Music: January 2008 Archives
Christianity Today: Raising Ebenezer
Why we shouldn't purge hymns of unfamiliar words: "This single word [Ebenezer] ushers the worshiper into both the biblical episode and the greater narrative of God's redemptive dealings with his people. It points us, also, to Robinson's dramatic conversion three years before he penned the hymn, inviting us to reflect upon our own stories and to remember God's faithful dealings with us. By removing the word from the hymn, we likely remove it from believers' vocabularies and from our treasury of spiritual resources." (Via JunkYardBlog.)
JunkYardBlog: Hymnblogging: You Learn Something New Every Sunday
What is an "Ebenezer" anyway? "Christianity has a history, just like it has a future. There's a lot of wisdom in the past and we need to try to understand and remember it. Those old hymns are, I think, one of the greatest treasures that the historic church has passed down to us. It's a shame to water them down to fit our current Top-40 sensibilities."
"Things you can learn from the music business (as it falls apart)": "Many musicians have understood that all they need to make a (very good) living is to have 10,000 fans. 10,000 people who look forward to the next record, who are willing to trek out to the next concert. Add 7 fans a day and you're done in 5 years. Set for life. A life making music for your fans, not finding fans for your music." (Via Asleep at the Wheel.)
