The Blog: Ministry, Music, Media
Media Literacy: Food For Thought in Your Family posted on June 30, 2009
It is my hope on this website and blog that we will together dialogue about how to deal with media as presents itself in our faithful family lifestyles. 
I invite you to bring your questions through comments below or send me an email.
I found a short video presentation through the Center for the Media Literacy, an organization I have a great deal of respect for, that might offer some clarity to media literacy. It simply explains how important media literacy is in the lexicon of our cultural interaction and its influences of our family and faithful life. Speakers are, Tessa Jolls, President of Center for Media LIteracy, Alvin Poussaint, MD, Director of the Media Center, Judge Baker Children’s Center at Harvard University, and Kimberly Salter, PhD., National Organization for Women
The video has a straightforward way of explaining some simple questions that will bring critical thinking skill to your children as a way of life; it might help to clear the skies in terms of what media can enrich in or take-away from, our lives. Watch this video and let me know what your questions are, what you think of the effort, and perhaps how media literacy is part of your family life.
I hope that together we can dialogue over how faith serves as the rudder in your life and how critical thinking regarding media participation is influenced with the values and meaning you take from your prayer, study and love in faith as you reach the place where God is present for you.
Music
Listen for Shine All Your Light, by Beth Nielsen Chapman, where we are encouraged to live life to its beautiful fullness because no matter how tiny the love we give may seem to us, it is not tiny at all. As we center our lives in our faith, can we be distracted by the lure of french fries, burgers, sneakers or skinny actors to give life meaning? Or, can we watch and listen and decided for ourselves what is important in our lives through the lense of our faith?
And listen for Take 6 and I Believe as they sing/pray God will take care of it all, even what has to do with me. When these songs are played and your children hear them, try making a casual mention of things like, “isn’t it wonderful how God sees everything and will take care of us?”, or “how nice that every bit of kindness we give to someone else is important.” These small moments, enriched by the music on CGR give you a chance to tell the children you love how your faith leads all you do in your life. You are the greatest teacher as God leads through you.
What do you think about centering your life in faith and keeping a place of meaning in both your heart and head as you live in a culture of media distractions which attempts to give your life meaning as products are sold? Please don’t misunderstand, I am not offering condemnation of product sales. I just wonder how to help us all make good decisions regarding consumer choices. Would this idea help you make informed decisions as consumers in a consumer culture?
With blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Man In The Mirror posted on June 26, 2009
Man In The Mirror is one of my favorite Michael Jackson songs. I looked on You Tube for a version of the song by the performer in concert and found many. I liked this one compiled by James Mazzerarelli, thanks James. Click here.
I remember this song on the awards programs the year it was nominated and remember crying and crying when it was performed because I was so moved.
Thus is the power of lyric, melody, voice, instruments and spirit.
Also known as great art that draws people out. Music resonates with people in ways that we are not supposed to find words for and this is one of those songs.
I don’t know anything about MJ’s life beyond the song, I never had a face to face conversation him, I cannot judge what or who he was. I will miss the well of courage and talent that brought the songs he gave. I know from my own experience as a songwriter it takes courage beyond talent and God’s gifts to actually write songs that move people on a soul level. You have to take tremendous risks and he did; I have respect for the talent with which he was blessed and that he nurtured.
And, more than writing songs the whole world sings, it takes courage to sing them in performance with ten thousand people screaming and crying then wanting any piece of you they might take because they were moved in ways that were extraordinary. This song did that for people, and still does. I was just crying again watching the video.
As a culture, we took what he gave.
I pray for his family at their time of grief, I hope you will too.
In terms of what to say to the children with all the media coverage at the death of a pop icon, perhaps just that a man who wrote cool songs you could sing along with, died. It is sad and we pray for his family in their time of loss.
Play Man In The Mirror, or We Are The World and tell the children that was Michael Jackson.
with blessings and thanks to Michael Jackson and the songs he gave us for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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School, Tests and Texts posted on June 22, 2009
It is said that as long as there are tests in school, there will be prayers in school. Separation of church and state aside, the humor is that when kids face tests, there are many who will do their best deal making with the Almighty! It appears that fear of the Lord is no longer enough to make the passing grades in schools where tests are given and mobile technology is present.
A new study commissioned by Common Sense Media and Benenson Strategy Group gives us food for thought. The survey revealed that of the kids who were asked about cheating, a little over half of them admitted to some form of cheating using the Internet, and one-third admit to using cell phones to cheat on a test.
As a parent, do you assume your kids know right from wrong and count on integrity as a centerpiece of their good character? Or, have you talked about integrity, modeled such behavior and even made what others would think of as sacrifice for the sake of it? How important is integrity in your family? And, I wonder, how much pressure is on the kids to get better grades, or, be like someone who does not count cheating on a test as a measure of their character?
Music
Songs on CGR that help support the integrity conversation in your family include: I Will Be With You, that I wrote and recorded to let kids know that no matter what, God is always there. I also like Eddie Espinoza’s, Change My Heart O, God ( make it ever true), to reinforce that God’s understanding goes to the heart, thought and breath of our lives. No hiding available! And so the idea of God already always listening/watching brings the song, No Hiding Place performed by Bebe and Cece Winans.
What about your faithful family? How does media help or hurt in the advancement of studies, learning and communication?
with blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Media used for Praise posted on June 18, 2009
Many parents who are praying a life of faith and journey with the joy of that daily challenge, find it is inspiring to wander around online to search for good news and inspiration that folks have posted. Most of you have found CGR in that way, praise God! Here is another, from the Korean Mass Heritage Choir. A little Earth, Wind and Fire, a little Kirk Franklin and Fred Hammond, a lot of faith and talent from our sisters and brothers in Korea. Enjoy.
If you do not speak Korean, it is impossible to miss the spirit injected into this choir’s praise. Play it for the children and let them see how people all over the planet praise the Creator, God Almighty! See if it does not make you want to build a bridge to meet the one that has been started through the Holy Spirit. What a great use of media!
What if we started to program music on CGR sung in languages other than English and Spanish? Let me know if that would appeal?
Thanks with blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Creative Commons Licenses posted on June 15, 2009
Here is a good one for those of you who post on blogs, You Tube or even here on Common Good Radio. It is called, Creative Commons License.
In our media culture whether you are a digital native or digital immigrant, you need to know about what this notion means as it helps you navigate and communicate on the Interent.
Check out this explanation on the subject through the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University.
Music
In terms of sharing and integrity, listen on CGR for some cool songs: Laura Nyro’s, Save the Country, sings about taking care of each other and getting our integrity on track, Pete Seeger’s, This Land is Your Land (again), where we are invited to not only think broadly about the ground on which we walk - but to rethink how the Europeans got the land, and Jesus Loves The Little Children, on a CD called, Ring the Bells of Heaven. This tune maybe familiar to Christian adults; when you sing it anew with your own kids try thinking about the example that Jesus sets according to scripture of loving everyone. Not just you and those like you - everyone. Mention it to the kids after you hear the song on CGR and see what they say. It can be as easy as, ‘do you think it was easy or difficult for Jesus to love everyone?’
If one of the ways you are involved with faith formation in your family is to be like Jesus, how does loving everyone effect the idea of sharing?
With thanks and blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Being There With Media Stories posted on June 12, 2009
Today’s new podcast gives us more support in understanding how to live into a media culture, faithfully. Dr. Mary Hess shares how it is possible to incorporate faith stories into the popular culture and media that are so attractive to children. Imagine helping the children learn stories of patience, justice and other faith centered character learnings by watching Dora, Clifford, or even Hannah. Dr. Hess suggests, we work with it!
Think about who is telling the stories of our times? These are the days of our lives - what will be remembered? As your family spends casual time together, how might the conversation reveal what the children are seeing and hearing with media usage? How can you use media to make sure the children hear the stories of your faith? 
Big Tip
We must be intentional about telling the stories of our faith so they are not forgotten. Can you speak faith stories outside of and in addition to worship or religious study times? Can you work in a few words of faith to relate pop culture to the God of creation?
Music
Thinking of songs on CGR that help to tell the stories of faith include: Elizabeth Mitchell’s, Peace Like A River, where this simple song relates the notion of God’s peace to the natural world in which we all live. And, Tom Chapin’s, Stone Soup, where the whole community welcomes the stranger who says soup can be made from a stone (as they all come forward to add just one thing to the pot). We can hear welcoming the stranger, sharing the bounty and feeding the lambs - all faith stories shared in this simple story-song. Enjoy!
with blessings and thanks for the common good,
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Ministry, Music, Media posted on June 11, 2009
This blog is to help encourage conversation between persons of faith including parents, grandparents, educators, clergy and all those who consume media to find the intersection of ministry, music and media to the common good of all living things. How can all the media in our pop culture speak to ministry, and specifically - how does music encourage and nurture the transcendent and faithful presence within?
As we explore these questions together, please follow a few media literacy resources, and keep the questions coming. You many comment on the blog, below, lift a pray on the prayer wall, offer an email to (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Thanks with blessings for the common good,
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Media Literacy, Faith and Conversation posted on June 10, 2009
If your everyday life of faith includes love and mercy, do the media choices you and your family make reflect it? Media choices can provide really good conversation in the family about how you faithfully solve conflict, share your toys and offer forgiveness even when it is really the hardest thing to do. The key is: good conversation.
How we live out our faith is evident in the choices we make, everyday. It seems plain enough; the thing is we forget to be intentional about that full blush, I am a person who believes in the God of creation and here is how I live that conviction, way of life. Our media choices reflect that confusion. I have talked with more faith-led parents than I can say who tell me (with a PG-13 or R rated film recently watched), ‘oh she’s only five but she knows the difference’ or, ‘he’s only 7 but he is really smart and understands everything.” 
Maybe this is true for some, but violent and sexualized media does have its influence. You learn what you are shown. We all do. If we confess a life of faith that includes justice and mercy, what does it say about us when violence becomes entertainment, sexism becomes humor, and persons become objectified to sell stuff?
Media is constructed to influence the choices we make on a daily basis. If it were not so, then strategic marketing plans would not matter and advertisements would consist of a picture of the product, the price of the product and where to make the product purchase. If it is a food product being advertised, the ad would tell us what was in the product. The point is that these media constructs are very specifically and meticulously created to influence you and me, the consumer of media, to make a choice, take action and respond to something. It is not all bad, of course, but it is something that media culture consumers and communicators, need to think and talk about.
That means all of us and our kids. And for people who claim a compass of faith, choices become more clear when we are communicating what we think, feel and pray.
Together we are going to talk about how to understand what media is saying, below the surface. For example:
I fully confess that CGR is media created to influence you, the adult, to resist media that would violently, sexually, or otherwise inappropriately come into the lives of the children you love as entertainment. It is our prayer here at CGR that music offering messages of hope, justice and love will be good for the children as an expectation that media can be filled with good messages about the common good among us. And, that children’s voices are valid expressions of faith on life’s journey.
Big Tip
The best media literacy tool you have as a parent, is you. This blog will offer some tips and helps about how to become media literate in your family.
The first tip: good conversation.
Intentionally be with the kids when consuming media so you can talk about it with them and they know you are listening, watching and caring about what they are consuming.
Music
When I think of being intentional some songs come to mind from our music line-up on CGR: Black Sheep’s, Time to Think, as we are reminded not to take for granted the freedoms we enjoy. Another song is Sweet Honey in the Rock’s story of a the song of the spirit that feeds the people, Ise Oluwa. And also listen for Dan Zane’s version of an old Jim Garland song, All I Want (is the right to live mister, give me back my job again), reminding us not to take for granted and the blessings in our lives. Hope it helps your family in talking about being intentional and making good choices, together.
Thanks with blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Media Literacy, Faith and Family posted on June 9, 2009
As people informed by faith, do you ever find yourself at odds with popular media? Do you argue with your kids about what movies and video games they may or may not see, rent, play or view? Do you sometimes just give in because their arguments are stronger than your intention to be protective? Or do you stay firm in your resolve that your 10 year old needs not to see that PG-13 rated film on the big screen (or anywhere)? As parents, what becomes our responsibility in terms of teaching the kids how to use, rather than be used by, media? 
Media culture is where we live and parents are well advised to pay attention to what the children are into. I spent some time with my friends at Odyssey Networks in a discussion on media literacy and how a person can make media choices informed by their faith for their family’s entertainment, well being and faith journey. Check it out: Pastor Robin on beginning media literacy. And, check out their website offering tips and helps to a life in faith. There is actually a great deal we can do to make friends with media.
What about what we do here, at CGR, namely offer music online? Common Good Radio is not only an online companion in faith offering commercial-free music (let’s break that down in another post). We are also a faithful response to the media that would point itself at your kids without your clear parental understanding of what is actually going on. That is, what is being sung, spoken, supported, enticed or nudged on commercial television and radio is to help your kids reach into their personal cash reserves. 
That’s right, birthday money, counts. Money management is important and part of learning to live in this world, on this we agree. I just think that with music and media, we can bless each other rather than hurt each other. With all media constructs, ask yourself this and see if it begins to offer clarity: who made this product, and why?
Case in point:
I attended a famous, iconic children’s brand marketing seminar about 15 years ago to lap up sage bits from the mouths of the masters because I had been involved with creating music and media for children for over 5 years (my first CD came out in 1988, remastered in 1998). The seminar leader talked about their company’s unmatched success at product awareness and branding through its various platforms (theme parks, games, books, TV). How to market directly to children (as commodities) because ‘children are consumers, too’, was the point of the marketing VP’s seminar. I like to pay my bills, too, but I was stunned at the greed he expressed at market capture through the children not the parents and I felt gut-punched by the surprise. The air left the room for me for a minute or two. Here I thought children were to be nurtured, cherished, loved, respected, educated, prayed over and sung to. I thought the whole village was to look after the children, lovingly. I thought it was always best to talk to the parents, supporting them in their efforts to rear compassionate, loving children even when bringing a product to market.
Perhaps I am naive (not so much) and uneducated (uh - not according to my seminary student loans). I still refuse to accept that we cannot provide something good for children and families in music and media that operates as a small business (nfp) and does not invite kids to do anything but attend to the music with its uplifting messages. So, all these years later, the Internet gives us all this chance to do this good thing with Common Good Radio!
It is simple: CGR is a commerical-free resource so you and your can kids to listen to music that lifts the spirit, enriches the faith experience and validates arts as expression, online. We gratefully accept donations to help pay the bills.
That’s pretty much it.
Music
If talking about generosity with the children would help, listen for: Ella Jenkins and Pete Seeger. This Land Is Your Land, was recorded by both artists. Sherri Hoffman’s, What Can I Give Away Todayis sung by a child thinking about, generosity. Search your scriptures for examples of, generosity. In the Bible consider: 2 Corinthians 8:1, Genesis 1:1-31, or in the Quran, 17.23. All these passages speak of being generous.
If parenting tips are your thing - they are here, too. Enjoy.
Feel invited to start the conversation about media life in your family. What has worked for you and what has been more challenging?
blessings for the common good, Pastor Robin
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Getting Happy posted on June 8, 2009
What is happy? What makes you feel as if you are happy?
These questions have been pondered by sages and scoundrels over the centuries in cultures all over the globe. Happiness is that elusive state of being that most people I have encountered along life’s journey, personally and professionally, seek. Lots of folks are writing about it, from Oprah to Altantic Magazine to Dr. Adrian Owen at the University of Cambridge, who reveals that chocolate might just do the trick!
As a pastor, I would like to suggest the faith journey your family experiences can help in a big way, but I don’t have any definitive answers to offer. I just felt called to pose the question, what makes you feel happy? I pray that you have experienced happiness in your life and that you might share what the moment or period of time was like for you. I also the hope that you might share what you are thinking at this moment in time and that we might engage in this conversation, faithfully, to learn from one another. 
I have heard folks tell me that family is the thing, good work, community, bills paid, and of course, faith - make for happiness.
If you think and pray about happiness in your life with intention, can you say where does it come from?
Music
I hope the music on CGR helps to enrich happiness in your life. Listen for, So Glad I’m Here by Sweet Honey in the Rock, as there is joy in the music and lyric. Also a cappella (only voices) is Bobby McFerrin’s whimsical tune, Don’t Worry Be Happy. Maybe you want to shout praise to God in a song and that makes you happy? Listen for Bread for the Jouney’s, Le Lo Lo Lai Lo!
Thanks for listening and sharing this website with your friends and neighbors.
with blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Peace and Compassionate Living posted on June 5, 2009
As people of faith, were your wheels turning to think of peace with hope after listening to world leaders on the news trying to talk something other than war to the people of the world? Could we use world events to speak to hope and compassion to our children? CGR will support you with music that can help!
New Music
New music this week; Put Your Arms Around the World, is the title song from Global Praise, a CD produced by produced by the United Methodist Church and the General Board of Global Ministry. What we like about this project is the intentional effort to speak faith, peace and love to children through songs from many lands in native languages. If you hear something in German, Swedish, Swahili, Mandarin, Spanish or any language you are not familiar with, listen with your heart and remind the children that God’s world is full of children all over the planet who are children of God our Creator. Just like they are!
And, listen for Laura Nyro’s, Save the Children (in my mind I can’t study war, no more).
New podcast
Another tool we offer is the Faith Parenting podcast. Listen this week for the Rev. Natalie Scholl who shares some ideas for compassion and conversation in the faith community that might give you some perspective on reaching that chat with the children. Rev. Scholl says it helps to ‘connect our blessings’ to the God who loved us first. We pray that such compassion and connection leads to peace between all living things. 
Peace through compassionate living? A life long journey? What are some ways you can offer to help others understand?
with thanks and blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Rule Number One posted on June 3, 2009
People all over the planet like a set of rules by which to live. People follow cultural norms, religious doctrines, civic laws and common courtesy. While a great deal of living by the rules is necessary, often subjective and interesting to critique, rule don’t always make things better. People get disappointed and confused, anyway. I was thinking that there is one rule that parents trying to live a faithful lifestyle can count on and it will not let you down. Love God.
No matter what happens in the life of your family, things seem better when we remember to love God.
Part of what is so great about loving God, is that it feels good. I don’t know why it does but that is part of the mystical fun of loving God. In your family, you can have hours and hours of conversation with the kids about how and why you love God and why it is a solid response to the God of love and mercy who loved you first. Loving God calms you down and/or lifts you up. Loving God is like having a rudder or compass for life’s journey; it honors God.
The music you hear on CGR can support your desire to live a life of honoring the Creator. CGR can also help you with expression of loving God when it comes to helping the children integrate loving God into everyday life. Listen for, Masterpiece sung by Sandi Patty as she sings about babies being known by God before parents get to know them. Lest the kids think loving God is only a grown-up thing to do, Glory and Honor, Children in Praise Volume 1 features the sounds of children’s voices raised in praise to God. What a Wonderful World sung by Louis Armstrong is just so lovely that the warmth and beauty of the place he describes in lyric and melody must be made by God.
So, stop when the light is red at the intersection, remember your lunch, say your prayers, share your celery sticks and wash your hands, all good rules. I also like love mercy and justice while doing good. But when you are looking for just one thing to remember in a world that promises to be confusing, you can get clear and help the kids get clear, if you remember (and sing about) loving God.
Share if you would like, how you have invited the children to love God?
with blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Fear and Anger posted on June 1, 2009
Fear and anger sometimes get the best of us even if we are people of faith, professing forgiveness in weekly worship and prayer. It is sad, and I pray a learning experience from which to deepen our faith.
Bad day at work?
As parents, what do you offer as an example to the children around you? Perhaps you are the parent who finds time to explain, with love, why your child cannot hit his younger sibling when frustration shows up over the sharing of a toy. Or, because you have had a bad day at work and all you desire in the world was that the evening with the family could redeem humanity because your children would be without the need for you to play referee (unlike the folks you work with) but the kids did not live up to your expectation. Your patience is maxed out and you just lose it and start hollering loud enough for the neighbors to use you as an example to their kids in sibling fight prevention. Anger does show up. So does fear. 
Healthy fears:
Some fears are good to have: fire, earthquakes, floods, people rage taking their rage out on women and children. Perhaps you have taken precautions regarding the above fearful contexts in your life with emergency kits and escape plans. In many Judeo-Christian scriptural texts, the ‘fear of the Lord’ is language used. I think this fear is to require a healthy respect for the Divine as a spiritual discipline. Remember in our daily prayers that one needs a healthy respect for the God of creation, and a good escape plan when war breaks out at home.
Family prayers:
In the context of family life, do we expect to live into our faithful response to God and the common good as part of a healthy respect for the faith that God will take care of things? Over and over in the scripture of my tradition, Christianity, we are invited to let God take care of that which you do not understand. One could ponder and meditate on whether or not this practice will help alleviate fear as we are invited in the mystery of faith!
The Songs:
As parents, you might find some help through the music of Common Good Radio by listening to, Bring Your Best to Their Worst, John Bell and Wild Goose Worship and Forgive me God the Things I Do, by Rob Barrett and Third Street Music, using children’s voices to sing the song. Forgiveness is a life long journey, and bringing our faithful best to parenting is a blessed challenge for growth and love in our lives. If we trust God with our lives, God can do anything! I think God can even love and forgive us as we journey in conversation with fear and anger. As God’s people, who are we to do less?
I hope the music of CGR will enrich your journey of faith as a parent, grandparent or care provider of children.
With blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
