Mar 28, 2011

Songs and Music

I am a big music lover and can frequently be heard singing any random song that pops into my head. I enjoy everything from jazz to swing to rock to country to show tunes etc...I also, as many would expect, enjoy church hymns, praise and worship choruses and other various forms of what's called Christian music. Since I've been at training college there has been some attention paid to the theology of the words that we're singing, and so I've been really trying to listen and read what I'm singing.

A song that's really mattered to me because of that this year has been He Giveth More Grace. There are many great lines in that song but this year it's been "when we reach the end of our hoarded resources, our Father's full giving has only begun" that has continually circled around in my head. There are a few things that strike me about that particular line as I read it. One, it's absolutely true - we have limits on ourselves that God just doesn't have. He can and will give to us endlessly as demonstrated by His previous giving.

The other thing that has struck me personally and recently is that it doesn't have to be at the end of our rope that we receive from our Father. His full giving is there, His support is there for each of us no matter what situation we're in. So I encourage you to think about the words of the songs that you are singing to God. Don't just sing them because they are catchy or the latest craze but sing them because of what they mean. What are your favourite songs and why?

I also LOVE brass band music and enjoy many music artists who are not considered specifically Christian but their music is excellent and has a good message.

Mar 15, 2011

Ides of March - and my 100th post

I don't know if the 100th post factor makes a difference, but it was of some interest for me to see that stat this morning.

Today is March 15 and it is also the Ides of March. On the Ides of March 44 BC Julius Caesar was assassinated through the plotting of Marcus Brutus and landed the date into history. Shakespeare - in his play Julius Caesar - portrays Brutus as a tragic hero who murders Caesar a brutal tyrant, but of course history isn't quite as confident on those extreme notes. However, the idea of betraying a close friend is one that has been popular in history and of course Christianity is no exception.

In our Ethics class this week we spoke about the idea of betrayal and the name Judas Iscariot came up and of course I jumped to Dante's Inferno. I don't know why I make that leap, but when the name Judas Iscariot comes up I am reminded of the 9th circle of hell reserved for those worst sinners - those who betray a special relationship. Now in my defense for why Judas comes to mind - he is in that 9th circle.

So maybe today's post is really about relationships. Keeping them healthy, remembering that grace is a good thing, and that no matter if the relationship is good or bad none of us want to end up saying "Et tu Brutus?"