Behind the Music Stand

One of my friends re-posted this picture on Facebook.  He found it at Facebook page "Americans against the Tea Party," which in turn got it from "I Acknowledge Class Warfare Exists," neither of which, in my opinion, imply discussions about God from the name of their Facebook pages... regardless, in my limited understanding, I felt complied to "Vent" about this picture, so this blog isn't particularly "Music and Worship Arts" related, but it was spawned by a "Picture" on Facebook!  I have edited my reply on Facebook for ease of reading and to omit personal references.  It went, in part: First, intelligent Tea-Partiers will say you can believe (or not!) whatever religious belief you want--just allow us to believe what *we* want! Next, "Could God have created a universe with free-will but without evil?" is a misleading question.   It presumes that this world exists as God created it.   God DID create a universe with

Anyone remember this Oldy-But-Goody by Brian Howard? I Just Wanna Be a Sheep Don't wanna be a goat…nope Don't wanna be a goat…nope Haven't got any hope…nope Don't wanna be a goat…nope (Chorus) I just wanna be a sheep Baa, baa, baa, baa I just wanna be a sheep Baa, baa, baa, baa I pray the Lord my soul to keep I just wanna be a sheep Baa, baa, baa, baa, Don't wanna be a Pharisee Don't wanna be a Pharisee 'Cause they're not fair you see Don't wanna be a Pharisee (Chorus) Don't wanna be a Sadducee Don't wanna be a Sadducee 'Cause they're so sad you see Don't wanna be a Sadducee (Chorus)* (And, of course, there are as many variations as there are Sunday School teachers!)      Today the text for Pastor Albert’s sermon was Matthew 22:23-33, in which the Sadducees try to catch Jesus in a logic riddle.   Of course, they fail miserably since (1) they don’t believe the premise on which their riddle is based

     Please see my post, “C’est la jour de la Noël” or "Why on Earth Did He Pick THAT Song?" for an explanation as to why I chose this song for the choir to sing this month (except for communion Sunday).  For now, here is the Latin text and English translation. Non Nobis, Domine  William Byrd, 1543 - 1623   Non nobis, Domine, non nobis,        Do not give to us, not to us,   sed nomini tuo da gloriam.                but to Your Name give glory.          It is interesting to note that with this same sentiment, Johann Sebastian Bach signed his compositions "SDG," his abbreviation for "Soli Deo Gloria," which means "Only to God glory!"  It is my prayer that all the music we present at FPC would bring "SDG," and I pray, too, that we will ever strive to make this more our goal in all we do!   Ever His,   

Psalm 148 ( Poeticized )   Let all creation praise the Lord! Praise Him from the heavens above, Praise Him, Creator of all Love, Let all creation praise the Lord! Praise Him, angels from on high, Praise Him, sun and moon in sky, Let all creation praise the Lord! Praise Him, all His heavenly hosts, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Let all creation praise the Lord! Praise Him, all that He created, Praise Him, nature unabated, Let all creation praise the Lord! Praise Him, creatures walking low, Praise Him, swimming things below, Let all creation praise the Lord! Praise Him, every bird on wing, Praise Him, every living thing, Let all creation praise the Lord! Praise Him, winds that do His bidding, Praise Him, storm or calm, as fitting, Let all creation praise the Lord! Praise Him, mountain, hill and dale, Praise him, jungle, or desert pale, Let all creation praise the Lord! Praise Him, kings of all the earth, Praise Him, princ