Wednesday, May 25, 2005
You let me forget my "what I love about my city" post... ah well... I was forgetting it to, so I can't fuss really, now can I??
What do I love about my city? The size for one thing. Montgomery is not a MAJOR metropolis like NYC or ATL, so there's not all the "really big city" things to deal with that comes with that. but Montgomery isn't a small town either... there are lots of people and lots to do and see. I hear people complain about "nothing to do" and wonder what they're really thinking?? We have at least 3 movie theatres, 2 indoor malls, 1 outdoor mall, boo-koos of shopping centers, a professional and world-reknowned theatre, several college and high school theatres, a minor league baseball team, an indoor football team, tons of high school sports of every description, college sports even if there's not a high school team, Civil War history, Civil Rights history, city government, county government, state government, all major news networks to watch, all sorts of radio stations to listen to, 2 dance companies, several YMCAs, probably enough churches to rival NYC, some great city parks (Vaughn Road Park rules!!), and lots of organizations to volunteer and work with that I won't even try and name.
I love the culture this city has present... note I'm not saying te city HAS culture per se since that can be debateable. I think I could find you a way to see or be involved in most any genre of art you wanted. You like choirs? The Montgomery Chorale, not to mention the veritable plethera of HS and church ones. You like fine art? The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, not to mention the local galleries. You like music? The Montgomery Symphony Orchestra... Broadway Under the Stars, need I say more?!, and that's not mentioning the HS groups and other local groups/bands and JUBILEE!! You like theatre? The Alabama Shakespeare Festival can't be beat... and that's not including the Faulkner University Dinner Theatre, Theatre AUM, Huntingdon's Dungeon Theatre (now at Cloverdale), and ASU's theatre department... and THAT'S not including all the HS theatre departments and some groups NOT in Montgomery, but close enough for a "night trip". You like dance? The Alabama Dance Theatre and the Montgomery Ballet.... which isn't including the other dance studios in town. I think I could even hook you up for line dancing or clogging?!
I love the history this city has. This city was established well before the Civil War and has played host to countless shapers of American history. The state capital is where Jefferson Davis stood and took his oath of office as the President of the Confederate States of America. Meetings were held at the Montgomery Theatre regarding sucession from the Union. John Wilkes Booth performed at that same theatre. "Dixie" had it first official performance there, too. Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus on the same street (maybe same corner) where Hank Williams, Sr., once played. (Wonder if she knew that?) MLK preached here. F.Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald lived here. Nat King Cole lived here. Elvis Presley sang here. Presidents have spoken here. Governor's have appologized (or at least admitted they were wrong) for racist actions here and died here. They and their wives are buried here with so many others from so long ago. This isn't even going into all the history recorded and preserved at the State Archives and History Museum.
I love the people here. I have my family here, most importantly. I have friends at church, work, and in theatre that are from "years ago" and from "yesterday" as well. They're all dear to me... even the ones that aren't here any more!
I should go... it's lunch time...
el Dios le bendice siempre...
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What do I love about my city? The size for one thing. Montgomery is not a MAJOR metropolis like NYC or ATL, so there's not all the "really big city" things to deal with that comes with that. but Montgomery isn't a small town either... there are lots of people and lots to do and see. I hear people complain about "nothing to do" and wonder what they're really thinking?? We have at least 3 movie theatres, 2 indoor malls, 1 outdoor mall, boo-koos of shopping centers, a professional and world-reknowned theatre, several college and high school theatres, a minor league baseball team, an indoor football team, tons of high school sports of every description, college sports even if there's not a high school team, Civil War history, Civil Rights history, city government, county government, state government, all major news networks to watch, all sorts of radio stations to listen to, 2 dance companies, several YMCAs, probably enough churches to rival NYC, some great city parks (Vaughn Road Park rules!!), and lots of organizations to volunteer and work with that I won't even try and name.
I love the culture this city has present... note I'm not saying te city HAS culture per se since that can be debateable. I think I could find you a way to see or be involved in most any genre of art you wanted. You like choirs? The Montgomery Chorale, not to mention the veritable plethera of HS and church ones. You like fine art? The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, not to mention the local galleries. You like music? The Montgomery Symphony Orchestra... Broadway Under the Stars, need I say more?!, and that's not mentioning the HS groups and other local groups/bands and JUBILEE!! You like theatre? The Alabama Shakespeare Festival can't be beat... and that's not including the Faulkner University Dinner Theatre, Theatre AUM, Huntingdon's Dungeon Theatre (now at Cloverdale), and ASU's theatre department... and THAT'S not including all the HS theatre departments and some groups NOT in Montgomery, but close enough for a "night trip". You like dance? The Alabama Dance Theatre and the Montgomery Ballet.... which isn't including the other dance studios in town. I think I could even hook you up for line dancing or clogging?!
I love the history this city has. This city was established well before the Civil War and has played host to countless shapers of American history. The state capital is where Jefferson Davis stood and took his oath of office as the President of the Confederate States of America. Meetings were held at the Montgomery Theatre regarding sucession from the Union. John Wilkes Booth performed at that same theatre. "Dixie" had it first official performance there, too. Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus on the same street (maybe same corner) where Hank Williams, Sr., once played. (Wonder if she knew that?) MLK preached here. F.Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald lived here. Nat King Cole lived here. Elvis Presley sang here. Presidents have spoken here. Governor's have appologized (or at least admitted they were wrong) for racist actions here and died here. They and their wives are buried here with so many others from so long ago. This isn't even going into all the history recorded and preserved at the State Archives and History Museum.
I love the people here. I have my family here, most importantly. I have friends at church, work, and in theatre that are from "years ago" and from "yesterday" as well. They're all dear to me... even the ones that aren't here any more!
I should go... it's lunch time...
el Dios le bendice siempre...
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Friday, May 20, 2005
I just got some sad news. One of my classmates from here at Faulkner lost her mother this morning. Miranda Bissoo is Faulkner alumni and an Education Adjunct here. Her mother had had surgery just the other day and Miranda emailed several of us just yesterday that she seemed to be doing alright. Some of you may also know her brother-in-law, Dr. Dave Rampersad. He's the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
el Dios le bendice siempre...
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el Dios le bendice siempre...
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Thursday, May 19, 2005
I love my city... I really do... I was just thinking about that the other day and planning to blog about all the great things I adore about living in Montgomery...
But then the jerk happened... Montgomerians will know where I'm talking about, the rest just bear with me. Atlanta Highway is a major street in town... second only to the By-Pass which is second only to the Interstate. There's a stretch that gets particularly busy and is particularly congested most of the time... pretty much from Faulkner University up to Bell Road. I'd run my errand out to Taylor Road and stopped at McDonalds... it was on the appropriate side of the road for the least ammount of trouble. While I'm waiting for a break in the onslaught that comes from the intersection just up from this access, SOMEONE pulled up behind me and was OBVIOUSLY in WAY TOO MUCH OF A HURRY. I had just pulled up and assessed that I could get my burger out 'cause it was going to be a minute before I was going to get an opening. I took a bite while I looked again at the oncoming traffic... still too many cars, I needed the second lane out... plus you DON'T WANT TO FREAK SOMEONE OUT by pulling out into the lane RIGHT BY THEM. (Can you tell this is a pet peeve?) I thought I heard a honk, but I watched the traffic, took a bite, checked my rearview mirror, and went back to the traffic... about that same ammount of time... Now, not but a few seconds later... maybe two, three if you push it... they HONK AGAIN. I look back this time and "she" (I think?) was yelling at me (like I could hear her?!!!) to go... I respond with my usual "hold on", "I'm driving this car, not you", and maybe one other phrase and PATIENTLY wait for a clearing. Mind you, I was only at that intersection... oh... two... three minutes?? And where was this person going?? I do believe I noted her PULLING INTO THE MALL!!!
It's 5:00 now... and I'm mad again at Ms. Impatient-I-think-I-drive-your-car-and-pay-your-insurance... I'll write about the grand and glorious REST of the city I live in... and I hope that woman reads this...
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But then the jerk happened... Montgomerians will know where I'm talking about, the rest just bear with me. Atlanta Highway is a major street in town... second only to the By-Pass which is second only to the Interstate. There's a stretch that gets particularly busy and is particularly congested most of the time... pretty much from Faulkner University up to Bell Road. I'd run my errand out to Taylor Road and stopped at McDonalds... it was on the appropriate side of the road for the least ammount of trouble. While I'm waiting for a break in the onslaught that comes from the intersection just up from this access, SOMEONE pulled up behind me and was OBVIOUSLY in WAY TOO MUCH OF A HURRY. I had just pulled up and assessed that I could get my burger out 'cause it was going to be a minute before I was going to get an opening. I took a bite while I looked again at the oncoming traffic... still too many cars, I needed the second lane out... plus you DON'T WANT TO FREAK SOMEONE OUT by pulling out into the lane RIGHT BY THEM. (Can you tell this is a pet peeve?) I thought I heard a honk, but I watched the traffic, took a bite, checked my rearview mirror, and went back to the traffic... about that same ammount of time... Now, not but a few seconds later... maybe two, three if you push it... they HONK AGAIN. I look back this time and "she" (I think?) was yelling at me (like I could hear her?!!!) to go... I respond with my usual "hold on", "I'm driving this car, not you", and maybe one other phrase and PATIENTLY wait for a clearing. Mind you, I was only at that intersection... oh... two... three minutes?? And where was this person going?? I do believe I noted her PULLING INTO THE MALL!!!
It's 5:00 now... and I'm mad again at Ms. Impatient-I-think-I-drive-your-car-and-pay-your-insurance... I'll write about the grand and glorious REST of the city I live in... and I hope that woman reads this...
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Tuesday, May 17, 2005
My friends were on the Today Show this morning!! At about 7:30 there was a pan of the audience and there they were!! Ask me if you want to know more...
el Dios le bendice siempre...
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el Dios le bendice siempre...
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Monday, May 16, 2005
Here's a song someone read at the Sader I went to a few weeks ago... I just got around to looking up the words. Let me know if you understand all 13... there are some I don't, but a good many I do...
Who Knows One?
Who knows one?
I know one.
One is HaShem (3x)
In the heavens and the earth.
Who know two?
I know two.
Two are the luchot that Moshe brought
And one is HaShem (3x)
In the heavens and the earth.
Who knows three?
I know three.
Three are the fathers
And two...
Who knows four?
I know four.
Four are the mothers
And...
Who knows five?
I know five.
Five are the books of the Torah
And...
Who knows six?
I know six.
Six are the books of Mishnah
And...
Who knows seven?
I know seven.
Seven are the days of the week
And...
Who knows eight?
I know eight.
Eight are the days 'til the bris
And...
Who knows nine?
I know nine.
Nine are the months until a baby's born
And...
Who knows ten?
I know ten.
Ten are the asarah dibrayah
And...
Who knows eleven?
I know eleven.
Eleven are the stars in Joseph's dream
And...
Who knows twelve?
I know twelve.
Twelve are tribes of Yisrael
And..
Who knows thirteen?
I know thirteen
Thirteen are the attributes of G-d
And...
Neat song, hunh? Shalom and Amen...
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Who Knows One?
Who knows one?
I know one.
One is HaShem (3x)
In the heavens and the earth.
Who know two?
I know two.
Two are the luchot that Moshe brought
And one is HaShem (3x)
In the heavens and the earth.
Who knows three?
I know three.
Three are the fathers
And two...
Who knows four?
I know four.
Four are the mothers
And...
Who knows five?
I know five.
Five are the books of the Torah
And...
Who knows six?
I know six.
Six are the books of Mishnah
And...
Who knows seven?
I know seven.
Seven are the days of the week
And...
Who knows eight?
I know eight.
Eight are the days 'til the bris
And...
Who knows nine?
I know nine.
Nine are the months until a baby's born
And...
Who knows ten?
I know ten.
Ten are the asarah dibrayah
And...
Who knows eleven?
I know eleven.
Eleven are the stars in Joseph's dream
And...
Who knows twelve?
I know twelve.
Twelve are tribes of Yisrael
And..
Who knows thirteen?
I know thirteen
Thirteen are the attributes of G-d
And...
Neat song, hunh? Shalom and Amen...
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Friday, May 13, 2005
@->->--------- .... that's for my friend Jason! He's playing Henry Higgins in the Faulkner University Dinner Theatre production of My Fair Lady. I'm playing his mother, Mrs. Higgins, Jody is playing Eliza, and Cliff is playing Colonel Pickering. I send a rose out to Jason because we are 'bout merciless to him over the course of the show! It's SOO much fun...
el Dios le bendice siempre...
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el Dios le bendice siempre...
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Tuesday, May 10, 2005
This is a cute song Patsy Cline recorded... a bit materialistic, but funny... "I Love You, Honey" by "The Cline"...
Written by Eddie Miller & W.S. Stevenson
(As released by Patsy Cline February 5, 1956)
Down in Dallas, near the Palace
I met a boy who was so cute
I loved his huggin', I loved his kissin'
As we sat in his little red coupe
He said, tell me, confidentially
How much do you love me
Well, I thought awhile and then I smiled
And this is what I told him, dontcha see
I love you honey, I love your money
I love your automobile
I love you baby, I don't mean maybe
You're the sweetest thing on wheels
I love your kisses, I wouldn't miss it
No matter how I feel
I love you honey, I love your money
Most of all I love your automobile
(Repeat both verses)
Most of all I love your automobile
© Acuff Rose Music, Inc. (BMI)
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Written by Eddie Miller & W.S. Stevenson
(As released by Patsy Cline February 5, 1956)
Down in Dallas, near the Palace
I met a boy who was so cute
I loved his huggin', I loved his kissin'
As we sat in his little red coupe
He said, tell me, confidentially
How much do you love me
Well, I thought awhile and then I smiled
And this is what I told him, dontcha see
I love you honey, I love your money
I love your automobile
I love you baby, I don't mean maybe
You're the sweetest thing on wheels
I love your kisses, I wouldn't miss it
No matter how I feel
I love you honey, I love your money
Most of all I love your automobile
(Repeat both verses)
Most of all I love your automobile
© Acuff Rose Music, Inc. (BMI)
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This is one of my Dad's faves... Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying"...
He said I was in my early forties
with a lot of life before me
when a moment came that stopped me on a dime
and I spent most of the next days
looking at the x-rays
Talking bout the options and talking bout sweet time
I asked him when it sank in that this might really be the real end
How's it hit you when you get that kinda news man
What'd you do and he said
I went sky diving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu
and I loved deeper a
nd I spoke sweeter
and I gave forgiveness I'd been denying
and he said someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying.
He said I was finally the husband
that most the time I wasn't
and I became a friend a friend would like to have a
nd all the sudden going fishin wasn't such an imposition
and I went three times that year I lost my dad
well I finally read the good book a
nd I took a good long hard look
at what I'd do if I could do it all again and then
I went sky diving I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu
and I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter
and I gave forgiveness I'd been denying
and he said someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying.
Like tomorrow was a gift
and you got eternity to think about what?d you do with it
what did you do with it
what did I do with it
what would I do with it?
Sky diving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu
and then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter
and I watched an eagle as it was flying
and he said someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying.
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying
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He said I was in my early forties
with a lot of life before me
when a moment came that stopped me on a dime
and I spent most of the next days
looking at the x-rays
Talking bout the options and talking bout sweet time
I asked him when it sank in that this might really be the real end
How's it hit you when you get that kinda news man
What'd you do and he said
I went sky diving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu
and I loved deeper a
nd I spoke sweeter
and I gave forgiveness I'd been denying
and he said someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying.
He said I was finally the husband
that most the time I wasn't
and I became a friend a friend would like to have a
nd all the sudden going fishin wasn't such an imposition
and I went three times that year I lost my dad
well I finally read the good book a
nd I took a good long hard look
at what I'd do if I could do it all again and then
I went sky diving I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu
and I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter
and I gave forgiveness I'd been denying
and he said someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying.
Like tomorrow was a gift
and you got eternity to think about what?d you do with it
what did you do with it
what did I do with it
what would I do with it?
Sky diving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu
and then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter
and I watched an eagle as it was flying
and he said someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying.
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying
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I know... it's cheesy and cheating, but I have to share some song lyrics I like...
This is Martina McBride's "This One's for the Girls"....
This one's for all you girls about thirteen
High school can be so rough, can be so mean
Hold onto, on to your innocence
Stand your ground when everyone's giving in
This one's for the girls
This is for all you girls about twenty-five
In a little apartment, just trying to get by
Living on, on dreams and spaghetti-o's
Wondering where you life is gonna go
This one's for the girls
Who've ever had a broken heart
Who've wished upon a shooting star
You're beautiful the way you are
This one's for the girls
Who love without holding back
Who dream with everything they have
All around the world
This one's for the girls
This is for all you girls about forty-two
Tossing pennies into the Fountain of Youth
Every laugh, laugh line on your face
Made you who you are today
This one's for the girls
Who've ever had a broken heart
Who've wished upon a shooting star
You're beautiful the way you are
This one's for the girls
Who love without holding back
Who dream with everything they have
All around the world
This one's for the girls
Yeah, we're all the same inside (same inside)
>From 1 to 99
This one's for the girls
Who've ever had a broken heart
Who've wished upon a shooting star
You're beautiful the way you are
This one's for the girls
Who love without holding back
Who dream with everything they have
All around the world
This one's for the girls
Yeah, this one's for the girls
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This is Martina McBride's "This One's for the Girls"....
This one's for all you girls about thirteen
High school can be so rough, can be so mean
Hold onto, on to your innocence
Stand your ground when everyone's giving in
This one's for the girls
This is for all you girls about twenty-five
In a little apartment, just trying to get by
Living on, on dreams and spaghetti-o's
Wondering where you life is gonna go
This one's for the girls
Who've ever had a broken heart
Who've wished upon a shooting star
You're beautiful the way you are
This one's for the girls
Who love without holding back
Who dream with everything they have
All around the world
This one's for the girls
This is for all you girls about forty-two
Tossing pennies into the Fountain of Youth
Every laugh, laugh line on your face
Made you who you are today
This one's for the girls
Who've ever had a broken heart
Who've wished upon a shooting star
You're beautiful the way you are
This one's for the girls
Who love without holding back
Who dream with everything they have
All around the world
This one's for the girls
Yeah, we're all the same inside (same inside)
>From 1 to 99
This one's for the girls
Who've ever had a broken heart
Who've wished upon a shooting star
You're beautiful the way you are
This one's for the girls
Who love without holding back
Who dream with everything they have
All around the world
This one's for the girls
Yeah, this one's for the girls
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Will our worship unite us or divide us?
Dude, that is the question...
Okay, so that was a bit "lame"... but it really is the question to consider. Is your "new thing" or "old thing" so precious that you are willing to split a church? Or is it potentially something that can be a uniting factor in the cause? The cause of us as individuals following Christ... the cause of us "being one" as Christ wanted... the cause of us bringing others to Him...
You can probably make a case that any one thing that someone wants to do or not do or do differently or not do differently can be either of these. So I guess the unasked question in this case is... which is the stronger pull? Together or apart? Namely, is this going to pull people to Christ or apart from Him?
Okay, it's "for instance"... my church gets flack over this and I may, too... oh well, talk to me... and remember that I am the one who has to answer for me anyway...
Screens/Power Point... yes, we have them... yes, I like them. Technology that's not even been invented at the time can't have been written about specifically in the Bible, so you have to "go on principle" like we're discussing... I say that this use of technology can bring people closer to Christ through a better understanding. Education has learned many years ago that there are three essential types of learners... auditory ("hearers"), visual ("see-ers"), and kinesthetic ("do-ers"). Well, auditory learners are so easy to teach and get through to with your message... especially since that's what preachers are know for, speaking!! Kinesthetic learners, bless their hearts, are not only few and far between, but also the hardest to accomodate in terms of teaching to their style. In a church service, it'd be hard to have an activity that hundreds of people can do. Oooh, 'bout the closest thing is an outline to fill in. Visual learners are only partially helped in services, traditionally. There is the song book and the Bible to look at and read from, but they only do so much for so long. I find that using screens and Power Point presentations for services helps the half of me that's visual. It has color, it has graphics, it has words, it has formatting to bring emphasis. I hope that made sense and explained what I meant.
Worship teams... we have those, too. Let me explain the set up first before you decide that you think we're all going to hell for it. We have two teams of 8 (two for each part, four parts) that rotate. They sit either down front together or with family if they want. I have a few reasons that this doesn't bother me. One is that the team isn't up in front of the congregation so it's not "for show" and can't be misconstrued as "entertainment" unless you really push it that way for some reason. Another is that it blends the song leader with the congregation. You don't have the occasional "solos" that can happen sometimes while teaching a new song or singing an unfamiliar one. I think it sounds better when it's all blended together... isn't that musically preferable? A good "mix"? Also, it makes it SOO much easier to teach a new song if you have a group that can help the congregation hear their part because they already know it. This is simply a side-note... the larger the congregation, the more likely it is, too, that you're going to have some people who are musically talented. They can read music and sing just so well; this gives them the opportunity to use that talent to help others and praise God.
Small groups... I know, people don't like these either. "You're not meeting at the building"... yes, we know. Frankly, the first century church didn't either. Secondly, it fosters better relationships and better atmospheres for growth.
That's all for this post... I'm going to post some lyrics to check out...
el Dios le bendice siempre...
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Dude, that is the question...
Okay, so that was a bit "lame"... but it really is the question to consider. Is your "new thing" or "old thing" so precious that you are willing to split a church? Or is it potentially something that can be a uniting factor in the cause? The cause of us as individuals following Christ... the cause of us "being one" as Christ wanted... the cause of us bringing others to Him...
You can probably make a case that any one thing that someone wants to do or not do or do differently or not do differently can be either of these. So I guess the unasked question in this case is... which is the stronger pull? Together or apart? Namely, is this going to pull people to Christ or apart from Him?
Okay, it's "for instance"... my church gets flack over this and I may, too... oh well, talk to me... and remember that I am the one who has to answer for me anyway...
Screens/Power Point... yes, we have them... yes, I like them. Technology that's not even been invented at the time can't have been written about specifically in the Bible, so you have to "go on principle" like we're discussing... I say that this use of technology can bring people closer to Christ through a better understanding. Education has learned many years ago that there are three essential types of learners... auditory ("hearers"), visual ("see-ers"), and kinesthetic ("do-ers"). Well, auditory learners are so easy to teach and get through to with your message... especially since that's what preachers are know for, speaking!! Kinesthetic learners, bless their hearts, are not only few and far between, but also the hardest to accomodate in terms of teaching to their style. In a church service, it'd be hard to have an activity that hundreds of people can do. Oooh, 'bout the closest thing is an outline to fill in. Visual learners are only partially helped in services, traditionally. There is the song book and the Bible to look at and read from, but they only do so much for so long. I find that using screens and Power Point presentations for services helps the half of me that's visual. It has color, it has graphics, it has words, it has formatting to bring emphasis. I hope that made sense and explained what I meant.
Worship teams... we have those, too. Let me explain the set up first before you decide that you think we're all going to hell for it. We have two teams of 8 (two for each part, four parts) that rotate. They sit either down front together or with family if they want. I have a few reasons that this doesn't bother me. One is that the team isn't up in front of the congregation so it's not "for show" and can't be misconstrued as "entertainment" unless you really push it that way for some reason. Another is that it blends the song leader with the congregation. You don't have the occasional "solos" that can happen sometimes while teaching a new song or singing an unfamiliar one. I think it sounds better when it's all blended together... isn't that musically preferable? A good "mix"? Also, it makes it SOO much easier to teach a new song if you have a group that can help the congregation hear their part because they already know it. This is simply a side-note... the larger the congregation, the more likely it is, too, that you're going to have some people who are musically talented. They can read music and sing just so well; this gives them the opportunity to use that talent to help others and praise God.
Small groups... I know, people don't like these either. "You're not meeting at the building"... yes, we know. Frankly, the first century church didn't either. Secondly, it fosters better relationships and better atmospheres for growth.
That's all for this post... I'm going to post some lyrics to check out...
el Dios le bendice siempre...
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Friday, May 06, 2005
Another two-fer...
Will it reflect and celebrate our intergenerational and cross-cultural diversity? Will our worship maintain continuity with our heritage and traditions?
Okay... piece by piece... I think a worship service should reflect the people who are worshiping and what they believe and place importance on. Hmm... does this maybe mean that we should take a look at our worship services? Celebrate the diversity? Yes? Oh, I don't know... how do you mean? What do you mean? If you mean that it should have some celebratory aspects and moments... yes... and maybe even some celebrating of the diversity that we have within ourselves. Let's not fool ourselves in to thinking that "we're all like ___"... maybe in some generic, extra general way, but it might imply too much for some. We all mess up, what we mess up and how we mess up is different in each of us. OOHHHH... it's like apples and oranges!!! Yes, they're round... yes, they're fruit... but apples are red, oranges are, well, orange... but apples have a thin skin you can stand to bite into most of the time, oranges have a thick-ish skin that most people don't appreciate biting into. I guess, in a nutshell, what I'm saying in reference to the first question is that we should take advantage of the differences in our members and be aware of them.
About maintaining continuity with our heritage and traditions... If we follow the mindset of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", there's nothing to worry about as far as "what we've always done". But if "what we've always done" isn't reaching people or is misleading them in someway somehow, I think it's not something to continue. Please don't take me wrong... I'm all about tradition and things having value and meaning. But not "tradition for the sake of tradition". Please don't tell me that we can't change up something on the basis that "well, this is the way so-and-so always did it"... or... and I hate to even say this... "that's the way the Restoration Leaders started doing it"... or "that's the way we've just always done it". I know there are some things in the Bible that we can know should/shouldn't be a part of our worship service. BUT there are some things that aren't discussed in the Bible. I'm sorry... and correct me if I'm wrong.... but I don't recall a verse that talks about how many songs and how many prayers and in what order... (wait, that might be in Jon's I Traditions 2:10??...)(An old joke we used to have about things we just always did or didn't do...)... and I don't recall anywhere that says we shouldn't make use of modern technology and teaching methods (provided it's legitimately applicable) or that we can't have facilities to minister in ways other than just services and Bible classes.
Am I off base? Is that something that's spoken of in a way or place I don't see? Things that you repeat over and over and over and over and over and over and... you get the point... loose their meaning and impact until someone comes along and dusts it off and makes you look at it again, maybe in a different way or maybe just reminding you of what/why.
Anywhoo... my two cents... el Dios le bendice siempre...
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Will it reflect and celebrate our intergenerational and cross-cultural diversity? Will our worship maintain continuity with our heritage and traditions?
Okay... piece by piece... I think a worship service should reflect the people who are worshiping and what they believe and place importance on. Hmm... does this maybe mean that we should take a look at our worship services? Celebrate the diversity? Yes? Oh, I don't know... how do you mean? What do you mean? If you mean that it should have some celebratory aspects and moments... yes... and maybe even some celebrating of the diversity that we have within ourselves. Let's not fool ourselves in to thinking that "we're all like ___"... maybe in some generic, extra general way, but it might imply too much for some. We all mess up, what we mess up and how we mess up is different in each of us. OOHHHH... it's like apples and oranges!!! Yes, they're round... yes, they're fruit... but apples are red, oranges are, well, orange... but apples have a thin skin you can stand to bite into most of the time, oranges have a thick-ish skin that most people don't appreciate biting into. I guess, in a nutshell, what I'm saying in reference to the first question is that we should take advantage of the differences in our members and be aware of them.
About maintaining continuity with our heritage and traditions... If we follow the mindset of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", there's nothing to worry about as far as "what we've always done". But if "what we've always done" isn't reaching people or is misleading them in someway somehow, I think it's not something to continue. Please don't take me wrong... I'm all about tradition and things having value and meaning. But not "tradition for the sake of tradition". Please don't tell me that we can't change up something on the basis that "well, this is the way so-and-so always did it"... or... and I hate to even say this... "that's the way the Restoration Leaders started doing it"... or "that's the way we've just always done it". I know there are some things in the Bible that we can know should/shouldn't be a part of our worship service. BUT there are some things that aren't discussed in the Bible. I'm sorry... and correct me if I'm wrong.... but I don't recall a verse that talks about how many songs and how many prayers and in what order... (wait, that might be in Jon's I Traditions 2:10??...)(An old joke we used to have about things we just always did or didn't do...)... and I don't recall anywhere that says we shouldn't make use of modern technology and teaching methods (provided it's legitimately applicable) or that we can't have facilities to minister in ways other than just services and Bible classes.
Am I off base? Is that something that's spoken of in a way or place I don't see? Things that you repeat over and over and over and over and over and over and... you get the point... loose their meaning and impact until someone comes along and dusts it off and makes you look at it again, maybe in a different way or maybe just reminding you of what/why.
Anywhoo... my two cents... el Dios le bendice siempre...
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Thursday, May 05, 2005
And when our worship is contemporary, relevant, and appealing, will it still be worship? Will our worship have a biblical foundation and impetus? ... I'm tackling these two together... and just generally getting back to answering these...
Okay, first of all, this is bringing out the English teacher in me in order to answer it best. The words "comtemporary", "relevant", and "appealing" are all what part of speech? Class? Yes, Dusti (I know she knows the answer!!)... exactly "adjectives". Since they are adjectives, that means that they modify a noun. They aren't a noun themselves, but they tell us what kind of noun we have. (Clarification: adjectives can be made from SOME nouns, but that doesn't make them nouns, they "turn into" adjectives...) So just because those three nouns (altogether or individually) can be used to describe our worship doesn't mean that it either is or isn't worship. That designation of being "worship" (remember: "worth ship"... "ascribing worth to") comes from something else. The second question brings a little better some things that can be used to decide whether or not our "noun" is worship or if it's something else. I think our worship can and should be based on the Bible and should emphasize Biblical principles. I also think that in doing so that it can be "contemporary", "relevant", and "appealing". I think that if we look at Jesus' teachings we'd find those adjectives applicable to him then... and quite possibly even to today's society... whoa, what a novel concept... learning from ancient writings and teachings about how/why people think and do things today or things that people should do??
Welp, that's my commentary for the day... week... enh, who knows...
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Okay, first of all, this is bringing out the English teacher in me in order to answer it best. The words "comtemporary", "relevant", and "appealing" are all what part of speech? Class? Yes, Dusti (I know she knows the answer!!)... exactly "adjectives". Since they are adjectives, that means that they modify a noun. They aren't a noun themselves, but they tell us what kind of noun we have. (Clarification: adjectives can be made from SOME nouns, but that doesn't make them nouns, they "turn into" adjectives...) So just because those three nouns (altogether or individually) can be used to describe our worship doesn't mean that it either is or isn't worship. That designation of being "worship" (remember: "worth ship"... "ascribing worth to") comes from something else. The second question brings a little better some things that can be used to decide whether or not our "noun" is worship or if it's something else. I think our worship can and should be based on the Bible and should emphasize Biblical principles. I also think that in doing so that it can be "contemporary", "relevant", and "appealing". I think that if we look at Jesus' teachings we'd find those adjectives applicable to him then... and quite possibly even to today's society... whoa, what a novel concept... learning from ancient writings and teachings about how/why people think and do things today or things that people should do??
Welp, that's my commentary for the day... week... enh, who knows...
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Just a brief word or two... or more...
Feliz Cinco de Mayo...
y Cumpleanos Feliz a mi hermanita...
And in case you don't read Spanish... in English...
Happy 5th of May...
and Happy Birthday to my little sister!!
And in other news... my brother got a picture of his little girl the other day. Kate turns five in August and is just too cute for her own good!! She picked out the picture herself to send to her daddy!! Isn't that too sweet?!
At any rate... el Dios le bendice siempre...
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Feliz Cinco de Mayo...
y Cumpleanos Feliz a mi hermanita...
And in case you don't read Spanish... in English...
Happy 5th of May...
and Happy Birthday to my little sister!!
And in other news... my brother got a picture of his little girl the other day. Kate turns five in August and is just too cute for her own good!! She picked out the picture herself to send to her daddy!! Isn't that too sweet?!
At any rate... el Dios le bendice siempre...
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