A: This is a real hot button issue for some people. On one side it's an issue of liberty in Christ, and on another it's one of not causing a weaker brother to stumble. At the root of it all though, it seems to me to be more of an issue of personal taste (or lack thereof). Let me first confess my obvious bias - I was raised on rock and roll. It's the musical "language" that I speak. Yes, I've read "studies" about rock music killing plants and the beat somehow leading the listener to lust and sin. For some people it may be a legitimate issue. For those folks I would definitely suggest trying to listen to some other kind of music. Though I'm not so blind as to try to justify all rock music or even all Christian rock music, I think it's throwing the baby out with the bathwater to damn an entire genre.

First of all, Scripture does not speak against (or for) any particular musical style. It does encourage "loud and joyful" music, and the use of a wide variety on instruments, but beyond that it's a matter of personal choice. Second, where do you draw the lines? What exactly is rock music? Trying to draw a line around "rock music" is like trying to nail Jell-O to a tree - it's an exercise in futility. Some of the arguments I've read seem to take the position that rock music (even the instrumental stuff) is evil and old fashioned (meaning 1950's, I guess) country gospel music is wholesome. I beg to differ - if it's the strong rhythm that's the problem, then you'll have to condemn the Gaithers as well as 99% of the hymns you sing on Sunday morning. Unless your church uses John Cage compositions in worship, regular, obvious meter is part of the package.

My opinion is that music is neutral. It's a tool, like a knife. In a surgeon's hand it can save life. In a criminal's hand it can take it. I've heard great secular rock music that turns my eyes toward the Lord, and I've heard awful Christian rock music that's embarrassingly bad. I think the two questions you need to consider as a Christian with anything not specifically dealt with in Scripture are these:

1. Is it expedient? Paul said all things are permissible but all things are not expedient. In other words, does it advance your relationship with the Lord, or does it hinder it? You shouldn't consciously let anything come between you and your savior, certainly not music, but not a harsh Pharisaical rejection of it either.

2. Is it effective? I've heard sweet, worshipful lyrics married to dark, aggressive music, apparently in an attempt to be relevant and hip. You know what? It didn't work. Music needs to be consistent - I think there's a place for more aggressive music just as there's a place for a pastor raising his voice and hitting his fist on the pulpit for emphasis. Be sensible though - you need variety in your diet. Living on a constant intake of one style of music is like eating only lettuce - it will leave you a stunted person. Try to broaden your horizons a bit.

Finally, don't be too quick to apply or judge by labels. All rock music isn't bad any more than all classical music is good. Be discriminating about your listening. Finally brethren, whatsoever things...

Q: How do you make your guitar sound like a violin? Is that some kind of effects box?

A: Yes and no. I am currently using a DigiTech GNX2 processor, but depend on it mostly for signal compression, reverb and a little delay. Probably what you're referring to is a technique used a lot by Phil Keaggy called a 'volume swell'. It's accomplished by picking the string with the volume off and quickly turning it up, either by rocking the guitar's volume control with the pinky or with a volume pedal such as the one on the RP2000. This gives the note a smooth attack and can sound somewhat like a violin.

Q: My son wants to learn to play guitar. Do you give lessons?

A: I'm sorry, but no, I don't give formal lessons anymore. I enjoy playing, but found that I didn't enjoy teaching and wasn't particularly good at it either. 

Q: What kind of equipment do you use?

A: At the moment I have three functional guitars - a Fender Stratocaster American Standard edition, a Taylor 410CE acoustic/electric and an Ovation Celebrity Deluxe, all recent models. I also have an old thrashed JB Player Strat copy. It's a left over from my club days and is in the process of being refinished. (it has a built in 49MHz wireless - wowee! It picks up cordless phone traffic once in a while just to keep the gigs interesting) I also have an Ibanez Roadstar II P-bass (for recording). I primarily use a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe for amplification, though I also have an old Peavey Special 112 left over from the band days. I've found that running my Digitech GNX2 effects processor directly into the effects return of the Special 112 yields a surprisingly quiet and acceptable tone. (hey come on - it's an old solid state Peavey...) For recording purposes I have an assortment of rack processors and effects including an old Digitech RP2000. I'm not (yet) very proficient on keys, but I have a Yamaha S08 and an Korg DW8000 hybrid analog/digital synth, mostly for MIDI control. For recording I use a Yamaha AW16G 16 track hard disk recorder and Cakewalk Sonar 4 on a dedicated Pentium 4 based PC running Windows XP Pro. I also have a collection of patch editors, VST instruments and librarians for my MIDI addressable modules and keyboard and have been experimenting a bit with Fruity Loops Studio, Propellerheads' Reason, Garritan Personal Orchestra and Gigastudio 32 lately.

Q: What music/artists do you listen to/are you influenced by? What do you think of the Christian vs. secular music issue?

A. I'll answer the second part first - I'm no theologian, just a Christian struggling to determine God's leading in my own life, and I try not to tell other people how to order their walk with the Lord on issues not specifically addressed in Scripture. All I'll say on the Christian vs. secular issue is that there's great music and absolute rubbish on both sides. I've heard some "secular" music and lyrics that have turned my eyes to the Lord and some "Christian" music that made me embarrassed for the performer. Whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord. If you're truly struggling with this issue, search the Scripture, talk to your pastor and take it to God in prayer. You might also look into a book I've read by a well known and respected rock musician turned pastor - Kerry Livgren, former guitarist, keyboardist and composer for the band Kansas. (remember Dust In the Wind and Carry On Wayward Son?) Kerry wrote a book about his spiritual search which includes some good thoughts on the secular/sacred issue called "Seeds of Change". It's available at the time of this writing from his website http://www.numavox.com. 

As to what I listen to and what I'm influenced by - the easy answer is everything. I've started a list of my own music collection elsewhere on this website that is a beginning. I've been a fan of "prog rock" since my high school days. Bands such as Kansas, Yes, Emerson Lake and Palmer and more recently Spock's Beard, Transatlantic and the Flower Kings are good examples of the genre. I also enjoy anything with good vocal harmony and rich acoustic guitar - Dan Fogelberg, America, the Eagles and CS&N come to mind. Specific influences are a little harder to pinpoint - I guess I'd name Phil Keaggy as a guitar influence, and maybe Dan Fogelberg as a lyrical inspiration.

Q: What's going on with your CD project?

I've been writing, arranging and recording demos in my project studio for some time and hope to have enough material put together shortly. I'll be seeking the help of some talented folks to help me translate the sounds in my head onto disc. Making the mortgage payment every month and financing a private label CD at the same time can be a challenge - I also confess to being a studio novice, so the project is progressing even if it's at a glacial pace.