the truest of forms

Although I don’t really care about the NBA all that much, there’s one player that plays in Minnesota that I do feel a little bit sorry for. He is incredibly talented and surrounded by losers and management that has terrible drafts and ugly trades…and has been for his entire career. I recently went to a T-Wolves game and saw Kevin Garnett in person, and the effort he shows despite the environment around him is pretty incredible. Kevin, you deserve better. ASK TO BE TRADED. NOW. I think even Minnesotans would be happier in the long run…to see their idol do well elsewhere. Anyway, the Sports Guy agrees with me and articulates this much better in his article.

I haven’t really written about sports in awhile, so I feel like anyone reading whatever I put up here might be a little deprived….so let’s do it.

I’m definitely frustrated and confused by Iowa football. Who would’ve thought that Drew Tate’s senior season would end up being a “rebuilding” year? I’m sure injuries are hurting this team…but losing to Indiana, Northwestern and uughh…Minnesota in the same season? I’m speechless.

I’m pumped about the 49ers, though! Sure, they may not have a good quarterback…or much offense to speak of, really, but our defense and Frank Gore have been pretty stellar…or atleast it seems like it. Maybe everyone just has a down week against the 49ers…but I’m taking it and running with it. In your face, Vikings fans, the 49ers at 5-5 have a better record than you and are only one game back in the West.

Taking sort of a tangent off of that subject, I liked Mike Nolan’s look on Sunday. Wearing a dress suit on the football field is pretty sleek and classy. Can we get the always frazzled-looking Bill Belichick to sign up for this idea?

My former classmate and high school football star Adrian Arrington had 5 catches for 90 yards and a TD against Ohio State on Saturday. It’s pretty cool to see that he’s progressing and improving on the biggest stage in college sports…and I like name dropping.

I’m pretty proud of the Cubs, so I’ll give them a little credit. Though I’m not a fan, they’re putting up some money and trying to make themselves better. Needless to say, Alfonso Soriano is not a bad place to start. Peter Gammons actually thinks that that move, along with a couple others, will allow them to be a possible contender next year…we’ll just have to see, anything can happen with Piniella at the helm.

What? Justin Morneau just won the AL MVP? I’m really surprised that he beat out Jeter, but I guess we just witnessed an east-cost-bias backlash, and that’s just fine by me. This leaves the Twins with the following postseason awards: Batting title – Joe Mauer, Cy Young, MVP – Justin Morneau. Pretty darn impressive. I think we should add “biggest posteason letdown…again” award to the list, though. I mean, c’mon, the A’s?? A sweep?

Fantasy Football -

I hate LaDainian Tomlinson. I had a pretty bad week, but I was still leading 80-75 with my kicker still left to play…except that, oh wait, Kyle still had Tomlinson yet to play as well…and then he scored 48 points. 48!!! As in, over half of my total score! 19 touchdowns in a 6 game span is pretty unbelievable. If he wasn’t so effective maybe my kicker, Kaeding, could get a few more points for me.

Nathan lost McNabb! This = good for those of us who have a shot at the title..not like I’m wishing harm on the guy or anything. It’s not going to cripple the Rangers, but it’s a blow. Now, if only I could get LT could pull a hamstring or something…

Somehow the Panthers have gotten into first place without Jake Delhomme really doing anything..basically ever. I curse the day I gave the man enough respect to draft him!

I’m also bitter about what is happening down in Miami. Chris Chambers is supposed to be the #1 guy! Stop throwing to Marty Booker and that Welker guy (or whatever his name is)!! Argh….

Being a student at Bethel with a bunch of different activities and things to attend to has kept me from being able to watch very much television. In general, I don’t really miss it (except for a number of football games). Anyway, I found that whenever I did watch a show or a sporting event in the past month or two, I couldn’t get away from the mindless political ads for the elections that took place on Monday. I know I’m speaking for a lot of people when I say that I felt must less motivated to vote with every superficial, name-calling, mudslinging advertisement that came across the screen. I don’t wonder why our voting percentages have been free-falling over the years (although I don’t know about any of the numbers from this election) with all the garbage coming out of both of these camps. I propose a radical and freeing new way to advertise for the running for various public offices: 1. Actually talk about your own perspectives on important issues… or really any issues for that matter… and 2. ONLY talk about one’s (squi’s) own agenda and plans for what will be done if one gets into the position!!! Or…continue to perpetuate the apathy that is held to so strongly by a lot of American people on this matter.

Final score on Sunday:

San Francisco 49ers: 9        Minnesota Vikings: 3

How sweet it is to be a 49er fan living Minnesota this week…

I’ve been stewing over the idea of how our society defines “Christian” music. For the most part, I believe that certain record labels and radio stations continue to put forth one type of artist/band which people are comfortable with, and as a result many people and churches are classifying “Christian” music as these mainstream, pop groups.

This segment of popular music is becoming big business for a lot of record labels and bands, and because of the popularity that is found in the Christian mainstream, bands develop their style towards this direction, become popular because of it, and a lack of originality is perpetuated. In terms of radio, sponsors and donors essentially get to choose how the stations are run because outside businesses do not want to use their money to advertise on a station with such a small audience…which could provide the station with more power to play different types of music. If they did broadcast music outside the norm, would bands outside of the mainstream, outside of certain record labels, outside of the norm get the support needed to broaden the concept of what Christian music can be? I don’t know, but stations are afraid to try. And, because of this, Christian radio remains stagnant and uninteresting to a large portion of believers and unbelievers.

Here’s a summary of the problem: Christian radio won’t go outside the box because they want to retain support from donors – Christian radio turns away the ears of many believers and unbelievers because of its monotony and lack of innovation – Thus, their listening audience remains small – Outside advertising rarely comes in because of the lack of people tuning in – Radio stations don’t feel that they have enough control of their airplay to try new things and they’re afraid to change. The cycle continues! I’m not saying that the radio defines what Christian music is labeled as, but this idea keeps people’s minds centered on classifying one specific type of music in that manner.
But is the music heard on these radios stations necessarily Christ-centered? Is Christ inherently and truly glorified thoroughly in all of the songs that are aired or put forth by record labels that supposedly produce Christian music? The answer to both of these questions is NO. These songs are not ordained by Christ as such, and often provide misguided perspectives and inarticulate language with no theological foundation.

I am not trying to say, however, that current “Christian” music is useless or that it is all without merit. There are many, including me, that find certain bands in this genre very talented and helpful in displaying the glory of Christ. I am saying that describing certain bands as “Christian” merely because they are on a certain record label or sound a certain way, and ignoring others because they’re on secular label is completely misguided. I would state the same perspective when it comes to music in specific bookstores or on particular radio stations. We cannot define what is truly glorifying of Christ or “relating to or characteristic of Christianity” by record labels, radio stations or music stores.

So how can we define “Christian” music? By lyrics? Nope… Real motives behind songs are often indiscernible, and trying to truly identify what a song is trying to convey is impossible in many cases. One person may interpret a particular song one way and have a valid foundation for that belief, while another can approach the same text and come away with a different intention and meaning of a song. Can we define it by what artists say through comments or interviews? I would argue again you can’t, because faith and belief is often faked, especially in the present day world when being in this genre is potentially big $.

Is there an answer? Is there any definition or standard by which we can size up artists and bands that would qualify them for entrance into this “Christian music” realm? I dont’ think so. Here are my thoughts on how to approach this topic…

Through discussion and with the input from my good friend this summer, we came to a conclusion that may be unsatisfying and subjective, but one that I support. “Christian” music should be defined differently by each and every individual. Many people find many different types of music glorifying to God, and who is to say they are wrong? For instance, I find the music of bands such as Our Lady Peace and the Counting Crows to be excellent examples of talent, ability and musicality that provides insights on many subjects and further establishes the beauty of music that can come from what God has created for us. But many would argue that the music from these bands is useless or perhaps whiny. Are they wrong? No, it’s an opinion.

Therefore, I support the idea of “Christian” music as being different for everyone. Record labels and foundations are helping to perpetuate the idea of what believers should listen to and are building up an industry in which too many bands and artists sound the same in order to gain money, popularity and support. This genre is growing, but mainstream “Christian” radio doesn’t cut it, in my opinion.

Let’s do away with this “Christian” label we slap on particular bands, groups and artists. Not everything is Christ-like for everyone. Erasing this would shake up our current classifications, but would it be worth it? I think so. Let the debate begin.