Not a Camouflaged Soul

Category: Music

  • Christmas In July

    Who’s ready for Christmas?

    For most of you, that is a ridiculous question. I mean, it will be at least a couple of weeks before department stores start putting out Christmas merchandise. (Pause for laughter)

    But you music ministers know what I’m talking about. It’s that time of year. I am knee deep in drama scripts and choral scores. And, by some standards, I am behind. Some churches out there are already rehearsing.

    Since my church is having Vacation Bible School starting a week from Monday, we will be kicking off our preparation shortly after the 18th of July. Auditions, recruiting, rehearsals, sets, costumes, schedules, props, PR, tech… lots to do.

    Since we are about 25 weeks away…

    1. What are some of your favorite memories from Christmas cantatas/musicals/plays/nativities of years past?
    2. Music ministers: what do you have planned for Christmas so far? Are you rehearsing yet? Drama, narration, or music only?

  • Noisy

    My world is noisy.

    As a music pastor and musician, I dwell in sound. If I’m not dealing with tonality, I’m working with volume. If it’s not equalization, it’s clarity. Right notes, wrong notes, weird notes, bass, treble, in tune, out of tune, sound, sound, sound.

    So QUIET rarely makes an appearance in my worship planning.

    Tonight, it did make an appearance in my pastor’s planning. Quiet and prayer.

    We sang praises as usual. Then Pastor Bryan got up, spoke for about five minutes about prayer, and the rest of our worship time consisted of individuals, families, and other groups praying for our church.

    It was wonderful to see. Men and women, teens, children… all on their knees before a loving God.

    As a Church, I think we need to do that more often. I don’t think we put a premium on the power of prayer like we should. It’s easy to say, “You’re never stronger than when you’re on your knees.” But it’s harder to live it.

    I’m glad we did that.

  • Represent

    So I was minding my own business when Steven Furtick tweeted the following…

    “This is so great. So great. http://www.twitvid.com/801PL 10 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone“

    Naturally, I had to take a look. This is what I saw…

    Can you imagine! The very artist whose work you are performing shows up to watch you do it! How cool would that be? To see his joy with the music going on around him. That would be a special moment.

    On the other hand, I guess it’s a good thing they were well rehearsed. They knew the words, played the music well, and kept Kravitz’s feel and rhythm. If they were out there goofing around, he probably wouldn’t have been too happy with what he saw.

    The Author of what we do as believers in Christ is coming soon. How well are we representing him?