I'm a rock 'n roll history sponge so when I find something that may be common knowledge to rock history buffs but unknown to me, I kind of geek out and have to know everything about it. Such it has been with  the rock band Blind Faith which consisted of rock's masterclass men Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton.  I was studying a subject matter this week and stumbled across this song written by Clapton that the band recorded back in the 60's called "In the Presence of the Lord".


I have finally found a place to live
Just like I never could before
And I know I don't have much to give
But I can open any door.
Everybody knows the secret,
Everybody knows the score.
I have finally found a place to live
In the presence of the Lord.

"At the heart of it, the reason the church is not known as being a global leader in creativity and excellence is pretty simple. We missed God’s love letter to artists."

One of my favorite writers, Jon Acuff, wrote a wonderful eye opening piece about God's love and specific purpose He has for artists.  In this piece he sites a few passages in Exodus where God issues a call to artists in the desert.  I am not sure I would have even noticed this had he not pointed it out. I'll let you read the piece and interpret it for yourself but in the meantime, I want to say something.

One of the things that I love about this ministry/blog/whatever God wants it to be is that it is a constant reminder to me that God is concerned with every bit of our lives.  When I get passionate about creative Christians in the mainstream, I think about how much more passionate God must be for His children.  When I think of how much my heart breaks for an artist that is going through something difficult like wrestling with their purpose,  I think of how God's heart must break so much more.  If there is anything I could say to any artist on any level it would be YOU ARE IMPORTANT.  Not because your gifted, talented, good looking, or charismatic. You are important for the same reason every single person created is: because you were created with a specific purpose that adds to the well being of the entire world. Sure not everyone is under the spotlight but what you have been gifted with and called to is not a mistake or a misconception.  It's not to be compartmentalized a part from your faith especially when it's your faith you will need to succeed in the first place.

To read Jon Acuff's piece, "God's Love Letter to Artists", click here and then let me know what you think about it.

Over ten years ago I was working at a Christian music marketing company and was forwarded a phone call by a popular hip hop DJ.  He had recently become a Christian, which to me was exciting because I had jammed out to some of his most popular songs at parties for years.  However as we conversed about what he wanted to do with his talent since he became a Christian, I started to become increasingly worried.

Him: "I want to do a hip hop version of *Insert popular CCM franchise here*"
Me: "But....that's copyrighted. You just can't take that. Why not do something new?"

The more we talked, the more I felt that he was trying to play it safe by changing up his style and trying to force himself into a system that was not going to allow him to be himself musically.  He explained to me that he was discouraged about how since he became a Christian, he was receiving criticism about how his music had become watered down.  If you know anything about hip hop, you know that is exactly the opposite of what a hip hop artist wants to hear. They don't want to hear that since they have decided to be a  follower of Christ that their music is no longer relevant in the streets. However, this story is not uncommon.