How to Write a Country Song

(Photo credit: www.vetstreet.com)

Earlier this year, it occurred to me as I was listening to our local classic rock radio station that I have been listening to the same songs since I was in elementary school in the 1960’s.

I still don’t know all of the words to some of them.

To be honest, I’m tired of hearing the same songs. 

“Wait. Gene, I thought you were a pastor? Don’t you listen to only Christian music?”

Well, sometimes.

As I was riding with my daughter in her car during a recent visit, she had a country radio station on. Three songs in a row were about drinking.

“Bailey, all these country songs talk about is drinking!” I rebuked her like she was still a teenager.

“Well, all of your rock songs are about sex and drugs,” she replied.

Touche.

Now, I’ll give country music a little credit. You can understand the lyrics. If Queen hadn’t put the lyrics to Night at the Opera in the album sleeve in 1975, I still wouldn’t know the words to Bohemian Rhapsody. (I know all of the words, but I still don’t know what it's about.)

Last week I decided to listen to the local country station. So far, I’ve heard Carrie Underwood sing about church bells pretty much every time I’ve had the radio on.

And I’ve decided that if you’re going to write a country song you need a few key words. There are some words in country songs that you will never, if ever, hear in any other genre of music.

For example, here are a few words you’ll only hear in a country song:

Blue tick hound

Boots

Dime store

Tractor

Beer

Catfish

Truck
Kudzu

The good Lord

I’ve learned that in just a week’s worth of country music listening. I’ll bet you veteran country music fans out there can think of a whole lot more. If you do, put them on my Facebook post. 

The 10 Best Days of Your Life

Yesterday, Facebook posted a memory photo on my page from six years ago. It was the picture above of my wife, Beth, with a child we sponsored in Southeast Asia. Beth made the trek halfway across the globe to visit her and her family. Beth and I both returned the next year for another visit. It was awesome!

I took a screenshot of it and texted it to Beth. I liked her reply:

“In the top ten days of my life!!!”

It made me wonder. What would be the top 10 days of your life? We talked about it last night. Most of them revolve around change. Drastic change. First dates, weddings, and births help the list to fill up fast.

For me, next to my birthday, my spiritual birthday is at the top. I became a follower of Jesus on October 26, 1978. That decision is the foundation for every other decision and great day I’ve ever had.

What are the top 10 days in your life?

It might be a fun discussion to have tonight.

All or Nothing

(This appeared in The North Augusta Star, our local newspaper, so I thought I'd post here as well.)

I love quotes. When I read a good one, I record it in my journal. I could easily fill this column with words of wisdom that I’ve collected throughout the years.

One of my all-time favorite quotes was written by C.S. Lewis many years ago. Lewis was a prolific writer and scholar best known for his Chronicles of Narnia fantasy series and his pro-Christian texts. He taught at Oxford University and became a renowned Christian apologist using logic and philosophy to support the tenets of the Christian faith. 

Lewis wrote, "Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and, if true, of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important." Basically, Lewis is saying Christianity is all or nothing. 

On a Sunday afternoon many years ago, I saw a friend who I knew was not a “church-going” man. He asked me what I talked about in my morning sermon. The title of my message was “Obsessed with God.” When I told my friend the title for the day, he wrinkled his face and said, “Obsessed?”

And maybe he was right.

Perhaps obsessed wasn’t the best word. We typically don’t consider obsession as a positive character trait. But I think I was trying to make a similar point as C.S. Lewis. When it comes to the Christian faith, you can’t sit on the spiritual fence. You’re either all in or not in at all. 

If the story of the Creator of the universe providing unlimited love and grace to His people through the cross of Christ is true, it should be of utmost importance to us. If it is merely a fairy tale, a myth, or a legend, we should pay no attention to it. 

It seems to me, however, that many Christians make their faith only moderately important - the one thing C.S. Lewis said it cannot be. We’ve learned how to compartmentalize our faith. It’s a part of our lives just like work, sports, music, and hobbies. We give our faith an hour or two each week and leave it at that.

But I don’t think that is God’s desire for us. I believe that God wants us to coat every part of our lives with his presence and power. I believe that we can live each moment in the awareness that God is truly with us. He is Immanuel, i.e., God with us.

“Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord” (Psalm 89:15).

He is with you all of the time. Don’t you think that’s important? 

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

The leaders at TrueNorth Church were incredibly gracious to me this year. Since this is my 30th year in the ministry, they allowed me to have a 30 day sabbatical. Therefore, I’ve been on vacation since June 6 and I will be back in the TNC offices on Tuesday, July 5.

So, what do you do with 30 days off? And what is a sabbatical anyway? I’ll answer the second question first.

According to dictionary.com, a sabbatical is simply a period of rest. A longer definition is “an extended period of leave from one’s customary work, especially for rest, to acquire new skills or training.” 

I’m going to go ahead and straight up confess that I haven’t acquired any new skills this month.

But I am trying to resurrect some old skills - like writing again. As you can see, this is my old blog. I’m thinking about knocking the dust off of this thing and putting a few words of wit and wisdom here every so often. I left this blog several years ago for a new look and a new website. (Does anyone remember Quest for a New Perspective?) I was trying to look more professional in order to sell more books.

It didn’t work.

The problem was I spent more time working on the logistics of the website and trying to promote and market it than I did writing. Ultimately, I got tired and quit.

Yes, I’m a quitter. 

But sometimes quitting isn’t all bad. When your hobby becomes a burden, why spend your time on it?

So, what’s the answer to the first question? What do you do with 30 days off?

Travel. Read. Experience new places. Try different food. Laugh until snot comes out of your nose. Enjoy the sun. Marvel at God’s creation. Have fun with family.

We spent the first week at our usual place at Hilton Head Island with family. Our group has gotten so big now we have to rent two condos. We rode out Tropical Storm Colin on Monday of that week but otherwise we enjoyed great weather.

On our second week of vacation, Beth and I rented a wonderful, secluded lake house. It was just me, Beth, and Shucks (our miniature dachshund). We had some nice down time there. And, again, the weather was perfect.

Last week, we flew to sunny Southern California and we checked our bucket list with a trip to the San Diego Zoo. We also went whale and dolphin watching about 4 miles off the coast. (I took the picture of a humpback whale above.) The Pacific Coast has some incredible beaches. So different than what we’re familiar with in the Southeast. It’s easy to see why so many millions of people want to live there. The weather is near perfect every day of the year. The only big negative: traffic.   

Since we’ve been back in town this week, I’ve been holed up on the 2nd floor of the Reese Library at Augusta University. I love quiet times in a library to read, reflect, and research. I especially love college campuses so this has been a treat for a few days.

I know. What a nerd!

I’ve been praying, pondering, and planning. If you know me well, you’ve heard me say that I’m living the dream. TrueNorth Church is literally an answer to prayer for me and a dream come true. I’ve dreamed of this church since 1987 - 29 years ago - my second year in ministry!

Now, I find myself asking what to do now that my dream has come true. 

I will continue to help do my part in growing this generation of believers as well as the next generation. I will continue serving as a pastor, prayer partner, and friend to as many as possible. I will continue to help the leadership of TNC “follow the breadcrumbs” as our Lead Pastor Steve Davis says. I will continue my quest toward being a humble, obedient, submissive servant.

In the meantime, I’m also going to seek out new quests. I’ll keep you posted (maybe) as I experience them.