Read a great book yesterday!
It was one of those reads that sneaks up on you then kicks you right where you sit down—but in a good and positive way.
My friend Jimi Calhoun wrote “A Story Of Rhythm & Grace” which intends to import God’s values of live, acceptance and inclusion from the world or Rock & Roll into the church.
Importing biblical values from the world of Rock seems like a difficult task until you read the book. In many ways the secular arts are more concerned about brotherly love than your average evangelical church—white, black or otherwise.
Jimi played with most of the great names of the 60s and 70s including Stone, Hendrix, Dr. John and even John Lennon. He tells their story and those of many others… like the night he took Mick Jagger into black clubs to listen to the music. The important thing about that story is that Jagger was never “out of his element.” Here was white rock royalty hanging out with people not only different, but decidedly lower on the totem pole—yet he was there as a friend and a learner.
Jimi is pretty open with his feelings. He tells stories from growing up that will bring tears to most eyes. When you are done with the book you’ll feel frustrated and warm and fuzzy at the same time.
You’ll remember good, perhaps great, friendships you’ve had with people from other cultures which is a definite feel-good. But you’ll understand how your view of the friendship may have differed from theirs. You come away understanding the importance of understanding (of the mutual variety).
I remembered the day my black friends showed up to defend me from a white bully who menaced me after school. And I remembered the day I “remembered” that my best friend at work was black—I had simply seen him as a friend and brother. Those are good memories.
I also remember a friend saying the mountain where I took him snow-skiing was “too white” for him. I first thought he was talking about the snow. I’ve heard people say the same thing about a church I pastored even though we prided ourselves in reaching out to all peoples. The book caused me to re-assess lots of things about our church and ministry.
In the end it caused me to think institutionally and intentionally. Admit it, your church is an institution and as such it can expand its love base. But only if you are intentional about it. Not intentional as in quotas, but intentional as in creating opportunities for understanding what the other person feels.
I am biased because it was written by a friend. But this is a good read!
4 responses so far ↓
1 Scott // Jun 27, 2009 at 9:49 am
Sounds like a great read Ralph. Where can I get a copy?
2 freitas // Jul 6, 2009 at 1:17 am
I have stop coming or going to church for this very reason, like you said about talking and learning from other cultures and people. I found that the church doesnt teach tolerance, and rarely does it teach, or detail the struggles or wrong doings of the saints. “why they were only guilty of a few, compared to the norm their still holy. Thats what made them differ from the saducees and pharises. They experienced, being wrong, at times, being human at times. Unlke the Saducees and the Pharascess at the churh and mini groups. I find fake, and un concerning, with the willingness to excuse themselves with a christian disclaimer. It is true that outside the church you can find more meaningful conversation and better friendship. thats why mick Jagger and other go out, to were it is hip and draw energy from and for their need to feel balanced. Most christians including the leaders are lame. . . Because they haven’t been
like Eliajah. . . or David, etc… they’ve read despair, dissapointment, they ‘ve seen by reading or experiencing something slightly. .
And christians think they have all the answers by saying words, words. If you come to church you’ll feel better. If the wheat shot out of the ground and into the barn, that would be ggood to, all in nice squares the next day. when i needed the church to listen, or talk to they weren’t their, i’ve learned alot. about people and hypocrocy in my Church ( Hope Olomana) and see the casualness of the workers in the harvest spreading. You talk about being and institution your right, like the state gov’t being an institution, so big and institution they corrupt. Like the state they take a percentage of my income my brothers and sisters and parents too. institutions take freely but give sparingly, or by their own standards or reasons. Im glad you got to enjoy seeing or reading a perspective outside of the 4 walls. again. Any new bold stragies Pastor Ralph. By the way I like you sermons, i’d like to see you preach one though that scares people, while acting angry about it, were no one gets off the hook. Especially the meat eaters carniviorous christians i like to see if they eat it. . or push the plate aside. No eat cannot grow. the body remains avg. ? attendance ? ETC ? i hope to come out of my ordeal alive, so I can be, bold for God. For know I live like David in the land of his enemies
3 Ralph Moore // Jul 10, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Try Amazon. I have a link, but Amazon and the State of Hawaii are at war over taxing the internet. The link may be re-activated if the guv vetoes the law in question…
4 Janet // Jul 8, 2010 at 8:12 am
Pastor Ralph, you read so many good books. Could you possibly put up a book list that you add to, maybe on this section of your blog?
This book is one I definitely would like to read as or others you have mentioned.
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