Musical Memory

Like a lot of people, music triggers memories and long-forgotten stories and emotions for me. The reason that "classic rock" is so popular today isn't only because the music was better then (sure sign of aging, when you think the new music all sounds the same, which it does); it's also because memories are powerful things, and music acts as the catalyst that unleashes our recollections that have often faded into the background.

When I started to work on the Post-Charismatic project, almost a year ago now, I made a point of getting a hold of some old worship CD's that I no longer had copies of. Worship albums that were current during the mid-90's, when I was a worship/youth pastor in the Vineyard movement. Worship CD's that exemplified and typified that era of my life.

Even So Come (Kevin Prosch)

When I decided to go ahead with this project, I realized that it would be very important to write as an insider, which of course, I was and am. So, whenever I sit down to write, I always have some of the oldskewl worship CD's playing (I write best to music -- you should have seen some of the theology papers I wrote, late at night in the 80's, with Resurrection Band cranked to max). Because music is so evocative for me, particularly in the memories that it provokes, it was helpful to have this music on while I was writing.

Refiner's Fire (Vineyard 'Seasons of Worship' series)

And sure enough, listening to these collections of music has helped remind me of the great times, as I sort through the bad times, which have lead to being post-charismatic. And the memories of the genuine times of encountering the Holy Spirit in significant ways, and seeing Him work in miraculous ways in and through and among us, has served to solidify my desire to NOT be post-Spirit.