What are your thoughts?

What other actors, celebrities, influential people and athletes do you feel do a great job of their faith in public and staying true to their values and belief system?

Dave Pettigrew is another artist I’ve been listening to lately and really enjoying. Sadly I’ve taken far too long to put my thoughts about the album down in type.

The tone of his message and lyrics are a refreshing breath of the basics of our beliefs and how we feel towards the blessings we’ve been given. His music and lyrics strongly remind me of Steven Curtis Chapman. I’m not the only person who thinks that either, as after reading other reviews of his music, others were stating the same thing.

His album “Every Minute Miracles” he weaves a tapestry of the various feelings and meanings behind this Christian life, while reminding us that the Christian life is a 24×7 one. Not something to be pulled out on the weekends and at the places we show it. Each song reminds me in a different way of what God means to me and how He impacts (or should be) every area of my life.

1. Change (Follow Me)
2. Big Enough
3. God’s TV
4. Proof of You
5. The Best That He Can Be
6. With My Faith
7. What Would I Do
8. Something More
9. All I Need Is You
10. Wonderful Maker

Some of my favorite songs on the album are bolded above. But I’ve got to mention the beautiful “All I Need Is You“. It’s such a warm ballad, but on the song there’s an amazing saxophone accompaniment that should be noted is played by Dave as well. The album closes with a familiar chorus of “Wonderful Maker”.

I’m not sure why we haven’t heard more of Dave Pettigrew. These are exactly the artists that I wish more Christian radio stations were bringing to the public’s attention. So, since you can’t rely on K-LOVE to share some new music with you, go visit Dave’s website at www.davepettigrew.net and get more information about him and his music.

I didn’t sign-up for the retreat because we didn’t have the money and my schedule wouldn’t allow me to miss work on that weekend. Through a series of events, my supervisor who was another Christian man, found out about the retreat and told me to head home. He’d cover for me and figure it out. This was the Friday morning of the day we were to leave that evening for the retreat. There was still the question of paying for the retreat. On my way home from Lowe’s I received a phone call from a company I do some sporadic work for doing movie trailer checks. They called me and had a number of assignments around town if I could do them all. I said sure and rushed around Indianapolis taking care of all the jobs as quickly as possible so I could get to the church on time to leave. Guess how much I made? That’s right! Enough to cover the cost of the retreat and I finished just in time to rush home and pack stuff together and get to the church in time to leave.

As I said before, I first heard this song at the retreat and it obviously resonated with me that weekend. Now everytime I hear the song I’m reminded about just how great our God really is and how he watched over, protected and provided for me and my family in that rough period of my life.

The chorus states:

Chorus:
How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see
How great, how great is our God

The phrase and music that builds into the last line always hits me right in the spirit of my soul. What a great song. You can read the rest of the lyrics here.

What songs really minister to you and remind of you the tough and great times in your life?

Chris has a great website setup for himself where you can really learn more about him and all the normal things like photos, albums and tour dates. A music player on the site let’s you hear clips from his current songs and more.

Webb muses that Jesus “wasn’t a white middle-class Democrat either, incidentally. The point is that he didn’t walk any party line. But I think that the church, especially where I live, makes a terrible habit of co-opting the more conservative political party.

“I’m not saying the church shouldn’t be concerned with issues. My problem is that they’ve grown so predictable, and Jesus was in no way predictable. The people he loved most lavishly were often socially stigmatized, and he reserved some of his harshest language for the law-keeping church leadership. That’s the opposite, in a lot of cases, of what the evangelical church puts forth.”

That’s powerful stuff, and why I really like Derek Webb and his music. There’s plenty more to read about in the full article on USA Today.

Jones, Webb find faith their way on USA Today

This specific article discusses the copying or imitations of American Idol type shows for Christian artists to participate in, like Gifted on TBN or Gospel Dream on the Gospel Music Channel.

They polled readers to find out if they liked the Christian spin-off ideas of Idol and the results were down the middle: 46% in favor and 54% against.

One thought in general that has sparked some discussion came from the following:

Of those voting in our poll against a Christian version of Idol, half felt that such programming comes across as “derivative and inferior.” Another 15 percent thought that a talent competition by definition cannot be focused on glorifying God, preoccupied instead with finding the best of the best. And the other 12 percent of voters wondered if we really need an American Idol for Christians when Christians are already making inroads with American Idol.

Do viewers put any weight into statements made by Idol contestants stating that they are professing Christians? Mandisa last year, George Huff in previous years, Jordin Sparks has toured with Michael W. Smith. Do we really see them as Christian? Or, do we categorize them similarly to professional atheletes that do the same? The article provides a nice summary of this season’s “faithful” contestants:

Jordin Sparks has garnered the most attention in CCM circles. The daughter of former NFL player Phillippi Sparks, she regularly performs at her home church, was a finalist for the Gospel Music Association’s Seminar in the Rockies, and even opened on tour for Michael W. Smith, who gives his endorsement.

Melinda Doolittle is a graduate of Nashville’s Belmont University, a Christian school, and has sung backup for the likes of CeCe Winans, Denver & The Mile High Orchestra, and Aaron Neville. She’s not only impressed everyone with her vocal prowess, but also her humble attitude—friends describe her as a “really strong” Christian woman and a prayer warrior.

Chris Sligh, the son of missionary parents, has attended three different Christian colleges in the last ten years. Lately he’s served as a worship leader at his home church while fronting his own band, Half Past Forever. On Idol, he’s already performed songs by Mute Math and dc Talk.

They’re not alone. Phil Stacey has attended two Christian universities and is a minister of music at his home church in Jacksonville, Florida. LaKisha Jones has the support of her friends and family from her home church in Michigan, who say that “her faith is important to her.” Her new friend Stephanie Edwards apparently shares similar values, praying to God for his will before her performances.

Sparking even more discussion that was followed up with in their Music Connections e-mail newsletter, Russ Breimeier shares his thoughts on whether or not artists that are Christians need to be restricted to specific categories or shelves in music stores based on their faith.

I’m continually dismayed by the casual dismissal of other believers. The Fray isn’t an openly evangelical band, but does that mean they must be fallen Christians? Chris Sligh, Melinda Doolittle, and others compete on American Idol … meaning they must not be interested in using their talents to glorify God or build up believers? Does it mean nothing that these artists have identified themselves as Christians in interviews? Isn’t it possible that they might be witnessing their Christian faith behind the scenes?

I agree Russ, and we’ve had some lively discussions on this site as well about this same topic.

After seeing this group in concert, I can honestly say that it wasn’t a concert at all but a worship service. I love the ministry that Casting Crowns does and equips others to do as well.

Who do you see? Who’s paths do you cross everyday and never notice? May we all be challenged to actually share God’s love with people instead of just talking about the love of God that can be there’s if they’ll accept Jesus or go to church with us. Give God’s love away to everyone freely, He did it for you.