Several popular (though controversial) preachers have taken up a refrain of social commentary I’ve heard a few too many times. They denounce what they see as a trend of “Effeminate Worship.” (Here’s a typical message. Here’s another and another.) Apparently, modern churches have become “feminized,” unlike the old days when men were men. This means [...]
First published in April, 2009. A few more jokes added since. As you may have heard, April is National Poetry Month, and as T. S. Eliot pointed out, it’s also the cruelest month. (Really? Well, April does have Tax Day, April Fool’s Day, chronic rainstorms… so, arguably yes, but on the other hand it’s not [...]
From the files of things I’ve been doing lately, here’s one I’m especially happy with. For my day job — which, for those who don’t know, involves web content and music for an African American Christian publisher — I got to interview an extremely talented storyteller named Anita Singleton-Prather who’s created a fun series of [...]
This is the premiere performance of a new composition I finished last month, entitled “Antiphon, Lament, and Exaltation.” It was commissioned by the Sycamore Trio (my friends Dan Mattix, Katie Mattix, and Luke Lusk) with an excellent though underused instrumentation of violin, clarinet, and piano. The piece is in three movements, which the performers requested [...]
I’m excited to announce the premiere of a new composition I’ve been working on for the past several weeks. It’s a trio in three movements for piano, clarinet, and violin, which I’ve entitled “Antiphon, Lament, and Exaltation.” The piece was commissioned by Dan Mattix, Katie Mattix, and Luke Lusk, who will also be performing the premiere. [...]
Sixth in a series featuring songs from my CD New Creation. For more information, read this link. The Song Behind the Song This was one of the first songs that my wife Carrie and I wrote together after we were married. The words are based on several passages from the Old Testament, notably Psalm 32 [...]