The Remnant

As free thought yields to groupthink, 

As creativity surrenders to assimilation, 

As reckless optimism submits to pious indoctrination, 

And the hour hand bends its knee to distracting bureaucracy, 

There was always be a remnant of resistance, 

A small group of individuals who will not bow

to groupthink, assimilation, indoctrination or bureaucracy.  

A rehabilitation for others who awaken from their nightmares

Generating tears among their desert eyes,  

Forgotten laughter from their parched lips,

Precious love unspoken for in decades.  

God's gifts will not be squandered among the remnant.  

Their efforts will not be in vain. 

A robotic genius will not lord over them.  

Intermission drugs will not enter their bloodstream.  

They will not don the oculus of deception

Nor chase the monsters over the cliff.  

The threat of drones will meet the bat of their conscience.

The very threat of political repercussion will meet its own demise

In the simple negatory answer uttered by the assured. 

The remnant will applaud their stage sibling 

Salute the trail seeker in passing, 

Shield the outcast while unearthing her treasures

Allowing Love’s beauty to unearth their own. 

In falling, in crashing down, 

Man cannot carry a hardened heart.  

Its shell has been shattered

Its flesh exposed forever.  

The remnant fall together

And light up the darkness awaiting a hibernating world to arrive.

My Top 20 favorite David Meece Songs of all time

1. Every Little step (1993) - I gave my life to Jesus at a David Meece Concert in the fall of 1994, and this song carried me through so many evenings of doubt and fear of not instantaneously having it all together after my conversion.  “Lord, I pray to You/ But sometimes I doubt You’re there/Lord I wait for You/But Your silence seems unfair.”  David Meece was one of the few voices on Christian radio at the time who seemed to understand what I was going through and didn’t sugarcoat the Gospel.  Even 23 years later I always come back to this song as my favorite in the David Meece anthology.  
2. The Rest of My Life (1989) - The chorus of this song hooks you from the very beginning, and even though I’m not really into children's choirs, this song is one of the exceptions as it fits right in with David’s soaring 3-octave vocals and displays the innocence of simply wanting to devote the remainders of our lives to our Heavenly Father.  
3. We are the Reason (1980) - This is arguably David Meece’s signature song, and for good reason.  A touching ballad of Jesus’ love for us and His sacrifice so that we may live.  
4. Jesus (1982) - This song actually debuts on David’s 1976 debut album “David”, but sounds even better on his live “Front Row” album. It still comes with that 70’s vibe, but is crisper and tempered over several years of albums and touring.   
5. Rattle Me, Shake Me (1982) - Borrowing from the classic song by Honeytree, David masterfully respins the lyrics to his unique brand of music and humor.  Also found on his live “Front Row” album.  
6. Gloria (1983) - This song explores David’s vocal range from the lower-range optimistic verses to the high-end chorus.  This song is one of David’s best when heard live at one of his concerts.  
7. Satan Just Leave Me Alone (1980) - “You did it to Judas/you did it to Samson/you did it to Adam and Eve/you did it to Balaam/And you did it Cain/ But you're never gonna do it to me no, no...”  This song is an example of what I like to call “naive confidence,” a term I like to use when a singer believes what they are singing about, with confidence, but perhaps still has a couple of life chapters that have yet to be written.  Probably not a song you would sing in your church, but still a bold addition “Are You Ready,” arguably David’s best album.  
8. Gospel Train (1980) - You know when people run up to the front during intermissions   and place little slips of paper on the stage with song requests for the singer?  I got to hear “Gospel Train” live when someone brought an “Are You Ready” songbook to the stage with the enclosed message “you have no excuse” to the 1994 concert I attended.  The third verse is especially powerful.  
9. Just Have a Little Talk (1980) - Tracks from the “Are You Ready” album are specifically plentiful in my favorites list, as it is my favorite of the David Meece albums, but each track has its own unique qualities in this collection.  This upbeat song could have easily been taken from a BeeGees album with most of the song in David’s higher vocal range.  
10. God’s Promises/Rainbows in the Night (2005) - The only new track from David’s “Odyssey” (greatest hits) album, this 6 minute song focused heavily on the classic piano that David was know for.  
11. My Father’s Chair (1993) - An important testimonial from David’s broken childhood, this song moves from heartbreak to earthly fatherly love to praise to our Heavenly father.  
12. Some People They Never Believe (1983) - Taking the role of story teller, David lays out Biblical examples of Godly men doing great things and still the people around them still do not turn from their ways and believe in God.  Going from nearly a whisper, this song crescendos into Jesus’ mission to save us from our sin and even then so many people refused to believe.  
13. Are You Ready?  (1980) - The chorus is catchy and you can’t help but echo David’s lyrical inflections:  “When he comes in the night...”  To me David always came away successful in his message without being overly pious or preachy, even with his role as evangelist with songs such as this.  
14. Everybody Needs a Little Help (1978) - The title track from David’s 3rd album.  The album cover itself is worth the price of admission, but this slower track in the heart of David’s ‘disco’ years is friendship to friendship, an offer of hope during a tumultuous time.  
15. Never Gonna Serve Anyone Else (1978) - “Well they can keep their champagne/And their smoky rooms/I don’t want their fame/And I don’t need their food...”  Another tour de force in David’s full 3 octave vocal range with the chorus once again focusing on the high end.”  
16. Early in the Morning (1993) - The quiet verses suddenly explode into the chorus of ‘Hallelujahs’ for the risen King.  A great resurrection day song which is also a great reminder anytime of year that our Good King has conquered death and the grave.  
17. You Can Go (1985) - From the album ‘7’, David put together quite a few radios hits from this album, the strongest being his opening track also a good song heard live.  
18. The Man With the Nail Scars (1989) - A deeply worshipful song, David leads his audience through the ‘sha-na-na’s’ of the chorus, pointing to Jesus and the hands that bore our sin.  
19. Going Home (1993) - A song of our Blessed Hope and journey’s end.  You can almost hear the weariness of the singer, longing to be in the arms of Creator God bathed in light and love.  
20. Mother, Muffler, Mozart and the Beatles (1982) - So this is less of a song and more of a comedy sketch, but it is a perfect example of David’s great sense of humor and great portrayal of humor in how it can relate to our walk with God.  

Everyday is a Blessing from God.

 Live this day to your fullest.  Give praise to God who gives oxygen to our lungs and love through the sacrifice of His only son, Jesus.  Share His love with others on this earth this day.  Love in Christ, Christopher.  

Lord Hill

           I enjoy hiking.  Even if it is only for a short distance and within ear shot of the hustle and bustle of the corporate world.
          Yesterday my family and I took a small hike on Lord Hill near Snohomish.  The ground was still a bit damp, and the grade was a bit steep, but I really enjoyed it.
           I love the time shared with my family and the memories we form.
           I love the smell of being in the woods.  It invigorates all of my senses.
           I love the sounds of the birds who don't chance outside these forested walls and greet me with their song.
          I love the sights from the smallest of ferns to the tallest of trees which form the canopy I walk under.  These are God's handiworks.
          I love how the muscles in my body work in harmony as I ascend the hills.  I love how it feels as I alternate my weight from one foot to the other and can feel the full range of muscular motion from my toes to my abdomen with each step as I gain elevation.  
          I enjoy crossing paths with others who share these enjoyments, saying our salutations and then continuing our lives' journeys.
          I wish these times weren't as short as they are, and that the invigoration ignited within me could carry me so much further into my everyday.

Welcome, readers from Russia and France...and from around the world....

          Good morning, from Lake Stevens Washington.  

          This will probably be a short post as it is 8 in the morning and my family will probably be waking up at any moment.  My blog has reached over 100 views, a grain of sand in the blog world, but really exciting to me.  20 views have come from Russia, and 4 have come from France.  Welcome friends and thank you for reading my blogs.  

          I'm thinking about using the book of James in the Bible in direct reference to today's social media.  Along with it originally being an amazing letter to a scattered group of believers, I think that it has some amazing parallels to aspects of life today.  I just keep coming back to this one book in my reading of God's Word and seeing so many of the things that James is talking about.  I still need to get my thoughts processes together to show people the parallels; pray that I do not let this opportunity to communicate with people fall by the wayside.  

          Aquafest (our town's yearly festival) is next weekend.  I hope to make my way down to Main street and enjoy the festivities.  

          My son just woke up, so I will wrap up for now.  Thank you again, those who have found my blog, be blessed.  

          In Christ, Christopher.  

One of the most prophetic songs that I have ever heard: PFR's "Them"

"And the media mediates between the masses and the myth it creates
But it never knows the damage grows the more it bends the truth
They tell us want they want us to hear
They patronize our aching ears."  (from "Them" by PFR)

          Twenty years ago this month, the band PFR put out the first of their "last" albums (different story altogether) which included the title track "Them."  I was immediately drawn to this song and its straight up lyrics (this was during CCM's 'golden age' but even then, and even more so now, using the phrase 'sexual perversion' in a lyric was cutting edge for that genre) because it so aptly described, what I believe, to be a commentary on the media at large and the power and effect that it has on people.

"We don't have to watch what they want us to see
Yet we let them bind our hands and feet."

          Twenty years later, this song is more relevant than ever in describing this topic.  It doesn't even require blog elaboration, it is that good.   You just have to listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90g2b4s0HrI

Am I Alone?

          Social media doesn't take kindly to dissenting opinions.
          I finally responded to the apologetic tone of yet another response to Bono's take on the Christian Music Industry and his claim of it being "dishonest," stating that I didn't believe that 'dishonest' was the right adjective to be using.  I actually got a personal response from the Facebook author about why they thought it was dishonest, and the reasoning points behind that opinion.  While I still don't agree, I did appreciate the insider look at the industry in general.
          What really bothers me though is the push-back of minority opinions on social media.  I know that I am not the only one who doesn't 'get' U2 music nor treats Bono like he is some sort of god.  Or am I?  Am I a fringe lunatic who is alone in certain opinions or beliefs?
          Let's take another topic that seems to be close to everyone's heart right now:  The 2016 presidential race.
          The majority opinion on social media right now basically favors two frontrunners for president:  Trump or Clinton.  Many of my Facebook friends who have already decided that they are going to vote for one of these candidates, back up their decision with meme's, news articles, links, etc, which back their candidate or deride the other one.
          A minority opinion (one which I side with) is that we don't to vote for either candidate.  Although I personally have not made this proclamation public on social media, I have made it known verbally to some people.  The response I have gotten is either:  That voting for neither is a vote for Trump, or that voting for neither is a wasted vote.  I simply do not agree, and come November, neither one of these candidates is getting my vote.  This appears to be a fringe opinion; no one is saying this publicly on social media.
          Why don't people freely share unpopular opinions on social media?  Is it because not one other single person shares it?  Or is it because of the fear of public repercussion of a minority opinion?
          If the former, that would remind me of "1984" (the book, not the year) mentality, in which it is only a matter of time before I'm forcibly indoctrinated.  If the latter, I suppose it depends on the topic and the timing.  Even though we don't 'owe' social media any involvement whatsoever, sometimes not speaking out is just as harmful as speaking out, in spite of the fear of repercussion.   Some people in their rebuttals simply don't care that they are playing all their cards on a public forum, in fact they oftentimes do so proudly, having not been offered this platform even 10-15 years ago.  So if you are passionate about something, share it.  Just be prepared to defend yourself.  I learned that the hard way and at great cost.
          At the risk of making this blog sound like a pity party, I just want to know that I am not alone and that there are still free thinkers in this country and this planet who live according to the portion that God has given them;  I seek people who freely love, freely live, and who don't seek the mob mentality as their own.