I Wanna Be A Rock Star

Alan’s Study Break Book List:

1. AND: The Gathered and Scattered Church by Halter & Smay
2. The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller
3. On the Verge: A Journey Into the Apostolic Future of the Church by Hirsch & Ferguson
4. Decision Points by George W. Bush
5. Church Planter: The Man, the Message, the Mission by Darrin Patrick

Starting June 4th, and going through June 18th you can read my daily blog.

I can’t wait to interact with you while I’m away seeking God’s direction for CCC.

To read my latest Blog, see below…

I just read the cover article of the latest Rolling Stone.

Steven Tyler is quite an interesting read. His use of the colorful side of language is legendary. In fact, recent American Idol tapings included extended and faked audience laughter to mix with bleeps and facial expressions to magnify Tyler’s art of the “F” bomb. Apparently this is very good for ratings.

Just yesterday someone asked me to give them an objective critique of a sermon from another preacher I have never actually talked with. With nothing to lose and no dogs in the hunt, I ripped this guy apart. Honestly, I just thought it was bad. In the name of a Biblical mandate to test spirits, is this allowed? We’re my words appropriate or set on fire by hell itself? I smelled no smoke or sulfur as my computer screen filled with professional opinions and insights.

I yelled at our dog last night. I really let it fly. She had dug up our finely manicured island… again. Sometimes my complete disdain for that dog, and my sweet emotions for a gardenesque back yard tend to clash. My words of discipline mostly likely fell on deaf dog ears, but my anger was very real. Can I yell at my dog so that a real person doesn’t catch my venom? This is allowed, right? Doesn’t this seem to be a reasonable and smart release?

I’m confident Steven Tyler doesn’t have any remorse over certain, questionable words most probably introduced to him along side classics like “Run, Jack, run” in the 50’s. So it seems, an “F” this or that to the Aerosmith front man is just as innocent and expressive as an “awesome” or “cool” in my world. I’d bet the ranch that Tyler’s heart remains relatively innocent with his language. We can argue whether a heart is innocent or seared, but my real concern is the condition of my own.

Along with some Rolling Stone, my devotional time this morning included the first twelve verses of James 3. This is the classic text about the power of the tongue. It gives me pause. It makes me think. It nails me.
As much as Steven Tyler is innocent (or seared… depending on how you like your meat cooked), I can have twinges of doubt with my words. Those are Holy Spirit induced heart pains attached to words that make me reflect what a beast is housed inside my mouth.

I am not a perfect man, just ask my wife. I can struggle with my words. I don’t launch “F” torpedoes. I’m not even prone to an occasional “freakin’.” I can’t hang with the verbal colors of Aerosmith. I just set whole forests on fire. I can paint myself as bigger and other folks consequently smaller. I can be very right, and make sure most know it. I completely understand my lack of innocence and still let’er fly. I’m also fairly certain God doesn’t flinch as much at Steven Tyler’s bleeps as he does my gossip.

I want to regain an innocence of language where I can say to a few around me, “Walk (or talk) this way.” I would like my heart and words to NOT condemn me like Tyler’s heart doesn’t condemn him. I guess I really do want to be a rock star. As much as the American Idol star’s innocence is washed clean by his ignorance, may my heart and words be washed with water through the Word. I want my words to be Jesus’ words. Then I would be a Rock star.