Listening and Playing

I can hardly believe how much I have been hearing about church commitment and church membership this past several months. I notice it all the time in the Scriptures, it comes up all the time in conversation, I read about it all over the Internet, and then today at lunch I picked a random sermon to listen to while I played Tetris on Facebook and the sermon ended up being about church commitment and church membership. (The sermon was called 39 Weeks and was by Matt Chandler from The Village Church.)

Matt Chandler - Irreverent, Silly Myths

Ovechkin

What a goal!!!!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6EJ5Iwnv9w

Next

If this isn't a good promo video I don't know what is! Watch is even though I doubt anyone I know will be able to go to it.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic6O8ilTCQY

(ht JT)

Freakishness in the arts masquerading as originality

I heard that line: Freakishness in the arts masquerading as originality, in relation to various steps towards the Social Disorder, Decline, and Fall of the Roman Empire. It reminded me of some art nowadays. I (like Brian Regan) appreciate art where you can look at it and say, "I know that is good art because it looks just like a real bowl of fruit!" I don't appreciate freakishness in the arts masquerading as originality.

Instructions in Singing

John Wesley wrote the following interesting "Instructions in Singing"...

1. SING ALL - See that you join with the congregation as frequently as you can. Let not a slight degree of weakness or weariness hinder you. If it is a cross to you, take it up, and you will find a blessing.

2. SING LUSTILY AND WITH A GOOD COURAGE - Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being, heard, than when you sung the songs of Satan.

3. SING MODESTLY - Do not bawl, so as to be heard above, or distinct from, the rest of the congregation, that you may not destroy the harmony; but strive to unite your voices together, so as to make one clear melodious sound.

4. SING IN TIME - Whatever time is sung, be sure to keep with it. Do not run before, nor stay behind it; but attend closely to the leading voices, and move therewith as exactly as you can. And take care you sing not too slow. This drawling way naturally steals on all who are lazy; and it is high time to drive it out from among us, and sing all our tunes just as quick as we did at first.

5. ABOVE ALL, SING SPIRITUALLY - Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing Him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to this, attend strictly to the sense of what you sing; and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve of here, and reward when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.