God Loves Rock and Roll

As a child of the late 70s and 80s I grew up with Pop Rock and Album Rock. I quickly gyrated toward the Album Rock crowd. As a youth, I awaited the latest releases of Jethro Tull, ELO, Led Zeppelin and the like. Sadly I also ran with a crowd that emulated some of the behavior. Despite this stupidity, God was not through loving me. During the midst of this time of rebellion in my life, God used Christian Rock to speak to me deeply and in moving ways. In those concerts I felt whole as a young emotional person wanting to know Jesus and express stuff that just did not fit the modern hymnolgy.

I learned names like Larry Norman (I wish we had all been ready.), Petra (The coloring song.), Steve Taylor (So you want to be a clone.), Stryper (To hell with the Devil) Daniel Amos, Servant, Resurrection Band, Degarmo and Key, and many others. This was not just typical Contemporary Christian stuff. This was music that unappolegitically turned up the volume and kept it up. The bands knew they were new wave and sometimes controversial, but they saved this little baptist boy's musical soul. This was where my journey with Christian music started and even at 49 I still like my music a wee bit on the loud side.

This form of Christian music took root on most Christian stations as an after thought on Saturday night, or Rock stations on a Sunday morning. Some Christian Rock stations came and went, but most went.

This form of music helped form my basic view of Christian music and worship all together. Music is 1 percent message. That message is huge and life changing. It is 99 percent culture. In Africa, I have sung the old Anglican Hymns on drums. In Africa, I have used a guitar to sing the latest worship in the bush. In some old church with a median age of 65, I have sung the great hymns with gusto with an organ and piano. In a contemporary setting, I have sung my friend Louie Giglio's Passion music with kids. And in a parking lot in Austin I have heard God praised with Rap lyrics that God was crazy about. Its all about that 1 percent. The music is about us. It's all good. I suspect God loves it all and has some stuff in heaven we are yet to hear and can understand.

As this blog is about internet radio, you can guess where I am going. I have some excellent suggestions. I will probably just give you a website then tell you if you can listen to it on www.vtuner.com to keep it simple. I like vtuner because it is big and easy to use. There are other services like tunein radio but I just don't have time to chase listings down. It also taxes an old pc a little more. Most of these stations have apps for Ipods and android phones or tablets too.

My favorite station in this category, is Ngen Radio, out of Houston's KSBJ. Ngen is KSBJs HD-2 station on HD radio. Interestingly enough, areas around Houston get it as a low power terrestrial (non HD) FM. In Houston you have to get it as a HD-2 on an HD radio. (Full blog column later.) This station can be heard at www.ngenradio.com or Vtuner. They play a mix of Christian Rock, Rap and other teen themed Christian music. They are hosted with live Djs from 6am to 10pm central US time. This is a really good public station that is making a difference all over Houston and the world. They will expand terrestrially this Summer.

The next station I want to discuss is Rise FM out of Dallas. This one is an interesting case. She is an HD-2 of an old Dallas station KVIL that's owned by CBS in Dallas. KVIL plays very commercial soft rock. Rise on the other hand plays very loud Christian rock. I have not heard Djs, but the music is awesome. They are at www.tunein.com/radio/1037-HD2-RISE-s67540 Vtuner also carries there signal. Look in USA, Christian Rock and Texas.

Another fine Dallas station comes to mind too. Power FM 98.7 is a terrestrial station that has been in Dallas for decades. They do have Djs and they are a player in a market dominated by a huge commercial Christian station called KLTY. Power FM plays good Christian rock. She is a non profit. You can find this station on www.897powerfm.com They are also on Vtuner.

A really great international outlet is Life Radio out of New Zealand. They are a typical Pacific Asian Christian Rock station. They may occasionally play a secular song. Its ok, its the song's message they are interested in. They play a format heavy in Christian music that is well picked out and hosted by Djs that are young and smart. I have tried to do a feature on this bunch, but they are a little slow getting back to me. They can be found at www.lifefm.co.nz They are also on vtuner. I have had some filter problems with this station, but the Vtuner access is fine.

Probally the biggest player in younger contemporary Christian music is KlOVe's Air1 station chain found around America. They play the mainline stuff on KLOVE and use Air1 to speak to a younger market. This is a well done, good sounding station with Djs. They can be found at www.air1.com and not on vtuner.

Oh yeah, the bible. Pslam 150 has always guided my thoughts on Christian music of any musical type. Read those 6 verses. Two words stick out with me in the NIV text “clash” and “resounding.” This is loud stuff. It woke it's listner up and moved them toward God. Another element strikes me too. No less than 7 instruments are listed. We gotta use a variety of instruments and styles to reach people. Also the text mentions dancing, but I will save that for later.

If you have a comment, or “amen” please write me at scotttalbert1963@gmail.com