Mike King

Christian Formation and Music

My friend Mike Crawford weighs in on Christian Formation and Music for Immerse: A Journal of Faith, Life and Youth Ministry.

Christian Formation and Music: Part One By: Mike Crawford Music is one of God's most powerful and creative forces, and it's played a huge role in my life and is certainly playing a large part in the lives of my kids. I've been reflecting on how I encountered music as a young person and also how I've fostered space in my kids' lives to make sure they encounter the beautiful partnership between God and man in both the listening to and creation of music. First, a couple quotes I found while reading a great book on calling by Ken Gire, called Windows of the Soul: "What can we do that makes us the gladdest, what can we do that leaves us with the strongest sense of sailing true north and of peace, which is much of what gladness is? Is it making things with our hands out of wood or stone or paint or canvas? Or is it making something we hope like truth out of words? Or is it making people laugh or weep in a way that cleanses their spirit? I believe that if it is a thing that makes us truly glad, then it is a good thing and it is our thing and it is the calling voice that we were made to answer with our lives."  -Frederick Buechner "There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets in the future."    -Graham Greene, The Power and the Glory For me, the future started knocking on the door when I was in fifth grade. The specific day was August 16, 1977, the day Elvis died... Read More!

Wow... watch this whole video and you too will think... Wow!

A Portrait of Christ from Jeremy Cowart on Vimeo.

Stop making "Christian ART"

Please stop making "Christian Art."  Please! 

This is one of those issues that make me long for a unified Church Magisterial Authority that could simply declare, "no more cheesy 'Christian Art.'"

The two films below make my point.   With as painful  as the trailer to "C Me Dance" is (see below), I can't imagine the torture involved in watching the whole movie, I mean the whole "bad infomercial."

You might notice a little difference in artistic quality between these two trailers and between the acting ability of Christina DeMarco (C Me Dance) and Natalie Portman (Black Swan). 

 

Billy is Slammin'

My friend Billy Brame will be performing his unique poetry at the Poetry Slam and Jam
Sparks! Out Loud Alive with Poet Bob Holman.  Billy is a Youthfront alumni and fellow Jacob's Weller.
   
Bob Holman, founder of the Bowery Poetry Club in New York City, will join Glenn North, poet-in residence at the American Jazz Museum, for an evening of spoken-word poetry.  Billy was chosen to be one of the Kansas City writers featured in this show.  The show starts at 6:00 PM at the Bloch Building - Atkins Auditorium.  Billy's performance will be based on one of the paintings in the art exhibit.

Women in Art

I keep coming across this YouTube Video called Women in Art on blogs, etc.  I have watched it many times and will probably watch it many more times.  I love the music, the art and the technology.  I decided to put it on my blog so I can get to it easily.  Enjoy.

Narnia Pictures

Here are some pictures from the Culture House' production of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the YouthFront Auditorium.

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Narnia

I just finished watching the matinee performance of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe presented by The Culture House at our YouthFront Auditorium.  Around 1000 public school kids made up the audience.  This was a good performance by a cast of 100 children and teenagers, only a couple of adults.  Several YouthFront and Jacob's Well staff kids are in the cast which made it especially fun to watch.  There will be performances tonight and tomorrow.   

Les Miserables

Vicki and I celebrated my sister's birthday by going with Jamie and Lea Ann to see Les Miserables.  I saw this production many years ago.  I don't know if it is the fact that I am older or just in such a different place in my life with Christ, but I was really moved by Les Miserables.  This production is so spiritually poignant from start to finish.

The final scene where Cosette learns the history of Valjean and becomes aware of her story was so powerful.  Valjean dies and is joined by the spirit of Eponine, Cosette's mother, along with the spirit of Fantine and all who died standing up for Justice.  Valjean sings, "Take my hand and lead me to salvation.  Take my love.  For love is everlasting.  And remember, The truth that was once spoken.  To love another person, Is to see the face of God."

  "To love another person, is to see the face of God."  So true!

update

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm............

First Fridays in the Crossroads

First Fridays in the Crossroads was wonderful last night.   First Fridays happens at the Crossroads Art District on the first Friday night of the month (I think they need to rename it Every Friday followed by - a few years later - Every Night).  We hadn't been able to go since last October, the same night John Kerry did his big campaign rally at Union Station.  It seemed like there were 10.000 people wandering around the Crossroads that night, what a party.  Last night the crowds were back, Spring is here and people were happy.  We saw a lot of people we knew from Jacob's Well, from YouthFront, friends and acquaintances.  I love Kansas City.  I love that the downtown area is coming back to life.  There was so much synergy and creativity in the environment.  A special treat for us was to see an exhibition by Julia Parris, who was one of our youth ministry kids.  Julia and Able live in Rhode Island now.  Our other treat was to find a new shop that creates beautiful works of art in the form of chocolate and truffles.  Several people have raved over these luscious creations and by the length of the line to make a purchase we knew something was up, so we bought a dozen truffles.  They are almost to pretty to eat.  Because we both gave up sugar during Lent, they are stored in a secure location until tomorrow when we will enjoy these little delights on Sunday as we celebrate resurrection.