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It seem everywhere I read lately there have been several mentions in blogs, articles, etc., of how to reconcile bad things that happen to good people. If we are always looking for “fairness” in life, our expectations will produce a disappointing reality.

In college, while studying to be a pastor, the theological topic of “the problem of evil” would raise its head quite often. As mentioned before, while expecting “fairness” in everything, we are easily disheartened. This week in the news, 10,000 Filipinos lost their lives as a horrible typhoon that swept across their island nation. Think of that—10,000 people perished—moms, dads, kids, grandparents…innocent people who didn’t deserve to die. And how can we wrap our heads around the recent school killings, or the brutal gassing of civilians in the Syrian Civil War? There are no easy answers, and perhaps, no immediate answers at all.

C.S. Lewis pondered of the problem of evil in a work called, “The Case for Christianity.” He wrote:

“God created things which had free will. That means creatures which can go wrong or right. Some people think they can imagine a creature which was free but had no possibility of going wrong, but I can’t. If a thing is free to be good it’s also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having. A world of automata—of creatures that worked like machines—would hardly be worth creating. The happiness which God designs for His higher creatures is the happiness of being freely, voluntarily united to Him and to each other in an ecstasy of love and delight compared with which the most rapturous love between a man and a woman on this earth is mere milk and water. And for that they’ve got to be free. Of course God knew what would happen if they used their freedom the wrong way: apparently, He thought it worth the risk… If God thinks this state of war in the universe a price worth paying for free will—that is, for making a real world in which creatures can do real good or harm and something of real importance can happen, instead of a toy world which only moves when He pulls the strings—then we may take it it is worth paying.”

In another work called “The Problem of Pain,” C.S. Lewis helps to bring understanding to the process of God refining the hearts and souls of His dearly beloved children:

“We are, not metaphorically but in very truth, a Divine work of art, something that God is making, and therefore something with which He will not be satisfied until it has a certain character. Here again we come up against what I have called the “intolerable compliment.” Over a sketch made idly to amuse a child, an artist may not take much trouble: he may be content to let it go even though it is not exactly as he meant it to be. But over the great picture of his life—the work which he loves, though in a different fashion, as intensely as a man loves a woman or a mother a child—he will take endless trouble—and would doubtless, thereby give endless trouble to the picture if it were sentient. One can imagine a sentient picture [one which helps the beholder sense, feel, perceive or experience subjectivity], after being rubbed and scraped and re-commenced for the tenth time, wishing that it were only a thumb-nail sketch whose making was over in a minute. In the same way, it is natural for us to wish that God had designed for us a less glorious and less arduous destiny; but then we are wishing not for more love but for less.”

My friend John Stanko, in a recent blog post entitled “Strength and Weakness,” wrote of the Apostle Paul’s difficulties and how he seemed to be failing when in fact he was actually doing the will of God while struggling through overwhelming circumstances. Stanko said:

“Paul saw that he was in his best position for success when he was in his purpose, but also facing his limitations, trusting the Lord to somehow make a way. And God always did make a way, even when he was in prison or on a sinking ship. Even when the ship was going down, Paul was fulfilling his purpose of taking the gospel to the Gentiles, even the Gentile ship’s crew.”

Our limitations, trials and difficulties make us stronger. As C.S. Lewis illustrated through the “intolerable compliment,” would we trade the character God has formed in us for an easier life? That’s up to each individual to decide. In Romans 5:1-5, Paul makes the claim which sheds light on the value of his own struggles.

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (NASB)”

We may never reconcile pain, unfairness, badness, evil and sin in this life like we do with our bank statements, but God will always use our suffering to create His likeness in us. We must be a willing vessel, ready to be formed by the Artist’s skilled hands on His pottery wheel.

I was excited to join Branon Dempsey for an interview on November 6th, covering topics of worship in the church, including how to love and keep volunteers, ageism in the church, rock star worship leaders, mentoring, and some information about my new book, Worship Foundry. I hope you enjoy this informal chat, and thanks to Branon for adding my song, “Texas Toast,” from my solo instrumental record, Songs Without Words, to the beginning of the video!

Click here to access the interview.

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A month or so ago, I mentioned on Facebook and Twitter that I was going to start a new recording project. I included a photo of several acoustic instruments that I said will be used in the recording. At that time, I didn’t mention the concept for the project that I was mulling around in my mind.

Fall is my favorite time of year. I have such great memories of when I moved to Ohio back in 1980, and the smell of burning leaves during Autumn permeated the air. The Fall took on a different feel for me there; in Southern California, where I was raised, there really was never a change of seasons, just lots of rain preceding the spring, then the killer SoCal weather—for which it is so famous—until the Santa Ana winds blow through in late Summer, reaching all the way to the rainy season again. The Southeast, here in Tennessee, has a more mild temperature, but there are four distinct seasons, none the less. It has always been my desire to write and record a batch of songs that the Fall inspired; songs that bring that crisp air and beautiful foliage to mind.

I can think of records I listened to back in the day, like Neil Young’s Harvest, and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s Deja Vu. Later, I would discover artists like Emmylou Harris, Ricky Skaggs,  Linda Ronstadt and the Eagles, their music brings about a longing for wide-open spaces and beautiful vistas. I have always wanted to recreate that feeling in my songs (that’s what artists do!), and I made up my mind to do a record during the Fall—for inspiration.

I started about 6 weeks ago, and I’m almost finished with the 9 songs on the record. I used a heavy dose of acoustic instruments like banjo (a “ganjo,” in my case), mandolin, fiddle, and a smattering of steel guitar—thanks to my new friend, Mike Scaggs. I’ve written some new songs especially for this project, and there will be some old favorites from my past on there like “Only Always,” “Garments of Praise” and one of my favorite camp song-hymns: “At the Cross.” I’ve also included a new song, co-written with the great Ginny Owens (also on her upcoming record), called “I Am Yours.”

I’m not sure what it’ll be called, but the I pray the project will be a delight to play in any season. It will definitely have you longing for the crisp days of Fall, and reaching for a warm sweater to break the Autumn chill.