Read the whole article by David Garrison
Boundless ran my newest article “Gospel Identity: We All Have Identity Issues” last week. Picking up on my own battle for identity in Christ, and some fresh research on Chuck Palahniuk, this article presents an honest struggle against the “identity-of-the-moment.” An excerpt:
I sat in my office sulking. My day had been so demanding. My week tiresome. My month an all out marathon, minus the fans.
Pastoring eternal souls, preaching week after week, leading leaders, and being on mission is demanding enough, but occasionally the demands pile higher. As a pastor, I am a sinner that counsels sinners. This means that, despite our common hope in the gospel, there are times that I fail to apply my own gospel counsel to my own soul…{Read the Rest}
Music for the City is movement of artists and Austinites bringing together music and charity to aid the poor, sick and helpless. This organization is unique for a variety of reasons. Over the next week, I will offer several reasons why you should know and support Music for the City.
The Power of the Idea
Music for the City is a powerful, progressive idea. The concept addresses great inequalities that exist in every city, starting with our very own Austin. The idea is to bring together communities in this common mission. Music for the City isn’t simply a host for “benefit concerts”, but rather a movement that involves artists and ordinary citizens in directly benefitting those in need.
Increased Social Capital
In the Art of Giving initiative, artists spend time with underprivileged kids in order to love them and teach them their art, how to create. Artists learn more about how to relate to their city. It’s a two-way street. It puts people together who would not normally spend time together. This intersection of artists and those in need helps reconcile the social alienation that exists between the creative and working classes. It increases the social capital of our city, which over time will contribute the safety and economic welfare of the city.
Urban Renewal
Music for the City also contributes to the social needs of the city by raising money for reputable, designated non-profits such as Austin Safeplace and Austin Children’s Shelter. The non-profits get a year of support from MFC and then a new non-profit is selected. This enables non-profits to do what they do best, in a variety of areas, and to do it locally. This too is part of the genius of Music for the City—local, urban renewal. Our hope is that MFC will be reproduced in cities across America in order to foster intelligent and effective local urban renewal.
Making Good Culture
Music for the City hosts and publishes great music from a great city. In addition to hosting benefit concerts, MFC publishes compilation albums that sample local artists. Music for the City Volume 1 is not a collection of bands who could never make it. Rather, it represents some of the best and upcoming bands from “live music capitol of the world”. The Release Party of MFC Vol 1 includes: Alpha Rev, S0ldier Thread, Band of Heathens, Miranda Dodson and Jason Poe. VH1 has named headlining band Alpha Rev one the Top 20 bands You Oughta Know. MFC supports and promotes local artists in their endeavors to make good culture.
If you haven’t already purchased your tickets for the Alpha Rev/Music for the City Release party at La Zona Roza tomorrow, do it now. Alpha Rev is headlining the Music for the City Vol. 1 Release. Both albums will be available at the show tomorrow.
