Doors

I love Memorial Day, the symbolic doorway to summer and all the promise it brings: warm weather, travel, backyard barbecues, and opportunities to visit family. I also enjoy when Labor Day rolls around; the doorway to fall opens with it's own opportunities. I guess I like the thought of doors and doorways because they are always leading into something new and exciting.

Doors are intimidating. There are three ways to deal with a door: 1) Open it and walk through; 2) Stand there, knock, and wait for someone on the other side to open it, or; 3) Turn and walk away. The intimidating part is what lies beyond the threshold on the other side. Is it the boogeyman, a challenge, a burden, a surprise? Or is it a new opportunity--an entree into something fresh and exciting?

Today is the first day of the summer season and, coincidentally, the first day of a new journey for me. I have been praying for God's leading over the past several months and have made some changes in my professional life that, in the implementation, have opened new doors into the future.

I am re-energized about writing. My songwriting is still a very crucial part of my creative life. But to add to that, I have been writing this blog and have also been putting together a book for over a year now. The passageways that I am walking through are leading to new ones. I feel like Don Adams in the intro segment of the old Get Smart series--I'm sure the journey will be replete with many more exciting doors to open. Life has never been dull for me!

I also want to pause today and remember the fallen American heroes in every war, conflict and peace-time effort, who sacrificed their lives to keep our nation free--at home and abroad. My dad served in both WWII and the Korean War. I am thankful that he came home, otherwise I wouldn't be here today. But many others perished and were left behind in a foreign land. Some died right here on their own soil to protect our freedoms. All of these sacrifices made by men and women over the centuries have afforded me the opportunity to pursue the dreams I speak of today. The doors I walk through are made possible by many people, most of whom I will never meet. Thank you for your sacrifice.

So as I walk along the path, I have the responsibility to open doors for other people to succeed and find new opportunities. What an exciting time...the open door to summer and new things to come.

Creating Great Moments In Worship, Part 11: Raising Up Priests

In worshiping God, we do three things simultaneously: 1) Acknowledge who He is [Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and worthy of praise]; 2) Acknowledge who we are [incomplete apart from His presence, provision, forgiveness, love and guidance] ; 3) Confess our absolute dependance upon Him. As worship leaders, we play an important role in the church as purveyors of corporate and personal worship.

Worship isn't simply limited to the song service before the sermon. Rather, as an act of prayer, it is all of life (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Our bodies were intended to be temples of worship (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). And according to Scripture, every believer is a priest whose duty is to bring sacrifices to God (1 Peter 2:9). The sacrifice we bring to God is ourselves--living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to Him (Romans 12:1-2). The temple priests in the Old Testament took turns serving within a 24-hour period. Now as priests ourselves, each believer serves God 24 hours a day. So, worship is an around-the-clock exercise! We offer our thoughts, our motives, our jobs, our friends, our family, our wills and our future to Him in worship.

Since we were created to worship God and fellowship with Him, worship is the ultimate virtue. Therefore when we worship, we are fulfilling our true purpose-- mentally, spiritually and physically. The honor given to us as worship leaders is to facilitate worship in the congregation--helping to raise up priests in the church.

I was recently in a suburb of Pittsburgh working with the worship team of a small church. In attendance was a marriage and family counselor who also served as a volunteer on the worship team. He interjected a very interesting perspective on worship from his years of education and experience in counseling. His comments were so poignant that I asked if I could share them here.

Bill Halle, founder and CEO of Grace Youth and Family Foundation in Butler, Pennsylvania, has worked with many broken and battered lives over the years. As a therapist, he has helped bring many to healing through Christ. The thoughts he shares should encourage those of us who lead to better understand the importance of worship in the church.

In the realm of behavioral science and counseling, we know that human emotions do not know the difference between what is right and what is wrong, or what is real and what is not real. Our emotions simply respond to the stimuli on which we choose to focus our thoughts. If we fill our minds with Satan’s lies/error, our emotions will ultimately lead us to choices of sinful behavior. If we fill our minds with God’s word/truth our emotions will ultimately lead us to choices of Godly behavior. This is the importance of the simple principles found in Philippians 4:8, 2 Corinthians 10:5 and 1Corinthians 6:12. It is on what we focus our conscious thoughts that will make all the difference in our life experience and walk of faith (Proverbs 23:7 John 8:31).

Satan intentionally leads people’s emotions to sinful behavior with error. We as worship leaders must be equally if not more intentional about leading people’s emotions to godly behavior through the truth of His word.

Our job as a worship leader is vital to the health of the church. It isn't to simply pump out music each week, but to partner with the pastor to raise up priests!

Hotel Harvill

I am a blessed guy. I have a wonderful wife with whom I am very much in love. Brenda and I live in a quaint little town 30 minutes south of Nashville. When we bought this house 10 years ago in July, we couldn’t have predicted the contentment we would feel about this place today.

We really love our home. It’s not the Taj Mahal, but it's just the right size for the two of us. When Betsy and Josh moved out three years ago, we did a complete overhaul of each bedroom. With a fresh coat of paint, cleaned carpets, new bedding and a few new accent pieces, we had their old lairs transformed into hotel rooms, of sorts. Even though the kids love to come over, spend a night in the Hotel Harvill, and get a free breakfast from “yours truly,” they wouldn’t want to come back to stay for anything. But that ain't stopping me from getting them here as often as possible!

I am relishing the hang time with the whole clan lately, made possible by Betsy and Adam's recent return to Nashville, and Josh and Amber's close proximity. As a proud papa, I love to be surrounded by the people I adore. I don't think that most soon-to-be-married folks fully consider just how important the establishment of their own family will become--that it will probably evolve into the epicenter of their lives one day.

So, the fridge is stocked, the rooms are ready, and we are hoping the kids make a reservation at the Hotel Harvill soon!

Riches to Rags: Grey Gardens

If you haven't already heard of the documentary film about the hermit mother and daughter living in squalor in East Hampton, NY, you will probably want to rent the DVD after you read this. I stumbled upon this film a few years ago while desperately looking for something to stream from our beloved and oft-used Netflix account.

In my search, I was strangely drawn to a photo of a woman in front of a dilapidated mansion. The caption below it read that this woman was a first cousin of Jackie Kennedy Onassis, and that she and her mother were living a pauper's existence in the midst of opulent surroundings. Their names were Edith "Big Edie" Ewing Bouvier Beale and her daughter, Edith "Little Edie" Bouvier Beale (pictured).

The documentary film was released in 1975 by Albert and David Maysles, with Susan Froemke, Ellen Hovde, and Muffie Meyer. It is entitled Grey Gardens--the house where Big and Little Edie lived for 50 years-- a decrepit mansion at 3 West End Road in the wealthy Georgica Pond neighborhood of East Hampton. The house was built in 1897, and was purchased in 1923 by Phelan and Edith Beale.

The film follows these two ladies--Big Edie, then age 79, and Little Edie, 57, as they live amongst their many cats and the crumbling ruins of what once was a beautiful vacation home for the rich family. They survived for decades with limited funds, resulting in squalor and almost total isolation. The misfortune began when Mr. Phelan Beale, Big Edie's estranged husband, a rich and powerful attorney, left his family in the early 30s for another woman. Little Edie says in the doc that her father finalized the separation with a cheap Mexican divorce. Soon after, even Big Edie's own father, Mr. Bouvier, greatly diminished his financial support after she reportedly embarrassed him with eccentric behavior amongst the social elite of New York. Left with only the property of Grey Gardens (named for the grey sand dunes that led to the beach from the home), and no other family to claim them, Big Edie and her daughter did their best to live with what little money they had.

The documentary follows the ladies as they incessantly talk of glory years past--almost as if they are eerily dancing with ghosts of decades gone by. Watching the ladies dress up in make-shift costumes and sing old Broadway tunes from the turn of the twentieth century can be a bit disturbing, in a "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" kind of way. Even the cats are often shown reacting to the strange behavior of their caretakers.

There is a cult following with this film--even Madonna is a fan. Little Edie has inspired many a clothing designer with her strange bath towel turban creations adorned with a golden broach (you'll have to see it to understand!). Even a Broadway musical and an HBO movie starring Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore have been produced in recent years.

The sad part is how, even as the neighboring homes on the dunes continue to display the excesses of the elite, these two ladies can live amongst cat and raccoon feces, crumbling plaster and wood--lost and forgotten by society. Watching this causes me to feel both amused and horrified (you can make your own judgements after you watch the film for yourself). I can't help but compare Grey Gardens with the 1950's movie, Sunset Boulevard. It's creepy how people can continue to live in the past--as if time stood still. I guess we all do that, to some extent.

Big Edie died in 1977 and Little Edie sold the house in 1979. Little Edie died in 2002 at the age of 84.

On Live Performance

Performing is what makes the trouble of planning, travel, rehearsal and sound check worth it. Writing and recording are the other aspects of music I love. When I perform, I am aware that each audience is unique; the same group of people will never assemble like this again. Isn't it funny that you can sing the same songs, with the same musical and technical elements, and each audience will react in a different way?

When I play guitar in a band setting, and am not leading or singing, I get the opportunity to look out into the audience and take mental notes of the human landscape. Its kind of like when you travel in the back seat of a car as a passenger without having the responsibility of driving, and you notice things you never could if you were at the helm. As I scan the audience, even if I am not looking at particular people, the audience feels like I'm looking right into their eyes. I love to make connections like that. I love performing in front of people, and I especially love it when the audience and performer become one. That's when the fun stuff begins!

James Taylor is a master at drawing-in his audience. I had the opportunity to see him in concert several years ago. His "awe shucks" demeanor during his performance is endearing. He is a master at disarming his listeners. That way we can relax, take it all in, and fall into the sweet abyss of emotion as he sings the soundtrack of our lives.

James says in the video below that a live performance is a common emotional experience for the performer and the audience. Yes, as performers, we must get ready, practice and prepare for the performance. But we must surrender to the moment--to be present in our live performances. That's why each performance, even though they contain the same elements, can be received and enjoyed in various ways by different audiences.

In the video below, James is promoting his Carnegie Hall performances from earlier this year.

Summer Movies

Memorial Day is almost upon us. The door to warmer weather, family vacations and the summer movie blockbuster is just around the bend. I've been thinking about how these summer movies of 2011 will be remembered, not long after the pools are covered and the first frost of fall sets in.

I went to the AMC (American Movie Classics) website and found a list of the all-time top 100 box office films. I was specifically interested in the top grossing U.S. films, adjusted for inflation (movie tickets prices today can't be compared to those in decades past). As I pursued the list, I was surprised at what was present and what was missing. Below are the top 10 of the 100 I found:

1. Gone With the Wind (1939)
2. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
3. The Sound of Music (1965)
4. E. T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
5. The Ten Commandments (1956)
6. Titanic (1997)
7. Jaws (1975)
8. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
9. The Exorcist (1973)
10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Now, I'll have to agree that all 10 are great movies. In fact, I own 7 of these movies on DVD or Blu-ray. I was surprised to see that Alfred Hitchcock only had one movie on the complete top 100 list, the great Rear Window. I didn't see Sunset Boulevard, The Wizard of Oz or It's a Wonderful Life. But I did see The Towering Inferno, and The Poseidon Adventure (very hyped movies at the time that started a craze in action-packed destruction movies).

2010's top movie box office titles are not surprising--probably because they are still fresh in our memories. I do agree that Toy Story 3 is an all-time classic...but we'll have to wait and see; future generations will make their judgements with an objective perspective, far from the present-day cultural bias that may influence our choices. Below are the top box office movies of 2010:

1. Toy Story 3
2. Alice in Wonderland
3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
4. Inception
5. Shrek Forever After
6. Eclipse
7. Iron Man 2
8. Tangled
9. Despicable Me

Summer 2011 is in for some big movies. Among them are: The Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, The Hangover 2, Cowboys and Aliens, Super 8, Thor, Kung Fu Panda 2, and the much awaited Cars 2 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

Will any of these movies make it on the top 100 lists of the future? Certainly some will. But the coveted list of the most beloved movies of all time is reserved for those films that, despite the hype and the big box office returns, speak deep into our human hearts with truth, beauty and timelessness--and of course, through great entertainment.

Creating Great Moments In Worship, Part 10: The Fine Line of Fashion

As I continue to write the series Creating Great Moments in Worship, I came across this article written by my friend, Leann Albrecht. In it she expounds on the importance of making wise choices and wearing appropriate attire while leading worship. Though Leann writes this mostly from a female perspective to females, it should be noted that men must also take notice of how they dress while they lead worship, and if they are drawing attention to themselves or to God. I couldn't have said it better! Thanks for allowing me to re-post the article in its entirety here, Leann.
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We live at a time in history when our liberal society would like to accentuate the “sensuous” (a preoccupation with bodily or sexual pleasures) and annihilate the “virtuous” (general moral excellence; right actions and thinking; goodness; strength and courage with the power to choose right). It is a time when purity has little value and sex sells everything. Our cultural obsession with “sex” preys on our homes and churches to paralyze our minds and harden our hearts. It seeks to steal the real beauty of sex that God intended for it.

As Christians, God has called us to be role models. (one who inspires others to good moral and ethical conduct), We have a responsibility to know what’s hip and what’s not in the “fashion world”. If the latest fashion “rage” is risque, we don’t need to cause an outrage by wearing it. It’s imperative that we know the difference between a creative outfit that is beautiful and one that is creative but suggestive. I have no desire to be the “fashion police”, however, I have gained some wisdom from having lived a “colorful” life of various occupations.

My father was a minister ….and I was the prodigal teenager who lived the whispered gossip. Eventually I moved to New York as a flight attendant, followed by several years of print and runway modeling in the fashion industry. After moving back to St. Louis, Missouri, I worked as a sales representative in the business world of ad specialties. Now years later, I am a worship leader, writer and speaker… and married to the same man, Carl, for 27 years.

Not long ago at a conference, a senior pastor extended his hand to me and said, “I want to tell you how much I appreciate you dressing modestly as a worship leader. I wish everyone who is in leadership could somehow know the importance of that.” The definition of modesty is: Adequately clothed for propriety; the quality of being proper, fitting or suitable.

We live in Nashville, Tennessee which is a melting pot of creative colorful people – you can always pick them out. They are the artistic ones who wear funky clothes, striking hair colors and have multiple parts of their bodies tattooed or pierced. Personally, I find it fascinating. They are walking exhibits of art and many of them are beautiful.

Yes, I know, “It’s what’s on the inside that really counts.” However, what is conveyed on the outside can be a reflection of what is on the inside. If your fashion decisions are meant to gain the lustful eye of the opposite sex, it will only lead to a hollow thrill. Please take the advice from one who has walked down that path: the lustful responses you provoke are not the kind of attention you really want and it brings with it a cost you cannot afford to pay.

The dictionary defines lust as: the sexual desire to seek unrestrained gratification of the senses and bodily appetite. Matthew 5:27 says, You have heard the commandment, “Do not commit adultery”, but I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman and cherishes lustful thoughts has already committed adultery with her in his own heart.

Men and women are different in many ways. Women are emotionally stimulated while men are visually stimulated. That’s the way God made us. Proverbs 27:20 says, The grave and destruction are never satisfied; so too the eyes of man.

Cultural dressing for the Islamic religion only allows a woman to expose her hands and face. “Waabiism”, a sub-sect of Islam, requires women to be totally covered in black with only a small slit for the eyes in the veil. This legalistic form of dressing is not the answer either. It merely deletes the beauty of a woman.

Recently, I was at a Christian Music Festival. One of the guys asked if I could spend some time with his teenage daughter since he was going to be busy setting up. I agreed to pick her up at the hotel entrance later that morning.

As she opened the car door to join me, I tried not to gasp. First of all, she was gorgeous! I had never seen a more perfect body. Then I realized…… I didn’t have to use much imagination ……. she had very little clothing on! Obviously, she had dressed for a “hot” summer day but we were not at the beach.

When we arrived at the park, we met up with her dad. Within a few minutes she whispered to him. “Dad, is this outfit scandalous?” He said, “Well, honey, I guess if you have to ask the question, then it is.” Quietly reaching into her backpack, she pulled out a full cut shirt to cover her bare midriff, skintight halter-top and very low- rise jeans.

Her dad commented to me later. “Her mother was just like her when we first started dating. She had no clue how others perceived her scanty clothing. I had to be the one to tell her.”

For the first time, I realized it was possible that inappropriate dressing could be something other than an intentional decision. Without a parent or mentor to help guide those decisions, people choose their trendy styles from movies, TV and fashion magazines. Again, I am not finding fault with fashion or fads. It’s fun to create but do it with discretion.

If you are a leader, this is extremely important. People are looking to you as an example. What standard do you want to set? When others look at you, what do they see? When you stand before the congregation, whether you are “the” leader or just a part of the band on the platform, you are a leader. People are “checking you out.”

Girls – when every curve or bulge can be seen, I promise you, there are people around you having to close their eyes to have a spiritual experience.……men and women alike. If a fabulous body is being flaunted, other girls are caught up in a whirlwind of thoughts that range from envy, jealousy, criticism or self-degradation. And the guys…they are fighting their own battle of visually ignited desire .

So, girls…. let’s be kind to the guys. Don’t make it difficult for them. Think of them as a best friend who needs your help to keep a clean thought life. When they look at us, let their first thought be of Jesus…not a sexy body or lack of it. If you’re married, save those “sexy outfits” for a date with your spouse.

The same is true for the guys. Tight clothing is not only uncomfortable but distracting. Be kind to the ladies. Instead, let them see your gentleness, compassion and strength of character.

Not only do you want your appearance to be above criticism but your speech as well. Sexually suggestive conversations can lead down a road of ungoldy imagination. You know what I’m talking about…. the two possible comments that follow someone’s statement. One is the innocent comment and the other one has an “off color” sexual slant. You may be tempted to choose the sexual comment because you think it makes you look “clever” or a little “naughty”. My advice is, “Keep your mind out of the gutter.” Get a laugh from jokes that are witty and clean. Proverbs 27:11 He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for a friend. Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, those who make it a friend shall eats it’s fruit. Matthew 15:11 It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.”

We, as Christians, need to set a higher standard. A standard that is moral. One that promotes the attitude of Jesus and a lifestyle of purity; one that delights our soul instead of our “fleshly” senses.

Here are some clear fashion guidelines that have proven to work well in most church and social settings.

1. Necklines should not expose cleavage.

2. No tight fitting clothes or see through fabrics. Keep in mind that thin “clingy” fabrics are less “forgiving” than heavier ones . If you’re on the stage, remember physical shape is accentuated with bright lighting.

3. Also, for the platform – skirts should be to the knee. Remember, most stages are elevated which makes the length of a skirt appear shorter from the audience level. If you are sitting on the platform, make sure when you are seated that the skirt is designed to give adequate coverage.

4. No exposed midriffs. Bare midriffs give the suggestion of nudity. If you are on a worship team or one who raises your hands in worship, give that outfit a trial run at home in front of the mirror before you leave for church.

5. Ladies, make sure if you get a “chill” or a “hormonal surge” you are the only one who knows it. Shirts that are dark in color or patterned fabrics make a great camouflage.

If you don’t have someone to help you with your fashion decisions, ask the Lord. He will tell you. I even take Him shopping with me. He’s a good shopper and He instructs me on what to buy.

To keep our hearts pure, we must choose our focus. When temptations come, will we discipline our eyes to look away or take the journey of unclean fantasy? Psalm 101:3 says, " I will set before my eyes no vile thing." The definition of vile is: cheap, worthless, attributing no value to a person other than a fleeting moment of selfish pleasure.

As you desire to become more like Jesus, allow Him to complete the transformation. Let your heart, your tongue, your appearance and conduct reflect the beauty of Jesus. When others speak your name, may it be with honor and high regard. A respectful reputation will never be forgotten. It will be your crown and legacy. Proverbs 22:1 A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected it better than silver or gold.
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This article is reprinted with full permission from Leann Albrecht. You will find the latest writings from Leann with this link to her Music and Ministry page on her website.

My Guitar Gear

Thanks for reading my blog. I know the subject matter is a bit schizophrenic with all of the diverse entries; I can't just settle on one thing because my interests are many.
(Jamie and Charlie Daniels in photo).

A few weeks ago I posted my live church guitar rig set-up, including the amps, pedals, sound-proofing, cable runs, etc. Today, I want to direct your attention to my website where I have updated the gear page. There you will find a pretty detailed photo lineup of what I use in my studio. Not all of the guitars are accounted for in the photos but, suffice it to say, I have most sonic bases covered in both the electric and acoustic guitars.

I am pumped about my amps! You will see them on the gear page, too. I have no need of double-stacked Marshals to get those nasty tones. Rather, I rely on lower-wattage amps for recording and live applications. Kevin Shaw at Shaw Audio makes some ridiculous amps, two of which I purchased for the church, and two for myself. Kevin also introduced me to WGS speakers, particularly the Reaper. All of my speaker cabs, with the exception of my Dr. Z Maz 18 Jr., have some variation of WGS speakers represented. They are stellar right out of the box! Kevin makes beautifully constructed extension cabs (see the gear page photos). The open-back variety are light-weight, full, loud and spew beautiful tone.

My pedals are present there, too. Most of the board-mounted ones are in the photos with the exception of several that have made their way to thttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhe "Island of Lost Tones." After a while I get tired of certain pedals and replace them with something new.

So anyway, I would love for you to take a gander at my updated gear page. Thanks to my son, Josh, for designing and maintaining the site. He just graduated from MTSU with a Mass Communications degree and would be happy to work on your web project.

Thanks again, friends!

Go To The Gear Page

Stuff

Last night I slept between boxes in my daughter's guest room. Her husband Adam just graduated from law school at the University of Memphis, and I'm here for the festivities as well as to help them move back to Nashville. I am proud that Betsy has almost everything packed into boxes--labeled and stacked--ready for us men-folk to carry out to the U Haul trailer.

Moving gives us a great opportunity to think about our stuff. Usually our stuff falls into three categories: 1) used everyday, 2) cherished and saved, 3) throw it away. Some of us have a hard time sifting trash from treasure. The resultant dilemma has made many Americans pack rats. Because we are not forced to live in shoe boxes like the Europeans, we can cram our homes and lives full of junk.

When traveling, I try to carry as little with me as possible. In fact, I challenge myself to get everything I need into a carry-on and a back pack. Things get a little more complicated when I carry my guitar. I just love it when I can get off the plane, walk right past the baggage claim (see ya suckers!) and right into the shuttle or rental car. I always keep a separate set of toiletries from the ones at home so when its time to hit the road, I'm not wondering if I have toothpaste or deodorant when I get to the hotel.

I like to travel light. Like my email, I purge the junk daily. And as for Brenda and me, its probably time to rent a U Haul and purge the stuff that's not "used everyday" or "cherished and saved" out of the house before summer. Brenda always says, "Only have things that you cherish, and cherish the things that you have."

Even though we love our stuff, and move it everywhere we go, the most important cargo are the people and the memories that fill our lives. That "stuff" is eternal.

Graduation Day

It seems like yesterday when Josh was playing in the yard with nothing but a bathing suit, cowboy boots and backyard dirt covering him; curly hair and a toothless smile finished off the blissful look of a four-year old who was yet to start school. Now he's 24, married, and will be walking with a slew of others from his Middle Tennessee State University's graduating class. His wife, Amber, graduated last year from MTSU, just a few months before they were married on my birthday in July.

Life is full of many graduations; some are small and almost unnoticeable--others are momentous and worthy of celebration. All of these incremental milestones of life add up and, before you know it, decades have passed. The only thing that sometimes shocks us into the reality that so much time has elapsed is by looking back at the photos and the ridiculous hair and clothes styles from the day.

Betsy and Adam will be married two years this July. I can remember when she was only months old, holding her in my arms as we anxiously waited in a Mobile hospital for test results regarding a stomach problem she had since birth. We were scared--two young kids with two young kids--until we found out that she would be just fine. We made it through that summer as we will make it through this summer and more after that. She and Adam are moving back to Franklin, TN, after he graduates from law school at the University of Memphis, just a day after Josh walks away with his undergrad degree.

As Alice Cooper sang in the early 70's, "School's out forever!" Most literally. I don't think any of us will be itching to make it back for another degree anytime soon. It'll take a few years to regain financial equilibrium after working hard to pay the college debt down. I guess if I wanted to teach, I could finish my Master's degree, started over a decade ago. The thought of that just makes me tired.

Anyway, it's Josh and Adam's graduation day this weekend. Congratulations, boys! Brenda and I will have a few folks over tomorrow to celebrate. We will certainly take pictures, giving us the opportunity, in twenty years or so, to once again balk at the way we looked back in the day.

On the Border

Tennessee and Georgia are in a tizzy over 51 miles of land. Actually, Georgia wants it and Tennessee won't budge. There is a line stretching from east to west that, originally, was to define the border: the 35th Parallel. But, human error resulted in inaccuracies, and the measurements made by early surveyors proved incorrect--at least to the folks in Georgia. You see, the tizzy involves water. The 35th parallel cuts through a southern dip of the Tennessee River near Nickajack Dam, north of the current state line. If it wasn't for the valued water, I am sure that Georgia wouldn't be perusing the issue with such passion.

When lines were drawn in the U.S. defining the individual states, there was an interesting progression. Starting in the east, where the country's population began, state borders were greatly influenced by the connection to water and land masses such as mountain ranges. When you see the states in the east, you'll notice their shapes seem hapless and irregular. When the Louisiana purchase was made from France in 1803--828800 square miles west of the Mississippi--the states resultant from the deal have more "boxy" shapes. When no one is around to dispute the laying of a boundary, it is a less complicated issue. When people move in, borders matter and the issue gets a bit more complex, to say the least.

Some people like to peer into the backyards of their neighbor (don't you?). Take political borders within a state--or even a region, for instance, when a valuable commodity exists just on the other side of an invisible line--politicians have been known to "adjust" the lines for their own political benefit. Take the term, Gerrymandering. In 1812, Governor Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts signed a bill that enabled the redrawing of Massachusetts state senate election districts to benefit his political party. When mapped, one of the contorted districts in the Boston area was said to resemble the shape of a salamander. The Boston Gazette came up with the term, gerrymander, and it still reminds us today of the ridiculous measures a human will take to steal someone else's stuff.

As with state and national borders, it is also important to set personal boundaries in our lives. According to author Robert Burney, from book Codependence: The Dance of Wounded Souls, "the purpose of having boundaries is to protect and take care of ourselves. We need to be able to tell other people when they are acting in ways that are not acceptable to us. A first step is starting to know that we have a right to protect and defend ourselves. That we have not only the right, but the duty to take responsibility for how we allow others to treat us." Sometimes when people encroach upon our personal borders it is proper to ask the question of the trespasser, "What part of "NO" don't you understand?!"

Working With Creative People

Creative people are an exceptional bunch. Many assume that being creative equals being late, irresponsible, over-sensitive, fussy, eccentric, lazy, etc. I'm sure that many are, but the reputation of a few should never be forced on the rest of us. And why is it that we as a society pay creative people so much money to do what they do? We love what they bring to our lives! But we just don't understand what makes them tick.

There is a creative sensitivity in all of us: when our ideas are shot down at work, church, in a board meeting, or within a personal relationship, for instance, it hurts as much as a producer saying to a musician in a recording session, "I don't like your guitar playing on this song!" We are all human. Being a creative person means that the product of our minds is not simply a subjective piece of information. Rather, it is an objective piece of "us" birthed from our hearts and imaginations. When a person tries to super-impose his or her heavy-handed business management style upon a band or vocal rehearsal, for instance, proper communication, or the lack of, will make or break the environment. Many a hard-core business person, or even a Marine drill instructor might want to say, "Tough it out, wuss!" The fact is, when the hammer comes down like that in a creative setting, creative people fold, and you might as well close down for the day.

When I am leading a recording session or a rehearsal, I like to create a positive environment by making the space feel light and fun. I also try to make positive personal contact with each player, singer and engineer because that helps initiate the flow of ideas. I want the artist to feel free to let go and give it all they've got. Usually, in these sessions or rehearsals, the musical arrangements are in place, but the individual investments coming from the instrumentalists and vocalists are welcomed within these parameters. Most great musicians like some kind of direction, but they also want to contribute when a good idea floats to the top.

In any event, a good leader is there to keep things flowing and on track. The way a leader runs the situation can either support a positive environment or will stifle spontaneity. Just by showing courtesy, speaking kindly, showing grace in brain-storming sessions, making compliments when appropriate, and generally being interested in the persons involved, we are creating a healthy environment for the growth of ideas.

Rick Warren said this recently to pastors of churches: "Don't expect people to be interested in your "vision" if you are not interested in their lives." I believe any effective leader, creative or otherwise, who applies these principles in their daily dealings with people will find success. As I said earlier, when we are working with creative people, their products are not just mere objects, but are extensions of their very soul.

As a leader, whether in business, in the Arts, at home, at church, or in a relationship, we can nurture positive and creative environments by allowing those around us to dream. Who knows, there might be an Einstein, a Ford, a Bill Gates, a Jimi Hendrix or another Billy Graham among us!