Here we are. Christmas 2007, and still no flying cars.

Before you continue reading let me preface this entry with this statement: I am thinking out loud.

It seems there has been a swell of anti-consumerism messages filling the ears of Christians this Christmas season. My own church is taking part in a thing called The Advent Conspiracy.

At their most benign, anti-consumerism messages remind the buyer that Christmas isn’t all about gifts and buying. At their most extreme these messages advocate not buying anything you don’t need. There is even a Church of Stop Shopping now. More about them in a bit.

While I don’t think these messages are without merit, I believe the majority of these anti-consumerism messages don’t address the heart of the issue.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…

At the heart of consumerism is want. If you want, you buy. Right? Movements like The Advent Conspiracy and The Church of Stop Shopping are failing to fill the need that is met with the want. That means movements like these merely become short lived fads. This isn’t good because movements like The Advent Conspiracy, at least, are meeting needs in other parts of the world. I don’t know much about The Church of Stop Shopping other than documentary producer, Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me, 30 Days), followed its pastor, Reverend Billy, around for a while and made a film. A fillm that people will no doubt buy a ticket for after they’ve bought dinner at a local eatery then at the theatre perhaps they will buy more things to eat and drink. Do I need to point out the irony?

So what is the need that people are filling with the want? Well, that’s up for debate, but I would guess a host of things, not the least of which being a sense of purpose.

What’s startling to me is the Christian community’s swiftness to latch on to things like The Advent Conspiracy and The Church of Stop Shopping (see this entry from the blog Revolution in Jesusland).

The Church is quick to adopt new movements, but not our own problems. See, I feel like things such as The Advent Conspiracy provide an opiate for Christians around Christmas time, and even beyond. It helps us not feel as guilty for buying the gifts we are secretly still buying (TAC asks that participants forgo spending money on gifts, and rather give that money to their participating TAC church to fund clean water projects in third world countries).

Perhaps what we should be focusing on is what void we are filling by shopping, and, even, giving. Are we buying because it allows us to feel in control? Are we giving because it gives us a high, or because we love? Are we shopping to keep our minds off of something greater?

I think that when we begin to tackle these voids, then doing things like what TAC is taking on become part of our daily faith and practice, not just a Christmas event. Otherwise, I fear such movements will only be passing fads like True Love Waits, Promise Keepers, WWJD, Prayer of Jabez, and the entire “golden age” of Praise & Worship music.

When I was in college I met a dude named Jake. I wasn’t a freshman, but he was.

The first time I met him I remember there being a lot of noise. Hollering. There was also a rainbow clown wig and a Fender Stratocastor; it was light blue, I believe. Maybe green.

I quickly realized I recognized Jake, he was the drummer for a band, called Shine, later (*see comments) Reflector, and I had heard them a month before and really liked them. Jake played drums.

Jake’s last name is Cardwell, and his dad is Bill Cardwell. They are the Cardwells’ of the famed C&C Drum Company.

The Pitch recently published an article on Bill and C&C, and it brought back memories of me, Steve (who had played in a previous band with Jake) and Jake breaking into the store late at night to pass time and make music.

We would typically buy a couple 12-packs of Corona or Boulevard, then drive to the store where we would each pick out the instrument of our choice and then play until we got bored of the instrument; then we would pick out another. Of course, we would have to put everything back in order just the way we found it and close everything back up before anyone got there to open up.

It does me good to see that C&C is still doing great, and growing leaps and bounds. The Cardwell&s deserve their success. Those guys really do build some of the finest drums you will ever hear.

It’s Christmas around these parts, and this season in particular is different for Jen, me and our community at Jacobs Well. Things are changing at the church we love so much. New people bring new ideas and new perspective. That isn’t always bad. Sometimes it is.

One thing Jacobs Well hasn’t employed this Christmas (yet…wait for it) are the phenomenal skills of one Welsh lad named Andy Michael. Last year Andy created three short films for Advent that correlated with the sermon each week. As I recall, the sermons revolved around the theme of liberation.

I took some time to go back and watch those films, and they still give me chills. You should do the same. You can find them here. If you have the time listen to the sermons that go along with each film. And I dare you to not be moved. If you don’t have the time for all three right-a-way, at least check out the film from week three.

I caught Andy on IM today to tell him how much I missed his work this year and he hinted that I should be happy this Sunday (12/16/2007). I do believe I will. Jeremy Collins (who in high school was every dude’s worst nightmare: talented, sensitive, athletic & good looking), created a piece that showed last week at Jacobs Well featuring the Madonna and child surrounded by all the major brands of our time. I am told this theme will continue. I can’t wait.

Also, if you know Andy, perhaps you can convince him to incorporate this song somehow. If Mike King can say “shit” while giving a sermon, Andy can use any part of this song.

This morning I woke up and jumped in the shower (Side Note: it was deluxe day in the shower, which means i wash/condition my mane, and trim my face). When I came downstairs Jen was a tad bit more than her cheery self.

As I walked into the kitchen to pour my coffee she says to me, “Hey, good morning,” with a cheerfulness that was almost scary. Then I found out why, “Two things,” she said, “Good morning, and this Thanksgiving let’s be sensible eaters.” What?!

I immediately knew what had happened during deluxe day in the shower: Jen had been watching The Today Show. If only I could count the things the Today Show has ruined for me in my life. Why couldn’t their writers have gone on strike?

Happy Thanksgiving

Granted, this is from Fox News, but the tape don’t lie. This woman cannot be the next President of the United States.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyC7loMop58[/youtube]

what you are about to view is … well … it’s just … hmmm …

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTLj_3R0-2g[/youtube]

don’t call it a comeback. i’ve received a few email as of late (like within the last month) from people asking where they could get my triple concrete selling records.

truth is, i stopped touring because it was such a drag. when i stopped touring, people stopped buying records. for a while i kept the records on the site for sale, but they were purchased so infrequently that when i got an order, i’d forget or think it was a joke. that just made people mad, and made me look like a jerk.

i’ve been kicking around the idea of putting at least one of my records up on iTunes and the aforementioned email were just the ticket. starting today you can purchase goodbye, welcome, thankyou, the last record i recorded, on iTunes.

you might see the button in the top right hand corner of the sidebar. just click that link and it will take you straight to my record on iTunes. what’s more, if you buy it, i get a little extra taste cause you clicked through from my site ; )

if’n you don’t want to drag your mouse that far you can click here.

if nothing else, check it out. the record could use a review or two thousand. jen and i just bought a house, so i need the cash!

actually, i’m hoping this goes well enough to warrant putting ben franklin must be proud, my other full length, and the footprint ep on iTunes. we shall see.

finally, don’t hold me to it, but i’ve been writing again. not a lot, but enough. and i’m getting the bug to record. if i do, you’ll be able to get those recordings on my iTunes page.

enjoy.

Well played, FakeSteve. Well played, indeed!

I haven’t written much lately, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot on my mind. Following posts will include thus:

• I know for a fact this blog has at least one more reader: Samuel. I work with this guy, and he’s an all around great person. Me & him are on the fast track to world domination.
• There is one specific record that is burning a hole in my brain and ears. I can’t wait to share lyrics and music snippets with you dear reader.
• Steve got shafted at the Doves.
• I finally get to go to a live production of A Prairie Home Companion!
• Barack Obama is making a visit to KC on May 12. I may or may not get to go.

So, there you go. Stick close. I promise to write full entries as soon as I can.

In the mean time, feel free to check my Twitter ticker to the right. I update that sometimes several times a day.

One last thing: the Contact page has gone bye-bye until I can find something new that doesn’t send me so much spam. Suggestions?