An argument for rhythm

 I've been watching (and have been involved in) a couple of online discussions regarding the propriety of modern music in the church, and one thought that occurs to me is that, for all the talk about how many would claim that music with a beat (or even a back-beat) comes from pagan sources, in reality it has roots in creation.

Yes, creation, and specifically how we all have inhabited a little room called the "womb", where the soundtrack that was playing featured intestinal sounds, breathing, and a wonderful rhythm machine called the heart.  More than that, the atria contract, and then the ventricles contract--and as fans of Huey Lewis and the News would remind you, it's not just a beat, but it's a back-beat, the characteristic rhythm of rock & roll.

(side note; Lewis used to be a regular performer at wine tasting events....never could quite figure out why so many people who loved wine loved his music so much, but there you go)

This of course comes as no surprise to those who have cared for small children, who know from experience that when push comes to shove, you hold the child on your left side near your heart.  Kids love that back-beat.  We therefore ought to consider the possibility that one reason that we adults enjoy music with a back-beat has nothing to do with pagan music, but rather has everything to do with a built in memory of the rhythms we heard before we were born.  

Worth noting as well is that the use of these rhythms seems to have a good effect on our memorization of the lyrics as well.  So if we believe that a big part of music in the church ought to be to bring God's Word to our hearts and minds, we might infer that a certain portion of it ought to use these natural, God-given patterns.

I'm not sure where the intestinal sounds might come into play, though.  Maybe turning the reverb up on the bass?  Whatever our position on this, we might come together and sing 

I wanna praise the Lord all night, and worship every day

(yes, I'm sure Chaim Witz would be horrified to see his minimum nadir used for this purpose, which is of course part of the fun)

Just like many have said before

 A man who said he was "transgender" to go into a spa in California turns out (surprise!) to be a sex offender with multiple convictions for indecent exposure.  As I've noted many times before, the risk of accomodating "transgenders" in bathrooms and locker rooms that do not correspond to their "factory equipment" probably doesn't have a whole lot to do with genuinely transgender people, but rather the risk that those who are, or should be, on Megan's List will use this as a way to get into facilities where they would otherwise have been told to leave.

Yikes

 Back when I lived in Waseca, I went for a time to a small Baptist church that ultimately revealed itself to be a bit more of the KJVO/Trail of Blood/Jack Hyles orbit than I was comfortable with, and one of the things the "pastor" did there was to try to get a "Reformers Unanimous" group going.  For the uninitiated, "Reformers Unanimous" is more or less a fairly hard line fundamental alternative to Alcoholics Anonymous and other groups seeking to free men from addiction to alcohol, drugs, and sexual behaviors.  They are...um...."famous" for being the group which "assisted" Josh Duggar, now on trial for possession of child pornography, as he "dealt with" his history of molesting juveniles (including his own sisters), pornography, and adultery.  I think it's safe to say that the therapy was not entirely successful.

"Reformers Unanimous" is a "ministry" of North Love Baptist Church in Rockford, IL, and Julie Roys reports that close to two dozen people have reported being sexually assaulted by members, pastors, and missionaries of the church, at least one of whom has been convicted in a court of law, and another of whom features prominently in the GRACE Report of Bob Jones University.  The "pastor" there appears to have resigned over his failure to report these matters to police, but those remaining at the church apparently are still arguing that he didn't do anything that disqualifies him as a pastor.

My bet is that Mr. Kingsbury, the "pastor", is going to be back somewhere unless a large civil judgment is awarded against the church (and hopefully him as well).   Pray for justice in this case, and the data we have at this point suggests very strongly that there was wrongdoing by the church and Mr. Kingsbury.  

A COVID era funeral

 I attended, virtually, the funeral for Sam Perry this morning at Everton's St. George's Church, also nicknamed the "Iron Church" because it's an early example of churches built with iron framing instead of the previously common vaulted ceilings in churches.  It was a beautiful funeral for a man who, despite humble beginnings, managed a lot in his life, including a great career as a cutter for tailors' shops, as an instructor in the local vocational college, and among his friends and family.  Ian, Sam's son, gave a wonderful eulogy.  If you know a tradesman whose hands are capable of doing far more than just his trade, you have in a way met Sam.  He could cut and sew a suit, but also made beautiful things like doll houses and castles (a boy's doll house) from scrap lumber, played instruments, and a lot more.  

One thing I noticed for sure is that when the funeral is for a man who worked in tailors' shops, you're going to see a number of men whose suits fit far better than you'll see in most places in the U.S., even if you're in a law office.   Another thing to note is that when I think of churches from the last couple of centuries, architectural excellence is not usually what I think of.  However, the iron framing in St. George's is almost etherial in its beauty.  Here's a shot of the interior.