The Polyphonic Spree, Showbox, Seattle, October 18, 2007.

The Polyphonic Spree are here for your soul. Not in that way. No, they have an agenda that front man Tim DeLaughter articulates clearly after the encore (which was three songs, beginning with Nirvana’s Lithium.wow) “We hope this has been worth every penny spent for your big.fat..soul.” The crowd goes wild. Apparently, it has.

I’m struck at the honesty of this band who is generally known for their happy, positive vibe. DeLaughter is the principal songwriter and his songs are positive because he acknowledges and embraces that we live in a fallen world. The existence of pain and suffering serve his ultimate message, “everything’s alright.together we’re alright.” We’re alright because we are, not because of anything outside ourselves, in ourselves, or what we do. A refreshing message so close to truth. Refreshing because answers inside and outside the church can be vague and too often come down to salvation through works or morality. DeLaughter’s philosophy gets to the heart where it’s possible that works and morality are the result of identity and not the other way around. In this regard, he may get it more than some Christians. Here’s a case where the culture paints a picture that we Christians should learn from. We should definitely embrace salvation through identity.

However close to the truth, it’s incomplete, because ultimately we’re not alright. We’re all in the same boat because we’re all sons & daughters of Adam. Essentially, we are rebels against our true Father and without Jesus are appointed to His wrath. The gospel is bad news before it’s good news. It becomes good news when Christ opens our eyes to truly see His work on the cross, His blood shed, His resurrection to reconcile us to the Father. We die to ourselves and take on His identity. We’re not alright because we are. We’re alright because He is. I can’t help but wonder what Tim DeLaughter would say to that.

But the Polyphonic Spree are wholly sincere, engaging and seemingly represent their beliefs well, character that should challenge any of us who follow Jesus. And the crowd perceives it. Right in front of me, the entire show, there’s a frat-boy jock with his two girlfriends. They’re shaking booty, he’s dancing/marching, leading a solo processional all over the floor, just like DeLaughter. At what other rock show would you see this? The giant 400lb man to my right has his arms raised, jumping up and down, just like DeLaughter. That doesn’t happen at rock shows, but is usually relegated to charismatic churches (and questions certainly arise at the possibility of the Polyphonic Spree as satire). Clearly, the Polyphonic Spree commands the affection of their fans. Was it worth every penny spent for our big, fat souls? No. But it was worth every penny spent for a dang fine rock show.

Horatio Spafford was born October 20, 1828 and died October 16, 1888. Spafford was a successful lawyer and real estate investor but he is most known for having penned the well-known hymn “It is Well With My Soul”. Although the famous hymn has no doubt edified a countless number of Christians for well over 100 years, his life was marked by major tragedy.

In 1871 the Spafford’s were grieving over the death of a son when the Great Chicago Fire of that same year obliterated the city and burned up nearly everything he owned including most all his real estate investment holdings.

Two years later, in 1873, the Spafford family had planned a trip overseas for a much needed vacation after the events of 1871. While there, Spafford planned to visit his good friend-and famous preacher-DL Moody during a preaching stint in England. But before their scheduled departure, Spafford was delayed from leaving due to business. He sent his wife and four kids ahead of him with plans to meet them later. While in route their boat, the SS Ville Du Havre, collided with an iron sailing vessel killing over two hundred people including Spafford’s entire family except his wife.

A few years after the tragedy, the Spaffords had two more children: a son, Horatio, born in 1876, and Bertha, born in 1778. Sadly, young Horatio contracted scarlet fever and died at the age of four.

Stories differ as to when Spafford’s famous hymn was written. Some believe it was when he was en route to rejoin his grieving wife in England after the boating accident. When the ship’s captain told him that they were passing over the scene of the accident it’s said that he was overcome with sorrow and was inspired to write: “When sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul.”

Others believe Spafford wrote this hymn about two years later when DL Moody and his music evangelist Ira Sanky were staying at the Spafford home. Whatever the case, Spafford’s inspired hymn has comforted countless Christians in time of loss all of whom can say confidently, along with the Apostle Paul, “for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” (Phillippians 4:11 ESV).

Some good words here on the relationship between theology and doxology from Shai Linne who is involved in an Acts29 church plant in Philly called Epiphany Fellowship.

“Theology should always lead to doxology. And doxology should always be informed by good theology. Theology that doesn’t lead to doxology is dead orthodoxy. Doxology that doesn’t spring from good theology is idolatry. Both extremes dishonor God. The greatest commandment in the law as laid out by the Lord Jesus, is this:

“Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ” (Mark 12:29-30)’”

Zep good!

Charlotte Elliott was born March 18th, 1789 in Clapham, England.  Her first thirty years were filled with joy and blessing.  She was a professional artist making her living as a portrait artist and a writer of humorous verse.  Charlotte was such a cheerful and happy woman that she earned the nickname “carefree Charlotte”. (more…)

As per usual, the writings of Harold Best are constantly rocking our world here in the music department at Mars Hill. The following are a few quotes from Music Through the Eyes of Faith. You can read the full article titled “Musical Perception and Music Education” here.

On music as a contextually generous soundtrack to life: “For music itself is naively generous; it gives of itself far more than many of its performers and scholars allow. Its very ubiquity–its contextual generosity, its natural tendency to join forces with whatever surrounds it, so often condemned by the absolutists and prostituted by the pragmatists–needs to be recognized, celebrated, disciplined, and protected.” (more…)

Throughout Mars Hill’s Rebel’s Guide to Joy series, the talented folks in the production department have headed up biographical sketch pieces on famous hymn writers.

A couple months ago, Pastor Tim Smith approached Nate Burke, Joe Day and myself about being a part of the project by researching and writing bios for the respective hymnodists. Our bios were, in effect, the “first draft” of what eventually becomes the spoken part of the respective sketches in the video series. Here’s the bio on William Cowper. See and hear the finished piece on YouTube here.

William Cowper was born November 26, 1731 in Berkhamsted, England and died on April 25, 1800. Cowper-pronounced cooper-was a Westminster School educated English poet and hymnodist. One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper wrote about everyday life and scenes of the English countryside and is probably best known for his hymn titled ‘Praise for the Fountain Opened’ which starts “There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Emmanuel’s veins.” (more…)

This Sunday the 14th me, Mrs. Johnson as well as the Shoop, McAlister and Phillips crew are debuting Sons of Thunder at Mars Hill. Check out the songs here.

The idea came about a couple months ago that developing bands should demo their material and make simple 3-4 song CDs available the first Sunday they play. That way interested folks can get accustomed to the new bands and hopefully sing along the second and third times they play. Anyway, since SOT were the guinea pigs for the project and the timing didn’t quite come together, CDs will unfortunately not be available for a few more weeks. BUT click on the link above to check out a myspace page that we slapped together.

Mad props go out to Brian-EPop-Eichelberger for his sweet skills on engineering and mixing the jams.

Enjoy.

Read on to check out a little bio I whipped up…. (more…)

An Ethical Evaluation of Tattoos

So it’s not Tuesday and this isn’t new-news. But Radiohead have a new recording available for download here. The cool thing…you name your own price for the MP3s. Power to the people!