Monthly Archives: October 2014

The way of faith for Alice Cooper

By Steve Beard Back in 2002, MTV announced that the biggest hit in its history was a program called “The Osbournes.” The half-hour show — complete with constant bleeping from excessive foul language — was a curiously fascinating docu-comedy starring … Continue reading

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Wrestling disquietly with the Bible

By Steve Beard “My new Bible study is really testing me. I have never studied the Bible or read my Bible and I really have no idea how to do it,” confessed my friend Tiffany on Facebook. “The language is … Continue reading

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Patti Smith’s spiritual journey

If you have ever been curious about the complicated spiritual journey of iconic punk poet Patti Smith, Ray Padgett’s essay on her version of “Gloria” is exceedingly helpful. This was posted HERE back in 2014. What follows is a shorter … Continue reading

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East of Eden

By Steve Beard Every morning I see a poster hanging in my home for a Triple Crown surf contest in Hawaii. During the last 25 years, I have been to several of the islands, but the small town of Haleiwa … Continue reading

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Eternity on the Sidewalk

By Steve Beard When we are born we bear the seeds of blight; Around us life & death are torn apart; Yet a great ring of pure and endless light; Dazzles the darkness in my heart. Sometimes poets drive me … Continue reading

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Fatherly advice

My son John Paul just turned 18 years old. I fired off my first letter to him when he was four days old. “All of this is to simply say that you were wanted and we are so glad that … Continue reading

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Setzer Gretsch in Smithsonian

Brian Setzer’s gorgeous Gretsch guitar has now been inducted into the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Setzer’s guitar – which is actually a replica of his 1959 Gretsch – will be part of the stunning collection of musical instruments at … Continue reading

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Happy Birthday Wanda Jackson!

By Steve Beard At the age of 77, the righteous Queen of Rockabilly is still tearing it up with 60 to 80 concerts per year. Considered to be one of the first women to record rock and roll, Jackson is … Continue reading

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Lecrae, Imelda May, Southern Food Museum, Tiki Bars, and Sunday Mornings

• Lecrae: ‘Christians Have Prostituted Art to Give Answers.’ Thoughts on rap and God from the 34-year-old musician, who was the first to ever simultaneously land an album at the top of the gospel music charts and the Billboard 200 (The Atlantic) • … Continue reading

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The Sound of Salvation

Excerpt from Stephen H. Webb’s thought-provoking article, “The Sound of Salvation: A Proposed Theology of Rock and Roll” in First Things, October 2014. Like King David, who used music to explore his own personal ambitions and failures, rock singers lament … Continue reading

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