The first month of 2007 is almost behind us...hard to believe! Here's a few exciting things coming up for me in February:
#1 Biblical Counseling Training Conference...I will be attending this conference in Lafayette, Indiana from Feb. 10-16. Sam has gone for several years in a row now, and has nothing but good things to say! I'm looking forward to this time of studying God's Word and enjoying fellowship with CBC friends: Johnathon & Crystal Bowers, Bob & Shirley Mengel, and Sam are all attending. #2 The end of Northwestern's 8th grade girls basketball season...Molly loves coaching and does a great job...our schedule definitely calms down after the season ends though! Her team is currently playing in the conference tournament, and will be done at the end of this week.
#3 HeartSong concert here at church. Sunday night, February 18 is a special night here at Cornerstone as we are led in worship by a music team from Cedarville University. I hope each of you will plan to join us for this evening of praising the Lord together! 5:45 pm...invite a friend!
It's that time of year again. January is the month where I spend all my time planning for the summer's activities. Yes, activitieS... plural, multiple, more than one!
It begins with planning for the senior banquet that is always in May. This year will be easy: we only have one senior! Then Vacation Bible School. The only thing I have done for that is setting the dates. I am still swimming through the pool of mediocre children's material that is labeled VBS kits!
Next on the agenda is planning for Senior Trip. We will be going to Gatlinburg, TN again -- it will be loads of fun! The main planning is already complete; it's more of the fine tuning of the trip (grocery lists and lessons for each night of the trip) that still needs to be put together.
Oh yeah, let's not forget about missions trip! The pinnacle, the Mount Everest, the creme de la creme of youth events. This year is THE year. That's right, it's the year of the big "out-of-country" trip. The trip that lifelong stories are made of. I thought I had everything planned for this lifechanging trip until a minor crack began to form.
You see, the master plan was to visit the Reilly family in Costa Rica. We were going to teach an English VBS as well as participate in sports ministry & street evangelism. However, it appears that all those plans have crumbled. The Reillys will be in the States during June & July. (Side note: July is the time every year that we schedule missions trips.) They will return to Costa Rica the first week in August, so that is when we scheduled the trip. Unfortunately, that is also the same time that all of the teens begin mandatory sports and band practices. Not good planning on my part!
So now, I am back to the drawing board. I still have some good ideas of other trip possibilities, so please be in prayer for this process. Missions trip is always one of the best trips for the teens.
And if THAT weren't enough planning, this year is the year we go to TLC @ BBC. Did you catch all that? (Translation = Teen Leadership Conference @ Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, PA). This is an easy trip for me; all I have to do is drive there and the college takes care of the rest. It's a great week of teaching for the teens to be challenged in their walk with Christ, and most of the time, God uses the speakers to challenge me as well.
That's my summer...May to July...crazy, huh? And it's only January! Lots to do between now and then to get ready...so I'd better go! Thanks for reading :)
Music outside the Church, part 2: High School Musical
Molly and I were among the thousands of people who jammed the Ohio State basketball arena last Thursday night to see “High School Musical: The Concert”. The small difference between us and the other 15,000? We were neither 10-year-old girl nor parent of 10-year-old girl. But what does that have to do with anything? :) Now for those of you aren’t familiar with High School Musical, let me give you a brief history. HSM is a made-for-TV movie that first aired on the Disney Channel exactly one year ago. One of the few musicals designed for the younger generations of the 21st century, it became immensely (and somewhat surprisingly) popular almost overnight. Its positive themes of stereotype-defying friendship and acceptance resonated with millions of fans and helped create namesake video games, t-shirts, DVDs, a best-selling CD soundtrack, and eventually, the concert Molly and I attended. Five of the six stars of the actual movie were live and in person in Columbus to sing the hit songs from HSM. Here’s a few things I learned:
#1. Excitement is contagious. As the countdown to the concert began, I thought my eardrums were going to burst…and I had earplugs in! The kids at this show screamed for two hours straight, it seemed. Every time they saw one of their favorite characters hit the stage, the yelling began. “We love you, Vanessa!” And on and on it went. Yeah, like she can hear you from half a mile away! :) But I have to admit, I was probably just as excited by the time the concert started as the kids were. The music in the show is incredible, and the production/ performance was excellent. I couldn’t wait for the next song to start. When’s the last time you sat in the CBC sanctuary at 10:28 on a Sunday morning and couldn’t wait for the worship service to start? You were so excited to meet with God in a group setting that you could barely stand it? You were overcome by the thought of how amazing He was and you had to yell out “I love you, God!” And He CAN hear us! Where is our excitement? Why do ten-year-olds feel closer to Disney characters than we do to our Heavenly Father? Not easy questions for me to answer…how about you?
Lesson #2. Live with an attitude of gratitude. After each performer finished their set of music, the emcee would “interview” them on stage for a couple minutes. (It’s called stalling for time, I believe… :) Anyway, the conversation would go something like this.
Over-the-top excited emcee: “Wow, life must be great for you right now! You’ve got your own album coming out…you get to do these concerts every night…and you’re ready to go work on the sequel. You must be having the time of your life!”
Out-of-breath performer: “Yeah, it’s amazing. I can hardly believe it’s real. I’m getting the chance to live my dream…and it’s all because of you, my wonderful fans! (Points and/or blows kisses to audience) Thank you so much for your support…I couldn’t have done it without you!”
This script played out time after time with each of the different performers. Molly and I were both struck by how purposefully these young teenagers (and the Disney marketing giant they represent/work for) repeated the mantra: It’s all because of the fans. We love our fans. We’re here for our fans. This wouldn’t have happened without our fans.
Eventually, the fans start believing it…and buying more stuff…and the performers (& Disney stockholders) are set for life. Wait a second, this isn’t a marketing class…I think I got off on a tangent there :) WHAT I’M TRYING TO GET AT IS: Do you live your life with a constant realization of what amazing things God has done for you? Is the cross in the forefront of your mind each day? Is the resurrection the first thing you think of when your feet hit the floor each morning? Do you live your life as if salvation is your most priceless treasure? (because it is!). How much more thankful should we be to our Savior, Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, and Provider than Corbin Bleu is to the ten-year-old girl who buys his album?
I was going to write more, but instead, I want you to stop and use this time to thank the Lord…for everything. That’s more important! Hope you enjoyed “Music Outside the Church.”
Well, I have to admit that I too watched the American Idol 2007 premier this week (From now on I will refer to it as AI). I only saw AI a handful of times in the past and I must admit that it was quite entertaining. So, I thought I would bounce off Tim's remarks and make some of my own. I will call it "Postmodernism and Pop-Culture." The most amazing thing to me was the apparent fact (surely many were just pulling our chain) that many of these tone-deaf auditioners (I think I may have made that word up) thought they were God's gift to pop music. Now I know that we all have our preferences, but there comes a point when bad is just bad. There are right notes and there are wrong notes (and I'm sure Tim would agree with this especially after some of our choir rehearsals). When singing a specific song, there comes a point when you just can't make up the notes you prefer. The song will eventually become unrecognizable. But we live in a culture that says all "truth" is valid even if they contradict each other. This is the essence of postmodernism. Case in point: after horribly mangling a song, one of the judges said, "You didn't get one note right." The "singer" responded, "They were right to me." I guess so, if they were trying to write their own original song on the spot. What's the point in all this? I have no idea. I just thought I would throw my two cents in.
January has rolled around on the calendar, which means it's official: American Idol, season 6, is underway.
Now some of you may have never watched the show...that's fine. Others may have watched it faithfully for the past five years...that's fine too. I'm somewhere in between. I started watching halfway through last year, so this is my first "full run". I'm not yet a "have-to-tape-it every time I'm out of the house for one minute" fanatic...I doubt I will be. But being a musician, I'm definitely interested and intrigued to see how the whole thing plays out. I think musicians can improve and learn from many different kinds of music, not just music in the church. I play a sample of music for the choir almost every week, asking them to listen purposefully. What did you like? What didn't you like? What jumped out to you about that performance? What do you hear? So while I don't claim to watch Idol for its "educational value", in some ways, I think it helps me become a better and more discerning musician. So here's a few observations about the show...and some direct or indirect connections to music in the church:
1. Different people have different tastes. Taylor Hicks over Katharine McPhee as a better singer? Please. Enough said. But millions of Americans disagree with me. And that's okay. They can buy Taylor's album...I'll buy Katharine's. Let me say it again. Different people have different tastes. I watched part of the episode Tuesday night where the judges ripped one contestant for being "awful" and praised the next singer as "wonderful" with a "great sound". In my mind, the second singer was better than the first. And I do have twenty years of musical experience to somewhat validate my opinion. Different people have different tastes. What Randy Jackson calls "pitchiness", I might call "soul". The question remains why he gets paid millions of dollars for his opinion and I have to hit the redial button thirty-seven times to log mine...but that's a question for another time :) The connection to music IN the church should be pretty direct...different people have different tastes...and that's okay. Moving on to #2...
2. Stage presence is underrated. Or, to put it more simply, do you AND YOUR FACE believe what you're singing about? I haven't mentioned this to my choir since...oh, I don't know...last night. It's crucial . How many people have you seen through the Idol competition who have a decent voice, but they just don't have "it"? You know...the charisma...the stage presence...the connection with the audience...the ability to make you believe they believe what the songwriter believes. You can't sing "I've got the joy, joy, joy down in my heart" with a scowl. It's pointless. However, this applies to you in the pew as much or even more than the choir member. Your face should be a reflection of your heart and your attitude...when we come to worship on Sunday morning, your mind and soul should be focused on Christ, and he should bring that smile, that hope, and that joy to your song for all to see. Do you believe what you're singing? Do you even understand and know what you're singing? Or can you read the words from the slides or hymnal on "autopilot", without even thinking about what they mean? End soapbox tangent :)
3. Everyone has a gift. How many times has Paula said this week, "this competition may not be for you, but..."? Then she'll go on to tell the contestant to stay with their band, juggle, be a basketball player, or whatever it is she says. Not everyone is going to make it as a pop star, especially most of the deluded people Idol shows through the first few weeks. "I'm going to be the next American Idol!" Uh-huh...sure...good luck with that. But Nick Zitzmann, the engineer with the scary eyes, is going to make a good engineer...even if he's never going to be a Clay Aiken. And that's okay. I wish every single one of you would be in worship choir...but it's not for all of you. And that's okay too. But I do hope that you're getting involved in ministries somehow in the church...that you're using your gifts somehow. We are called to serve the Lord in a local body of believers...not just attend church to mark off a good deed for the week. There's so many ways to serve at CBC... nursery...building committee...usher...hospitality...drama...the list goes on and on. But make sure you're using your gifts for God! If the engineer leaves his failed Idol audition, goes home, and sits on the couch for the next seven years because he can't be a star singer, he's missing out. He's an engineer...and I'm sure a pretty good one...so go be an engineer with all your might! If you're not a singer, but you're a nursery worker...that's great! If you'll never do special music in the service, but you mow a mean lawn, that's wonderful! Serve the Lord...and get involved! USE YOUR GIFTS FOR HIM!
There you go...three things you can learn from American Idol. Stay tuned for "Music outside the church, part 2: High School Musical"!! Seriously...
It's true: I'm one of those people that doesn't like snow. Ever since I was a little kid and would get basketball games canceled because of snowstorms, I've figured I could do without it. Besides, who really likes to shovel out their car, drive in the snow, and be freezing cold everywhere? Give me 60 degrees and sunshine all year long! :)
So what a beautiful development to see a month and a half with basically no snow...in the dead of winter! Now don't get me wrong...I'm not naive by any stretch. I know that: A. it's going to snow tomorrow because I wrote this B. we'll somehow get enough snow in the next few months to make up for the "winter that wasn't" or C. it will snow until June instead.
I understand all that...call it Murphy's Law of winter. But for now, I choose to revel in the sunshine...to leave my coat at home every other day...and to enjoy the best winter I can remember!
Life is going well in the Cary household...but still busy. Molly is in the middle of her basketball season (she coaches 8th grade girls at Northwestern), so she has a couple games every week and practice each day after school. I've tried to help out a time or two, but with all of her games on Mondays and Wednesdays, there have been quite a few conflicts with choir rehearsal!
Speaking of which, we started the 2007 version of choir last night. I'm still looking for new members...might that be you?
On a different topic...I'm currently reading an interesting book called "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller. I've heard many Christian friends talk about this book...and they either love it or hate it...kinda reminds me of the movie Napoleon Dynamite...but I digress :) Have you read "Blue Like Jazz"? What are your thoughts? E-mail me and let me know; I'm curious to find out others' opinions, especially since I'm currently perusing it.
One more thing...we're going to sing this little chorus on Sunday morning...it's a great reminder on the perspective we should have in our everyday lives. If we really want God to be glorified in everything and through everything that happens, it will change the way we act (some people will only see or hear about God through you)...it will change the way we pray (how many times have we prayed only for a problem to be solved in the way that makes us most comfortable...not makes God most glorified)...in short, it will change the way we live.
Think about that through the rest of this week and as you come to our corporate time of worship on Sunday morning. God bless!
Tim
Father, we love You, we worship and adore You. Glorify Thy name in all the earth. Glorify Thy name, Glorify Thy name, Glorify Thy name in all the earth.
It has been a long while since my last entry. A lot has gone on since then. I had my acting debut playing Brother Sam, the local church pastor, in our Christmas musical this year. It was a stretch for me, but I gave it my best. Also, last week we returned from a two week trip to California. I am so very thankful for the church being so gracious in allowing us to be gone for this extended time. It was a blessing to be with my family, especially at the one year anniversary of my mom's death (or better, home going).
I'm looking forward to starting a new sermon series on the church this Sunday. I firmly believe that the church is being attacked in a very subtle yet serious way. Paul clearly states what the church is to be all about in 1 Timothy 3:15. He says, "I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth." [Italics mine]. The church is to be in the truth business and this truth is found in a book called the Bible. The church is to be thrusting the truth high into the air for all to see and it is to be a place where the truth finds a firm resting place. But the truth is becoming increasingly more unwelcome in many of the churches in America. There is another "church" emerging from the morass of human speculation. It is a church that wraps the revelation of God in a shroud of doubt and confusion. It is the church of the question mark. Instead we are to be the church of the exclamation mark, boldly and courageously proclaiming the truth to the world! Well, I better stop before I preach my entire series. But please be in prayer about this. So, I hope I will see all of you this Sunday in church.
...it takes seven people four hours to assemble 100 journals?
...it costs less than two dollars a book to produce the journals?
...Pastor Sam now needs a chiropractor for his right shoulder because of all the cutting and punching (thousands of pages worth)?
...the journals are now available and ready to use for next Sunday?
After 30+ hours and many thousands of papers, this project is complete...and all the work is worth it, since we know this can be a tool to help God's people better understand and apply His Word to their lives.
A new year of blogging has started! So to begin, I'll try and recap how I spent the last couple weeks of 2006.
OBJECTIVE 1: "Celebrate Christmas." This was accomplished with many different people groups, all under the sub-classification family. Molly and I exchanged gifts with each other, Ron's side of the family, the Earley immediate family, Betsy's side of the family, the Cary immediate family, and my dad's side of the family. We missed the get-together with mom's side of the family in Florida this year because of scheduling conflicts.
Oh, did I mention I got lots of cool gifts? (*Simple definition of cool: it looks good in my sports room*)
All in all, we had a great time being with family and enjoying the holidays together...which brings me to...
OBJECTIVE #2 "Relax!" We were able to spend most of last week in Michigan at my parents' house, and really enjoyed and appreciated the time to relax without a lot going on. I played basketball two days in a row (when's the last time that happened?)...played euchre a few times every day...did some shopping, some eating out, and all the other things I like to do when there's nothing going on! And, of course, I got to spend lots of time with my wife, which is the best thing of all! I feel very refreshed now and ready to jump back into all the projects on my desk for 2007!
Oh yeah, we did achieve one other objective in Michigan:
OBJECTIVE #3 "Get my cousin married." Brent Eubank, my cousin, finished his studies at Cedarville last month. He's been attending Cornerstone for the last few years while in Ohio...you may know him as the Hapless Man from our Christmas musical :) Anyway, he and Keyla were married on Saturday in Battle Creek. I was the piano player for this event, and everything went really well. My brother Tom was the best man, and he gave a great toast/speech at the reception. This was a wonderful development, considering he was too terrified to give a toast when he was my best man a couple years ago!
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed a few random stories about my Christmas vacation. Here's two other things I wanted to let you know:
#1 I watched what may be the best college football game I've ever seen last night. Congratulations Boise State!
#2 I'm looking forward to reading through the Bible in 2007. It's not too late to join me! The schedules are in the foyer here at church.
As part of this year's Most Wanted List campaign, we're hoping to invite 1,000 friends to attend our Christmas program, The Richest Family in Town, in the 1,000 hours before the first performance. You can find more information about our production at: SpringfieldChristmas.com
The first month of 2007 is almost behind us...hard to believe! Here's a few exciting things coming up for me in February:
