Manner of the chapel

For the past two Sundays, and even last Wednesday evenings' study, we've been presented lessons on our song worship service. In a way, I'm going to continue on with that topic this morning, but in a slightly different way. Having been a song leader for lo these many years (actually about 55 of them) I feel qualified to speak on the subject of "song-leading" and "song-leaders." And that will be the aim of my efforts today so hang on, here we go.

Here at Highland, at 10:45 AM every Sunday the song leader gathers his "tools", which includes his songbook, pitch-pipe (optional), announcement notes and after a quick prayer for strength, stands up and begins the service. Most in the congregation never consider it this way, but for about 15-20 minutes he'll risk his neck on what's been described as "the high-wire of public scrutiny."

His only safety net, other than the "shield of faith," will be his grit and determination to use his diaphragm and larynx, accompanied by the "melody in his heart" and therewith get everyone to offer their portion of the service ("edification and praise") "decently and in order." (1Cor. 14:40) I have to opine that only a few dare take such a risk.

If you wonder why this is, here again is another of my opinions: it's simply because song leading is humiliation looking for a place to happen. It can sometimes be an emotional mine-field and one wrong step - well "humble" isn't a strong enough word to cover it. Humility takes on a whole new meaning, if you get my drift.

Allow me to walk you through the steps a song-leader takes so that you can better understand the "high-wire" aspect of the task. First off, in accordance with the teaching of the "law of Christ," our song worship is done "A Cappella" which in the original Latin means "in the manner of the chapel." For an added piece of information: for the first 600 years or so, the "manner of the chapel" was "without instruments."

So, because of "A Cappella," the first step out on the "high-wire" is the critical point in song-leading and it comes before the song even gets started. The correct "pitch" (or close to it) is a must. Oh, there's a little room for error, but not a whole lot. If the song is pitched too low you'll croak-out the altos and basses to the point that they can't sing their parts. On the other hand, if the song gets started too high the altos and basses are OK with it, but you've lost the sopranos and tenors. It'll probably sound like a choir of "Tiny Tims" or maybe a boy's choir. It might ever start dogs to barking in nearby yards.

Not to mention the health of the song-leader whose bright-red face and bulging veins very much detracts from the congregation's attention to the song and the purpose for singing it. Thankfully, we've got some registered nurses here at Highland and others in the congregation that know CPR so that when this occurs (and it will) there exists another "safety net," so to speak.

A pitch pipe is certainly an appropriate piece of equipment for a song-leader, and is relatively easy to learn to use and may prevent a stroke from occurring due to too high of a pitched song. However, that brings us to another humbling step prior to the start of the song. This one I can attest to as it's happened many times to me.

The pitch-pipe is really a simple piece of equipment. It's about the size and shape of a large pocket watch and around it's outside are little metal reeds tuned to the different notes of the scale. Harmless as it looks, it can "bite you" (figuratively) and make you look silly when a gentle puff on the proper reed fails to produce a sound.

The culprit in this instance is usually a little bit of lint lodged in the reed. So what does the song-leader usually do to correct this situation? Makes a somewhat heftier puff on the reed and when that doesn't work, he gives it a real good blast of air which, of course, dislodges the lint and the result sounds like something you hear when the geese are flying overhead. Yeah, you got the pitch, but any dignity normally reserved for the song-leader just hit the floor along with the lint ball.

Also let me tell you that a song-leaders obsession with starting the song on the right pitch doesn't just occur at the beginning of the worship service. If you happen to be sitting fairly close to the song-leader during the last few moments of the sermon, you might be able to hear him quietly humming to himself in an effort to start the "invitation song" on the right pitch. And, that's because of having been misled on numerous occasions by the preacher saying "and in conclusion....." so he's trying to keep the pitch in his head for the "conclusion" that hopefully might be arriving sometime soon.

There are other problems besides the pitch that rear their ugly heads from time to time and a sense of humor becomes a necessary part of a song-leaders makeup because it helps lessen the humiliation of committing one of these "faux pas." Sometimes we forget to consider the appropriateness of the song we're leading. Example: probably not a good selection on Sunday morning to lead "Oh, Why Not Tonight." It might sound like we're getting a little ahead of ourselves.

Losing our place in the song is another frequent mishap and problem. If the leader isn't mentally with it while leading the song, what most-often happens is he forgets which verse he just led, thus the frightening thought comes in - what verse do I start next? Over my many years of experience I've come up with a solution that works for me when this occurs - I fake a cough & keep waving my arm and let the singers start the right verse. Most of the time no one is the wiser EXCEPT I know it.

Another good one pops up every now and then for all song-leaders. The announcing of one song and starting a different one. Trust me, that will start the old humiliation process up right now because the song service is supposed to be a congregational effort - not a solo by the leader. Oh, there are some other problems that bedevil song-leaders at times that only their wives and other song-leaders pick-up on and sympathize with, but I think we've covered the major "bedevilers."

In my humble opinion, besides actually being able to carry a tune, the most beneficial prerequisite a man desiring to be a song-leader can have is COURAGE. The courage to get up there and stand in front of the congregation, knowing that a misstep or blunder is waiting right around the corner, and lead songs. Because we also know that these songs are not just sung for entertainment or to kill time before the sermon. They're sung "to the Lord" and for the "teaching and admonishing" of each other. (Col. 3:16) And, like all the other parts of the worship service, it's "done unto edifying." (1Cor. 14:26)

For some time now I've developed a simple set of song-leading lessons that have seemed to help those who've used them. I'm proud when my "students" have overcome their natural tendency to NOT want to stand up in front of an audience and make a fool of themselves and, by their courage, have become song-leaders.

As a closing thought: I encourage you to try and understand the song-leader and appreciate the risks he's taking in order to do his part in leading the congregation in a "required" portion of worship to God while here on earth. In heaven, will there be song-leaders? I don't know, but this much I do know: there will be singing and, like everything else there, the songs will be perfectly pitched, everyone will sing the same song and there will be NO HUMILIATING MISTAKES.

Ron Covey

　

Philippians 3:12-14

COMING HOME

We just returned from a three week vacation (7 days of it were on the road). We spent two full weeks visiting with family and celebrating my mother's 87th birthday. We even got to drive down to my brother's place in Tennessee.

We drove over 4,800 miles and saw so much of our wonderful country. There is so much beauty in God's creation and such a variety of vistas.  From the flat countryside that stretches out through Indiana and Illinois to the rolling tree covered hills of Missouri and buttes of New Mexico and at times the road stretching out to the horizon and not forgetting the mountains and desserts of Arizona and California. By the time we arrived home we were tired in general and tired of being in the car for so long, but it was sure good be in our home and talk with our church family again.

It was a tiring trip, but a good one and as I went back over this time in my mind I thought how much this trip is like life. My wife and I often speak of our lives as being an adventure and each thing that happens as just another leg on that journey that is our adventure. We see and experience lots of new and neat things, meet lots of different people, form some new and sometimes lasting friendships, but the goal of the journey is to get home.

We travel through this life and the journey is neat, but it is the destination that is really important. I don't know if you have ever thought about your life in that way, but perhaps you should. You are going to experience a lot of different things here on this earth, some good and some not so good. The only way to deal with those not so good things is to keep in mind the goal of your destination. That's why Paul's admonition about his goal is so meaningful and so often repeated by teachers and preachers in our world. Paul said, " 13  No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." (Philippians 3:12-14, NLT)

I think maybe that's why so many have lost interest in God, the bible and his church. They have no idea what the real goal of life should be. I love the story of the little boy who told his grandfather, "I know what BIBLE means." The grandfather asked him to explain what he meant. The little boy answered, "B.I.B.L.E., 'Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth'". Too many folks no longer understand that, if they did they would pay more attention to the "Instruction Book".

In the rush and pressure of life, let me encourage you not to loose sight of the goal (coming home to God), if you do nothing else matters.

Russ Lawson

Storm watchers

For nearly all my life I have been a storm watcher. When I was very young my parents were storm watchers in the Texas panhandle. From that time until today the power of nature has been a fascination.

 

One never knows when or where a tornado will touch down, but the destructive and deadly nature is evident. This year, three storm chasers were killed by a tornado and others endangered in their endeavor. The question was posed, "Should we stop storm watching and chasing"?

 

I would conclude that both these activities are important to the safety of the populous at large. Without men and women watching for these outbreaks, many more would lose their lives. We should thank these individuals for their time and effort to keep us safe.

 

A key to good storm watching and chasing is to make sure you do so safely. For the most part these individuals use every safety measure and precaution available. Yet, there will be those occurrences that happen with no warning.

 

No matter how safe you are or what precautions you take, things can develop out of nowhere. One must be ever alert to the danger around them. It is not the watching or chasing that is the problem, but it is the catching that causes the destruction or death.

 

The same is true when it comes to sin. Millions and millions of people daily fall to devastation and spiritual death because of sin (Romans 3:23).

 

Truly, we all sin, but as good watchers we must be aware of the danger of Satan's snares. Peter warns of the Devil's desire to lead individuals into sin and away from God (1 Peter 5:8). Sin begins with temptation and allurements (James 1:14-16).

 

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23).

 

"For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8:6-8).

 

It is imperative that we are watchful and avoid falling prey to sin in our daily lives. And when we fall, God is always there to forgive us our sins. For the non- Christian this forgiveness is found in the Gospel and one's obedience to it (2 Corinthians 5:17-19).

 

"If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:6-9).

 

The key is watching for the temptations and allurements of sin and not allowing one's self to be caught by them. If we are caught we are blessed that God has manifest His grace through His son Jesus Christ and we have an avenue to escape – the forgiveness of sin.

 

Let us be watchful for the storms nature brings and let us be more watchful for sin.

 

John E. Werhan  @ www.forthright.net

Confession of Matthew Cordle

 Perhaps you have heard about the unusual confession Matthew Cordle made on a website called "Because I Said I Would," a video that went then went viral on the internet.  This will provide the prosecution ironclad evidence to convict him of a drunk driving accident in which he killed 61-year-old Vincent Canzani back in June.  His lawyer explained that Cordle confessed to the June killing because he is "riddled with guilt" and on the video, designed to deter others from drinking and driving, he says, "You can still be saved. Your victims can still be saved" (Erin Donaghue, www.cbsnews.com).

In Psalm 38, David depicts the heavy weight of guilt brought on by sin.  He describes the physical effects he felt because of his spiritual transgressions.  He likens it to physical assault (1-2), sickness (3), drowning (4a), a too-heavy-burden (4b), wounds (5), dilapidation (8), and readiness to fall (17).  Words like "mourning" (6), "turmoil" (8), "pants" (10), "sorrow" (17), and "anguish" (18) punctuate the Psalm.  While some so harden their heart to sin that they can seemingly move forward with no qualms or pangs of guilt, the Bible describes the nagging, constant, and unceasing tug of guilt that accompanies wrongdoing.  As David reflected on his sin with Bathsheba and the horrible things he did to cover it up, he would write, "My sin is always before me" (Ps. 51:3).  Most people are like David.  What they do with that guilt may differ, but God wants that guilt to produce "diligence," clearing of self, "vindication," and similar, godly responses in people's hearts rather than to produce death (cf. 2 Cor. 7:10-11).   How fruitful and tragic to feel the weight of sin's guilt but never apply God's remedy to get rid of it! 

The fact is that all of us are guilty of sin (Rom. 3:23) and deserve a sentence of eternal condemnation, but we can escape the consequences of our guilt by obedience to Christ (cf. Heb. 5:9).  The net effect of that can be the profound peace that accompanies forgiveness.  Too many are held hostage by their sins when freedom and escape are readily available. We cannot measure or quantify the weight of guilt upon a pair of scales, but we know it is real and burdensome.  Jesus calls us to come to Him and He will unburden us (Mat. 11:28-30).

 

--Neal Pollard