I just thought I'd throw in a quick update on all the fun things happening in my life these days.
With Holy Week being this week, I'm kinda out of my head with everything that I need to get done before Wednesday and beyond roll around. I forced myself to take today completely off. It's so easy for me to go in just to get something done, but right now, I need to take the time when I can get it. I know I'll be running around like a crazy person soon, so I enjoyed my time to myself.
I joined several people and we started a dinner club. Our first dinner was on Friday, and it was so much fun. We have 5 "families" involved and a total of 7 people. I was quite impressed with the creativity first of all. I think we were there till nearly 11 o'clock that night just talking and laughing the night away. I cant wait till our next one in April.
I've been arranging quite a bit of music these days for various instruments and voices. A few of my arrangements will be used during our services this week, so I'm pretty pumped about that. I am really getting into using Sibelius which my choir gave me as a surprise Christmas gift. It is much more powerful than my other program, and a lot more rewarding. I can potentially whip out an arrangement for four or five instruments in about an hour now. I've also been playing more piano these days too. To me, it feels like I'm just tinkering around, but people seem to like it, so I'll keep going. Nothing wrong with a simple improv once in a while. Of course, now their staring to ask for me to try playing the organ. It's kind of scary that I am the parish organist all of a sudden. Last I knew, I was brought in as a guitarist. Oh well!
Lets see... other things. I've been getting into baking, candy making and card making these days. I've run into a number of old friends lately... fun! I really feel like I need a spiritual director or something similar to help me stay on the right path. Life is terribly busy, but very good right now. I cant wait till this week is over.
I'll leave you with a few quotes I borrowed from one of my favorite websites, Just Plain Folks.
"Getting there isn't half the fun - it's all the fun." -Robert Townsend
"Grab a chance and you won't be sorry for a might have been." -Arthur Ransome
"Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is give them a reason and an opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Worship in the Works - March 2008
Here's the latest newsletter article... enjoy.
Do you ever feel like there is something missing in your life? Like your life is unfulfilled? Empty? Directionless? Meaningless? Maybe you feel like there is something else you could have done if only you had the means or opportunities. Do you feel a burning desire inside you that you just can’t ignore? Has it been there for a long time? Do you ever feel like you aren’t helping others to be the best they can be? Are you using your talents the way God intended?
I can honestly say that I answered yes to a couple of these questions. If you answered yes to any of them, I’m sorry to say I don’t have the answers, but, maybe the stories of Jesus during this time of Lent do. If Jesus were asked these questions, I would guess that he would say a resounding “no” to them all. How do I know this? The famous last words of Christ include the following: “It is finished.” Some translations of the bible use “It is accomplished.” To me, these words come from a man who has seen his fair share of pain and sorrow, but also a man who really made something of himself. How could he have looked back over his life and said, “If only I had…” to anything? From the beginning of his ministry, he made all the choices of his heart. If we are to follow Jesus with our whole lives, then shouldn’t we also try to see our lives as a real accomplishment and success?
“Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” “Were you there when they nailed him to the cross?” “Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?” I doubt any of us can say yes to any of these questions, but if we can see that we have made the most out of our lives and really invested our talents, then we can have no cause to “tremble” before the awesome power of God. It’s hard to see beyond our “comfort zones” and really be there in the suffering of others, much less Jesus who lived over 2000 years ago. If Jesus was able to go through all the torment and agony and still come out feeling successful, then I have no room to complain. My gift to Christ, who died for my salvation, is to die to myself and give to those he died for. This continues the cycle of love Jesus began when he forgave even those who put him on that very cross.
Do you ever feel like there is something missing in your life? Like your life is unfulfilled? Empty? Directionless? Meaningless? Maybe you feel like there is something else you could have done if only you had the means or opportunities. Do you feel a burning desire inside you that you just can’t ignore? Has it been there for a long time? Do you ever feel like you aren’t helping others to be the best they can be? Are you using your talents the way God intended?I can honestly say that I answered yes to a couple of these questions. If you answered yes to any of them, I’m sorry to say I don’t have the answers, but, maybe the stories of Jesus during this time of Lent do. If Jesus were asked these questions, I would guess that he would say a resounding “no” to them all. How do I know this? The famous last words of Christ include the following: “It is finished.” Some translations of the bible use “It is accomplished.” To me, these words come from a man who has seen his fair share of pain and sorrow, but also a man who really made something of himself. How could he have looked back over his life and said, “If only I had…” to anything? From the beginning of his ministry, he made all the choices of his heart. If we are to follow Jesus with our whole lives, then shouldn’t we also try to see our lives as a real accomplishment and success?
“Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” “Were you there when they nailed him to the cross?” “Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?” I doubt any of us can say yes to any of these questions, but if we can see that we have made the most out of our lives and really invested our talents, then we can have no cause to “tremble” before the awesome power of God. It’s hard to see beyond our “comfort zones” and really be there in the suffering of others, much less Jesus who lived over 2000 years ago. If Jesus was able to go through all the torment and agony and still come out feeling successful, then I have no room to complain. My gift to Christ, who died for my salvation, is to die to myself and give to those he died for. This continues the cycle of love Jesus began when he forgave even those who put him on that very cross.
School Choir Update
So, get this...
Not too long ago I posted a blog about the whole Children's choir thing? Well, this last weekend, I may have found someone to help me organize and lead the kids. I am so pumped. She is one of the parishioners here and has a great background both with kids and in music. I think she would be a perfect addition to the ministry we have going here. Her husband even said that he would nudge her a little to get her involved. This could be the beginning of a very good thing.
Not too long ago I posted a blog about the whole Children's choir thing? Well, this last weekend, I may have found someone to help me organize and lead the kids. I am so pumped. She is one of the parishioners here and has a great background both with kids and in music. I think she would be a perfect addition to the ministry we have going here. Her husband even said that he would nudge her a little to get her involved. This could be the beginning of a very good thing.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Once Upon a Time
During my day off today, I decided to watch my movies that have been sitting in my apartment for the last few days. (I do Blockbuster Online) One of these movies really touched me for many reasons. Maybe its the musician in me or the songwriter or even the person struggling to find that great relationship.
The movie I'm referring to is Once, a low budget and gritty movie about, in my opinion, finding one great friend who "gets" you. There is a lot of great music performed by the songwriters themselves. The movie is about a guy (in the credits named "guy") who makes a living out by fixing vacuum cleaners and singing songs on the streets of Dublin. He meets a girl (named... you got it... "girl") who takes a keen interest in him and his music. The movie is so simple and real, that it speaks volumes about being true to who you are no matter what, following the dreams of your heart, and respecting everything about the people you encounter.
I think the reason I was moved so much by this movie is that I feel so much like the hero portrayed. He recently ended a relationship and is wandering around looking for meaning in everything. When he finds someone who takes an interest in him and helps nudge him toward being a more than he was, he gets the signals mixed up for a time, then realizes the gem he has in her. I wonder if that's what I've been looking for for so long... someone who can inspire me, someone who can be my muse and push me to greater things.
I know it sounds selfish to say that, but it's real. Who knows what form this person is going to come in, but I do know that our friendship will be the stuff from which poems are written and legends told. I know I've missed quite a few opportunities for this kind of relationship, and I am willing to admit that I may lack what it takes to make a relationship like this happen, but I feel, right now, a longing for it. I just hope I'm ready for it when it comes. :)
The movie I'm referring to is Once, a low budget and gritty movie about, in my opinion, finding one great friend who "gets" you. There is a lot of great music performed by the songwriters themselves. The movie is about a guy (in the credits named "guy") who makes a living out by fixing vacuum cleaners and singing songs on the streets of Dublin. He meets a girl (named... you got it... "girl") who takes a keen interest in him and his music. The movie is so simple and real, that it speaks volumes about being true to who you are no matter what, following the dreams of your heart, and respecting everything about the people you encounter.
I think the reason I was moved so much by this movie is that I feel so much like the hero portrayed. He recently ended a relationship and is wandering around looking for meaning in everything. When he finds someone who takes an interest in him and helps nudge him toward being a more than he was, he gets the signals mixed up for a time, then realizes the gem he has in her. I wonder if that's what I've been looking for for so long... someone who can inspire me, someone who can be my muse and push me to greater things.
I know it sounds selfish to say that, but it's real. Who knows what form this person is going to come in, but I do know that our friendship will be the stuff from which poems are written and legends told. I know I've missed quite a few opportunities for this kind of relationship, and I am willing to admit that I may lack what it takes to make a relationship like this happen, but I feel, right now, a longing for it. I just hope I'm ready for it when it comes. :)
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