A La Carte (12/6)

  • Tim Challies
  • 12/06/06
  • 5

Wednesday December 6, 2006

People: Time Magazine features Chris Tomlin in its latest issue. "I try to think, How do I craft this song in a way that the person who's tone-deaf and can't clap on two and four can sing it?" says the songwriter. "I hope that when someone hears a CD of mine, they pick up their guitar and say, 'O.K., I can do that.'" Which is not the way people react to, say, Handel's Messiah.

Nature: Here is a neat story about a canine hero. "Timberwolf mixed dog named Shana is quite a canine hero in Alden as the story spreads of her efforts to save her owners during the October surprise storm."

Science: Colson has a good article in CT dealing with the "War on the Weak."

Audio: Monergism Books is having a big sale on some great audio books.

Comments (5)

1
Anonymous's picture
a comment from clyde • 12/06 @ 1:30pm

Sadly Tomlin is representing the degradation of the arts in his statement.

2
Anonymous's picture
a comment from Noah • 12/06 @ 1:56pm

Re: Tomlin

On the other hand, not everything has to be Handel (which I am listening to quite frequently this season). Simple music people can connect with is good. Why does it have to be either/or? I like both.

3
Anonymous's picture
a comment from Peter R. • 12/06 @ 2:16pm
› visit my web site.

Which is not the way people react to, say, Handel's Messiah.

Thank you, Captain Obvious. Handel's "Messiah" was written to be performed. Tomlin's music is written for corporate worship. Those are two completely different animals.

I have no problem with the church attempting to stretch people musically - I do it myself. I think difficult art has a place in worship. But it needs to be balanced by art that is accessible. Chris Tomlin succeeds in that category. I also find his music to be very God-focused, which I really appreciate.

4
Anonymous's picture
a comment from Revere • 12/06 @ 3:35pm

Re: Chris Tomlin and Handel's Messiah

True enough -- so it is that many can write a blog, but few that can ever write a Brothers Karamazov. Is that a fair indication of each's worth? I hope not!

5
Anonymous's picture
a comment from Brendt • 12/06 @ 6:11pm
› visit my web site.

Re: Tomlin

... the pop-sounding "praise and worship" music that has replaced traditional hymns in congregations looking for a younger crowd.

I thought only 62-year-old Southern Baptist deacons, straining to be hip while referring to the teens as "the young people" were the only ones allowed to make such a misinformed statement.