Nobody whined ... or at least I haven't heard them

If you read my previous post, you may be aware that I introduced a new song (hymn, actually) to both of our morning worship congregations yesterday. In the 8:30 service, it was in E and accompanied by acoustic guitar, bass, keyboard, and drums. In the 11:00 service it was in E-flat and accompanied 4-part hymn-style by piano and organ. The choir had learned it the previous Wednesday night.

As long as I have been in the music ministry (some 20 odd years ... some years odder than others), I have always encountered resistance when introducing "new" worship songs or practices to congregations. One of the many things I learned from Dr. Gene Black at Samford was this: when people say "I know what I like" they usually mean "I like what I know"; and everybody tends to view the new and unfamiliar with suspicion, which sometimes results in resistance.

As far as I could tell yesterday morning, the new hymn was at least tolerated well if not embraced by both worshiping groups. Kudos to Todd Fields and Michael Gleason for writing a fine hymn (worship song, actually).

New Hymns for Old! New Hymns for Old!

If asked which of our two very different worship services I like better, I give the most honest answer I can possibly give: That’s like asking me which of my two very different children I like better. Truth be known, there are aspects of each that I dearly love, and aspects of each that frustrate the stuffing out of me.

When people ask me that question, they are usually fishing for something more than just my opinion. Often they want either to confirm or to refute what they may be thinking or may have heard someone else say about where my “loyalties” lie. It is not difficult to read the underlying question: “Is he with that other crowd or with us.” My heart breaks when signs of disunity prevail among my brothers and sisters here. The truth is plain and simple: These things should not be.

For that and other reasons, I love it when contemporary songwriters tackle what some have erroneously seen as a “dead” literary form – the hymn – and produce something wonderful that can span the divisions we may have about the style of what we sing in worship. Todd Fields and Michael Gleason have done just that with a hymn they wrote about 5 years ago. It has been coming up in my mind time and time again since I first encountered it about 4 years ago. I took it from the contemporary lead-sheet format and voice it in traditional hymn fashion (CCLI license allows me to do that). We will use it this Sunday morning in both services, but it will sound a little bit different in each. [see it at the close of the blog] I pray that you will find it as refreshing as I have.

So where do my loyalties lie? This is what I strive for: that my loyalties be with whatever honors Christ … and I am convinced that He is less concerned about the external aspects of our worship than we are, and more concerned about the condition of our hearts.

That’s enough to think about for now.

As I Walk

As I walk down this road Lord
By faith not by sight
In believing Your promise
I give You my life
Though at times I may falter
Your hand is my guide
My anchor forever
With me You abide

Jesus my Jesus
In You I'm secure
And whatever befalls me
My soul will endure
All my hope and foundation
Forever you'll be
With the strength of Your Spirit
Forever in me

In the still of this moment
My heart longs to stay
In the light of Your presence
All else fades away
All the tears that were flowing
Have now been replaced
By the love and the goodness
Found in Your embrace

CCLI Song No. 4140339 • © 2001 Gleasongs\Robinson Lane Music (Admin. by Pressure Point Productions, Inc.)\ Michael Gleason / Todd Fields • For use solely in accordance with the SongSelect Advanced Terms of Agreement. All rights Reserved. www.songtouch.com

Welcome to the Sandwich Generation

The following was used last week and edited for publication on Monday, 10/2/06. A little bit of history might be helpful. Mom (currently almost 71) had back surgery to fuse L4 & L5 about 2-1/2 years ago. Over the past several months, her spinal deterioration had returned and was accelerating at an alarming pace. By sheer force of will and determination (with help from others) she was able to get into the boat while at the lake in July. By August, she was unable to walk any distance without using a walker. By the end of August, she could not cross a galley kitchen from the sink to the stove without using the walker. She was in significant, constant pain and was experiencing significant loss of nerve function.

She finally got an appointment with the neurosurgeon in Birmingham (who did her first back surgery ... one of the best neurosurgeons in the South) the Wednesday after Labor Day. He told her, "I can do the surgery tomorrow or October 25th)." The choice was obvious ... and the surgery was carried out. The fusion of L4-L5 was repaired, along with a fusion of L1-L4 as well: 5 levels fused. Nerve damage was quite apparent, especially at L3-L4 which was 40 degrees out of alignment.

Now to the post:

4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. … 8 If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:4, 8; NIV)

I’m grateful to people for covering for me while I’m gone to Dothan this week to look after Dad while Mom is still in rehab. I was able to get there in time to spend a few minutes with my designer sister before she had to go to the airport to fly back to NY. She had been with Mom for 2 weeks after doctor sister had to return to Connecticut to family and work responsibilities.

It’s evident that the need is great. I’m thankful that I was able to find a few days’ window in my schedule between one thing and another so that I can go down. My sister fell apart on me when I got here, but she needed to. It’s been a tough ride. The other sister will be coming this weekend to tag up with me. I will be back on Sunday. What the next few weeks will require of us is yet to be seen. When I think of all that I put them through over the years (you can probably imagine), I’m happy to do what I can. This current phase of life is taking my mind in some interesting directions, but no clear thoughts have emerged yet.

Several years ago … perhaps as long ago as a couple of decades … someone coined the phrase “the sandwich generation” to describe people who are still raising children and whose parents are requiring assistance as well. The lovely wife and I have come to realize that we are smack dab in the middle of the sandwich. I feel like corned beef. I appreciate your prayers for my safe travel.

That’s enough to think about for now.

Morris

PS - I'm still wrestling with the "provide for his own family" bit and working hard to discern what's needed and how best to do it. Mom is showing steady improvement, but nerves heal very slowly.