I thought about titling this one "Learning to Worship..." but it's about singing and I really don't like the formula worship = singing. Singing CAN equal worship, but it's a one way relationship. In object oriented programming, we would call it an "is-a" relationship - although possibly with a dotted line. Romans 12 defines worship a bit more broadly...
But I'm not really wanting to write about programming. I'm writing about the Veggie Tales. Say what you want about the CGI vegetables, I think they're funny and besides, I'm stuck with them. My son LOVES his Veggie Tales "Sunday Morning Songs" CD, in particular "I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my hear...where?" song. Often, right after the song ends he'll say in his little 18 month old voice "'appy! 'appy", which means "play the song again! NOW!" ('appy refers to the chorus: And I'm so happy, so very happy...)
I can't really say it's a bad thing having children's praise music non-stop in the house - even if it is the same song over and over. It's a good reminder of childlike faith and there are some really great lessons in the songs. They may be simple tunes and basic lessons, but I see great benefit in being reminded that I have the joy, love, peace and the mighty messiah the manifests miracles down in my heart (where?)
Learning to praise God with my son seems to be a pretty good lesson as well. Avi can't really sing along in church, although he does enjoy the music, but there's something about these kids' tunes that allows him to participate more directly. If I'm able to join him where he's at, we can together make a joyful noise.
I'm not trying to insinuate that he has any deep understanding of praise, worship or theology, but I do believe he has that same innate longing to know the Father that we all have. If he can draw close to God, somehow bring glory to Him, even if he doesn't quite have a high-level awareness of it, that seems to me a really good thing.
So, I've found myself learning to praise along with a singing tomato and his not-so-bright cucumber friend. If a vegetable can do it, I should be able to as well.
Friday, July 08, 2005
Thursday, July 07, 2005
An Expanded Definition of "Hallow"
Yesterday, during our prayer meeting (see "Wednesday's Big Idea"), we spent a considerable time praying for one another and, in particular, blessing. At the same time we were praying, I was meditating on the first part of the Lord's Prayer - in particular "hallowed be your name."
I have spent a lot of time thinking about what it means to "hallow". I have looked in the dictionary and thesaurus and attempted to spend time hallowing God's name in my prayer. However, yesterday a line was draw from people speaking blessing to one another to hallowing the Father's name. A light bulb came on and I realized that we were emulating the Father as we spoke words of blessing for others. Imitation is more than the sincerest form of flattery, it is also a form of reverence - an acknowledgement that someone or something is worthy of following.
This revelation was incredibly freeing to me as it unbounded the idea of "hallowing" from traditional forms of worship. Trying to be like the Father is giving him the highest praise. He delights in it. I am brought back to my own son and how I feel when he wants and tries to do the things I do. I find great joy in watching him grow and experiment, especially when I know he's attempting something worthy of imitation.
Hallowing the Father's name ultimately means acting, thinking and speaking in a way that honors and brings glory to it. Blessing is certainly bringing honor to God, praying for one another honors Him and declaring His power and glory most certainly honors Him.
It is these small revelations that remind me that God is speaking to His people. He whispers in our ear, He gives us ideas and inspiration. His Word is alive and when we spend time with Him we are most able to receive that word. If that isn't an endorsement for prayer, I don't know what is. I believe God is constantly sending, are we receiving?
I have spent a lot of time thinking about what it means to "hallow". I have looked in the dictionary and thesaurus and attempted to spend time hallowing God's name in my prayer. However, yesterday a line was draw from people speaking blessing to one another to hallowing the Father's name. A light bulb came on and I realized that we were emulating the Father as we spoke words of blessing for others. Imitation is more than the sincerest form of flattery, it is also a form of reverence - an acknowledgement that someone or something is worthy of following.
This revelation was incredibly freeing to me as it unbounded the idea of "hallowing" from traditional forms of worship. Trying to be like the Father is giving him the highest praise. He delights in it. I am brought back to my own son and how I feel when he wants and tries to do the things I do. I find great joy in watching him grow and experiment, especially when I know he's attempting something worthy of imitation.
Hallowing the Father's name ultimately means acting, thinking and speaking in a way that honors and brings glory to it. Blessing is certainly bringing honor to God, praying for one another honors Him and declaring His power and glory most certainly honors Him.
It is these small revelations that remind me that God is speaking to His people. He whispers in our ear, He gives us ideas and inspiration. His Word is alive and when we spend time with Him we are most able to receive that word. If that isn't an endorsement for prayer, I don't know what is. I believe God is constantly sending, are we receiving?
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Wednesday's Big Idea: Blessing
This one is short, sweet and to the point. We practiced blessing and it was good practice! First, we looked into a few key passages on blessing:
Genesis 1:26-2:3 (God blessing Adam and Eve and giving them their assignment)
Numbers 6:21-27 (The priestly blessing)
Psalm 20 (A good solid blessing - very useful as a primer)
Luke 3:21-22 (God the Father blessing Jesus at his baptism)
Why bless?
1) God the father does it
2) Jesus, the son did it
3) It releases Resource , Revelation and Relationship into our lives.
There are countless more reasons, but those seem pretty good to me. The Bible is full of people blessing others. Whether it's God blessing creation, Jacob blessing his sons or Jesus blessing a meal, blessing is found from beginning to end. Blessing is one way God uses us to bestow authority, revelation and resource into the lives of others.
Blessing is as mysterious as prayer, but just as vital. We need to speak with each other with the voice of blessing to our spouses, children, fellow believers and others around us. It is a key counter to cursing, which we hear far too much of these days. Paul has something to say about this when writing to the Romans. In chapter 12 he writes, "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse."
Bless and do not curse. Sound advice, if you ask me. So what are you waiting for? Bless someone right now!
Genesis 1:26-2:3 (God blessing Adam and Eve and giving them their assignment)
Numbers 6:21-27 (The priestly blessing)
Psalm 20 (A good solid blessing - very useful as a primer)
Luke 3:21-22 (God the Father blessing Jesus at his baptism)
Why bless?
1) God the father does it
2) Jesus, the son did it
3) It releases Resource , Revelation and Relationship into our lives.
There are countless more reasons, but those seem pretty good to me. The Bible is full of people blessing others. Whether it's God blessing creation, Jacob blessing his sons or Jesus blessing a meal, blessing is found from beginning to end. Blessing is one way God uses us to bestow authority, revelation and resource into the lives of others.
Blessing is as mysterious as prayer, but just as vital. We need to speak with each other with the voice of blessing to our spouses, children, fellow believers and others around us. It is a key counter to cursing, which we hear far too much of these days. Paul has something to say about this when writing to the Romans. In chapter 12 he writes, "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse."
Bless and do not curse. Sound advice, if you ask me. So what are you waiting for? Bless someone right now!
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
What is the Purpose of Art?
Once again Rochelle Gurstein's series in The New Republic inspires me to write about art. Gurstein is quickly becoming a must-read author for me - her monthly columns have so far been great launching points for ideas. This month in On Beauty and Aesthetic Autonomy (registration required?), she writes about those in the "art world" finding craftmanship and beauty where none was intended (e.g. "Fountain", an upside down urinal created as part of the Dada/situationist movement.)
While not the thrust of the article, the themes I read in it made me wonder "what is the purpose of art?" As I wandered down this road, I came to a fork and I realized that two roads led to many different places. The first road was that of the creative experience. Sometimes art is made to simply experience that act of creation. The other road is that of communication. Art is an amazing medium for communicating all manner of things and certainly art plays an important role in conveying both the zeitgeist and essence of a culture at any given moment.
Art as an Act of Creation
The first road is easier for me to take, as I personally understand art from the creator's perspective. Sometimes just painting, drawing or writing something is a pleasurable act. I think this is part of "the image of God" in which we are all created. God's first act was to create and he clearly took please both in creating and in his creation calling it both "good" and "very good". Certainly part of the pleasure derived from creating a work of art is looking upon it and declaring it "good". Additionally, the creative process ignites in us an excitement as we see an empty page or a formless blob become something - our own expression of genesis ex nihlo.
We see the emptiness of a page, the bare canvass, the unformed shape and something is awakened in us. We here in our ear "Fill, Arrange, Multiply", our first blessing and the first command. In that act we find fulfillment because it is what we were created to do. The object created serves no purpose other than to satiate our creative urges. Once complete, it may sit on a shelf or in the garage and we may or may not observe it again. It is for private consumption - if it is to be consumed at all.
Art as an Act of Communication
Art to communicate is wholly different. Unlike the visceral fulfillment of creation simply to create, communicative art is bounded by the ends. As the "sender" of the message, one must craft it in such a way that it can be received. This means shaping it to a form that can be received, understood, consumed. This in no way denigrates the art, but it does change the experience from the aspect of the creator.
This road, the road of communication, is certainly at the heart of the question "What is the purpose of art." More properly, the question should be "What is the purpose of public art." Artists have held many roles over the millennia from historians and decorators to public agitators. Art has inspired political revolution and quite contemplation (Sister Agnes, anyone?). It has been used for propaganda and for entertainment - sometimes simultaneously. Is there an overarching purpose or is it simply one more way to communicate any number of things?
Beauty?
Beauty finds its way along this road both as a help and a hindrance to communication. Is the depiction of war beautiful? Should it be? Is there beauty to be found in renaissance and Byzantine images of the crucifixion and if so, wherein is the beauty of torturous capital punishment? Yet, beauty is found in the most surprising of places and beauty itself is a tenuous thing.
Why this discussion of beauty? Because not all art is beautiful. I question the beauty of some of Christo's work - large installments taking over massive swathes of land. I find Pollock's paintings less than beautiful and some music is painful to the ears. Does Christo change the way I experience the landscape? Does Pollock change the way I see expression? Does a punk rock diatribe move me to action? They can and in that sense the sender and receiver have made a connection.
Likewise, some works of art can be amazingly beautiful, but stir inside very little. Nothing has changed, nothing has been inspired. It simply is. This can be an end in itself, but often technical mastery is simply that. A technically flawless, but uninspiring painting is a show of crafmanship, but is it a show of artistry?
Art Must Affect Change
I expected to find myself coming to the defense of beauty, but in the end I find myself coming to the defense of impact. It seems that beauty must have a context for it to be meaningful to me and that the purpose of art is to cause meaningful change and inspiration. If a work of art is created and nobody is affected has it served its purpose? If its purpose is to communicate, I would say no. If it was to fulfill a need for artistic expression, then yes.
Once again I've walked down a road longer than I have time for. I have some more wandering to do and the sign at the crossroads says "What is beauty? Left. What is art? Right." A small warning sign in the distance reminds me "Don't forget commerce." So many paths, so little time.
While not the thrust of the article, the themes I read in it made me wonder "what is the purpose of art?" As I wandered down this road, I came to a fork and I realized that two roads led to many different places. The first road was that of the creative experience. Sometimes art is made to simply experience that act of creation. The other road is that of communication. Art is an amazing medium for communicating all manner of things and certainly art plays an important role in conveying both the zeitgeist and essence of a culture at any given moment.
Art as an Act of Creation
The first road is easier for me to take, as I personally understand art from the creator's perspective. Sometimes just painting, drawing or writing something is a pleasurable act. I think this is part of "the image of God" in which we are all created. God's first act was to create and he clearly took please both in creating and in his creation calling it both "good" and "very good". Certainly part of the pleasure derived from creating a work of art is looking upon it and declaring it "good". Additionally, the creative process ignites in us an excitement as we see an empty page or a formless blob become something - our own expression of genesis ex nihlo.
We see the emptiness of a page, the bare canvass, the unformed shape and something is awakened in us. We here in our ear "Fill, Arrange, Multiply", our first blessing and the first command. In that act we find fulfillment because it is what we were created to do. The object created serves no purpose other than to satiate our creative urges. Once complete, it may sit on a shelf or in the garage and we may or may not observe it again. It is for private consumption - if it is to be consumed at all.
Art as an Act of Communication
Art to communicate is wholly different. Unlike the visceral fulfillment of creation simply to create, communicative art is bounded by the ends. As the "sender" of the message, one must craft it in such a way that it can be received. This means shaping it to a form that can be received, understood, consumed. This in no way denigrates the art, but it does change the experience from the aspect of the creator.
This road, the road of communication, is certainly at the heart of the question "What is the purpose of art." More properly, the question should be "What is the purpose of public art." Artists have held many roles over the millennia from historians and decorators to public agitators. Art has inspired political revolution and quite contemplation (Sister Agnes, anyone?). It has been used for propaganda and for entertainment - sometimes simultaneously. Is there an overarching purpose or is it simply one more way to communicate any number of things?
Beauty?
Beauty finds its way along this road both as a help and a hindrance to communication. Is the depiction of war beautiful? Should it be? Is there beauty to be found in renaissance and Byzantine images of the crucifixion and if so, wherein is the beauty of torturous capital punishment? Yet, beauty is found in the most surprising of places and beauty itself is a tenuous thing.
Why this discussion of beauty? Because not all art is beautiful. I question the beauty of some of Christo's work - large installments taking over massive swathes of land. I find Pollock's paintings less than beautiful and some music is painful to the ears. Does Christo change the way I experience the landscape? Does Pollock change the way I see expression? Does a punk rock diatribe move me to action? They can and in that sense the sender and receiver have made a connection.
Likewise, some works of art can be amazingly beautiful, but stir inside very little. Nothing has changed, nothing has been inspired. It simply is. This can be an end in itself, but often technical mastery is simply that. A technically flawless, but uninspiring painting is a show of crafmanship, but is it a show of artistry?
Art Must Affect Change
I expected to find myself coming to the defense of beauty, but in the end I find myself coming to the defense of impact. It seems that beauty must have a context for it to be meaningful to me and that the purpose of art is to cause meaningful change and inspiration. If a work of art is created and nobody is affected has it served its purpose? If its purpose is to communicate, I would say no. If it was to fulfill a need for artistic expression, then yes.
Once again I've walked down a road longer than I have time for. I have some more wandering to do and the sign at the crossroads says "What is beauty? Left. What is art? Right." A small warning sign in the distance reminds me "Don't forget commerce." So many paths, so little time.
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