DAVID THE MUSICIAN

 I just read the first few verses of Psalm 33.

Release your heart's joy in sweet music to the Eternal.  When the upright passionately sing glory-filled songs to Him, everything is in its right place.  Worship the Eternal with your instruments, strings offering their praise;  write awe-filled songs to Him on the ten-stringed harp.  Sing to Him a new song; play each the best way you can, and don't be afraid to be bold with your joyful feelings.

[All quotes from The Voice Bible unless otherwise noted.  Remember that this version prints words that are NOT in the original text in italics.]

At one point in my life, a dear friend - Ron Kelly - gifted me with a very fine, twelve-string guitar.  He did so as an investment in my future ministry!  I was forty-three at the time.  Later, Ron also gifted my son, Troy, with a Martin guitar.  Neither of us knew how to play guitar!

I had just assumed the leadership of a congregation in Maryland with an attendance of around 40-50 people.  This was quite a change after leading a growing congregation of over two hundred in East Liverpool, Ohio.  Consequently, I had a bit more leisure than I was accustomed to.  😉

I began learning to play and coaxed Troy to do so too.  Before long, we were leading the Sunday evening service in simple choruses that we had learned.  It was good for both of us!  The people seemed to enjoy our simple leadership and the new songs we presented.  

However, I never pursued playing in the public forum beyond that brief exposure.  Playing my guitar became something that I reserved for my personal relationship with God.  I compiled a book of printed songs that I flipped through day-after-day - singing and praising the Lord in private.  

Over the years, there were only a few times when I was coaxed to play in public.

I suppose you could say that I had David's heart, but certainly not his skill level!  But God never rejected my gifts.  The use of my guitar took my personal worship to another level!  

After a painful departure from the church in Maryland, we passed through some deep waters for many months before landing in Akron, Ohio.  We connected with the Cornerstone Church where I became a staff member working with Pastor Brenda Young.  God had clearly brought a mix of leaders together and - as a result - the church experienced explosive growth!  

My corner office was adjacent to the office suite where several others worked in close proximity.  I arrived early and spent my first hour or so playing my guitar and worshipping the Lord.  I was oblivious to the possibility that others might be hearing me.  I sang and cried out my praises to God in total freedom!

When it came time for our family to move on to our next ministry assignment, the church 'roasted' me.  Of all the humor and fun that we enjoyed that night, what stands out is the comment that our secretarial staff made:

[An approximate]  "When we would come in, we would hear Pastor Hal singing, playing, praying and praising the Lord!  We often quietly joined him in his worship with tears in our eyes."  

I had no idea!  Their comment blessed me!  

For whatever reasons, I didn't play as much while we lived in New Middletown, Ohio, although I was coaxed [by Dave Sargent] to play publicly a few times  [Please note: you would not be impressed with my minimal skill level!]  

Then, in 2012, we moved to Changchun, PRC, for three years!  I couldn't take my guitar.  I missed it! I had periods of leisure that would have allowed me to play more.  I needed the boost it gave to my personal worship!  Eventually, with the help of my teammates, I purchased a guitar.  I loved it.  It had a very pleasant ring to it and my personal worship took off again as I downloaded songs and played them.  I really wanted to bring it home, but the awkwardness of doing so convinced me to gift it to one of my favorite students.

Gradually, due to storage, my prized guitar became unplayable - long story.  I haven't played guitar since 2015.  I miss it.  

I'm currently exploring to find a guitar suitable for my personal enjoyment.  I miss singing for my Lord!  He is my exclusive audience - an audience of One!  I'll keep you posted.  

What can you do that will enrich and enliven your personal worship of our great God?  

SPIRITUAL FLUFF

Wesleyans have been known through the years for singing their theology. 

• How Firm A Foundation
• Great Is Thy Faithfulness
• Have Thine Own Way, Lord
• Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
• Blessed Assurance
• ...

The Gaithers gave a new voice to this theology with a twist in music styles, but maintaining correct theology - for the most part.

Early Contemporary (a nearly meaningless word now) Christian artists gave us some significant music that also kept our theology grounded but gave us a beat and melody that we could relate to.

• Thy Word Is A Lamp Unto My Feet
• God Is In Control
• El Shaddai
• Above All
• Heart of Worship
• Breath of Heaven
• Lamb of God
• The Warrior Is A Child
• ...

The Praise and Worship movement of the 1980's reduced the music and message to minimalist forms but often kept us thinking in the right directions:

• We Are Standing On Holy Ground
• I Love You Lord
• This Is The Day
• Thou Art Worthy
• Spirit Song
• I Will Enter His Gates
• ...

But somewhere along the line, our contemporary artists began giving us material that was less grounded theologically and more related to our emotions.  Unfortunately, much of this music is leaking into our public worship.

Part of my role as a pastor was to make certain that our worship times were properly grounded theologically while still maintaining relevance to the times in which we live.  I rarely turned this responsibility over to others.  Even special music needs to be evaluated;  for instance, what is gained from an offertory that no one knows or recognizes?   

A service of worship must have flow and connection.  It should be focused to stimulate our thoughts and lead us to truths about God and His world.  It should not be predictable since we serve a God of the mysterious and who is the source of all creativity!  Worship at its best evokes awe and wonder!  It brings our minds and hearts into focus on the One who has sought us, redeemed us, and given us purpose.  

While leading my last full-time church, we frequently saw the altar used as a place for seeking God, prayer, Holy Communion, and prayers for healing.  I always tried to kneel there for a few moments before worship began.  Our response at the end of the service often saw people praying individually or in groups at the altar!  

We attended Springfield Church of God for two years after my retirement.  With some frequency, Pastor Jonathan would have special prayer over someone at the altar.  On occasions, he would invite us to come and lay hands on this person (James 5:13-18).  The front would fill with people as would the aisles as we symbolically laid on hands of faith!  It was always a beautiful thing to be part of as we expressed our love and support.  

While serving the Cornerstone Church in Akron alongside of Brenda Young, our altar would fill every Sunday during the prayer time.  First would come a wave of those needing prayer;  then came a wave of those wishing to pray with and for them!  It was common to have 50 - 70 people crowding around the altar as Brenda prayed over them all!  What an incredible sight!  

I attended a worship service this spring where a very simple worship team [made up mostly of substitutes since the main leaders were on vacation] brought us beautifully into the presence of the Lord!  I was inspired and stood with hands raised much of the time.  It wasn't about anyone's talent.  The team was LEADING US IN WORSHIP!  I didn't want it to end.

But it did end.  Someone came up and gave a bunch of announcements and then - to my shock - told us that we were taking a ten minute break for coffee and donuts!  When everyone returned, a lay speaker gave an excellent Father's Day message.  It's impact would have been magnified if it had immediately followed our wonderful worship time.  I left the church wondering:  'What were they thinking?'

I find myself in a dearth of meaningful worship that goes beyond three songs, announcements, offering, and message.  I need something that allows for some spontaneity and response.  Prescribed readings and prayers can be helpful if chosen and led well.  I believe it makes a difference when a service has been planned and prayed over by the pastor, leaders and people!  

We've lost something that desperately needs to be regained...  

When the music fades

All is stripped away

And I simply come

Longing just to bring

Something that's of worth

That will bless Your heart

I'll bring You more than a song

For a song in itself

Is not what You have required

You search much deeper within

Through the way things appear

You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship

And it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus

I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it

When it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus

King of endless worth

No one could express

How much you deserve

Though I'm weak and poor

All I have is Yours

Every single breath!

I'll bring You more than a song

For a song in itself

Is not what You have required

You search much deeper within

Through the way things appear

You're looking into my heart, yeah

I'm coming back to the heart of worship

And it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus

I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it

When it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus

I'm coming back to the heart of worship

And it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus

I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it

When it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus

[Words and music by Matt Redman]

RANDOM REFLECTIONS ON WORSHIP

[This is not a researched offering.  Rather it is a description of personal reflections about worship.  Please excuse any aspects of the worship movement that I may fail to comment on.]

My earliest experiences of worship took place in my 'growing-up' church:  the New Brighton Free Methodist Church.  I've gone to church since before I was born.  I suppose my first experiences of genuine worship took place during the singing of hymns.  New Brighton was a singing church with an amazing set of leaders.  Morrison Baker was the consummate song leader.  He was usually accompanied at the piano by his daughter, Martha Smeltzer, and at the organ by Helen Douglas.  Later, Anna Zahn and Larry Zahn (her son) also assisted at the piano and organ.  The congregation was fairly large for that time and so the singing was triumphant.

Music seems to have always been a large component of worship.  The Psalms give ample illustration of the part that music played in the worship of the Old Testament.  Exhortations to sing bleed over into the New Testament as well.  Singing and making music seems to be a natural way of expressing our love and appreciation to God.

Certain songs seemed to have an almost guaranteed ability to allow us to transcend the natural world and gain an increased sense of the supernatural world.  Some that seemed to fall in this category were:

• "And Can It Be?"
• "Great Is Thy Faithfulness"
• "It Is Well With My Soul"
• "Wonderful Grace of Jesus"
• "Grace, Greater Than All Our Sin"

In that early season of my life, manifestations of the presence of God included seeing people weep, shout, walk the aisles, go to the altar, stand with arms lifted or walk back-and-forth at the front of the church holding a Bible high in one hand.  At the annual Camp Meeting, these manifestations would be even more dramatic and pronounced.  Although I occasionally doubted the authenticity of some of these responses, most of the time I felt they were genuine expressions of devotion to God!  They impacted me deeply and made me want to love and serve God more devotedly.

As I matured and became a leader in the church, worship experiences changed.  The more dramatic expressions seemed to occur less frequently.  Our worship (from my purview) seemed to become more dignified and perhaps less potent.  However, there were still times when we collectively knew that something beyond ourselves was happening.  When a holy Presence falls on a congregation, everyone seems to sense it - even children!  The best clarification I can give for these rare times is that you didn't want them to end!  

Two of the churches that I served stand out to me as being sprinkled with abundant times of impactful worship.

The first was the Oakland FMC (East Liverpool, Ohio) where I served from 1982 - 1995.  When I first arrived the worship was led by a song leader with Martha Anderson at the organ and David Kelly at the grand piano.  

This time period encompassed a time of major transition across the church in worship music.  It is often referred to as the 'Praise and Worship Movement'.  Short worship choruses became prolific during the 1980's.  Many churches had photo-copied sheets in the pew for singing these praise choruses.  The guitar was commonly reintroduced to worship leadership as well.  These choruses were easy to learn and often repetitive.  Effective leaders (and musicians) could weave them together in seamless worship offerings to a most worthy God 

During my years of service at Oakland, we transitioned the worship experience significantly in line with the P&W Movement.  Gradually, we developed a worship team approach.  The congregation largely grew in their love and devotion to God!  Sunday morning and evening services were characterized by vibrant and meaningful worship!  Key people - like Ron and Marilyn Kelly - made major contributions to the transitions.  David Kelly's Spirit-sensitivity became a frequent door used by God to bless and minister to our people!  

It seemed that people's worship experience was assisted by the simplicity and directness of these choruses.  The MASTER CHORUS BOOK was published (words only) to accommodate this phenomenon;  many churches added it to their pew racks.  Two music producing companies also rose up to be part of this movement:  MARANATHA MUSIC and INTEGRITY MUSIC.  Cassette tapes (and eventually compact discs) were produced to propagate a whole new movement of worship music.  Along with this came the introduction of the worship team concept of leading worship.  Many instruments began to replace the piano and organ that had held sway for a long season.  

The evolution of the worship team has gradually and increasingly led us to a more "performance oriented" style of worship.  Platforms became stages.  A single microphone was replaced with a sound system.  The song leader became the worship leader.  Words are now projected on a screen, so hymnbooks or chorus books were no longer necessary.  The congregation didn't need lights to read a hymnal, so the lights were projected onto the worship leader and team instead.  The end result of all these changes is significant, but one can question the effectiveness of these changes as related to one's experience of God in worship!  

As the 1990's came to a close, I became part of the leadership team at the Cornerstone FMC (Akron, Ohio), working under Pastor Brenda Young's leadership!  In time, I became the Lead Associate Pastor of this growing congregation, and when our worship leader left suddenly, I became the worship leader for the next several years.  

The Cornerstone Church was unique.  Pastor Charles Young had led the church to significant growth over a long period of ministry with the capable assistance of his wife, Brenda.  When Charlie was elected as the Ohio Conference Superintendent, Brenda became the Lead Pastor!  The church immediately erupted to a new level of growth.  I arrived a year-or-two into that new growth.  The next five years saw the congregation go from 400 to 700 worshippers.  

Brenda openly encouraged people to listen to the local Christian radio station.  She then instructed the worship team to use songs from the radio's playlist and to do them exactly as they were done on-air.  It worked!  

The Promise-Keepers movement was in full swing during this time!  Many Christian bands were creating music that was being adopted by the church for worship.  The Cornerstone Church was clearly targeted toward lost and hurting people.  It's mission was openly announced by Pastor Brenda every Sunday:  "Cornerstone Church exists to help people find the Father, a Family and a Fulfilling Future!"  Remarkably, nearly seventy-five percent of the congregation were first-generation believers!  It's the only church of its kind that I have ever known!  

The ministry (during the time I was there) focused on people experiencing the pain of divorce, the pain of addiction, and the pain of hopelessness!  People could receive counseling.  Classes for growth and better biblical understanding were regularly available!  Tracks for leadership were always welcoming new people!  Worship times were passionate and marked by nearly raucous responses from the people!  Baptisms were punctuated by hoots, hollers and wild applause!  Some gradually slipped away, but MANY were caught in ever-deepening cycles of love for God and service to Him!  

Although I'm now retired and no longer am leading the church, I still care deeply about its viability in the present age.  I think leaders need to continually examine the vehicles being used to minister to its people!  There are clearly perils associated with a consumer-oriented ministry and a performance-based worship style.  Leaders need to systematically ask the necessary questions:

• Are our people genuinely worshiping God?
• Do our systems lead them or do they entertain them?
• Are we investing prayerfully in our planning?
• How do we touch the individual needs of our people?
• What do we need to be doing to help our people connect with God?
• Are we just producing the same thing every week, or are we waiting before God for His agenda?
• Are we willing to hold our structures loosely with an open eye to the Spirit's movement?

During my years at Oakland, God gave me a crystal clear sign that His Spirit was moving!  When I would come to the end of my message and time to end worship, I would sometimes notice that three women in the church would be wiping tears from their eyes.  Gradually, God showed me that this was my sign of His supernatural presence!  As a result, when I would see those three women weeping, I would silently pray for God's direction.  Almost always, people would come to pray at the altar as a result!  

If we ask Him - He will lead us!  Thanks be to God!  May His Spirit continue to bless His Church!

ALBUMS - TO KEEP OR NOT TO KEEP?

There are four very heavy boxes in my basement.  They're loaded with all the albums from my youth - through college age.  I've also kept a PennCrest turntable to play them on.  About once a year - while cleaning the basement - I'll put a stack on and listen to them.

It's a very eclectic collection! 

• Karen Carpenter
• Carly Simon - "No Secrets"
• Perry Como
• Neil Diamond
• Johnny Rivers
• Carole King
• The Oak Ridge Boys
• The Supremes
• The Righteous Brothers
• The Temptations
• The Blackwood Brothers
• The Chipmonks
• Cher
• Simon and Garfunkle
• Jerry Butler
• Herman's Hermits
• The Beatles
• Iron Butterfly - Yep!  Inagaddadavida!

And a whole lot of others!

The only one that's probably worth anything is INTRODUCING THE BEATLES.  It includes early favorites like "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and "PS - I Love You". 

But, it's an old medium.  Some are probably scratchy.  Can you even buy a new needle?  My kids don't want them...

Music defines you - or who you used to be!  All things to all people! 

To keep, or not to keep?  That is the question!  Dumpster or Thrift Store? 

You can't take it with you, right?  Plus, there's always youtube!