daily life as life goes on . . .

Friday night I went to a concert.  Choral music – well done by high school students and young adults.  I was the eager listener seated next to the committed listener (his teen was in the choir).

I had spent part of the concert listening to see who were the outstanding vocalists.  Some were featured as soloists.  Others supported their vocal sections.  No doubt there was talent to be seen and heard.  At the end of the concert I was up and dancing.  Not all music gets me going – this one did. Three things stuck out in the introductions and presentations:

1.  Harmony is based in the universe – I grew up with a song we sung in our boys choir (grades 5-6).  “All things will perish, Music alone shall live.”  The words were rather pretentious – I think God lives forever, as do people.  But there is something to the way sounds harmonize and even have overtones and harmonics which we did not create.  The universe has a harmony of its own that God created.  Certainly nothing we created.

2.  Effective concerts invite you into the experience.  I personally start conducting music, and singing along and infuriating the people next to me!  A good concert gets my toes tapping, or my mind wrapped up, or my emotions overflowing.  There is that razor edge where the choir steps outside of their performance – as much as they enjoy the experience – and somehow projects the words and notes into your life.  In this sense, a sporting event is not much different than a concert.

3.  A concert is about humility and service.  There are enough divas in music.  A good musician recognizes that the music is not just for them – the audience (those hearing) are the real recipients.  Musicians cannot force you to enjoy their music.  They must humbly place their performance in front of you and allow you to chose.  A good musician also recognizes your current life – the concert is a service, not an edict of what you must or must not like.  When we connect, performer and audience, the audience has been humbly served and walks away encouraged and inspired.

Here are some thoughts that I’ve run across lately:

Priscilla Shirer – The Armor of God (DVD series) – LifeWay

Truth – God’s opinion on any matter

Righteousness is not manufactured – it’s released.

Trust fuels thanksgiving and thanksgiving activates peace.

Your faith needs a job – active faith is a shield for us.  Faith is what you say you believe – in action.

Often promises are not placed in your hand, but within you reach.

Margaret Feinberg – Wonder Struck: Awaken to the nearness of God – Worthy publishing company.

Words are a gift through which we keep the past alive, the present bearable, the future hopeful. (p. 121)

Daniel T. Rodgers – When Truth becomes a Commodity – Chronicle of Higher Education, January 15, 2017 (a version of the article appears in the January 20, 2017 issue as well)

But where truths are utterly free to be individually chosen, where the processes of inquiry are marginalized, the social disintegrates. So does truth. (p. 3)

Ron Baker – The Die Rector – CJVJ media – publication in process.

The coin of life and death.  The currency we spend in life is returned at death – your legacy comes alive at your funeral

This past week I am remembering two fathers whose children were my friends and compatriots.

Al Ross was a trucker and a practical servant of God.  Lloyd Matheson was a white collar worker whose advice was welcomed and heeded.

Both were men who lived and served together in the same church.  Their children have since gone on to serve in various church capacities as well.

And now those children are the recipients of the torch.  To carry a light to this world.  To run a race to serve others.  To mentor a coming generation.  To be children of God through Jesus.

A privilege and a great responsibility!

I remember one summer going on a road trip with my parents (this is confession time!).  There were six of us kids in a 1960’s Valiant station wagon.  We liked each other enough to get into the face of our siblings – more often than mom and dad liked!  So a quiet time was designated in the afternoon – to be sure we all got enough sleep.  Throughout the rest of the day, we all rotated times to sit with mom and dad in the front seat.

That meant your times with the parents were restricted.  Unless . . .

I merely started sleeping during the day – I’m sure I made sure everyone knew I was sleeping.  Then when afternoon sleep time came, I was invited into the front seat while everyone else slept.

Know the rules.  Understand the reason for the rules.  Then make up a new arrangement.  One that fulfils your wishes and the wishes of the rule makers.

Creative?  Perhaps.  Clever?  Perhaps.  Tricky?  Perhaps.  Unruly?  Never!

I’m fairly sure Donald Trump’s childhood would reveal a similar story – an incident where he learned to live within the rules while bending the rules to his desires.

I’ve watched Trump play this out.  Know the rules, understand the sentiments of the rule makers, explore the extremes with your advisors, choose your own path.

Don’t get too self-righteous.  I have a funny feeling your childhood might reveal something of the same thing!