Continue the Conversation

Baltimore

2012-02-11T07:45:00.000-08:00

We're in Baltimore, spending the weekend with our good friends, Brandon, Katie, and fam. The trek across IL, IN, OH, WV, VA, and MD were scenic and I hope to come back and hit up parts of the Appalachian Trail. The Schultz's greeted us on Thursday to an awesome hotel suite and late night chats (that's why we came to be quite honest!)

Yesterday we hit up the inner harbor of Baltimore, visited the aquarium, and finished out the day with a 3 hour voyage-of-a-meal at an amazing Ethiopian place called Bete, in Spring City. Oh Em Gee! Let's just say we devoured a table-sized smorgasbord of meats (some cooked & some not), veggies, lentils, and bread. I recommend the 'kit fo' - raw beef!

We crashed late last night and we're doing it again today; just with less raw meat this time. I hear the human body can only take on so much...

Peace,
Ross

Cora Cries for Albert Pujols

2012-02-08T06:56:00.000-08:00

Here's my awesome daughter upset about Albert Pujols' departure from the St. Louis Cardinals.

Peace,
Ross

Identity Crisis

2012-02-06T06:37:00.000-08:00

There's a TON of talk these days about masculinity in the church, in faith, heck, even the very nature of God. I get it - it's a response to men leaving the church in droves. But I see a HUGE flaw in this conversation. First of all is the tone. It's unhealthy, cocksure (pun fully intended), and segments the nature and character of God into a black and white mold, that I don't find helpful; and is actually untrue about God. For centuries, you couldn't utter the name of G-D, much less define him. But alas, its 2012, and we've figured God out.

Some of the same authors and thinkers that have propped up the sovereign God, are now painting God into a definable box. That leaves me a bit perplexed.

My reservations about this recent movement is that its a matter of identity. The same camp that is touting an uber-masculine God names homosexuality as a sin; that it's a sin because of identity. One's sexuality becomes their identity, rather than Christ. The argument usually goes like this:

"You can't be both Christian and homosexual"
"The Bible is clear that homosexuality is a sin"
"You can't be vegan and eat meat" (I know its a lame example, but I didn't coin it)
"Thus, Christianity and homosexuality don't mix"
"You'll go to hell...the scripture says it, and who am I to argue with scripture...I didn't write it, I'm just the mailman" (again, I know its a lame example, but I didn't coin that one either)

Now, if its truly a matter of identity, how is replacing your sexual preference (as identity) any different than being identified by being "man?" At the end of the day, its the same identity crisis.

But that's what you get when you pick and choose scriptures to prop up your doctrine of faith and make it resonate to your cohort of followers. Either the Bible told the truth, or its a lie. But when it says, "because of my death and resurrection, there's no Jew or Greek, male or female, free or slave, etc..." how do we respond (Galatians 3:28)?

I think in that moment, all issues of identity changed (or at least should have). I struggle with my identity as do most people. I'm defined by my jobs, relationships, status, emotions, etc. But I'm working through it in response to my true identity being in Jesus.

Anything short of that is a distraction and hurts the Church in the long run.

I hope this discussion will fade away (soon) and that the damage will be minimal; but the voices are loud and cocksure. The cohort likes the doctrine, and I'm worried about damage control.

Thoughts?

Peace,
Ross

You Remain My Constant

2012-02-05T07:13:00.000-08:00

Here's the lyrics to one of the 1st songs recorded for the upcoming worship project: SPACE.

It's a building prayer. There's not much to it. It's asymmetrical (like life), and ends in a cry of hopeful doubt.

You Remain My Constant
(c) 2011 Ross Christopher Donaldson

You remain my constant, You remain...
You are steady and Your love abounds...
You are always near in suffering...
You are always here in thanksgiving...
Your love increases as I run away...

You remain...

You remain my constant, You remain...

Peace,
Ross

SPACE (a worship project)

2012-02-03T11:38:00.000-08:00

Here's a couple tunes I've recorded for an upcoming worship project, SPACE.

Please check 'em out and let me know your thoughts! The idea for the entire album is to create SPACE in worship...

You Remain My Constant

Who Is He

Peace,
Ross

Binding & Loosing

2012-02-01T07:30:00.000-08:00

I thought it'd be interesting to write/think/discuss the biblical concept of binding and loosing in today's post.

Binding and loosing is an originally Jewish phrase which appears in the New Testament, as well as in the Targum. In usage to bind and to loose mean simply to forbid by an indisputable authority, and to permit by an indisputable authority.

Jesus continues the early Jewish discussion and notion in Matthew 18, when he says, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

What exactly does this mean?
I'm not going to pretend to have the right answer.
But what I can do is offer an opinion (which I think has a biblical, contextual, and historical basis.)

Could Jesus be speaking to those of us that create laws or ways of living that might be otherwise different than how we've interpreted God's original intention? By that I mean, God gives us a wide open grace and compassion and justice, that seems to be including all of humanity, but for some, we minimize the huge-ness of God to fit our particular theologies, doctrines, orthodoxies, denominations, and networks. In doing so, are we creating new realities with eternal consequences (both good and bad)?

Think about the questions posed to Jesus regarding the Kingdom of God...a rich young ruler asks how he might inherit it, and Jesus speaks in economic terms. That man is certainly bound by an economic identity and way of life. The way(s) he binds and looses his money on earth will likewise resemble eternity.

When a farmer asks Jesus about the Kingdom of God, Jesus speaks in agricultural terms, because that man's identity, calendar, and way of life revolves around crops and cultivation.

When the church leaders ask about the Kingdom of God, Jesus speaks of a wedding banquet which is more inclusive than they would like.

Again, it seems Jesus is tying identity to what is bound and loosed. He goes beyond the hard-lined black and white-ness of what the Old Testament seems to say, and creates new realities.

Today we find ourselves in various congregations that label certain things taboo or heretical, while other congregations may not. Does this mean there's not a specific right or wrong (method to inheriting the Kingdom of God)? Perhaps, perhaps not.

But in each of these cases, the Kingdom of God is merited, understood, and lived in different ways: giving away money, planting seeds and letting weeds grow amongst them, and being inclusive as to who's seated at the wedding party.

Remember, in Revelation we're also told that the gates of heaven are left wide open (Revelation 21:25). So just perhaps those black and white issues that we tend to label closed or open handed, will have eternal implications. Perhaps we are creating eternal realities. Perhaps eternity doesn't begin at death, but birth.

Peace,
Ross

Distraction

2012-01-30T07:55:00.000-08:00

Distractions can kill dreams faster than almost anything. I know many people (myself included at times), that have had huge dreams, but because of financial constraints, time, or location, have become distracted from pursuing those dreams.

The scenario typically goes like this:

Dreams...
If I only had X amount of dollars, I could truly pursue that dream.
I'll take a job (or jobs) as a means to an end in accomplishing that dream.
5-10 years later, I'm still in a job that was only meant to propel me into making my dreams a reality, and now I'm convinced its too late to pursue that original dream.

This works itself out in every landscape. I see it abundant in our political system now...

(MY OPINION)
It seems like in this election cycle, there are more GOP primary debates than ever. I would argue that this is very calculated. Because the debates are most often network debates (CNN, FOX, MSNBC, PBS, etc), the amount of time, focus, and criticism (and trust me, there's plenty of deserving criticism) that surrounds a possible candidate distracts us from the reality of politics that is happening in congress and in the White House.

While we focus on a possible candidate, gas prices inch up to near-national highs, and it receives little to no air time. Our lowest rated congress sits and does nothing, and all we discuss is who said what at the most recent debate.

Distraction works!

So maybe use this next time you have a dream and feel the need to pursue it:

1. Dream
2. Draw out a vision
3. Fail often and FAIL FORWARD
4. Re-access
5. Dream more...(repeat as necessary)

But whatever you do, resist distraction!

Peace,
Ross

Saturday

2012-01-28T08:38:00.000-08:00

Unlike my childhood, my kids don't wake up and run to watch Saturday morning cartoons. Instead, they grab the iPad and watch their favorite episodes of Angelina Ballerina, Wonder Pets, and Inspector Gadget, all cuddled up together on Cora's bed.

But hey, as long as it buys Kate and I another 30 minutes in bed, I'm cool with that!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Peace,
Ross

They Reappear

2012-01-27T11:58:00.000-08:00

Here's the FINAL video from the LIVE DVD. It was such a fun concert/shoot that I'll never forget! It was a privaledge and honor to play with the talented Jeremy Larson, Darren King (Mutemath), & Stacy DuPree (Eisley & Sucre)...not to mention all of the other great string players!

Enjoy!

Peace,
Ross

Stirring

2012-01-26T12:51:00.001-08:00

Here's another clip from the LIVE DVD...enjoy it! Tomorrow will bring this series to a close. Thanks for watching!

Peace,
Ross

Intervention + Remission

2012-01-25T08:18:00.000-08:00

Here's another couple tunes from the LIVE DVD.

Peace,
Ross

Empire + Provoke + Day Residue + Circadian Cues

2012-01-24T07:10:00.000-08:00

Here's another couple videos from the LIVE DVD I played violin on with Jeremy Larson.

I failed to have mentioned before, but I was dying during this concert. Kate and I had a "kid free" weekend as we prepped and performed, but both of us got sick - real sick. I was running a 104 degree temperature the entire night. You can see it in the second video. During the cello solos I'm just trying not to collapse :-) Actually Cora asked me, "Dad, you don't look right...you're all puffed!" So, I'm not sure a 104 degree temperature makes you puffy - that could just be my proclivity for donuts and MSG...

Nonetheless, enjoy!

Peace,
Ross

Murmur Exhale + Doe Eyed Children + Bedside Manner + Night Terrors

2012-01-23T07:00:00.000-08:00

Here's installment #3 of the LIVE DVD from the show I played violin with Jeremy Larson, Darren King (Mutemath), and Stacy DuPree (Eisley). Enjoy!

Peace,
Ross

Ricochet + Half Speed

2012-01-22T06:28:00.001-08:00

Here's another clip from the LIVE DVD I did with Jeremy Larson last year...

Peace,
Ross

Descending

2012-01-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

Over the next few days I'll be posting video from the LIVE DVD I did with Jeremy Larson, Darren King (Mutemath), & Stacy DuPree (Eisley). It was amazing to play violin for this amazing performance!

Here's #1: Descending...

Peace,
Ross

Moneyball

2012-01-19T07:57:00.000-08:00

I saw Moneyball this week and absolutely loved it! Maybe not because of the acting or the history, but because of the underlying story.

Brad Pitt's character was unsatisfied with status quo and wasn't willing to hope for different results without making fundamental changes to the A's organization. He pleads with his scouting staff to get rid of the proverbial box. They could not. They were bound to a fixed system.

Enter Jonah Hill's character that didn't even consider the box, or the system that the scouts were bound to. Instead he changed the way baseball was played. The risk was great, and the failures were many. But in the end the result changed the culture of the game.

Watch it. Live it in your own context.

Peace,
Ross

Real vs. Surreal

2012-01-17T07:51:00.000-08:00

I want to pose an idea.

We should live a life based in the real, not the surreal. The surreal supposes unrealistic grandeur, which is posed in many forms as reality, but is in fact scripted, and fantasy. Reality is tangible, gritty, and effective. Surreality is not - it is blinding and lacks truth.

Let me toss you a few ideas of how culture succumbs to the surreal versus the real... (these examples may frustrate you, but that's kind of the point)

-Reality Television: there's no reality in 24 hour cameras, scripted scenarios, larger-than-life characters; and yet many try and emulate our reality tv stars.

-Planned Obsolescence: this is the manufacturing model that produces products with a planned life-span, which forces the consumer to re-buy "new and better" products. It makes sense on paper, but eventually the consumer will no longer tolerate it, and the companies that produce products that last and endure, will win. The pendulum is finally swinging in the right direction here!

-Ethanol: over 40% of our corn production is being used for an alternative fuel that burns faster and worse than gasoline. We simply cannot sustain an economy that burns its food, while people are starving.

-War: the idea that, "if we just kill enough of the enemy," we will win over the hearts and minds of those we are in conflict with, and peace will reign is a lie. History shows that redemptive violence will never bring peace.

-Ending Poverty: It's estimated that $150 Billion dollars could end global poverty (bringing food, clean water, shelter, medicine, and education to the impoverished world). The surreal says that "we'll never end poverty." In fact, it would be a drop in the bucket. The US alone spent $14 Billion bailing out our auto manufacturers, $700 Billion on the bank bailout, and over $2.4 Trillion on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Money is not the issue!

-Consumption: this is the lie that if we just have more, we'll be happy.

I believe that the cure is more creativity! When our leaders stop expecting new results while employing failed methods, we will start to resemble reality, and true, tangible change will occur.

Please feel free to chime in. I want your thoughts!

Peace,
Ross

Monday is for Transformational Creativity

2012-01-16T08:47:00.001-08:00

My buddy Brandon showed this to me a while back. It'd brilliant! It shows the transformational nature of creativity. Love it and spread it around!

Peace,
Ross

Tomorrow at The Duck Room (St. Louis, MO)

2012-01-12T11:48:00.000-08:00

I really hope to see you there!

Peace,
Ross

Thoughts on Snow.

2012-01-11T06:54:00.000-08:00

Living in St. Louis this year means we have yet to see any snow. But I'm going to write about it anyway today - maybe in hopes of an eventual snowfall...

I think snow is a perfect metaphor for creativity. Early on as children, we loved the idea of getting a foot of snow dumped on us. We watched the windows impatiently as the first flurries of winter fell. We stayed up and watched the nightly news for the possibility of school closings. We woke up to crisp mornings and no matter the wind chill demanded to go outside and create snowmen, snow angels, snow forts, and go sledding.

But as we grew up, snow brought us tension. It meant shoveling and slow traffic. It meant longer lines at the store (as if this snow was going to be a wintry' apocalypse).

As with creativity, what was once enthusiastic and natural, has become tamed and even hated.

But as the snow falls this year, take a few moments to look through a densely wooded area. You can see everything. Snow exposes what was once camouflaged. The crispness of the air is rejuvenating. The snow can beckon creativity, newness, freshness, while also causing stress and retreat. So it goes with creativity.

Peace,
Ross

iEmpathize...do you?

2012-01-10T07:16:00.000-08:00

Empathy Week: iEmpathize and Universities from iEmpathize on Vimeo.

iEmpathize is an amazing organization that works to raise awareness and put an end to the sex trade. Please check out their site HERE!

I have been humbled to have been their feature musician at 2 of their recent events, and now have music featured on their national promo videos.

I look forward to a future with the great folks at iEmpathize!

Peace,
Ross

Cora is 4!!!

2012-01-09T06:55:00.000-08:00

Today is Cora's birthday. She's 4! It's unreal, really. She's gotten so mature, her character is forming as a true compassionate and empathetic individual, and she's got more creativity than I could ever hope for.

Happy birthday Cora!

Peace,
Ross

Mad Props.

2012-01-05T08:51:00.000-08:00

I gotta' give some mad props to one of the most creative guys I know. He's a photographer, a web designer, a maverick editor and manipulator, a soothsayer, a collaborator, a soaker, and has been my friend since seventh grade honors choir.

He's the guy behind my website and makes me (and it) look way cooler than we are...

Check out Brandon Schultz's work here and here. If you need web, photo, or any other creative work done, get Brandon on your side.

Thanks a million Brandon!

Peace,
Ross

Our Essence...Don't Condition it Away!

2012-01-03T08:58:00.001-08:00

I believe that we are all created creative. I know some of you will argue that you don't have a creative bone in your body, but I would disagree. Because I believe that we were created in the image of the Creator God (Genesis 1:27), our essence is that of creativity.

This struck me again last week as I was sitting on a bench at the park. I watched kid after kid, use the swings as vines - climbing tools to the frame, that became the kids' jungle. I watched kids climb up the exterior of the tubular slides pretending to be Spiderman. I watched kids make up fantastical plot lines for the make believe games they were playing.

Then I watched as parent after parent stopped the kids from swinging from the ropes of the swings, stopped them from climbing the exterior of the slides, and all of the sad faces associated with the parental intervention.

I believe that what I saw, was the creative in each of us being quelled by adulthood. We've all been told not to do things (granted some of it is for our safety), but imagine a world that was dream-free, danger-free, and creativity-free. It wouldn't be much of a world.

So the next time you see your kids being creative in their surroundings, watch and learn from them. Soak up as much as you can, and above all, help them to flourish in their creativity. It's in our basic human makeup. Don't condition it away!

Peace,
Ross

This Year.

2012-01-02T13:56:00.000-08:00

Welcome to 2012!

This year I'm going to focus the blog content a bit more to all things creativity. You might be thinking that's too limiting, but let me explain. I believe that creativity encompasses everything from art to politics, child raising to nation building, songwriting to conflict...the list goes on and on.

So this year, I promise to give you small blips of ideas that surround the creative process, propels ideas forward, and creates culture. I promise to fail often, but to fail forward. I promise to be diverse in subject matter. I promise to start and hopefully continue the conversation. And I promise to say things that will create tension.

This year will be a great one - even if the Mayan's are right...

Peace,
Ross