Comments on: A New Five Year Old http://www.worshipmatters.com/2006/10/a-new-five-year/ Resources for Leading Worship from Bob Kauflin Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:27:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Mike Quinlisk http://www.worshipmatters.com/2006/10/a-new-five-year/#comment-869 Mike Quinlisk Fri, 27 Oct 2006 00:12:55 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=229#comment-869 I've had my iPod for about 1.5 years and a week ago, the battery exerted its last stored drop of energy and turned off on my way to school. That day was amazing to me because I hadn't heard "nothing" ever since I got my iPod. Since then I've totally enjoyed listening to the noises that the world makes around me. I have recharged my iPod since then but I feel so much less of a draw to be constantly plugged in. Good article and comments! I’ve had my iPod for about 1.5 years and a week ago, the battery exerted its last stored drop of energy and turned off on my way to school.
That day was amazing to me because I hadn’t heard “nothing” ever since I got my iPod. Since then I’ve totally enjoyed listening to the noises that the world makes around me.
I have recharged my iPod since then but I feel so much less of a draw to be constantly plugged in. Good article and comments!

]]> By: Drew http://www.worshipmatters.com/2006/10/a-new-five-year/#comment-868 Drew Thu, 26 Oct 2006 21:13:44 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=229#comment-868 Robin, I hate to say it, but you may have to look back - way back - for good songs of lamentation. I'm sure someone has some good modern writers in mind, but hymns are full of such comfort in the presence of pain. Fortunately, there are some good places to turn. Both Indelible Grace and Red Mountain Music have recorded some great music that is rich with the acknowledgement of pain and the resonation of hope in Christ. I think of RMC's rootsy Gadsby Projects - especially Help My Unbelief - and Indelible Grace's folksy "I Asked the Lord." Robin, I hate to say it, but you may have to look back - way back - for good songs of lamentation. I’m sure someone has some good modern writers in mind, but hymns are full of such comfort in the presence of pain. Fortunately, there are some good places to turn. Both Indelible Grace and Red Mountain Music have recorded some great music that is rich with the acknowledgement of pain and the resonation of hope in Christ. I think of RMC’s rootsy Gadsby Projects - especially Help My Unbelief - and Indelible Grace’s folksy “I Asked the Lord.”

]]> By: Chris Krycho http://www.worshipmatters.com/2006/10/a-new-five-year/#comment-867 Chris Krycho Thu, 26 Oct 2006 18:53:33 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=229#comment-867 Bob - thanks for the article and insights. Good stuff. Robin - PluggedIn Online did a segment on just that in the context of metal recently (part of a six-part essay on the topic of heavy metal, actually). You can find the pertinent information <a href="http://www.pluggedinonline.com/thisweekonly/a0002895.cfm" rel="nofollow">here</a> and <a href="http://www.pluggedinonline.com/thisweekonly/a0002913.cfm" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Hopefully that will be of at least some use. :) Oh, and on a similar note to Bob's article, The Point hit the same topic today, with <a href="http://thepoint.breakpoint.org/2006/10/music_of_the_sp.html" rel="nofollow">a post</a> addressing that issue as well (in the latter part, anyway). Bob - thanks for the article and insights. Good stuff.

Robin - PluggedIn Online did a segment on just that in the context of metal recently (part of a six-part essay on the topic of heavy metal, actually). You can find the pertinent information here and here. Hopefully that will be of at least some use. :)
Oh, and on a similar note to Bob’s article, The Point hit the same topic today, with a post addressing that issue as well (in the latter part, anyway).

]]> By: Kate http://www.worshipmatters.com/2006/10/a-new-five-year/#comment-866 Kate Thu, 26 Oct 2006 15:20:52 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=229#comment-866 My husband is in the military, so we have to move every 2-3 years. Because of that, we are not always blessed to be able to attend a Sovereign Grace church in the cities that we live. Our iPod has been a means of grace in our lives! We are able to listen to the weekly sermons from our former church, Cornerstone Church of Knoxville, and sermons from many other S.G. churches daily because of the Podcasts that are offered. In a world where it is hard to find Biblically sound teaching, being able to be "fed" from some wise men and women in S.G. is a breath of fresh air for us! We are so thankful for the iPod, along with other technological devices, that allow us to further benefit from sound teaching and doctrine while we serve our country and our Savior! My husband is in the military, so we have to move every 2-3 years. Because of that, we are not always blessed to be able to attend a Sovereign Grace church in the cities that we live. Our iPod has been a means of grace in our lives! We are able to listen to the weekly sermons from our former church, Cornerstone Church of Knoxville, and sermons from many other S.G. churches daily because of the Podcasts that are offered. In a world where it is hard to find Biblically sound teaching, being able to be “fed” from some wise men and women in S.G. is a breath of fresh air for us! We are so thankful for the iPod, along with other technological devices, that allow us to further benefit from sound teaching and doctrine while we serve our country and our Savior!

]]> By: Robin http://www.worshipmatters.com/2006/10/a-new-five-year/#comment-865 Robin Thu, 26 Oct 2006 13:38:14 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=229#comment-865 Hey, i appreciate the nuances and thanks for clarifying. :) Just thinking about the teenager scenario - do you know of any music that could identify with the anger and rebellion but from a godly heart, something a bit more Lamentations or Eccesiasties based? Christian music (generalisation alert!) tends to have happy endings - is there room for some radical, Jesus inspired angst? Hey, i appreciate the nuances and thanks for clarifying. :)
Just thinking about the teenager scenario - do you know of any music that could identify with the anger and rebellion but from a godly heart, something a bit more Lamentations or Eccesiasties based? Christian music (generalisation alert!) tends to have happy endings - is there room for some radical, Jesus inspired angst?

]]> By: Bob Kauflin http://www.worshipmatters.com/2006/10/a-new-five-year/#comment-864 Bob Kauflin Thu, 26 Oct 2006 11:41:41 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=229#comment-864 Robin, Thanks for the feedback. You make some great points which I totally agree with. Especially appreciate your comment about parents listening to music along with their children. I tried to make that point in my encouragement to "listen to music as a famiily." Excellent counsel. I also affirm with you that "something which you may find personally challenging is not necessarily the same for everyone." Amen. It's funny, but I don't think anyone has ever said my thinking about music was simplistic! I think about this stuff all the time. My comments were couched in nuance - this "may" happen, "at times" this happens, "probably" will. I don't believe music controls or governs our behavior, but can influence it in ways we might be unaware. Basically, I think that listening to music without discernment or godly intent reveals a heart willing to flirt with love for the world. Sounds like you've thought quite a bit about this area and wouldn't be as susceptible as some to the effect of music. I'd also agree that teenagers are often more unaware than adults of why they listen to music. It can be rooted in idolatry, a desire to be "cool,", rebellion against parents, etc. Or they can be enjoying God's creativity and beauty in the music they listen to. In any case, my point is that we should be examining how the music we listen affects our hearts and minds. One more thing. Looking back on the post, I wish I had emphasized more of the positive aspects of being able to listen to so much music, so many sermons, and so much of God's Word. Thanks for sharpening my thinking in these areas. Robin,

Thanks for the feedback. You make some great points which I totally agree with.
Especially appreciate your comment about parents listening to music along with their children. I tried to make that point in my encouragement to “listen to music as a famiily.” Excellent counsel.

I also affirm with you that “something which you may find personally challenging is not necessarily the same for everyone.” Amen.

It’s funny, but I don’t think anyone has ever said my thinking about music was simplistic! I think about this stuff all the time. My comments were couched in nuance - this “may” happen, “at times” this happens, “probably” will. I don’t believe music controls or governs our behavior, but can influence it in ways we might be unaware. Basically, I think that listening to music without discernment or godly intent reveals a heart willing to flirt with love for the world. Sounds like you’ve thought quite a bit about this area and wouldn’t be as susceptible as some to the effect of music.

I’d also agree that teenagers are often more unaware than adults of why they listen to music. It can be rooted in idolatry, a desire to be “cool,”, rebellion against parents, etc. Or they can be enjoying God’s creativity and beauty in the music they listen to. In any case, my point is that we should be examining how the music we listen affects our hearts and minds.

One more thing. Looking back on the post, I wish I had emphasized more of the positive aspects of being able to listen to so much music, so many sermons, and so much of God’s Word. Thanks for sharpening my thinking in these areas.

]]> By: Robin http://www.worshipmatters.com/2006/10/a-new-five-year/#comment-863 Robin Thu, 26 Oct 2006 09:38:35 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=229#comment-863 re: repeated listening (cont.) That's interesting although perhaps quite a simplistic view of people's reaction to music. If I listened to a piece of worship music repeatedly would i similarly find myself influenced but in a spiritual fashion? I feel there's a lot more going on inside us and a god given ability to seperate emotion and action/reaction (to a dregree at least). Perhaps in the teenager the music is the only thing that seems to understand his/her struggle - doesn't judge, demand or belittle. With introspective music i would say that perhaps it's good to release our emotions though music - to allow us to cry. Personally, after a relationship breakup many years ago i listened constantly to two Pearl Jam songs and they allowed me to cry and helped me heal (they were on opposite sides of a piece of vinyl - the iPod did not invent repeat listening (-8 ) and now when i hear them it brings back floods of memories about the good things we shared. I don't believe that our dreams, memories or imaginations will necessarily lead us into sin and music can bring such vivid colour to our busy minds. I think there's a danger of being too simplistic with these sorts of ideas and something which you may find personally challenging is not necessarily the same for everyone. Music doesn't generate intent, although it can encourage, affirm, feed (if you like) but it's an awful long way from wanting to burn your parents house down to actually doing it and i don't feel that music would be the key factor. On the other hand meditating on the word of god, the repeated reading, listening, praying of scripture can produce lots of fruit - if your intention is to meet with god. That's the power of god's word :) God has given us so many things to enjoy, music being one of the most extraordinary - teenagers learn this very quickly and along with your good advice for parents i would add that you should be interested in your kids music, share in it rather than monitor. re: repeated listening (cont.)
That’s interesting although perhaps quite a simplistic view of people’s reaction to music. If I listened to a piece of worship music repeatedly would i similarly find myself influenced but in a spiritual fashion? I feel there’s a lot more going on inside us and a god given ability to seperate emotion and action/reaction (to a dregree at least). Perhaps in the teenager the music is the only thing that seems to understand his/her struggle - doesn’t judge, demand or belittle. With introspective music i would say that perhaps it’s good to release our emotions though music - to allow us to cry. Personally, after a relationship breakup many years ago i listened constantly to two Pearl Jam songs and they allowed me to cry and helped me heal (they were on opposite sides of a piece of vinyl - the iPod did not invent repeat listening (-8 ) and now when i hear them it brings back floods of memories about the good things we shared. I don’t believe that our dreams, memories or imaginations will necessarily lead us into sin and music can bring such vivid colour to our busy minds.

I think there’s a danger of being too simplistic with these sorts of ideas and something which you may find personally challenging is not necessarily the same for everyone. Music doesn’t generate intent, although it can encourage, affirm, feed (if you like) but it’s an awful long way from wanting to burn your parents house down to actually doing it and i don’t feel that music would be the key factor. On the other hand meditating on the word of god, the repeated reading, listening, praying of scripture can produce lots of fruit - if your intention is to meet with god. That’s the power of god’s word :)
God has given us so many things to enjoy, music being one of the most extraordinary - teenagers learn this very quickly and along with your good advice for parents i would add that you should be interested in your kids music, share in it rather than monitor.

]]> By: Eric Barnhart http://www.worshipmatters.com/2006/10/a-new-five-year/#comment-862 Eric Barnhart Thu, 26 Oct 2006 05:15:27 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=229#comment-862 Berkely prof. Hubert Dreyfus wrote a book entitled "On The Internet" concerning some of the potential philosophical and sociological pitfalls of www. As the ipod is largely (and i've no doubt will become even more so w/ successive generations) an extension of e-commerce, it's not surprising that he hits on several themes mentioned in this post. While I disagree with many of his conclusions, I believe it's healthy to evaluate whether or not new technological advances are helping or hurting us in leading biblical lives. That being said... man, this new 80gig 5g is cool! I transferred 11 gigs of wav files from the sound tech computer, took it home and dumped them onto my workstation at home in under 20 minutes total transfer time. Ok, maybe i'm a bit of a gadget head, but just typing that makes me a little misty. -eee Berkely prof. Hubert Dreyfus wrote a book entitled “On The Internet” concerning some of the potential philosophical and sociological pitfalls of http://www. As the ipod is largely (and i’ve no doubt will become even more so w/ successive generations) an extension of e-commerce, it’s not surprising that he hits on several themes mentioned in this post. While I disagree with many of his conclusions, I believe it’s healthy to evaluate whether or not new technological advances are helping or hurting us in leading biblical lives.
That being said… man, this new 80gig 5g is cool! I transferred 11 gigs of wav files from the sound tech computer, took it home and dumped them onto my workstation at home in under 20 minutes total transfer time. Ok, maybe i’m a bit of a gadget head, but just typing that makes me a little misty.
-eee

]]> By: Bob Kauflin http://www.worshipmatters.com/2006/10/a-new-five-year/#comment-861 Bob Kauflin Thu, 26 Oct 2006 02:36:21 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=229#comment-861 Lou, Thanks for the meaningful comment and the reminder of one more way we can glorify God with an iPod. Lou,

Thanks for the meaningful comment and the reminder of one more way we can glorify God with an iPod.

]]> By: Lou Gallo http://www.worshipmatters.com/2006/10/a-new-five-year/#comment-860 Lou Gallo Wed, 25 Oct 2006 23:10:38 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=229#comment-860 Bob, while I agree wholeheartedly with your cautions regarding isolationism or should I say, in my case, selfishness. I can't help but comment on the benefits. I just left my friend Mark who is bedridden due to many complicated medical issues. He is also unable to read. Recently his small group got together and bought him an iPod. They loaded it with the ESV Bible. The change in my friend's soul has been remarkable. He is more joyful in the midst of his trial and he is more amazed by grace than ever before. He would attribute the change to his ability to hear God's word. As with any technology the dangers are many but in this case the benefits have been life changing. On behalf of my friend Mark, happy birthday iPod! Bob, while I agree wholeheartedly with your cautions regarding isolationism or should I say, in my case, selfishness. I can’t help but comment on the benefits. I just left my friend Mark who is bedridden due to many complicated medical issues. He is also unable to read. Recently his small group got together and bought him an iPod. They loaded it with the ESV Bible. The change in my friend’s soul has been remarkable. He is more joyful in the midst of his trial and he is more amazed by grace than ever before. He would attribute the change to his ability to hear God’s word. As with any technology the dangers are many but in this case the benefits have been life changing. On behalf of my friend Mark, happy birthday iPod!

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