I'm not necessarily an artist but I tend to look at life like one. I'm a music enthusiast, avid reader, and movie buff.I'm a die-hard Carolina Panthers fan. I also bleed UNC blue but have been known to support the Deacs when they're not in a head to head match-up with the Heels.
I'd like to meet:
All of you - in Heaven.
Music:
I'm all about listening to and promoting music which honors God and expresses all aspects of a complete walk with Christ. It's been my experience that you can find this in all genres of music. Cookie cutter music generally does nothing for me, although I can enjoy a good pop song done right. But I know that all opinions on this topic are subjective, so when you look at my list below try not to judge me too harshly, alright?
Rich Mullins is, hands down, my favorite musician/artist ever. His lyrics and music continue to give form and shape to my walk with Christ even ten years after his passing. I got to know Rich almost a year before he went to be with God and ten years after discovering his music. The video I've posted is for a song called "Creed" from his record, "A Liturgy, A Legacy, and a Ragamuffin Band" which holds the distinction of being the best record I own. Be God's.
After Rich, there are probably too many favorites to list all of them (if you know me at all, you know this) but I'll try to narrow it down. Please keep in mind that, in some cases, this is not an endorsement of philosophies or lifestyles. This is simply based on music: Jars of Clay, Caedmon's Call, Keith Green, Bob Dylan, Elvis, U2, The Beatles/Lennon, The Black Crowes, Derek Webb, Jimmy Eat World, Delirious?, Third Day, Soundgarden, Smalltown Poets, Mark Heard, Randy Stonehill, Phil Keaggy, Eric Clapton, Bebo Norman, The Wallflowers, The Choir, Lone Justice, The Eagles, Gin Blossoms, Pearl Jam, The Pretenders, Poor Old Lu, Creedence, Earth, Wind & Fire, Switchfoot, David Crowder Band, Skillet, Springsteen, Mellencamp, Van Morrison, Wes King, Steven Curtis Chapman, Counting Crows, Steve Earle, Jackson Browne, Common Children, Burlap to Cashmere/Steven Delopoulos, Jack Johnson, The Temptations, Tom Petty (with and without the Heartbreakers), Bob Seger, Jerry Chapman (hometown boy!), Ashley Cleveland, Steve Taylor, Sixpence, Coldplay, Toad the Wet Sprocket, 77s, Lost Dogs, Altar Boys (and any Mike Stand projects), Larry Norman, Jacob's Trouble, Sara Groves, Supertramp, Rez, PFR, Pierce Pettis, Andrew Peterson, eLi, Charlie Peacock, The Waiting, The O.C. Supertones, dcTalk (and any solo projects), Russ Taff, Hank Williams Sr., Stevie Wonder, Simon and Garfunkel, Sting/The Police and all soundtracks helmed by T Bone Burnett or Cameron Crowe. And that's the short list.
God blessed me by giving me a mom and dad who raised me in a Christ-centered home and fostered my love for music. My mom was our church choir director and pianist. She also sang soprano in a Southern Gospel group. I have a respect for this music although it's not my particular cup of tea. My dad had a gig as "Little Rex, the Singing Cowboy" on WKBC-AM when he was a kid, singing songs by Hank Williams, Little Jimmy Dickens, etc. Sweet.
Movies:
O Brother, Where Art Thou-no doubt my favorite, Casablanca, Citizen Kane, Sling Blade, Almost Famous, Spartacus, The Passion of the Christ, Ben-Hur, Unforgiven, High Noon, JAWS, A Christmas Story (watch the marathon every year), National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, Lawrence of Arabia, The Princess Bride, Hoosiers, The Thin Red Line, Shrek/Shrek 2, Spiderman/Spiderman 2, Good Will Hunting, Finding Forrester, The Truman Show, Eddie and the Cruisers, Sideways, That Thing You Do, Falling Down, any Jimmy Stewart movie, anything by Alfred Hitchcock and Tim Burton. I'm a movie fanatic and there are way too many to mention!
Television:
I've really cut down on this but but if Lost or The Office are on, I'm there. After church I'm usually watching ACC Sunday Night Hoops on Fox Sports South. And I'll always watch reruns of The Little Rascals (Darla was a friend of my Grandma) and Good Times. I still have a J.J. Evans doll circa 1975 complete with denim hat and "Dynomite!" PJs. Scares my wife silly.
Books:
The Bible, The Chronicles of Narnia, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Cold Mountain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, To Kill a Mockingbird, anything by John Steinbeck, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Edgar Allen Poe, Frank Peretti, and Ted Dekker. I've become a big fan of Erik Larson's historical novels - The Devil in the White City, Isaac's Storm and Thunderstruck. I have to admit that I'm hooked on the Left Behind series as well. I once interviewed Jeremy Post of the now-defunct band, Model Engine, who said, "I think to be a good writer you have to be a voracious reader." Well, that's me. A voracious reader. I'll leave the part about being a good writer up to God's graciousness and your discernment.
Heroes:
So many. Christ above all, although "Hero" doesn't even scratch the surface when it comes to describing Him.
My wife, Angie, my parents, my grandfather David Cleary, and all my pastors and their wives (Gary and Diane Benesh, Wallace and Marty Cole, David and Jennifer Brady) are just a few of the heroes I've known in this world.
