Exercise is not easy. When you see people exercising you mostly observe the pain on their faces that is caused by exertion, and usually redness in the face from the effort. It doesn't look fun. However just about everyone I speak to who exercises to exhaustion tells me the same thing... it is worth it! And the benefits are both short and long term... so why don't we do it? This is not a forum for excuses, so there is no point giving rationalizations. Diet and exercise are vitally important to being a well-rounded (no pun intended) individual. Without divulging my own lack of discipline in this area (you can guess it exists), I think it's important for us to stick together and get back (if you need to) into that discipline.
Over the years I have come to fully understand that this subject is deeply spiritual, and it affects every part of our lives. Years ago I remember counseling training that addressed 'life dominating habits.' The concept is that we compartmentalize our issues and want to think that one area of our lives has no effect on all the other areas of our lives. Which is false! We think we are getting away with stuff, and we are affecting our entire soul, spirit and body. And that is a sobering thought when we choose to actually think about such things.
OK, let's do something about this and get back into a positive, God-honoring lifestyle that puts us on the path to better health.
That way, we can serve the Master better.... and probably longer.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Music and Spirituality
A very dear friend of mine mused about my Jazz program I gave at his church and innocently said something like 'I hope we see some spiritual good come out of this secular program'. As if there were some kind of great divide between secular and sacred. I want to address this briefly anecdotally, but not necessarily cursorily.
Over the past number of years I have come to understand my Jazz programs to be intensely spiritual, and moving. I suppose most serious performers realize this in some way, but it has taken on a new reality for me since I have been providing music programs for various churches. I see the way people react (in all settings) -not to me -but to the music itself. I use music backgrounds and play Trumpet, and add my own phrasing and musical comments along the score. I glance at the audience and I see smiles that come from deep within. You musicologists out there can tell me that studies have been done that show that music is processed on both sides of the brain... giving an indication that somehow the music experience affects us in ways we cannot understand, and probably reaches deep within our souls.
Having said that, it is interesting that when people hear music they like, they stop everything and 'groove' to the music. Take a look at audiences and watch what happens when they are connecting to the music. They put down the fork or coffee and start clapping in time or dancing in their seats - or jumping up and dancing. I suggest there is something mysterious (and spiritual) going on.
Ok, let's work with this for a moment. I am at a church event (usually in a hall) and people are listening to "secular" music (classic Jazz and Pop), and they are suddenly happy, and connected to the music. They are disappointed when the music stops, (and also when I don't move fast enough between pieces.) Sometimes this produces comments... like 'aww... don't stop now' at the end of my program.
Getting back to the spiritual discussion, I too had similar thoughts as my friend that you can't mix "secular" and "sacred". However my theology (Reformed) had led me to believe that everything in our lives is "sacred" - but somehow this one aspect of "securlar music" somehow escaped me and I never thought very deeply about it until I started providing Jazz for churches - my own and several others.
Here is the 'long and short' of it for me:
Since God in His sovereign wisdom created us in His image, creativity is clearly a reflection of God in us. By "common grace" God has gifted people musically and the world sees (hears) the voice of God in the deepest part of their souls. Think about this when you see someone crying (or yourself crying) at a concert where music is played that has somehow affected you in the past or in the present). It is not uncommon to see people shed tears at my Jazz programs, especially the ballads like "Misty" or "Someone To Watch Over Me"... not with superficial tears, but the kind that come out of nowhere unexpectedly. Why does this happen? I suggest it comes naturally because God has placed in all of us humans with a very sensitive "move me" button. Emotion, long denied to Evangelical "mainstream" Christians. You cannot deny the emotion. It simply flows up from somewhere inside. Your spirit.
I said in my poem about music:
The privilege is mine
To be the chauffer
Of such persuasive rhythms
That move the heart.
Then… I smile.
See the poem in full here
That poem will give you a clue about what is on my heart about this subject. Yes, I believe that music, in general, has a deeply spiritual quality. (I did not address here the negative impact that some music has on people when that music distorts the image of God and causes spiritual harm. But the starting place is the same... a heart that is somehow moved to create! I suppose another way to state my thesis is that music is inherently spiritual.
Most of my life, I have stumbled into things. I was not raised in a privileged home where music lessons were a stepping stone to wealth and fame. Nothing against that, if God has placed you there. However, in my life it seems that my musical career has been a stepping into the unknown, unguided, unplanned. And I have experienced an outlet for my natural abilities to play the trumpet (guitar, mandolin and other instruments). And in that sharing of my full soul for music, other souls are moved. That to me is the point. Making a connection spiritually, not just to the music, but the one performing. Let me illustrate. You are sitting in an audience listening to some really grooving music, and you suddenly find yourself all alone in the crowd, the musician is playing for YOU and that connection carries you beyond the moment, your surroundings, your self-awareness... and you are transported, if but for a few moments, into a place of soul soothing rest. I had one lady give me one of the greatest compliments I have ever received in my life. It was at an Assisted Living, and this dear woman was perfectly aware of her surroundings and situation in life. I played my usual playlist, knowing that people will 'like' it. But she came to me afterward and said... "you know, I was sitting there listening to you play those familiar tunes and it just enveloped my soul." This was not a church setting! Those words burn in my heart even now. By the grace of God I was able to convey to another human being something that moved her spirit. How cool is that!
I play now with a deep awareness that whatever the tune may be (e.g. "It don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing") it is "spiritual" and in some mysterious way is penetrating a cold heart and "enveloping" a soul.
Over the past number of years I have come to understand my Jazz programs to be intensely spiritual, and moving. I suppose most serious performers realize this in some way, but it has taken on a new reality for me since I have been providing music programs for various churches. I see the way people react (in all settings) -not to me -but to the music itself. I use music backgrounds and play Trumpet, and add my own phrasing and musical comments along the score. I glance at the audience and I see smiles that come from deep within. You musicologists out there can tell me that studies have been done that show that music is processed on both sides of the brain... giving an indication that somehow the music experience affects us in ways we cannot understand, and probably reaches deep within our souls.
Having said that, it is interesting that when people hear music they like, they stop everything and 'groove' to the music. Take a look at audiences and watch what happens when they are connecting to the music. They put down the fork or coffee and start clapping in time or dancing in their seats - or jumping up and dancing. I suggest there is something mysterious (and spiritual) going on.
Ok, let's work with this for a moment. I am at a church event (usually in a hall) and people are listening to "secular" music (classic Jazz and Pop), and they are suddenly happy, and connected to the music. They are disappointed when the music stops, (and also when I don't move fast enough between pieces.) Sometimes this produces comments... like 'aww... don't stop now' at the end of my program.
Getting back to the spiritual discussion, I too had similar thoughts as my friend that you can't mix "secular" and "sacred". However my theology (Reformed) had led me to believe that everything in our lives is "sacred" - but somehow this one aspect of "securlar music" somehow escaped me and I never thought very deeply about it until I started providing Jazz for churches - my own and several others.
Here is the 'long and short' of it for me:
Since God in His sovereign wisdom created us in His image, creativity is clearly a reflection of God in us. By "common grace" God has gifted people musically and the world sees (hears) the voice of God in the deepest part of their souls. Think about this when you see someone crying (or yourself crying) at a concert where music is played that has somehow affected you in the past or in the present). It is not uncommon to see people shed tears at my Jazz programs, especially the ballads like "Misty" or "Someone To Watch Over Me"... not with superficial tears, but the kind that come out of nowhere unexpectedly. Why does this happen? I suggest it comes naturally because God has placed in all of us humans with a very sensitive "move me" button. Emotion, long denied to Evangelical "mainstream" Christians. You cannot deny the emotion. It simply flows up from somewhere inside. Your spirit.
I said in my poem about music:
The privilege is mine
To be the chauffer
Of such persuasive rhythms
That move the heart.
Then… I smile.
See the poem in full here
That poem will give you a clue about what is on my heart about this subject. Yes, I believe that music, in general, has a deeply spiritual quality. (I did not address here the negative impact that some music has on people when that music distorts the image of God and causes spiritual harm. But the starting place is the same... a heart that is somehow moved to create! I suppose another way to state my thesis is that music is inherently spiritual.
Most of my life, I have stumbled into things. I was not raised in a privileged home where music lessons were a stepping stone to wealth and fame. Nothing against that, if God has placed you there. However, in my life it seems that my musical career has been a stepping into the unknown, unguided, unplanned. And I have experienced an outlet for my natural abilities to play the trumpet (guitar, mandolin and other instruments). And in that sharing of my full soul for music, other souls are moved. That to me is the point. Making a connection spiritually, not just to the music, but the one performing. Let me illustrate. You are sitting in an audience listening to some really grooving music, and you suddenly find yourself all alone in the crowd, the musician is playing for YOU and that connection carries you beyond the moment, your surroundings, your self-awareness... and you are transported, if but for a few moments, into a place of soul soothing rest. I had one lady give me one of the greatest compliments I have ever received in my life. It was at an Assisted Living, and this dear woman was perfectly aware of her surroundings and situation in life. I played my usual playlist, knowing that people will 'like' it. But she came to me afterward and said... "you know, I was sitting there listening to you play those familiar tunes and it just enveloped my soul." This was not a church setting! Those words burn in my heart even now. By the grace of God I was able to convey to another human being something that moved her spirit. How cool is that!
I play now with a deep awareness that whatever the tune may be (e.g. "It don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing") it is "spiritual" and in some mysterious way is penetrating a cold heart and "enveloping" a soul.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
test post
Logos Bible Software gave us this "Tag" to put Bible verses on the blog, and when you hover over them the Bible verse appears. This is a test entry to see if I can get it working.
Romans 6:1
"by golly" it works!! Now when I have a Bible verse to point to, all you do is hover your mouse over the verse! Cool beans!
Romans 6:1
"by golly" it works!! Now when I have a Bible verse to point to, all you do is hover your mouse over the verse! Cool beans!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Norway... cool shot
I just can't get away from looking at my Norway pics! This shot is on the top of a mountain looking down into the valley below from an observer's viewing area. I have several other shots like this and it seems that all you have to do is point your camera in the right direction and you get a beautiful picture. I did crop this a little, and it came out even more interesting. I did not "adjust" colors etc. The bus ride to the top was quite scary. Hair-pin turns in a rather large bus, with cars coming down the mountain. and passengers looking out the bus window almost straight down, remarking in numerous indistinguishable languages... expressions of fright! My favorite English phrase was "oh boy!" But we made it to the top, and the riders gave the bus driver a spontaneous round of applause. Truly, it was a memorable trip!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Harold...
Harold...
Harold came of age
during the depression.
Never idle.
No bread lines...
Finally...
Foundry work.
Never groused...
Kept shoveling.
Wry wit,
Winking eye...
Self made,
Slept well.
Short on words,
Tall in humor,
Story teller...
Over and over.
Loved life,
Loved his wife
Lonely in time,
Longing for Heaven.
Once happy...
Happy once more.
....
Harold was a remarkable and simple man. He was humorous, lovable and always joking. This quiet man made a huge impression on my heart.
Harold came of age
during the depression.
Never idle.
No bread lines...
Finally...
Foundry work.
Never groused...
Kept shoveling.
Wry wit,
Winking eye...
Self made,
Slept well.
Short on words,
Tall in humor,
Story teller...
Over and over.
Loved life,
Loved his wife
Lonely in time,
Longing for Heaven.
Once happy...
Happy once more.
....
Harold was a remarkable and simple man. He was humorous, lovable and always joking. This quiet man made a huge impression on my heart.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
You need new strings on your guitar...
"New Strings"
Little adjustments
Force the instrument
To Sing a different song
Strings argue
With me
Fighting back
Sound rings
Notes rise
In tune
Harmony comes hard
With newly born strings
Crying out in pain
Music flows
Over my heart
Past my soul
R D Harris
Little adjustments
Force the instrument
To Sing a different song
Strings argue
With me
Fighting back
Sound rings
Notes rise
In tune
Harmony comes hard
With newly born strings
Crying out in pain
Music flows
Over my heart
Past my soul
R D Harris
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
The Oil Spill.... and your Heart
The oil spill is beyond comprehension now.
People in the gulf area are suffering, and will suffer in job losses, and in may other ways. We add our prayers to those already engaged in the 'great prayer' for the Gulf. Pictures of the sludge and the dead wildlife are truly heartbreaking.
I don't want to be overly dramatic in using this as an illustration.... but...
Isn't sin a lot like the oil spill? It runs deep underwater and surfaces eventually to create a gooey slime that is dangerous to clean up and continues to stink even after the visible goop is in plastic bags. It also damages the sea floor so that once fertile seafood production areas are now going to be dead for a long time. Sin is gooey stuff!
We don't like to think about it. For the people in the gulf, many can smell the strong, sickening odor every time they go outside... it follows them around- sticks to their clothes. Sin does that too. It follows us around and wants to stick to our clothes! Multiple washings don't do the trick. Hamlet couldn't wash his hands enough either!
OK, so what do we do now.
It is not as easy as 'wishing' the oil to go away. The reaction of some in the government is to want to kick something! But that 'ain't' going to work. It will take something far larger than good intentions and crocodile tears. It will take something BIG to contain this sinful sludge in our hearts. Only the GRACE of God will clean you up and get rid of the odor of sin in your life! It is only reliance upon the Sovereign God to take away my sin that will finally set me free from it's gooeyness. For believing Christians this is a daily exercise in faith and repentance. It is the only way to be clean and whole. By coming to Christ in sorrow for your sin, and faith working in your heart, by his Sovereign grace, we have "peace with God." And our oil spill is contained!
People in the gulf area are suffering, and will suffer in job losses, and in may other ways. We add our prayers to those already engaged in the 'great prayer' for the Gulf. Pictures of the sludge and the dead wildlife are truly heartbreaking.
I don't want to be overly dramatic in using this as an illustration.... but...
Isn't sin a lot like the oil spill? It runs deep underwater and surfaces eventually to create a gooey slime that is dangerous to clean up and continues to stink even after the visible goop is in plastic bags. It also damages the sea floor so that once fertile seafood production areas are now going to be dead for a long time. Sin is gooey stuff!
We don't like to think about it. For the people in the gulf, many can smell the strong, sickening odor every time they go outside... it follows them around- sticks to their clothes. Sin does that too. It follows us around and wants to stick to our clothes! Multiple washings don't do the trick. Hamlet couldn't wash his hands enough either!
OK, so what do we do now.
It is not as easy as 'wishing' the oil to go away. The reaction of some in the government is to want to kick something! But that 'ain't' going to work. It will take something far larger than good intentions and crocodile tears. It will take something BIG to contain this sinful sludge in our hearts. Only the GRACE of God will clean you up and get rid of the odor of sin in your life! It is only reliance upon the Sovereign God to take away my sin that will finally set me free from it's gooeyness. For believing Christians this is a daily exercise in faith and repentance. It is the only way to be clean and whole. By coming to Christ in sorrow for your sin, and faith working in your heart, by his Sovereign grace, we have "peace with God." And our oil spill is contained!
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