Todd's Weird House

The First Christian Rock Album in my heart.

This was the first Christian Rock album I had ever seen or heard of. When I saw his glowing long blond hair - I thought, "What is this?" Then my brother slapped in on the turntable (for you young people that was what record albums were played on)and I heard "He's a rock that doesn't Roll". I thought this is totally, the best thing I have ever in my life. It began my journey into Christian Music. It's still on my top ten of Christian Albums ever. Larry Norman - may heaven be filled with your rocking praises.

Larry Norman "Father of Christian Rock" dies at age 60.

Christian music legend Larry Norman died Sunday of heart failure, according to his brother Charles Norman. He was 60.

Norman, a blonde, long-haired rocker who is often called the father of Christian rock music, was a giant in the Christian music industry, said Chris Willman, senior music writer for Entertainment Weekly.

"His influence outweighed his sales so much that it's comical," Willman said. "He certainly had a heart for evangelism — almost to his detriment, I might say. He really could've been a star if he were singing about something other than Jesus."

Norman's 1972 Only Visiting This Planet album is regarded as one of the top contemporary Christian music albums of all time. His many hits were at the cutting edge, said Larry Eskridge, associate director of the Institute for the Study of American Evangelicals at Wheaton College.

"The song 'Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?' was one of his enduring trumpet blasts against the stodgy, old Christian establishment," Eskridge said. "'I Wish We'd All Been Ready' fit with the end times, apocalyptic feel that was in the air at the time."

"I Wish We'd All Been Ready" was also featured in the 1972 end times film A Thief in the Night. In concerts, the singer gave his trademark "One Way" gesture, pointing an index finger toward heaven.

Eskridge said Norman was an icon during the Jesus People of the 1960s but distanced himself from the movement when it became a fad and eventually faded.

Norman became less prominent on the music scene after suffering head injuries in an airplane accident 30 years ago, and he later had severe heart problems. He dictated a message to a friend just before his death.

"I feel like a prize in a box of Cracker Jacks with God's hand reaching down to pick me up," Norman said. "I have been under medical care for months. My wounds are getting bigger. I have trouble breathing. I am ready to fly home."

He officially retired in 2001, the same year he was inducted into the Gospel Music Association's (GMA) Hall of Fame along with Elvis Presley and Keith Green.

"His flame burned the brightest in the '70s, but he set a lot of things in motion that reverberated through those decades," said GMA President John Styll. Norman's songs have also been recorded by contemporary Christian artists such as Rebecca St. James, DC Talk, and Audio Adrenaline.

Styll called Norman a Bob Dylan figure for the Christian world because he combined political and social commentary with good music.

"He sang about gonorrhea on Valentine's Day," Styll said. "Another group today wouldn't sing that. It was pretty raw."

Although Norman left a large footprint, he also became estranged from the music industry because of strained relationships. He was diagnosed with bipolar trauma and clashed with fellow singers in the Daniel Amos band and Randy Stonehill, who said they were mistreated financially and personally, according to the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music.

Stonehill declined to take questions from Christianity Today about his relationship with Norman, but in a statement, he said he knew Norman better than anyone else and that the singer introduced Stonehill to Christianity.

"For as brilliant and insightful as Larry was, I'm not sure that he understood himself completely," Stonehill said. "This issue became apparent in the way he consistently seemed to 'derail' relationships throughout his life."

Stonehill said that he and Norman experienced friction and distance for 20 years before standing on stage together for the last time in 2001.

A Close Second

My Favourite Super Bowl Commercial

John Ortberg on Lying

I've been reading John Ortberg's book "When the Game is Over it all Goes Back in the Box". I thought these thoughts on lying were funny and poignant.

Some time ago, we had a moment of conflict in the car. I was quite sure one of my kids had crossed a line, but they denied it. I didn't have a smoking gun, but the circumstantial evidence was overwhelming. I was doing cross examination, trying to get the child to break down, but this child was pretty savvy. At one point they looked up with deeply hurt, misty eyes and said with a quivering voice: "Daddy, you don't think I'd lie to you, do you?"

I started to say, "Oh,Child, no the thought never crossed my mind."

Then I stopped to think. What I said was, "Do I think you'd lie? Of course I do."

"I lie. Your mom lies, that's for sure. Everybody I've ever known has lied. The most famous story about lying in American History is the story of George Washington cutting down a cherry tree. His father asked him who did it. George is supposed to have said, 'I cannot tell a lie; it was me.' That was in a biography by Parson Weems in the nineteenth century - he made the story up. The most famous story about not lying in America was a lie."

One of my recommended books - you should take a read.

Lunar Eclipse Tonight

The moon is to appear high in the southern sky when the Earth's shadow begins to travel across the lunar surface from left to right at 8:42p.m. Total eclipse is to last from 10p.m. to 10:51p.m., with the moon emerging from shadow at 12:09a.m. Unlike a solar eclipse, no special eye protection is necessary to watch the event, caused when the Earth comes between the sun and the moon.

2008 Dove Award Nominations

Song of the Year
"Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)"; Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio,
"Bring The Rain"; Bart Millard, James Bryson, Nathan Cochran, Barry Graul, Michael John Scheuchzer, Robin Shaffer;
"East To West"; Mark Hall, Bernie Herms;
"Give You Glory"; Jeremy Camp
"How You Live (Turn Up The Music)"; Cindy Morgan
"I’m Not Who I Was"; Brandon Heath
"In Better Hands"; Catt Gravitt, Jim Daddario, Thom Hardwell;
"Made To Love"; Toby McKeehan, Cary Barlowe, Jamie Moore, Aaron Rice
"Tears Of The Saints"; Leeland Mooring, Jack Mooring;
"Undo"; William Davis, Kevin Huguley, Wes Willis

Male Vocalist of the Year
Chris Tomlin
Gerald Wolfe
Jon Foreman
Mark Hall
Mark Schultz
Marvin Sapp
TobyMac


Female Vocalist of the Year
Amy Grant
Christy Nockels
Darlene Zschech
Krystal Meyers
Mandisa
Natalie Grant
Sandi Patty


Group of the Year
Casting Crowns
David Crowder*Band
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
Hillsong United
Point Of Grace
Selah
The Clark Sisters


Artist of the Year
Casting Crowns
Chris Tomlin
Natalie Grant
Point Of Grace
Skillet
The Clark Sisters
TobyMac


New Artist of the Year
33 Miles
Austins Bridge
Brandon Heath
DeWayne Woods
Group 1 Crew
Mandisa
Rush Of Fools


Producer of the Year
Bernie Herms
Ed Cash
Ian Eskelin
Israel Houghton
Nathan Nockels


Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year
"Name Droppin’"; Bone-Appetit Servin’ Up Tha Hits; T-Bone; Rene F. Sotomayor, Teak Underdue, Dee Underdue; Flicker Records
"Open Bar"; Redemption; Grits; Teron Carter, John Dust, Anthony Johnson, Jr., Stacy Jones; Gotee Records
"Wake Up"; The Yearbook; KJ-52 featuring Toby Morrell; Jonah Sorrentino, Toby Morrell, Aaron Sprinkle; BEC Recordings
"Who Am I?"; Open Book; Da’ T.R.U.T.H. featuring Tye Tribbett; Emmanuel Lambert, Jr., Courtney Peebles; Cross Movement Records
"Word of Mouth"; Word of Mouth; John Reuben; John Reuben, Seth Earnest; Gotee Records
Rock Recorded Song of the Year
"Break Me Down"; End of Silence; Red; Jasen Rauch, Anthony Armstrong, Rob Graves; Essential
"Comatose"; Comatose; Skillet; John L. Cooper, Brian Howes; Ardent Records, Atlantic, Lava, SRE Recordings
"I Need You"; Five Score And Seven Years Ago; Relient K; Matthew Thiessen; Gotee Records
"Million Voices"; How Can We Be Silent; BarlowGirl; BarlowGirl; Fervent Records, Curb Records, Warner Brothers Records
"Procrastinating"; We Can't Stand Sitting Down; Stellar Kart; Adam Agee, Jordan Messer; Word Records, Curb Records


Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
"After The World"; Scars Remain; Disciple; Timothy Barrett, Joey Fife, Bradley Noah, Travis Wyrick, Kevin Young; INO Records, SRE Recordings
"Awakening"; Oh! Gravity; Switchfoot; Jonathan Foreman; Sparrow Records, Columbia Records
"Everything Glorious"; Remedy; David Crowder*Band; David Crowder*Band; Sparrow Records, sixstepsrecords
"Glorious One"; We Shine; Fee; Steve Fee; INO Records
"Signature of Divine (Yahweh)"; The Heat; NEEDTOBREATHE; Bear Rinehart, Bo Rinehart; Atlantic Records

Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
"East To West"; The Altar And The Door; Casting Crowns; Mark Hall, Bernie Herms; Beach Street Records, Reunion Records
"I'm Not Who I Was"; Don't Get Comfortable; Brandon Heath; Brandon Heath; Reunion Records
"In Better Hands"; Relentless; Natalie Grant; Jim Diddario, Thom Hardwell, Catt Gravitt; Curb Records
"Tears Of The Saints"; Sound Of Melodies; Leeland; Leeland Dayton Mooring, Jack Anthony Mooring; Essential Records
"Undo"; Rush Of Fools; Rush Of Fools; Scott Davis, Kevin Huguley, Wes Willis; Midas Records

Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year
"Be Lifted High"; Stand; Michael W. Smith; Leeland Dayton Mooring; Reunion Records
"Be Thou Near To Me"; Bless The Broken Road; Selah; David Grow; Curb Records
"By His Wounds"; Glory Revealed; Steven Curtis Chapman, Mark Hall, Brian Littrell, Mac Powell; Davis Nasser, Mac Powell; Reunion Records
"Give Me Jesus"; Beyond Measure; Jeremy Camp; Public Domain; BEC Recordings
"God Speaking"; God Speaking; Ronnie Freeman; Ronnie Freeman; White Apron Entertainment

Sunday Sermon - Feb. 17, 2008 Divorce

Trying to come up with a Biblical understanding of Divorce is difficult. I have to admit that when I began planning this series, I didn't think it would be a big deal to preach on this topic. But when I began my preparations, I realized how wide sweeping the impact of this issue is. Entering into the reality of divorce is painful on almost all levels.

Holding to God's ideal and yet being able to minister with grace and sensitivity on this topic is difficult.


Divorce stats are crazy:

• 33% of marriages end up in divorce. (same for Christians and secular society)
• In 2006, there were 1,629,490 divorced Canadians
• There were 70,828 divorces in 2003 -- down from 71,144 in 2000.
• More than one-third of marriages in Canada will end in divorce before the thirtieth anniversary.
• Statistics are higher for second marriage

(Stats from Stats Canada and Barna Institute)

My Text was from Matthew 5:31-32

"It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’  But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

God's Original Intent for Marriage (Gen. 2:22-24)

• Leave-Cleave-Become

Marriage in Moses Day (Deut. 24)

• Divorce allowed

Marriage in Jesus' Day

• Divorce allowed for any reason.

Jesus' Teaching

• Divorce is a sin.
• There is an exception - marital unfaithfulness
• God prefers lifelong faithfulness

Sermon Rehash - Sunday, February 10

Continued my series in the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5.

It was called Adultery, Lust and Desire...that should get most people's attention.

I really think in our society this message is so important because we have made lust into a national pastime. Here's what the scripture says:


27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Mt 5:27-30

Here's what we learn about lust:

1. It's raging in our hearts
2. It's imposssible to satisfy
3. It's outcome is disastrous

A Startegy to Win over Lust

1. Monitor your eyes
2. Eliminate Temptation
3. Get Accountable

Do some study yourself - this is a marriage issue facing the church (you and I)

Johnny The Bagger - Great Motivational Video

I almost cried watching this...almost. Well worth the couple minutes to watch it.

http://www.stservicemovie.com/

John Piper is Bad

I love John Piper's book and his resources at his website www.desiringgod.com are awesome but I found this video which I thought was hilarious.

So, you wanna be a preacher eh! Here's Your Chance...

2008 PREACHER IDOL Calling All Pew Sitters - Canada Needs You!Maybe you’ve always wondered if you have what it takes to be the next Billy Graham, Martin Luther King Jr., Charles Price, Chuck Swindoll, Bruxy Cavey, Kay Arthur, Tony Campolo, Paul B. Smith, A. W. Tozer, Mike Yaconelli, Malcolm Muggeridge, or Rick Warren!
TDMS is offering you the chance to step out of the pew and into the pulpit!Any good preacher worth their salt knows that there are many people sitting in the pews, each and every Sunday, who are better at preaching than they are! The Drew Marshall Show is on a quest to find "the average Joe - pew sitter" who could be Canada’s next great preacher. God knows, we need authentic, transparent, vulnerable preachers of integrity - maybe that’s you!

Follow this link http://www.drewmarshall.ca/preacheridol.html

Sunday's Rehash

Although I didn't think my sermon went real well on Sunday. I did think my outline would have been one that Warren Wiersbe would have been proud of. I was continuing a series of messages from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew entitled Keys to Kingdom Living. Sunday's message was called Murder and Relationships. Jesus stresses

1. Real Spirituality over Rules (5:21-22)

2. Reconciliation over Religion (5:23-24)

3. Relationships over Rights. (5:25-26)

Read it for yourself and see how God speaks to you.

This sounds like me

Recently, I was diagnosed with AAADD: Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

This is how it manifests: I decided to wash my car. As I started toward the garage, I spotted the mail on the hall table. I should go through the mail before I wash the car. I lay the car keys on the table, put the junk mail in the trash can under the table, and notice that the trash can is full. So, I put the bills back on the table and take out the trash first. Since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the trash anyway, might as well pay the bills first.

I see my checkbook on the table, but there is only one check left. My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go to my desk, where I find the bottle of juice that I had been drinking. I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the juice aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over.
But the juice is getting warm, and should be put in the refrigerator to kept it cold. Heading toward the kitchen with the juice, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye. They need to be watered. I set the juice down on the counter, and find my reading glasses, for which I've been searching all morning. I had better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers. I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water, and suddenly spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table. Tonight when we sit down to watch TV, we will be looking for the remote, but nobody will remember that it's on the kitchen table. I should put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers. I splash some water on the flowers, but most of it spills on the floor. So, I put the remote back down on the table, and get some towels to wipe the spill. Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day: - the car isn't washed, - the bills aren't paid, - there is a warm bottle of juice sitting on the counter, - the flowers aren't watered, - there is still only one check in my checkbook, - I can't find the remote, - I can't find my glasses, - and I don't remember what I did with the car keys. -I'm trying to figure out why nothing got done today; -it's quite baffling because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm really tired. - I know this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, - but first I'll check my e-mail.