Behind the Music Stand

In honor of finishing our sermon  mini-series on the 23rd Psalm: Psalm 23 - Amplified The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He tends His flock like a shepherd:  He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart [i] He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. Come to Jesus, all you who are weary and burdened, and He will give you rest… He is gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For His yoke is easy and His burden is light.” [ii] He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake. So whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. [iii]   His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. [iv] Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me… The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined. [v] ...

“Every path of Yahweh is one of mercy and truth for those who cling to his promised and written instructions.” (Psalm 25:10, Names of God Bible) If "Every path of Yahweh is mercy and truth," then conversely if we are not constantly striving to walk in mercy and truth, are we behaving as Christ wants us to behave? Furthermore, non-christians, do not belittle Christianity because someone consistently walks in hypocrisy.  We do not consider the injunction against murder to be wrong because someone murders.  If someone claims to be a teacher but the do not teach, we do not say, "All teachers are hypocrites!" We ought not to condemn what a person claims to be because they do not behave how what they claim to be says they should! So let's get specific:  don't dismiss all Christians and Christianity because one person *claiming* to be a Christian bombs and abortion clinic or an organization like Westbourough Baptist (sp?) spews venom and hatred. So I'...

     Perhaps you've noticed the Christmas decorations are still up around the church.  Having spent many good years working in retail, I empathize deeply with those who feel that they should all magically disappear on December 26.  However, being a church musician in a more traditional and liturgical church, I also have a tendency to order my life by the liturgical calendar.      The liturgical calendar evolved over centuries and has its most elemental roots in the Jewish calendar of feasts, and according to the calendar, four Sundays before Christmas Day is the start of the season called Advent.      The term Advent comes from the the Latin word for "Coming."  During the Advent season we are reminded both that Jesus came into the world as a baby all those millennia ago, and that He will come again to take His children home.  It is a season of reflection and repentance, during which we are expected to prepare ourselves f...

 The annual choir workshop is on Sunday, signaling the start of our choir season, so once again it is time to post this story. =)                 nce there was a pianist with nine, happy, long and strong fingers... and one Sad, Little, Left Ring-Finger.      Lefty, the Sad Left Ring Finger was sad because she was weaker than all the other fingers, and shorter than most of them, too!   Even the Pinky Twins were stronger and more important than her!      She thought to herself, “Why Left Pinky is often the root of the chord, and Right Pinky gets to play all the wonderful, high notes!   It’s all I can do to just barely play at the same volume level as the other fingers!      So one day, Lefty the Left Ring Finger decided to quit playing the piano with all the other fingers!   And wouldn’t you know it—suddenly the chords weren’...

Over the years I have heard several of my friends say things like, "I don't have to go to church to be a Christian," or "Going to church doesn't make me a Christian any more than lying in a hotdog bun makes me a hotdog!"   (Brace yourself for a love-based tongue-lashing!) Recently in a communion service (and doubtless through our pastor, Albert Gillin’s message) I was impressed with these thoughts: è     What do you bring to the table?   Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “ 24  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25  not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” o So first we must note the obvious:   It is a direct biblical imperative to meet together.   Assuming you respect the authority of the Bible, nothing further needs to be said on that point! o But let us look a little deeper at these ver...

Above The Cross.   Jesus’ almighty power is greater than Death     itself—even the graphic, horrifying death on the cross! On The Cross.   As Jesus thought of us—as He carried our sin, we were there on the Cross with Him! Under The Cross.   We are convicted by its necessity and covered by Christ’s work on it. Through The Cross.   Jesus paid our debt. Behind The Cross.   We can take refuge with The Cross as our shield.   If even Death could not keep Christ away from us, who or what could?   We need only stand behind The Cross—behind Christ’s redeeming victory on it, and all threats, trials, and temptations pale to nothing in compression. Before The Cross.   We all stand on equal ground at The Cross.   We must all face The Cross and decide what to do with it—and with Jesus who died there.   EJA 04-03-2018

ere's my theory--maybe wiser folk than I cooked it up and I just subconsciously stole it, or maybe I'm just crazy, BUT...      I think it's funny that we humans generally dislike change, yet part of the human condition is that everything changes.   I think the reason we dislike change is because we are made “ In the Image of God ” (See Genesis ) , and GOD NEVER CHANGES.   To put it another way, part of being made in God ’ s image is longing for that quality of “ Non-Changing-ness ” that only He has!      It is interesting and amusing then that just as God is more complex than we can comprehend, the converse of this “ Change-Aversion ” is also often true for us!   As much as we dislike change, we mortals are also prone to the “ Grass Is Always Greener / Never Happy With Our Circumstances ” Attitude.   When it ’ s hot outside we long for cooler weather.   When It ’ s cold we want it to warm up. ...