There will be more laughter in heaven these days: Johnny Hart, creator of B.C., Passed away on Saturday.
As Becca would say "Sad day."
Monday, April 09, 2007
Sunday, April 08, 2007
What now?
Holy week is a little odd for me sometimes. For the first time in any times that I can remember I was simply a congregation member of the church for the entire duration. No worship to prepare, no Easter eggs to hide; my only role was to sit back and watch. I attended a Maundy Thursday service in Burbank and a Good Friday service in Glendora and then celebrated Easter back in Burbank. And somewhere in all this the background music to this Play in 4 (or so) parts has been a soundtrack of Bethany Dillon’s new CD (more on this in a later post).
Thursday was spent catching up on errands that needed to get done, but the afternoon and evening was spent celebrating a friend’s B’day and then going out to Burbank and hearing Schubert’s Mass sung by the choir. While they had been doing them for Choral anthems for the past few weeks the added string quartet was … new. I think I slowly let myself go and allowed the music to tell the story. It was all in Latin and while the translation was given in the bulletins it wasn’t needed. The soul of the music carried everything that needed to be said. Voice and string told the story with notes that danced and played and at times cried. It was a beautifully told story, yet no words were needed.
Friday was another relaxing day of doing … well … nothing productive. But the end of the day found me fighting traffic eastward, and what is normally a 20-minute drive takes 20 minutes plus an extra hour. We got to Good Friday late and had a restful evening in consideration of the dark night.
I spent both these nights with a pair of good friends and we talked about the whole weekend as a whole. And while my only thought on Friday night was ‘It has all gone horribly wrong.’ Without looking ahead of what was to come I could not see past that moment and putting myself in the place of the disciples. Scattered, fearful, hanging by a noose, crying at a personal betrayal … all of these emotions sort of sorting themselves out with no real answer to the question of ‘What now?’
Saturday I found myself out playing Frisbee and remembering which muscles I used when I played (if only for the soreness). That afternoon was a nap followed by finishing some reading for a paper that is due soon. I was at a friend’s house and we spent the post-dinner in conversation and then playing guitar/singing and working through songs, and while I didn’t realize it at the time, we were doing exactly what we were supposed to be doing. Praising God in song, in fellowship, and by simply gathering together, till midnight (aka way past my bedtime).
This morning (Sunday) I returned to Burbank to worship with a 4-part brass section. I should probably preface this story with the information that my Dad (a pastor) is very pro-baby in his services. That if a baby cries out during his sermon he takes it for an ‘Amen’ and then he continues right on. So when the brass section finished the first hymn (Christ the Lord is Risen Today) in … a very triumphant processional type of feeling, from about the middle of the church a young boy simply cried out in joy “Yeaaa!” And in that moment he was the one who understood everything that Easter meant.
It isn’t strings, horns, Thursdays, Schubert, Fridays, or why everything seems to have gone horribly wrong. It is about Sunday, when we find out the answer to the question of ‘What now?’
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
“YEAAA!”
Thursday was spent catching up on errands that needed to get done, but the afternoon and evening was spent celebrating a friend’s B’day and then going out to Burbank and hearing Schubert’s Mass sung by the choir. While they had been doing them for Choral anthems for the past few weeks the added string quartet was … new. I think I slowly let myself go and allowed the music to tell the story. It was all in Latin and while the translation was given in the bulletins it wasn’t needed. The soul of the music carried everything that needed to be said. Voice and string told the story with notes that danced and played and at times cried. It was a beautifully told story, yet no words were needed.
Friday was another relaxing day of doing … well … nothing productive. But the end of the day found me fighting traffic eastward, and what is normally a 20-minute drive takes 20 minutes plus an extra hour. We got to Good Friday late and had a restful evening in consideration of the dark night.
I spent both these nights with a pair of good friends and we talked about the whole weekend as a whole. And while my only thought on Friday night was ‘It has all gone horribly wrong.’ Without looking ahead of what was to come I could not see past that moment and putting myself in the place of the disciples. Scattered, fearful, hanging by a noose, crying at a personal betrayal … all of these emotions sort of sorting themselves out with no real answer to the question of ‘What now?’
Saturday I found myself out playing Frisbee and remembering which muscles I used when I played (if only for the soreness). That afternoon was a nap followed by finishing some reading for a paper that is due soon. I was at a friend’s house and we spent the post-dinner in conversation and then playing guitar/singing and working through songs, and while I didn’t realize it at the time, we were doing exactly what we were supposed to be doing. Praising God in song, in fellowship, and by simply gathering together, till midnight (aka way past my bedtime).
This morning (Sunday) I returned to Burbank to worship with a 4-part brass section. I should probably preface this story with the information that my Dad (a pastor) is very pro-baby in his services. That if a baby cries out during his sermon he takes it for an ‘Amen’ and then he continues right on. So when the brass section finished the first hymn (Christ the Lord is Risen Today) in … a very triumphant processional type of feeling, from about the middle of the church a young boy simply cried out in joy “Yeaaa!” And in that moment he was the one who understood everything that Easter meant.
It isn’t strings, horns, Thursdays, Schubert, Fridays, or why everything seems to have gone horribly wrong. It is about Sunday, when we find out the answer to the question of ‘What now?’
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
“YEAAA!”
Friday, March 30, 2007
The Spring of aut 7
Finished on week of school already and I can tell that this quarter is going to be draining but highly encouraging. I have been looking at my quarter and there are very few large things that need planning for but many small ones.
Greek - 3rd and Final Quarter
Finally … I get to put all the pieces together and have it make sense. Translate and deal with tough stuff and work through some of the intricate things that go on between word relationships. I feel more energy about it than I did last quarter, but then again memorizing verb paradigms is never fun.
Modern Church History
Sometimes referred to by professor name (aka Thompson, John), this is the last bit of church history that I have to take and it has been quite a ride in going from one quarter to the next. This will probably require most of my intellectual energy this quarter, as it is a paper and reading type of class.
Grief, Death, Loss, and Dying
This will hands down be the most emotionally draining class I have every taken and probably will take (except perhaps from the school of hard knocks). I am pretty sure I will be staring down Tuesdays with a mix of joy and dread. Having already finished one book for the class I know that it is just going to be lots of self-examination. I am very happy that the class is not a pile of papers but rather the molding of hearts. Tuesdays have taken on a very odd feeling, I’m not sure if I am a “Tuesday person” yet, I hope to be by the end of the quarter.
Everything Else
I think my room has been the cleanest it has been since I moved furniture in. I actually feel like I can have company over and be hospitable rather than feeling like I have to apologize for the state of my room. Posters are up, I have a table for two that can serve four with a little shuffling around, my room has the feeling that I am able to live and not feel surrounded by chaos.
So I have sifted through most of my new music, and I make the following recommendation to everyone. Pick up Toby Mac’s Portable Sounds CD. The music just sits with you no matter the mood and has lyrics that inspire. It will be getting me through most of this quarter; it works as study music, relaxing music, and free time soundtrack.
Greek - 3rd and Final Quarter
Finally … I get to put all the pieces together and have it make sense. Translate and deal with tough stuff and work through some of the intricate things that go on between word relationships. I feel more energy about it than I did last quarter, but then again memorizing verb paradigms is never fun.
Modern Church History
Sometimes referred to by professor name (aka Thompson, John), this is the last bit of church history that I have to take and it has been quite a ride in going from one quarter to the next. This will probably require most of my intellectual energy this quarter, as it is a paper and reading type of class.
Grief, Death, Loss, and Dying
This will hands down be the most emotionally draining class I have every taken and probably will take (except perhaps from the school of hard knocks). I am pretty sure I will be staring down Tuesdays with a mix of joy and dread. Having already finished one book for the class I know that it is just going to be lots of self-examination. I am very happy that the class is not a pile of papers but rather the molding of hearts. Tuesdays have taken on a very odd feeling, I’m not sure if I am a “Tuesday person” yet, I hope to be by the end of the quarter.
Everything Else
I think my room has been the cleanest it has been since I moved furniture in. I actually feel like I can have company over and be hospitable rather than feeling like I have to apologize for the state of my room. Posters are up, I have a table for two that can serve four with a little shuffling around, my room has the feeling that I am able to live and not feel surrounded by chaos.
So I have sifted through most of my new music, and I make the following recommendation to everyone. Pick up Toby Mac’s Portable Sounds CD. The music just sits with you no matter the mood and has lyrics that inspire. It will be getting me through most of this quarter; it works as study music, relaxing music, and free time soundtrack.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Random Musings
Preface:
I have misplaced my brain, all of the below comments referring to specific people are meant in jest, sometimes those moments are wonderful if only for the lack of sleep (apologizes to Sarah now).
The world has officially moved into the computer age: Goodwill no longer accepts typewriters for donation.
So I am officially a tea fan. My dear friend Laura has been a wonderful instructor in the preparation, ritual, and intricacies of tea. I know ‘roughly’ what I like and I must say that it was nice having chai to wake me up to write papers during finals week.
So I’m at home doing Spring, Summer and Fall cleaning at my parents house for a couple of days. (Yes I am talented enough that I can do 9 months of cleaning in the course of one week) This involves yardwork, garage work, and the strange necessity to shower twice a day, and I still have dirt behind my ears …
When I picked up Sophie and Sarah from the airport about … 2 or 3 weeks ago, they both had just come from playing Guitar Hero. Both thought I would love it (not realizing that I already am a guitar hero in disguise), and highly recommended that I find someone who had it to try it out. I have, I like, I want. Anyone wanna sell me a PS2?
Going back to having ‘moments of clarity’ that are basically the realization of something taught in class and then seeing it in reality. I have had quite a few of those while I have been home. Mostly after the fact but I can think of about 7 (and counting) specific instances where I have had my mind wander and then stop on one of these moments.
In the world of 24 … someone is about to get messed up cause Jack is … well ticked off is too much of a understatement, so I think ‘homicidal’ is probably more accurate. That and Charles Logan is officially on my ‘Good Guy’ list.
Is it a bad thing to be taking more stuff back to Pasadena with me when I already am very limited in the space I have? *Looks in his trunk, Looks in Sarah’s direction* “Yes Sarah, my car does have a trunk.”
Having finished Foundations in seminary has left me with a feeling that might be more joyous than when I graduated College. As if a great weight has been lifted off my shoulders and thrown into the lake of fire with great fanfare and pyrotechnics. Followed by a great choir singing in angelic voices giving praise to God for the defeat of a horrible foe ... I think I feel like river dancing.
Junior Highers that I watched grow up when I was at home between College and Seminary now have their driver’s license. I’m getting old(er).
After having 3 months of intense schoolwork I have worn out most of my music collection. Additions have been made that require large portions of my free time to sort out and figure out what I like and what I don’t.
Oh there is my brain … right on top of my head.
I have misplaced my brain, all of the below comments referring to specific people are meant in jest, sometimes those moments are wonderful if only for the lack of sleep (apologizes to Sarah now).
The world has officially moved into the computer age: Goodwill no longer accepts typewriters for donation.
So I am officially a tea fan. My dear friend Laura has been a wonderful instructor in the preparation, ritual, and intricacies of tea. I know ‘roughly’ what I like and I must say that it was nice having chai to wake me up to write papers during finals week.
So I’m at home doing Spring, Summer and Fall cleaning at my parents house for a couple of days. (Yes I am talented enough that I can do 9 months of cleaning in the course of one week) This involves yardwork, garage work, and the strange necessity to shower twice a day, and I still have dirt behind my ears …
When I picked up Sophie and Sarah from the airport about … 2 or 3 weeks ago, they both had just come from playing Guitar Hero. Both thought I would love it (not realizing that I already am a guitar hero in disguise), and highly recommended that I find someone who had it to try it out. I have, I like, I want. Anyone wanna sell me a PS2?
Going back to having ‘moments of clarity’ that are basically the realization of something taught in class and then seeing it in reality. I have had quite a few of those while I have been home. Mostly after the fact but I can think of about 7 (and counting) specific instances where I have had my mind wander and then stop on one of these moments.
In the world of 24 … someone is about to get messed up cause Jack is … well ticked off is too much of a understatement, so I think ‘homicidal’ is probably more accurate. That and Charles Logan is officially on my ‘Good Guy’ list.
Is it a bad thing to be taking more stuff back to Pasadena with me when I already am very limited in the space I have? *Looks in his trunk, Looks in Sarah’s direction* “Yes Sarah, my car does have a trunk.”
Having finished Foundations in seminary has left me with a feeling that might be more joyous than when I graduated College. As if a great weight has been lifted off my shoulders and thrown into the lake of fire with great fanfare and pyrotechnics. Followed by a great choir singing in angelic voices giving praise to God for the defeat of a horrible foe ... I think I feel like river dancing.
Junior Highers that I watched grow up when I was at home between College and Seminary now have their driver’s license. I’m getting old(er).
After having 3 months of intense schoolwork I have worn out most of my music collection. Additions have been made that require large portions of my free time to sort out and figure out what I like and what I don’t.
Oh there is my brain … right on top of my head.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Confessions of a Seminary Student
Ok a slight confession, well maybe two:
1) Most of the time I have no idea what I am talking about:
One of the things that was made abundantly clear to me this quarter is that I am here by God’s grace, because I just don’t think like an academic theologian most of the time. I have found that my beliefs really are more of a cloud than well thought out and cemented into my brain and life. Example: In one of my classes we had to write a paper on Calvin and predestination. While I wrote it myself a friend of mine had a long conversation about the sovereignty of God and how that applies to her beliefs, which began to make me wonder about mine. What I have realized is that growing up I never had a confirmation class where I was taught all these things within the context of the church, despite being a PK (Pastor’s Kid). Now I want to sort this out but the reality of that situation was that the paper was due not 8 hours from that conversation … inopportune? I think so. Now that Spring break is here I have been able to look back and consider some of those things as I begin to put shape to the beliefs that are this cloud in my head.
2) I have a terminal case of Foot-in-Mouth Disease:
What this really means is that my brain fails to engage with the words that come out of my mouth. What results are some poorly timed sharp words that really never should have left my mouth. Most of the time no good comes from it, but hindsight is always 20/20 and some good has. I have learned two things:
The first is how to deal with conflict and to put my self, pride, ego, stupidity on the side and reach a point of sincere apology, and then to work from there. For all the shoe leather that I have tasted over the last year or so, I don’t feel as if I hold the label of being a jerk, but rather that I have jerk like moments.
The second is that I have been fine-tuning my ‘filter.’ Or in some cases I have just engaged my brain, as that is all that is needed. Some of the more delicate conversations I have learned to approach from a safe angle rather than cannonball into the shallow end.
What is really fun is when the two problems I have get together. This is commonly called ‘digging one’s self into a hole.’ When this situation occurs I normally dig with a really big shovel or small explosives, whichever is handy at the moment. Either way those that I have managed to be a jerk to have returned with grace that is beyond what is due, and for that I am thankful. For the friendship, and for the patience to deal with me.
-- Non-serious post coming later when I either feel in the mood, or am on cold medicine, or when my head doesn’t feel like it is 10 pounds heavier.
1) Most of the time I have no idea what I am talking about:
One of the things that was made abundantly clear to me this quarter is that I am here by God’s grace, because I just don’t think like an academic theologian most of the time. I have found that my beliefs really are more of a cloud than well thought out and cemented into my brain and life. Example: In one of my classes we had to write a paper on Calvin and predestination. While I wrote it myself a friend of mine had a long conversation about the sovereignty of God and how that applies to her beliefs, which began to make me wonder about mine. What I have realized is that growing up I never had a confirmation class where I was taught all these things within the context of the church, despite being a PK (Pastor’s Kid). Now I want to sort this out but the reality of that situation was that the paper was due not 8 hours from that conversation … inopportune? I think so. Now that Spring break is here I have been able to look back and consider some of those things as I begin to put shape to the beliefs that are this cloud in my head.
2) I have a terminal case of Foot-in-Mouth Disease:
What this really means is that my brain fails to engage with the words that come out of my mouth. What results are some poorly timed sharp words that really never should have left my mouth. Most of the time no good comes from it, but hindsight is always 20/20 and some good has. I have learned two things:
The first is how to deal with conflict and to put my self, pride, ego, stupidity on the side and reach a point of sincere apology, and then to work from there. For all the shoe leather that I have tasted over the last year or so, I don’t feel as if I hold the label of being a jerk, but rather that I have jerk like moments.
The second is that I have been fine-tuning my ‘filter.’ Or in some cases I have just engaged my brain, as that is all that is needed. Some of the more delicate conversations I have learned to approach from a safe angle rather than cannonball into the shallow end.
What is really fun is when the two problems I have get together. This is commonly called ‘digging one’s self into a hole.’ When this situation occurs I normally dig with a really big shovel or small explosives, whichever is handy at the moment. Either way those that I have managed to be a jerk to have returned with grace that is beyond what is due, and for that I am thankful. For the friendship, and for the patience to deal with me.
-- Non-serious post coming later when I either feel in the mood, or am on cold medicine, or when my head doesn’t feel like it is 10 pounds heavier.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
My Current State of Mind/Mush
I just finished writing one of my many papers that seem to all be due within a few weeks of each other, (Must be finals time) and to celebrate I went and visited my favorite site that tests useless information: You Don't Know Jack. Around December of aut-6 they came out with a weekday series of questions that can be taken online, these can be done in under two minutes and normally inform me of how little I know about Jack. However this morning's adventure left me with a 0 out of 7. I mean ... I normally get at least 4 right and it is multiple choice of two options (most of the time).
Anywho: I hope that 0/7 doesn't give me a sense of how this day is going to go, I'm going to go get something w/ caffinee
Anywho: I hope that 0/7 doesn't give me a sense of how this day is going to go, I'm going to go get something w/ caffinee
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Of Worship...
I have a feeling that I might be doing step exercise on my soapbox here, but I’m well aware of that going into this. This post I think is a result of a combination of things. First is my internal nature to view everything ‘church’ in light of worship. Not just musical worship, but time spent worshiping God with time, energy, talent, etc etc. While music is probably a major part of my theological reflection in that everything that I see about church comes from music and how music interacts with the worship service with special attention to the congregation. Second is a one day worship seminar put on by Fuller’s Brehm Center that looked at worship from an exegetical standpoint (Talks were from Exodus 33 and Isaiah 6). Final is a reading of A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian Mclaren, which has been interesting to read and consider.
A short preface before I put on my gym clothes and probably get a little ‘uppity’ in my choice of words; I have very little training in my denominational background. My dad is a pastor and while I am following in his footsteps, my youth was spent building a church with no programs, youth groups, or even church building until I was in high school. Never had a Confirmation class, or any form of spiritual discipline training until I was supposed to be enacting all these things as a volunteer youth leader.
The catalyst for this fleshing out of worship came from a comment that was made within church service. I could repeat it here but I’m not sure that it would be useful other than getting me fired up. What should be noted is that if the band was mine, the person would be sent on a time of refection as to what worship is, the person would ‘take five’ (weeks) to consider the comment, and the concept of worship, and how good shoe leather tastes.
But enough uppity and more on reflection… The conference this weekend was one of the best events I got paid to attend. (A perk of working for Fuller’s on-campus audio/visual tech group.) The first talk from Exodus came centered around the Tent of Meeting. While I was only listening on and off while trying to read a book for class; the central focus was meeting God, not just worshiping him. Meeting God then required a conversation, which leads to a relationship. That relationship leads to marriage, where God’s people take the form of the bride. The bride language goes through the whole of the Bible. The funny part is Moses in Ex. 33 ASKS to see God’s Glory and get it. As a result he has to wear a veil (Bridal? I think so).
My theology of musical worship is based out of John 3:30 and works something like this: It’s not about me. Strangely enough much of my theology is centered on that statement. John 3:30 is John the Baptist’s statement “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (NRSV) I have always viewed my musical worship in this manner that I am not a leader but a participant as well. Many times in my room, I will sit with my guitar and play it, offering up notes in worship. Many times I do this if I find myself for a lack of words for prayer (which is often) and normally the music and tone affects the sound that my fingers produce as if echo my heart.
--------------------------
I wrote the ‘above the line’ a few days ago. I have calmed down some, and gotten sick so that I have ‘less’ energy to finish my line of thinking. I’m not even sure where I was going with this post. Sometimes I just have to get my head put in some other place if only so I can focus on my schoolwork. While I am very particular about worship, particularly musically, it is because that is where I see most Christians are in their faith. Sometimes called pew potatoes, which is fair to some and not fair to others. Try this sometimes when visiting another church, where does the worship point, and what is the reaction of the congregation to the various things that come up over the course of the service. It is really really interesting.
But I have good news; I have secured my internship for next school year. All is well and I am really excited about learning all the behind the scenes stuff that happens in a church.
A short preface before I put on my gym clothes and probably get a little ‘uppity’ in my choice of words; I have very little training in my denominational background. My dad is a pastor and while I am following in his footsteps, my youth was spent building a church with no programs, youth groups, or even church building until I was in high school. Never had a Confirmation class, or any form of spiritual discipline training until I was supposed to be enacting all these things as a volunteer youth leader.
The catalyst for this fleshing out of worship came from a comment that was made within church service. I could repeat it here but I’m not sure that it would be useful other than getting me fired up. What should be noted is that if the band was mine, the person would be sent on a time of refection as to what worship is, the person would ‘take five’ (weeks) to consider the comment, and the concept of worship, and how good shoe leather tastes.
But enough uppity and more on reflection… The conference this weekend was one of the best events I got paid to attend. (A perk of working for Fuller’s on-campus audio/visual tech group.) The first talk from Exodus came centered around the Tent of Meeting. While I was only listening on and off while trying to read a book for class; the central focus was meeting God, not just worshiping him. Meeting God then required a conversation, which leads to a relationship. That relationship leads to marriage, where God’s people take the form of the bride. The bride language goes through the whole of the Bible. The funny part is Moses in Ex. 33 ASKS to see God’s Glory and get it. As a result he has to wear a veil (Bridal? I think so).
My theology of musical worship is based out of John 3:30 and works something like this: It’s not about me. Strangely enough much of my theology is centered on that statement. John 3:30 is John the Baptist’s statement “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (NRSV) I have always viewed my musical worship in this manner that I am not a leader but a participant as well. Many times in my room, I will sit with my guitar and play it, offering up notes in worship. Many times I do this if I find myself for a lack of words for prayer (which is often) and normally the music and tone affects the sound that my fingers produce as if echo my heart.
--------------------------
I wrote the ‘above the line’ a few days ago. I have calmed down some, and gotten sick so that I have ‘less’ energy to finish my line of thinking. I’m not even sure where I was going with this post. Sometimes I just have to get my head put in some other place if only so I can focus on my schoolwork. While I am very particular about worship, particularly musically, it is because that is where I see most Christians are in their faith. Sometimes called pew potatoes, which is fair to some and not fair to others. Try this sometimes when visiting another church, where does the worship point, and what is the reaction of the congregation to the various things that come up over the course of the service. It is really really interesting.
But I have good news; I have secured my internship for next school year. All is well and I am really excited about learning all the behind the scenes stuff that happens in a church.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)