I don't intend to post here anymore. If you want to reach me you can find me at stupidhead@gmail.com, except replace "stupidhead" with "dgelok". I also have a facebook that you can get me at. I might end up writing again, but right now i'm more focused on some short stories... and my family. If I do go back to blogging (in any means) i'll probably use my other site at gelok.blogspot.com. You're welcome to check that out now, but there's nothing there.
I think the American church would gain a lot of discernment if we would learn to find the line between emotion and worship. Not that the two aren't (or shouldn't be) coexistent, but that there is a very real distinction between the two. There's error on either side; some want no emotion in public worship, some don't think it's a "worship experience" if there's no 'feeling' created.
Some don't know the distinction between corporate worship and the worship which is all of life. Some refer to music alone as worship, when technically the whole service - the invocation, the sacraments, the Word, the psalms, hymns, songs - is all worship.
Some don't think that emotion in worship is dangerous. Some don't think that it's necessary. Both are wrong.
Some pick churches simply based on the effectiveness of the music to stir emotions. Some churches spend much time and money on creating that, so that those people will be drawn.
Just some thoughts. Now I need to go teach. Here, watch a robot play "giant steps".
It's amazing how you can be humbled quickly in the music world. I, for one, have always been very impressed by the playing of stacy wilson - a doctoral student at IU. I flipped over to her website today to listen and the first lick of the Denisov sonata totally slapped me in the head for letting my standards for tone and phrasing get low.
Students of mine, beware! We'll spend all lesson on one measure if we have to! Prepare to be phrased!
