Zekie Lovin'

Every morning we have to do “Zekie lovin’”. Zeke the Cat jumps up on the arm of the recliner and paws; I pet and massage him. His favorite place to be petted is right at the base of his tail. Sometimes our morning lovin’ routine lasts only a few minutes; other mornings I’m lucky to get off to work on time.

As I pet and massage him, Zeke’s purrs get louder and louder, filling the room. I continue to stroke my “good boy kittie” until he turns and looks at me with his big green eyes that are full of love and admiration. My heart is full of love back to him. During our routine, nothing else is important except this special bond we share.

We all look for “Zekie lovin’” in our lives – a love and bond greater in itself than the sum of the two parts. A love that transcends and transforms us. A love that only God can provide us.

God not only created us but breathed life into us (Genesis 2:7). That breath of God is a part of us that never goes away. But because of our sinful nature, we are unable to reconnect to that breath without faith in Jesus Christ who died to redeem us from our sin. In Romans 3:23-24 we are told that “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus”. It is this justification, the process of being made righteous, which allows us to reconnect to the breath of God within us. We become whole, one with the God who loves us. As the result, we desire to bond with God, a bond that is established through worship.

My bond with Zeke is simple. He sits in the chair; I pet. Our bond with God, our worship, should be just as simple. We pray; God listens. We confess our sins; God forgives us. God speaks; we obey. We humbly offer our praises and thanksgivings; God blesses us.

Discovering Spirituality

I am no longer serving in a church. As the result, I feel sad, lost and disconnected.

But I also feel liberated and excited. This is a time of discovery for me. I have the opportunity to pursue my music and my studies because I want to, not because I have to. I can sit at my piano and play for the shear enjoyment, not just practice and prepare for a service. I can attend my voice lessons and truly discover the pleasure of singing, not just fulfill the vocal requirement for my M.A.C.M. degree.

I feel guilty because I am no longer actively serving the Lord. Will God look unfavorably upon me because of this? I discussed this with a spiritual director (http://www.spiritualitynetwork.org/index.html) who reminded me of the Sabbatical Year. Just as God commands us to "remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8), the Bible also instructs us on the Sabbatical / Jubilee year. This refers to every 7th year in which the land is to be allowed to rest "so that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the wild animals may eat". (Exodus 23:10-11) In addition, "every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbor". (Deuteronomy 15:2)

When we observe the Sabbath, we come before God to draw close and to worship. During my Sabbatical, I have been released from my creditor, the church. I now have the opportunity to draw closer to God in ways that I never imagined, to discover my spirituality, and to worship in new and extraordinary ways. So even though my "land" is lying fallow, this is the opportunity for the "poor" to eat. As I take this time to pray, to study, and to worship, I can only make myself stronger in the Lord's way . Thus I can become a much better servant in order to better minister to others in spiritual need. For if my spirit is not renewed, I can I expect to minister to others?

I am on a new and wonderful journey, anxiously looking forward to that which lies ahead of me.

Developing the Church's Song

Shout to the Lord, all the earth let us sing,

Power and majesty, praise to the King;

Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of Your name.

I sing for joy at the works of Your hands,

Forever Iʼll love You, forever Iʼll stand;

Nothing compares to the promise I have in You.

- Shout to the Lord by Darlene Zschech

What is a churchʼs song?

There are many ways to describe the churchʼs song. What begins as a single voice joins with

another until all voices are combined as one. In this united voice, the church:

• Expresses the faith of the body of believers
• Communicates with and worships God
• Shares the remnants of the past, the expression of the present, and the hope for the future
• Expresses its prayers
• Transcends into holiness; into the sublime

Dave White, a student at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, expressed it very eloquently:

“What is the churchʼs song? It is the Word of God proclaimed. It is the joy of the people, the joy of the Lord. It is the lament of those who mourn; the comfort of the Holy Spirit. It is the timeless affirmations of the faith in Christ.” (used with permission)

Music is the medium in which we express the churchʼs song. It is through the texts,

melodies, harmonies, rhythms, pulse, and presentation of song that the church is able to experience something greater than the sum of the individual worshippers.

The song of each church is unique. Each congregation is composed of a unique blend of

musical talents. Each church has its own history, its own present and its own future. It is affected

by those that lead. It reflects the experiences of each worshipper.

The song of each church changes over time. The only thing that remains constant in this

world is Godʼs love for us. As we move through time, each personʼs thoughts, experiences,

and abilities change. The mix of a churchʼs talents change as people come into and leave the

church. In addition, we as both individuals and a church are affected by the changes in the

world around us. Therefore, the song of the church also changes over time and must reflect of the present church life. The process of discovering the churchʼs song is ongoing. It is an essential

part of church growth.

O sing to the Lord a new song;

sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Sing to the Lord, bless his name;

tell of his salvation from day to day.

Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous works among all the peoples.

For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;

he is to be revered above all gods.

For all gods of the peoples are idols,

but the Lord make the heavens.

Honor and majesty are before him;

strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

- Psalm 96: 1-6 (NRSV)

In our worship of God, our goal and desire is to bring His strength and beauty into the sanctuary

of His church.

Making Music

The song of the church is more than just a group of people getting together to sing. It is about

making music in such a way that it can “articulate the individual and corporate faith of the congregation” (Linda J. Clark, Music in the Churches, The Alban Institute, 1994, p. 23) This is done through attention to the following details of worship:

• Planning, Preparation, and Practice: The lack of these three “Pʼs” creates distractions in our worship service. Rather than remembering the scripture texts or the theme of the sermon, many worshippers leave the service remembering only the mistake made by the choir/pianist/Praise Team/Worship Leader/etc.
• Praise, Prayer, and Dedication: It is important that the music represents all elements of our worship. There must be a time of praise, an opportunity for prayer, and a call to service or the opportunity to dedicate oneself to the Lord. To forget one of these elements is to find our worship experience lacking in its ability to uplift us a congregation.
• Cohesiveness: The music should be used to tie the various elements of the service together; it should be used to enhance the flow of our worship. It can be used to help with transitions - moving the worshipper from praise, to prayer, to listening, to a time of introspection.
• Continuity: The music of a service should provide continuity of a theme. It should help reinforce the central theme of the message. That does not mean that all songs have to be the same style, genre or text. But a message should flow gently from one song to another. Example: We are here to worship ==> Because God loves us ==> He cares for us and hears our prayers ==> We give ourselves to Him because of all He has given us.
• Leadership: If the music leadership is not working in unity, it will be impossible for the church to have unity in their song. Our leadership roles must be clear - pastor, musician, Praise Team, choir, music leader. As leaders we must work together as a united team in such a way that we build upon each otherʼs talents so that we bring harmony to our song.
• Familiarity: The foundation of our music should be based on songs that are familiar; songs that have meaning and value to the church and the worshippers within. That does not mean we should not introduce new music to the church. What is important is that we do this in a way that it embraces the congregation rather than excludes them. As a rule, always start and end the service with music that is familiar to the worshippers and introduce new music in the middle or as prelude/offertory. It is important to remember that what is new today may become the foundational music of tomorrow. This is true within our church. I asked a few of the church members to provide me with a list of songs that they felt represented the church. The people who responded represented many different age groups and ranged in length of membership from 3 to 30 years. The songs on almost all lists were: Shout to the Lord, How Great Thou Art, and Shine, Jesus Shine. Interestingly, the first and last songs have been added to the church repertoire in the past 3 years.
• Ease of voice: Songs should be easy for the majority of the congregation to sing. If there are complex rhythms, melodies or harmonies, it is important that those leading the music provide the ability for the congregation to clearly hear the melody and rhythms. Tunes should be transposed as needed. If words are on an overhead, they need to be easy to read and consistent with those being sung by the leaders.
• Spirituality: The Holy Spirit dwells within us as we sing. We need to be free to express how He is working within us. This may be through clapping, the raising of hands, or a special embellishment to the song. Sometimes it may be a change in the program as we move forward in our worship service. We need to remove our self-imposed constraints and create a worship environment in which we feel safe to express how God is working in us.

Growing in Song

...you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood,

offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

- 1 Peter 2:5 (NIV)

How to we build our spiritual house so that we can become the holy priesthood that God expect

of us? How do we become the strong vine that is described in Ezekiel 17: 5-6 that brings

forth branches and puts forth foliage?

It is only through continual learning and development that we can grow in our priesthood. Just

like we participate in Bible study, Sunday School and personal readings to better understand

Godʼs message in the scriptures, we must do likewise for our churchʼs song. The songs we

are drawn to in our church are those that express the same messages we seek in the scriptures,

only through a different medium. Learning requires the use of multiple senses - sight,

sound and touch. For us to truly understand Godʼs Word, we must engage in learning that use

each of these senses. Music provides learning through: sight - the reading of the text; sound -

hearing the melody/harmony/rhythm/pulse; touch - feeling the Holy Spirit move within us. Developing an appreciation of new musical styles, formats and genres opens us to experiencing

Godʼs Word in ways we have not yet imagined.

Caring for our Song

What do we need to do to care for our song? By caring for our song, we demonstrate our desire

to care for those around us. In Singing, A Mennonite Voice by Marlene Kropf & Kenneth Nafziger, the authors concluded with the following areas of care for the churchʼs song:

• Care for What is Sung: This care is not only for what is sung but how it is sung. Because singing is such an integral and important part of our churchʼs worship, it needs to be recognized as critical to our spiritual formation. Text must be theologically sound. The delivery of the music must not distract from the songʼs message. The song leader has a tremendous responsibility to the churchʼs worshippers and this position must not be taken lightly.
• Care for Images and Metaphors: Songs of the church carry with them tremendous meaning, memories, and expression for an individual. We need to make sure that our music incorporates the needs of all worshippers - Praise & Worship, Prayer, Calling, Communion with the Spirit, etc. Each of us needs to be able to express our love, our joys, our anger, our doubts, our fears, and our sadness within a worship service.
• Care for the Craft of Music: For congregational singing, it is important that songs become ingrained in the hearts of the worshippers. There must be room for both the old and the new. As the book states, “No era in church music has been without its transient, more popular music.” It is not about using established hymns versus new songs. It is about bringing music into the church that binds our hearts to the Lord. We will carry these songs with us throughout our lives, regardless of when they were written.
• Care for the Churchʼs Role as Patron of the Arts: Many artists have left the church because their songs have not been accepted by their local congregation. These artists leave the church, find acceptance in the secular world, and eventually, their music returns to the church. As a church, we need to open ourselves to the world around us. How can we use our song to change and influence the world? We need to acknowledge, embrace, and nurture that which springs from our love of Christ, whatever its form. There is nothing that is wrong in the eyes of God if it comes from our hearts.
• Care for Hospitality Toward Anotherʼs Song: The book states, “Ultimately, it is an act of hospitality to learn anotherʼs songs.” We need to respect each other enough to open ourselves to those songs that are special to another, even if they are not to our taste. It is this acceptance that builds us into a unique fellowship. We are all different but together in God, we are one body.

  For in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ and individually we are members one of another. Romans 12: 4-5 (NRSV)

• Care for Time Spent Singing Together: Because of the importance of singing, we need to make sure that our worship service includes adequate space for the churchʼs song. This is not an area that should be “cut” to allow time for other aspects of the program. In addition, solo performance must not take away from congregational singing. There is a time and place for each and we should not forsake one for the other. “The singing of the congregation is the most important must that happens in worship...The pleasures of singing are enormous, and the rewards of turning that pleasure toward the praise of the Creator who gave us that gift are infinite.” (ibid)
• Care for the Voice as an Instrument: The human voice should be “treated as a prime means of spiritual expression.” (ibid) We need to be aware that our voices should be honored and not drowned out by the instruments, amplification and the choir. Songs should be sung in a manner that they are easily followed and do not exclude a population of the congregation. “When it becomes clear to a congregation that its voices are not needed, it will most likely choose not to sing.” (ibid)
• Care for the Tradition: It is important to acknowledge the traditions of the church and to not discard them without thought and care. It is many of these traditions that hold the church together. “As John Paul Ledarach said at the conclusion of his story about ʻGod of grace and God of gloryʼ:

  When you choose to walk in the path of justice, peace and reconciliation, take heart in knowing the path has been walked by others before you. Make sure to hold the hand of good friends who will walk at your side. Take a song with you. Put it deep inside so that no matter what happens, its seed can burst forth when you most need it. And know that it is the God of grace and the God of glory who breathes life into the seed and light onto your path.” (ibid)

Conclusion

It is my prayer that this paper, can provide a church with the foundation for discovering and developing its song. Along with prayer, we can discern the will of God for His church so that we can grow and “produce branches and bear fruit and become a noble vine” (Ezekiel 17: 8b (NRSV)) all for the glory of God.

Philosophy of Leading the Church's Song

It has been over a year since I have made a post. I have been using my writing time for school, rather than keeping up on my posts. However, for some of you, I thought you might be interested in my academic writings. So I am going to post them here. Some are "philosophy" of music papers; some are writings from my recent Introduction to New Testament class. I hope you fine some of my thoughts interesting and of value. Thank you for reading!

Philosophy of of Leading the Church's Song.

"A servant-leader is one who chooses to serve, and serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first..." – Robert Greenleaf

Robert Greenleaf was an AT&T executive who wrote his first essay entitled, “The Servant As Leader”. In another publication, Servant Leadership Primer, Greenleaf lists the skills and capacities of a servant- leader:

• Listens
• Uses power ethically, with persuasion as the preferred mode
• Seeks consensus in group decisions
• Practices foresight
• Uses language in a way that avoids "closed verbal worlds"
• Practices the art of withdrawal
• Practices acceptance and empathy
• Is a conceptualizer
• Nurtures community
• Chooses to lead

I believe in my role as a music director I need to have these same skills and capacities:

• I need to listen not only to the congregation and pastor of the church I serve, but most importantly to God. I can only serve Him if I seek His guidance by actively listening to His words as He responds to my prayers and mediations.
• I recognize that as a church leader I do have power. However, I need to use this power with divine guidance. And there are times when I need to “sell” (what a nasty word relating to church endeavors!) my goals, ideas, and plans to the church in such a way that they understand that they are spirit-led and that they need the support of the church.
• Collaboration is key to success in a church. I cannot successfully function in my position without the consensus of the pastor, musicians, and music/program committees – from the function of planning programs to selecting music.
• God has blessed me the ability to “see” many things in the future. I continually pray that I may be able to see His ongoing vision for this church that I serve.
• I need to be open to differing points of view. There are times we need to agree to disagree.
• I am learning that there are times I need to put my personal feelings and beliefs aside and accept that there are times when other ideas and beliefs have priority over my own.
• I need to develop an atmosphere of acceptance and empathy within the groups that I lead. Not all voices are created equal but I need to respect the spirit that may be greater than the voice. I need to understand those things that are important to the church – the things that give it its voice.
• I need to conceptualize how new music and genres will challenge the congregation to broaden and deepen their worship experience.
• I need to nurture the congregation by serving as a mentor to /encourager of others who serve in the church music program.
• I conscientiously choose to lead, in its joy and in its pain. I can only do this by the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Is it Spring Yet?

I am sick of winter. It's cold, it's dreary, there's too much snow...I want SUN! (OK, I'm done whining now.)

We're in that down time between Christmas and Easter and like the weather, we sometimes get the blahs in our worship. It's easy to fall back into the same old, same old in our worship, in our music, in our lives.

So it's time to bring in some sun into our worship lives. I am blessed because I see the sun on the faces of the choir when we sing. That glow in their faces is because of their love for the Son, a love that is ongoing and ever present. I am blessed because I have the opportunity to work with a music committee that is excited about the opportunity to serve the Lord through the worship arts in our church. I am blessed because I have the loving support of a husband who allows me to grow in my own way. I am blessed because I have teachers that are helping me to stretch my talents and are opening me up to new opportunities.

These are my sun. That despite the dreariness of the weather, I can warm up in the glowing all around me.

Praise God!

(a few days in Florida will help too!)

The Doors Are Opening

I knew that when I made the decision this fall to apply for the MA of Church Music program at Trinity Lutheran Seminary that my life was going to change. I look at path that the Lord is leading me to with both excitement and trepidation. There will be doors opening that I never expected; likewise, there will be challenges and responsibilities ahead of me that I know that I will need His guidance to get me through. But what I did not expect was to see those doors beginning to open so soon!

I recently attended my company's sales meeting. At each meeting, a small group of Christians join together for an hour of worship and Bible Study. Last year I shared with the break out group I was in that I was unsure of the path that the Lord wanted for my personal ministry. That group offered a prayer for me. This year, I announced to the group how that prayer had been answered and received resounding support! Wherever I turned during the meeting, between discussions of how to sell baby formula, therapeutic nutritional products and improve company profitability, there were conversations of need and support as well as opportunities of outreach. It blew me away. I have never felt the Lord's presence in the workplace in the way I did last week. All glory and praises to Him!

So I anxiously await for my seminary classes to begin in a few weeks. I also learned a few hours ago that my position within the church may change (unofficial responsibilities to become official). We'll see later tonight. All I know is that all things are in God's hands. I am His willing servant. And I pray for His guidance in all things that lay ahead of me.

Been Silent Too Long

Sorry I have not made time to continue my posts. As those of you who deal with church music know, preparing for the Christmas season is all consuming. But I have to admit, it was well worth it for us this year. We stepped out on faith and offered our musical nativity two nights - to nearly full capacity! It was truly a worship opportunity for not only those who attended but also for all those who participated. I am blown away by the tremendous talent that resides within this church as well as by the willingness of this church family to help in any way they can. When you have less than a hundred members in a church, EVERYONE becomes involved.

And our youth - WOW! They sang, they danced, they signed, they portrayed the nativity scene, they did the lights....most having multiple roles in the program. I can't say enough of how impressed I am with their displays of faith.

Here is my prayer:

Lord, thank you for all the talent that you have led to this church. Thank you for being with us as we used that talent to worship you and to show our joy for the blessing you have bestowed upon us through the birth of your Son. Guide me in my church ministry to help in the development of this talent so that we might continue to grow closer to you in all that we do. Amen.

(And now it's time to prepare for Holy Week!)

Sitting in the Dark

I don't know what I was going to do if I had to go home and sit in the dark one more night following the roar of Hurricane Ike through central Ohio. It's awful having to do your hair and make-up in the restroom at work. But the house is standing and sustained no damage. The grocery store was bare of dairy items last night but it was full of all other items. Friends of mine waited in line for 45 minutes at McDonald's for dinner one night but they did not have to stand in line for hours just for a case of water. We had to throw some food out of our refrigerator but we did not lose everything of importance to us. Weather in Ohio has been moderate this week, not sweltering at 90+ degrees as it is in Texas and Louisiana. We had jobs to go to each day; many do not. And instead of my husband working on his computer in one room and me on mine in another, we actually had to sit in a room together and talk over the candelight.

There is value to sitting in the dark. It is may not be pleasant at the time but the end results can have a tremendous impact on our lives. We learn to come together and share as family, friends and community. We will have stories to share to the next generation. We learn to share and to empathize with others who are less fortunate.

There have been times in my life where I was sitting in a darkness that was overwhelming. But the Lord was always there, even at the darkest moments. And as I emerged from darkness into the light, I found strength - a strength that has never left me. The Bible says in 1 Peter 2: 9-10,

" 9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (NIV)

For when we leave that darkness, we know that we are with God for it is only through Him that we can escape the darkness. And because he has guided us out of that darkness, it if for us to praise His holy name!

This is one of my favorite songs, Here We Are to Worship (Michael W. Smith).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP04GjifMPk

Our hearts and prayers go out to all those who are suffering from the hurricanes. May you find the hand of God as He leads you through this struggle. He IS with you.

It's Christmas time

Already? But it's only September! There aren't even decorations in the stores yet - it can't be time to think about Christmas time!!


Well, while all of you have been thinking about BBQs, picnics and preparing for back-to-school, I, like my fellow music directors, have been busy making plans for our Christmas program. I really want this year to be different. We are a small church, less than 100 people in attendance, but I feel that God is calling us to reach out to our church family and our community in a special way. I know that we can't compete with the Christmas spectaculars put on by the mega-churches in and around our community but there has to be a way that we can offer our friends a program that is warm, inviting and intimate - something that will make their Christmas season extra special.

We don't have professional singers hired specially for the program, camels/sheep/donkeys, or 30 piece orchestra...we are just a small choir singing to a sound track. But we do things that are very unique for a church of this size. We have liturgical dancers and a youth sign choir that add a very visual interpretation of the message in music. We have people with excellent speaking ability who can add warmth to narration. And I am counting on people within the congregation to help by sharing their God given gifts of hospitality, child care, creativity and organization to help with all the many other tasks that need to be done.

There is no charge for admission but my hope is that we can ask each person to bring a gift for the community, specifically items that can be provided to those in need through Westerville Area Resource Ministry.

Please pray for us as we engage in this program. May we be blessed individually, as a family, as a church and as a community. May this be one step in the process of becoming "the Lord's beacon on Oak Hill."

Amen!

Amazing Grace

This article is from The Columbus Dispatch on 8/22/2008. I found this to be of tremendous inspiration and encourage you to use it as a devotion for your family. I pray that this young man comes to realize what a witness his life is to the world. May we all reached out to young people as did the people of DeSales community. I thank the writer, Kristy Eckert, for bringing us this message and the editors of the The Columbus Dispatch for allowing it to be published.


Amazing grace
Sixteen-year-old Tyler Jones has dealt with more than his share of death.
For the St. Francis DeSales High School sophomore, faith and football
have been integral to his recovery. As a new high-school gridiron season
starts tonight, the healing continues.


Friday, August 22, 2008 3:17 AM
BY KRISTY ECKERT
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


Tyler Jones was 12 years old when his mother's weakened
body could no longer bear chemotherapy.
For more than six years, he had watched as back and
brain cancer tormented her.
Now, with him holding one hand and his father the
other as she rested in bed at their Gahanna home, Tracy
Jones was ready to surrender.
"I was praying, praying, praying, praying for my mom
to get healed," Tyler recalled recently, "and she didn't."
Witnessing her last breath on that day in February
2005 rattled the boy's Christian faith, long nurtured by
his parents.
He was hardly pleased with God.
Show me who you are, he remembered insisting, or
I'm not going to believe in you.
That same evening, as he and his father took a walk
through the neighborhood, the sky boasted a brilliant
swath of purple and pink.


The sight proved comforting. Just maybe, Tyler
reasoned, God had taken his mother to a better place.
Seeing the colors as a heaven-sent gesture as well,
Larry Jones tried to reassure his son.
"Everything's going to be all right."


September 2007
Sports were often the talk of the Jones house, where
Larry Jones shared a passion for football with his son
while turning his daughter into a softball star.
On this particular evening, though, Tyler and his dad
sat in the kitchen discussing life.
In the 2 1/2 years since his mother's death, the boy had
blossomed into a mature teenager with a dry wit,
impeccable manners and an increasing devotion to God.
And, he'd found a special girl.
He was telling his dad how he thought he might
eventually marry Jessica Jivanjee. They were young, he
knew. Maybe, though, they'd someday attend West
Virginia University together, as his parents had.
When the conversation ended, Larry Jones stood and
walked into another room to make a phone call. Before
dialing, though, he turned back to his son with some
advice Tyler didn't quite understand.
"When the unexpected occurs, that's when you're going
to know if you're a man or a boy."


Sept. 28
A devoted fan of the West Virginia football team, Larry
Jones wasn't sure whether his undefeated Mountaineers
could pull off a win over South Florida on the final
weekend of September.
"I'm going to give you a prediction by Friday," he told
Tyler during the week. "Friday night."
When Friday arrived, he drove his son to school at St.
Francis DeSales on the North Side, hugging him before he got out of the car.
"Have a good day, Champ," he said. "I love you, Son."
Although raised a Baptist and attending a Lutheran church, Larry Jones had encouraged
his son to attend the Catholic school for its faith-based education and academic reputation.
Playing on the freshman team for a high school rich in football tradition, Tyler said, was a
bonus.
After classes that afternoon, as he and his teammates enjoyed an easy walk-through, Tyler

(missing text...)


"There's an officer here who wants to take you to the Gahanna Police Department,"
Garrick told him. "Your father has been in an accident."
The truth, though, proved worse.
At the police station, Tyler learned that Kelsie, his younger sister by a year, had returned
home from Gahanna Middle School West and found her father lying unconscious on the
floor.
At 50, Larry Jones, a safety engineer for Ohio State University, had suffered a heart
attack.
He was gone.
"No!" Tyler yelled, crying. "No! No!"
Knowing that Kelsie sat waiting in a nearby room, the officer told Tyler, "Now it's you.
You've got to be the rock."
He was 15 -- and without parents.
Why? he wondered. Why did this happen?
Instead of questioning God this time, he leaned on him.
And God, he said, seemed to reply: Your dad did everything he could to help you and
Kelsie. Now it's your turn to help yourselves.
With that, Tyler went to his sister, took her in his arms and promised:
"Everything's going to be all right."


Oct. 2
Tyler stood beside his father's open casket in a West Virginia funeral home, hugging,
shaking hands with and graciously accepting sympathy from people he hardly knew.
He was in Weirton, a steel-mill city 2 1/2 hours from Columbus where his parents grew up
and his three living grandparents still live.
Outside, his girlfriend was comforting his sister when a school bus rolled up Main Street.
The doors opened and out poured the freshman football players, cheerleaders, coaches and
others from DeSales.
Dressed in their purple-and-white jerseys, the players worked their way into the
visitation, circled Tyler and prayed.
Some patted his back or embraced him. Several sobbed.
The sight moved Garrick, who organized the trip.
"There was just a tremendous bonding," the principal recalled. "In my 20 years of
education, I've experienced children losing a parent. But I've never experienced a child
losing both parents in such a short period of time."
John Rothwell, a freshman coach, teared up when Tyler used the moment not to focus on
himself but to pump up his teammates.
"He's such a great kid," Rothwell said. "We were getting ready to play Watterson, and he
told everyone he wanted them to think about the game and beat Watterson."


Until that day, Tyler, who'd attended middle school in the Gahanna district, wasn't
completely comfortable at his new school.
But at that moment, his feelings changed.
"When they all came, I knew that's where I belonged," he recalled. "DeSales is a family to
me."


Mid-October
As word spread that Tyler and his sister had no relatives in Columbus, the DeSales
community responded en masse.
Some raised money, sent gift cards and provided rides to and from school and football
practices. Others offered to become foster parents.
Tyler and Kelsie, however, wanted to stay in their home.
For two weeks at a time, the children's paternal grandparents and maternal grandmother
took turns commuting from Weirton to Gahanna to stay with the kids.
Brandie and Jamal Jivanjee, the parents of Tyler's girlfriend, gladly ferried him as needed
and, through prayer, provided emotional support.
"We were devastated," Mrs. Jivanjee said, "because we knew they were still grieving for
their mom."
Some days, Tyler admitted, he didn't want to get out of bed.
Longtime friend Jamel Morris sensed his buddy's depression but said Tyler rarely showed
his pain.
"He still acted like himself," said Jamel, 15. "Tyler is a good friend. If you want to talk to
somebody, you can talk to him. If you want to depend on somebody, he's dependable."
Tyler, meanwhile, found comfort in his new school.
"I think Tyler's doing fine, and I would give a lot of that credit to St. Francis DeSales," said
Janet Jones, Larry's mother, who recently began caring for her grandchildren full time.
At 74 and with a husband fighting Parkinson's disease, she finds the new role challenging
-- all while she still mourns the loss of her only child.
Yet she, too, believes that God has a plan.
"You have to have faith."
Tyler's spirituality, Garrick said, has been a lesson for all of DeSales.
"He's been a great example of dealing with adversity with grace. His faith is just so refined
for a person of his age."


Early January
The players in blue and gold were running all over the highly favored opponent from
Oklahoma.
The roar of West Virginia fans stretched from the packed Fiesta Bowl in Arizona to the
hills and hollows of the Mountain State to the Gahanna basement where a teenager sat
alone, hollering for the team he and his father loved to cheer together.


Tyler grew up in a sea of scarlet and gray, engulfed by Buckeyes, but his loyalty hasn't
wavered from the school where his parents fell in love.
By the end of the bowl game on Jan. 2, the Mountaineers had won big.
A text message from a friend of his father's trumpeted the victory as West Virginia's
greatest ever.
Tyler had but one thought.
I just wish my dad could have seen that.


June
With his second season of DeSales football set to begin June 9, Tyler arrived before 8 a.m.
for the first conditioning session.
From giant photographs on the weight-room walls, previous state champions peered at
the newest crop of players as the guys strained and sweated and grunted their way through
lifting.
Later, outside, they lunged, skipped, jumped and sprinted, gulping down water and
stripping off soaked shirts.
"The only way to get in shape," varsity head coach Ryan Wiggins hollered, "is to bust right
through it."
Shortly before 10, the players were asked to run one final lap.
As the first wave of runners closed in on the finish line, the vomiting began -- on the track,
the grass, the concrete.
Tyler missed his goal time by about five seconds but kept down his breakfast.
Drained, he left practice wishing he could talk to his dad.
The two had made a habit of discussing drills and plays and how things work in football --
and he longed for those conversations.
"Obviously, the kid's got a lot of heart and determination, and obviously, a strong
personality," Wiggins said. "We tell our players: You point to your heart, and you point to
your head. If you've got it there and you've got it here, you've got a place in this football
program.
"And he has both."
Although not expected to start when the junior varsity opens its season Saturday, Tyler, a
wide receiver and cornerback, has a tremendous work ethic, the coach said.
With his father gone from the stands, Tyler feels a sizable void. Still, he says, football gives
him solace.
"In the game, I feel more at peace with myself -- (rather) than being in the real world and
worrying about my situation."


July 10
With the summer sun beaming in a bright-blue sky, Tyler wandered awkwardly through a
maze of tombstones, scanning the names.
Not having visited Chestnut Ridge Cemetery since his father's funeral in Weirton, he (missing text...)


He eventually saw the granite slab marking the site, headed toward the stone -- his
father's had yet to be placed -- and squatted.
TRACY M. JONES
He smoothed away a piece of grass just above the "C." Then, with a nail, he worked to
clean dirt caked in the carved-out letter, scraping, scraping, scraping.
A few minutes later, he stood, wandered away, then returned.
Squatting again, he put his fingers to his mouth, puckered his lips, then gently tapped his
hand on his mother's name -- giving her the only kind of kiss he could.
Riding home, Tyler smiled.
"I know they're looking down on me."


August
Tethered by their hands instead of their cell phones, Tyler and Jessica -- together since
the eighth grade at Gahanna West -- strolled into the Crosswoods theater on a Sunday
morning.
In one of the small theaters, Cornerstone Community Church holds a weekly
nondenominational service -- gatherings Tyler relishes.
Someday, he imagines, he might be the person addressing the congregation.
Until then, though, he was content that day to settle into a cushy seat next to the girl he
adores and her parents.
Earlier in the week, at the request of Jessica's father, Tyler had spoken to sixth-graders
attending a vacation Bible school in Gahanna. He talked about his parents' deaths, the
importance of faith and his "best friend" relationship with God.
The children clung to every word.
"I think he's going to change the world," Mr. Jivanjee said. "Everybody who comes into
contact with Tyler will have to face their life."
Tyler's sister, who this week started her freshman year at DeSales, appreciates the role
model she has in her brother.
A reluctant driver, Tyler has promised that if she plays softball in the spring, he'll work to
get his license so he can drive her to practices.
Kelsie also admires his spiritual resilience.
"His faith, it's good," she said. "I feel like I need someone like that to help me through
things."
Next month, Tyler's girlfriend and her family will move to Nashville, Tenn., where her
father will work for a new church ministry.
Tyler refuses to let the prospect of another loss demoralize him. God, he believes, is
shaping him.
"People like me have got to have that ... that 'it' factor -- that 'I'm going to make it no
matter what.' "
Some days, Tyler makes it by sweating in pads and helmet, on a grassy, worry-free oasis.
Other times, he makes it while standing in a church service, singing softly to the
strumming of an acoustic guitar.
And like a flood, His mercy reigns. Unending love, amazing grace.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyFxArMeRDI&feature=related


The past year has brought clarity to the words his father spoke only days before he died:
Unexpected events, Tyler now understands, are what shape a person's soul.
At 16, he doesn't think he's anywhere close to being a man.
But Tyler Jones certainly doesn't feel like a boy.

When Answers Aren't Enough

Are you being faced with a new challenge today? Just when we think we have overcome one hurdle in our life, another this thrown at us. Why God? We know that God is with us; He WILL comfort us in our sufferings. And there will be an end to our suffering.

The verse below from 2 Corinthians also sheds some light - that our sufferings may also be used to comfort others who may not know the Lord. By being able to empathize with others, we can share our sufferings, establish a bond to another person, and provide a witness as to what the love of Jesus Christ can do. What the love of Jesus has done in our life.

2 Corinthians 1:4-6 (New International Version)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.

Here is a song that I played during the prelude music today. It was new to me but the words are ones of comfort. May they offer you comfort today, too. And for those that prefer to hear it, here is a YouTube version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykS74UTb1AI

When Answers Aren't Enough by Scott Wesley Brown

You have faced the mountains of desperation
You have climbed, you have fought, you have won
But this valley that lies coldly before you
Casts a shadow you cannot overcome.

And just when you thought you had it all together
You knew every verse to get you through
But this time the sorrow broke more than just your heart
And reciting all those verses just won't do.

Chorus:
When answers aren't enough, there is Jesus
He is more than just an answer to your prayer
And your heart will find a safe and peaceful refuge
When answers aren't enough, He is there.

Instead of asking why did it happen
Think of where it can lead you from here
And as your pain is slowly easing, you can find a greater reason
To live your life triumphant through the tears.

Sorry I've been silent

I didn't realize I haven't made a post for a month - boy how time flies! I have been busy focusing on the service I conducted yesterday. For those of you who attended, I welcome your comments. For those of you who were not able to attend, I will be posting it to this site - once I get my file sharing site to work again. I particularly want to thank Bob R, Denise, Bob M and Troy for all your help! Bob R and Denise, thank you for your willingness to participate despite your pain and discomfort!

There is a correction that needs to be made in my message. My comments regarding John Kerry were meant to be John Edwards. Don't know where that one came from!

But I do know that I could not have done this service without direction and support from God. I struggled with the context of this message but somehow the words and the music all fit together. But I do hope for more prep time if I do this again. There was much more I wanted to do but was not able to do because I ran out of time.

Thanks to all of you that prayed for me through this process.

If My People

We will be focusing on prayer in our August worship services. Jimmy Owens’ song, If My People Will Pray, came to mind. The song is based on text from 2 Chronicles 7:14, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. There is a lot of richness in the passage.

But my attention was also caught by the message of the entire chapter that talks about the dedication of the temple that Solomon had built. The dedication began with prayer after which “the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” Then everyone worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord. Next came sacrifices; then the music started.

There’s a whole sermon in this passage (maybe for another day) but I was struck by music’s role in the dedication service. Verse 6 says, “The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the LORD's musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the LORD and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, ‘His love endures forever.’ Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing.”

When we pray in a manner that we are truly communicating with God (where we not only speak to God but we are also open to hear His response), our souls become overwhelmed. Just as the Israelites were awestruck by the presence of the Lord in the temple, we too can become awestruck as the Holy Spirit is welcomed into the presence of our temple. Sometimes that temple is our church; other times it is the temple of our body. So how do we express this awesomeness that we feel? Many times words are not enough. But music is.

Imagine what happened in the temple that day when those instruments began to play and the trumpets began to blow. The scripture say that ALL the Israelites were standing. And though it does not specifically say it, I imagine that they were also swaying with hands lifted up. How could they not be when in the presence of God?

As church musicians, our responsibility is to provide music that will allow our worshippers to express the awesomeness they feel as they experience God’s presence. This is difficult because everyone feels something different, at different times, in different ways. So we are attempting to bring the church a blend of music that the Holy Spirit can use in his way and in his time. But we can’t forget to circle back to the beginning – to pray and humble ourselves and seek His face so that God will hear us from heaven and heal us and our land.

The New Baptist Hymnal - Review

I was at the local Lifeway store today and bought the new Baptist Hymnal. All I can say is, "Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! They got it right this time."

It's a wonderful mix of contemporary Praise & Worship and favorite hymns. And it includes ways to create a bridge between the two. They even brought back some old gospel favorites like His Eye is on the Sparrow and When the Morning Comes. But they still left out my baby boomer favorite, Pass It On. :-( In addition, it does not have the world music that many other denominations (like EVLA) are incorporating in their new hymnals.

Like many Baptist churches, we have been struggling with creating a blend between contemporary and traditional music. This is the perfect hymnal for us. It contains both our favorite Praise & Worship music as well as our favorite standard hymns. And for our church, if it's in the hymnal, it's ok to sing!

Now the problem...we're a small church with a limited budget. We were purchasing copies of the 1991 version as recently as 3 years ago. Our music committee is trying to figure out how we can purchase a few of the new ones at a time and just slide them in...

Suggestions?

Worship - It's all about me!

My original title for this was going to be Worship – it’s NOT all about me. Then as I wrote this, I discovered something different. Please read on…

Are these your thoughts/words during/after a weekly worship service?

• I hate that song / praise music / musical rendering…
• The pastor’s sermon is too long
• The announcements take forever…we can read the bulletin, you know
• Save a tree – reduce the number of the bulletin inserts
• Are they ever going to get through the prayer?
• They’re asking for more money…again!
• Did you see what so&so was wearing?
• Did you hear what so&so did/said
• Somebody took my seat!

I admit that some of these thoughts go through my head as I sit in church. And these thoughts limit and stifle my music ministry because all I can think of is, “How many people am I going to offend today?” I often feel nothing but spitefulness from the church people around me. And that’s probably a reflection of my feelings toward them.

I can’t change the church, but I can change me. So how can I change my attitude?

I believe that if we go into our worship service with the right attitude, then we will leave with the right attitude and be uplifted in ways we did not expect. If we go in EXPECTING to get something from the worship service, then we won’t. And if we only worship God once a week in church, we only feel more exasperated when we leave and our expectations have not been met. (See comments June 20th)

Therefore, we should enter our worship service with an attitude of giving. Here are questions that we should ask ourselves before we enter the door of the church:

• How are I am going to give myself to God today?
• Is my heart and mind open to the Holy Spirit for His purpose?
• What am I going to share with one of my brothers/sisters in Christ?
• How am I going to reach out to the stranger beside me?
• Am I going to make a difference to someone today?

We all know the adage, “it is better to give than to receive”. We have all experienced that wonderful sense of warmth and pleasure when we see someone’s face light up when we give them the perfect present. So let us give our church a present every time we enter the building. If we think of ourselves as a gift to our church then imagine how faces will light up around us in pleasure – not only by what we do, but what God is able to do through us.

Worship is not about the music, the sermon, the music, the pews, the building...instead it IS about me – me and my relationship with God and my willingness to be open to Him. God gave me the gift of His Son; I need to be a gift to God.

My prayer: Lord, help me to be a gift unto you. Let me walk into your church with an attitude of giving. Let me be open to the work of the Holy Spirit. Let me reach out and bear a gift to my brother/sister. Through your Son, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Prayers Needed

I spoke to a co-worker this week who lives in Cedar Rapids, IA. Even though her family was not directly affected by the flooding, she told me of the despair that is prevalent in the area. There are 25,000 of 120,000 people without work. Government assistance is lacking. More volunteers are needed.

Please pray that these people get the help they need and that the Lord will provide them with the courage to move forward. Thank you!

Worship – It’s not just an adult thing

Several weeks ago a young girl of our church sang “This is My Father’s World” during our morning worship service. I was touched not only by her talent but also by the way she presented herself to the Lord. Last Sunday I was visiting another church and was blessed by a duet of “I Love You, Lord” by another young girl and an adult. This was another instance where I saw a youth sharing herself with the Lord, not just with the congregation.

Jesus says, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14 NIV) I believe that the ability and the knowledge of how to worship God are inbred in each one of us; they are part of our very being that God created. And as adults, it is not our place to teach children “how” to worship; instead, we need to provide the opportunities for children to participate in worship. Then we need to sit back, watch them, and learn from them - learn to worship God as one of His children.

As I get older, I find I bring more and more of my “baggage” with me as I worship God. Many times I focus too much of the “hows” of worship rather than just on the act of worship. That has to do with the fact that as a church musician I have a responsibility for putting together and participating in the actual worship service. But that’s my excuse, what about yours? Because I don’t think I am alone in this problem….

For this week, let’s make a conscious effort to worship God as we did when we were children. To help, I have provided a list of some of the songs that I learned as a small child. If you know these, sing them to yourself throughout the week. Smile, clap you hands, stomp your feet, make the motions, do whatever it was you did when you sang these songs as a small child. Then lift up your hands to God and say, “Thank you, Lord, for making me one of your children. I love you and I lift myself up to you. All praise and honor go to you!”

Now you have worshipped as a child…..

Here are the words to some of my favorite children’s songs, just in case you forget them. Please share one of your own favorites via a comment to this blog.

Father Abraham http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/f033.html
He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/h005.html
Jesus Loves the Little Children http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/j007.html
Jesus Loves Me http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/j008.html
Lord I Want to be a Christian http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/l098.html
Rise and Shine http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/r024.html
This Little Light of Mine http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/t030.html

Hallelu Hallelu
Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah!
Praise, Ye the Lord!
Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah!
Praise, Ye the Lord!

Praise, Ye the Lord! Hallelujah!
Praise, Ye the Lord! Hallelujah!
Praise, Ye the Lord! Hallelujah!
Praise, Ye the Lord! Hallelujah!

If You’re Happy and You Know It
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re happy and you know it, then your life will surely show it
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.

If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your feet.
If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your feet.
If you’re happy and you know it, then your life will surely show it
If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your feet.

If you’re happy and you know it, shout, “AMEN!”
If you’re happy and you know it, shout, “AMEN!”
If you’re happy and you know it, then your life will surely show it
If you’re happy and you know it, shout, “AMEN!”

If you’re happy and you know it, do all three (clap, clap, stomp, stomp, AMEN!)
If you’re happy and you know it, do all three (clap, clap, stomp, stomp, AMEN!)
If you’re happy and you know it, then your life will surely show it
If you’re happy and you know it, do all three (clap, clap, stomp, stomp, AMEN!)

I would love to hear from you!

I would enjoy receiving your feedback and comments. Just click on the comments field below the post. Thank you!

Worship - Not Just a Sunday Thing

Even though this was many years ago, I still remember walking through the campus of Miami University (Ohio) on a spring day and having a sense of awe overcome me - the day was sunny, the trees were in bloom, the air was fresh and all of that was a gift of God to me. I wanted to cry and shout to Him for all that He had given to me.

Now I am busy with work, church, home, school, family....whatever. And many times I find it hard to recognize all that God has provided me. Yet, once in a while, I still see His glory in a moment. It can come in the words that someone says, it can be seen in people agreeing to disagree but yet respecting the other person's opinion, it can be seen on the face of someone as they ask for prayer, or it can be in the small child that reaches out to a stranger to bless her with a hug...

God does not want us to limit ourselves to an hour of worship a week. He wants us to worship Him every day, in all things. For those things are provided to us by Him. Our time in church each Sunday should be our time to share our other daily worship time with others - to show those around us how we have experienced God's love in our lives since we last saw them and to praise Him for those gifts He has bestowed upon us. It is time for us to pray for and with those who may not have been so fortunate as ourselves.

Jesus told the woman of Samaria that "...when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4: 23-24

God also tells us in Romans 12:1-2 to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, to not be conformed by the world but to be renewed of our minds so that we may discern the will of God. This is to be reflected in the way we live our daily lives, not just how we present ourselves in a church service.

Please pray: Lord, help me to worship you in all that I am and all that I do, every day, in every way. Help me see your wonders in all that is around me and to see your glory shine. Amen.

Thoughts on Worship

I have been attending church worship services, well, since forever that I can remember. My Mother was a Sunday School teacher. My fraternal grandparents attended that same church every Sunday. So I really don't remember, with the exception my college years, not being in church almost every Sunday morning.

However, as I have been re-evaluating my role in the music program of The American Baptist church of Westerville, I found that I really didn't have a good idea of what "worship". It's just something you do once a week, isn't it?

Michael Morrison, of the Worldwide Church of God, wrote a paper entitled, "What Is Worship? A Survey of Scripture", that I found very enlightening(a). In it mentions that worship has three

components, 1) upward - giving God all glory and and honor, 2) inward - listening for instruction and obeying God's direction as His servant and 3) outward - carrying out His instructions to the world around us. In Nehemiah 8:6, Ezra leads the Israelites in worship and "Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands (upward). Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground (inward). And in verse 10, Ezra tells them to enjoy their meal but to share it with "those for whom nothing is prepared" (outward).

As I read this, as well as other books/papers, and began to study the scriptures, I began to see worship in a much different light. I plan to share my "awakening" in my next several posts that will include:

• Worship - Not Just on Sunday Morning


• Worship - It's not about me


• Worship - It's not just an adult thing

Please join me through this journey. And today, join me in this song of praise.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPWq8eM4lu8


(a) (www.wcg.org/lit/spiritual/worship/worship1.htm)