Blessed Beyond Measure
Music
Worship Music
Jul 30th
Want to try something fun? Search for "Worship Music" in the bible and see what you get.
Kind of interesting no?
I don't know how to change the current perception that worship is music and music is worship in the post modern age but as a "worship leader" I feel compelled to try.
The irony is that singing can indeed be an act of worship and as musicians our native language is music, so to speak, so the line gets blurry for us. Adding to that blur is the fact that most churches reinforce the idea of worship only being music by focusing so heavily on it while stamping out other forms of expression.
I think that needs to change somehow.
I tend to break the connection between worship and music by saying music is sometimes worship but music is always music. I pull that line out especially when our music has been less than musical and I feel like we are giving poor musical performance a pass because it is "worship". Talking about music in this way has helped our dialogue as church leaders and has opened up our congregation.
Breaking the implied connection of worship to music should be a priority, in my opinion, especially if we want to see new expressions of worship entering the church. This can only help us in the long run by removing the pressure of music trying to be all things to all people and biblically accurate enough to satisfy the command to love God and others with our lives.
There is no song crafted well enough to replace a life fully surrendered to our King.
Since I am a musician I will always be drawn to music as my primary form of expression but it sure is refreshing to see people bring their own unique non musical offering to the temple again.
Have a bubbly fourth!
Jul 4th
A couple of short videos of Emily having a good time at Chesapeake City Park listening to the excellent U.S. Fleet Forces Band.
Happy Day Counting
Jun 25th
Emily loves to sing.
She usually wakes up with a song and depending on the lyrics, we can tell the kind of day we will have. “Happy Day” is a good day and when we hear it we roll over and look into each others eyes and consider having just “one more”. If we here “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen” or anything in a minor key we know we are in for it and use those days as teaching moments for our older two to reinforce the impact of unplanned pregnancy.
We may never be grandparents. Seriously, I think Elizabeth is content to own cats.
Apart from singing, Emily can count to 10 and has been doing that since she was 18 months old. She also knows all her primary and secondary colors and has started to draw and paint. She also started telling us to “stop it” when she doesn’t like the conversation in the car and is generally able to communicate what she wants and when.
She has always let us know what she doesn’t like, but it is kind of exciting to be able to figure out what she does.
I think I will introduce her to acrylic painting next week just for fun because I can’t seem to muster any desire to paint lately and have a bunch of canvases I am tired of looking at. As long as I pick a “Happy Day” we should be fine.
If I pick an unhappy day I may end up with a piece of work only Dali could admire.
This is what it sounds like
May 13th
when heaven comes down.
Amazing performance – A homeless man joins in to sing praises to God!
Things that really irritate me
Oct 27th
Just a list…
1. People that are constantly late.
2. When I am late.
3. Violins that are out-of-tune, especially in an orchestra.
4. When I ask my children to do something and they tell me, “ok. Just a minute…” and then don’t do what I asked.
5. Sopranos that are flat. As in musically, not chested.
6. When I make a mistake while making dinner and the dinner isn’t as good as it could have been.
7. Retail service people that don’t provide service.
8. Being told that the McDonald’s ice cream machine is broken. (That is a lie, people. I had friends that used to work fast food that told me they would tell people the machine was broken because they didn’t want to have to clean the machine. Apparently, it isn’t that easy to clean.) Can 3 stores have broken ice cream machines?
9. People that send emails telling me that Proctor and Gamble is headed by a Satanist.
10. Forwards on email that have some sort of conspiracy in it, like saying Madeline Murray O’Hare is trying to take prayer out of school. She is dead! Snopes is an excellent site to find out if these rumors are true or not.
11. Emails stating that Obama might be the antichrist.
12. Little boys bathrooms. (Stinky!) Also cat litter that hasn’t been changed.
13. Eggplant.
14. Children that leave their stuff where they drop it.
15. Being told, “I don’t like that,” when I tell someone what is for dinner.
16. Going out to eat for a special occasion and having crappy food.
17. People that get paid to do something that they don’t do.
18. Gossip.
19. Dog smell.
20. Dog drool.
21. Sniffing dogs.
22. Jumping dogs.
23. The smell of the fish department of any store.
24. People that need to get the last word in.
25. When someone insists that they are right and you have the proof they aren’t, but you don’t say anything because you don’t want to offend them.
26. Emails that state “if you don’t send this to 10 people in ten minutes, you will have ten years of bad luck,” or other such luck related statements.
27. When children don’t study for tests and say they are ready to take the test. The same goes for children that say they practice, but you can tell they don’t.
28. People that use the “f” word in every sentence they speak.
29. Age spots.
30. Gray hairs.
31. Nylon socks. They make my feet sweat, which in turn, makes them smell horribly.
32. Having to shave my legs and then getting a nick.
33. Trying to wax/shave my bikini line.
34. When someone yells at my kids.
35. When someone is mean to my kids.
36. 40 watt light bulbs.
37. Spit up on my shoulder or down the front of my bra. (Yes, that has happened. All you can do is laugh.)
38. Pencils that squeak when you write with them.
39. Sleeping too late in the morning so you’ve thrown away your day.
40. The smell of raw chicken.
Just some pictures
Jun 17th
These were taken at the June 5th recital. I had 14 students perform at this recital, and 10 at the other one. I decided that I would play a piece this time. At Christmas, I had a couple of parents ask me to play and I was totally unprepared to play anything–I hadn’t memorized anything. So I figured I better play something this time around so they know their kid’s piano teacher can actually play.
You can see I have a maternity dress on now.
Elizabeth played “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.”
As Daddy would say, “Isn’t she beautiful?”
Alex was a big help–and big as well! He’s growing up!
This is me giving last minute instructions to my students.
David was the one taking pictures, so we don’t have one of his pretty face, but I will try to catch him at some point.
