This Holiday season, I embraced family, friends, and all of the good tidings of Thanksgiving, which include the traditional foods, Dallas Cowboys football, and a movie with the family. This year's most insightful conversation came after a late dinner at Max & Erma's on Black Friday. The conversation had escalated from a previous conversation in the car with Chelsea and my immediate family. We were listening to a local Christian radio station on the way to the Zoo when a new song came up by "Family Force 5".

The song, "Keep the Party Alive" is a catchy pop tune with the ever-so-popular auto tuned voices, and a driving synthesizer in the background. This could be very comparable to “Party in the USA" and will certainly gain some hype and attention within the Christian music realm. The beats of this song instantly cause a natural head-bobbing, “moving your hips like yea” movement. Chelsea was instantly turned against this song, potentially evolving from preconceived perceptions of the band or perhaps her often-critical mindset in regards to pop culture and media as a whole. Her reasoning was clear, at least in her own opinion. The phrase "Let me get my iPhone" screamed consumerism to her. And "I'm like a kamikaze, surprise attack" was too graphic in nature, given the history of kamikazes in war and history. (See below for full lyrics and link to the song). And the phrase "like a thug" as a desperate cry for Christian's trying to build an identity that is culturally accepted through todays popular music, however this term can hit the heart as well in regards to people that attacked an African orphanage which she visited. (the email she received identified the men who broke into the orphanage, beat many and raped several as thugs) Overall, Chelsea wondered how a Christian radio station could play a song so meaningless, while feeding our dwindling society that is lacking meaning and purpose in the movies we watch and the music we listen to.

If I can accurately recollect Chelsea’s perception, it was mere disappointment with “Christian radio” for fueling a fire on today’s youth, which is already being engulfed by the flames of popular music that feeds on sex, drugs, money, and other materialistic venues. The self-indulged message of today’s popular music can typically find itself creating a desire for instant gratification and “success” in terms deemed unhealthy and sometimes even unnecessary for a human being. Beyond that, using analogous words like “kamikaze” seemed to make her believe that they were desensitizing the idea of what a kamikaze really is and how they have affected our world today. Her favorite choice of words in describing what this is creating was “ignorance”. In terms of international conflict, I do agree that kamikaze really is no joking matter. I immediately challenged that maybe it is ignorance in itself that causes her to automatically assume that “kamikaze” has to be a recollection of terror in war, and could reflect its other definitions of reckless behavior. I thought it would be appropriate to show some research at this point.

Note: Official Dictionary report of the word “Kamikaze”
–Noun
1. (During World War II) a member of a special corps in the Japanese air force charged with the suicidal mission of crashing an aircraft laden with explosives into an enemy target, esp. a warship.
2. An airplane used for this purpose.
3. A person or thing that behaves in a wildly reckless or destructive manner: We were nearly run down by a kamikaze on a motorcycle.

I have personally had several opportunities to see FF5 perform live, and know first-hand that their ridiculousness and energy are what draw them to young people around the nation. From their stage names to their ridiculous videos on YouTube, the guys of this band identify a fun-loving good-timed group of friends. Disco-ball hulk hands, dancing band members that don’t even play an instrument, and ugly Christmas sweaters to promote their first Christmas album only begin to explain them. Personally, this is all extremely entertaining. From the first time I saw them to where I stand now, I have always believed that Family Force 5 was not known for their great music, but for their ability to put on a great show. As proven in “POW Right in the Kisser’s” performance at MVNU’s Friday Night Live event, it doesn’t take musical geniuses to play FF5 songs. Furthermore, these guys are doing what many “Christian” bands could not do: performing to mainstream audiences and bringing these music fans into “Christian” concerts and festivals. While FF5 is not preaching the gospel directly in a lot of their songs (Keep the Party Alive never uses the word “God”, and it can be assumed that the only clear reference to Christianity is the use of the capitalized ‘Hero’) you will hear a lot about their influence and modeling image that they give young people. Solomon Olds, member of the band said in an interview with Christianity Today that a Family Force 5 song has to be fun. “And the fun comes from the joy of Christ.” (Please note that it is a rare occasion that I spend time working through articles on Christianity Today for unbiased and educational insight regarding media.)

I do feel this would be a very appropriate time to bring up an entirely different conflict, the distinguishing of “Christian vs. Secular”. This is not a conversation I find extremely valuable to talk about on a blog because of the variety of opinions and decisions that have already been made regarding the matters. I will personally say that I have written this article with a belief that things do not need to be labeled Christian or Secular. Beyond this, it is very important that Christian influence be emerged into mainstream or secular trends, as mentioned in one my favorite books of all time, “Roaring Lambs” by Robert Briner. There is a major need for Christians in the many places that Christians themselves tend to stereotype as “evil”. Some of these industries include film, television, sports, and politics.

After doing some history homework on Family Force 5, I learned that they are currently signed to both a Christian and Mainstream label. Why? “We wanted to reach more people, but we also cannot not just turn our back on the Christian audience.” (Todd Hertz, Christianity Today) One may immediately question the motives of this party-paced, energetic pop sensation in Christian music. Is it all for the spotlight, much like which can be perceived in these specific lyrics? (“People know me Superstar status…””We love to P-A-R-T-Y”) Or perhaps they are looking to emerge into a popular culture with a similar sound, but a unique passion. Check out this personal statement from band member Solomon Olds, aka Soul Glow Activator.

Solomon: We feel that what we put into a live show, into our music, into our website and even into the CD artwork is a passionate love for what we do—for this art. And there's only one type of love that brings out a passion like that and it's the one Jesus Christ showed. He came down to Earth and died for us on the cross and rose again on the third day. That is a very passionate and bold act. We're trying to make Christ-like passion real and alive by being passionate ourselves.

At this point the conversation has gone well beyond dinnertime, with my family sitting around the table watching in amusement as Chelsea and I challenge each other and question each other’s commentary and questions. This really is one of the reasons why I love to be with her.

So tell me, what are your thoughts? Do bands like Family Force 5 create a poor image for Christian music? Are they crying out for attention on the mainstream level by writing songs that can identify with this growth in lyrics that seem to mean little in terms of knowledge and depth? Is Christian music moving into a new age, no longer surrounded by songs of praise and glory but rather embodied into a bubbly, sugar-coated package that creates an image of good times? Should a Christian radio station be playing songs that do not develop wholesome messages that are unique in nature?

Or should Christian radio seek more music like this, with its reach to young people used as an opportunity for evangelism and witnessing? Family Force 5 has stated that their audience really is Christian kids. “They’re the ones who are coming out to see us. And they bring their unsaved friends”. Has FF5 found success driven through the passion given to them through God, or has selfish ambition landed them where they are today? How “wholesome” must a song be for it to be played on a Christian radio station? And how do you relate comments such as the following, found on the music video for FF5’s “Dance or Die” music video on YouTube? “I love these guys so much, and when I watch this it gives me this weird feeling like everything’s going to be okay.”-

Just because a lot of my conversations involve marketing or advertising, maybe FF5 created this piece of art strictly as a piece of advertising literature, as seen in a recent Target viral video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LoE1PKzg9c

Keep The Party Alive lyrics

Keep the party alive

Hey, where my people at?
How come ya'll ain't movin' yet?
Your party is a zero
Your party needs a Hero

Why you playin' that song?
Let me get my iPhone
Move it, DJ!
Let me get my playlist on

Step up in the club, like a thug
People know me
Superstar status on the... Boy,
You can't control me

P-A-R-T-Y! We love to party
Live to party, keep the party alive... BOO-YAH!

[Chorus]
We keep the party alive (keep the party alive)
We're stayin' up all night (stayin' up all night)
It goes on and on, 'till the break o' dawn
We keep the party alive (keep the party alive)

E'rybody knows that
I get ur girl to hollar back (Hey!)
I'm like a kamikazie, suprise attack
(Rat-tat-tat!)

Step up in the club, like a thug
People know me
Superstar status on the...
We keep the party alive

Don't tell me when the Sun comes up
'Cause we're all chanting, "Let's keep dancing!"
No time to be tipping out
'Cause the clock says I keep the party alive, Yeah!

Note: this post is not meant to spark arguments or the use of ill-placed Scripture and theology. Rather, let it become a constructive conversation and a challenging time for your personal opinions, perhaps even your faith and ministry.

Portions of this article have been quotes from
Party With a Passion
For Family Force 5's Solomon Olds, being in a band is way to have serious fun.
by Todd Hertz
http://www.christianitytoday.com/iyf/2007/marapr/6.24.html?start=1

Fall, Friends, and Finding your Purpose

I am a big fan of the Fall. It’s actually one of the only things I can really brag about in Ohio. The leaves are absolutely beautiful, gracing every shade of yellow, orange, and red in a matter of a few large trees. You can feel the anticipation as the leaves are teeter tottering between branch and ground. Then finally, they all begin to fall, faster than a homeowner can rake them up. On evening drives through the country to and from work, I usually roll down my window hoping to smell someone burning their leaves, one of the most extraordinary scents known to my nasal passages. Ahh, the nasal passages. All of this beauty also comes with some consequences, including the introductions to allergies, sinuses, and the sickness that travels during weather changes.

I decided to take some pictures of the Fall in Ohio. I plan to add on to this in the process, but I want to share those with you. http://www.flickr.com/photos/organize/?start_tab=sets

In the midst of all of the beauty, I spend frequent hours wondering about the depths of self. It typically starts out as basic as

“what am I good at?”.

It quickly elevates beyond that into deeper thoughts like,

“Am I good at these things because God wants me to succeed at them, or because I personally decided that it would be best for myself to excel in these areas?”

From here, there are many directions to go in my thoughts. I think about growing up being told that God does everything for a reason. Yet on the other hand, we are all given free will. With that free will in mind, would you say that we have the ability of pursuing our ‘talents’ so that we can further advance ourselves? Perhaps for selfish ambitions or desires? A conversation similar to this led into an interesting example of the stereotypical rock and roll artist. Let’s say he spend years partying, indulging in sexual immorality, and drinking and smoking everything that was placed in his hand. After a near-death experience, he turns his life around. He stumbled into a church, he accepts Christ into his life and things start to change. The local church hears that a former rock star is in the congregation, and encourages him to “use his talents for the Lord”. In a matter of months, he is signed by a Christian music label as a once-demonic, now-risen rocker that travels around the USA telling his story. Thousands of young people gather in local amphitheaters and music halls to hear the story of the risen angel. Conservative Christian parents rush to the ticket office to grab tickets for their button-up shirt-wearing kids and their closest unsaved friends, hoping that he will say the perfect thing to get them to raise their hand at the end of the show. The front row of fans is crowded with mock t-shirts embellished to represent Christian principles rather than consumer products and services.

Now this all seems to make a lot of sense, and it may actually identify with a few artists out there… But I ask this question. What if God didn’t desire this man to become a rock star? What if he was meant to be something else? What if his biggest struggle wasn’t the drugs and sex, but the attention and media that he received? So he crashes and burns, ends up in the church, but then the church puts him back into the spotlight because “God gave him the ability to play that guitar”. It wasn’t until recently that I actually started thinking about the possibility that all of that talent came out of selfish desires. The need to be needed, the cry’s to be on the stage with thousands of people screaming your name, it all comes from our own desires. But then when we find God and begin to serve him, our closest peers encourage us to get back on that stage, but this time in the name of the Lord.

A very wise person once reminded me that when I am struggling with these selfish desires, I must break myself down to the bare. The naked. The ugly. The uncomfortable. It is not until this point that I can unselfishly pursue God’s direction for me. Before the talents and self-proclaiming gifts, God may have had another plan for me.

May you be challenged spiritually by the grace that God has given you. May your heart be filled with the glory of God. May you know that He has prepared a path for you, and through Him we may find the meaning and purpose which we all desire.

Q: Q: Does doubt and worry signal a rejection of God's Kingdom?

A: Not necessarily. There can be no faith without doubt, no hope without anxiety, and no trust without worry.

When these fears threaten to consume us, we can overpower them with a simple and deliberate act of trust: "Jesus, by your grace I grow still for a moment and I hear you say, 'Cougar! It's me! Don't be afraid.' I place my trust in your presence and your love.


-Brennan Manning "Ruthless Trust"