Thoughts on the Run: Worship Music

On my runs this week, I found myself contemplating music and worship in the church. these thoughts came about because, once again, someone in our congregation felt the need to request that we use more contemporary music. Having been involved in church music leadership for the past 40 years in a full time, and part time capacity, this topic has come up from time to time.

Of course, being a professional church musician, I have found myself on both sides of this issue. Early in my career, things were simple. We performed contemporary music with the youth choir and incorporated some of that music into the evening service because it was informal. We generally avoided use of less formal contemporary music in morning worship.I still recall one of my youth choirs singing a contemporary youth choir anthem in a revival. When we were finished I scanned the congregation, to find that it was not well received by our pastor. However, the choir had done a good job and the music was well received by the congregation.

At my first full time church in Plantation, Florida I continued this practice with much success. However, there were a few members of the congregation who decided that we needed to make the morning service more informal. These folks kept suggesting that we use more "spirit filled" music. They did not like our service, because it was too formal for them. It got to the point where I found myself deliberately avoiding these individuals, since I had no intention of changing our worship style. Our pastor felt the same way, but these folks wanted me to change things because I was in charge of the music.

Through the years, I have consistently stayed with hymn based congregational singing, while at the same time allowing flexibility in choices of anthems, solos, and ensembles. I have generally steered the less formal selections toward evening worship.

Corinthians 14:23 speaks of the need for order and understanding in worship:If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

Whatever we do, we must do it in an orderly and appropriate manner. Churches need to decide what their musical identity is. They also need to consider how music effects their style of worship. Modern, contemporary music is really not different from the youth retreat songs of the 1970's and 80's. The style lends itself to more informal worship. It moves churches away from the reverent worship of God while co-opting the terms "Praise and Worship". I understand that there are people who love this informality, however, I prefer awe contemplation and splendor. If I want the other, I will listen to the radio. 

Teaching Yourself Speed Through Self Guided Practice!

Anything worth doing takes time and effort

on the part of the individual learner!!

Coaches and teachers can only advise and show the way.

Commitment

How can a person improve his or her pace as a runner? There are a number of ways! However, the main thing is to stick to the main thing. Be committed to running on a regular basis. If one does that, his speed will increase simply because he is consistent. It's the same kind of commitment one would make toward learning to sing or play an instrument. There's nothing like regular effort. It generally leads to improved performance.

The Long Run

Another way to improve pacing is to insert a weekly long distance run into your training plan. For some reason, those 10 mile or longer runs lead to faster runs at the shorter distances. I have found that a weekend long run of 15 miles or more makes the 5 miler in the middle of the week seem easy. After a few longer runs like this, I find 3 mile runs to be simple and fun!

Speed Work and Hill Repeats

In addition to the long run, a tried and true method is regular speed work. This can include timed repeats of 1 to 5 or more minutes with slower paced breaks. It could also mean repeats on the track of 400, 800, 1200, and 1600 meters with variants in between. Following each repeat, a runner should do an easy recovery lap.

Just before the
Flying Monkey Marathon!!

Hill workouts are grueling, but they will strengthen the legs! So find a hilly course or find a hill and run repeats up the hill at a 10k pace. Your legs will burn and your heart rate will rise, but you will recover as you walk or jog down the hill for your next repeat. You could also run a hilly race like the Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon to build your leg strength and confidence.

Self-Discipline

Disciplined running takes practice and self control. Disciplined learning in school takes practice and self control! Effective students work on their learning through individual efforts, like a distance runner. If I had a coach, he or she could tell my what to do and how to do it, but it would be up to me do go about the business f making things happen. Teachers are like coaches, they can only share information and assist with practice in the classroom, but it is up to the individual student to learn by independent effort and completing homework assignments.



You can really only blame yourself for any lack of improvement, because you are the only one who controls you. So, I will continue to practice consistency as I improve my running and musical skills. How about you? What kind of skills are you trying to develop?