Another Note to Anthem
Another Note to Anthem
Another Day Along the Way
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Another day,
Well, Anthem, you’ve left Georgia and traveled home with your parents. Thanks for the time we spent together during your visit. Thanks for the laughter, the words, the dancing, the conversations.
You look happy. Especially when eating, when around people you know, when entertaining others, when feeling safe, when listening to your dad’s music. You look happy.
I know your grandmother and I were happy during your visit. But now you left to return home.
Events, though, do not need to have a limited life span. I remember my time with you – even though my memory is not the best (to word it nicely to myself). Pictures taken by devices and images embedded on our minds reveal the realities of our week together.
We watched basketball games. We played basketball.
We listened to songs. We sang songs.
We heard prayers prayed. We prayed prayers.
We saw people walking. We walked.
I could type more words explaining our time together. But, I’ll end with this. Your name came from a key person in Calvin Miller’s book, The Song.
Like that Anthem, you make a difference. A positive difference.
Like that Anthem, things change when you arrive. Good and great changes.
Since you and your parents traveled home, we miss you. We will also remember the time together and choose to find ways of communicating from a distance.
I pray more people communicate more often with those they love. I pray more people refuse to allow distance to divide them.
We love you, Anthem. Enjoy the dance of life.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Statement: And Anthem answered, “Admit your emptiness. Open to the wind. Receive the Stigmon of the Singer.” (Calvin Miller: The Song)
Posted in 
Eleven Suggestions for 11/11/11
Another Day Along the Way
Friday, November 11, 2011
Another day,
We all have suggestions. We all need suggestions. We all need to apply the suggestions we’ve learned.
Today I’ll offer a few more. Actually, 11 more. Let me know which ones you like. Let me know which ones you decide to put into practice.
Personally, I would love to highlight Epilepsy Awareness Month. I would want to inspire you to support a local epilepsy group, purchase a few copies of my books, listen to Epilepsy Advocate Radio, and learn more about epilepsy. But that will be next week.
I also want to blog an article about married couples who work together. That will be later this month.
For 11/11/11 I offer this. Eleven suggestions for making a positive difference. Here they are:
1. Send 11 “thank you notes” to friends who do not expect it. Text, email, cards, Facebook, Twitter – whatever method works.
2. Make a list of 11 things for which you are thankful. Take time giving thanks for each one.
3. Make a list of 11 ways you can live a better life. Prayer? Eating habits? Conversations? Forgiveness? Those are just ideas. Come up with your own. Put this list together. Take actions. Live all eleven.
4. Write 11 words about yourself. Your talent, your gifts, your fears, your mistakes, your hopes. Pray as you read those words. Be thankful for them. Apologize for them. Believe in a brighter future as you read those eleven words.
5. Think of your favorite songs through various stages in your life. Put together an “album” – a collection of the top 11. Ask yourself: Why did I choose these songs? What do they mean to me?
6. Think of the many books you’ve read through various stages in your life. Put together a “library” – a collection of the top 11. Ask yourself: Why did I choose these books? What do they mean to me?
7. Glance into your past. Write down 11 times you remember laughing.
8. Glance into your past. Write down 11 times you remember crying.
9. Glance into your future. Write down 11 dreams you hope to see fulfilled.
10. Take 11 minutes of silence. No noise, no music, no words, no sounds. Silence. Let those silent minutes become a common practice in your spiritual formation.
11. Think about 11 people you need to get to know better. Structure a plan to make it a reality.
Those are Eleven Suggestions for 11/11/11. I wonder how we can bring change and how we can be changed if we apply them.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Statement: Often, while rushing to get ahead, we get behind. The wrapping and the eating and the singing and the meeting pack calendars, leaving no room in our inns. We hide hurt; we deny truth; we lose that loving feeling.
Events of temporary worth rob time to invest in permanent value.
(Chris Maxwell: Unwrapping His Presence)
Courageous Hearts
Courageous Hearts
Another Day Along the Way
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Another day,
Recently, Debbie and I finally followed through on a gift we had been given. We visited WinShape Retreat – in Rome, GA, near Berry College.
I liked the food. And the facilities. And the conversations. And the weather. I liked the music and the teaching. And I loved a weekend with my wife.
WinShape Retreat titled the weekend Courageous Hearts. It was a time of pausing long enough to remember the truth of love, while choosing to release wounds from the past.
WinShape provides various weekend experiences. Courageous Hearts is one helping couples to take time away from their routine. It is “designed to restore communication and rekindle affection.” WinShape believes, “The pace and pressures of life place enormous strains on a marriage. Couples often find themselves just coexisting. They share the same house and split the bills, but that’s about it. Courageous Hearts helps couples rebuild vital connections in their marriage through clear communication and healthy ways of resolving conflicts.”
WinShape also offers retreats for marriages in crisis and for newlyweds. In addition to Marriage Retreats, they host Ministry and Corporate Retreats.
Franz and Cynthia Mascarenhas attended Courageous Hearts. Debbie and I have known Franz and Cynthia for 16 years. We didn’t know they were driving from Orlando for the weekend. They didn’t know we would be enjoying three days together.
Franz, self-employed, and Cynthia, a legal nurse consultant, have been married 23 years. With their busy lives of work and church, and the joy of raising two daughters (19 and 17 years old), they rarely took time just for themselves. Cynthia says, “We had not been away – just the two of us – for over 15 years. We could not pass up the opportunity.”
Courageous Hearts was a refreshing, relaxing and restorative time for them. Franz says, “After so many years of being married and understanding that marriage – like anything else – needs to be worked at, it was encouraging to learn ways to resolve conflict.” Cynthia agrees: “It was really good to know that we were not alone in some of our challenges. Seeing a visual and scientific presentation of how and why we get into some conversational ruts really helped me understand how to get out of them. And stay out of them. I feel challenged to pay attention to dialogue and anticipate where it is leading.”
The retreat center included popcorn and hiking trails, bricks made by students in the 1930s, no televisions, great music, and an afternoon of outdoor adventures. The sessions consisted of quality conversations with the retreat speakers Shawn and Christina Stoever.
For Cynthia, it wasn’t just their teaching. She says, “More than their words, just their willingness to honestly share personal situations. Their transparency inspired me to not fear our struggles as a couple, but rather to conquer them and use them as a testimony to God’s faithful guidance.” Franz appreciated Shawn and Christina being “so real and transparent.”
Like me, Franz enjoyed “the facilities and the food.” Like Debbie, Cynthia enjoyed “not having to cook.” Like us, they loved the surprise of seeing each other after so many years apart. And, like us, Franz and Cynthia hope to live with Courageous Hearts.
How do they seek to apply the principles they learned at WinShape? Cynthia says, “Navigating around the ‘fear cycle’ is much easier than struggling to break out of it.” Franz agrees: “Understanding how the fear cycle operates in each marriage and how to overcome it. There is a promised land; you do not have to be stuck in Egypt.”
Others who attended Courageous Hearts agree. Here are some of their thoughts:
- We needed to get away from our pressure packed schedule. The retreat healed us.
- Most of what they said was what we already knew. But we were not living what we knew. This weekend challenged us – in a loving way – to live how we know to live.
- This was a different type of date for us. We are going back.
- Our marriage has been in trouble. A counselor suggested we come to this retreat. We are actually attending a different retreat here at WinShape soon. We are finally moving in a healthy direction.
Franz and Cynthia learned how it’s possible for couples to move in healthy directions: “Communication is so much more than speaking up and listening. It involves the effort of learning who you are and who you have married; then, using that understanding to bring out the very best in yourself and your spouse. You can have a great marriage by keeping your focus on finding ways to resolve conflict.”
Debbie and I didn’t know what conflict awaited us in the week after Courageous Hearts ended. We returned home on a Sunday. The next day we both received phone calls: Debbie’s cousin passed away; my Dad’s wife passed away.
Debbie and her cousin were almost the same age. She remembered their times together. My mother died when I was 19. Now, my father is going through this again. He was married to both women for similar lengths of time and he was near each one when she died.
Those two people had their lives on earth end. Debbie and I realized again that we have time left. We shouldn’t waste it. We should enjoy it – we should enjoy it together.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Statement: One person can make a difference. If one element in a system changes it changes the whole system. (Shawn and Christina Stoever)
For more information about WinShape Retreat, check out their website:
www.winshaperetreat.org
Living This Life
Living This Life
Another Day Along the Way
Friday, September 09, 2011
Another day,
The summer arrived and departed. Quickly.
August? Her rapid pace never seemed to pause.
Today is another Friday. During Thursday I thought again of time’s speed. I thought of years ago, of decades rushing by, of a future rushing this way. When minds visit such thoughts, questions arrive. Yesterday they did for me.
What choices did I make during summer’s brief visit – choices which can bring long term change? How am I adjusting my own schedule to accomplish goals, pursue dreams, forgive hurts, and enter healthy conversations with friends? Am I providing a positive influence in this world of questions and pain and fear? What simple or grand ambitions can I set, pursue, and achieve?
What new books will I read before 2011 shuts her door? What new stories or books will I begin to write before January says hello? What new friends will I meet? What old friends will I see again? Who will see kindness through my actions and hear hope through my words?
No, this isn’t a midlife crisis. It is just a hope to make a difference. Not a vision of large numbers or impressive accomplishments. Not goals with self at the center.
It’s a sense of remembering there is more. Time’s not over, yet. Dreams aren’t dead, yet. Life is living, still.
What about you? Have your disappointments diminished your dreams? Have your previous mistakes caused you to doubt future success?
Let’s silence those thoughts of defeat. Let’s greet a new day with new hope. Let’s believe we can make a difference.
As fall and winter arrive and depart in their hurry, let’s believe. And let us live this life.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Statement: As we limp, let us dance. It will, in internal and eternal ways, make each of us better. (Chris Maxwell: Changing My Mind)
Loving Life: An Interview with Sherry Story
Loving Life: An Interview with Sherry Story
Another Day Along the Way
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Another day,
Sherry Story brings smiles to many faces. Read our conversation – be ready to smile.
Chris: You are a very talented lady. Professor, photographer, writer, mother: What am I missing? Tell us a little bit about the many things you do.
Sherry: Chris, God has blessed me with several talents. I am not only a science professor at Emmanuel, but I am a wife and a mother as well. I have been married for 18 years to Micah Story. I have two children, Kayla (15 year old daughter) and Jordan (11 year old son). In addition, I am a professional photographer. I started my photography business 11 years ago and God has really blessed me through this business. I’ve met celebrities such as actress Cicely Tyson, Dr. Ben Carson, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s children, and actress Victoria Rowell. I photographed President Obama while he was campaigning for the presidency.
I am a fictional Christian writer and a seamstress and designer. I like to make my clothes as well as certain things for my daughter. I love being creative.
I also love to cook. A friend and I started a catering business as personal chefs in November last year. I enjoy good, healthy food and that was the inspiration for our business.
Chris: You and I have talked before about your writing. What have you written in the past and what are your future plans?
Sherry: My stories cater to young girls and women who have been abused. I find that some people find it easier to read a novel and connect to characters who deal with real-life situations. It is my hope that my stories of faith will inspire those who have been abused and let them know that their lives can be joyous and fulfilling in spite of what they have been through.
I have published one book entitled “Severed Heart.” I am currently working on my second novel. Hopefully it will be completed within a year.
Chris: And, you have a wonderful sense of humor. I appreciate you laughing at my attempts at being funny.
Sherry: I love to laugh because I am loving life! Not to say that every day is splendid, but because of God’s presence through the Holy Spirit I persevere.
I like to make others laugh as well. It just makes you feel better.
Chris: What are some of your biggest thrills working with students at Emmanuel?
Sherry: Each student is different and has different needs and learning styles. One of the biggest thrills for me is to watch the spiritual and academic growth of students from the time they arrive at Emmanuel until they graduate. My students are like my own children. I nurture them as freshmen and each year I raise the bar of learning so that they may become more responsible and more independent academically.
Another thrill is that the students make my job of teaching enjoyable. They are a blessing to me. There are days when I may not be feeling well or just not my usual jovial self (it happens) and a student will say something or do something that will make me laugh. It brightens my day.
Chris: Tell us more details about your spiritual beliefs and development.
Sherry: I am a Christian. I accepted Christ at the age of 5. I believe wholeheartedly that He is God’s Son and very real. This is in part due to the faith and testimonies of my grandparents. Growing up I didn’t know why it was so important to know Him that young, but once I became an adult I understood.
At the age of thirteen, I was sexually molested by my mother’s boyfriend. For the next three years my life was miserable because my relationship with my mom grew worse. She didn’t protect me or support me and basically told me that the abuse was my fault.
Needless to say, at sixteen I wanted to die. I wanted to commit suicide and was going to try to do so. The night that I was going to do it changed my life and began a deeper development of my spiritual walk with God. As I was reaching for the pills I heard a voice say no and instead I reached for the Bible. As I began to read the tears began to flow and I decided that I was going to live and God would bring me through.
I laugh so much today, because there was a time in my life that I didn’t. I was angry and withdrawn for many years. Today, my relationship with God is stronger than it has ever been.
Chris: As we emphasized in ALPHA Week, how can learning in the classroom and in various life experiences help us spiritually?
Sherry: I tell students that the information learned in the classroom reveals more about God as the Creator. From the music that is studied to scientific experimentation, all of it opens our eyes to know and appreciate the wondrous works of God.
Psalm 19:1-2 (NIV) states, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Every subject that is studied declares His glory. If we can grasp that we must love Him with our whole heart and mind, then we will be able to grow in knowledge as well as spiritually. Why? Knowledge allows us to know and appreciate God. It gives us a desire to know Him more. Therefore, we begin to seek Him and develop a deeper relationship with Him.
Chris: What are some of your concerns about the American church?
Sherry: I have several concerns about the American church.
a) We are conforming to the things of the world.
b) We are not being empowered to walk in spiritual authority. As a result, our faith and dependence on God is not what it is supposed to be.
c) The Word of God should be preached without dilution. Many churches are “tweaking” God’s Word to appeal to the congregation or to attract large membership rather than teaching the Word to change lives and draw people closer to God.
Chris: How can we bring positive changes?
Sherry: I think we can bring positive changes by teaching the truth and being living examples of our faith.
Chris: I enjoy seeing your children when I speak in Athens. It’s been fun talking about their mother when she’s not around. Offer advice to our readers about the importance of showing God’s love through parenting.
Sherry: Grace and mercy become major attributes as a parent. As a parent, you learn the true meaning of God’s unconditional love for us, because you have to show it as a parent.
It’s important that we as parents live and exemplify God’s love because it builds the faith of our children. Kids are smart and very observant. They watch to see if you live your life as the Christian that you claim to be. If parents exemplify God’s love, then it allows children to want to know and trust Him.
Chris: We are seeing many exciting changes at Emmanuel. What are your prayers for students, faculty, and staff as we run this rapid race into the future?
Sherry: My prayer is that God’s blessings will continue to be poured out on Emmanuel and its students, faculty, and staff. I pray that God will continue to send workers to this vineyard that are diligent in their tasks and have a love for God and a desire to do His will.
I pray that students, who come here and don’t know God, will find Him at Emmanuel. I pray that we as faculty and staff will treat our students in a way that pleases and honors God.
Chris: How can readers learn more about your writing, artwork, and photography?
Sherry: To learn more about my photography, readers can visit my website at www.svstory.com
To learn more about my writing and artwork, they can email me at svstory@svstory.com
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Truth: If we sustain our commitment to modeling grace-filled community, the Christian university just might be the place where world change begins. (Philip W. Eaton – Engaging the Culture, Changing the World: The Christian University in a Post-Christian World)
A New Week of Learning
A New Week of Learning
Another Day Along the Way
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Another day,
Week One of school has waved goodbye.
A week of classes and meetings. A week of conversations and experiences. A week of getting to know new friends and seeing old friends again. A week of thoughts and feelings. A week of college life. Day One arrived quickly after a brief summer. And now Week One is gone.
Students open their books and read. They write and type and remember. Nouns and verbs guide the journey into new territory, new land, new regions of reality.
Students open their eyes and ears to see and hear stories. Stories of information and calculation, of history and industry, of stats and policies, of facts and theories.
Students open their hearts to receive stories of faith, living, and learning. To receive invitations from a Father who welcomes them home again – no matter where they’ve been or what they’ve done. To receive invitations into a life of being transformed by minds renewed. To receive invitations to serve and seek and forgive and be forgiven.
A week has waved goodbye as another week walked our way.
No matter our age, let us all experience a new week. Let us all learn. Let us all live like students. Let us see jobs and relationships as classrooms of life. Let us not just hear about books; let us read.
Review Week One. What have you learned? How have you changed?
Preview Week Two. How do you seek to be transformed? What do you hope to learn?
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Statement: Your life was never intended to be muted and dulled by weak pleasures. Your life was intended to burn with a dazzling light. (Joe Coffey – Red Like Blood: Confrontations with Grace)
The Art of Being You: An Interview with Bob & Joel Kilpatrick
The Art of Being You: An Interview with Bob & Joel Kilpatrick
Another Day Along the Way
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Another day,
God the Artist. I like the concept, the argument, the perspective. Instead of just viewing God as a mean, hateful boss or as a once-a-week-fix-it-man, this view allows us to remember our Creator as the One who is always loving us into transformation.
The Art of Being You, by Bob and Joel Kilpatrick, presents God that way – as the Artist. Let’s let the authors tell us their thoughts about their work and God’s ongoing work of art.
Chris: I loved reading The Art of Being You. What is your summary of the book?
Bob: The most common perspective we have on God is what I call Math: That is, life is an equation- problem plus solution equals happiness- and our relationship with God is always cast in some sort of debit/credit frame.
There is another view of God in the Bible; that of Artist/Creator. In this view we are His art projects being prepared for an eternal art show! Part of the inspiration is drawn from Philippians 2 where Paul describes us as His workmanship – poiema in the Greek – which could perhaps be better translated as “creative masterpiece.” He also says in this chapter that we are being prepared for something beyond this life; “that in the ages to come He might show the extravagant riches of His grace.” I love the dual meaning of that word grace: beauty in movement and unmerited favor. This book is an attempt at mashing those meanings together. The art of grace, if you will.
Joel: It’s a new way of living. Instead of approaching God as the Great Mathematician whose grace covers us down to our last nickel of sin, we encourage people to relate to God as an artist, which is how the Bible describes him. The relationship of art to artist changes the way you see so many things in the Christian life and liberates you to live with joy even though you don’t have all the answers to what happens. It’s a book about stepping outside the Christian equation and into what God is really doing in your life.
Chris: Why did you write this book and how do you hope readers think differently after reading it?
Joel: I hope readers see God as a master at work on his favorite works of art – us. There is great peace and comfort in knowing that his work in us doesn’t always make sense, but it’s always good and is always leading to beauty. People should feel free to enjoy the beauty God is making in them, in good times and bad.
Bob: The Math paradigm implies that life – and all the circumstances of our lives- can be reduced to a logical or reasonable explanation. This is an outgrowth of the emphasis on rational thought as applied to our faith, which has been the prevailing mind-set of Western Christianity for decades, perhaps centuries. It is simply wrong, and we all know it. There is a fundamental mystery to life that, no matter how hard we try, cannot be explained in a rational way. Death is, in my view, the greatest mystery of them all, but there are others; love, hope, aspiration, invention. And then you have the mystery of the kingdom of God spoken of by Jesus and Paul.
So, my idea in writing the book was to help folks understand that it is perfectly normal (in fact, there is no other way) to accept that we cannot explain everything away. The best we can do is believe that the Artist God is good, that He loves us and is forming us into something beautiful and good. This, then, will lead us to what is the ultimate expression of our faith in Jesus Christ: surrender. Give God full and complete access to the materials of His art – our lives.
Most of us want Romans 8:28 to say something like “All things work together to make sense for those who love God” What it says instead is a brilliant ray of hope in an absurd world: “All things work together for good”! If you can believe that, you can trust God to make of you something truly and eternally artistic – beautiful, good and perfect in every way.
Chris: Describe the roles both of you played in completing the book.
Joel: My dad had this idea and started bouncing parts of it off me. I write for a living, so I began editing and adding to what he had sent me. We were of one mind because we have been talking about these ideas for years. He thought we should write it together, and I felt that was one of the biggest honors I had ever been offered. So we did it.
Bob: As Joel mentioned, I had already started the book and was bouncing ideas off him. His responses were so challenging and inspiring that I was convinced that the book would move from good to great if he wrote it with me. There were people involved who told me this would cause trouble between us and might scuttle the book itself or, more importantly, damage our relationship. It was, however, one of the more enriching experiences of my life. As Joel said, we were of one mind because we’ve talked and lived it for a long time.
Most of my life I have worked alone – writing songs and performing solo. I recognize the limitations that imposes and was more than thrilled that our collaboration produced something greater than the sum of the parts. I’d do this for the rest of my life if I could!
Chris: I have enjoyed times with both of you in different settings. Tell us the latest news about what you are doing these days.
Bob: I am still traveling the world, speaking and singing. The international aspect of it has increased significantly the last few years, with ministry in Latin America, Europe and Asia added to my North American schedule. I wrote a prayer devotional called Secrets of the Silence and am working on an as yet untitled follow-up to it about group prayer. Most of my music, as well as the audio version of The Art of Being You, is now available on itunes and all the other digital outlets. My website www.bobkilpatrick.com
Joel: I am relaunching my website, LarkNews.com, the most popular Christian satire site in the world, as far as I know. I took a break for a while and will be starting again in the fall with new stories and products. I continue to write books, often cowriting with other authors. I also do journalism and reporting, which I think I will always love to do.
Chris: Let’s go back to The Art of Being You. A few of the stories inspired me, a few of the stories challenged me, and a few of the stories invited me into this new journey of letting God do the work. Talk about the mixture of moods in the book, and how that fits in our personal spiritual experiences with God.
Joel: It’s a very personal book. This is not a book in which each chapter ends with prescriptions for better living. It’s a conversation which involves all the moods of any meaningful exchange of thoughts. I hope the experience of reading it is like being with my dad, or our family – like having the kind of conversation with friends that starts at dinner, continues over a walk at dusk and stretches itself into a night spent before a fire.
Bob: Because I have lived this message for so many years the stories from my life are easy sermon illustrations – anecdotal evidence of the truth in the book. Some people have said they thought I was painfully honest – perhaps too honest – about my life, but one of the strengths of the book is the candor with which the truths are illustrated. This is not a “professional driver. closed course” sort of book. It works in the highways and byways. I know it does – and so does the reader – because it worked in mine.
Apart from the historical examples, the other stories came from our family and friends, like the agoraphobic man who attended church after 34 years in his room. That powerful story happened to a good friend of mine. How my sister-in-law dealt with the deaths of her son and husband in less than 18 months; how my dad’s life was transformed by a vision he had; these are examples of the truth of God’s art as lived by real people.
Chris: How can individuals and groups move forward into a better awareness of God’s artwork?
Joel: By understanding that some things will make sense, and many things won’t, just as with any work of art. We were created for his pleasure, and part of the pleasure of any work of art is the mystery, the fact that you can’t immediately comprehend the meaning. Our lives are the same way. We must yield ourselves to the Master’s hands, remind ourselves that he is good no matter what and then let that goodness unfold in our lives. It’s a lot easier to enjoy the surprise and beauty of life when you stop demanding that it work like an equation. Someday we will see him as he is and will know more than we do now. For now, he is working on us as his favorite works of art. When the curtain goes up – that’s when we will suddenly find ourselves on eternal display in the ultimate art show. I’m looking forward to that.
Bob: The art of God is before us every moment of every day, in nature, in ourselves and, most powerfully, in the people around us. I think I spent much of my life looking past it all toward something else – responsibilities, burdens, ambitions. I would hope that this book would encourage people to see and enjoy God everywhere. As Van Morrison sang about Jesus “didn’t I come to bring you a sense of wonder?” More wonder would be wonderful.
I also think allowing for, even embracing, the mystery of life – not trying to explain it all – sets us free to surrender our lives to the good work of God.
Chris: Any final words?
Bob: The book is available at Amazon, www.bobkilpatrick.com
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Statement: Give God full and complete access to the materials of His art – our lives. (Bob Kilpatrick)
Morning Words
Morning Words
Another Day Along the Way
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Another day,
Waking
Contemplating
Hearing
Seeing
Rabbit
Chipmunk
Bat
Hummingbird
Birds
Bees
Notes
Feelings
Thoughts
Dreams
Prayers
Regrets
Music
Noise
Silence
Forgiveness
Memories
Articles
Stories
Conflict
Caution
Courage
Risks
Anticipation
Numbers
Cereal
Juice
Medication
Meditation
Schedules
Plans
Surprises
Smiles
Sunrise
Reading
Walking
Writing
Waiting
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Statement: Yes.
Father [& Mother]: Honest Music
Father [& Mother]: Honest Music
Another Day Along the Way
Friday, July 22, 2011
Another day,
Some songs merge creativity and honesty. I love those songs. Taylor Maxwell’s latest CD includes a collection of songs which mingle his creative artistic side with honesty about the joys and sorrows of life. Here is my interview with Taylor on his birthday.
Chris: Taylor, describe your new album Father [& Mother].
Taylor: Hey, Dad. Thanks for the interview. Father [& Mother] is a collection of songs that were inspired by different experiences – both good and bad – I’ve had through the span of a couple of years. To me it signifies the stories that brought me to this point in life. Lovely and graceful or dishonest and hurtful. It is what it is and I am here now. There is a freedom in speaking out our downfalls, questions, and our love. So the whole album, I would say, is me healing a bit in public. It’s pretty sacred to me.
Chris: Why the title?
Taylor: Well, being a new father and seeing Brittany as a new mother, this is a fresh idea for me. Many songs talk of either a father or mother or both. So I felt it was a running theme along with some deeper things I have experienced in growing up. Throughout the many challenges a young man such as myself has faced growing and changing with time, there is a need to have experiences that are alongside your father, mother or both. To me, this is how we were all created to experience life, as the family unit of Father, Mother, Child. I don’t think this is only true in human form; I think [and have come to know/believe/experience] that God is indeed not only Father, but also Mother.
Chris: What was going on in your life when you wrote these honest songs?
Taylor: I guess you could say “life itself” was going on. It’s not always the way we view it or the way we promise it to other people, but it is our gift. Many years passed in between each of these songs so it was pretty spread out in conception. So many songs were written from the mountain top of love to the depth of despair and disappointment.
Chris: How is this collection different from your previous CDs?
Taylor: It is different because I am not writing it to please anyone else. This is just me painting a picture of my inner struggle and joy. It is something that I am sacredly proud of. It is a great accomplishment for me personally – and that, in itself, is good enough for me. I believe people connect with that. I am not trying to please the church. I am not trying to please the world. I just get honest with myself, God and the listener. I think there is room for so much interpretation in the songs as well. There is no agenda – just the backdrop of hope set against a bright and sometimes greying sky. We really got to spend some “more time” on these songs than I ever have before and that has proven to be worthwhile also. To me, each album has been a step forward. This one I feel is a step not only forward but also a step in a visible direction. So that is extremely freeing.
Chris: Give us a brief summary of each song.
Taylor:“Family Tree” – this song was basically birthed in the studio believe it or not. I had a verse a few days before entering the studio and the rest just came out while we were in there. It is pretty important for me as a husband and father in saying, “Hey, this is what we believe, this is part of our heritage and the direction we are heading: faith, hope, love.”
“Carolyn, the Best of Hearts” – It’s about me seeing the impact my grandmother (whom I never had the chance to meet) had on the life of my father and then the impact that had on a grandson. It’s also just saying, “Hey, you sounded like an amazing woman. Wish I could have known you.”
“Sophisticated Guns” – I wrote this song after reading a book by Dave Eggers called What is the What. It is a song about the lost boys of Sudan and child soldiers.
“Trust” – It can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people and it is a pretty sacred song for me – a bit personal. Largely personal. But it was written after seeing tears of broken trust in the eyes of someone very, very dear to me.
“Anything” – I have an amazing wife, Brittany. This song has come out of our story and my love for her. It’s a celebration of things we have overcome and the excitement of looking ahead on our dreams and family.
“Brilliant Stranger” – It’s about the mess of life holding you back from where you want to be but knowing and choosing to believe in those times, whether you feel it or not.
“Share This Sunrise” – It’s just about being in love…and loving it.
“It’s Not Over” – I wrote this song with a friend of ours Stephanie Stoudenmire. I had the chorus written for many, many years and she came over to our house one day a week or two before recording and had some verses to a song with no chorus. Needless to say a miracle was born – we wrote our verse parts and it fit perfectly with the chorus. So it’s basically telling everyone, “no matter how bleak the outcome may seem, don’t give up, it’s worth the fight…it’s not over.”
“Better Side of Me”- It’s about missing the person you love the most – whether it’s distance, emotions, heartache, busyness, etc. – that holds you apart. It’s saying those things won’t win out over your love and commitment for that person.
“A City Bright With Pearls” – It’s a prayer to see God in the poor. And hope that the final revival will be born out of the streets, not in any rich man’s building.
“Hindsight Is…” – This song is not actually completed yet. It’s sort of part. I will let people interpret this on their own.
Chris: How can people purchase the music and also invite you to perform a live concert in their area?
Taylor: We would love to come play anytime… just email me: taylormaxwell@me.com
Chris: As your Dad, I’m proud of you. And, as a music nut, I love where you’ve taken this.
Taylor: I really appreciate you taking the time to question me. Haha. Hopefully these songs bring some freedom to hearts in the way they have brought freedom to mine. We can’t get rid of the struggle – in fact, it is part of our blessing. We just get to talk about it and build community with honesty and hope “through the waves and restless seas.”
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Song: “…beneath the weight of broken trust I come undone.” (“Trust,” Taylor Maxwell – from album Father [& Mother])
The Speed of Years
The Speed of Years
Another Day Along the Way
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Another day,
According to numbers, my age hits 51 tomorrow. Yes, 51. Yes, tomorrow.
Years ago I considered such an age old. Now? No, I’m not ranking any age as old. Ages of wisdom and experience and lessons learned, yes. But old? I’m not sure even a dictionary gives a good definition of that three letter word.
But, whatever we call it and however we view it, 51 is my number for now. Not for long, of course – as time continues its rapid speed in the left lane.
Am I bothered by the number of my years? No. Am I panicking about the future? No. Have I learned a few things over these many years. Yes. Here are some:
Things don’t go how we expect or prefer.
The voices we hear influence the choices we make.
Forgiveness is the right thing to do.
The things we despise eventually become the powers which control us. Let go.
The people we resent eventually become the very people we resemble. Let go.
Past pain influences present decisions. Let go. It might be a long process, but work to let go.
Gossip is a terrible sin.
Treat others the way you wish you were treated. Don’t do it to convince them to treat you better, though.
Love hurts. Don’t let love’s pain cause you to hide away and live in the caves of avoidance and escapism.
Don’t deny reality. But see more that what your eyes can see.
Don’t assume that the existence of doubt means you have no faith at all. It means you are human.
Continue dreaming. But don’t just dream. Do something to make those dreams come true.
Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. (James 1:19)
Ask yourself: Why am I doing this?
Ask a close, honest friend: What are my strengths? What are my weaknesses?
Read and write and listen and sing and laugh.
Pray.
Well, that’s not 51 suggestions from a 51 year old man. Just a few ideas from a man who has made mistakes, from a man who hopes to improve as he continues aging, from a man who seeks to enjoy the remaining innings in his game of life.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Statement: Can’t we all face who we really are and begin again? (Chris Maxwell: Changing My Mind)