Gospel.com Blog

Bob Cilman, musical director of the Young @ Heart chorus, is very happy that the film named after his group is bringing the talents of these post-retirement-age singers to a whole new audience. They are all in their 70s, 80s, and 90s, and he has found that the audience for Young @ Heart tends to be on the younger side.

Past the Popcorn Managing Editor Greg Wright talked with Cilman a couple of weeks ago over the phone after the film’s press tour canceled its flight out of Dallas due to storms. Cilman enthusiastically endorses suggestions that the film is ideal field trip material for retirement home residents. “It’s hard for older people when they come to see us,” he says, “because they don’t know much of the music.”

Young @ Heart, however, is not a musical documentary, nor is it about the music itself. It’s about the people behind the music, about the sacrifices they make, about living and dying with pride and hope, and about connecting with other real people. It’s a film that older audiences should connect with particularly well, as they will see a great deal of themselves in the various chorus members.

Have you ever thought about the function of a worship leader? Is it just to look cool? Maybe you’re the person behind the keyboard or guitar every week wondering what in the world you’re doing. This short reflection from studentsoul.org talks about The Importance of Being a Worship Leader. Here’s an excerpt:

Do you sometimes feel insignificant or inadequate as a worship leader? Worship has the potential to bring people before God, and worship leaders, like doorkeepers, assist by standing at the door and welcoming people into God’s presence.

I remember being on the worship team at a retreat and feeling depressed because I didn’t possess the same gifts as the others. When I shared my insecurity, one of my friends quoted Psalm 84:10: “I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”

It made me feel worse.

…

Jump over to their blog to read more on this from Sundee Frazier.

Psalm 84:9-12

Behold our shield, O God,
And look upon the face of Your anointed.
For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside.
I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
The LORD gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
O LORD of hosts,
How blessed is the man who trusts in You!

Why is singing such an important part of the Christian tradition? That might sounds like an odd question, but how many other religious or social groups get together regularly… to sing? The latest edition of Uplook Magazine is out (and freely downloadable as a PDF), and its focus is on the songs we sing, and the reasons we sing them. Among the articles are in-depth essays looking at some of the most famous songs in Psalms, “the hymnbook of God’s people.” This issue would be especially useful if you or your small group is working through the Psalms in a Bible study.

Download the January/February issue of Uplook Magazine here. Previous issues are also available for download in the Uplook archives.

For many churches, Christmas worship services are marked by special music, and that means there are lots of opportunities for members of the congregation to contribute their musical talents to the service. If you’re helping out with worship music this Christmas—whether you’re singing in a choir, playing an instrument in a brass ensemble, or playing in a worship band—the Farsipraise ministry has some good guides to using your musical talents well. They have practical advice for musicians playing the electric guitar, bass, brass, and more. Other essays address topics like using Gregorian chant in your service and teaching new songs to the congregation, both of which are relevant this time of year. If you find these useful, see their many other articles about music and worship.

One of the most recognizable elements of the Advent season is music—in fact, it’s unlikely you’ve made it this far into the holiday season without hearing Christmas music being played somewhere, whether it was at a church service or being piped over the PA system at the mall.

Listening to the music of Christmas can be a great way to walk yourself through the anticipation and eventual joy of the Advent season. Here are a few resources from the Gospel.com community to help you better appreciate the sounds of Christmas.

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What are the stories behind the music you (and your kids) listen to? Thinking on the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, David Smith writes at Al Menconi Ministries about the importance of storytelling in popular music. If you think it’s odd to think of popular music as a source of stories, Smith argues that every song tells a story, and lyrics are just one part of it. And learning to listen for these stories is a key part of discerning their effect on your family and your spiritual life:

Parents and kids often forget the stories of the music. Those stories can be inspirational or depressing. When Kurt Cobain of Nirvana sang Come As You Are, it is almost as if he was foretelling his death by his own hand. On the other hand, when Casting Crowns sings Does Anybody Hear Her, the band is challenging us to reach out and love those around us. As parents and kids, it’s important to listen to these words and think about the story being told. For kids, this may be risky because the story may not be what you want to acknowledge that you are hearing. For parents, this may mean listening to music that you do not enjoy. For both, however, it’s essential and can be rewarding.

Have you sat down recently to listen to the stories your kids are hearing through music today? If not, it’s a good first step toward speaking to them in meaningful ways about the spiritual value of what they’re listening to.

FarsiPraise Ministries is another new member of the Gospelcom Ministry Alliance, with a global mission to share the message of Christ with Farsi-speaking Muslims and Christians around the world. Their website features the web’s largest archive of Farsi Christian worship songs for use by the underground churches of Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. They also provide original worship tools and resources to Iranian churches and believers around the globe.

Among the things you’ll find at their website are audio and video podcasts and a large collection of articles about music and worship that any worship leader will find worth reading. Stop by and get to know this ministry’s exciting evangelistic mission!

Southern boys Chris Wyatt and Keith Solomon serve up some tasty reviews of Toby Mac’s “Portable Sound” and Dustin Kensrue’s “Please Come Home” in their debut review for Youth Ministry Exchange, Southern Fried Boys: Meal #1. As youth workers and worship leaders, their perspective adds some fresh perspective on the music and artists. Like any good dish, these reviews are full of flavor and worth checking out.

Over at Youth Ministry Exchange, Amy Sondova has interviewed This Beautiful Republic, a new rock band that’s already making a splash on iTunes and elsewhere as they get ready to release their debut album next week. She finds the band members to be the perfect combination of serious songwriters and goofy kids–and she thinks they’re a great voice for Christ in a generation that’s struggling to be taken seriously. The interview includes sound and video clips from the band’s upcoming release as well.

One of the most memorable and powerful elements of Easter worship is music–Easter lays claim to some of the most moving and introspective hymns in all of church history. As Lent continues, take some time to learn more about the magnificent songs of Easter over at the Center for Church Music. They’ve got in-depth information (lyrics, histories, sheet music, etc.) about many famous Easter hymns (scroll down the page for the list of Easter songs).

Their current featured song is the Easter classic “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”. If you’re not familiar with the story behind it and other Easter tunes, it’s the perfect time of year to learn more!