Take a look at the volume of variety in bugs, flowers, animals and how God’s own creative process was apparently unending. Even today we are still discovering new species.

I am beginning to feel compassion for those who do not create nor are comfortable being unique but rather conform to society’s acceptable norms. These are those that gave up God’s creative ability within them to stop growing freely and have rather succumbed to a variety of societal pressures that have resulted in a contrived life much like a bonsai tree. These societal pressures have come though religion, peers, parental expectations… the list goes on and is incalculable based not only on the validity of those pressures, but also the interpretation of each individual and their response to those pressures.

My point is that all are created in His likeness, and all have been gifted  with the ability to create and pursue freedom in Christ. We are a unique creation in Christ Jesus. Proper administration of doctrine should build, equip, and enable us to grow freely into who God has intended us to be. It is when it imposes shape that deforms that unique creation– God’s intention, that men have overstepped their bounds in administering the Word of God and mis-used their power as leadership. In the body of Christ, It is only by healthy submission to spiritual leadership that men have been shapable both positively and negatively.

If an artist is connected to their creativity, than as they submit to the deforming guidelines of men, they develop a deep sense of loss, because they can still hear and see God’s image of them and framework for their lives through His ability working through them. The Christian who has accepted their creative role finds themselves at an important decision. This is a fork in the road… a moment of paradigm shift. Should they step out in faith to pursue God’s plan or should they buckle and conform to the substandard, evidenced in those in the Church. Some find the only way into creativity is to step into rebellion from the body of Christ. Rebellion in all of it’s carnality will propel the artist, like a multi-stage rocket leaving earth’s atmosphere, to be freed from the gravity that shuts most of God’s children down to conform and surrender their futures.

When an artist chooses to embrace rebellion, all manner of sin and debauchery is made available to partner with. The call of God to lead/create is irrevocable, so whatever they do in stepping out in belief in who they are, still has influence. But often this influence is not neutral, but fueled by sensation seeking newsworthiness and marketable differentiation, it is often in polarity to both Biblical and the present Church’s cultural interpretation of morality. (I only bring up this point, because I believe each generation can only can see in part, and does their best by the prompting of the Holy Spirit to interpret and implement the Word of God.) So the artist who “leaves the flock”, will more often than not find a crowd of witnesses of others who have also left their doctrine and morals behind to pursue the freedoms found in rebellion. There is little accountability for these artists because few have been willing to venture out of the walls of safety of Church subculture to be the family of God. This is the flock that exists, supports, and is their direct connection to the Vine, providing everything needed for health and wholeness in Christ Jesus.

The other option for the God-fearing artist is to go through a long drawn out process of self doubt. Most do not find their way out of this mire, the fog is most thick here. If they do not hear a voice ahead of them leading the way, they will either conform and give up God’s plan, or dive headlong into rebellion. But excited to say that the family of God does exist beyond the walls of the church sub-culture and conformist crowd.

…to be continued.

Redeem (some music I’m working on right now…)

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Behind the Music

Christmas means a lot of different things to people. I have a lot of fond memories over the years of our extended family all piled in for a day at my aunt and uncle’s singing the 12 days of Christmas, and forgetting the words, then an uproar of laughter ensuing. I also remember the generosity of my parents each year, regardless of the economy, the love I’ve felt from my family, who, never choosing me, adopted me into their hearts accepting me flaws and all, and committing to walking though a lifetime together. I remember what a wonderful time the Christmas season been to sing about my faith in Christ. More specifically the mystery of God entering the canvas of His own creation. He sent His Son Jesus to born as one of us, in our less than ideal and often lackluster circumstances. Regardless of the mixed feelings Joseph carried in his heart toward this child, his new wife, the violence of Harod’s decree, and the ridiculousness of forcing families to be together to be counted for the census, good came into the world on that day that we celebrate. I wrote and recorded these songs to stake my claim in all that I believe to be Christmas, sorting through the Biblical account and what Christmas has culturally become here in America, and to then touch on a few things that I think are meaningful. Life is busy. Life is messy. I hope these songs provide you a moment to reflect on your family, on your blessings, on your doubts and fears, and how a little baby could alter the course of your history forever.

Todd Berger's Christmas EP Red and Green on iTunes

Available on iTunes

Celebrate Love this holiday season.

Celebrate the night Love entered the world in the form of a Child. Support the work of Love146 with a charitable purchase of singer/songwriter Todd Berger’s Christmas EP “Red and Green.”

On this Love146 exclusive, Berger, an Enter the Worship Circle: Village Thrift artist, explores the nuances and contrasts of the Christmas season.

“I wanted to write about how young and old, cynics and optimists collide on Christmas,” says Berger.

Between tracks like the ballad “Snow Falling” and the noise rock tune “If I Have Love,” Berger hopes to create a musical climate of contradictions. One in which the mismatch of loud revelers belting out a boisterous anthem can coexist against the silent and peaceful backdrop of a gentle snowfall.

Showcasing Berger’s soulful vocals against a range of instrumentation, “Red and Green” delivers five original tracks and closes with a creative arrangement of the classic “Silent Night.”

All proceeds benefit Love146, a non-profit organization combating child sex slavery and exploitation.

On his first solo project, “And Have Not Love,” Todd Berger uses Psalms-inspired lyrics to drive home the message that maybe all we need is love after all. “The whole album, the songs, the theme, has to do with applying our love and taking action. Love being the motive,” says Todd. It’s a peace, love and hope message that’s as old as time, but never redundant.

Released in early 2009, the album is a new sacred work for listeners who are tired of the “worship” cliché, but still long to experience God in the moment. Employing acoustic and non-traditional instrumentation along with samplings and backbeats, Todd creates an unconventional expression of the sacred. The outcome is a multi-cultural, multi-genre spin on the acoustic/pop genre—a musical ideological “place of peace in the midst of a musical war-zone,” says Todd. It’s a style that serves him well.

Based out of Cleveland, Ohio, Todd Berger performs with a troupe of rotating back-up musicians playing anything and everything from the fiddle to the hip-hop essential turntable. As much as Todd enjoys being surrounded by a full cast of musicians, he’s also comfortable performing with only his Rhodes keyboard, or alone at the piano. His strong, rough-around-the-edges vocal styling nails in the emotion of the lyrics. Lines like, “My soul stay quiet for God. I’ve come to rest in him” and “He only is the rock of my strength I can refuge in,” can’t help but move one towards a place of worship and celebration.

Todd’s been on the indie-worship circuit for several years now, having collaborated with Worship Circle Records to pioneer the Village Thrift series alongside indie-folk/worship darlings, Ben & Robin Pasley of 100 Portraits and Enter the Worship Circle. Todd has also collaborated with Ryan Lott of Son Lux, fellow Clevelander, Dee Jay Doc (2% Milk) and performed with Worship Circle Record’s Aaron Strumpel.

Currently collaborating with Ben Pasley and Tony Vilgiate of Chainsaw Weasel, Todd is hoping to transition Village Thrift into an online creative community where songwriters, dj’s, and re-mixers can collaborate to develop and release new worship music to the public.

It’s a project that he hopes will enable other musicians to create their own love songs to God and effectively minister that love to others.

Essentially, it’s an influence thing, for Todd, with love being the motive.

Love indeed being the answer.

JAN212010

Caleb Friesen (Jacob and Lilly), Tony Vilgiate (Chainsaw Weasel), Aaron Strumpel (Enter the Worship Circle), Todd Fadel (LoveisConcrete.com), and Robin Pasley (Enter the Worship Circle) will be joining me to play the following set:

Satisfied

Make Me Feel

Tambourines

Understand

Left Left Right

Arise Shine

If You Must Fight

He Only Is

Strong Weakness

Do Not Fear

God Is Building A City

Simple

House concerts have challenged me musically to rethink how I will play all of my electronic music acoustically or “unplugged”. I’ve heard rave reviews of this format how important it was for people to here the songs in their singer-songwriter format. One thing that disturbs me is how if I stop playing, the room falls silent. I’ve played with bands for years and I’m not sure if I will ever feel comfortable being the only playing musician in the room. This has lead me to use different instrumentation that would allow me to talk over simple instrumentation. I love to talk and share stories about what inspired these songs or the passage of scripture they are written from.

Playing in front of a small group is incredible in that you can see and hear immediate feedback and response from people. They often have the opportunity to respond to you in conversation after a house concert like I have never seen at a larger show. Something about a stage creates an unnatural barrier that I’ve always had to fight past to establish the sense of intimacy that is indigenous to the house concert format. The longer I make music, the more I want my music to initiate real conversations between me and those listening to my music. I want them to try it on like a sweater… to interact with something I’ve made. I love this.

Another beautiful thing I’ve seen come about from some friends who led worship at someone’s house, was how this really became an easy opportunity for the host to invite all of their personal friends to get touched by the grace and ministry of someone who has ministered to them. I’ve also seen the amazing context of a night of prayer and worship as a night to lift up the arms of those too downtrodden and weak to go to a fellowship to be ministered to. This brings the intercession into their own home to leave a deposit of hope and healing in a way that often cannot or does not happen within the context of larger congregational gatherings.