This is a rather rough mix of the title track from my (hopefully) soon to be released CD. Piano by Kelly Dehnert; art by Mara Schasteen. That's me on whistles, euphonium, and percussion. Enjoy!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
A strange thing about blogging...
...is that the more there is to write about, the less time there is to write it.
Friday, April 2, 2010
A Mercifully Brief Easter Thought
The weapons of evil are hard, but brittle: Coercion. Arrogance. Confusion. Fear. Selfish desire. When used skillfully, these tools are powerful, even irresistible. But they cannot stand the test of time.
The weapons of good are soft, but enduring: Patience. Truth. Generosity. Simplicity. Humility. These things take time to do their work, and because they cannot be forced on anyone, they are easily derailed, distracted, silenced, and stifled. But even death itself cannot seem to destroy their lasting influence.
That is why, even though evil always seems to have the upper hand short-term, good always wins out in the long run.
As the very personification of good, Jesus' humiliation and execution were as inevitable as the change of the seasons...
But so was His resurrection.
The weapons of good are soft, but enduring: Patience. Truth. Generosity. Simplicity. Humility. These things take time to do their work, and because they cannot be forced on anyone, they are easily derailed, distracted, silenced, and stifled. But even death itself cannot seem to destroy their lasting influence.
That is why, even though evil always seems to have the upper hand short-term, good always wins out in the long run.
As the very personification of good, Jesus' humiliation and execution were as inevitable as the change of the seasons...
But so was His resurrection.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
A Challenge to Sing
I am leading the singing at church this morning, and recent events might just compel me to commit oratory. Ahem...
Today, I challenge the people of God to sing. Not to stare at the hymnal and idly mumble out the words—that is a waste of the voice God gave you.
This morning, I challenge you to sing, to throw aside your inhibitions, to quit worrying about whether you can carry a tune or not, and lose yourself in the beautiful gift God has given you:
Sing as if God himself, creator of the universe, were listening.
Sing as if your voice can add something beautiful and peaceful to a world that desperately needs it.
Sing as if your combined voices can open the gates of heaven and shake the very pillars of hell.
Sing as if God the almighty loved you so much that He gave up his son to torture and death, just so that you could be with him.
Sing as if your doom is demolished and your victory is assured, as if you deserved the sentence of Hell, but have been offered the gift of a new life.
Sing as if you have nothing to worry about; as if our faithful God has promised you that he will see to all your needs.
Sing as if you have been rescued from a life of selfishness and smallness, and set free into a life of generosity, service, and love.
Sing as if you have an amazing savior, a perfect example to follow.
Sing as if His love is at work in you, accomplishing more than you can ask of imagine.
Sing as if Jesus were with you always, through good and bad, to the end of the age.
Sing as if there were nothing in heaven or on earth that can separate you from the love of God.
Sing as if everything, no matter what, is going to work out for your good.
Sing as if the gifts God gives us are too great to be met with shyness, self-consciousness, or laziness. Open your heart and your voice to all that God is, and all He can make you. People of God, I challenge you to sing!
Today, I challenge the people of God to sing. Not to stare at the hymnal and idly mumble out the words—that is a waste of the voice God gave you.
This morning, I challenge you to sing, to throw aside your inhibitions, to quit worrying about whether you can carry a tune or not, and lose yourself in the beautiful gift God has given you:
Sing as if God himself, creator of the universe, were listening.
Sing as if your voice can add something beautiful and peaceful to a world that desperately needs it.
Sing as if your combined voices can open the gates of heaven and shake the very pillars of hell.
Sing as if God the almighty loved you so much that He gave up his son to torture and death, just so that you could be with him.
Sing as if your doom is demolished and your victory is assured, as if you deserved the sentence of Hell, but have been offered the gift of a new life.
Sing as if you have nothing to worry about; as if our faithful God has promised you that he will see to all your needs.
Sing as if you have been rescued from a life of selfishness and smallness, and set free into a life of generosity, service, and love.
Sing as if you have an amazing savior, a perfect example to follow.
Sing as if His love is at work in you, accomplishing more than you can ask of imagine.
Sing as if Jesus were with you always, through good and bad, to the end of the age.
Sing as if there were nothing in heaven or on earth that can separate you from the love of God.
Sing as if everything, no matter what, is going to work out for your good.
Sing as if the gifts God gives us are too great to be met with shyness, self-consciousness, or laziness. Open your heart and your voice to all that God is, and all He can make you. People of God, I challenge you to sing!
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