Are Your Chasing Fantasies or Pursuing Your Purpose? (Ken Steorts - Skillet)

Show intro: 0:03

Welcome to affirming words, where you're encouraged to speak the word renew your mind and transform your life.

Rick Tarrant: 0:12

And good morning one and all or good afternoon. Oh, yes or good evening. You know, I wish I was from Australia. I'll just pop on and say good. I might, wherever in the world you might be. It's Rick Tarrant, and I'm in Memphis, Tennessee. And welcome to the affirming words of abundance studio. Actually, it's my voiceover audio production studio. But for this hour, it's the A WA studio because well, you know, saying affirming words of abundance is just so many words. So let's pray. Father, thank You for this hour together. Thank you for your word. Thank you, God, that it's not just something on a page that we read just to pass the time. But it's something Lord that you write on our hearts and on our minds, and you renew our minds in the process. And in doing so, Lord, we discover your purpose for our life, and we walk in your will. And that's what we ask for today. And we ask that your will would be done over the next several minutes in Jesus name, amen. Well, I would just say, hey, here's a buddy of mine, but I will actually give him a proper introduction. So my guest today on affirming words, is the founder and president of visible music college right here in Memphis, Tennessee. He is an original founding member of the platinum selling bands skillet, you might have heard of him along the way. And in addition to molding young minds into the ways of music and the Lord he also finds time to sail his boat, make music in his band, the beep, create podcasts, watch his own children perform and their own musical endeavors be husband to his lovely wife Joy, and appear on affirming words of abundance. Please welcome my friend Ken. Steorts Ken Ken Ken. I'm Joe,

Ken Steorts: 1:52

thank you for that lovely introduction, Rick.

Rick Tarrant: 1:55

Well, that's what that's what you told me to say one.

Ken Steorts: 1:59

I appreciate that part about take care of joy. That's, that's my biggest job.

Rick Tarrant: 2:06

Well, and she has a sweetheart. And yeah, we'll talk about some of the some of the family things here in just a bit. But I wanted to I was we had a friend of ours, you might know Danny Cosby. Have you ever met Danny and your? Yeah, you know, Danny, Okay, fair enough. Garry Goin, and great vocalist here in Memphis. So he was telling me yesterday that he had memories of going down to a place called 704. B. And, and getting bloodied up in a mosh pit and just enjoying the heck out of it. Tell tell us about the just before we jump into proverbs 28 How, what was going on there and, and how this little three piece band got together in the basement of the church that we both went to?

Ken Steorts: 2:59

Yeah, I, the the manager and pastor, the pastor of the church, one of the pastors that became the manager of skill that asked me to, you know, they were starting to basement club and asked me to run sound and I was working with him. So I was at a lot of shows where there was some bloody mosh pits, but a few of them, I was on stage as well, trying to calm people down. But it was it was an interesting time. And Christian Museum is a great place for young people to just get the energy out and be all about the Lord. So I mean, it's what anytime you can have a wholesome, slash bloody time with youth, Christian.

Rick Tarrant: 3:41

Just, you know, as I as I'm looking back, I'm thinking, you know, I don't know that I actually attended many 704 B functions. I just, in fact, I like to say skillets real real claim to fame was well they use it they used to back me up on the worship team at covenant Community Church.

Ken Steorts: 4:02

Exactly. Yeah, we just normal that's been there stirring thoroughly to be normal local church people and love, love worship and just live in, in the word and in worship. That's, you know, how we started and how they continue. That's great.

Rick Tarrant: 4:17

Yes, so you sometimes you would lead I don't remember exactly the the timeline and everything. I know, you were leader for a while and I was, you know, playing guitar keyboards I forget. And I think I was playing guitar because I remember one time I was playing like a little blues riff and you kind of turn around said, no, no, no, this is not a blues song. Like, but I'm in Memphis, you know,

Ken Steorts: 4:38

you got a Les Paul. You know, it's gonna be like, You got to do something, you know.

Rick Tarrant: 4:42

And, you know, one little bone of contention. I remember I had that. Midnight Blue, Les Paul, and you know, and and John Cooper came up and he was just laughing. And I'm like, What are you laughing at? His like, you dude with that Les Paul is like, Wait a minute. You know, this is like 20 something years ago. I'm only in my 40s It's not like I'm, you know, in a wheelchair playing. Of course he was what? 19 at the time, so,

Ken Steorts: 5:10

yeah, people forget that John was 19. I toured with him in a 15 passenger van for four years. So he was 19.

Rick Tarrant: 5:18

Oh, yeah. And for those watching on YouTube or Facebook, these were those these were those kids that that? That kins talking about there? Yeah, y'all, y'all. You don't look much over 19. Teen yourself.

Ken Steorts: 5:32

Yeah, I was a good nine years older than John. So it was. I was the manager on the road as well.

Rick Tarrant: 5:38

Oh, you're almost 10 years older than John Cooper? Yeah, that's very interesting. Very interesting. I know. Now, but no, no, no, actually, he looks like he's got more work or he's got a lot more road tread on on him than you do. Which is I recall, wasn't that a reason you got off the road was just because it was hard to have a family and and road

Ken Steorts: 6:00

life. Yeah, my passion really was for discipling college aged people and starting college was I just got that call in the middle of being on tour, seeing the huge need and go into Christian colleges playing on campuses and seeing all the young bands. My heart was just call to do that. But when you have a three year old, you're hardly ever with and you have, you know, doing 200 shows a year you're, you know, it wasn't a hard decision. It was really a godly. God moved me to start the college instead. So

Rick Tarrant: 6:34

Well, good. Well, let's talk about that after we read Proverbs 28 Because Christie was remembering last night being in the car with joy problem with another ladies on the way to like a lady's conference or retreat, maybe up towards St. Louis. And, and remembering her talking about Yeah, Ken's got this idea, you know, for teaching young people. So yeah, let's talk about that. But let's read Proverbs 28. Since that is number one on our agenda, and I believe you said New Living Translation, sir. And as we record this on the 28th day of February 2022. We're going to read Proverbs 28. You want to do three and I'll do three?

Ken Steorts: 7:14

Yes, sir. The wicked runaway when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions. When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily, but wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability. A poor person who oppresses the poor is like a pounding rain that destroys the crops.

Rick Tarrant: 7:42

To reject the law is to praise the wicked. To obey the law is to fight them. evil people don't understand justice. But those who follow the Lord understand completely better to be poor and honest, than to be dishonest and rich.

Ken Steorts: 8:04

Young people who obey the law are wise. Those with wild friends bring shame to their parents. Income from charging high interest rates will end up in the pocket of someone who is kind to the poor. God detest the prayers of a person who ignores the law.

Rick Tarrant: 8:25

Wow, that's a writer downer. Those who lead good people along well somebody did write it down actually. Those who lead good people along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the honest will inherit good things. Rich people may think they are wise, but a poor person with discernment can see right through them. When the godly succeed, everyone is glad when the wicked take charge, people go into hiding. Well, we're seeing that now.

Ken Steorts: 8:59

People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. Blessed are those who fear to do wrong, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble. A wicked ruler is as dangerous to the poor as a roaring lion or an attacking bear.

Rick Tarrant: 9:23

A ruler with no understanding will oppresses people, but one who hates corruption will have a long life. A murderers tormented conscience will drive him into the grave. Don't protect him. The blameless will be rescued from harm, but the crooked will be suddenly destroyed.

Ken Steorts: 9:46

A hard worker has plenty of food but a person who chases fantasies and ends up in poverty. The trustworthy person will get a rich reward but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble. Showing partiality is never good yet some will do wrong for a mere piece of bread.

Rick Tarrant: 10:08

Yikes. greedy people try to get rich quick, but don't realize they are headed for poverty. In the end, people appreciate honest criticism far more than flattery. Anyone who steals from his father and mother and says what's wrong with that is no better than a murder.

Ken Steorts: 10:30

Greed calls us fighting, trusting the Lord leads to prosperity. Those who trust in their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe. Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing. But those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.

Rick Tarrant: 10:50

And verse 28, when the wicked take charge, people go into hiding. But when the wicked meet disaster, the godly flourish. This is the word of the Lord. Wow, it's it's interesting that they reiterate that last verse actually twice, and in 28, about the wicked taking charge and people going into hiding, and I couldn't help but think about tanks rolling into the Ukraine right now and people fleeing. So it's kind of a kind of a timely verse. For sure. And what was jumping off, particularly to you, I know, a couple of themes that I couldn't help but notice, but I'm just curious what jumped off for you.

Ken Steorts: 11:35

Yeah, this a hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty. I don't remember this, reading the scripture in this version before. But it's something that just working with young people about where their minds are these days, this fantasy of like, what life is supposed to be like, and, and the things of the world, I was just interested, I'm going to highlight that one because it feels like it's not really honorable, hard work is not honored as much as this sort of facade and fantasy life people think they have on social media and stuff. So that shows up.

Rick Tarrant: 12:16

That's interesting, because as, as we were reading, I wrote down number 19. Wow, that was the one that jumped off for me as well, in addition to the themes of well, that also is with the themes of how you treat the poor, poor, how you treat the poor and justice seem to be a preeminent importance, not just in this, but all throughout. I mean, all throughout Isaiah, all throughout the prophets, that seems like the, the sin that seems to be in some scriptures, actually even more intolerable to God than even Sodom and Gomorrah was stealing from the poor, and being unjust. You know, that? Yeah, that's kind of the top of the list. But this chasing fantasies is also a get rich, quick kind of an idea, you know?

Ken Steorts: 13:04

Yeah, yeah, that's a temptation for I get, I'm guessing everyone, it's been a temptation all my life, they get rich, quick stuff, here's this thing, you know, I'm gonna not even agree just to believe there's some shortcut to hard work and wisdom. And that's just so worldly. You know, and I've, I've been there, I've gotten trapped in something, you know, probably once every decade in my life, you know, like, oh, this, this didn't turn out how I thought I cut corners here. And I shouldn't have done that, you know?

Rick Tarrant: 13:35

Well, I was also thinking in terms of, you know, in music and in the, the young people that you that you're instructing along the way, I remember I used to run into that when I did the countdown show. And every year we'd go to GMA over in Nashville, and we would just spend, you know, days and hours interviewing people, right. And, you know, there was a level of spiritual maturity kind of up and down with, with with various artists and such and I remember sitting across the table from one young lady who I won't mention her name, but she was she was like, you know, the hot ticket that year and making all sorts of noise and I remember asking her she was like 21 I remember saying, Do you Do you feel like you can navigate these spiritual waters? Well, you know, I don't remember exactly what she said. But the short end of that story was she she fell away and actually ran away and you know, became a totally different person than who I was interviewing that day so I guess um, you saw a lot of incongruency as well when you're out there I guess it what Jesus festivals and things like that.

Ken Steorts: 14:48

Yeah, that's that's was the most disheartening thing was really coming from the local church and being on staff and, you know, working with young people, and then going on the road. I didn't really have any, you know, grand ideas of who people would be in the major bands behind the CCM, you know, you know, Banner, but it was just 90% of the bands that network like, I wouldn't have minister at my church, you know, it's like the really not a concept of discipleship and lives, it is very tempting to have a life that's off the rails on the road, but it just was so prevalent, just pride and immaturity, and, you know, on pastored creatives, you know?

Rick Tarrant: 15:41

Yes, that was part of the problem with the, with the music industry was because because, you know, it's, it's run by marketing, right? I mean, at the end of the day, if, if dollars are being generated, there's not a business and so, you know, they look at things like you know, you know, researching the song to see what will get more spins on the radio and, and then maybe, how good does the artist look on an album cover or on a poster, or it's like, a lot of things, and maybe no attention at all to, to the message they're actually supposed to be bringing, and, and I guess that's what visible is trying to address. But to set the matter straight, it's not just for artists that want to do music, worship music, you've got people that have gone on to become great Country artists, and, and all sorts of genres as well.

Ken Steorts: 16:30

Yeah, I thought that, you know, it'd be best to work with what young people really how they see the world and what they want out of life, and that maybe it was possible to create a college that did the things that an artist would do if they weren't going to school, and you got, but you had college credit for something very, very normal for artists to do, like be in a band, and have a producer and work as a cohort in a college instead of the way colleges typically work where the all the departments are divided. And every teacher believes their class is most important and spend a lot of time doing things that, you know, you hear this from young people still today, it's so funny. I'm just wasting my time here in college taking the other classes. Well, that's, you know, we tried to imagine a place where you didn't do that, you know, and you captured the imagination and the drive of these young people that want to be in a band want to be together want to be writing songs and leading worship. And if their calling was to, you know, be YouTube or whatever, you know, famous bands as Christians, that's great. And if it was to minister to their 100 people, church on sound 100% You know, that's God's calling for you. So focusing on that made us be a lot less pretentious about higher education, you know, when we built the place. So,

Rick Tarrant: 18:03

you know, going back to our days, that covenant Community Church we were, which was at the corner of North Highland and Faxon as, as I recall, well, actually, it started in even much more humble surroundings, kind of like visible music college started in very, very, very humble surroundings. The cat fish kitchen, as I recall out in Lakeland, Tennessee, on huff and puff Boulevard. So although that's still a pretty cool name, I think. But in terms of the humble surroundings are the way we started that covenant, there was a theme and a message that was always preeminent and I think it guided it really informed me in what I was doing, you know, putting a radio show out there. And I was so excited when it began to get picked up by this station and that station and pretty soon and then Armed Forces Radio, I was like, Wow, this, this is like, okay, around the world. This is what our apostle Brynne Jones from the UK would often talk about. The kingdom of God is not just in the four walls of the church, but that we take the kingdom of God with us into whatever endeavor and they would they would talk about education or Hollywood, you know, movies or music or and so I I think that was one of the biggest things when covenant close down. I think that I really missed was that teaching in that thing about the Kingdom of God and somewhere along the way, when I lost my business, I lost my mind lost my heart for a season and just kind of lost my way. But now I find myself being drawn back to especially thanks to preachers like Dr. Myles Munroe, about getting this revelation of the kingdom again, and I'm just curious how how has that informed what you're doing it visible?

Ken Steorts: 19:45

Well, first of all, personally, it's everything like I was in. I was not a Christian growing up. I was saved in college and bounced a little bit but found some churches that were very into worship, but just weren't balanced in a way that you I didn't notice this till later, when I came to covenant Community Church. So I found that that kingdom perspective where you can throw off this idea of it's me versus me trying to be with Jesus and battle Satan to live today and go good place, you know, it's like, oh, we have a reason for being here a kingdom purpose on this earth. Why didn't nobody tell me that for 10 years as a Christian? And, and you certainly don't know if you're not one. So it's a boy that blew my mind and changed everything. That's what Bizible is built on is, hey, this is in skillet, we were all three guys from different traditions who found like, oh, there's a reason for what we're doing. God knew long before. And he knew all this beforehand. And the arc of Scripture shows his plan. And so visible is blowing people's minds who grew up in the church and Christian kids that come to school with you have a purpose. It's not just did you mess up last night, it's God designed you for something magnificent. And we're a global community of people who happen to be in different time zones worshipping but we are doing the same thing God's called us to infect this planet rule this planet with him, you know, or, you know, he humbly, you know, and do the things that he's called us to do with it.

Rick Tarrant: 21:36

This is chapter One, to take dominion and to yeah, all the all the world.

Ken Steorts: 21:41

Yeah, I mean, people, people, it's really like, you know, bolder than you thought and way harder than you thought, much more humble much more. You know, just the further in, you go with this triumphal idea, the more submitted, you become, you know, the more obedient and the more yeah needful to hang on to him of the garment. You know, it's just,

Rick Tarrant: 22:09

there's a scripture I remember that used to, and I think brand new said a lot, but we just used to hear a lot and that was in the kingdoms of this world, shall become the kingdoms of our God and of his Christ. Again, that implication that we're not to be just getting our our ticket to Heaven punched, and then figure out how to muddle through somehow or, Christina, we're talking about the church that I got saved in, you know, some churches is like, once saved, always saved this church was man, you can lose it every Saturday night, and you better get it back on Sunday. You know, but not but not A, not A discipling of that. Did you know like what, nobody ever sat down and said, Rick, did you know that God created you? Yes. I knew that God created me God, but did you know that he created works for you to do before he ever created Earth? No, lower what God was thinking about me before Garden of Eden was around. I mean, that's what Scripture shows, but nobody ever sat down and said, so let's be about figuring out what your purpose is, while you're here. What are you supposed to get done before you die? You know, like you were saying, if somebody is called to be the next you to how can you do that? And in God, if that's God's purpose for you, then because you're going to face a whole lot of stuff on that journey, a lot of temptation, a lot of distractions. And I would imagine that if you're not really rooted in what you're about, and we've seen it, even with CCM bands, you know, I'm sure that weren't firmly rooted that the next thing you know, they're off the rails.

Ken Steorts: 23:45

Yeah, definitely.

Rick Tarrant: 23:48

So when somebody comes to you and says, Ken, Hollywood's just going to hell in a handbasket musics going to hell in a handbasket. What's your what do you say to that?

Ken Steorts: 23:56

Well, first I tell him buy tickets, every Christian movie if you even if you cringe on the the production quality, you know, by Christian music, invest in people that are doing it, because they'll they'll get better. They'll get better, you know, the production will continue to get better. But I would tell him, you know, we can't just complain I mean, the church can't be seen as complaining about the world that's that's just kind of sad. I mean, it's our our job is to influence them so we're just throwing it away if we're if we're just complaining i i have kind of a low tolerance for complaint. Admittedly, it's a weakness probably like little too. I have little too little of willingness to listen to complaining but

Rick Tarrant: 24:48

well, let me just say this. If you have a complaint you want to share with Ken make sure it's in the morning. Not. He gets up early, not at four in the afternoon when he's hungry.

Unknown: 24:58

I'm a monster from three to five I get it back at some point.

Rick Tarrant: 25:02

But I kind of start slacking off after five o'clock, you know, and I'm wrestling with technology. I don't know how to build this website. I don't know. It's like, why aren't you working here? So it's like, you know, like, My grace is like, I gotta go get quiet and get get back in the secret place, you know? Exactly. So, um, and speaking of that, and being in the secret place, I know, that's, I mean, you teach discipleship, you have like family groups within the school community. And and for a season, I'm sure that's been predominantly by, by via zoom since this whole COVID Nonsense. Hopefully, things are getting back to some semblance of of normal, where students can actually come to a campus again.

Unknown: 25:47

Yeah, yeah, we're on campus and everything we do, we because we have multiple sites, we were here in Memphis, but we have a Dallas Chicago, California site. That was the structure was to make small group, small campuses where people all know one another can all support one another.

Rick Tarrant: 26:05

In Germany, too, right? Or is that still

Ken Steorts: 26:07

Germany? Well, they, they're, they're actually they shut down. And they're doing kind of weekend seminars, but the German campus is sort of some alumni of visible who are doing stuff there. And that's my, and we have partner sites, schools that we're mentoring, helping them in Northern California, and Florida, and Pennsylvania, Kansas City. So it's really just wherever creative people will gather, and where there's pastoral people that care for them, we want to be the higher ed structure to help show that there's a way to mentor worship people, producers, you know, audio folks, that is not in the state school, it's, it's in the church, and it's with purpose, and you know, three year degrees, two to four years, all this stuff, the reasons we do our stuff to keep the to benefit them. But we do meet in life together groups, we call it life together, because the visible music college visible is from bond hoppers, cost of discipleship chapter six, the visible community. So that's your mentioned the salt and light outside the church. That's, that's for us what we, so we call our groups life together. And really, everything is about, you know, students are in local church, but also you calling the local church and your friends to community, Christian, spiritual, you know, biblical community is sort of like a lifelong goal for people, you know, so even.

Rick Tarrant: 27:45

And are there any virtual classes for, say, people in Europe who would like to learn from visible? Or is there a way to, if somebody feels called to be a worship leader or something, or to take their music into the world?

Ken Steorts: 27:57

Yeah, you can attend. We started, we did this, because we were doing zoom before COVID. Because we have these multiple campuses, we're trying to use the best teachers at each site. But what we found, you know, we started our new online campus this year, first year of you can attend visible completely online, but it's in real time. So you attend class, you know, eight to four, but you're just you just happen to be in by yourself in with different people from different parts of the world. And so that community is real. And it's just like this right here. The whole the whole school exists in zoom, and we have a pastor and life groups and worship and all that to this online, which is kind of fun. And they join our bigger our other campuses, what we do, you know, joint things, but

Rick Tarrant: 28:49

that's pretty exciting. Unless of course, we're GMT minus six. And I guess, you know, if somebody is GMT plus three,

Ken Steorts: 28:56

that's exactly right. We had a student in Sweden that was like, you know, I just can't keep doing it. I just, I want to do it, but I can't quite, you know, do classes till 2am. So we're gonna get a European, we're gonna try to do that Germany campus or our Parag campus to be like, This is our, you know, plus two timezone. And then India will be, we're working for that to be our, whatever plus 10 and a half.

Rick Tarrant: 29:23

Yeah, Australia plus, you know, 24 hours into next month, you know, so shifting a little personal and if I, if I, you know, if I ask you something that's like, I don't want to go there, just, you know, we're friends. So it's, yeah, I'll edit it out of the audio version. But as because it is about discipleship and visible but on a personal level. I mean, you're, you're a father, you're a husband, you have two very talented boys. And on the road to seeing visible like you're in this beautiful, award winning architectural structure now but you know, it started out in the In the catfish kitchen and all that out in Lakeland, you know, where you know, the smell of hush puppies, you know, is just next door. All that to say that along the way to your finding your purpose in life, there are ups and downs, there's life, there's death, there's tragedies, there's things that you go through. And so I'm thinking about something that happened to sky a few, several months ago. And is that something you know, we can talk about? How do you navigate stuff like that? Or if not, that's cool, too.

Ken Steorts: 30:35

Yeah, that's, I think that's a good subject. Really. That's so

Rick Tarrant: 30:39

explain what I'm alluding to? Yeah.

Ken Steorts: 30:42

Well, Scott, sky is my 21 year old son, he's a musician and was at college. And I'll give you a little, not just what just happened. But he a year ago, he was in a fraternity at school and his mentor was a senior, and his daring COVID, his mentor took his own life. So sky was faced with here's the guy that's leading me, you know, and, you know, took his own life, year ago, and then this year, maybe now, five months ago, his very best friend from high school, he's in a band with a three piece band. He was murdered by by a drug dealer that broke into a house. And anyway, just got his when he was he was already he moved back home with us during COVID. And was really in a depressive state, you know, and we've just, we have a really great family counselor, it's a Christian guy. Anyway, it's just hard to watch. And I see young people struggling all the time with anxiety and depression these days, it's sort of shifted maybe three or four years ago, the students coming into visible that Christian kids, great kids, great family, some, you know, struggling so. And then he just lost, you know, to COVID, I guess, you know, is Paul Paul passed last month, and he he was like, I'm going to St. Louis to see him on his deathbed. You're, you're driving me up there. Like, let's go do it. And now this was Joy's dad. And so he's faced a lot of debt more death than I did at 21. No, very close. And you know, it's a daily thing to be with a kind of ADHD and creative songwriter kid who's just, he spent his first 1010 years like, dressed in costumes, he literally never wore regular clothes is just a performer. But just to get him to understand His purpose in the world, you know, and to try to draw upon God, which is a struggle for him. So that's the hard part is just to be in prayer daily, and say the right things and try to guide your adult child. And, yeah, to call out the good things that you see, you know, and the truth of what we talked about earlier, that were made for a purpose. And yeah, so you see, that

Rick Tarrant: 33:13

I didn't see. I didn't see a correlation when I was in my quiet time this morning. And now suddenly, I do, because I was not in Proverbs I was in Psalms 112. And reading one through three, Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in his commandments. His descendants will be mighty in the land, the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. And it goes on but it's just yeah, to say that he will never be shaken, the righteous will be an everlasting remembrance. He will not be afraid of evil tidings. And I was just thinking of mice role as a father and speaking this out over my my children, grown children, and also my grandchildren. Yes, you know, just kind of declaring I felt like the Lord was saying, if you'll stand on my word, you'll see my deliverance. And we get to, I don't want this to sound like works. But there, the Bible talks about the fruit of our lips, you know, so we can speak life, we can speak death. And that sounds like what you're having to do. In this situation. Yeah. In the midst of death, and it's hard.

Ken Steorts: 34:23

Yeah, it's very hard. And, yeah, so are our families. Just, I mean, we've just had such a blessed life in the church and struggling to start something from scratch and run a college, all the things, but we've just been blessed to be in community with people that love us and we love them. Yeah. So my boys have that experience. They have seen the goodness of God, you know, but the church life has been A little tough. We're our church closed in the middle of their teen years and we just shaken them a bit. So I, I'm holding on to Psalm 112. For for these mighty men.

Rick Tarrant: 35:13

Yes. And to one day, bring some muddy grandbabies. So I know that's what I know. I know. That's what that's ultimately what every parent seems to want, right? Of course, I guess they got to get married first and we haven't we haven't seen it. Keep it in order. That's something that definitely you definitely want to keep. Keep it in the right order. So let's talk let's talk about free for a minute you hang you hang out at this club down at the on Beale Street quite quite frequently. In fact, I was on your, you know, you can sort of track your whereabouts or just go into kin Stuart's on Facebook. He seems to check in, you know, you think man, he he's kind of like Jesus spends a lot of time in bars, you know? So, your son is in a band of quite

Ken Steorts: 35:56

Yes. Yeah. My oldest son. He's 26. He's. He's in a band in Memphis and on they play on Beale Street. He's a trombone player and play soul and r&b and rock and Memphis music. He prepares instruments he taught school and he's a student at visible. So good, good kid. We went to see him last night. It it's, you know, that night in a bar? I don't need to be. I don't really want to be there like on a Sunday night late, but we go to see them and support him. And

Rick Tarrant: 36:32

yeah, the band is called free world. They are the longest gigging band in Memphis, if I'm not mistaken, some 35 years or so.

Unknown: 36:40

Yeah, yes. Back to it's a long time they've been. They've been going and he's he's been with them. Probably full time. A good eight years since he was just in. We took him up there when he's in high school. A friend of mine runs the band. He's my age, you know? And he's so he's the kid. For eight minutes. Yeah. Richard. Richard Cushing. Yep.

Rick Tarrant: 37:00

Yeah. So for the for those listening. You know, Richard Cushing started this band when he I believe when he was a student at Memphis state before it was the University of Memphis and he had a pal if I remember the story, said, Hey, this this the saxophone player is not he's he's around town used to be with BB King. Let's ask him if he'll join the band with us. Herman Greene, who only just in the last year or so passed away, right? And wasn't he BB King's saxophone player and BBC original band.

Unknown: 37:31

Yeah, this was like in 2015 When my son started being like, full time. It was unbelievable to say I had to ask it several times. Herman was in his almost 80s, and it was like, standing next to Freeman, who's 15 and here's Herman, who's a BB King's first sax player. He had been playing on Beale Street, 70 years 1945 He started playing on Beale Street. And here's my 15 year old son playing trombone next to the sax player. I mean, you just that education alongside Visible was just a Mind Blow. And Herman was a he was a good guy. He was a good guy, and he passed this couple years ago now just about two years ago, but so

Rick Tarrant: 38:19

I remember Richards. I remember Richard saying, Yeah, Herman said, I do it. If you're serious about the music, and so they got serious about they're not just playing. Otis Redding cover tunes. In fact, if you go up there to you, that's what you'll hear on most weekends. You'll hear a lot of Memphis cover songs but boy you go up there on a holiday when most of the tourists are gone. You'll hear the real free world I mean, that's they're a jazz bands, but they are. Yeah, they know how to keep the tip jar full of professionals.

Unknown: 38:52

Yeah, there they are funny about the tip jar last last night I was there and that if you tip he'll call you out and say, Hey, what song Where are you from? And What song do you want to hear? And the last night it was Michigan, Nebraska and Scotland. Those are the three people that I saw tipping and calling a song passing people around the world to see, you know, Memphis music. They're here for Memphis music.

Rick Tarrant: 39:13

Well, and speaking of we have a few people here in our Affirming Words Zoom Room? today? We're actually making a road trip. Judith and and Vicki are actually driving from Boston, just to see Danny Cosby and Gary Goin and Effie Johnson at the Halloran center next to the Orpheum last weekend and Michelene is driving up from Rockwall Dallas, Texas. area, so I tried to get some more friends from London to you know, hop on a boat, but I haven't had any takers, you know? But coming to Memphis just to see some Memphis music specifically Danny Cosby because he's just such a good guy.

Ken Steorts: 39:51

antastic that's great. I didn't know they were doing that. That's that's a cool show.

Rick Tarrant: 39:55

Yes, yes. It's a gospel music tribute. This this This Saturday at the

Unknown: 40:01

Effie's amazing. And they're all amazing. But yeah. Well, that's great. Stop by Visible. We're here like, across from the ballpark.

Rick Tarrant: 40:13

That's yeah, that's right. There's so many things. I didn't mention that. Yeah for for y'all.

Ken Steorts: 40:16

Just outside my window here.

Rick Tarrant: 40:20

Yeah and I forgot to mention we have a, you know, yeah, it's not majorly Well, it's it's minor league, I guess, right. If you play for this team, you could you could end up in St. Louis playing for the Cardinals, I believe, I believe so. Yes.

Unknown: 40:34

I've seen I saw Albert pools play here before he ever was known to the Cardinals and, you know, homerun game.

Rick Tarrant: 40:42

So during the summer time, what Ken really does is at Visible he sits there and watches baseball games. He's got the best seats in the house. That's for sure. Well, speaking of zoom, anybody have if you have a question for Ken feel free to raise your hand or whatnot before I have to let him get about his his busy day. And but for anyone listening to the podcast, who has someone that they think might be interested in visible or who might be interested in enrolling what's the what's the best way for them to, to find to find you and find out about your fine organization?

Ken Steorts: 41:21

Yeah, well, this visible.edu is our website and then I'm at ken@visible.edu. So pretty easy to find. And on social media I am I'm do a thing called music is important. And so you can find me my name, which is spelled weird. But can Stuart's STEORTS, or music is important

Rick Tarrant: 41:46

Is that your podcast that you were telling me about?

Ken Steorts: 41:48

Yeah, just just just about to start actually doing the podcast part, just doing posts and sort of influencer type videos and things to try to remind people of all these moments of music in our life. And I've done a blog for some time for the school and then trying to just get that out there more to advocate for music generally. But it comes from a very spiritual, Christian point of view. So

Rick Tarrant: 42:11

so and you also have the beep, which is your own personal creative outlet, I suppose.

Unknown: 42:16

Yes, yeah. I have two personalities. One is the president. And the music is important. And one is Ken the artist in my band the beep beep which is what I did after Skillet and continued I am now essentially the one man person who is the beep,

Rick Tarrant: 42:33

which some some in our group are familiar with the name Chris Wark, because he's he's been on a couple of times, and talked about you know, his how he started Chris beat cancer. But Chris, also was the bass player of the beep. Yeah, for a season.

Unknown: 42:48

Great, crazy world. Yeah, we know and love each other. He was the bass player, when I first got out of Skillet and did the I don't know that he does much music anymore, which is kind of, you know,

Rick Tarrant: 42:59

I think he's too busy getting people healthy, you know, which, which, again, back to the roots of covenant, and the whole idea of the kingdom going out into the world. I mean, look, this is a little Churchill, that's no longer around. In fact, we went through a terrible church split. I think the enemy was just, I think that's why he divided us, I think it was having having impact. And I think if that little one thing hadn't happened, who knows, but, but the impact is still being felt. I mean, look at Chris Wark into all the world, you know, not just national television in America, I mean, all the world and visible, the same. It's just I think it's if every church I think, to teach that message of the Kingdom, this would be a different world.

Ken Steorts: 43:42

That's that's for sure. That's that's a good word. Right now.

Rick Tarrant: 43:46

I saw a hand from ovary and I just happen to know that she's in London with an interest in worship. God has put that in her heart. Do you still have a question for Ken? Oberhiri?

Oberhiri Atori: 43:57

Yeah, just want to say thank you. Thank you very much. And like Ricky said, I'm in London. And when you said you got a base in Germany, I was like, yay. But then you said, Oh, not quite. So I just wondering how, how soon, or is it really on the plans to get a base here in Europe was the question and also it sounded like, is the college for younger kids or just anybody that's interested in music?

Ken Steorts: 44:28

Yeah. Well, I focus on younger kids, because that's sort of the generation I'm working in all the time. But definitely any age can come and do come and we have students from the UK here and not this. But we the Germany campus, I think is really going to be a weekend seminar for a while. I think they've routed into this sort of going against the government schools has just worn them out, basically. So they I don't think that's going to be rolling We have a seminary in Prague that teaches our same content. But wouldn't be it's more local also kind of weekends. We're trying to get a campus started in Switzerland, this this just and honestly, I'm going to be in stuck working for another. An organization trying to get a campus started up in the Midlands it's just a lot of work. We already have friends there in Coventry that do the Nexus school. I don't know if you've heard of them. But it's very similar to visible I don't want to send you, you know, to another school necessarily, but they're great friends. So it's probably going to be a while before, especially with COVID Jason's travel has just shut you know, just kind of stopped our planning for two years. So

Oberhiri Atori: 45:54

very interesting, very interesting. And, yeah, that it was just nice hearing you talking about how God actually led you to? Do you know, start in the school? That was just so. So very interesting, because I read a bit on social media. I think what 2000 $2,000 or $1,000 in your credit cards. Oh, wow. Yes, there's man a that's determined. That's looking at you now.

Unknown: 46:21

Thank you. Definitely got Godsend God planned?

Oberhiri Atori: 46:25

Absolutely, absolutely.

Rick Tarrant: 46:27

Thank you Oberhiri well, you know, the verse that popped out, for both you and me today was about a hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty. And, you know, I go back again, back to the catfish kitchen. I can remember going out and, and actually, I think you asked me to teach a little voiceover and I think I had two people show up in a daze in motel room right behind huff and puff road or something like that. I mean, talk about starting from scratch. I mean, you use you started with Yeah, very little and yet I'm sure somebody said can you chase in a fantasy here brother?

Ken Steorts: 47:10

You know, I don't it what's funny is I don't remember people naysaying but later you know 10 years later 1520 You know, people said a lot of people said we didn't think any chance you were gonna do this you know, we've just seen so many people say something and then not do it. I I think God kept me ignorant of what it was to do it we got accredited and just a couple years we did all kinds of stuff you just you you don't do you don't start a college it's ridiculous. And so look, you know, just as starstay Luckily was just godly. He didn't he didn't let me know that what he was tricking me into so

Rick Tarrant: 47:54

interesting. You know, you're not the first person I've heard say God tricked them into doing doing something along the way. You know, again, aligning, aligning you with your purpose you know that you were created for and you must have known from early on something was involved in music because I remember you said used to do your own countdown you and your brother it was of interest to me as a former countdown show producer for 16 17 years but you did your own countdown

Ken Steorts: 48:24

Yeah, we this is so great. People should do this and maybe it does indicate where you're going to be later. We would buy singles for 99 cents at the record store and of our favorite songs or whatever we heard on the radio I guess I am you know at the time even and we would then play for each other on Saturday morning before Casey case I think was on Sunday morning. I can't remember well Saturday morning we would sit in pajamas and drop the needle like number seven and I was I was I loved Earth Wind and Fire and Little River Band and Donna Summer and whatever whatever was out you know just like hey, this is my favorite stuff and my brother was more evil all yellow all the time. Anyway

Rick Tarrant: 49:11

I just loved that that you are playing disc jockey with little 45 rpm and record says the kid in Shreveport right? Yes Shreveport Louisiana probably we're listening to keel K E L I think was the radio 71 7:10am

Unknown: 49:24

I still have it on my dial set whenever I visit back home. Well, I don't visit much anymore. But yeah,

Rick Tarrant: 49:31

that's funny because I used to when I was starting out as a disc jockey. I was straight across the and you're the second guest in a week that was from there. Lisa Williams, who used to be the morning show host at Caleb was on a few days ago and she she was also from Shreveport and probably listening to KEL but I used to work over at K ONE in Monroe, Louisiana. And I worked the all night show but but I can remember a time or two. My one night off I guess was Sunday night but You know, everybody else is asleep. I'm awake because I'm always awake at night, right? So I would sometimes hop in the car, drive towards Shreveport just as far as I could go to begin to hear KEL because I wanted to hear a big market radio station which Shreveport to Monroe, Shreveport was the big market. Right? So, so I was I was driving over to your neighborhood, you know, who knew? That's so funny. The more people I'm talking to is like, there's more a line or more crossing of paths than I even actually knew about when you start getting just a little bit

Unknown: 50:33

deeper? Yeah, there's a there's a neat circle there really, I think of Yeah, we went to Monroe, and I knew KONE actually, back in the early days had a bumper sticker of that,

Rick Tarrant: 50:44

did you? Yeah, that was my first job out of high school. The big 540. Okay.

Ken Steorts: 50:52

Yeah, well, we have terrestrial radio here on campus, because I just believe in that so much. And you've been, you know, not just instrumental you've been everything to make that happen. If you're if you're in when you're in Memphis at the Orpheum, put it on 100.3 FM and you will hear the melodious intoning of Rick, there. Between all Memphis music all the time,

Rick Tarrant: 51:15

coming to you from the birthplace of rock and roll W outreach, visible music college. Yeah, the home of the blues and the birthplace of rock and roll. That was that was a lot of fun. So yeah, I keep I mentioned that. So even now, W vz M dot O R G, and you can listen to all Memphis music all the time. And it is a weird mashup of country from Johnny Cash or rock from Elvis or free world and jazz or Phineas newborn Jr, jazz pianist. I mean, it's, it's, every time I listen, I go, I like this station.

Unknown: 51:49

I know. That's a two. It's crazy. Like, I've never heard this, you know, 16th greatest hit from Otis Redding. I never knew that was you know, I'll hear new stuff, new artists. And then there'll be a Visible student on there playing, you know, very local indie rock or something. It's like it's very cool.

Rick Tarrant: 52:08

Yeah. And then Cecil Yancey, our friend who's actually going to take some of the ladies on the back beat tour bus on Saturday, he does a Johnny Cash show, every Friday and our friend Billy beaver does a great blues show. In fact, and I'll just throw this out there. My original vision for the station was to have more of an international audience and have people that loved Memphis music, say in the UK, who would want to be a DJ and we have the tech in place where that could happen to have virtual DJs around the globe, you know, talking about Memphis music, so maybe one day we'll get back to exploring how to how to make that happen. After the World settles down, you know,

Ken Steorts: 52:48

there's something special about Memphis music for the most part that is also just almost aligned with the gospel. You know, like with gospel music in the soulful, there's just something sweet about it came out of the black church and the in the Delta and the the gospel music, you know, that that's where rock and roll came out of and then the mismatched mishmash of music coming together. That generally although some of the some of it's a little bit, you know, sexy music, whatever, but a lot of it is kind of sweet, you know?

Rick Tarrant: 53:22

Well, and and I know, we're about out of time, but I'll just tell the brief story that a lady named Dixie Lok used to date Elvis, and they went to first Assembly of God before Elvis was Elvis, right. And she told me how as teenagers, they would sometimes slip out of first Assembly of God, which was over on Macklemore, which is where Stax Records not far from where Stax Records is, and that they would go down a couple of blocks to Easter egg Baptist Church, where Herbert W. Herbert Brewster was the Reverend and I didn't know at the time because I used to see him every week at the radio station I worked at I didn't realize he was a, like, he wrote the first million selling gospel songs and recorded by Mahalia Jackson. I mean, what an amazing I was in the presence of greatness, and I was too young and dumb to know, I just wish I could rewind that tape. But I recorded them every week, you'd do a sermon. Right? And, and they would anyway, Elvis and other kids would go over to East trig. And another mentor of mine, George Klein told me he said, Yeah, cuz that was there was no rock and roll back then. So going to hear gospel music at this church. Oh, and he said, This is funny. The white kids, we had to sit in the balcony. Because Memphis was very segregated, you know, obviously in the in the 50s. But that really was the birth of rock and roll was gospel music in the church. Yeah, that's right. Much to the chagrin of many, many a saint I'm sure. They would call W dia. Why are you playing that? Why are you playing that devil music? Well, thank you, Ken, for coming on and helping these kids navigate, you know through life because it's not all sacred or or, or secular. It's like we know, God created this world we live in and you're you're raising up a generation as to how to how to navigate these waters. So I'm grateful. And I'm grateful to call you my friend. And I'm grateful that you came on. Are we podcast today?

Ken Steorts: 55:22

Yes, getting this thing launched. This is very cool doing it with videos, good to meet everybody and see everybody's faces.

Rick Tarrant: 55:30

Well, any parting words of wisdom? Or, yeah, if you have a prophetic word for us, please leave that on us. But otherwise, just if you close us out in prayer, I would be very humbled. Okay.

Ken Steorts: 55:42

Well, Lord, thank You for Your kingdom over all things, just that you trusted yourself, to create us and to make a plan that we could walk in and what a what a blessing to be yours, and to be in a place of just your Yeah, just to be your calling. So I pray over this soul group, everyone listening, wherever they may be that they would know your kingdom, they would know your presence intimately, Lord, and in Your word, and just be at your service God as our obedience is made for through hearing you doing the things that you're asking us to do, and being bold enough to go into this world and to rule and reign with you, Lord, and so ask You for Your blessing over our lives today and for your word and the music that's important. Thank you so much for what you've done in our lives. Bless this day in Jesus name. Amen.

Rick Tarrant: 56:48

Amen. Well, thank you, my friend, and I always like to leave you with this. Speak the word, renew your mind, transform your life.

Show intro: 57:02

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