On Sunday night, I and my family went to see Derek Webb at Common Grounds in Waco. It was an incredible show. My wife and two daughters attended with me. My eldest, Zoë, sat with me through the entire concert and what a special time it was for us both.
Derek’s music has been incredibly meaningful to me over the years and the CD “Mockingbird” has kind of become the theme for our church plant. Derek is one of a few Christian artists that are willing to challenge the status quo while still holding onto Scriptural authority, theological consistency, and a faith-filled passion.
” has kind of become the theme for our church plant. Derek is one of a few Christian artists that are willing to challenge the status quo while still holding onto Scriptural authority, theological consistency, and a faith-filled passion.Shouldn’t Christians be more concerned with the poor, the marginalized, and the rejected than we are about issues of morality? Shouldn’t we be more concerned about peace than we are about war? Shouldn’t we be trying very hard to engage and interact with the people around us rather than withdrawing ever deeper into the Christian subculture?
Derek was gracious enough to spend a few minutes with me and my family after the concert. You’re never sure if the artist on-stage and the artist off-stage are truly the same person. In this case, we found that the artist off stage is even deeper and more fully engaged in the issues he’s singing about on-stage. Derek talked briefly about the research he had done to write the albums “Mockingbird” and his upcoming release, “The Ringing Bell.” Research before you write? What a novel idea. Songwriting that isn’t simply about the jingle or the catchy hook alone… it’s actually about writing something meaningful that has a foundation larger than your own arrogance.
.” Research before you write? What a novel idea. Songwriting that isn’t simply about the jingle or the catchy hook alone… it’s actually about writing something meaningful that has a foundation larger than your own arrogance.Thanks Derek.
Hopefully, you see in these writings a man who is staying The Course and pursuing The Path amidst the pitfalls and selfish ways of being a son of Adam. I pray earnestly that my writing would encourage some of you by showing you that this journey - though arduous and sometimes tragic - is a journey of great satisfaction. A satisfaction greater than our greatest imaginings. The trials and refining fire of tribulation are to be recognized as a small shadow of the suffering of our Savior so that we can rejoice, as Peter and the disciples did, to be counted worthy to suffer for the sake of the Name.