A VERY WELCOME SPRING BREAK

As spring break approaches, I realize how much it is necessary to me right now. This semester of doctoral (PhD) studies has been extremely intense thanks in part to my own doing. I intend on taking a much lighter load in the future. I have made it this far though so I intend on making it through the rest of the semester. Spring break will be welcome though. I will likely work on a few education-related things such as a paper or two, but I intend to relax and refresh myself, as that will likely last the rest of the semester if I relax correctly, meaning if I truly relax and do not fill up my entire time with busyness. I will likely take a day to see a few friends and go to church, but other than that, my time will be spent relaxing. In light of my recent extreme fatigue though, I intend on seeing a doctor soon to find out what the problem is, if anything. My energy level seems to be very low. I hope it can be corrected because this is no way to live. With that said, this week before spring break will be extremely busy. I intend on working hard in time to play hard. Blessings to you all!

GREY OR NOT?

I have been considering “grey” decisions, decisions that are not clear on whether or not they are right or wrong according to scripture. People can deny up and down that those things exist, but in fact, they do. We all could give example after example where one group of believers thinks is wrong and another right; yet we find nothing saying either way in the Bible. The meter should be the Bible obviously, but what do you do with these issues that are not clear? Any people say that anything that causes someone to question your walk is wrong so what does it mean when people question your witness? That varies from person to person. Some think that cohabitating causes it; some think that cussing causes it; some think that drinking causes it. The fact is that we must look at what the world in general thinks. In other words, what is it that would make the world question our walk with Christ? Certainly we have all done things that would cause those who do not believe and perhaps those who do to question our devotion to Christ, some more than others, and I speak about myself in that statement. Nevertheless, do the things that most believers say are questionable truly questionable to the world today. I submit that they are not. In fact, many would question someone’s walk for having fun as much as some would for cussing so we cannot use the world as the meter for determining whether or not something is right or wrong. There are those who would believe that Christians are not to have any fun or their devotion is quenched believe it or not. This question should be answered by the individual believer. We cannot answer it as a whole. This is not moral relativism. In fact, it is completely the opposite. It is moral relativism that says what is right for one person might not be right for another. What I am saying is that the “black and white” things of scripture should be acknowledged and followed accordingly. However, the “grey” areas should be determined by each individual according to what the Holy Spirit says to that person.

MATH IN MUSIC? HUH?!

One reason I chose music, specifically music theory, for my field of study and practice is because math is not required. That is what I thought at least. I am now taking a post-tonal music theory class at Tech, a class which focuses on analyzing strictly non-tertian music. In doing so, we see things such as this:

So I ask you, “Does this look like math?” The obvious answer would be, “Yes.” This indeed is math, and to be honest, it can be quite complicated at times. Particular formulas are necessary for specific functions involved in analyzing the music so in this class, I find myself adding, subtracting, converting, using graphs and charts, finding Z-relations and pitch-class sets, etc.. I enjoy it because my brain is a mathematical brain seeing things in a black and white manner and being very methodical and analytical in my approach to figuring things out. However, math also causes much frustration, particularly when I don’t remember a formula or perform the action incorrectly. If you want to be thoroughly confused or want something interesting to study, take a look at post-tonal analysis (set theory). It will give you pure joy…or perhaps not. I say all this to give you a big scream. Ahhhh!!!

STATE OF THE MUSICAL ARTS IN THE CHURCH

I have been considering traditional church music, namely the loss of high art music in the church. Why is it that quality art has all but completely vanished from the church? In other words, why is it that the church has dumbed down the artistic value of music within the context of worship? In many ways, there is an anti-intellectual movement in the church currently. The truth is that legitimate art music (non-popular music) requires a higher level of intellectual involvement than that which is found in most churches today. This used to not be so perhaps because the popular music in centuries past represented the highest level of artistic achievement rather than what pleased the ears. In considering this fact, it occurs to me that giving in to the wants and desires of people in the music utilized in church creates a path toward selfishness. “Wants and desires” summarizes the reason for presenting low art music above high art music. The story, however, would be vastly disparate if the summary were not wants and desires but rather needs. The wants and desires of the church are, for lack of a better term, shallow, but the needs are incredibly deep, particularly in the area of church music. We must consider this in the future. I somehow doubt we will though. This is not a slam on popular music, as I myself tend to enjoy it, realize its legitimacy, and even support it (as is evident in my personal utilization of it in the context of corporate worship), but we must not throw the baby out with the bathwater, which is obviously happening in the current context of the church. Taking the current path, the high art music of the church in times past is fading and unless people rise up together to stop its demise, shallow intellect will dominate the church.

WHITE CHRISTMAS!!

Some people know that I recently moved to Lubbock. I am finally settled in for the most part. I have a few more things to do, but I am enjoying it. All that is to say that I woke up this Christmas morning to the following:

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas!

SEASON OF GIVING AND BELCHER SITUATION

This is a season of giving. We hear that a lot, but how often do we allow it to affect our lives. Certainly the kings who gave special gifts to Jesus at his birth knew what it means to give from the very core of who they were. I hope and pray that we all do that this season. It is the right thing to do. Whether we can give a lot or only a little, giving is the example we should take and follow this Advent and Christmas season.

On another note, this is also a season for music. Music is appropriate in most circumstances, but especially during the Advent season. I, for one, am thankful for music. As a musician, I know from experience that music moves the soul and is life-changing at times. I encourage you to allow music to move you and change you this season.

Continuing on with what has been going on in the world recently, I saw something that deeply disturbed me recently, namely Bob Costas calling for more gun control in response to the KC Chiefs’ Jovan Belcher incident. Bob Costas presented his thesis that guns are the cause of many violent problems we have in the United States. While I tend to agree with him in that respect, it was indecent of him to use the tragic situation of Belcher’s death to advocate for gun control, a very political issue. There are some that may not view this as political, but it absolutely is by its very nature. Some time should have passed before even mentioning gun control in response to this situation. I personally believe guns are not a good thing, but possession of firearms is a constitutional right. I even believe that owning firearms is limited enough as it is. If we are going to protect the Constitution, we must allow gun possession. Without it, what we have is a select few owning guns, namely law enforcement, which gives us a police state. That, in and of itself, is the wrong approach. Therefore, we should not create laws based on the mere chance of danger but only on certain danger. While guns may not be a good thing for society, we should protect people’s right to own them. Bob Costas, however, used this tragic situation as an opportunity for politics, and in my opinion, he should have waited to bring up the issue. Allow the families involved to grieve without worrying about the political issues.

PERSONAL CHRISTMAS CARD