Behind the Music Stand

 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’t as full and tight, and sometimes you couldn't even tell if they were major or minor without Lefty!   The poor pianist

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 verses:   “And let