kewlpack
11-01-2004, 09:37 PM
I was just reading this in an interview on www.crosswalk.com (in their Fun/Music section). It is part of an interview with Steven Curtis Chapman where he was describing what inspired him to write what he did for several projects. I felt like it would be helpful to post here...
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Chapman Cliff Notes
Steven Curtis Chapman is an artist (and avid reader, evidently) who wrestles with his own faith and humanity. And, beginning with his third album, "More to this Life," he has tended to create musical artifacts that honestly reflect where he is at a given season of life. The joys, the struggles, the doubts, the awe, the lessons learned — these (plus truths learned from a lot of books) become the raw material his songs are built of; and, with each project, a new theme emerges. Here is a behind-the-scenes “short story†version of how each was inspired.
---"More to this Life" (1989):
Life is short. What more is there to this human experience than just living to die? Catalyst: The funeral service of [wife] Mary Beth’s uncle.
---"For the Sake of the Call" (1990):
What does it truly mean to call yourself a disciple of Jesus Christ? What does it mean to follow Him? Catalyst: "The Cost of Discipleship" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
---"The Great Adventure" (1992):
Only God’s grace can tear down walls and free us to live the life we were created for. Catalyst: A meeting with Steven’s pastoral advisory board at which he confessed a sense of failure and, ultimately, was led to a deeper experience of God’s grace in the midst of his own weakness.
---"Heaven in the Real World" (1994):
What does it look like to be living representatives of heaven in the midst of this world’s chaos? Catalysts: "Loving God", "How Now Shall We Live" and "The Body" — all by Chuck Colson.
---"Signs of Life" (1996):
God makes Himself known in the most unexpected places — even in death row prison cells and at the funerals of friends. Catalysts: The life story of Oswald Chambers and experiences working with Prison Fellowship.
---"Speechless" (1999):
“Gospel astonishment†as God reveals a deeper level of grace in the midst of sin and brokenness. Catalysts: "What’s So Amazing About Grace" by Philip Yancey, performing at the memorial service for the slain Columbine students, attending the funeral of three girls shot at his alma mater (Heath High School), burying the daughter of dear friends after a tragic automobile accident.
---"Declaration" (2001):
Walking by faith through seasons when God doesn’t make any sense and, ultimately, realizing that God is God and doesn’t owe us explanations. Catalysts: "Disappointment with God" by Philip Yancey and multiple tragic circumstances in the lives of friends.
---"All About Love" (2003):
Marriage isn’t just about a man and a woman; it’s about the faithfulness of a God who reveals Himself through the marriage relationship, using it to expose the selfishness of our hearts and draw us nearer to Christ. Catalysts: 18 years of marriage to Mary Beth; a continually deepening love and appreciation for her; lots of counseling.
---"All Things New" (2004):
God is renewing all things, directing all of history towards a new heaven and a new Earth. How do we live today in light of this glorious truth? Catalysts: "Don’t Waste Your Life" by John Piper, Pastor Scotty Smith’s sermon series on the renewal of all things, "Rumors of Another
World (What on Earth Are We Missing?)" by Philip Yancey, personal involvement with Chinese orphans and the AIDS crisis in Africa.
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We serve a mighty God, gang. Look for inspiration even in the "mundane" days of life... He's still right there.
Grace and peace.
~A~
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Chapman Cliff Notes
Steven Curtis Chapman is an artist (and avid reader, evidently) who wrestles with his own faith and humanity. And, beginning with his third album, "More to this Life," he has tended to create musical artifacts that honestly reflect where he is at a given season of life. The joys, the struggles, the doubts, the awe, the lessons learned — these (plus truths learned from a lot of books) become the raw material his songs are built of; and, with each project, a new theme emerges. Here is a behind-the-scenes “short story†version of how each was inspired.
---"More to this Life" (1989):
Life is short. What more is there to this human experience than just living to die? Catalyst: The funeral service of [wife] Mary Beth’s uncle.
---"For the Sake of the Call" (1990):
What does it truly mean to call yourself a disciple of Jesus Christ? What does it mean to follow Him? Catalyst: "The Cost of Discipleship" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
---"The Great Adventure" (1992):
Only God’s grace can tear down walls and free us to live the life we were created for. Catalyst: A meeting with Steven’s pastoral advisory board at which he confessed a sense of failure and, ultimately, was led to a deeper experience of God’s grace in the midst of his own weakness.
---"Heaven in the Real World" (1994):
What does it look like to be living representatives of heaven in the midst of this world’s chaos? Catalysts: "Loving God", "How Now Shall We Live" and "The Body" — all by Chuck Colson.
---"Signs of Life" (1996):
God makes Himself known in the most unexpected places — even in death row prison cells and at the funerals of friends. Catalysts: The life story of Oswald Chambers and experiences working with Prison Fellowship.
---"Speechless" (1999):
“Gospel astonishment†as God reveals a deeper level of grace in the midst of sin and brokenness. Catalysts: "What’s So Amazing About Grace" by Philip Yancey, performing at the memorial service for the slain Columbine students, attending the funeral of three girls shot at his alma mater (Heath High School), burying the daughter of dear friends after a tragic automobile accident.
---"Declaration" (2001):
Walking by faith through seasons when God doesn’t make any sense and, ultimately, realizing that God is God and doesn’t owe us explanations. Catalysts: "Disappointment with God" by Philip Yancey and multiple tragic circumstances in the lives of friends.
---"All About Love" (2003):
Marriage isn’t just about a man and a woman; it’s about the faithfulness of a God who reveals Himself through the marriage relationship, using it to expose the selfishness of our hearts and draw us nearer to Christ. Catalysts: 18 years of marriage to Mary Beth; a continually deepening love and appreciation for her; lots of counseling.
---"All Things New" (2004):
God is renewing all things, directing all of history towards a new heaven and a new Earth. How do we live today in light of this glorious truth? Catalysts: "Don’t Waste Your Life" by John Piper, Pastor Scotty Smith’s sermon series on the renewal of all things, "Rumors of Another
World (What on Earth Are We Missing?)" by Philip Yancey, personal involvement with Chinese orphans and the AIDS crisis in Africa.
============
We serve a mighty God, gang. Look for inspiration even in the "mundane" days of life... He's still right there.
Grace and peace.
~A~