GOD'S TROMBONES

Mon, 14 Apr 2003 19:43:15 GMT

"The Crucifixion"

Jesus, my gentle Jesus,
Walking in the dark of the Garden-
Saying to the three disciples:
Sorrow is in my soul-
Even unto death;
Tarry ye here a little while,
And watch with me.

Jesus, my burdened Jesus,
Praying in the dark of the Garden-
The Garden of Gethsemane.
Saying: Father,
Oh, Father,
This bitter cup,
This bitter cup,
Let it pass from me.

Jesus, my sorrowing Jesus,
The sweat like drops of blood upon his brow,
Talking with his Father,
Oh, Father,
Not as I will,
Now as I will,
But let thy will be done.

Oh, look at black-hearted Judas-
Sneaking through the dark of the Garden-
Leading his crucifying mob.
Oh, God!
Strike him down!
Why don't you strike him down,
Before he plants his traitor's kiss
Upon my Jesus' cheek?

And they take my blameless Jesus,
And they drag him to the Governor,
To the mighty Roman Governor.
Great Pilate seated in his hall-
Great Pilate on his judgment seat,
Said: In this man I find no fault.
I find no fault in him.
And Pilate washed his hands.

But they cried out, saying:
Crucify him!-
Crucify him!-
Crucify him!-
His blood be on our heads.
And they beat my loving Jesus,
They spit on my precious Jesus;
They dressed him up in a purple robe,
They put a crown of thorns upon his head,
And they pressed it down-
Oh, they pressed it down-
And they mocked my sweet King Jesus.

Up Golgotha's rugged road
I see my Jesus go.
I see him sink beneath the load,
I see my drooping Jesus sink.
And then they laid hold on Simon,
Black Simon, yes, black Simon;
They put the cross on Simon,
And Simon bore the cross.

On Calvary, on Calvary,
They crucified my Jesus.
They nailed him to the cruel tree,
And the hammer!
The hammer!
The hammer!
Rang through Jerusalem's streets.
The hammer!
The hammer!
The hammer!
Rang through Jerusalem's streets.

Jesus, my lamb-like Jesus,
Shivering as the nails go through his hands;
Jesus, my lamb-like Jesus,
Shivering as the nails go through his feet.
Jesus, my darling Jesus,
Groaning as the Roman spear plunged in his side;
Jesus, my darling Jesus,
Groaning as the blood came spurting from his wound.
Oh, look how they done my Jesus.

Mary,
Weeping Mary,
Sees her poor little Jesus on the cross.
Mary,
Weeping Mary,
Sees her sweet, baby Jesus on the cruel cross,
Hanging between two thieves.

And Jesus, my lonesome Jesus,
Called out once more to his Father,
Saying:
My God,
My God,
Why hast thou forsaken me?
And he drooped his head and died.

And the veil of the temple was split in two,
The midday sun refused to shine,
The thunder rumbled and the lightning wrote
An unknown language in the sky.
What a day! Lord, what a day!
When my blessed Jesus died.

Oh, I tremble, yes, I tremble,
It causes me to tremble, tremble,
When I think how Jesus died;
Died on the steeps of Calvary,
How Jesus died for sinners,
Sinners like you and me.

(James Weldon Johnson, God's Trombones: seven negro sermons in verse, 1927 edition)

wonderful WHO

Thu, 10 Apr 2003 21:59:36 GMT

THOUGHT:

"People are generally better persuaded by the reasons which they have themselves discovered than by those which have come into the mind of others" (Pascal, Pensees #10).

"We will live either the examined or the unexamined life...the examined life is better" (James Sire, The Universe Next Door, 18).

WORD:

"I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power." Ephesians 1:17-19

DEED:

Lord, help me to give my kids the room to discover for themselves the wonderful "WHO" of You. More and more, create in me the desire and intention to refrain from filling every void with verbiage...to allow questions to linger long enough for us all to seek truth from You, the source of all truth. And when my children arrive at a more complete understanding of Your ways than i came to on my own, bandage my bruised ego and give me grace to grow from Your light shining through them. Amen.

The Technology Generation Gap

Fri, 04 Apr 2003 13:09:55 GMT

“Because of young people’s appetite for such devices, we are likely to see an even greater shift toward devices that ‘do it all’ – compact computers equipped for mobile Internet connections, cell phones that receive and transmit real-time visual images, and vast music and movie libraries on portable and home-based technologies. What remains to be seen is in what ways technology will continue to alter the generational personalities of Busters and especially Mosaics. In what ways will technology change self-expression, personal fulfillment, and depth of relationships? And how will their entertainment-driven and mobility-oriented lifestyles modify their spiritual experiences and expectations?" for more of The Barna Update: 4/3/03 ...

If the idea of "talking" to your kids through the computer seems foreign, ask them how they connect with their "tribe." Instant messaging and e-mail win hands down over phone time today because the kids can "talk" to many friends at the same time (even friends who've moved across the world!) for no extra $.

It's never been easy to bridge the generation gap, but the responsibility always lies with the grown-up (let's hope as the parent that means you) to learn the new language. So, for the sake of connecting with your kids and grandkids, might i make a suggestion?

"Git On-line, little children...Git On-line!"

...besides, if you're really hungry for face-to-face time, invite them for one of your famous home-cooked meals...they can't get that off the internet...yet!

BE STILL, MY TONGUE

Thu, 03 Apr 2003 12:59:55 GMT

THOUGHT:

Pascal remarked, "Do you wish people to believe good of you? Don't speak" (Pensees #44).

My Nana, quoting a traditional proverb, used to warn us, "A still tongue makes a wise head."

WORD:

"Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue." Proverbs 17:28

"When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise." Proverbs 10:19

DEED:

Today, Lord, help me to hold my tongue.

Just for today, Lord, may i speak only words that are kind and affirming.

Before i say even one word, Lord, let me be sure it is something i would welcome being said to me.

O, Lord, still my terrible, trembling tongue.

VOLUNTEER TOGETHER

Wed, 02 Apr 2003 16:12:08 GMT

What if we were to create "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" clubs, invite all the people on our block or in our building and, once a month, organize and execute group volunteer projects?

For example, once a month we could volunteer to serve at a local soup kitchen. or spend the morning on the local Habitat For Humanity project? We could even take a walk together and clean up our section of the reservoir. Nothing like a nice walk to spark conversation...

WORLD RELIEF

Wed, 02 Apr 2003 12:41:22 GMT

THOUGHT: I'm just one. How can i do anything to help my war-torn world?

STUBBORN OUNCES

You say the little efforts that I make

will do no good: they never will prevail

to tip the hovering scale

where Justice hangs in balance.

I don't think

I ever thought they would.

But I am prejudiced beyond debate

in favor of my right to choose which side

shall feel the stubborn ounces of my weight.

Bonaro W. Overstreet, Hands Laid upon the Wind, 1955

WORD:

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless in this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

DEED:

Today, let me not just think it's a good idea to pray for those that are bringing help and healing to the orphans and widows of this world. Instead, Lord, help me pray and then partner with You by giving of my time, my treasure and my talents.

Lord, help us to practice what we pray.

God's Word, Not Ours

Tue, 01 Apr 2003 20:14:05 GMT

Do you think it would be possible to open our homes for weekly neighborhood prayer gatherings that are not restricted to "CHRISTIANS ONLY?" Can we or should we as followers of Jesus open our homes and our hearts to those who do not yet hear his voice?

And what if, instead of a pre-packaged study of God's Word, we chose to allow the Word to speak for itself through experiences like Lectio Divina?

The Challenge: Do we really believe that God is big enough to reveal himself to our neighbors through our open, loving lives or is it more important that our neighbors see the "edited" versions of ourselves so that they will be converted to look like us?

CROSS RHYTHMS

Tue, 01 Apr 2003 15:14:11 GMT

Ever heard of a "Christian" rave? Probably not. But Ictus Ichthus Productions (of which my daughter Crystal is a part) is a ministry determined to provide a drug-free, alcohol-free environment for those who love the rhythms of the Rave.

Cross Rhythms

When: Friday, May 2, 2003 - 7pm -2am

Where: Cedar Ridge Community Church, Spencerville, MD

Cost: $10

Ages: 15 years and older

Who's Spinning?:

Frankie Vibe (gospel house) Stephen Christopher (progressive)

Rapture Man (house/r & b) Prism (tribal house) and Kai (drum and bass)

I'll be there, but I'll be incognito...check it out.

Parent Warrior

Tue, 01 Apr 2003 13:03:20 GMT

In January of 2000, while wringing my hands with worry over my oldest child's rebellion, i stumbled across a book in my church's bookstore: Parent Warrior by Karen Scalf Linamen. I devoured the pages (and the concept of praying the scriptures for my kids) and began a computer journal in which, over the last three years, i have typed many "personalized" verses. Praying the scripture for my children has helped me to hold out God's hope- far bigger than my own- on both the easy and difficult days of parenting.

THOUGHT: How can we entrust our kids to God if we can't imagine God loving them as much as we do? Do we dare believe that God's plan - not our plan- for our children is really the best plan for them?

WORD:

Psalm 139:13 "For you created my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb."

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

DEED: Let's pray that God will enlarge our hearts to long for the future God has planned for our children.

I started in February 2000 with Ephesians 3: 14-19. By inserting each of my kid's names in the place of the word "you," i began to realize just how much God does love my children...with a love that knows their future and calls them into it if they will listen.

Ephesians 3: 14-19 personalized

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen [your child's name] with power through his Spirit in [your child's name] inner being, so that Christ may dwell in [your child's name] heart through faith. And I pray that [your child's name], being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that [your child's name] may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. [Amen]

If you would like more references of the scriptures that I have used in this exercise of faith, don't hesistate to post the request to the "Comments" link.

Re-Imaging the Community

Mon, 31 Mar 2003 16:11:33 GMT

It seems there are always WAY too many great classes being offered in my area. I am often frustrated when i see some offering that looks so appealing, only to discover it's at a time or day of the week that's simply not "do-able" for me. So, i've decided to let you in on what i discover hoping that, even though i can't take advantage of the growth opportunities, maybe one of you could!

The Servant Leadership School in DC is offering a Spring class called "Re-Imaging the Community & the People in it." Isn't that a great title? Here's the blurb from the catalogue:

When we respond to Jesus' invitation to follow him, we embark on a journey that challenges the cultural assumptions upon which we have based our lives. We soon discern that Jesus' ways are not our ways. We cannot learn to truly love our neighbors, or follow Jesus, unless we grow aware of the inner and outer area of resistance that prevent us from crossing the barriers that separate us.

This class will consist primarily of field trips to "re-image" our community, taking an asset-based approach to the issues and people of lower-income D.C. neighborhoods. Participants will be introduced to people, programs, viewpoints, and neighborhoods that defy the current negative stereotypes. We will explore the good news within the city and witness inspirational stories of strength, courage, and leadership in inner-city neighborhoods. Taught by Jim Dickerson and Jim Melson on Tuesdays, April 15 - June3, 4:30-6:00 p.m.

New England Brass Band

Mon, 31 Mar 2003 12:13:24 GMT

Do you like British Brass? Do you even know what the difference is? Well, the first hint is there are NO trumpets...Cornets only!

Here is a shameless plug for one of my favorite "British Brass" type bands: the New England Brass Band. Under the direction of Boston Symphony Orchestra's bass trombonist, Doug Yeo, this band of extraordinary volunteers has had the opportunity to record not one, but two albums in Symphony Hall.

I have many fond memories of the annual Christmas concerts and pot luck dinners we had in Andover with the NEBB...(Hey, 'guys' [guys: any member of the band, both male and female] do you remember the year we ordered Chinese food?) Always playing to a packed house, this band has been a yearly favorite Christmas offering at Free Church.

Be sure to check out their CD's and make a plan to book them at your church or community venue.

Fri, 28 Mar 2003 18:53:48 GMT

OK: So, some of you have responded, "Book Club? Who reads?"

After the initial shock of such outlandish articulation, i got thinking, well, if not books, how about movies? Perhaps one night a month your neighborhood movie club could choose a movie to view (together or separately) and then take turns hosting a discussion about it. Hey, why not start with one of the movies used in the "God in the Movies" series done at Cedar Ridge each fall?

(who reads?! mumble, mumble...)

APRIL STACE VEGA

Fri, 28 Mar 2003 11:18:38 GMT

If you haven't had a chance to catch harpist April Stace Vega plucking her stuff, you might want to step out this Saturday night (or any Saturday night) down to M and 30th in Georgetown to hear her at Twist.

One of those quirky little places, Twist couldn't have more than a dozen tables, but the food is eclectic and tasty and the service we received was excellent! In such a small space, you won't have much trouble watching this mesmerizing harpist (and all of the passers-by who stop to watch her through the front glass window!).

April does take special requests (ask her to do one of her original pieces!) and includes in the evening's repertoire everything from Erik Satie to Tracy Chapman. Hey, Cedar Ridgers, check her out...she loves to see familiar faces.

Fri, 28 Mar 2003 00:23:53 GMT

"Trust" was written by Phil Lazo and sung at the memorial service of his 8-year-old daughter, Lindsay-Grace Lazo. Free copies can be obtained through the band's website for a donation toward the "Lindsay-Grace Lazo Community Playground."

the story behind the song

the WMA (audio file) of the song

Northbound (Phil's band) website

Wed, 26 Mar 2003 18:38:37 GMT

It's Wednesday. I love Wednesdays. On Wednesday mornings i spend about an hour having a blast with a group of twenty or so people whose average age is 80. They make me feel so young....and they constantly remind me to disregard information from my teenagers to the contrary. They are my Seniors Chorus.

I have the privilege of conducting an extraordinary group of people (my mother-in-law included) in songs from the '30s, '40s and even some modern tunes from the '50s at one of the thriving Seniors centers in my county. We have so much fun singing and laughing and "breathing" correctly. (Yes, Free Church, they even sing "Mickey-Minnie-Goofy Donna" just like you used to do!)

The best part of chorus, though, is the amazing stories i come away with...stories of lives lived in both remarkable and unremarkable, yet real ways. A few weeks ago, one of the women who serve lunch at the center was listening in on our rehearsal. She is in her late 70s and flushed with excitement by the end of her "private concert."

"Oh, listening to those songs brought me back to my younger days on the boardwalk at Atlantic City. It wasn't a gambling place then, Atlantic City, but song "palaces"...they were wonderful. All of the up-and-comings would strut their stuff for the big deals...it was somethin'."

Her New Jersey accent seemed to come out stronger in the excitement of remembering, "I even got to hear Rosemary Clooney before she was anybody. Gosh, I haven't thought of that time in years..." The twinkle in her eyes and the look of fond reflection on her face made the morning's efforts so rewarding.

This morning, one of my altos recounted in her thick German accent, "Music saved our lives during the war. Yah, my father was out of work for fourteen years and we had no radio and no money to do anything, so we would sing and play our harmonicas together each evening. Music saved us from despair."

Was it Martin Luther who said, "Music is a fair and glorious gift of God?" It's so true.

Martin Luther, the musician