1988, Phil Keaggy, and My Evangelical Friend

The year was 1988.  I was living in Seattle, Washington. I was engaged to my wife, Janice, and was beginning my career as a clinical pharmacist at an area hospital.  At the time I was an evangelical Christian.  I had begun to study New Testament Greek at a local Lutheran College in preparation for further theological studies.  While leading a “home group” associated with a large evangelical church, I sensed a call to ministry, (and learned I was OK with a guitar).

Musically, with the exception of U2, the 1980s was a time when I listened primarily to Contemporary Christian Music (CCM).  Some of CCM was fluff, some of it held a great deal of depth.  Generally, the music was well written and well produced.  Among the most gifted of CCM musicians was guitarist / vocalist Phil Keaggy.  He was (and still is) a virtuoso guitarist gifted also with a fantastic tenor’s voice.  His 1988 release of “Phil Keaggy and Sunday’s Child” (Myrrh Records), was a musical delight for me.

However, changes would soon take place.  In the next decade, while studying at a Protestant seminary, I began a theological and spiritual journey that would take me to a “far land.”  This journey held exciting and unnerving discoveries.  By my studies I was led to sacramental and liturgical expressions of Christianity.  I left evangelicalism behind.  I also ditched CCM and everything associated with evangelicalism.

Let’s fast forward to April, 2024.  While preparing for a trip with my wife, I selected a few CDs (yes…I know…) to play as we travelled more than 300 miles.  For some reason I grabbed and dusted off a two volume set of Phil Keaggy’s music — an anthology — entitled “Time.”  Included in this anthology were three tracks from his 1988 release noted above.  These were “Tell Me How You Feel,” “Sunday’s Child,” and my favorite, “I’ve Only Just Begun (Again).”  All three songs were written, or co-written by Mr. Keaggy.  Such a selection would not have occurred a few years ago.

This 36 year old recording of 13 tracks has resurfaced as a favorite CD.  My ear picks up on some 60’s pop-rock vibe with jangly six- and 12-string electric guitars.  My wife and I also noted a “McCartney-like” quality to his voice.  None of the tracks are evangelical “praise songs”, though there is a low level evangelical preaching evident a few of the songs’ lyrics.  Other songs comment on the matters of faith as it engages and is challenged by everyday life.  Among these tracks, “Blessed Be the Ties,” speaks beautifully to the struggles and joys found in married / family life.  I present its lyrics:

Out of the single life, into the family way — So many scripted lines, too many roles to play.ever a pressure pressing, ever an undertow.  Why do the ties you’ve chosen slowly pull you low?

Over the things we love, into the still unknown — I had a dream last night I was finally left alone.Nothing to tie me down, no one to kiss goodnight — never again to feel your whisper pull me to your side.

And, oh, an emotion cries.  Oh — sing blessed be the ties.

Under the veil He walks through the relentless chill, ever to bear your grief, ever rejected still.Out of the deep He pulls you into the arms you trust.Nothing can separate us from the ties that bind to you.

And, oh, as your spirits rise.  Oh — sing, “Blessed be the ties.”

Stay with me.  Never let go.  Take me to your side.  I am dreaming.

Oh — an emotion cries sing, “Blessed be the ties.”Blessed be the ties.

Now, allow me to back up a bit in time to explain why I am writing this posting about Mr. Keaggy, his recording, and my evangelical past.  In April, 2023, an old friend sent me a text asking if I would want to renew / restore our friendship which had been neglected for more than a decade.  We became estranged because we argued evangelical vs Orthodox theological differences.  We were both stubborn and often parted in frustration and anger.  I had been wanting to rebuild damaged bridges, but never was sure of how to start the needed conversation.  I immediately responded to his text affirming my desire to renew the decades-old friendship.  We no longer had any desire to prove who was right and who was wrong.  He had begun to study Orthodox theology and came to understand and appreciate Orthodox teaching.  I, on my part, since the darkness and deceptions from the COVID-19 debacle had been pored out on western countries, realized that I am to rejoice in light and truth wherever it is found — and yes, also in evangelicalism.  I have come to this conclusion because when Christians of all traditions are hauled off to “the Gulag”, such differences will not matter too much.

On one get together, my friend, Colin, asked me, “When will we have unity?”  My reply, “when we experience persecution.”  This persecution is now upon us and increases monthly.  Though ecclesial unity will not occur, bonds of trust and support must take place between those who reach out to one another in goodwill.  This will be for survival of my Eastern Orthodox faith and his evangelical faith, and perhaps even our physical lives.

Colin and I get together routinely to play guitar, write an occasional song, and now have respectful and loving discussions of theology, family, and life in general over a few hours of “picking and grinning” and a shared bottle of a good red wine.  I rejoice that he is again part of my life, and that his wife and my wife are now also renewing their friendship.  Blessed be the ties!

Here are two links to his songs:  “Blessed Be the Ties”

And “I’ve Only Just Begun (Again)”

In Christ, and in friendship with all of goodwill,

Fr Irenaeus