Where the Indie Tunes Play

The edge is where the artist lives, new flavors meld, new routes are discovered, and where revolutions find their roots. The edge is where the Indie tunes play, world records are set, and passionate causes find new strength.

The center is crowded, congested, predictable, and dense. An ever-churning frenzie to commercialize, professionalize, repackage, price, and neatly arrange on shelves what comes from the neighboring edge.

The edge is always a place to go.

The center always a place to stay.

The edge, ripe with risk.

The center, a routine walk around the same block.

As a former missionary kid, mega-church staffer, ministry leader, staff pastor, urban church planter, lead pastor, and now a pastor on mission in Peru, I know professional church. And that knowledge of what works and once worked puts me at serious risk…

Of looking back.

Playing it safe.

Pressing replay.

And looking for something to purchase from the latest ministry conference shelf.

But I want to dance where the Indie tunes play, where the hack percussionist finds her new beat, and where the amatuer cooks tries out his new recipe for the first time. I want to be there when the light bulb goes off in the creative’s eyes and when the has-been finds her second wind. I want to be there when the broken finds his redemption, the hurt finds her healing, and the lost find their way back home.

I must always remember He is calling me to the edge, because that is where I’ll hold on to Him the tightest.

Let the music play.