God's will and glory

Today, we had an amazing chapel service here at school. Dennis Jernigan came and led worship, then later he spoke to us about his ministry and what he does. What impressed me was not just his testimony, which is an amazing story of God's grace, but the way that he ministers now. He has been gifted with an amazing musical ability, but he does not use it for his own gain or glory. He uses it to let God reveal His glory. He has had many opportunities to advance his own career, especially in the Christian music world, but has turned down many contracts with publishing companies because they would not give him the release he needed to do all God called him to. Oh that I could feel so sure of my own calling. I was able to relate to so many parts of his story, the parts about him not knowing where God was leading him next, or what he was supposed to do with his gift. I know that I have been gifted musically as well, and that music is a powerful tool for God's kingdom. I want to impact the world for His kingdom, but don't know how He would have me to do it. My prayer is that I can become so in tune to God's will for my life that He can speak through me, in music as well as words, as easily as He does through Dennis Jernigan.

New Name

I thought I should address the change in the name of my blog. I am still living a life of victory in Jesus Christ, don't worry. But when I stopped to think about what I actually post in this blog, I came to realize that it isn't all about my walk. It's not even about victory. It's completely and totally random.

The other half of the title, "motives," refers to my hobby/life: music. If you are not a musiciam, you probably do not know this, but a motive is a small segment of music, as small as one or two notes, but is unique and distinctive. It is what you come away humming. That's what I write about. Just whatever I am thinking about and feel confident enough about to publish (for instance, remembering a tune enough to feel fine humming it). So that's what the title's all about. And there was your music lesson for the day. Do with it what you will. 

It is so easy for life to run away and leave me behind. Take this week for example. Next week is the last of the semester, finals, so everything, and I mean everything, is and was due this week and next. One day of procrastination and fun last weekend ended up with me being awake in the wee hours of the morning (long after my roommate, and that's saying something), writing and editing an eight page paper. The aftereffects of that were  not pretty, especially as I stumbled into choir practice with the granddaddy of all headaches. I don't think that I should have skipped the bonding with friends over the weekend, but I should have watched the time better.

This is a lesson that I have repeatedly watched and been through in my yearbook class. I've always been pretty good about time management and responsibility. I mean, I've never had teachers complain about too many late papers, and I've only had about two 1 am paper writing sessions in my life. But yearbook was a little different, in that I could not just schedule things and get my work done in my own time and way. So many people people are involved in the production of a single story, not to mention the entire book. Even if I am on top of things and get interviews scheduled in plenty of time to conduct them and write the story, sometimes the interviewee cancels or reschedules, so that what once was plenty of time do get the work done is now racing to meet the deadline while hoping that Tawny and Krissy aren't mad. 

The paper that kept me up all hours of the night did get done, and on time, but I should have started it a week earlier than I did, so that even though I did get caught up with my friends instead of writing the paper, it wouldn't have cost me as much. You have to allow for people errors and distractions when you plan for commitments like homework and deadlines.

I need Africa. . .

I need Africa more than Africa needs me. That sounds like an odd statement. Actually, it kind of is. After all, doesn't Africa need me? When I listen to people talk about all the crises in Africa, like AIDS, civil war, and famine, it makes me think that I have to rush and do something Now. Why would I need Africa, when Africa obviously needs me so badly?

The first reason I can think of is that we/I might have a personal need to help someone so that I can feel fulfilled. I don't mean that anyone needs to cut back on how much they help people. We need to do everything that we can to help when we see need in the world. However, I do think that we need to be aware of our motives, because if we do all this only to make ourselves feel good, then as soon as something else catches our attention we will move on, and then all those causes we were so involved in before will be left high and dry.

I have another reason for thinking that I need Africa. I think that I need the spirit of Africa. Now I am the first to admit that I do not know much about Africa. Actually, I can probably be called Africa-illiterate because I am so sheltered from that part of the world. But the statement that I need Africa reminds me of stories about China. Specifically, about the Christian church in China. Because of persecution and uncertainty in life, Christians in China have a firm grasp on what is important in life: relationships. The most important relationship in anyone's life is their relationship with God, but other relationships are those with our friends and family, and relationships with people in need. When you compare that with the priorities of Christians in America, it is sad. We value our stuff and our social status more than the people in our lives. We need this spirit in America.

Like I said, I do not know much about Africa. But if the suffering there has the same affect is has in the rest of the world, we really do need Africa more than Africa needs us. We need to change our spirit and attitude, because without the right outlook, none of the rest of it matters.

Here's the links I was supposed to add:

http://www.musewings.blogspot.com/

http://www.earmusic.blogspot.com/

http://samaritanrevival.blogspot.com/

Music: the Governess of Emotions

“Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. She is a mistress and governess of those human emotions. . . which control men or more often overwhelm them. . .”

-Martin Luther

 

That is one of the best explanations of music that I have ever heard or read. Not only does it appeal to my interests (being a musician and all), but it also gives a reason for my passion. Music moves the innermost parts of our being. It is also supported Biblically: when Saul went mad, music was the only thing that could calm him. When I think about it in this light, I realize that this means that I have a lot of power. . . interesting.

I listen to lots of different musical styles. One of my favorite styles is the movie soundtrack. Why is that? Martin Luther answered it. Music moves your emotions, tugging at the part of you that is buried to deeply within us that we can’t always explain it. It’s not completely emotional, although that is a big part of it. It changes what we know. Lately I’ve been listening to the soundtrack from the movie Eragon (please don’t judge me by this movie; I’ve read the book too). There are three songs that I love from that movie: “If You Were Flying,” “Passing the Flame,” and “Together.”  These are perfect examples of my point.

“If You Were Flying” was scored for the scene where Eragon and Saphira fly together for the first time since they started their journey. This scene is one of excitement, joy, and wonder. Eragon basically falls from a cliff (on Saphira’s back), experiences flight, and finally sees Saphira sees, all for the first time, and all in the course of a two minute song. In the music, strings fly with the dragon, the melodies closely mirror the action and suspense, and there is even a fanfare for the climax of the scene. As the music can become the audio equivalent of what you see, that inner part of your being gets that much more involved in the story.

“Passing the Flame” and “Together” are even better examples of emotional involvement through music. “Passing the Flame” is from Brom’s death scene, and “Together” is played when Saphira seems to be dying. Each scene covers a dying individual trying to comfort Eragon, while Eragon does everything he can to stop this. The differences are that Brom passes his sword on to Eragon and then dies, while in the other Eragon spends nearly all his strength to heal Saphira. What is amazing about these songs is how I have the story memorized, and yet my heart wants to break every time I listen to this music. It’s the simplest music in the whole soundtrack; one is mainly a melody played by the strings, and the other is the main theme slowed down and vocalized instead of strings and brass. There is so much that draws you into this music and this scene; changing the instrument in this death scene changes the theme from being triumphant and adventurous to a memorial of the joy and life that existed before (in reality, this is the same melody that was played in the flight scene). It is true that Saphira does not actually die, but the music portrays the pain and sorrow they felt because they thought that she would. That is good music. It might not be considered a classic, but it does precisely what music is meant to do: alter the way we perceive something. It magnifies and enhances my emotions as I reflect on it. This is why I love it. 

Unity

Off and on, I hear talk about unifying all the nations of the world under one government. This talk makes me nervous when I hear it (maybe because I read the Left Behind books), because it reminds me that the world is coming closer to its end. However, as Christians we are supposed to be unified in Christ. I think we forget that sometimes, and when we do, the consequences are disastrous. I've seen some examples of this recently. People who are supposed to be working together and supporting one another instead blame and criticize each other when things go wrong, destroying relationships and tearing through their hearts and emotions. This is not how God meant for us to exist. However, God in His infinite wisdom and mercy is always ready to reach down and intercede when we are ready for Him. When we recognize our wrongs and try to right them, He heals us and guides us towards His real purpose for us: to make His glory known through our lives. God is amazing, and He WILL be glorified. We would avoid a lot of unnecessary pain if we would just work together in unity like He instructed us to do.