My opinion is similar.
I believe that a world style music should be left for worldly things and subjects. I believe music directed to God for yourself or the congregation should be peculiar and different. I'm sure there's a ton of better verses but....
Acts 11:18 says, "And when they heard this, they quieted down, and glorified God, saying, "Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life."
This is not in context with ccm but just look at the first part please.
When there is a knowledge and awareness of God, when God is in your mind, there should be reflection and heartfelt glory with reverence and respect. I don't think you can sing "O for a thousand tongues to sing our great redeemer's praise" to the tune of VanHalen's Eruption or something similar.
My personal opinion is that Song's directed to God should be what we as humans associate with respect and reverence. If we were more violent on this earth and the norm was hyper activity and violence, then yes I believe we could honor God with VanHalen or The Who music, because we find that reverent. But currently, humans know that even-beated music, music that is mathematical in structure and volume, is what to us is reverent so that this becomes a way for us to approach him. Each country has its own method and I wouldn't tell the ijuma tribe in Africa that their music is too strong and beaty, because for them, its actually soothing as opposed to what they are used to.

In God's eyes, I'm sure that all our music; soft and loud, is all thilthy rags in his presence, but it all depends on the heart of the individual offering it, I'm not sure about this but that is just what I think.

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Frank
member/Reformed Baptist Church, NJ
1689 BCF
Technician in NewYork
Titus 2:13
...looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus...

You forgot The Daniel Band, Messiah Prophet, and XSinner (oh, wait. They're still around).

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My current CCM favorites would be Third Day, Casting Crowns, etc. I have listened to a little of Red, DecembeRadio, Skillet, and other hard stuff but find them to sound very angry and have weak lyrics. If I am going to listen to angry, weak lyrics, I might as well turn on Nickelback and others.

I long for the days of the 80's hair-band style of music to come back...

I've always loved listening to Michael Card, especially his albums on OT, on the Life of Christ, and on the Book of Revelation. Wish he will do an album just on Psalms.

I am not sure if I should listen to John Michael Talbot though, does his theology show up in his lyrics?

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Polo
Layman, Chinese Evangelical Church/Independent
San Diego

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. (Romans 11:36)

What I've listened too. Not a great deal. I've enjoyed his music for years. It's usually very contemplative stuff. Typical of a monk I guess.

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Donald Jacobs
Marysville. WA
Cascade Church (CRCNA)

Cum vero infirmor tunc potens sum.

I saw REZ back on their Lament tour. Good show, and a great album.

Of course Glen Kaiser is still doing music but REZ as a musical entity has retired from what I read.

Of course you have heard the 'urban legend' that when asked who the greatest guitar player in the world was, Jimmi Hendrix replied, "Phil Keaggy!" Don't know if it is true or not but we young christians sure were proud!

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I hadn't thought about the Daniel Band in years! Now that's CCM!

I believe you are right. I think Resurrection Band went the way of the Jesus Movement in general.

Believe it or not, I saw Sweet Comfort Band live at the Rainbow Music Hall in Denver circa 1981! I wish I could find some of the Res Band and Michael Omartian stuff nowdays. My vinyl is lonnng gone.

Not true I'm afraid, who Jimi acctually admited to apreciating as a guitarist was Billy Gibbons, not Phil Keaggy. This of course was way before ZZ Top fame.

I read an article about Phil Keaggy 20+ years ago in Rolling Stone magazine, and it mentioned that. What it said actually happened was Jimi Hendrix was asked in an interview, "What's it like being the best guitarist in the world," and he responded by saying, "go ask Phil Keaggy." I imagine at the time, that was probably when Phil was with Glass Harp. I have no way of knowing if it is true, but the article certainly presented it as a factual...not just a story or urban legend. But in any case, Phil Keaggy is certainly a better guitarist than Hendrix ever was, regardless of the quote.

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Michael Mason (a.k.a. Dwimble)
Fort Worth PCA
Fort Worth, Texas

That's it! That is the exact quotation that I had heard, but had forgotten. I did not realize that it was from Rolling Stone.

Here is an interesting article concerning the issue: http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/keaggy.asp

If true, this would explain the differences in people's memories about the incident.

That's very interesting. I've never heard any of that stuff. The article I read in Rolling Stone was in the mid-80s and was specifically about Phil Keaggy, where it mentioned the Jimi Hendrix thing. I remember at the time being VERY interested in it and excited to see an article about him in Rolling Stone because I was a brand new Christian at the time and had just gotten his instrumental album The Master and the Musician, and the album set How the West Was One, with 2nd Chapter of Acts.

Of course it could certainly be possible that the Rolling Stone reporter who wrote the article could have been reporting that quote as factual when he himself might have been simply repeating in ignorance something that was already an urban legend by then. It wouldn't be the first time a reporter didn't check his sources. By this point the truth is probably lost forever...unless someone can call up Phil and ask him.