Recently, while perusing the internet, I came across a church website where, apparently, the Pastor regularly updated the staff webpage with an answer to the standing question, “What’s on your ipod?” His point was obviously to illustrate to whom and/or to what he was listening: i.e., what all his current influences were.
I too have an ipod. What I love about it is that it is my own personal world. In a day and age where everyone has his or her own media preferences, both religious and secular, my ipod is my own personal refuge where I can listen to and enjoy the sort of things I like without apology.
For what its worth, my ipod is filled with a wide variety of media, including the following: thousands of Old Time Radio shows - like “Dragnet” and “Amos and Andy”; scores of podcasts - ranging from individuals like Zig Ziglar to “Military History Podcast”; dozens of audio-books - by writers such as Michael Crichton and Alistair MacLean; quite a few sermons - by both newer preachers and giants of the past such as Vance Havner; and certainly, with a whole lot of music.
My musical playlists include a wide variety of styles: including Easy Listening, Country, Pop, Rock, Big Band, Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, Bluegrass, Classical, and Instrumentals – ranging from the 1940’s down to today.
As one might expect, I also have lots of religious music as well. Now I recognize that few subjects are as rife with potential controversy these days as is the subject of musical styles in church. Personally, I am in the middle of the road on this rather overblown matter. Like many, I was raised on the old hymns of the faith. I will always treasure them. At the same time, I have come to value and appreciate the newer songs as well.
Because of this, my ipod has playlists for Hymns, Praise and Worship, Gospel, Southern Gospel, and even Gregorian Chant. I think each one of these styles has both value and appeal. I wish for others a similar perspective on the importance of diverse musical styles for worship that I have come to appreciate.
I challenge those my age and older to see that there is some value in the newer music. The creativity which God has given to men and women was not limited to those few writers and composers who lived in the latter half of the 1800’s and first half of the 1900’s (when most of our classic hymns were written). Surely Bill Gaither is proof of that. His “new-fangled songs” that first appeared in the 1970’s (such as Because He Lives) are now firmly entrenched in modern hymnals.
And in future years, no doubt, the songs of Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith, Rebecca St. James, and Chris Tomlin will do much the same (though the future hymnals that include them will invariably be released in digital rather than in printed formats).
But I also challenge those younger than me to see in the music of the past a vital component of the rich spiritual heritage to which they are now heir. And therefore, not to simply write it off as old-fashioned. One would do well to return regularly to the worship songs of yesterday, and to include them in their ongoing devotion to God. The hymns of yesterday very much inform our theology and thereby help to make us who we are today.
But that’s enough preaching for now. I thought I would conclude this post with a little humor. A friend sent this to me. Perhaps you, lime me, have seen this piece before. It can be readily found on the web. Nonetheless, it is worth a good laugh. Enjoy…
DO YOU KNOW YOUR HYMNS?
Dentist's Hymn.................................Crown Him with Many Crowns
Weatherman's Hymn..........................There Shall Be Showers of Blessings
Contractor's Hymn.............................The Church is One Foundation
The Tailor's Hymn............................. Holy, Holy, Holy
The Golfer's Hymn..............................There's a Green Hill Far Away
The Politician's Hymn.......................... Standing on the Promises!
Optometrist's Hymn............................ Open My Eyes That I Might See
The IRS Agent's Hymn.......................... I Surrender All
The Gossip's Hymn...............................Pass It On
The Electrician's Hymn..........................Send The Light
The Shopper's Hymn............................ .Sweet Bye and Bye
The Realtor's Hymn.............................. I've Got a Mansion
The Doctor's Hymn............................... The Great Physician
AND for those who speed along life’s highway - a few others:
55 mph ............................................ God Will Take Care of You!
75 mph ............................................ Nearer My God To Thee!
85 mph ............................................ This World Is Not My Home!
95 mph ............................................ Lord, I'm Coming Home!
100 mph ........................................... Precious Memories!
I too have an ipod. What I love about it is that it is my own personal world. In a day and age where everyone has his or her own media preferences, both religious and secular, my ipod is my own personal refuge where I can listen to and enjoy the sort of things I like without apology.
For what its worth, my ipod is filled with a wide variety of media, including the following: thousands of Old Time Radio shows - like “Dragnet” and “Amos and Andy”; scores of podcasts - ranging from individuals like Zig Ziglar to “Military History Podcast”; dozens of audio-books - by writers such as Michael Crichton and Alistair MacLean; quite a few sermons - by both newer preachers and giants of the past such as Vance Havner; and certainly, with a whole lot of music.
My musical playlists include a wide variety of styles: including Easy Listening, Country, Pop, Rock, Big Band, Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, Bluegrass, Classical, and Instrumentals – ranging from the 1940’s down to today.
As one might expect, I also have lots of religious music as well. Now I recognize that few subjects are as rife with potential controversy these days as is the subject of musical styles in church. Personally, I am in the middle of the road on this rather overblown matter. Like many, I was raised on the old hymns of the faith. I will always treasure them. At the same time, I have come to value and appreciate the newer songs as well.
Because of this, my ipod has playlists for Hymns, Praise and Worship, Gospel, Southern Gospel, and even Gregorian Chant. I think each one of these styles has both value and appeal. I wish for others a similar perspective on the importance of diverse musical styles for worship that I have come to appreciate.
I challenge those my age and older to see that there is some value in the newer music. The creativity which God has given to men and women was not limited to those few writers and composers who lived in the latter half of the 1800’s and first half of the 1900’s (when most of our classic hymns were written). Surely Bill Gaither is proof of that. His “new-fangled songs” that first appeared in the 1970’s (such as Because He Lives) are now firmly entrenched in modern hymnals.
And in future years, no doubt, the songs of Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith, Rebecca St. James, and Chris Tomlin will do much the same (though the future hymnals that include them will invariably be released in digital rather than in printed formats).
But I also challenge those younger than me to see in the music of the past a vital component of the rich spiritual heritage to which they are now heir. And therefore, not to simply write it off as old-fashioned. One would do well to return regularly to the worship songs of yesterday, and to include them in their ongoing devotion to God. The hymns of yesterday very much inform our theology and thereby help to make us who we are today.
But that’s enough preaching for now. I thought I would conclude this post with a little humor. A friend sent this to me. Perhaps you, lime me, have seen this piece before. It can be readily found on the web. Nonetheless, it is worth a good laugh. Enjoy…
DO YOU KNOW YOUR HYMNS?
Dentist's Hymn.................................Crown Him with Many Crowns
Weatherman's Hymn..........................There Shall Be Showers of Blessings
Contractor's Hymn.............................The Church is One Foundation
The Tailor's Hymn............................. Holy, Holy, Holy
The Golfer's Hymn..............................There's a Green Hill Far Away
The Politician's Hymn.......................... Standing on the Promises!
Optometrist's Hymn............................ Open My Eyes That I Might See
The IRS Agent's Hymn.......................... I Surrender All
The Gossip's Hymn...............................Pass It On
The Electrician's Hymn..........................Send The Light
The Shopper's Hymn............................ .Sweet Bye and Bye
The Realtor's Hymn.............................. I've Got a Mansion
The Doctor's Hymn............................... The Great Physician
AND for those who speed along life’s highway - a few others:
55 mph ............................................ God Will Take Care of You!
75 mph ............................................ Nearer My God To Thee!
85 mph ............................................ This World Is Not My Home!
95 mph ............................................ Lord, I'm Coming Home!
100 mph ........................................... Precious Memories!