Best thing I’ve heard from a pulpit in a while. I’ve added my take of course...

2019- year the media and “culture” said to cancel the negative people. Don’t do anything with them. Those realists are just negative Nellies. Everything will be fine as soon as the negative voices are gone.

2020- the year where we were all encouraged to shout down the positive hopeful people because the world was ending and system is deplorable. Their support for standing up and singing loud and proud is a radical position. Hunker down and look out for yourself above all. Socializing is unsafe. If you want to see and be with people you are killing them. Be fearful.

2021- this year we are not supposed to ANYTHING with ANYONE because... there is just too much risk. Be alone. Wait for permission. Someday when it is safe the powers in the know will tell you.

I never bought into any of it. I’m sorry for the months in 2020 where I was so flipping afraid. It will not happen again from me. Be. Love. Serve. Repeat. Is not a passive sit back and watch thing done on a video stream or TV. Living is loving and loving is living. Face to face. Hand to hand. Heart to heart.

Just imagine what could happen if the social media giants turned their full attention to unity. They could “tune” their algorithms to promote the areas and topics of agreement, the topics which bridge and connect disparate groups. Instead, there is this rush to be right and silence anyone who disagrees, promoted and prioritized with insidious efficiency. The effect is a population at war.
We cannot silence and silo ideas and people so brazenly and expect the dissent to just go away. The history of humanity proves this point beyond a reasonable doubt.

My solution is simpler than most would imagine.
— Sing together regularly seeking a spark of inspiration in texts and melodies. It must be done intentionally and actively. Church is a place to start. The discipline of singing within the group and achieving a shared sound of the soul is worthy of high regard. #ChoirIsLife

As to social media. The powers that be could change their approach if they wanted. They do not. These 21st century robber barons profit from the fighting and the attention of their addicted population (products)

Singing in a safe space is a way forward. We need to start somewhere in society. The local church and musicians are a critical step.
We as individual must step up and be the light. #JustSing

The choir and collective singing is in the heart of worship.  It is powerful, indicting,  and comforting, but not always comfortable.  Your congregation is essentially a choir.   The recent pandemic crisis has restricted almost all communal singing due to the numbers, aerosol science speculations, fear, and the reality that Covid is a serious and dangerous disease for many choral singers due to age, comorbidity and a whole series of issues and complications born out of congregating together. 

Is worship suffering? Yes it is. 
Are churches growing in the midst of this crisis?  Not in nickels and noses that I can see.  but maybe in other ways.  

My premise is that the absence of congregational and choral singing has reminded us all of how important worship is to our wellbeing.    It also exposes a critical gap in many churches engagement models.   Fellowship, Sunday School for kids and adults, Bible Study, and Service projects are the lifeblood of our churches.. Worship is a reflection of service.. in a service.  It is the lens, the metric, to evaluate our health.   When we are faithful and submit to serve and love others… Worship will showcase our hearts.  
We must sing together and share songs.  This is about more than physical singing.  It is about example. Singing is uncomfortable for many because it is an outward and public sharing of heart.  This exposes us, and makes us vulnerable.  We are so lucky that God covers us.  
Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you.

The loss of choral singing is crippling our families, churches, schools, and society in general. #ChoirIsLife - Singing soothes the savage beast of our souls.

It will be safe to sing together “as we have always done it” when the medical establishment has an approved and recommended treatment plan in place for the different risk segments of the population.  If we as a population have confidence that we can and will be be treated, given a fighting chance, we can move into a new normal.

Important points. <ASSUMPTIONS>

• We as a society cannot stop the spread of airborne viruses. We have flattened the curve but we cannot stop it. The areas under the curve remain relatively equal. 
• Each of us as an individual, is responsible for our health and responsible behavior. 
• The death rate is “normal” for a new virus. 
• The fear rate is the virus killing most effectively right now. 
• Living is not a disease. 
• Disease was, is, and will always be. 
• Dying Is part of life. 
• Heaven has not changed at all. God has not changed at all. The world is constantly changing. 
• Singing is a cure all for many many killers. 
• Your view of rules and laws and experts and experience drive your decisions in this “new” world.  I know best what is appropriate for me. You know what is best for you. Your first and most important consult is with your doctor. 
• A congregation singing is a choir rehearsing and performing. There is no difference.  That congregation talking in an enclosed space is same as choir room. 
• I cannot sing with a mask on and masks are not effective regardless. 
• Singing outside may be an effective short term mitigation. 

My choir rehearsals will resume and my congregations will be empowered and enabled  to sing. Outside. Inside. All around.  When... the medical establishment has an approved and recommended treatment plan in place for the different risk segments of the population. 

​My final thoughts for today's Thursday Singing thinking are: 

• Faithful and hopeful people will join and sing and serve and seek. 
• Fearful people will not. They will continue to rely on themselves and the government and the news.   

NONE OF THIS IS REALLY NEW. 

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord and sing and make a joyful noise... in every way, every day, as opportunities arise.  We will not live in fear into the future. We will not lead in fear of the future.  Things have changed indeed. We stand and sing together to be counted among the faithful. 

Be strong in the Lord and be of good courage. 

Goal: Growth and spiritual development occur in community and context

• Divine spark of musical pursuit can never be extinguished. It can be nurtured and shared.  #MusicIsAtCoreForMe creativity and arts matter. Innovation and balance. Spreads like fire.
• It is not just about developing skills and ability. Our goal must be to live together. To “sing” together. And strive to be better Christians together.  #ChoirIsLife
• Our identity is intertwined with our choirs. Our performances. Our groups. Our classes. Our family. But it is FOCUSED through our faith.  And blessed in community and communion.  Around the table. And in service together to others. Be. Love. Serve. Repeat.
• Style does not really matter. Execution matters but only a little bit and there is a line. How the performance is received and it’s Intentionality to be better does matter. For sure.  To strive. To seek. Journey is the goal.  #JustSing
• Where there is deceit, disregard and division the uniform purpose of spiritual growth and worship of a holy God is diminished.  Worship is about the senses and the emotions and submission to someone greater than we might even imagine.  Unity of purpose does not require uniformity.  #Community via common ground of music.
• Our worship must spur and inspire community and service and a desire for more of both.
• Psalms. Hymns. Spiritual Songs. — these are the domain of the music minister but they are interlaced with the Word. With the divine spark , the Holy Spirit,  with sound and fury and passion at every turn.   #who&what we worship and how.
• Moments provide opportunity for contacts, contexts, and relationship building within life groups and across barriers. Money, jobs, education, needs, skills.  Be.Love.Serve.Repeat

"I am amazed again and again how the mastery of successive minute technical details releases floods of spiritual understanding."
              Robert Shaw in "Dear People"

"Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before. And taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing either into a heavenly creature or into a hellish creature: either into a creature that is in harmony with God, and with other creatures, and with itself, or else into one that is in a state of war and hatred with God, and with its fellow-creatures, and with itself. To be the one kind of creature is heaven: that is, it is joy and peace and knowledge and power. To be the other means madness, horror, idiocy, rage, impotence, and eternal loneliness. Each of us at each moment is progressing to the one state or the other." - Mere Christianity CS Lewis

How to get credit for being able to manage/hit life’s curve balls? Live.
Share success, even with those who can’t see. “People” don’t and likely won’t give you credit. Most of the time they don’t even see the plans or complexity... seeking credit is ultimately is the failure ... I fail every time.
Just live = Just sing. The singing, the journey... is the whole point.

I’m looking for Christian musician(s) in MHC to work with me, teach me, and learn with me as we design/build transformative music performances for worship.

Heart of artist is critical... skills for arranging and exploring excellence in ALL styles... must be willing to blend classical liturgical traditions with contemporary/pop/jazz/rap —- to create a dynamic “flow”... guitar, bass, percussion, piano, organ, brass, winds.... all play parts... and Singing is the key. #JustSing

We will rehearse and plan and work at Rolling Ridges and around... schedule TBD

Bonus: familiar with concepts and expectations outlined in this important text by Rory Noland.