The Church Choir

Church Choir: A church within a church, made up of many of the church's finest leaders ... the most likely place where a majority will bond together in friendship and unity, as they bond with the Lord.

In strengthening it's members, the entire church is strengthened. And, as they become one in heart, soul, and purpose ... God has promised His Spirit indwelling.

The entire direction of a church can be changed through its' choir.

Dear Choir Members,

I want to write to you about the special abilities that the Holy Spirit gives to each of you, for I don't want any misunderstanding about them.

You will remember that before you became choir members, you stayed at home during choir practice (watching TV). Not one of you were singing a single note. But now you are a meeting people who claim to sing messages from the Spirit of God. How can you know whether they are singing for God or whether they are fakes? Here is the test: no one singing by the power of the Spirit of God can curse Jesus, and no one can sing, "Jesus is Lord," and really mean it, unless the Holy Spirit is helping him.

Now God gives us many kinds of special abilities, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service to God, but it is the same Lord we are serving. There are many ways in which God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work in and through all of us who are His. The Holy Spirit displays God's power through each of us as a means of helping the entire choir.

To some the Spirit gives the ability to sing soprano; others may be especially good at second or alto, and this is His gift from the same Spirit. To some He gives a special solo talent, and to others the power to harmonize. He gives powers for singing tenor, and to others the power to sing bass. He gives someone else the power to select and direct our music - that it is really the Spirit of God who is singing. Still another person is able to operate our sound system, while others are given the gift of playing musical instruments. It is the same and only Holy Spirit who gives us all these gifts and powers, deciding which each one of us should have.

The choir has many parts, but the many parts make up only one choir when they are all put together. So it is with the "choir" of Christ. Each of us is part of the one choir of Christ. Some of us are sopranos or seconds, some are altos, some are tenors and some are bass. But the Holy Spirit has fitted us all together into one choir. We have been chosen into Christ's choir by the one Spirit, and have all been given the same Holy Spirit.

Yes, the choir has many parts, not just one part. If the alto says, "I am not a part of the choir because I am not a soloist," that does not make him any less a part of the choir. And what would you think if you heard a youth say, "I am not a part of the choir because the choir loft is running out of room?" Would that make him any less a part of the choir? Suppose the whole choir was a director, then who would sing? Or if the whole choir just sang, who would play the instruments?
But that isn't the way God made us. He has many parts for the choir and has put each part just where He wants it. What a strange thing it would be if it only had one part! So He has made many parts, but still there is one choir.

The alto can never say to the soprano, "I don't need you." The choir can never say to the director, "I don't need you." And some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary. If one part suffers, all parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

Now here is what I'm trying to say: all of you together are one choir of Christ and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.

Sincerely,
X
Paul

(Written by Paul, Chosen by God to be Jesus Christ's missionary, and from brother Sosthenes. To: All Choir Members everywhere - whoever calls upon the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and theirs. I Co. 12, Living Bible, adapted for choir.)

© By Joyce C. Lock
http://my.homewithgod.com/blessingsandlessons/
http://www.aspecialplace.net/ChristianityMadeSimple/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeavenlyInspirations-originalwritings/
http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/heavenlyinspirations-intro.htm
This writing may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact,
for non-profit ministering purposes.



October 20, 2009
By Joyce C. Lock
In addition to being a published author and poet, Joyce C. Lock created the religion column, "Christianity Made Simple" for Peru Daily Tribune, continues to write inspirational articles for area newspapers, and shares further in online and e-mail ministries.

Choir

Musicians Need Hobbies

“As musicians, you’re so lucky that your profession is your hobby. You’re so lucky. I’m so jealous. I hate you because I’m jealous. Actually, I just hate you.”

Many of my colleagues have heard that they are rather fortunate to have a profession that can double up as a hobby. There is definite truth to this statement, especially if the musician in question has diversity within his or her particular field. For example, a composer who is also a skilled pianist could be said to have two hobbies. This is most certainly a wonderful blessing.

However, what if a musician has only one major skill within his or her profession? This type of scenario can become a bit troublesome. Consider a semi retired composer who uses a winding down profession as a stress relieving hobby. He needs a music band to sing his song. Have a look at the following situation:

On Monday, our composer in question (let’s call him Felix) sits down and begins to write a jingle for a television commercial. On Tuesday, writers block sets in. By Thursday, the writer’s block continues. Hmmm! It’s time for Felix to seek stress relief. It’s a shame that golfing, tennis or art collecting aren’t interests that have been formulated and honed over the years as ‘Felix stress relieving devices’. So what does our composer friend turn to in times of stress from his profession? More COMPOSING!

Isn’t that just great!! In this circumstance, Felix’s hobby reminds him of the exact stress filled situation that he is trying to escape from. This situation has the potential, over time, to accelerate out of control. Add into the mix a definite migraine and potential ulcer unless Felix finds a consistent outlet that has nothing to do with his focus of frustration.

This would not as likely be the situation with a composer/pianist, for example. In this case, our frustrated composer (let’s call her Samantha) could turn to the piano and play other composer’s works to her heart’s content. Pianists are continually searching through other composer’s repertoire in order to find meaning in their world. What a wonderful way of escaping the highly personal problems associated with writer’s block.

Felix is freaking out. Samantha is happy. I’m happy. Why? My humble point has, to an extent, been favorably argued.

A best case scenario would be a musician that has a hobby of a completely non-musical nature. Even in Samantha’s case, her sanity relies completely on the health of her hands. If she sprains a wrist, or develops any sort of syndrome associated with the muscles in her wrists, her outlet is compromised. Also, she runs a small risk of not being able to escape from her writer’s block through the art of piano playing. After all, perhaps playing other successfully published compositions remind her of the ‘failure’ of a composition that she is having trouble with. Much depends on the personality of the composer who is experiencing the block.

Musicians need hobbies. They’re like safety nets. Having two or three can prove to be highly beneficial. Contrasting hobbies are like having different brands of safety nets. If one brand is not performing well, then you have another brand that may well prove to be long lasting in its effectiveness.



September 16, 2009
By Daniel E. Friedman
Come and join the author, Daniel E. Friedman, at http://www.musicmasterstudios.com for assistance in music education and comprehension.