Lyrical Captivation

Some of you may wonder why is it that my blog has this man playing the guitar on top of it.  The hard copy this week had a newer picture of him to help you understand what I am talking about.

That man became one of my favorite artists back in college.  His guitar music and unique lyrics drew me to some deeper thinking in life and about myself.  John Mayer still does that for me today. I find the expression of a person’s heart in music, art or words to be unique.  I am specifically intrigued by music.  It has played so much into passionate moments in my life.  We handed out a CD at our wedding as our favor.  When our first son, Jacob, was born I made a CD for his arrival.  Most recently the song heard at installation, sung by the young man from my previous youth ministry, was one that touched the hearts of Mindy and me as we prepared to give Abby so much, but knew that only Jesus could give her everything.

I have always wanted a soundtrack for my personal life. You know--God playing all the right songs at all the right moments. Last Sunday’s beginning would have been a very creative and exciting song anticipating the future.  But this week’s song really falls into the category of one of my favorite hymns.  I told Kristen Schade, our organist, that we could not play my very favorite hymn at my installation and she asked, “Why?” I said,    “Stricken, Smitten and Afflicted was not installation appropriate.”

This week I gave Kristen free reign to pick whatever songs she wanted. You should have seen her eyes.  It was like seeing Carlos Beltran watch a ball coming right over the plate; or a reporter who caught a killer story first; or a pastor with an hour to give a sermon.  Anyway, I found it appropriate to give a musical good-bye with some awesome hymns to a family that has blessed this congregation so much.  I thought what better time to talk about how God blesses and grows us in our faith with unique tools.  Music has always been a tool with which God has blessed His people.

It is shocking to me to think of a church reformer like John Calvin who was anti-music. I wonder how he could not envision the wonderful way music touches the hearts of men and women. Martin Luther, on the other hand, took bar songs or common tunes and used them for hymns. Ray Charles did the reverse when he took common Gospel tunes and changed them into pop hits.

A song immediately can take me back to where I was when I first heard it:

Let Her Cry, by Hootie and the Blowfish takes me back to playing Madden football on our Sega Genesis at my house with all my buddies.

Love Song for No One, by John Mayer takes me back to my best friend’s dorm room, as Adam Lucky came in to show me this new artist.

Build Me Up Buttercup, by the Foundations takes me back to the wedding of one of my friends from Seminary, where he wore his bow tie and danced with his brother.  Two good southern boys dressed up and dancing with a graceful lack of rhythm.

Finally, Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted, takes me back to my home church at the 7 p.m. Lenten service.  It was just dark enough in the sanctuary to feel the gloom and sadness.  Only the choir lamps in the balcony were on, and for a minute I could feel the darkness that the people of Israel must have felt crucifying our Lord.

This week we talk about how God uses music, with the words of Scripture to bless, nourish, and encourage us in our daily journey with Him.  You will hear how the hymns and a few current songs take the words of Scripture and put them in a format with emotion and feeling.  How has God blessed you with music in your life?  How has it made you think about stuff in your own life?  How does music affect your memories?  How can music help us to communicate the wonderful message of Jesus to people that need to hear it?

God’s Peace

Will