10/21/2009
For those that have been in church 20 or more years, you have no doubt noticed a shift in music.
We used to gather on Sundays, flip open a book (called a hymnal, or if you were REALLY up-to-date it would be a “chorus book”). The music team was often led by someone up front waving an arm up, down, left and right (sign of the cross?) and the “band” was a piano player or organ – and the back up singers were 50 in number … they called this a choir and they even wore choir robes. Everyone had a part to sing, whether it be Soprano, Alto, Tenor or Bass. Oh yeah, those books that they read from, had these little dots with lines going up or down. They were usually find on five lines that were stretched across the page.
Then … it went to song books which had several “updated” music in it. The arm waver was still there, as well as the music team, but maybe the addition of an acoustic guitar. The choir group, became an octet … and they all matched outfits, usually light in color.
Then … the discovery of using an overhead projector incorporated into the “modern” mindset. The overhead allowed you to show on a big screen quick changes of music. We all lifted our heads “up” (to the screen) instead of “down” to the book. The sound from those in the pews was more loud. The music team is now led by a guy with an acoustic (maybe) and the piano. The organ would be used for special music. The octet is now a quarter that MUST consist of two men, and two women. One of which has to have a bushy mustache (the males that is).
Then … the use of slide projectors that had sections of songs on each slide. Fancy. This was usually brought out with an additional team which consisted of the acoustic guitar player (now plugged in to the sound board), an electric bass, drums (but a very low key set and usually off stage somewhere), piano player (which is still a main instrument – but sometimes the piano might be replaced with a keyboard). What’s an organ? The quartet is now mostly ladies, and one of the ladies might have a resemblance of a mustache of some sort. The lone male on the vocals is usually really skinny. They still like to dress the same. The songs are much more upbeat and sometimes even somewhat modern (if you call 20 years in the past modern).
Then … the use of the infamous “power point”. We are smokin’ now! This means instant back and forth of songs, low cost, cool snazzy affects (like the flying in of words, or coloring of certain words … or even … with the artistic ones … an introduction of a picture in between songs). The band is a band with an electric/acoustic leader, backed up by an electric bass, drums (on stage), keyboard and some kind of brass/orchestra instrument of some sort now and then (violin, sax, tuba, etc.) The vocalists range from a single female back up singer that has sweet pipes and incredible harmonies to a hip quintet. They no longer feel it necessary to stand in a straight line that is angled, but now are in duets throughout the platform. The songs have now shifted from the yesteryear of the hymnbooks and are now songs that include songs of Jesus, but also more about our feelings. They also tend to be in a range that the only “men” that can sing it are ones that have been castrated or have not yet hit puberty and still have that ability to sing 12 octaves up.
Then … we ditched power point because it is so ‘linear’. We now go with other programs that allow the music leader (who is usually sporting some kind of fashion trendiness) to be able to go with the flow and be led by the spirit. This allows them to completely skip over a song or add a song as ‘they are led’. This means more headache for the sound crew (and now the light crew as the stage is more geared towards performance aesthetics). The looks of the screen have changed as we can now add video in behind the words that are being sung. Usually there is a lit candle somewhere on stage. The music team? They shift – they usually sound incredible, and are in constant rotation, but often are not the same weekly. The vocals share the music leading. The songs are now pretty much just three songs, in the key of D, that usually emphasize 12 words over, and over, and over, and over, and over. The only organ that is being spoken of is that of the anatomy. The songs are still outrageously high and the windows budget is astronomical as the songs sung are constantly shattering glass somewhere). There is usually one new song that is being sung every week, some of which come from the top 20 on some local radio station. Thankfully they shy away from doing country songs (for obvious reasons … is there any real joy in country music?)
What will tomorrow hold?
All of these have had major impacts in the lives of those that gather to worship Jesus. Music is an appreciated part of the life of believers. It is also a divisive part. Each generational shift in the music has catered to the current culture that the church is wanting to reach (albeit still from the culture of yesteryear).
God values our worship of Him in any way it can happen (Music, life, prayer, etc.). But music tends to be the one thing that the whole church can do together … a community thing.
I tend to go into moods with singing at church. Sometimes I am just not in the mood because I am too busy critiquing what is going on (repetition of words, songs about feelings, and high pitch). I wonder if I would be more effective by shutting my mouth and reading the words. Regardless of my approach, God desires my worship of Him.
What do I do to allow God to outwardly see what is going on inside?
How could singing be so important to God?
How many octaves high are we supposed to reach?
Do most men actually sing in church?
I think my buddies Vin Thomas and Tyler Braun have sounded off on this before. Check ‘em out.
What are your thoughts on this subject?
Tags: church, Jesus, meaning, music, selfish, thoughts, wonder
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01/03/2009
I sit here pondering if I will have another year like last year. A year filled with me pushing my own desires out instead of waiting for God.
I have talked much about this lately with others and haven’t found a simple non-cheesey, non-religious way of following Jesus.
For some this would mean MORE bible study, MORE prayer, MORE ministry, MORE meetings and MORE potlucks! Others it will mean as my friend stated “do I just sit in bed waiting for Jesus to speak to me to show me what to do next?”. This stinks for me, as having been a pastor for over a decade you’d think I would know how to best and quickly answer.
How I would love to live my life is different then how I actually live it. Does that make me a hypocrite? … Yes, yes it does. What do I do when I sense that about my life? I push harder, try harder, make things happen only to be found … once again, seemingly distant from God and not feeling like I am doing much in the way of eternal impact in peoples lives … shoot, I almost would be happier with any kind of impact – even if temporal.
I am not wanting to plan my year out for fear I will be in that same spot. I also don’t want to simply wait … and then second guess if that was “God’s voice” calling or my own.
I do have a job that I like, but it isn’t my calling. I really do yearn for doing ministry full time, but my debt is holding me back. I don’t see that I am pouring my life into my children so that they can “taste and see that the Lord is good”. My ministry at church is ok, but since the lay off I haven’t gotten plugged back in … and then when I did, I was frustrated at how many guys aren’t plugged in online to interact with easily. It would be easy to blame the complexities of my current job as the reason for what is going on … but I think it is much deeper. I think it is a longing to be near Jesus again, in a way that there is no doubt as to what His will is in my life.
How do I get there again?
All I know is to go back to the things I did when I was much closer.
What was I doing?
- I was spending time daily reading the Bible recognizing the intent is to know more about God. The Bible is God’s revelation to humanity to reveal not marching orders, but to reveal God himself in ways we might better comprehend.
- I was spending time talking to Him.
- I was spending time sharing Him with others in a way that people also want a relationship with God.
Simple, really. Just need to do it, without making it too complex! Do I really need to drag out all of my study books, just to read the Bible? Is it necessary that I write in a journal, just to pray? Do I have to set up a meeting and strategize with others, just to continue the story of God in the world today? WHY do I make things more complicated!?!
Jesus,
Take my life, make it how You want it. Allow me the privelege of seeing You work within my world. Help me not be so complicated in being with You. Let my girls tell I am connected with the Creator of the world.
Tags: Bible, faith, meaning, thoughts
Posted in ponder | 2 Comments »
11/24/2007
see previous article on my break away from blogging (HERE) ….
Whew! … that was a long hiatus. I found the meaning of life.
The meaning of life is to receive the Salvation He offers to us and worship God through Jesus.
I know some of you are secretly reading this blog and do not make comments to let me know you are here, but you need to know that having a relationship with Jesus will not make everything rosey, all your problems will not be solved, your current relationships will not get better over night, you will not receive more money in the mail, you won’t be singing songs everyday of your life when you wake up.
… so why follow Jesus?
He is not just a good teacher/role-model like many non-believers claim. How could he be if he also claimed to be God. Why would you give someone that kind of acknowledgement/status if he was … cRazY?
What can he do with us? He takes my broken life and fixes it and completes it. He is someone who will never leave me nor forsake me. He is someone I can ALWAYS go to in my need. The path I have gone down too much of my life, was the path of frustration. Frustration of trying to do things on my own, trying to find wise advice through others that were just as lost as I was or even trying to impress people with my things, body, wisdom and life. What’s the purpose in that? I will fail others. Others will fail me, none of us are perfect! We present our falseness all the time and then get upset at people for not loving the “real” me … whatever that “really” is! That is that affect of sin.
Sin corrupts all aspects of life, God can clean us up from it. We still will have to deal with affects of sin in our life, but the hope that we have is two things 1) as followers of Jesus, he gives us the ability to choose not to sin and 2) when we die, we go to heaven where there is no more sin – it is finally removed from us!
When Jesus, who lived a PERFECT life, finished his life on earth, he was taken and placed on a cross … for what reason? No good reason! … except that he went willingly to take our place. Sin prevented us from having a relationship with God. God always demanded a sacrifice for sin (that’s why all of those slaughterings of animals in the beginning of the Bible), God loved us enough to provide that sacrifice for us … and that is why Jesus had to be sacrificed. When he died, he literally took on all of our sins: past, present and future and … threw them far away from us. But we have to believe that Jesus did this … so that we can “legally” benefit from this.
Instead of searching down the path of frustration, would you consider Jesus? If you are reading this blog and know me, then you must know enough that I care about you and I want you to be with me in Heaven together with Jesus.
Here are some other things that are true for those that would follow Jesus … (All found in the first half of the book of Ephesians which is in the last half of the book).
Believers in Jesus are …
- Blessed with all spiritual blessings
- Chosen before creation of the world
- Loved
- Predestined
- Adopted
- Accepted
- Redeemed
- Forgiven
- Given wisdom and understanding
- Shown the mystery of His will
- Have a guaranteed inheritance
- Made “the praise of His glory”
- Secured by the Spirit
- Recipients of God’s power
- Made alive together with Christ
- Raised up and seated in the heavenlies
- Recipients of God’s grace and kindness
- God’s masterful workmanship
- Created for good works
- Brought near to God
- United into one body
- Fellow citizens with other Christians
- Members of God’s household
- Built for the Spirit’s habitation
- Partakers of God’s promise
- Given bold and confident access to God
If you want to talk more, contact me at randy<DOT>mooney<AT>comcast<DOT>net
Tags: meaning
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11/24/2007
Too many people out there are searching for some meaning in their life. They look and look all over, and go down so many paths that are not a path, but a dead end. They use up a lot of their life on this search.
I am taking a hiatus from blogging until I can find the meaning of life. I don’t know how long I will be away, but will NOT return until I find my answer. Pray for me as I go on this journey.
Thank you … and until then goodbye.
Tags: meaning
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
