Music has always been one of my favorite things. I remember as a kid doing my chores and getting an allowance. I would save my allowance so that I could purchase a 45 record. I remember clearly walking to the store with my money, purchasing the 45 and walking back home so that I could wear the record out by playing it over and over again. So much of my life is connected to music even though I am not a musician. Music takes me back to sadness, happiness, celebration, grief, life and death. The song at my father's funeral. The music at my wedding. The song on the cruise boat during my honeymoon. The tune that my grandfather whistled. The 8 track tapes and albums my stepfather collected. The music playing in the background while my daughter was born. The music my homeless friends requested at numerous cold weather shelters. The hits I played as a DJ on various radio stations.
In an earlier post, I talked about how I hear and connect to God. Music is one of those amazing ways that God speaks to me. I know this sounds critical but God usually doesn't speak to me through typical Christian music. I hear him loud and clear through what we nutty Christians describe as "secular" music.
One of my best friends, Russell Holloway, started a cool weekly post on his blog. He called it "Jesus On The Jukebox". Each week he posted a song from the "secular" music world that had incredible connections to the Bible and the Christian journey. Russell and I have been talking about actually doing a show on a local Christian radio station called "Jesus On The Jukebox". The thought of playing non-traditional music on a Christian radio station warms my heart. I pray that it will warm and connect to the the hearts of those that listen. I pray that it makes God smile.
I'll give you a heads up when we start the show and how you can listen. We'll inform state and federal authorities in case we're breaking any laws. Most importantly, we'll call a meeting of the deacons and elders to make sure we're not breaking any extremely important church laws, traditions or regulations.
Want an example of the of music we would be playing? See the YouTube clips below.
A radical idea. Very cool. Thanks for sharing the selections -- the Pete Townshend one particularly got to me today. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWhen my family and I lived in Perth Australia for the past year. While there I came across 98.5 Sonshine FM which does EXACTLY what you are suggesting here, Mike.
ReplyDeleteYou can stream them online. It's a weird extension (.ws)...but it works and I like their mix of Christian and secular.
http://sonshinefm.ws/
Hi Mike,
ReplyDeleteI've been listening to an album by British band Prefab Sprout all week. It's about the relationship between God and music! They're a very original band, and produced some outstandingly unique records in the 80s and 90s. Although I was initially suspicious: a record about God!!! I was actually amazed.
It's called "Lets Change the World With Music"
PS I just bought a stack of Train songs on iTunes last night after thinking about someone I once lost. Music does that to you!