I am wrapping up three weeks on the road and looking forward to coming home (if only for a week). I passed a big Halloween display in a Japanese grocery store. September seems a bit early to be looking forward to Halloween, but not too early to be looking forward to CHOIR!

I really miss the choir family. I miss hearing those songs replaying in my mind during the week. I love singing praises every Sunday. I miss hearing those beautiful voices singing beside me, helping me keep tempo, helping me learn the music; all of us raising our voices together in praise.

Martin Luther loved music. According to Luther: “Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world.” He also said, “I truly desire that all Christians would love and regard as worthy the lovely gift of music, which is a precious, worthy, and costly treasure given to mankind by God.” Like Luther, I would like to share the gift of music, especially Christian music, with everyone.  We can do that in choir.  Come give us a try!

The Psalms are pretty clear. They call on us to make a joyful noise to the Lord in at least 6 different Psalms. I am told that the word they are translating as noise is “Ruwa,” which means, “to shout, raise a sound, cry out, give a blast.” Anyone who thinks they need to sing perfectly to “make a joyful noise” should check out that definition. We can all shout to the Lord and I pray that I’ll soon be shouting with the rest of choir and some of you, too!  Read Psalm 98, and remember: God loves you UNCONDITIONALLY!

Mike

Today’s Reading: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+98&version=NRSV