Rick's Space

American Idol: Finally Worth Watching

2008-03-19T20:18:00.001-07:00

I haven't really been in to American Idol since the Ruben Studdard season. He's a hometown boy and that drew me in. I wasn't really planning on watching it this season but actually gave it a try a few weeks ago. Now I'm hooked again and want to watch it every week. I think this season has more diversity and artistry than any other. Here are my favorites:

Carly Smithson: She has the coolest Irish accent, but her vocals are outstanding! Check out her version of "Blackbird" on iTunes.

Chikezie: I love me a good R&B soul-singer. He's definitely got the feel. He sings in tune VERY well.

Michael Johns: Another foreigner (I think he's Australian). Sounds alot like U2

Brooke White: Wonderful performer. Reminds me a lot of Jenny from Forest Gump

David Cook: Borderline "just another Chris Daughtry", but I do like his vocals.

The top 5 is going to be amazing!

Golf and Tuna

2008-03-17T12:08:00.000-07:00

So I played golf with a student from my youth group today. Stephen is an excellent golfer and currently competes with the Chelsea High Golf Team. Needless to say, he put me to shame. The point of this blog is to put two things together you don't usually hear - golf and tuna. "What the crap are you talking about?", you might ask.

We played at a course in Childersburg called Coosa Pines, conveniently located right next to the "Abibati Bowater" paper mill (if you say the name real fast it sounds cool). Yes, that is the stink you smell if you've ever driven down 280 past Harpersville. It smells like raw tuna. Yep, we smelt it the entire time we played golf. It was managable until the end of the round, where the final two holes sit closest to the mill. I wanted to gag. I had to cover my nose with my shirt. I couldn't take it.

So I didn't come away with a great golf score, nor did I come away with clothes that smelled remotely neutral, but I have learned a new phrase that sounds excellent as it rolls off my tongue - "Abibati Bowater!"

Storms

2008-03-03T18:04:00.001-08:00

Does anyone else get really excited when severe weather is approaching? I've always been fascinated with weather, especially tornadoes. I would LOVE to see one or chase one some day. The real reason I'm writing this post is because there is severe weather coming our way tonight and I love it! I'm not intending to make light of situations where people have lost loved ones or experienced damage to personal property, I just love weather. Anyone relate?

It's Been Too Long

2008-02-18T20:39:00.001-08:00

Wow. I guess it's been a year and 2 months since I posted on my last blog. I feel bad that I even used to rat on people for being infrequent bloggers. I suppose I'll take this time and catch you all up on what's been going on with me the past year and a half (I'll try and just hit the highlights):

I got married to Stacy on June 23, 2007. It was a great wedding. It was held at Altadena Pres. in Vestavia. We went to Boston for our honeymoon. Though Stacy and I both sometimes feel the effects of the big adjustment, it is so rewarding. She completes me.

I have been at Grace Presbyterian as worship leader/youth director for 2 1/2 years now. It gets better every year. My first year was VERY hard. Not only was this my first real job out of college, but I had no youth director experience whatsoever. Looking back, I'm very thankful for a. my youth director from high school, and b. the teaching and investment I received while in college, mainly through Campus Outreach. Everything I do in youth ministry is rooted out of a. and b., and I'm learning more and more about it year by year. As far as the worship leading part, I'm even more thankful for the people that gave me opportunities to train/lead in high school, and also the folks in college ministry that allowed me to share that privilege with other students. I felt well prepared for that end of the spectrum.

Stacy's working at the YWCA Birmingham as a logistics coordinator. Her branch of the program is called Momentum, where, by word of mouth, women are invited to "enroll" in a class where they attend seminars, retreats, workshops, etc. to sharpen their work skills, bow-hunting skills (sorry, couldn't resist, but seriously work skills). Stacy has to plan out these sessions, whether its hiring a caterer, setting up the conference room, making sure audio and video are working properly, she's da man.

I moved my piano studio out to Chelsea and quickly was able to get 9 students. I have one more pending student who is still looking for a good lesson time, so hopefully I'll have 10, but that's my cutoff. Teaching is VERY taxing sometimes, but over time you do reap some cool benefits from it, like when that one students finally gets a dotted quarter note, it reminds you that you're passing along something great.

Finally, and more recently, I've taken up jazz. Not solely to become a "jazz" pianist, but because I am aspiring to be a session player one day, and I am EXTREMELY weak in jazz/improvisation. However, I am thankful for my classical upbringing because it's helping me pick jazz up very quickly. But don't get me wrong - I've got a ways to go. Ray Reach is my teacher. He used to be the director of jazz studies at UAB and now is doing some stuff with the Jazz Hall of Fame. We meet on Monday's at his place in Birmingham. For those of you who are musical out there, the biggest thing I've taken away from jazz so far is that it's like trying to play the piano with 3 hands. I used to make chords mainly with my right hand with a few notes added in my left for the bass, but now I've got to think in terms of bass, accompaniment, and melody/soloing (when I play with a combo I won't have to think bass as much - my teacher says to stay out of their way). There are still times when you use your right hand to make most of the chord, but you can't get comfortable. You're constantly moving. It also swipes the crutch of "not listening while you're playing" right out from under me.

Welp, I guess that'll do for now. For any of you who might read this, let me know how you're doing.

In Response to "People"...

2006-12-13T15:47:00.000-08:00

I wanted to make note that I left out an important part in my "People" blog (the one before last) - Family. Family is definitely an important part of our lives, something that God has instituted for all of us to enjoy, and definitely something that should not be overlooked. I had no intention of leaving them out of this blog and hope that no one was offended.

An Analysis of the Music of Bruce Hornsby

2006-12-07T19:29:00.000-08:00

The following post is an idea that came to me yesterday. It was one of those moments where you've got a song stuck in your head (one that you like), and as you go through each lyric, you can't help but almost have chills because of the way that particular song moves you. For me, that is the music of Bruce Hornsby. For those of you who have ever taken the music major course "Analysis", this post is intended to follow that pattern. For those of you who are musicians and love to explain why you like a song so much, this post is specifically for you!

Let's start with Bruce's (probably) most popular radio tune, "The Way It Is". The song begins with one of Bruce's oh-so-loved piano intros. This is the first strength of Bruce's music. He many times will begin with a solo piano intro to help give the listener an "appetizer", if you will. Most times these intros will have hint of what's to come, a mere foreshadowing of the melody and other harmonies in the song.

Next we have the intrance of the drums. This is the second strength of Bruce's music. Much like Sting or Phil Collins, Bruce utilizes the "drum loop" in this song (No machines - his drummer plays it all). It's nothing complex, just a even mix of high hat, snare, high hat, snare, etc. etc. The high hat is done in 16th-note patterns, with the snare coming in on beats 2 and 4. It never changes throughout the song. No cymbal crashes, no toms. Just a simple, easy drive. I have heard this particular song referred to as "good driving music" before, and that's probably the reason why: the drum beat is a steady loop. It stays right in the front, as is the case (I believe) with many good "driving" songs.

Once the drums come enter, they set the pace for the rest of the song. Here is where I believe Bruce uses one of his greatest strengths - syncopation. This is not a new concept by any means. Right before the band comes in, the piano toys with the drums for 3 measures, syncopating off the drums' even rhythm. What a great way to take a simple beat and draw the listener in! Songs like Mandolin Rain, Every Little Kiss, The Valley Road and The End of the Innocence are all rich in syncopation.

Now the band enters and the song is off. Bruce has hooked you in now and there's no turning back. You have to listen now. Let's now address the chord progressions. In this song, there are only two. First the verse:

Am Em D C
G D C

*When I spell out chords, the will read from left to right on the piano.

You may say, "What's so great about those chords? It's not like no one's used them before." Bruce doesn't just play root-positioned Am, Em, etc. Bruce is very wise when it comes to voicing, or the combination of notes he uses to make a chord. I have adopted his methods into my playing, and it really makes alot of difference. Two things that I believe make Bruce's chord voicing so strong are his use of the Major 2nd, the 4th, and the Major/minor 7th. Let's take Am. An easy way to play Am would be A, E (left hand), A, C, E (right hand). When Bruce plays Am, he usually uses 4th and the minor 7th, reading like this : A, G (left hand), C, D, G (right hand). D is the 4th and G is the minor 7th. If you were charting this, you could say Am7 or C/A. Either would apply. If you're a pianist, try this! It's so lush.

Let's now look at the C chord. In many of Bruce's hits, the C chord tends to be the 4-chord (with G being the root). Here is where I believe Bruce has a signature move (he has many, but this is one). Alot of times if Bruce has a 4-chord, or in this instance C, he will use the Major 2nd and the Major 7th, reading like so: C, G, E (left hand), D, G, B, (right hand). D is the Major 2nd, B is the Major 7th. However, Bruce's signature comes a half beat before this chord, when leading into it, he will throw on an Am (in the 2nd inversion) to lead into the C chord: E, A, C (right hand) to the C chord above. It will send chills down your spine!

The second chord progression in this song is the following:

G F C

Of course, Bruce colors it a little. This comes during the chorus, where Bruce says, "That's just the way it is...some things will never change, etc." He plays the chord progression first as kind of a question, then answers it by saying, "That's just the way it is". It's really quite clever.

When you listen to other songs of Bruce's like "Mandolin Rain" or the "Valley Road", these patterns can be heard. A guest jazz artist that came to Montevallo once told me that the way to improve your improvsation is to develop a music vocabulary, and that's what I hear in Bruce's music. He has a music vocabulary that he created, not the music industry. That's the final reason I love Bruce Hornsby so much. He has found a way to break out of the G D Em C jail and form a new combination of chords and voicings that ultimately set him apart from every other artist out there.

People

2006-11-29T15:40:00.000-08:00

I'm coming to realize how much I need people. I guess it's one of those things that God revealed to me a couple of years ago, and now I'm learning more and more about how much of a need it is. I've really come to hate the way that I carry myself when I'm alone all the time. I'm secluded, shut off to people, shut off to conversation. I wouldn't want to be around that kind of Rick.

This is one of the reasons I asked Stacy to marry me. I NEED her. One of the great things about her is that she gives me confidence. Confidence in my youth ministry, confidence in my music, and just overall-everyday confidence. I'm not talking about spiritual security, like the kind only Jesus can give. I'm talking about the confidence to be a man. To provide, to produce, to love Jesus - that kind of confidence. On a similar note, when she and I are working through some tough issues, and I know that our intimacy will be temporarily on hold, it cramps my style. But when things are well, or we've resolved our issues, I'm full to the top.

I also need my Christian brothers and sisters. I need them to remind me how much of a joy it is to follow Jesus, because if we're honest, we all forget that at some point - particularly when life is tough. There's no greater joy than to go to a friend (or spouse/fiance), share a struggle, and be encouraged to follow Jesus because of their faith. No one friend's faith will be EXACTLY like the other's, and that's what keeps me pressing on sometimes. The diversity of it all.

Thirdly, I need time with non-Christians. They may not be able to encourage me spiritually, but they do keep me in tap with reality. I don't spend time with these kinds of people nearly as much as I should, especially being in full-time "church" ministry. But that's no excuse. Even though my "job" is to shepherd people within the church, I still need relationships with non-Christians.

Line Rider

2006-10-29T20:55:00.000-08:00

One of my youth has brought to my attention a game that daily causes me to waste small increments of time. It's called "Line Rider" (http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/40255643/). It's basically a game where you draw a line, hit play, and watch this little stick man on a sled ride on your line. Of all the people I've shared it with, 99% of the time the guys love it and the girls think it's dumb. See for yourself...

ENGAGED!!!!

2006-10-18T16:51:00.000-07:00

After 1 year and 9 months, it's finally here...I'm engaged to the most beautiful woman in the world - Stacy Smith.

Basically, I called her up last week and said, "Hey, would you like to go see Derek Webb and Donald Miller in Trussville this Tuesday?" "Sure", she said. So the plans went forward. I went out and bought candles, roses, wine, a white table cloth, set up some background music, and, of course the ring (got it last Wednesday). Upon leaving my apartment in Inverness, I took my driver's license from my wallet and left the wallet in a chair off to the left of this picture. I picked her up at Montevallo around 5:00 and headed for "the restaurant".

About the time we got to Pelham (coming North), I began looking around, asking, "Stace, where's my wallet?" I looked around, and finally made up some story about why I remembered leaving it at my apartment. Understanding I'd need money to pay for our "meal", I detoured and exited at 119 to go back to my apartment. My stomach had been turning knots all day (excitement and anxious knots), but about the time we got to Briarwood High School (5 minutes from my apartment), they started turning consistently. I was ready, but I was anxious.

Upon arriving at my apartment, I left Stacy in the car and went inside to "get my wallet". I walked in, made sure everything was in place (thanks to Adam and Stokes), and came back outside. I opened Stacy's door and said, "Stace, come here. You're not going to believe this!" She was somewhat timid, thinking maybe someone broke into my apartment and trashed the place. But, of course, when she actually stepped foot inside, the tears were instant, and she knew what was in store. I took the food out of the oven and lit the rest of the candles, then pulled my chair up beside her. Not wanting to just b.s. the proposal, I prepared a poem (which didn't rhyme), and the last line (which did rhyme) became the proposal...

...she said yes!

Moved

2006-10-04T16:33:00.000-07:00

Welp, I've officially moved into my new apartment in Inverness. The complex is called The Madison at Shoal Run. It's right off 119 S after the 280 junction. I like it pretty good. It's a 2-bedroom/2 bath with brand new carpet and vinyl! I'm currently living by myself right now, so if anyone lives close to Inverness and wants to come hang out one day, just give me a call (706-3328). I'm working on a roommate right now, but he's 50/50. I don't have cable yet, but I do have the pleasure of mooching off of someone's wireless internet for free! That's kinda nice. Not having a TV forces me to do things that really matter, like work and play the piano.

It's nice being closer to my job. I work in Chelsea at a church and was making a 35 minute commute from Moody. Now, I'm 10 minutes away and can actually be spontaneous about hang out time with my youth. Leaving a place where 3 of your closest friends are either in the next room or 5 minutes away isn't easy, but then again I'm halfway between them and Stacy, so that evens things out a little.

Church Marquees

2006-09-24T21:03:00.000-07:00

Has anyone ever noticed the variety of things people put on their church marquees? Sometimes they're catchy, sometimes they're funny, and sometimes just downright cruel. Sometimes I get angry at the things people put up, and tonight probably topped them all. I'll keep the name of the church anonymous, but their marquee said the following:

"Read the Bible. It will scare the hell out of you."

Let me ask this question. If you were an unbeliever, would that make you want to visit that church? Furthermore, would it make you want to become a Christian? What a TERRIBLE way to represent Jesus and the faith. I'm not saying that the reality of hell should be eliminated from the gospel, because the gospel is both beautiful and offensive, but is this not downright hateful? What does everyone think of this?

Dependency

2006-09-21T15:09:00.000-07:00

I came to the realization this week that I'm not depending on God for very much. I wake up, eat breakfast, sometimes spend time with God, go do whatever it is I'm supposed to do that day, come in, watch TV, sometimes hang out with friends, go to bed. On Sundays I go to church and am a worship leader in the morning and a youth minister at night. Sometimes I hang out with the youth outside of church. I hate living like this. It's too easy, too simple. I'm not asking for a Job-like disaster or anything, but I'm so comfortable that it's almost like I don't know what to do with God. I'm so easily entertained by video games, TV, sports, and hanging out (none of these are wrong), that I feel like I'm just coasting through life without any reverance or awe of my Creator. It's a sucky place to be.

The hard thing is that I've come to this revelation before, decided to "cut" some things out (you know those things that are ok for you to do but you feel like you need to be away from for little while...like TV), and ended right back up at the same place I am now - complacent, neutral, and at the same time...very discontent.

When I went to Thailand for two months, it was the most difficult, uncomfortable time of my life, and yet I have never been more dependent and in awe of Jesus than during that time. Now I'm back in America, out of college, living in Moody, everything is easily accessible, and I'm extremely discontent and not in awe of my Creator. Anybody else have this issue? What does it look like to walk with God in "a land so plentiful"?

What Am I Supposed To Do With This?

2006-09-12T20:25:00.000-07:00

Recently I've been pondering how I'm supposed to use my talents in music. I've been trained in it, I've got a college degree in it, it's what I'm good at, so now what? It's not that I'm not using it. I'm definitely using it. I play the piano and lead worship on Sunday mornings, and I teach piano lessons on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Occassionally, I'll manage to line up a gig where I play my own music and sell some cds.

On paper it may look decent, but I'm not satisfied. I'll admit that I feel lazy sometimes because I tend to be more excited about football or playing a round of golf than practicing music or lining up a gig. I don't know if that's good or bad, but I want to use this gift for the reason it was put in me. God is Sovereign, but does His sovereignty have something else in store for me? Is He Sovereign in the fact that I'm discontent, or am I discontent and not trusting in His sovereignty?

I suppose I just want to impact people through music and I just don't "see" it happening...

Need Fast Cash? Get Pink Posterboard

2006-09-06T22:15:00.000-07:00

I have discovered a new way to earn fast cash...

This past Tuesday Stacy and I were supposed to go to the Counting Crows/Goo Goo Dolls concert, but upon her getting sick we decided to stay in. It was her birthday and I didn't want to leave her at home sick, but she insisted I try and go sell the tickets. So I got in my car and headed for the Verizon Wireless Music Center. I had two tickets in hand, each which cost me $29.50/pc. (+ all the sales taxes and stuff). I made a quick stop by Winn-Dixie to see if I could find some posterboard and a sharpie to help advertise my "business". I found a great sharpie and a piece of bright hot pink posterboard, and I also threw in some gum.

Upon arriving at the front gate of the music center, I wrote down my price for the tickets on the posterboard and stood between the Will Call and the Ticket Sales lines. There were a few other people trying to sell tickets as well. I got a lot of blank, drawn out stares, and a couple of people even pointed and laughed. They must've thought I was crazy. Think again! After about 10 minutes of nothing, the concert was beginning and the other ticket sellers were getting anxious--so anxious that they gave up on trying to sell their tickets and starting handing them to me to sell. Seeing that the sun was going down and the gates were closing, I came down on my prices just a bit. Wouldn't you know that I showed up with 2 tickets to sell, ended up with 8, and made $100 in profit.

Oh, and the other ticket sellers? They came away with nothing! Everyone was coming up to me, and I wasn't even yelling, "Hey! Anybody need tickets?" like the rest of them. I just stood there silently with my pink posterboard and watched as one after the other handed me their money for tickets I didn't even buy. I think I should start a new business...buying tickets for a concert that I don't want to go to, get a piece of pink posterboard, show up, and sell my tickets and everyone elses. After all, they obviously didn't know to get the pink posterboard.

What If Your Last Name Was..."Smelley"?

2006-08-31T17:38:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here watching the first SEC football game of the 2006 year (I can barely contain myself...seriously) between Mississippi State University and the University of South Carolina. To make a long story short, the starting QB for South Carolina got hurt about midway through the 1st quarter, and the backup QB who came in for him is named Chris Smelley.

What if your last name was "Smelley"? What if (for you girls) you married a guy whose last name was "Smelley"?

"Hi! My name is James Richard Smelley! Good to meet you."

Hey!

2006-08-28T19:12:00.000-07:00

Another blog...

2006-08-25T21:21:00.000-07:00

I've created another new blog specifically designed for "visual" updates. I'm becoming a computer geek because I've figured out how to post pictures, and I figured I'd create one more blog where anyone who wants to know what I've been up to can see some pictures. You can check it out at http://rickiepickies.blogspot.com/. I know this is probably the worst name ever for a blog, but URLs like "rickspics" were already taken. Heck, maybe the cheesy name will lead folks to check it out.

What's Everyone LIstening To?

2006-08-21T22:22:00.001-07:00

I'm curious to see what everyone's listening to these days. If you're like me, you've grown tired of the radio and have migrated into 1 of 3 categories: 1. Indie rock, 2. Talk radio, or 3. Record label artists that aren't popular. That's where I am. I'm to the point now where I will not listen to the radio unless the battery on my iPod is dead, Rick and Bubba aren't on, or I've already listened to the cds lying around in my car. You've gotta work hard these days to find innovative and creative music. It's not all that accessible. Hopefully we're all about to witness a movement of new writing, new ideas, and a change from the usual G D Em C that we're used to hearing.

Here's two people I'm in to right now that I think are worth checking out (see above pics):

1. Bruce Hornsby (www.brucehornsby.com)

2. Brad McConnell - "Interest Relief" (www.myspace.com/bradmcconnell)

Who are all of you listening to?

2006-08-18T21:44:00.000-07:00

This is The Year!!!! Auburn Tigers: 2006-2007 National Champions!!!

Stormy Weather...The Best Time of My Life

2006-08-16T16:48:00.000-07:00

If you're like me, you can look back on college and pinpoint some great memories. One may be the first date with your present spouse. Another may be playing ultimate frisbee (for those of you who went to Montevallo). Another still could be Beach Project, a certain class, hanging out, etc.

My favorite memory is unique, but I fear it could offend some people. I can't think of a good way to preface this, so here it is: My favorite memory of college is when Hurrican Ivan hit...Ok, before you gasp, let me explain. Since I doubt anyone from Louisiana or Mississippi reads my blog, I'm going to go through with this. And if any of you have family or friends in that area, please don't take this the wrong way. I've noticed that when a big storm is going to blow through the area, people cling together and hang out. I LOVE THAT! It's one of the few times in life where you can get a bunch of people to focus their attention on one thing.

We received word Wednesday morning around 10:00 a.m. that the University would be closing at 1:00 p.m. and remain closed until Monday (assuming things would be cleared up by then). I remember packing a light over-night bag to stay at Adam Wright and Chris Megginson's place. I parked my car in the back lot of First Baptist Church Montevallo and walked down to the Island Street Apartments complex where they lived. I'm sure we invited numerous people to hang out, but I distinctly remember Jeff Reinblatt and Dennis Spears coming over and playing Halo. We jammed on the guitars and made ridiculous home videos.

The next day we had more people over playing Halo. Stephen Shivers and Allen Hampton were among them. Jason were you there? We all loaded up in our cars and somehow managed to make it to the caf where everyone was eating in the dark. Poor dorm folks. I think we were the lucky few who never lost power. Weird as this sounds, I was bummed when things returned to normal, cause that meant that everyone else was going back to their same ol' lives.

NEW BLOG!!!!!

2006-08-10T21:44:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! I have a new blog that is going to serve as a schedule page. Be sure to check it out for my upcoming performances. www.rbappearances.blogspot.com This will be linked from my website eventually.

Quiet Time: Intimacy or Homework?

2006-08-03T08:11:00.000-07:00

If any of you are like me, spending time alone with God sometimes feels like homework. You dread it, you lack motivation to do it, and even sometimes once you get into it, you still find your mind wandering and your attention unfocused. Now we know that quiet times are not intended to be homework by any means. It is meant for time with a Father, a developing and deepening of a relationship. Only thing is, what if you don't "feel" like it? What if you'd rather do something else? Sure, you can force yourself to do it and end up joyful and satisfied (usually the case), but should the preface to my quiet time be, "Aww man. I forgot I had to do that"? I don't think so.

Maybe these feelings root from the training I received in college (which was excellent training by the way), and I just need to mix things up a little to get away from the same ol' same ol'. I'm thankful that I've learned how to cross-reference and read over and over for deeper meaning and look up the Greek. But most times, I don't want to do that. And what's harder, if I feel like I'm having to force myself to "tap in" to God, I lose motivation and think, "Well, I'll just try again tomorrow."

I wouldn't say that my walk with the Lord is suffering right now. It's actually really good. I guess I just want to desire God and not feel like he's a gas tank I go to each day to fill up.

Here's a promise I'm clinging to...

"...he who abides in me in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing...These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full." -John 15: 5, 11

Woe To Men...

2006-07-25T23:02:00.000-07:00

Has anyone else noticed that it seems like almost everything these days either has a sex appeal or sexual undertones? I mean in our culture, throughout the world. It's like all of a sudden, you can't even check your e-mail without a popup ad with a girl in a bikini (or less), you can't watch Sportscenter without an anchor revealing all clevage, you can't watch a TV show without sexual innuendos, undertones, or even scenes, you can't go into a mall without seeing numerous ads for scandolous lingerie that only married people should see, you can't watch a PG-13 (and sometimes even PG) movie without a "too close for comfort" sex scene, you can't walk into a movie theatre without seeing a display with a scandalously-dressed actress, you can barely have a blog without popups, and worst of all...Hollywood and retailers are pushing a sexy, scandolous, model-shaped figure for girls to compare to (not that all girls submit to this).

Sometimes when I hear Jesus saying, "If you look at a woman with lust, you have already committed adultery with her in your heart...", I want to say back, "Well I'm sure that wasn't real hard back in the day in the Middle East where most the Jewish women were all covered up!! Not the case these days. Nevertheless, the command remains. I'm not excusing myself from this, I'm just saying it's getting harder and harder to protect yourself from these things. They're everywhere.

So why woe to men? Because I don't think this is going to get any better? As a man pursuing for marriage, this is something I know that I'm never going to be able to let my guard down on. I'm going to have to make decisions that are uncomfortable and unnatural. I'm going to have to have strict accountability and limitations. And I'm going to have to stay on my knees in prayer. Wouldn't it be like Satan to make it worse?

Ben Moseley

2006-07-20T20:34:00.000-07:00

Adam and I went to visit our dear friend Ben Moseley at the Shelby County Jail tonight. For those of you who don't know, Ben was one of the 3 responsible for the 9 church burnings that took place this past spring. He was a student at Birmingham-Southern College and in the Theatre department. Unfortunately, the only time that Ben can have visitors is from 8:45 p.m. - 9:15 p.m. on Thursday nights. We had to talk to him on a telephone and watch him on a TV screen. He was in another building somewhere on campus. You could see other inmates coming and going behind him as they were being led to their television screens.

When they brought him in, he was wearing an orange jumpsuit, just like everyone else. They shaved his head, and he had a slight growth from not shaving. Across the collar of his undershirt was written the word "Cash". Ben has made a name for himself in the prison because of his musical abilities, and many nights will sing through the venting system as the inmates go to bed. He has selections from Johnny Cash, Tom Petty and other greats. The main reason he wrote this on his shirt was so he wouldn't get his laundry confused with the other guys.

From the minute he sat down, he was nothing but upbeat. The first comment he made was a joke, as if we had never skipped a beat. There was lots of laughter to go around. He's really set on loving the guys in the prison and sharing his gifts with them. I have reason to think that Ben has truly been saved (before college even), but I cannot say for sure. It's been a few years since I've seen him, and he had just begun to take interest in Christ by the time Adam and I graduated. It's still hard for me to imagine that this would happen to him. All he told us (because he had much to say) was that his decisions were aided by alcohol. It makes me feel better to know that he didn't do what he did while sober. I don't know how long he's supposed to be in. I think his sentencing is late this Fall. I'll keep it posted.

Where Are We Now, and Where Do We Want to Go?

2006-05-21T16:28:00.001-07:00

I had a conversation with my roommate Adam last night about how in college, it's very easy to get around people. They're everywhere (except for the weekends in Montevallo; it's a ghost town during that time). It's very, very easy to build relationships in college, and it's very easy to get into a spiritual conversation (compared to any other time of your life).

"But what now?", we asked. We've graduated and live in Moody, AL in a sweet 3-bedroom apartment, everyone else has moved on to pursue their careers in and out of state, and we spend a heck of a lot more time alone than we do with people - mainly because of pursuit of "careers". How are we going to continue building relationships with people if they aren't around? At what point do we take time out of our day to meet new people and spend time with old ones?

I think the conclusion we came to is this: Where are we now, and where do we want to go? Right now, Adam is an aspiring musician working his tail off trying to get exposure. His mission field is his audience and the people he works with to get the gigs. I work at a church as a youth minister/worship leader. My mission is mostly the youth and the church, with my music audience on the side (We also agreed that the people that live in our apartment are our responsibility as well). Where do we want to go? I think our answers were similar in that we want to use our gifts, abilities, experiences, and responsibility to impact nations for the gospel. I personally am considering the help of a record label (not promising, but praying about) that can help get me on the national platform, which will hopefully send me out of the country where the NEED is. One thing I've learned is that if you want to impact the nations for the gospel, you need a team.

Basically, we may not be in a place right NOW where are fulfilling our calling 100%, but we can stop and ask ourselves, "Where are we now, and where do we want to go?" The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers few". Oh Lord, get some Christians out of this country and into a place of need!

What

2006-05-21T16:28:00.000-07:00

A Night of Encouragement

2006-03-07T11:16:00.000-08:00

"If I had decided to give up music forever, tonight would've changed my mind."

That's what I told my girlfriend, Stacy, after playing at First Baptist Church Columbiana this past Sunday night. It was an incredible time of worship. This was the first time on the tour that I've been able to play from a real, baby grand piano at center stage. There were approximately 100 people there. Although the above statement about giving up music wasn't true, I have been in a sort of "lull" musically for the past month. I didn't play but one gig in February, and the other one I was supposed to play with a buddy of mine ended up being a no-show. I doubt it was anything personal. The church had a big conference that day, and there was the threat of sleet that night, but I think it was also poorly advertised.

Sometimes it's easy to think that if you have a small crowd, then the particular church you're playing at really doesn't care about your music. While that may or may not be true, any musician can testify that it's always encouraging when people show up to listen to your music. What made Sunday night special was this: I have a feeling that most of the people that came that night weren't there to specifically hear me; they were there because they have a dedication to the Lord and to fellowship. A dedication to their church and to worshipping together. I just happened to be the worship leader for the night. Some of them were my friends from Montevallo, and two, specifically, were friends that I used to be in a band with. The church was very supportive, but I don't credit that to myself, because I don't believe it was me that impacted them. I believe that God's Spirit touched a lot of people, and led them to give SO THAT his ministry through me might continue.

Fasting

2006-03-01T20:41:00.000-08:00

I've been at a youth pastors conference in Duluth, GA for the past few days. To be honest, it didn't exactly get off to a great start. I arrived Monday afternoon to heavy Atlanta traffic (nobody knows what traffic is living in Birmingham), and was almost late arriving to the first meeting. Fortunately, I was just in time. I quickly realized that I was probably the only single, unmarried male there. Every guy I met was married and had brought his wife along with him. How sad, I thought. These guys got to bring someone along with them, and here I am, 150 miles from home, and I don't know anybody (Chris, I guess I know how you must have felt moving to Pulaski). Until tonight (Wednesday), I was rather depressed. I now believe that the reason for this was little time with God (20 minutes over the course of 2 1/2 days to be exact), which I was able to finally get this afternoon.

My pastor gave me a book for my birthday last Sunday entitled A Hunger for God by John Piper. I had actually meant to leave it at home and read another book I had brought about youth ministry, seeing that's what the conference was about. But God knew I would need Piper's words to spur me along, and when I arrived at the hotel, I noticed that it was still in my car. So I got in bed Monday night, frustrated with my lack of desire for the Lord, and began to read. To make a long story short, here's what I learned in a paraphrase:

Many times the things that destroy our appetite for God are not evil things, but rather good things. Things that are ok - gifts from God, for example: TV, video games, surfing the internet (for good things), eating, drinking, playing music, reading books...you name it. These things are more likely to destroy our appetite for God than "evil" things. How? Because they're o.k. in and of themselves. They're gifts from God, and we're not condemned to use them. But that's precisely the point. When we begin to feast on these things too much, they "fill" us up, leaving no appetite for the Lord. We begin worshipping the creation and not the Creator, and our bellies are full from feasting from the table of "good", when we could have been feasting from God's table..."better"!
For the Christian, fasting should be used to feast upon Christ and his blessings bestowed to us. It does not make anyone more spiritual if they fast, and it does not make anyone less spritiual if they don't. Christian fasting, as Piper describes it, is designed to cause our sins to surface (those which were hidden from our minds) and our hearts to develop an appetite for God.

All of that was paraphrased for the Preface, Introduction, and the first chapter. It's definitely helped me see my need for fasting, because my appetite for God hasn't been much more than a handful of peanuts. I'd like to see it be the equivalent of a 4-course meal. Wouldn't it be easier if it were the evil things that kept me from the Lord? How much easier they would be to pinpoint. But it's the good things that cause me to lose my appetite, God's gifts, and fasting from them will help me to put God back in his rightful place.

Where will I be?

2006-02-02T21:05:00.000-08:00

Ok, I lied. I have been thinking about something recently...

This past summer I went to Thailand on a cross-cultural project with Campus Outreach. It was the most difficult thing I've ever done, but at the same time, it was the most rewarding...by far. I'm not going to lie, when we boarded the plane in Khon Kaen to return to the States, I was happy. Living in Thailand is not as easy like it is here in America. What's funny is that as soon as we stepped off the plane in Atlanta, it hit me for the first time what an amazing experience it was. I went as a missionary to Thailand, befriended Thai college students, shared the gospel with some, and for the first time in my life, I was a cultural minority. I know being a cultural minority doesn't sound like an amazing opportunity, but it was! It humbled me to the point of realizing how self-centered an unaware of the rest of the world I am.

I've been back in the states for 6 months now. Besides the financial support checks written each month, the passion to see nations reached for the gospel has been but a dim, blue flame in my heart. Going to Thailand seems like a dream I had back in the summer, not a real-life experience. Sure, I pray for the world when I think about it, but somehow I've slipped back in to my narrow-minded view of God and that I'll always be living here in America where it's easy and comfortable.

As I was out walking one morning last week, I began to think about Thailand. I prayed for my friends and the missionaries that work over there. I missed them. All of sudden, a picture that one of the missionaries had described came to my mind:

Imagine there are 10 men carrying a telephone pole. Nine of them are at one end, and one is at the other. Which side do you think needs more help?

We all know the answer to that question - the side with one man. Sadly, when related to the Great Commission, this is the state the world is in. As we were told by this Thai missionary, 95% of Christian workers stay in America, while the other 5% are laboring in other countries. As I walked through my neighborhood, the weight of that burden pressed heavily upon my heart. I don't want to plan to live in America the rest of my life. I want to be ready and willing to travel outside of my own country to help this 5%. Why in the world would I stay here with statistics like that? God may call me to stay, but I want to be willing to go, and I encourage anyone who reads this to consider the same. Think on your talents, gifts, abilities, experiences, etc. that the Lord has given you and think with me about ways they can be used in other countries. Financial gifts are just as spiritual as going, but at the same time there is a need for people, and that is why I am asking God to make me available.

2006-02-02T20:47:00.000-08:00

Not much on my mind tonight...just staying busy with youth stuff and music. I've been working with the youth at Grace Presbyterian Chelsea for about 3 months now (4 months as worship leader). We're getting to know each other slowly but surely. It's been a blessing to have the job.

My music gigging has seen a steady increase. I recently have been playing with Hunter Lawley, an indepedent country/rock artist from Montevallo. Hunter has a business called "Acoustic Entertainment" that has brought him a lot of success around Birmingham. He has a pretty healthy network of contacts and musicians. We've been playing at the Billy Club Lounge in the Lightning Strikes Bowling Alley (Trussville), as well as an upcoming appearance at Double Play Sports Bar in Montevallo on March 3 (time TBA). It's given me the opportunity to 1. play with someone, 2. practice my creativity and improvisation, and 3. get my name out in some non-church venues. I'm enjoying it.

I'm still getting some weddings here and there. I had the amazing opportunity to serve as the entertainment for former Alabama quarterback Tyler Watts' wedding reception back on January 21. There were alot of large gentlemen there, to say the least. Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox was among them.

I've thirdly seen some fruit from what seems to have been a "2 months of nagging". Basically, back in early December I decided it would be good for me to go on a local tour to promote my new cd "Always There". I formed a list of about 35 churches and began calling them every day, sometimes more than once a day (except the weekends). Some of them I never got in touch with, some received my press pack but never answered my calls following that, some denied me, but some have booked me, and for that I am thankful. You can view my upcoming shows by going to my website: www.rickbarnesmusic.com.

All this "Christmas" Brouhaha

2005-12-18T13:49:00.000-08:00

Wow! The times are a changin'! I knew that the "holidays" were always going to have a secular approach and a Christian approach, but I never imagined it would come to this. If I were to be quite honest, it's not so much the retailers refusing to say "Merry Christmas" that upsets me. I can deal with that. It's the Christians who are trying to boycott retailers and point their fingers that upsets me.
Why does it upset me? Let me start with the Word:

"For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is NOT EVEN ABLE to do so." -Romans 8:5-7

"For you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the Spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and were by nature children of wrath, just like everyone else. But GOD, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, MADE US ALIVE together with Christ." -Ephesians 2:1-5

Can you see the theme in both of these verses? Look at the first: the mind that is set on the flesh is NOT EVEN ABLE to please God. The second: We were all at one point in our lives "dead", and God himself "makes us alive" to Christ through our faith. My point? If non-Christians are NOT EVEN ABLE to subject themselves to God, and if God Himself brings us to faith in Himself, why in the world are some of these "religious groups" and Christians pointing their fingers, expecting non-Christians to act like Christians? "Christmas is a part of our culture!", one might say. I agree. Our forefathers founded this country on biblical principles. I am not excusing non-Christian retailers from their sin, but I am saying is this: Just because this country is founded on biblical principles doesn't mean that everyone is a Christian. Just becuase a student attends a Christian school doesn't make him or her a Christian. Just because a patient chooses a Christian hospital doesn't mean he or she is a Christian. If you were to live in a Buddhist culture, you find the same thing. Though the culture as a whole accepts Buddhism as their primary religion, it doesn't mean that everyone practices Buddhism, and I have seen this first hand. Why is this? Because unless God Himself brings a spiritually dead man to life, he will remain spiritually dead, therefore unable to do anything spritual.

Let me clarify, again. I am not excusing non-Christian retailers from their sin, nor am I saying that the "attack" on Christmas is o.k. But if you look at Jesus' life, his ministry, and his character, how did he treat such people? How did he treat the "sinners" (tax-collectors, prostitues, adulterers, drunkards, non-Jewish retailers)? Did he go to where they were and start ringing a loud bell, saying, "Save Judaism!!!"? No! What did he do????

He loved them....and you know what else???

He DIED for them!

I will conclude with this. I believe the answer to this "brouhaha" is not to stand outside the store, ringing our noisy gongs and clanging our cymbals of hatred, but to saturate ourselves with God's Word and his Holy Spirit, loving Him with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and loving our neighbor as ourself. I believe we should pray for these people and ask God to bring them to repentance, and as we pray, we should love. So the next time a Christian/religious group feels so inclined to make a trip to the local Wal-Mart or Target to boycott, they would be wise to consider these words:

"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." -I Corinthians 13:1

Wow!

2005-11-30T19:32:00.000-08:00

Wow! A blog spot with no advertisements, no pop-ups, no scandalous photos! I didn't think such a site existed! This is great!

Peace out, brothers and sisters.

rick