Wednesday, 25 February 2009

The Lifespan of Praise & Worship Music

So recently, I've been working on adding some more stuff to my computer's library of praise & worship music for when I'm helping leading music at church and at camp, too. Needless to say, my archives have grown significantly since I've started keeping and looking for music a bit over a year ago when I started helping lead at InterVarsity at Hope College. I'm kind of proud of myself, but it also frightens me, because like any teacher, especially in the fine arts, I'm an unbelievable pack rat.

When Lifted Voice, the youth praise band at church, leads music on Sunday mornings for the congregation, we tend to mix styles a bit. We definitely tend to lean towards modern and more updated styles, but we usually throw in an old hymn, and often, a throwback song from the early 90s or even earlier. I've been adding those too my library too, because... well, that's what a library is, after all. But it has had me thinking a bit, too.

One of the songs Lifted Voice did probably back in November that I just uncovered in the living room was a song that I remember doing when I was in... 3rd grade? It was new then, but I can tell by praise and worship music standards, it's vintage. I looked it up on YouTube and it definitely sounded like it, too. I couldn't help but laugh a little bit. I even went all geeky on myself and listened to another song in the same key from one of the Hope Chapel CDs to just de-tox my ears and my brain, something that I think I'd rather use for a service anyway.

That little analysis, as it were, really made me marvel at how short of a lifespan a praise and worship song really has. The song I listened to after this vintage one was a modernization of an old hymn. One that's several centuries old, actually. Maybe this "step forward," the "progress" in church music, isn't so much progress after all.

Wednesday, 11 February 2009

The Imaginary Xanga Post

Dear Xanga,

Today my brothe rwas REALLY STOOPIDD lol. SometimesI really wish my brother would stop being so STOOPID and let me be awesome instead off him being really stupid. He's SOOOO STOOPID. LOL. Wow he's stupid.

Well I gottago. Lololol! Bye.

(My brother has made this allusion in real so many times I thought I'd finally oblige him and make it come to life. So there. In fact, he did it JUST now.)

Sunday, 04 January 2009

Lessons Learned from the Weddings

I've spent a lot of time at weddings in the past three weeks. Recently, I haven't been to that many in a year, let alone a month. But, I guess that's what happens when all of my friends schedule their weddings at almost the same time and I grow slightly afraid that I'll miss one because they're all so close together.

One thing that I always think about a little bit is seeing how the couples have grown together as one to reach the altar, when they either recite their vows (or listen to them from the pastor), and then how they say "I do." I saw three very different moods. Three very different approaches to the wedding that each have merit in their own right and show how each couple has its own personality, sense of style, and approach to life, including marriage.

I really admired how Brandon and Stephanie each wrote their own vows, completely independent of one another. What was so remarkable, though, was how similar they were. These vows were a reflection of how they saw their marriage-my two friends had grown through each other, grown into better people since knowing one another, and they wanted to be better people and better Christians and wanted to have a God-centered marriage. It's clear that they wanted their marriage to be help maybe bring someone closer to Christ. And when the time for them to say, "I do," to take each other as husband and wife, it was incredibly sincere. They meant it. Completely.

Then there was Mark and Becky. I didn't recall specially written vows, so that part sounded a little more familiar. What sticks out in my mind from this wedding is the incredibly joyous approach to marriage. When Pastor Carlson asked Mark if he took Becky to be his wife, he practically shouted, "I DO!!!!" Becky wasn't quite as exuberant with her response to if she took Mark, but to be honest a little hard to top her husband-Mark is one of the happiest guys you'll ever meet. What I admired is Mark and Becky kept a perspective on their wedding day that even though it IS serious... it's a celebration, too! And they were excited. Rightfully so-they got married and were surrounded by all their best friends in their home church. How much better can it get on that their "someday," as Becky called it.

Finally, there was Leo and Angela. I really appreciated the symbolism in this particular wedding of the couple's first act as a couple of kneeling together in prayer together after the pronouncement, even before the husband was told to kiss the bride. It shows, in my opinion, like Brandon and Stephanie's wedding, how I think Leo and Angela want to grow closer to God in the process of growing closer to each other. Pastor Carlson mentioned the lesson from Ecclesiastes about how three threads are not easily and how in marriage, that third thread, in addition to the husband and wife, is God holding them together. That was well-represented by the prayer. I really liked it.

All the best in your new lives together, my friends. I hope everyone who sees you looks at your marriages and sees them as examples of how love should look in a world where too often, love shatters. But I hope everyone sees them as even more than that. I hope your marriages are seen as a symbol of Christ's love for His people.

Saturday, 03 January 2009

A look back at Christmas

I was talking to a friend last night, and even though I said I should go to bed, I had to write about this right then. Sorry Austin. I went to bed right afterwards.

I love Christmas. A lot. I knew or maybe wanted Christmas to be different this year. After the economy turned so toxic, I figured I wouldn't have as many presents. But in a way, I was kind of okay with that. Mom had asked me what I wanted and said, "Make a list! I don't know what to get you." I strained to think off the top of my head what I wanted. I did come up with some stuff, but it was kind of impulsive and a rather short list, honestly. I didn't know what I wanted or what I'd get and even though I like gifts, I didn't care as much this year. I don't remember now if I just prayed to God directly for a different kind of Christmas or what exactly, but I just didn't want just another Christmas like in years past. Could this one be different?

As Christmas got closer, maybe I stopped caring about gifts. I had so much else to think about. I had done some shopping but there was the big community Christmas concert with all the church choirs. Follow the Star. Stephanie and Brandon's wedding. The Christmas Eve Service & the annual Malburg Christmas Eve Party following. This year, Jordan and I were the starring cast members, portraying two angels (Gabriel and his apprentice, Simiel-a name I uncovered that comes from the angelic tradition somewhere; it's the name of an archangel). Following lots of edits and revisions, somehow Jordan and I pulled off the skit on Christmas Eve.

Christmas comes. We had a tasty breakfast and opened stockings. The usual gag gifts, and we were all ready to open the Christmas tree presents when a close friend messaged me that it wasn't such a good day. With her wedding ring thought to be lost and Christmas celebrations all done the day before, her Christmas day was kind of ordinary at best. It sounded kind of sad to me. Sad is no way to celebrate Christmas. I knew Mom and Dad would want to open presents and all and I couldn't just tell them no, but I wanted to help. But how? So I said that she should call us and that we'd see if we could go look for the ring. It had to be somewhere and if it was in the snow, we'd try and find it. And that's what we did.

Christmas presents-I got some nice things which I really do like. I love the new coat especially. But then out Jordan and I went to hunt for this ring in a giant snow pile with Becky and her family. No success, but I wasn't a bit sorry I spent part of my Christmas helping a friend look for something that special to her. And then my friend joined us for dinner, the first non-family member to join us on Christmas. Not bad. A reading of the Christmas story followed by a homemade prime rib dinner with all the fixings. Plus enough pie and homemade cookies till we could pop.

The story, thankfully, has a happy ending. She found her ring in a desk drawer, even though she doesn't remember putting it there. She told all her friends and they were all just as happy as she was when she found it. Just like the parable of the lost coin. All her friends rejoiced with the woman when she found her lost coin.

I think about this story and this Christmas. It was different. I spent it a little differently-with a friend who needed her friends. Even though we didn't find the ring that day, I know now that we were supposed to at least be there for her because... if I was in my friend's place, I'd want someone to come help me, too. Because really... isn't that was Christmas is about? God coming down and being there with us when we needed Him most?

Tuesday, 09 December 2008

Love the Lord Your God with all Your MIND

Lately I've been reading something different. I took a tour through some of Ted Dekker's books for a while to see what they're like (Tom Clancy if written with a Christianized twist) and then read The Promise by Robert Morgan, which examines the possibilities of living life with a Romans 8:28 attitude. I could go on about both, but I'd rather not distract myself, because I do that easily enough when I write online.

Right now I'm reading Strength to Love by Martin Luther King, Jr. It's a collection of sermons that he gave at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church and Ebenezer Baptist Church and after reading just a few of them so far... I'm honestly ashamed didn't do the reading I was assigned from this text while I was in "Models of Christian Spirituality" back at Hope. It's good stuff, and it reminds me of how, even though he's most famous for being a civil rights icon, he was still, at his roots, a pastor.

I'd venture most children in elementary schools learn at least a few things about Martin Luther King, Jr. around his birthday. They learn about how he was an iconic figure in the Civil Rights movement, about how he stood up for the rights of his fellow men and led the March on Washington. And some might know he was a great admirer of Mohandas Gandhi. And of course, it's pretty well known that he was murdered.

But his theology is what the book I'm currently reading centers around, and that's what has me so fascinated right now. Like I said, I've enjoyed reading it so far. One of the things he talked about was the idea that most people in America have little issue with the concept of loving the Lord with all their hearts and souls. And even their strength, though the concept might be a little bit obtuse. But what about the mind?

Dr. King suggested the pursuit of knowledge is a mandate from the Bible itself. Luke 10:27 states, "He [Jesus] answered: ' "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind"; and, "Love your neighbor as yourself." ' " That's a clear mandate that, along with our heart and soul, we don't get the option of letting our minds go by the wayside. Simply put... ignorance, or as Martin Luther King, Jr. even more directly put it, stupidity, is not an option for the Christian Church. Paul also said in Romans 10:2 regarding those in opposition to him that, "... they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge." The people who stood in Paul's way that King is citing weren't inherently bad people. Chances are, they were good people. They wanted to serve God. Unfortunately, they lacked the knowledge that Paul had, and therefore, they only hindered the spreading of the Gospel of Christ. To me, that sounds almost worse than purposefully trying to stop the spread of the Gospel. To want to try and help the cause of God's Kingdom and instead, all you are is an impedence. That's enough to make anyone want to just die. Thankfully, Paul's message still spread.

I'm not saying knowledge is everything. It isn't. It's only one piece of how we're supposed to love and serve Christ. But as a body of believers, I sometimes sense that we get so caught up in the heart and soul (the will to serve and Who the service is for) aspect as well as strength (actually going out and doing something) that the mind/thinking aspect gets thrown out. The mind is seen as something reserved for the scholars and other like-minded people who lock themselves high in the ivory tower of academia. "Let them do the thinking! That's way over my head," some may say.

Dr. King would say no, and he offers a good reason why. "The heart can never be right if the head is totally wrong." He didn't mean obtaining a stack of college degrees and thousands of dollars in student loans. Instead, he meant pursuing truth, defending oneself against gullibility, and being open-minded. That's something that anyone can do, regardless of education. More importantly, Dr. King says, when we truly love the Lord our God with all our minds as well as our hearts, souls, and strength, we set ourselves apart from those who stoned His apostles.

Comments(1)

Hello Major General,
You made your site simple yet elegant. I see that God is foremost in your mind as you go about your daily activities. Now is a good time! I recommend the one true God, Jehovah.
I want to help people to really get to know God, especially in these troubled times. Here is an important message for all of us from the Bible: 17 You make God tired with all your talk. "How do we tire him out?" you ask. By saying, "God loves sinners and sin alike. God loves all." And also by saying, "Judgment? God's too nice to judge." (Malachi 2:17) (Message Bible)

the_endof_thisworld

Sunday, 30 November 2008

God, Where ARE You?

It was just one of those tough days. Not a lot has gone right, despite singing okay in my first foray at special music in about a year and a good discussion in the small group tonight at youth group. Sometimes, though, when I say that, maybe now I'm wondering if I'm just fooling myself.

I WANT to make a difference. I want to help the high school students that darken Cornerstone's doors grow in their walk with Christ. I know I'm still learning how to best do it because it's an art and not a science. An art is learned through practice. And in the case of youth group, or camp, or any ministry that God blesses, He provides the increase in His own time.

But like I said, nights like this are tough. Snarky, hurtful comments don't seem to end and a lack of enthusiasm can spread like a cancer. And then it makes it harder for those that are there and want to learn something and to actually grow. It always sows this seed of doubt in my mind: did I do something wrong?

And then... I come home and get more bad news that isn't even worth writing about. And I finally had enough. I couldn't take it. I sat down on the couch, and tried to talk to God about everything. But I couldn't. Instead, I felt as alone as I've ever felt. And I ended up asking, "God, where ARE You?"

But then, I remembered the verse from Romans (8:26, I looked it up later) that said the Holy Spirit will pray what we need FOR US what words cannot express. The Holy Spirit (that's GOD) will pray for us what words cannot express. When I remembered that I started to cry for the first time in recent memory.

I'm still feeling alone, but not AS alone. Because I have the Holy Spirit praying FOR me. And this Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for that.

Tuesday, 25 November 2008

Reaching Out

So I had a conversation that greatly encouraged me last night. It's one of those types that I have to write about.

One of the cool things about Staff Reunion at Center Lake is the opportunity to meet new people. Even staff that haven't worked there for a season or two will come back and meet all the new staff that came for the first time and are back and positively psyched for their first Staff Reunion. And vice versa. It's where we all re-awaken our inner realization that at Center Lake, we're one big happy family.

I never thought Staff Reunion would make this kind of impact on a person. Usually I think only summer camp in this fashion. But I got tagged in a note by a friend that made me realize that even at Staff Reunion, when we welcome guests with open arms, that can impact people in ways we might never know. It can even refresh a person's spirit and encourage him or her to carry on with his or her spiritual walk with a renewed vigor. All because we at Center Lake said, "Come. You're welcome here." And greeted with open arms (literally).

I found out last night that this friend wants to be an SMT at Center Lake next summer. He's gone from a stranger to someone welcomed by the staff to someone who wants to work there on the Summer Missions Team.

God still works in the hearts of young people. Despite the myriad influences on them today, God is still working on their hearts. I have seen it. Because some people bothered with reaching out during Staff Reunion when they were just excited to see each other.