Chris Schellenberg

I went to Crown College for one semester. One. I was there for three whole months and have a million memories. Some of the people I don't remember, some are etched in my mind forever. When you first get to college, you are like a newborn baby. All of your senses are hightened - everything you see is blurry, you are scared, and you are soaking everything in. The first few days of college we had "camp meetin'". Everyone was out at the camp under this huge tent (well, everyone was supposed to be there, but I just found out that there were ways to skip it!). Preaching, singing, and talent shows were abundant, and I loved it. One night, Chris Schellenberg got up to play the piano and sing. I believe this was Crown's first encounter with him. His style isn't the banjo-guitar-spoons-twangy type. He was just normal, somewhat accoustic, and REAL. Lisa and I just sat there. We loved it. Later, we sought him out and talked to him and sorta chatted here and there all semester. Pianos must have been scarce around there because he asked me to unlock the one adjacent to the library so he could play. (I was the head librarian. dorky. i know) I let him in, but purely for selfish reasons. I wanted to hear him sing and play. Anyway, he hadn't published a CD yet, but Lisa and I somehow got our hands on a copy of his music and copied that onto a preaching tape. After I left Crown I lost mine and have been looking for his music ever since. Tonight, I decided to google Chris(like I have been every six months or so) and guess what?! He just released his first CD! I bought it, of course. I am eagerly awaiting my copy and will be sure to let all of you faithful readers know when it arrives! Feel free to check out his blog, order a CD, or whatever. It is worth the investment.

I will offer up my life...

There is quite the debate in christian circles about CCM. What is considered CCM? Who decided if it is appropriate or not? A friend once said something like this, "Christ-honoring music spans cultures. A non-english speaking christian in Africa should be able to hear an english song and not even understand the lyrics but know if it brings glory to God." Although I think that is a great comment, people in other cultures do not worship the same as we do. (For instance, God-honoring women in the majority of the world cover their head in reverence to God and in respect for their husbands. Since we don't do that are we in sin? That is a whole other topic for another day.) Anyway, I am not going to go into a deep discussion on my blog about music, but I will put the lyrics of one of my favorite songs and leave you with this simple thought: Many "CCM" artists don't look like us or have the same standards. Do I care? Yes. Do I think they are in sin? I am not sure I can say that...but many of their lyrics have much more doctrinal significance than the songs many of us fundamentalists sing in church. P.S. I don't necessarily agree with everything this artist stands for or has written. But I do agree with and love this particular song.


I Will Offer up my Life

I will offer up my life
In spirit and truth,
Pouring out the oil of love
As my worship to You
In surrender I must give my every part;
Lord, receive the sacrifice
Of a broken heart.

CHORUS:
Jesus, what can I give, what can I bring
To so faithful a friend, to so loving a King?
Savior, what can be said, what can be sung
As a praise of Your name
For the things You have done?
Oh my words could not tell, not even in part
Of the debt of love that is owed
By this thankful heart.


You deserve my every breath
For You've paid the great cost;
Giving up Your life to death,
Even death on a cross
You took all my shame away,
There defeated my sin
Opened up the gates of heaven
And have beckoned me in.

- Matt Redman