Musical Spirituality

My mom is a piano teacher. When I first learned to play the piano, the keys, learning the notes and then chords, inversions, and scales were drilled into my head. One octave - two octaves - three octaves - accenting keys accordingly. These were the building blocks that my love of music, of playing music, and of listening to music was built on.

The keys are the same wherever you may go, but what people do with them, the musical compositions, from classical to rap and metal to hymns to rock-n-roll to jazz...they are all different styles, just in different arrangements of the notes.

That is a simple way of how I view Christianity. In this analogy, the notes would represent foundational Truth, core concepts about the nature of Christ and such, the virgin birth, and the Resurrection, etc. The way the "notes" are presented in composition varies from fellowship to fellowship.

In a Lutheran congregation, you might find those notes in more of a classical style similar to Mozart. In a reformed congregation, these notes might take on an arrangement similar to that of a waltz. A non-denominational congregation could vary from rap to 70s rock-n-roll to - dare I say it? - jazz (with a nod to Don Miller)in their presentation of "the notes." And biker churches? Gotta be similar to Stevie Ray Vaughn:) But the notes are still the same.

How would your walk with God appear musically? A symphony? A waltz? A great 70s guitar solo? Something that you could slam dance to? Or sadly, a dirge?

Just my random thoughts for this morning, and if you have read this far, you might enjoy the following from Keith Giles...

"What I think we fail to realize is that, conversion to Christ is really a process of falling in love with Jesus over a period of time. When we make this process about a series of steps and a progression of words, we have seriously interfered with something that is far outside our ability to grasp and coordinate."

Read The Entire Article.

This excerpt also reminded me of another quote that I have written in the front of my Bible...

"I think the most important thing that happens within Christian spirituality is when a person falls in love with Jesus." Don Miller in Blue Like Jazz

Q&A on iMonk

Internet Monk - Saturday Is For Asking Questions

Interesting reading this past Saturday morning, and some of the Q&A hit on things that I have been pondering.

Barnes and Noble and Birthday Gift Cards...

My husband truly loves me:) For my birthday he gave me a $150.00 gift card for Barnes and Noble. Yes, I could take the time and use it online and have the books sent to my rural home, but doing that negates the whole B&N experience. So this past Saturday we made the 90-mile drive to B&N, walked in the door, and promptly ordered our caramel fraps. Then, with suitable coffee in hand, I headed straight to my favorite section...theology. I firmly intended on just purchasing one book, but as with any bibliophile, that was clearly not an option. I keep a running list of books that I want to read/purchase, and fortunately (or not:) I was able to find each of those books.

For those interested, here are the books that I purchased...

>The Great Divorce - C.S. Lewis...(This is actually a repurchase. I keep buying this book and then giving it to people to read cuz I just love it:)

>The Jesus I Never Knew - Phillip Yancey

>Reimagining Church - Frank Viola

>Something Beautiful - Leonard Sweet

Well, there they are. I am two chapters into Reimagining Church and one chapter into Yancey's book.

And for those who think that I have a one-track mind, Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade is also on my list of books to read. The movie version (w/Rosalind Russell as AM), is one of my all-time favorites.

Ah, The Things That Sue-Babe Hath Taught

Sue-Babe's memory work...
Only the first line of the the following poem has stuck with me for the past 20 years, but stuck with me it has, so here ya go...

When I Consider How My Light Is Spent
by John Milton

When I consider how my light is spent,
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest He returning chide;
"Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?"
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need
Either man's work or His own gifts. Who best
Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best. His state
Is kingly: thousands at His bidding speed,
And post o'er land and ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait."

Does Your Church Fit One Of These Models?

Anybody? Anybody? Bueller?

From Subversive article

"FOUR UNBIBLICAL MODELS FOR CHURCH"...

"James Rutz, in his book "Megashift" outlines four non-Biblical models for the modern
Church:

The Harvard Model - Where the professor is the preacher, the lectern is the pulpit, and the students are parishioners. Trouble is, they can sit and take notes for forty years, but they'll never graduate, never get a degree, and never ever become professors themselves.

The Hollywood Model- With its stage, entertainers, polished performances, costumed singers, applauding audiences, etc. All the church needs is popcorn.

The IBM Model - Where a board of directors runs everything from the top down, where permission to do things is denied or granted by the CEO (Pastor) and committees, where finances are the overriding factor behind policies, and where the institution competes with other churches for market share.

The Wal-Mart Model- Where aisles and aisles of tempting merchandise offer something for everybody. Seeker-sensitive mega-churches, with their array of 100+ programs, mirror beautifully the "consumer heaven" ideal of Wal-Mart."

Where is Jesus, on Aisle 9?

Click here for the full article.

Thoughts? Questions? Ideas?