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Soul Patrol

I had more than a few people mention to me (especially those who new me pre-goatee) that I, and my father, look like Taylor Hicks. This only gave me more of an incentive to support this fantastic performer. If you missed any of the performances you missed a man who knows how to perform.

Let’s hear it for the Soul Patrol!

Listen to Christ: Do you wish to walk? I am the Way. Do you wish not to be deceived? I am the Truth. Do you wish not to die? I am the Life.

There is no place for you to go except to me. There is no manner of going except through me.

Augustine

What is it about that sound

I was riding in the car one day with the drummer and lead singer of the band I was playing with for while. It was a five hour drive and we had plenty to discuss, so being musicians we only talked about music. The interesting point that was made through this conversation was that Christian music, in general, is cheesy. It is true. What is the last Christian band you listened to? Aside from a handful of bands Christian music as a whole is not in the same game as the rest.

Why would I make this point? This is not a plea for all of to live passionately for Christ and try to not be the annoying religious types that turn people off. I just want to merely point out what music is not cheesy. Think for a second about the last song that was stuck in your head? What was it? What did you like about it that made your mind stay on it?

For me that song has been "Wish You Were Hear" by Pink Floyd, however, often times it some Counting Crows song. The other night I listened to the live 10 minute version of "Round Here" and I was emotionally touched by it. There was some sense of passion that was communicated to my soul and so many others. If you have not heard either of these two songs please check them out. Notice the difference they have compared to the latest Pop Christian hit.

I know most of you are sick of hearing about The Da Vinci Code but I will add my two cents on the topic since I finished reading the book early Wednesday morning.

There are many views on what to do with the book. Michael Dean, pastor at Travis Ave. Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX, claimed we should either: embrace it, ignore it, boycott it, or engage it. Many of my evangelical brethren have fallen into the boycott it realm, and with good reason: they do not want to bankroll heresy. However, I am of a different mind. I like to know what something is before I make strong claims about it, so often I choose to engage issues, which is why I bought the book and wanted to understand what all the fuss was about.

Strictly from a fiction/literary realm the book is quite good. It has short chapters that leave you longing for more. It has one story line that is fulfilled through different characters at different locations all at the same time, sort of like the show 24. Dan Brown knows how to hook you. Much of the book reminded me of the movie National Treasure that was an enigmatic race for the ultimate prize. The interesting thing is that both The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure are concerned with the Knights Templar and the treasure they are presumed to have.

The strong objections I have with the book are probably common to most of you, especially in reference to Christ. Brown denies his deity, his miracles, and his resurrection, nothing new to Christianity. He speaks of Scripture as being modified by Constantine and denies its veracity, nothing new. In fact all the heresy in the book is just a play it again record going back to the first century. So why I am I alarmed?

The premises he projects are far from substantiated by any scholar. His methods are far from viable, his message, however, is quite believable. He writes so matter-of-factly that even those of us who know better might stop and think, “Well that sounds right.” I am not claiming I believe him, only that he sounds believable. This is the problem with this book: it raises doubt to the Christian faith. Sure the true saints well persevere, but all of us can be claimed as “damaged goods” by something we have experienced. The evil one is using this work, and the movie, to try to hurt The Way.

We need to engage this text. We need to understand his arguments, however foolish they are. We need to present the true gospel to this lost and dying world who are being deceived and will continue to be deceived by the Evil One.