Tag Archives: Kerry Livgren

The Crossover Connection Week 18: The Spiritual Evolution of Kansas

Posted on June 3, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Dust in the Wind is commonplace in the state of Kansas as farmlands are tilled each spring. However, Dust in the Wind is one of the most iconic songs from the Rock band simply known as Kansas. When I recently listened to the lyrics of this song, I am reminded of the passage below. Every band goes through phases that are highlighted by each album. After lead singer Kerry Livgren left Kansas, he completed the spiritual journey that began with the simple idea of dust in the wind.

In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you shall return, Genesis 3:19.

One thing that I noticed about Livgren is that he was way ahead of his time. Livgren’s Phd in music is on full display in the Decade Album. While he doesn’t use a hammer dulcimer like Rich Mullins, each song contains a distinct sound with a vast collection of instruments and synthesizers. Although I understand lifelong fans of Kansas may not appreciate Kerry’s solo career, the lyrics do reveal Livgren’s spiritual evolution as an artist and Christian. I hope you enjoy the attached You Tube this week.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 150: Slow Motion Suicide

Posted on June 30, 2022 by expressyourself4him

I was a big fan of the rock group Kansas as a teenager. Carry On Wayward Son and Dust in the Wind were my two favorites. Looking back, the lyrics of these two songs have spiritual elements which likely influenced lead singer Kerry Livgren to transition to a solo career. Today’s featured song Slow Motion Suicide comes from Livgren’s AD album. Not many artists have a PHD in music, but Kerry was way ahead of his time in using a variety of instruments and sounds during his career as a Christian artist.

And casting the pieces of silver [forward] into the [Holy Place of the [b]sanctuary of the] temple, he departed; and he went off and hanged himself, Matthew 27:5.

While the topic of today’s song isn’t positive, there is a reason I selected this tune. As someone who planned my own suicide as a child, most people don’t just wake up one day and decide to kill themselves. Rather, this thought is planted inside fragile minds by the Devil. As children are bullied, made fun of and or teased, ideas like “if I was dead nobody would care anyway” pop into depressed heads. Unless someone intervenes, this slow motion mindset will give birth to suicide. Stop these thoughts via prayer.

by Jay Mankus

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