the mantra of civility and bipartisanship. Strange, since those words never once crossed their lips when they held the full reins of power. Now that the House has a Republican majority, all should be lovey-dovey.

But of course.

The left spent a week attempting to implement the same oppressive, isolationist spirit that sought to drag down the concert in Corona. They failed, even as the spirit at the concert failed. Instead, what took place was a unification of the right, one where silly squabbles over RINOs versus purists were set aside in favor of a unified front against the lies and venom. The subsequent calls for civility have been mocked as the facetious, disingenuous tripe they are. They are the bleating of pathetic sheep who attempted to mount a baseless attack, were soundly thrashed, and responded by calling for an illusionary truce.

No, there will be no truce. No compromise of the truth. No retreat from important positions strongly held and defended.

Even as there will be no failure to embrace the love and fellowship of the concert, or the moment it brought of sweet communion with God Himself.

No madman, no pundit and politician wolf pack seeking to cast others into hell can triumph against those whose eyes are set on heaven.

Never.

Anyway, sorry about the lengthy silence. Been busy; stressed. Busy being stressed. Or is it stressed being busy? Hard to tell.

Anyway (again), this evening unless I either crash or the power goes out — and with the weather we’re having today it might — due to miracles and blessings beyond my control I’ll complete the revised version of God’s Not Dead (And Neither Are We). Which is also First and Forgotten. Same book, different titles. Long story short: the original title has been around long enough to where it’s developed some brand value, so I’m not discontinuing it even though the emphasis will be on the book as titled First and Forgotten.

So, what are the differences between the original and revised versions? Let us review:

• New chapter with Chris Brigandi of the Lifters and Wild Blue Yonder.
• Some much-needed proofreading by third parties, which while not necessarily catching all the oopsies in the original version eliminate the vast majority of them.
• Larger print and more generous line spacing, making the book much easier to read. And a lot thicker.
• New cover, incorporating key elements of the original but with a sharper design. Both titles will have the same cover.
• Where called for, notations about events that have taken place subsequent to the original interviews.

I’m hoping to keep the price the same, but that’s not entirely under my control. I won’t know for certain until I upload the files.

As to when the revised version will be available for purchase, I don’t know. Next week, hopefully. I’ll keep you posted here, on Twitter and Facebook. It’ll still be through Amazon.

More (hopefully) tonight.

Anyway, in my habitual fashion of starting projects later than I ought for the sheer joy of completing everything in a maddening rush I started work on the book revision this evening, laying out the page template and from there getting into the nitty-gritty of simultaneously proofreading and listening to the interviews again to make sure I’m quoting everyone as accurately as possible. Not that I believe there are any misquotes in the original book, but it never hurts to recheck your work.

I’ll also be including a brand new chapter with Chris Brigandi of the Lifters, who I interviewed last week.

Well, back to it for as long as this (insert assorted Anglo-Saxon expressions) tendonitis allows this evening.

I’m listening to Worlds Away by Crumbächer/Duke, now available on iTunes along with the remainder of Crumbächer’s catalog. Except, regrettably, Incandescent. C’mon, Maranatha, get with it. Anyway, it’s a good backdrop to working in the proofreading notes for the book from a dear brother in the Lord who’s been busting his tail on this. Maybe I’ll comp him a copy of the book when the revised version is done. I’m generous that way.

Been toying with the idea of releasing the revised edition as both God’s Not Dead (And Neither Are We) and First and Forgotten. Or not, going with only First and Forgotten. Haven’t decided yet. Suggestions are welcome.

Saying a prayer for the people in San Bruno whose lives have exploded in a ball of flame. And one for me, that I will heed my calling and complete the revised edition of the book. By January 8, 2011.

Hope to see you at the concert.

P.S. Refresher: the front and back covers of the revised edition.

"First And Forgotten" front cover

"First And Forgotten" back cover