Choir Rehearsal 11/3/08

In my hope to be more consistent in blogging I've decided to make it a habit to write some quick thoughts after our weekly choir rehearsal. I'm reading a great book called "The Robert Shaw Reader" which is about a conducting hero of mine, Robert Shaw. He used to write his world famous choirs letters after specific rehearsals when he thought they needed a strong kick in the pants or some extra encouragement on the great job they were doing. I believe this is one of his greatest legacies and in trying to offer what little insight I might have here goes the same.

To My Favorite Choir on Earth,

I begin this letter (blog) by expressing my gratitude to you. It must take a lot to put up with my eccentric behavior and absolute craziness during rehearsals. I hope you know that every ounce of it comes from my absolute and deepest desire to make true music happen. It is my humble opinion that true music happens to infrequently. Sure, notes are sung (some better than others) and lyrics expressed but that isn't making music. Anyone can learn to sing a few notes on a page. Music is made when we passionately pursue what the composer was wrestling with. When we enter into his struggle between text and notes and phrasing and all of the rest of the beauty that makes great music. Granted, some of the music we sing was created with little struggle, but we must pursue all of it with the same passion and fight whether it's penned by Brahms or Clydesdale.
I believe that we are beginning to make this change. We are beginning to take on the fight together. Tonight it seemed as if we all wanted the same thing - to create great music. We must continue to care about correct cut-offs, to pursue dynamics within the dynamics and most importantly to listen to not only the people around you but the entire choir to create that unified sound that we are all striving for. I hope that when you have those "ah-ha" moments of glorious music making they inspire you on to create more. Music isn't born out of repetitive rehearsals and a lack-luster approach. It's created when artists pursue it with reckless abandon. I want to inspire you to believe in your talent and trust your gifting. My goal is to inspire each of you to exhude confidence in yourself so that we can attack notes and phrases together instead of the opposite, which is waiting for the person sitting next to you to lead. This makes for sloppiness and we are not a sloppy choir. We must be a choir that ferociously hunts for each musical entrance and extends each note of length until we unanimously cut it off with the precision of a brain surgeon. Tonight we pursued these things. We might not have captured each one but at least we were hunting. I'm looking forward to continuing our pursuit next week.

10 Books to Read: Theology

For those of you who might not know me well, I'm an avid reader.  I loved to read as a child, counting down the hours until my grandmother would take me down to our little town to visit the roaming Bookmobile, and even more so now as I find it imperative to absorb all of the knowledge I possibly can.  

That said, I often receive questions referring to my ever growing library and what books I've actually benefitted from and which I should only use as a fire starter.  And so, because of a few dear friends, I've finally found time to list my top 10 (in no particular order) to read as you begin your journey into Theology.  Without further ado:

1) "Brothers, We Are Not Professionals" - John Piper

Although written to an audience of pastors, this book is a minefield of short gems on a variety of issues.  In it you hear the voice of a man who speaks from experience, clearly fighting the fight and not just cheering from the sideline.

2) "Desiring God" - John Piper

When you begin to study the vast topic of Theology it's imperative to ground yourself with God's role and your own and their relationship to each other.

3) "Unceasing Worship" - Harold Best

For me, it all begins with worship, and not just because I'm a musician.  Worship encompasses everything we do.  The real question in regard to worship is not about how or when but really "to whom".

4) "Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God" - J.I. Packer

Calvinist?  Armeniest?  Somewhere in-between?  This book explains clearly that no matter what you call yourself God is completely sovereign and we have a job to do.

5) "Suffering and the Sovereignty of God" - Piper, Taylor, et. al.

The more I serve as a spiritual leader the more I am faced with one constant, reoccurring question over and over somehow dealing with God being loving and human suffering.  Piper and company do a wonderful job explaining how suffering exists within humanity and how God is all-loving through his unique sovereignty.  

6) "How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth" - Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart

I believe that, unfortunately, there are a great number of people in this world who read the scriptures half-hearted out of spiritual discipline instead of soul nourishment.  The point of this book is to prepare your eyes and mind to truly glean from your time spent in the Word and to not just put in your clock work.

7) "Religious Affections" - Jonathon Edwards

It is important to remember that as we absorb this knowledge and allow it to begin to shape us that much of your reading should be done by those who have actually walked the walk and fought the good fight.  It is my opinion that their are too many authors who spout their clever ideas and "pearls" of wisdom who have no concept of the field of labor and never plan on spilling an ounce of blood for the work of the harvest.

8) As I look through my book list I am having a hard time with 8-10.  Because it will take you some time to get through these first seven I shall leave you with a few authors and maybe a few books that you should take the time to read:

a) The number one book really on this list is a good Bible.  I recommend the ESV translation and out in the middle of October is the new ESV Study Bible which is a must have.

b) Mark Driscoll is a very good young author and his short book series "A book you'll actually read" is a wonderful collection of 4 books that you should own.  His other books are very good as well and are a worthwhile purchase.  (Radical Reformission, Vintage Jesus, etc.)

c) Books by these authors:

1) C.S. Lewis

2) F.F. Bruce

3) Jonathon Edwards

4) Gordon Fee

5) John M. Frame

6) Wayne Grudem ("Systematic Theology" is a must)

7) John Owen

8) J.I. Packer

9) John Piper

10) R.C. Sproul

11) Charles H. Spurgeon

12) Etc., Etc., Etc...

I would also love to hear the books you have on your top 10 list of theology books.  Comment away.

The End of It All

I thought it would be a good idea to add one more thing to my ever growing "to-do list" so I've finally created my own blog.  I have blogged before but ever so inconsistently.  Hopefully I'll stay active with this one.  The purpose is to share thoughts, rant a little and maybe stir up some discussion so that we all might continue to flex our mind muscles.  Feel free to comment a lot.  I'm giving a public disclaimer: my mind makes very little sense and the order of its outflow is challenging to say the least.  Hope you enjoy the spill.