12.30.09

I often bemoan the state of church music. Please understand that my desire is not to tear down but to lift up. Church music is what I call music that is presented in church as worship, not a class of music like gospel or blues etc. Any music presented in a worship service is what I call church music.

My hearts' desire is that we as christian musicians would understand that God is the creator of art. When He gave very specific instructions for the garb worn in the temple He often used colors that do not naturally apply to the figures He wanted to appear on the garb. For instance a pomegranate is not blue or purple, but God wanted it that way. He was an impressionist with His art. He adores beauty that stimulates the mind.

So our music should be presented with the greatest care and love and artistic endeavor.

Don't worship in dirty clothes. Polish the performance, practice to show yourselves approved, rightly dividing the major from the minor...The in tnune from the out of tune.

Create with your instrument a beautiful, purposeful sound.
gR

Looking backwards at 56 years of music making, I must admit that the real joy of music is found in playing for the Glory of God. I have wasted many a concert in the secular world by not playing as unto the Lord, because I had placed a little wall between sacred and secular work.

If you cannot acknowledge the presence of the creator of the universe with you in all you do and play - you should be a lot more cautious about where you perform.

Recently a Symphony Orchestra was called upon to perform with so called artists who were more activists for the evil one than musicians. I thanked God He had not allowed me to be a part of that orchestra. What a stand I would have had to take or reject.
We live in a polarized world and as Christian musicians we must make every musical decision a Spiritual decision.

One thing I have learned is that when I obey God I am at peace when I do not.....

gR

When is Enough enough?

I play sometimes with a church orchestra. To me it seems as if they are growing and growing. Young, old, poor quality, great players, has-beens, and wanna bees, mixed with pros and students.
The Choir is the same. Bigger is better is not just in this ministry it is every where. I wonder when enough is enough.

Here is my personal thought on the subject. I'm not talking scripture here - just my opinion.

I was called to be a Christian and a musician in my early youth. It has never been a doubt that I would not serve this way. Should not ALL church performing musicians have this calling? And would God give that calling to someone not musically inclined, no sense of time or pitch, no appreciation for the "art" of practice?

To me it seems only logical that way too many folks enjoy the music ministry and way too few are really called.

When on the road I performed in literally thousands of churches. And in all that time I heard only a few singers and players that really were musical. How many ? Probably less than 3 or 4 hundred.

In my church I suspect there are somewhere in the vicinity of a handful who have the gift. Now how do you make a handful into a choir and an orchestra?

It's easy. You teach what you know, mentor the young, start a school of music. Use the musicians to cultivate the untrained and weed out those who could end up WASTING whatever talent they have in another area. To me it is tantamount to sin when we allow the non-musical to minister in the music ministry!

Ok you ask "why should the devil get all the good talent" Because they are driven out of the church orchestra and choir because they "don't fit in" they are too critical. They are uppity. The real reason is jealousy. I recently saw a fine young player come into an orchestra only to be driven out by the church politics that says who ever has been there the longest plays the 1st part.

I know of fine young singers who were driven out by choir members that did not like the place the new one sat in at rehearsal. Yes and this is in Christian ministry.

I'm 62 years old now and am so tired of seeing the same old sin and piety, and selfishness in church ministry.

Get over it folks. God doesn't need us or our music to make Him happy. He wants our obedience. Are you obedient? Are you wasting space in the music ministry or are you a mentor?

We don't need rebellion, we need revival in out lives. We need to know God FIRST, HUNGER FOR HIM, SPEND TIME WITH HIM

Then all these things will be added, or subtracted unto us...

By the way - if you are too old to sound good - retire - teach - mentor - stop polluting the praise
ok this should make a few start thinking:)
gR

This neat note was posted on TPIN - Neat stuff   /    Leon Merian

Link to Leon Merian Information

I don't remember if I heard about Leon Merian on TPIN or at another forum
but I just finished reading his autobiography "The Man Behind the Horn" and
enjoyed it very much and would recommend it to you.
Lots of interesting
anecdotes and lots of pictures with other trumpet players, etc. In his youth
(and even into his adulthood) he described himself as being "too fiery, too
feisty, too aggressive, too hotheaded, arrogant and impatient."

But after a near drowning experience (around 1989) he said "I realized it was God who had been protecting me all these years . . . that this was the real thing,
what I had needed and been searching for all my life."?

Leon said "God gave me this chance to be a faithful servant, to glorify Him, and I committed myself to Him at that very moment to do just that."? Quite an interesting
life story!

...If you have an interesting note for us to post please send it from HERE