We've now got a recording set-up here at the church. A few people were saying they'd like to have a worship cd from our band, so we purchased Adobe Audition (formerly known as Cool Edit Pro) and a multi-track sound card (Echo Layla). I spent some time yesterday and this morning setting it up and learning how to use it. Here is a link to a song I made while I was messing with the new set-up. I started with a drum loop from Audition, then recording myself playing guitar, bass and lead. Then I went back and replaced the drum loop with me playing drums. This is pretty rough (and I'm a crappy musician) but it shows what is possible.

We got a flyer in the mail today for Lowell Mason, who refers to himself as 'The Singing Midget.' He has performed over 1000 concerts at the Precious Moments headquarters in Carthage, MO. Check the website for booking info.

I'm looking for some people to volunteer as beta testers for the church web site I'm designing. I would prefer if you have some experience with web design or at least a good feel for how things should look and function. Once I have a list of volunteers and the site is ready I'll email out the instructions. I'll probably have tasks to do, questions to answer, etc., and then have you turn in your responses. If you're interested, please email me. In your email let me know a bit about your background (if I don't know you) and maybe include a link to some design that you've done. Thanks in advance for helping me improve this site.

Once again, from HealYourChurchWebSite.com, here's a link to a church web site parody. I especially like the dancing Jesus animated Gif.

If there is one issue that incites passionate feelings from all ages and degrees of liberal- and conservative-ism, it the issue of personal modesty. Perhaps it is because, according to most parents and other adults, adolescent girls are dressing too provocatively. Perhaps it is because, according to said adolescent girls, there is no conceivable way to dress according to a standard that is incredibly outdated and prudish. Whether for these reasons, or for a host of others, the fact remains: the teenage wardrobe has become a breeding ground for harsh words, hurt feelings and confusion. Add in the problem of "causing others to stumble" and modesty, or a lack thereof, becomes a major forum for Christian debate.
What is the issue, exactly? Too much skin, or too little discretion? A world filled with impossible standards, or Christians who hold impossible expectations? And if modesty can't be defined in objective terms by unbiased parties, should the problem simply be avoided? Not according to Leida Pickett, a Certified Health Education Specialist who teaches teens about abstinence. Pickett admits that she once thought modest dress was an unimportant concern, but now believes it does have merit. She does not, however, agree with the methodology many choose to employ.
"I'm not comfortable with adults trying to make fashionable things taboo with guilt, punishment, criticism and shaming. I don't think that works," she said. Pickett even disagrees with using the word 'modest' as an exhortation to more pleasing behavior, describing it as, "antiquated, outdated, outmoded and unrealistic—every connotation is negative." Embodying the typical teenage mindset, she explained, "'Modest' kids don't get noticed, they don't have any fun, and they aren't fun to be around—your basic downer."
If this is the message girls are receiving from adults, no wonder it gets such a cool reception. In fact, to a perceptive Christian teen, this message seems downright hypocritical. "The Bible doesn't teach that the body is something evil or shameful that needs to be hidden. Modesty should grow out of a sense of gratitude for what God has given us and a sense of responsibility about how God wants us to use our bodies," explained Melissa McBurney in a 1996 Christianity Today 'Q and A' segment.
Demanding modesty from non-existent Biblical texts leads to little or no compliance and more rebellion. And even if the right reasons are cited, adults are often guilty of overlooking the core of the issue—teens are learning to make the difficult choices that go hand-in-hand with growing up. "[Girls are] frustrated by the clash between their values and by their very real, very valid need to be noticed and appreciated as females," Pickett explained.
Whether we would like to admit it or not, telling a teenage girl she can succeed in anything she wants with one breath, then telling her she must be modest with the next is contradictory. To these young women, a harsh stance on modesty today comes at a price—present success in their own world, which is often a primary concern. The adolescent life is based on acceptance, and a major blow in this area can have harsh consequences, as feelings of self-worth seem to develop substantially in this short time period, but often last a lifetime.
Should we put this issue aside because it carries the potential for damaging self-esteem? Perhaps a look inside the teenage mind will bring clarity. "I think that it's very important for Christians to dress conservatively," says Lisa Wainwright, high school sophomore and ACC member. "You're a reflection of God for others." Wainwright is far from the typical modesty advocate; she admits she likes clothes that are "really cute" and enjoys dressing in the latest fashions. But her concerns reach farther than her own closet: she realizes that wearing some types of clothing carries a lust-inducing risk in members of the opposite sex.
"I hate when guys look at girls because of what they're wearing: it's disrespectful. But then again, girls shouldn't wear clothes [that cause] this, Wainwright said.
On some level, Wainwright and her adult counterparts agree on a solution. But if resolving the modesty issue is as simple as "wear more clothes," then why is it currently unsettled? Danny Ferguson, ACC's Associate Minister who works primarily with youth, said he thinks the problem may have more to do with adolescent males. "Sure, [young men] are affected by the way girls dress, but I don't think we can get girls to dress in a way that won’t affect them at all," Ferguson said. He added, "I don't think a girl can force a boy to sin because of [what the Bible says in] I Corinthians 10:13 –there's always a way out."
Ferguson is not hard-hearted, he is simply realistic—the male mind is tuned to female frequencies, and no amount of clothing will stop a lustful thought if it is going to be had. While he admits that "girls can make it less difficult" by wearing less-revealing clothes, he knows that images of the female body can be everywhere, and not every female is concerned with covering her body.
Ferguson shares a message of hope for the young (and older) men who do try to think modest thoughts. "Most of the guys who are making an effort to [think pure thoughts] spend a lot of time feeling like they are terrible people. I think they need to understand that everyone has a problem area and you can do better."
Ferguson's own practical suggestions, "view women as people, not objects; look women in the face; walk the other way if necessary," demonstrate that he, himself, is not immune to immodesty's potential dangers. Modesty is an issue to which most women and men can relate, whether in their teenagers' lives or in their own. For those looking to make a real difference, both Pickett and Ferguson offer advice.
"Parents should have a standard of modesty for their kids; if they're too strict on it, their kids will rebel, but if they're reasonable and can explain why, it can help kids develop their own convictions," Ferguson said.
Pickett also believes in setting standards. "Adults should help kids come up with workable alternatives—work with them, not against them," Pickett encourages. "Don't fight the fashion—change it. If a daughter wants to wear fashionable V-neck shirts, but mom thinks they show too much cleavage, mom should buy her an equal number of higher-cut tank tops that she is required to wear with them."
Pickett said she believes that if adults will model modesty in their own lives, and if they will teach young men to not only accept, but to praise and to respect modesty in their female peers, the issue will be closer to a resolution. And if Christians of all ages are working toward purer lifestyles, real spiritual maturity cannot be far behind.

I saw the Passion of the Christ last night. This will contain some spoilers and my opinion, so if you're like me and you prefer to form your own opinion before reading other people's, then stop reading now and see the movie. This post will still be here when you get back.

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I've added a new section to the Cabin: "Stuff I Wrote." The link is on your left, just below the "About me" link. I posted my Lord of the Rings sermons and there's also another message from a few weeks ago. Let me know what you think.

If you like satire like The Onion, but think the Christian sub-culture should be made fun of, too, then you might enjoy reading The Holy Observer. I especially like last month's Guide to Christian Capitalization. If you are either a) easily offended, or b) a big fan of the Trinity Broadcasting Network, then you may want to steer clear of The Holy Observer. (Thanks to Matt S. for the link.)

Since Monday is my day off, Tuesday is the day when I come into the office, catch up on blogreading and email, watch the latest Strongbad email, and start thinking about getting down to business. I've got one more sermon in my Lord of the Rings series. I think it's gone well so far. Maybe when I'm finished I'll post my manuscripts.

After Sunday I'll start work on the church web site. This will probably take several weeks, but I'm excited about getting started. Brendan recommended that I use PostNuke, or something like it to organize and update the site. We haven't bothered with a church website up to this point because we don't want something that will just set there and never get updated or used. Thanks to Brendan's help with this Movable Type blog, I'm starting to feel up to the challenge.

Also, I've been enjoying the political discussions over at Brendoman.Com, especially between Gringo and Roland. It's been pretty educational for me.

Click here to hear Emma. [MP3 77KB] I recorded this at dinner last night using my PDA's microphone.