Guy on a Buffalo

Peace,
Ross

Rick Perry is Brilliant!

Laugh some.

Peace,
Ross

SiloTREE Studio

Last week I re-designed my studio (SiloTREE Studio). Its been, and probably always will be, a work in progress. But over the past few years I've been fortunate to record and produce lots of amazing artists. Here's a quick clip I shot today as we did some acoustic tracking with the band, Harmony Grove.

(its just some layered strums)

If you're an artist and are interested in recording, please don't hesitate to shoot me an email or drop a comment!

Peace,
Ross

p.s. here's a remix I did for MUTEMATH's first single, Odd Soul, a few weeks back...
ODD SOUL (Orchestra) REMIX by rosschristopher

NEEDTOBREATHE

I bought the new NEEDTOBREATHE album (The Reckoning) last week, and I cannot say enough about it...it's gritty, in your face, and has been on constant rotation.



Check 'em out if you haven't already!

Peace,
Ross

Blood Pressure

Here's the newest video (Blood Pressure) from one of the most creative bands out there these days (my opinion)...MUTEMATH. Enjoy!

Get More: MUTEMATH, Music, More Music Videos

Peace,
Ross

Can the Gospel become an Idol?

Can the Gospel become an idol?

I know, I know. I'm treading heretical waters with this post, but I heard a story yesterday that got me thinking about the idea of worship, gospel, and idolatry.

First, I must say that the Gospel is the single most liberating, reconciling, redemptive and transformative article known to man. It is the story and words of Jesus - His life, death, and resurrection.

Having said that, I'll bring you into the story...

In many mainline/traditional worship settings, the reading of the Gospel is a weekly occurrence. And over time, I suppose that the routine of reading the Gospel becomes almost worshiped, as part of the assumed liturgy.

This particular church was changing things up however. For the next year, they were going to be approaching the Bible through a narrative lectionary - showing how God's narrative from Genesis through Revelation points to Jesus and prepares the way for His kingdom (that the Gospel is present from creation - that is God's narrative).

Last Sunday was focusing on a story from Genesis; the story of Abraham and Sarah - two unlikely and impossible candidates to usher in God's kingdom as a foretaste of God's economy embracing the unlikely and impossible (i.e. Jesus - a baby, non-military or government, born of a virgin).

The connection was impeccable and showcased the methodology of the Gospel even in the earliest parts of the Bible.

Following the service a number of people complained that "I don't like it...I didn't get MY Gospel!"

Depending on how you read that statement, there's a number of problems. First of all, the singular nature of the Gospel. But that's a whole other post. What I took from it was the complete disregard for the worship experience - the leading up to the message, which pointed to the Gospel, and the message itself that was devoid of actual text coming from Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, but which was clearly explained to point to the Gospel - that's the whole point of this year's narrative lectionary approach.

These people have made their Gospel reading an idol. This lifetime of routine has created a singular method capable of acceptable worship. And that, in my opinion, is idolatry.

Idolatry is a pejorative term for the worship of an idol, a physical object such as a cult image, as a god, or practices believed to verge on worship, such as giving undue honour and regard to created forms other than God, or the worship of a particular method...Man commits idolatry whenever he honours and reveres a creature, practice, or experience, in place of God.

Whenever we fool ourselves into the notion that only a particular liturgy is acceptable worship, we are in essence worshiping that particular style, method, or liturgy. If worship exists only with pipe organs, or rock bands, or the reading of the Gospel, or on Sunday, or any other accouterments of worship, we become slaves to the idols of what points us toward God.

The argument was purely based on a missed method. And when the method equals worship, the method has become an idol.

My prayer is that we would learn to see God in everything: Old Testament, New Testament, pipe organs, rock bands, church, and the world. God's kingdom is being unveiled before our eyes, and if we continue to commodify where God can be, and is present, we will surely miss God and become idolators of even truly great things, like the Gospel.

Peace,
Ross

week of firsts...

Peace,
Ross

thought.

Passion
without
action
is
not
passion.

Peace,
Ross

First Day...

CRAZY...CRAZY...CRAZY!!!

Today was the 1st day of preschool for BOTH girlies!


That is all.
Except for this fun video from breakfast...

Peace,
Ross

Random Songwriting Thought...

I had this random idea/experiment the other day. What would be the outcome of raising a child without exposing him/her to any music, then at some point introducing them to a bunch of instruments and encouraging them to write and compose?

Because so much of what we write now is influenced by hundreds of years and thousands of artists, we are basically re-working others' works. So then, would the virgin ears produce truly new and unique music, or would we see melodies created that sound like songs we've already heard? Wouldn't it be plausable that some songs are inevitable? Could it be that some works of art, that we all know and love, and have made them almost parts of our DNA, were predestined from creation?

Anyway, I thought that would be an interesting discussion...

Peace,
Ross

p.s. I would NEVER deny a child music.

Live DVD Preview

I'm excited for the release of this, later this Fall...it's the concert I played violin with Jeremy Larson, Darren King (MuteMath), and Stacy DuPree (Eisley)...in the meantime, here's a quick preview!

They Reappear (Live at the Gillioz) Trailer - Jeremy Larson from Brook Linder on Vimeo.

Peace,
Ross

Four.

Peace,
Ross

Three.

Peace,
Ross

Two.

Peace,
Ross

One.

For the next few days (of our R&R trip to the shores of Lake Michigan), I'll just be posting pics on the blog...enjoy day one.

Peace,
Ross