HME: Studio Overdubs

30 Mar ’10 By 7 Comments

With a scheduled release date of Tuesday, May 11th, “Heaven Meets Earth,” my 10th record album, is consuming the better part of my time these days. Writing, recording, overdubbing, mixing, mastering, duplication, distribution, and promoting are all labor intensive, time consuming processes that require a lot of attention to detail. And energy.

The human ear is extremely forgiving during a concert. And the brain is just plain forgetful. When you go see your favorite band, amped up on excitement and Red Bull, you walk away remembering a fantastic show–not the guitarist that forgot about the new change in the third verse. They covered it. But that cover doesn’t fly when it’s played back in the studio. We call it “the microscope.” In the studio, we see and hear everything. Everything. While my latest project is very much a live recording, there are a lot of “fixes” that need to be made simply because the consumer would never listen to the CD exactly as it was recorded over and over again. It would get on anyone’s nerves (most notably, mine!). From blown bass lines to out of tune guitars to terribly flat vocal parts, “overdubs” need to be made…for all our sakes. It’s like editing a manuscript for a new novel. Because consumers are used to a certain level of excellence (myself included), it’s safe to say that–no matter what the liner notes say on the printed package–no live recording you’ve ever heard put out by a record company is exactly “as is.” Even if they never punched a single track (meaning, made a small fix), they still sweetened the sound in the mix, and then further mastering. It’s what we do.

That being said, my band came into the studio last Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and had their own shot of fixing their mistakes. And it was fun! Getting a second chance at something you love is always exciting. And challenging. Trying to capture the same sound, play with the same intensity, and perform even better than you did “the night of” is much harder than one might think. And all to fix one note sometimes. But the end result is a recording that both the consumer and the artist can actually tolerate, and still call “live.” Here are a few shots a snapped during our the three days in the studio. Enjoy! ch:

[Peter Hopper: Crafting the perfect head mix.]

[Denis Johnson Jr.: Laughing in spite of his own awesomeness.]

[Nate Cronk: At home in the cable mess.]


[Peter Hopper: At the helm of the Starship MasterView.]

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Logic. Should be logical. Right?

27 Mar ’10 By 20 Comments

If you’re a Christian, even marginally, there are a certain number of tenants that you hold to. That God is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent, to name a few of the foundational. But one that’s been in constant debate between sacred and secular in the modern age–a dividing line, if you will–is that of God as Creator.

It fascinates me how those who operate at high levels of intellectual capacity, setting the standards for science and higher learning, often times refuse to operate by their own laws, and further, fail to acknowledge what seems so elementary to a simpleton like me. Occam’s razor, the meta-theoretical principle that the simplest solution is usually the correct one, would seem to apply when comparing a billion years of anti-entropic evolution versus intelligent design.

But all hope is not lost. During some recent research on the subject of Atheists turning to belief (of any form), a friend passed on an article to me worth quoting, concerning Anthony Flew, a leading atheist and British philosophy professor.

At age 81, after decades of insisting belief is a mistake, Antony Flew has concluded that some sort of intelligence or first cause must have created the universe. ‘A super-intelligence is the only good explanation for the origin of life and the complexity of nature,’ Flew said in a telephone interview from England.

Granted, Flew’s budding theology is on par with that of a baby Christian, looking more like deism than relational evangelical Christianity. But a step is a step. And more importantly, paves the way for other such cerebral thinkers that are nearing the end of a similar question: Shouldn’t the most logical conclusion, when asking about the origin of life, be the One that began it all?

Is this a trend? Or is Professor Flew just a senile old man that should be ignored? ch:

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Kindle eBook for 99 cents. No catch.

25 Mar ’10 By 24 Comments

Many of you will remember L.B. Graham for the 2008 Motiv8 Fantasy Fiction Tour as one of the Enigmatic Eight. (He’s also the one that introduced me to Jack In The Box, and I to him, In-N-Out). L.B. emailed me today to let me know about a huge special his publisher is offering, and I couldn’t help at marvel about the timing, given our discussion last week about eBooks versus traditional publishing. And because I’m such a magnanimous blogger–ever looking for ways to bless my faithful readership, who are themselves, the magnanimouserest–I’m passing it on to you.

“Beyond the Summerland,” Book 1 in the Binding of the Blade series, is now available for just 99 cents! Granted, you’ll need a Kindle, or a conversion app for the iPhone, but at this price, you can’t beat it. He’s even offering it for free if you read further down on his site. Yeah. For free.

Now back to the discussion: Would more books offered at 99 cents entice you to by a Kindle or iPad? If so, how many would you need to see at such prices, and how long before you’d buy a device? And even more importantly, which is superior: Jack In The Box or In-N-Out?  ch:

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Healthcare, the Church, and the Kingdom

21 Mar ’10 By 20 Comments

Is helping people who are suffering right? Absolutely. Does our current system of meeting peoples’ medical needs in the US require drastic change? Unarguably, yes. And as Christians, both of these statements directly incorporate us, and if we’re creative, will be our platform to show a divine system for solving them.

While I could list numerous issues I see with the bill that is about to be voted on today–from the general lack of popularity, to the fact that few if any of those voting on it have reportedly even read it, to portions such as the “slaughter provision” (page 1,000, Section 3403) forever prohibiting a repeal from future legislative bodies–there are two main objections I have. Simple. Concise.

1.) Public Funding of Abortion. While I recognize and support our system of taxation with representation–albeit a little thick for my taste at the moment–and see it as something our founding fathers believed in as well, I am deeply troubled that percentages of my income would, in principle, be assisting mothers with medical procedures of their choosing, namely ending the lives of their children.

2.) Gross Financial Irresponsibility. When I was a boy, my father taught me how to save and responsibly spend money. On my way to becoming an Eagle Scout, one of the core values of our Scout Law was and still is being thrifty. Yet our government–displayed by both sides, mind you–has rarely, if ever, shown that it holds to these same principles, approving measure after measure that spends money we do not have. While the initial bill is just under $1 trillion, the second-year estimate is closer to $2.5 trillion. Even if the later is falsely cited, I can not grasp how anyone sees such spending as frugal. For all the talk of making a brighter future for our children, I’m astounded that the financial burden they’ll carry has not been part of that consideration.

As I’ve always said, pointing a finger is easy, as it removes you from the equation; and do not criticize in your blog unless you have a better idea. While I’m far from offering a concise proposal for how to handle what is undoubtedly an epic undertaking–of which I prayer for deep wisdom and understanding for those that eventually take it on–I do see a way out. On a purely human level, a capitalistic, free market economy, if truly left manipulation-free by large government, has within it the power to provide insurances that all people can afford through the private sector. Granted, that same economy must be run by heads who are not tyrants, nor self-seeking, nor greedy–a stumbling block to all good ideas. But the masses will gravitate to the best product if given the opportunity. But as a Christian, I must confess that not even Capitalism is the way out, even though I think it’s the best thing going on Earth thus far. Rather, the Kingdom should be our aim.

In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus announced his mission statement. We have built altars to Calvary, to Baptism, to Communion, and to Pentecost, yet when Jesus proclaimed why He had come, Luke 4 is not the first thing that comes to mind. Jesus quoted Isaiah 61:1-2, and in it was God’s complete answer to man’s total need: Christ in the form of restoring the spiritually and physically poor, the socially, politically, and emotionally disenfranchised, the wounded, and declaring a redistribution of wealth according to His limitless standards (the Jubilee year of the Lord). If the Church will maintain her focus on what the Kingdom of God truly is, then the Church needs not worry about staying relevant: she will become relevancy itself. ch:

Where do you stand? Let the opinions roll!

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Bath Food Anyone?

20 Mar ’10 By 6 Comments

Am I supposed to eat this? Is this a new food-service industry? Brand slogan: “Economizing your work day by providing bath soap that doubles as a nutritious breakfast!” Even the little wrapper it came in felt more like granola bar packaging than body soap. (It was body soap I rubbed all over me, right?).

Could this be another shampoo series? ch:

(Why the hotel soap post today? I’m staying in the beautiful Lackawanna Station Hotel for my annual Writer’s Gettaway with friend and co-author, Wayne Thomas Batson).

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3 Tips for Getting Churches to Work Together

19 Mar ’10 By 13 Comments

The Church. Just mentioning the word stirs up all sorts of emotions. Some people get angry–won’t even talk to you. Others practically live there–nearly obsessed. But no matter what the reaction, everyone’s got an opinion about it. What it’s done, what it’s failed to do, and why they attend, or why they’ll never set foot in one again.

But one question I’m hearing a lot these days, not only amongst my own leadership team, but amongst Christians in particularly influential Churches, is what if the Church actually worked together? What would our coverage map look like?

First off, check out this amazing video produced by Daniel Mosley in Douglasville, GA, as this post is really a response to his work:

Profound and simple. Yet the next question is inevitably, how? Breaking through those “denominational differences” can at times seem insurmountable. But not impossible. And moreover, I think God is behind it! So what keeps us back? And how do we move forward? Well, here are a few thoughts:

1.) Release Ownership of Your Name

What I find the most astounding is that it’s the “big boys on the block” that are the ones most sincerely looking to network, partner, and drop “sacred cows” in their doctrinal systems. Did you hear me? It’s the large, booming, “popular” churches that are wanting to work this out. Sure, not always, but the large majority, by far. One would only assume that the small churches would love the handout, and the big churches would be fearful of losing what they have (as they actually do have something!). But therein lies the conundrum. The biggest worry of small churches is what keeps them from exploding: fear. And specifically, fear of being swallowed. Which, ironically enough, is the last thing we are called to strive for in the Kingdom. So we small churches are staying small for a completely un-Biblical principle.

Now I’m not saying we have to all become one uber-church (although that is the implication in Acts), but I am saying that our individual names need to be secondary to a superior name, the Kingdom of God. And that, therefore, warrants co-laboring of epic proportions. Releasing your rights to your movement’s name and sacred-cows can open unlimited possibilities.

2.) Work With the Willing

Not everyone is going to get along. It’s simply the way it is. From ice cream preference to restaurant choice to preferred vacation spot, we’re not all going to see eye to eye. Christopher, are you changing your mind with this whole “can’t we all just get along” thing? Not at all. The point here is that you might not be able to co-labor with everybody, but you might be able to co-labor with a few somebodies. Somewhere out there–even if it’s just one–there is a church who will link arms with you. Even if it’s only for a single event, conference, service project, or prayer meeting. Chances are, unless you’re the only church on an island (or just have really bad leadership around you), that you’ve already done something together with another church. Great! Do it again!

3.) Operate From Combined Strengths

One of the things that stops co-laboring is the spotlight. Who’s getting all the press. Put frankly, who’s in control. While this ties into Point 1, it’s much more so on the individual level, not the corporate one. Giving up power in light of a stronger member of the collective is often times the single most determining factor of whether or not the Body of Christ will work together. On a senior level, it’s a pastor not wanting to relinquish their control to someone better suited for the job during a potential church merger; in joint youth events, it’s someone who thinks they are a gifted youth communicator (but really isn’t) not being asked to speak, then ending up offended. The idea here is to truly come to grips with what you are fantastic at. And often times, it’s not what we “wish” we were good at. Turns out the guy that wants to lead worship is simply not the best man for the job; but it turns out he’s incredible at organizing data. The one man who thinks he should be the lead pastor is actually a much better evangelist. The church who thought they should have a food pantry, singles ministry, or youth group should actually send their people to the church that’s already doing it successfully and support them, putting their own time and energy into what they are really called to focus on. No matter what form of coming together is being done, from homeless ministry to small group training, it’s absolutely imperative that participants take an objective look at exactly what they do well, and die to what they don’t.

There are more points that could be brought out, but it seems if individuals and organizations could mutually embrace these three simple (yet notably challenging) steps, we’d be leaps and bounds closer to blowing past Verizon’s coverage map as a Church. Embracing such concepts will determine whether we recreate the blueprint of the book of Acts, or continue to dig a graveyard filled with missed opportunities. All three tips could be summarized in one even more powerful word: pride. Set aside who gets the credit, who’s opposing you, and what you think you should or should not be asked to do, and there’s no stopping us.

Huh. Sounds a lot like what Christ requires of us. ch:

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Book War

18 Mar ’10 By 23 Comments

There has been a lot of talk as of late about the book publishing industry as a whole, and where it’s headed. Certainly newspapers are in decline, but I would also argue that the conservative right is fed up with liberal reporting, having a significant affect on those numbers. And the music business is still reeling from the advent of digital downloading.

But as with all industry that has any longevity, it’s those who think outside the box–and think ahead–that stay in the game, and end up inventing new ways to do business. Some might call it the American way. I call it hard work, divine inspiration, and creativity. News companies started websites; musicians started recording, publishing, and distributing their own work; and publishers? That remains to be seen.

Is it dead? Will eBooks kill paper books? What do you think?

I was inspired by a video post Michael Hyatt put up today on his blog. Granted, he is the CEO of Thomas Nelson, so there is, without a doubt, some personal preference in his opinions. As there is in mine, as I’m a novelist who–by gum–likes to see his name on the spine of a physical book. But the more I got to thinking, the more a different vision of the future presented itself. Well, not different, just more clear than I had seen it before. Here is the comment I left on his site:

I’m a youth pastor. I’m with hundreds of teens every week. The future consumer. The present consumer.

I’m also a published novelist. While I adore physical books, I create them on my iMac, and never end up reading the physical copy.

My favorite books seem immortal, and therefore must be obtained for my library “in the flesh.” I suspect that view is shared by many. As a result, particular works will always have a viable clientele. But more informational-based reading–particularly that which I gather–is expendable, at least with regard to it’s transfer vehicle. The inconvenience of a hard copy is annoying.

So I argue that the question is not the generation, so much as it is the content. Give my epic fantasy that immerses in another realm, and I’ll pay the price to keep it beside my bed; but tell my the 10 steps to managing people and I’ll bookmark your website for free.

Do you agree or disagree? Are you excited about the advent of eBooks? Are are you dreading the day your favorite work goes out of print…forever? ch:

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I’m Back

17 Mar ’10 By 13 Comments

2010-03-17 im back

Wow. 40 days is a long time when you’re in the middle of it. And really short when you’re passed it.

I really want to give a special shout out to all my incredible guest posters who held up my blog’s proverbial arms while I was away, and especially to my personal assistant, Debbie, who went from 0-100 on a WordPress learning curve. Hopefully you were encouraged and challenged by all they had to say. Feel free to browse back through their posts if you missed any.

So what did I learn from not blogging, Tweeting, FaceBooking, and [uh-hem] eating various foods for 40 days? Besides realizing I just used a few made up verbs in the previous sentence, all of which are–oddly enough–culturally acceptable, I learned more than I know. And more than I could put in a post. Unless transferring experiences in whole through the internet is possible.

Clarity. Extreme clarity, if you want a describer put in there. That would be the most profound word that comes to mind. I can think of no better word to describe my relationship with the Holy Spirit, my perception of circumstances, contexts, ministry insights (both personal and corporate), and relationships. It seems when all the other extraneous “stuff” gets removed, you’re left with less. Less stress, less distraction, less noise. To quote Kem Meyer‘s aptly put book title, “Less Clutter. Less Noise.”

The second word would be grace. I recognized a very palpable manifestation of grace upon my life, alerting me to just how much my body kicks, screams, and demands for what it wants, and just how much strength there is from the Lord to not only tolerate such behavior, but to put it in it’s place. (That little brat!). Likewise, struggles and temptations were minimized to their most negligible levels. Ever.

If I could derive an adequate resolution from this time, it would be to make the divine rhythms of withdrawing a lifestyle. Incorporating reoccurring seasons of fasting–both food and media–is not only good for all aspects of my health, but Biblical. And moreover, Christ-like. I feel I have new footing to teach from, and more experience with which to admonish myself in the pursuit of Christ-like maturity.

Thanks for all those who stood with me, prayed for me, and genuinely missed my absence from the interweb. ch:

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