“You are what you eat”. This is so very true. What you put in determines what you become. There’s probably a great sermon segue in here somewhere but I’m going take it a different direction for a bit. I want to pay homage to 3 artists from my past whose music was seismic in changing the course of the art I was to create. It’s been said none of us creates ex-nihilo” (out of nothing) and in every way that is true of me. I am so much a product of some very key people and moments that destroyed and then rebuilt what I thought creative expression could be, and be for.

Gustav Holst: More Than Words
I played tuba in junior high band (pray for me). One day our conductor had us listen to a record by English composer Gustav Holtz (1874-1934). That record was The Planets, an orchestral work that attempted to capture the character each planet is said to represent. For instance, Mars is known as the “war planet”, Mercury is “the winged messenger”, etc. Even Pluto got some musical love from Holst. Perhaps I was too young to have encountered something like this before, or, more likely, I had never been forced to thoughtfully consider a piece of music, but whatever the case I was floored. To think: wordless art telling stories, describing abstract ideas like old age or magic! It opened me up to a new vocabulary, one that didn’t require adjectives or pronouns, just notes. It was my first step to my own musical expression, which wouldn’t yet come for a few more years.

Phil Ochs: More Than Entertainment
In high school I took a humanities course that proved invaluable to me. Any course that wasn’t algebra proved invaluable to me but this one more so. It was the first class that wet my appetite for philosophy that I would later study in college. One part of our curriculum included the study of civil disobedience. We looked at MLK and Ghandi. One day in class Mr. C.K. pressed play on a Phil Ochs CD. FYI: A CD is a little round piece of plastic that at one time people used to buy to support artists they liked…but I’m not bitter. : ) Anyway, the song I heard was “Outside of a Small Circle of Friends”, a political commentary on the apathy of American culture toward injustices. Phil sang of real world cases like the New York murder of one Kitty Genovese.

Oh, look outside the window, there’s a woman being grabbed/
They dragged her to the bushes and now she’s being stabbed/
Maybe we should call the cops and try to sop the pain/
But Monopoly is so much fun I’d hate to blow the game/
And I’m sure it wouldn’t interest anybody outside of a small circle of friends/

All I had known my whole life was old soul music and George Strait tunes: Pleasant, fun songs that were at best anecdotal, sometimes thoughtful but very seldom intending to say something. It was another level of complexity added to what I thought music could be. It was this that lit under me a fire to “preach” as it were, in my songs. You may have noticed by now that I am no Chris Tomlin. My music is not often corporate sing-alongs (which the Church needs to be sure). Most of what I do is either introspection or teaching. The latter I attribute to my first inspiration, Mr. Ochs.

Lauryn Hill: More than Polished
Lauryn Hill doesn’t know this, but she taught me that I can be me. Just me without any pomp or façade. One day I hope to tell her that, but until then, here’s hoping she reads unpopular blog posts by under-the-radar Christian singer/songwriters. For Christmas one year my college roommate bought me Lauryn Hill’s MTV Unplugged album. The year before he bought my Finding Nemo which either reveals the complexity of my palette or the bizarre-ness of my friend. For years afterward I listened to that CD almost exclusively, besides an occasional interjection of Shane & Shane or Nichole Nordeman. Man O Man! Hill’s record was so good. Why? Because it was utterly naked. Her, a guitar and one other instrumentalist singing these run-on songs that felt more like rhyming college lectures on the Old Testament or personal journal entries than songs, and what’s more, her voice was totally hoarse! Now, this might sound like the makings of a terrible performance but on the contrary, these elements only added to the charm of it all. She was completely herself, she said what she wanted to say with little regard for the fact that MTV might not be down with the gospel, and she sang her songs with a wonderful rasp that only enforced the sincerity of her lyric. She literally starts sobbing at the end of the record as she sings about the “conquering Lion” breaking every chain. Man O man. I think I need to wrap this blog up so I can go listen to the CD again. This record empowered me to be me on stage and off, not what someone wants me to be. It’s true, I might be further along in my career if I’d just adjust what I do here and there, but I love how well I sleep at night knowing what I am striving to make is art that sounds and feels like me. I have much gratitude for Lauryn Hill who gave me the confidence to do what I do, how I do it.

How about you? What artists have inspired and shaped who you are? You can comment on my site under this blog or post on my Facebook page www.facebook.com/jimmyneedham

I’ve hesitated for a number of months now of speaking out on this issue.  Perhaps it’s because there are so many diverse opinions on it, even among conservative evangelicals.  Who am I to presume I have the best one?  Perhaps it’s because it is more comfortable to wax poetic on theological maxims in the blogosphere than it is to actually address contemporary moral issues.  Maybe it’s simply that I’ve been scared to have anyone mislabel me a bigot.  But by now I’ve read enough of the life of Dietrich Bonheoffer to know, “not to speak is to speak, not to act is to act.”  In light of that, allow me to speak for a bit on the new hot topic of our time, same-sex marriage.

Intentions

My goal in this blog is not to prescribe a particular “war strategy” among my readership.  There are many thoughts as to how to practically affect change in our nation, ranging from legislation and lobbying to complete removal from the political sector.  Each side makes compelling arguments and I for one am not yet settled on either entirely.  Suffice it to say that one strategy that should never be forsaken in this culture war is prayer, for, “the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” (James 5:16).

I would rather like to talk about what’s at stake in the embracing of same sex marriage as a constitutional sanction.  As many of you know (hopefully), there are two cases before the U.S. Supreme Court right now that demand rulings regarding the legal legitimacy of same-sex marriage.  Until recently, I hadn’t really thought much of it.  It seemed to me that not much would change about our country should the courts rule in favor of the plaintiffs.  After all, same-sex marriage is already legally legitimate in a number of states and I’m still doing fine.  Sure, I wasn’t happy about it, but it really has no direct impact on my day to day.  Turns out, I was very wrong.  That’s why I’m writing this, so that we as the Church can speak thoughtfully with our friends and neighbors about this very important topic, and so we can prepare ourselves for what waits over the horizon.  There are in fact things at stake in this matter, and I will be arguing them from three positions:  Theological, social, and legal.

The Purposes of Marriage:  Why Same-Sex Marriage Won’t Work Theologically

If you thought same-sex marriage can’t coalesce with the Christian message simply because homosexuality is a sin, you’d be only partially right.  Despite the theological dance that is being done from religious liberals, we know from Scripture that homosexuality is denounced as a sin.  However, what we fail to consider is the inconsistencies that come when an unbiblical union collides with a biblical institution.

Several months ago, I had the privilege of sharing the stage with Pastor Voddie Baucham.  In his sermon he laid out what he sees as the three purposes of marriages.  Namely, that marriage exists for multiplication (bearing children), sanctification (being made holy) and reflection (picturing to the world Jesus’ union with the Church).  The theological problem here is that none of the three fundamental purposes of marriage can be achieved by a same-sex couple.  The first is obvious why.  The final two deserve a word of explanation. As for sanctification, God uses our circumstances and our spouse to draw out of our sinful, selfish leanings and daily make us look more like Him.  However, if the very foundation of your union is itself not pleasing to God, then to be fully sanctified would mean to end the relationship, which is a logically absurdity.  The problem in this case is plain.  As for reflection, nothing to me is as dastardly as the undermining of this purpose.  Each married couple serves as a parable of the archetype: Jesus and His bride.  Any combination of as marriage partners besides one man and one woman serve as poor parables.  Whether we know it or not, when we enter into marriage, we are making statements about God and his gospel to future generations.  We must be careful about what those statements are.

Taking the Sticky out of the Glue:  The Social Ramifications

As with everything God does, there is deep purpose to the existence of biblically defined marriage.  The marriage union is vital for the stability of culture.  As one pastor put it, “God has created three institutions, marriage (and family), the Church, and the government, and the latter two hinge on the former.”  In truth, this God given institution acts as the glue for an otherwise chaotic society.  Study after study only confirms this.  Children in loving homes of one mother and one father are statistically less likely to abuse drugs and/or alcohol, commit suicide, go to prison, live below the poverty line, get pregnant out of wedlock, etc.  To tamper with the understanding of marriage is to remove the stickiness from society’s glue.

What Looms Ahead:  The Legal Ramifications

What looms ahead of us?  An assault on religious liberty, that’s what.  Believe it or not, we are on the precipice of a nationwide governmental intrusion into our freedom of religion.  Practically speaking, this final point should open eyes more than anything previous.  Consider what has already happened in states where same-sex marriage has been legalized.  In his article in Decision Magazine, Al Mohler points out, “In Massachusetts, the legalization of same-sex marriage meant the end of the adoption ministry of the largest faith-based agency there…Given its refusal to recognize same-sex couples as candidates for adoption, the agency was forced by law to end its respected adoption ministry.”  In California it is now illegal for a licensed professional counselor to counsel a minor away from same-sex attraction.  Things like these are beginning to happen around the country, but these are just birth pangs.  Imagine what would happen to our ability to practice our faith freely if on a national level our government rules against one of Christianity’s longest held institutions.  What might happen to our religious universities?  Our churches?  What will be the consequence if a church parishioner refuses to perform a wedding of a gay congregant?  Will sermons speaking against homosexual behavior become a hate crime?  We can only speculate.  This much is certain, what was once far away is now very near and we must know that things might never be the same for people of faith.

God, Give Us Strength

 I’m not saying our government owes us the luxury of religious freedom.  In many ways I’m surprised we’ve had it this long.  The Spirit opposes the flesh and the flesh the Spirit.  We cannot expect that a secular institution will always uphold our viewpoints.  I thank God that for so many years it has.  However, as our culture takes yet another large leap away from the gospel, I want to encourage all of us who love Jesus to bear this well.  Many societies around the world for most of history have resisted the gospel and persecuted God’s people.  Perhaps it’s our time now to bear up under the coming heat.  I want to challenge you, brother, sister, to be faithful to God’s Word.  May we, the Church, resist the urge to co-opt un-truths in pursuit of comfort.  May we be vigilant in prayer for our nation and each other.  And may we always be marked by kindness and compassion to the gay community, even as we stand firm on the ground of the gospel so that though “they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:12)

By now, many of you have gotten or heard my new album Clear the Stage. Many of you have also taken time to write me on Facebook, twitter and spoken to me at concerts to share how you’ve been challenged and encouraged through these songs, and in particular, the title track. By the way, if you haven’t heard the song, here’s a link to the lyric video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6smGew7dGto

What you might not know is that this coming Spring I will be doing my first headline tour called, you guessed it, the CLEAR THE STAGE TOUR.

The songs on this record tell the Truth, but songs can only go so far. For seven years, I’ve dreamt of being able to go even deeper.  create a concert experience like nothing I’ve ever done before.  And now, it’s finally here.

God is after so much more than our sing-alongs and token prayers. He wants are appetite, our desire, our all. This is the heartbeat of our tour. Not only is the message of the night so vital, but the mission is as well. We are partnering with our friends at the Mocha Club to help liberate women in the poverty stricken nation of Ethiopia from a life of prostitution. Currently in Ethiopia, one in nine women sell their bodies every night just to make ends meet. They are without hope or dignity. We want to change that number in Jesus’ name, and we know that as we fight for these girls, we will all be changed in the process.  To do this I’m bringing with me my friends, nationally renown speaker Tony Nolan and worship leader Jeff Johnson. These are men with heart, passion and talent. I’m so glad to have them on the team.

WE NEED YOUR HELP
Why am I sharing all this with you?   I’m writing because I want your help. I want to get this event into as many venues around the country as possible but I can’t do it alone. That’s where you come in.  If you’ve been impacted by what God has done through these songs in your own life and want to share that experience with others, you can have a hand in getting us to play in your city! Here’s how:

• Talk to some folks in authority at your church, or a local promoter at a nearby theatre, or a promotions director on your college campus (maybe an on-campus organization like a Christian fraternity/sorority).
• Tell them about the event, share with them the lyric video “Clear the Stage” to help them understand more about the tour.
• Have them, or yourself, send an email to Elite Talent Agency booking@ETA-Live.com or call them at (615) 983-6600 to get details about the event. NO COMMITMENT NECESSARY. This is just to see what costs will be, etc.  They respond quickly, promise!
• We will do our best to work with most budgets so don’t be scared to reach out!
• Do it soon as we are filling up our tour calendar now!

It’s that simple.  One thing I always loved about my fans is that they may be few but they’re passionate! I believe in you guys and know you can help us take this show to people who really need it. I look forward to joining you in an effort to win back the hearts of a generation to King Jesus! Let’s prove together that worship is more than a song!

- Jimmy

“The LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you, the land shall keep a Sabbath to the LORD. For six years you shall sow your field, and for six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its fruits, but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the LORD. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard. You shall not reap what grows of itself in your harvest, or gather the grapes of your undressed vine. It shall be a year of solemn rest for the land.”
(Leviticus 25:1-5)

In August of 2005, I released my very first independent CD, “For Freedom”. This was the album that got the attention of Inpop Records only three month after it’s release, which ultimately led to my first ever record contract in February ’06. I was 19 when that first album dropped. Still in college with plans to be a history teacher. I’m writing today as a twenty six year old. In a week I will be a father of two. Six years of marriage to my best friend next month. And, this August will also mark seven years since “For Freedom” was released and my career began. So much has happened in these seven years, and I’m grateful for it all.

There is an often undervalued command of Scripture that we find in Leviticus 25. It is a passage on rest. Specifically, God commands that every seven years the people are to cease tilling the ground, gathering it’s fruits, sowing and reaping. “There shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land” (Lev. 25:5). The command served dual purposes. First and most practically, it allowed the ground a year of “recovery time” for it to replenish the nutrients that the soil had lost over the past six years. This rest actually made the soil even better than before so that the next six years could be fruitful and profitable.

The second purpose was not for the soil but for the people: “But in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath…to the LORD.” Every business owner knows, work equals provision. You put your hours of labor every day and yield a return that will provide for you and your employees as well as grow your company. Time off means regression, no production, no provision. This is a terrifying thing. Maybe that’s why so many Americans are work-a-holics. The Lord knows this about mankind, and He knows that what is best for man is not to rest in their own efforts, but to rest in Him. He is their provider and their ceasing from work is a tangible way for them to affirm that.

I wanted you to know all that so that I can inform you of something. This August, in honor of my seven years of laboring in the studio and on stage, and in keeping with the essence of the levitical command, I have decided to take a Sabbath rest. Not for a year, but for a month. From August 5th until September 5th I intend to one thing, rest. My goal is to take thirty days to press into the Lord and to invest in my family and friends. I am hoping this will yield two results: First, that just like the fallow soil replenishing its nutrients, my heart will grow a renewed fondness and desire for Jesus, that He would expand my appetite for Him and then satisfy that appetite. I’ve been going virtually non-stop for seven years and there is no question that on some level, my relationship with Him has suffered because of that. I look forward to hours of uninterrupted God-time to pray, read and enjoy being in His presence. The second outcome I am aiming for is to remind my heart that it is the Lord and not my labors which provide for me and my family. Despite misconceptions about my financial situation as a recording artist, if I’m not on the road, I’m not making money. Thirty days of no income is no fun, but I believe and am trusting that God will provide in the interim. The Lord says to the people, “The Sabbath of the land shall provide for you” (v. 6). It’s a funny statement. It’s like saying, “not providing will provide for you.” Our provision is not by works, but by God’s grace as we rest from our works! This beautiful passage is a shadow, an arrow of the future grace that was to be poured out on people when Jesus came to earth. “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. And that, not of yourselves, it is a gift of God. Not by works so that no man may boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9). My God “provides for His beloved even in their sleep” (Psalm 127:2)!

So, what can you do during this next month? Well, I would deeply appreciate your prayers. Pray that I would actively not waste my Sabbatical. Pray that I would work hard to rest. Pray for new vision from God about what these next 5-10 years hold for me and my family. Pray for new inspiration for songs when I come back. Pray for provision for us in these next months. You can also pray for my wife, Kelly. August 16th she will be giving birth to our second baby girl, Sophia Quinn. We are so excited and would greatly appreciate prayers for a smooth delivery and a healthy little girl.

I consider you all my family, which is why I want to inform you of all these things. We are all in this together, working and resting for one glorious purpose: that in all things we would make Jesus famous!