Men's Ensemble Rehearsal

I finally remembered to take a picture of the men's ensemble during rehearsal tonight.
Wednesdays are very long days for me, but they always end up great when the men come for rehearsal.
They practiced "That's Him!" tonight and it's really coming together. We always "LBTize" everything, so some guys have to re-learn it, but to me it sounds better.
The words start out like this..."a little blade of grass so green - crushed in the footprint of the Nazarene, sprang back and waved a message to a bird on the wing ---- "That's Him!"
I still can't believe these guys come to practice so faithfully!  A few missed the picture since I took it right when rehearsal began.  Maybe they'll be in next time, if they're on time!

A Great Weekend

This weekend we went to Walls, Mississippi to the Bethel Baptist Church Ladies' Conference.  We were blessed with great Bible teaching, fun!!, great music, fellowship, and encouraging words.  We met new friends and old ones.  We were also blessed with perfect weather on the way there and the way back, in spite of storms at the church when we left.  I was a little tired from the trip on Sunday, but the Lord sure did bless us!
This weekend our PraiseHymn Ladies' Ensemble sang "Jesus, You are the One" and John Robinson and Chandler Tolley sang "Ten Thousand Years".  On Sunday night our Men's Choir sang!!  We sure did enjoy that.  The choir was filled with the men of the church who have practiced the past four weeks.  They started with the opener "The Fight is On".  The first special they sang was "The Haven of Rest".  They ended with an a capella chorus. Wow!! They ended with "Hallelujah, We Shall Rise".  Pastor sang along too.
The Sunday night special was the TBC Chorale.  They sang a new arrangement of "The Morning Trumpet" by James Koerts (Soundforth) and "O I Want to Know You More/More About Jesus".  I was blessed myself!!! Both were new songs and they put their hearts into it and did a wonderful job.
I am praising the Lord for the people of our church, the pianists, sound men, and also for doing the work!!!
Psalm 104:33 - I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. 34. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

A Day for Families

(photo: Nicole and Cheyanne Koehn)
Well, Sunday, April 18, is over and gone.  I am praising the Lord for the way He works in the music ministry.  I know I am learning to be more thankful as I get older.  I am glad for each musician and their willingness to do something that is public, does not pay, takes many hours of work, and makes you sick or nervous beforehand!  This morning, the Duckett family sang "Me and My House" - Matt and Sarah, Becky and Scott, Mrs. Duckett, John and Amy.  Pastor got up and had the group stand there while he introduced each one and spoke about the influence of Dr. Duckett and how his family is still serving God together.  I was definitely blessed!  Bro. Travis Smith sang a solo for the second special - "I Will Trust When I Cannot See" - wow, the message of that song was a help.  Connie Vazquez accompanied and makes changing keys look like a breeze.
Tonight we had a second family sing!  The Gray II family sang "Jesus Did it for Me".  They've learned a lot of songs, but lately Jordan's voice is changing, so they have to re-learn parts on all previously learned songs.  Tonight Jordan sang the lead an octave lower than he did the first time.  He did a great job, they all did a great job, even Pastor!
Suzanna Jordan played her violin for the Lord tonight.  She played an arrangement called "Joy in Serving Jesus", by Tracy Ann Collins.  It is a difficult piece!!! Believe me, I don't see how she does it.  She makes it look easy, but there are many hours of practice and work behind the scenes.
Our piano students are playing hymns they learn in their lessons right after the postlude on Sunday night.  Tonight a third "family" played a piano duet.  Isaiah and Deborah Requintina played and did a wonderful job.
This morning Nicole Koehn and Amy Robinson played a beautiful arrangement of "Day by Day" by Cindy Berry.  The words just rang out to me and I almost shouted "Amen"!
"Help me, then, in every tribulation, so to trust thy promises O Lord,
That I lose not faith's sweet consolation, offered me within they holy Word!
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting, e'er to take, as from a father's hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting, Till I reach the promised land."

Take the time to enjoy your church music, it is sometimes difficult and seemingly impossible to do, but it only comes around for a brief moment and is gone.

Singing Men

(Pictured above: Raymund Vidaure - from California)
Sunday night our Young Men's Ensemble sang "By the Way of the Cross".  They did a great job and I am so thankful that we have young men who are willing to practice, dress alike, and sing in church.  Their love for the Lord is evident in their actions.
These men are: Chandler Tolley, Martin Meave, Ray Marquez, Jonathan Painter, Kennedy Genada, Daniel Hamilton, John David Matney, Anthony Hamilton, Isaiah Stevens, David Baker, Josh Doyle, James Thomas,  Brien Taylor and Raymundo Vidaure.  Andrew Kennard had to go out of town because of a death in the family.  These men come to practice after Bible study every week, have a great time, and work hard on their music.  I remember a time when it was like "pulling teeth" to get men to want to sing in church.
I'm proud of the Young Men's Ensemble and thank the Lord for their faithfulness!

Lefties of the World Unite!

About 14% of the U.S. population is left-handed.  As we began the spring semester at Texas Baptist College I noticed that several of my students in speech class were left-handed - seven to be exact!  That is about 40% of this class!   I have always been fascinated by lefties - I have three nephews and a niece who are left-handed, they say they are in their right minds.... Well, you be the judge, do you believe these students are in their "right"minds?  

TBC Music Majors

Tonight three of our TBC music majors played the offertory.  Chandra Heidel (sophomore) and Annie Roche' (freshman) played a flute duet with DeAnna Gray (junior) accompanying at the piano.  They did a beautiful arrangement of "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee".  It took a lot of work and extra rehearsals and they did a great job!  I usually walk out the door and stand in the hallway to listen, but the prayer was long enough for me to get into the auditorium.  I actually remembered to take a picture with my phone!  These ladies did not play for a grade, a requirement, or an ovation, but just because they were willing to serve the Lord with their talent.  Praise the Lord!

Easter in Longview

(TBC Chorale practicing for Easter weekend this past Thursday during spirit week)
I hope all of you musicians had a wonderful Easter! This holiday comes at a different time every year, sometimes in March and sometimes in April. I've learned over the years that the best way to be prepared for this important holiday is to sing songs about the Resurrection all year long! Just choose the best for Easter when it surprises you on the calendar, because that what it seems to do! Musicians need to be very comfortable with songs on special days.  I believe our people love hearing about the Resurrection 52 weeks a year. Easter music is about the gospel, salvation, and the victorious Christian life we can have every day. This past Sunday, by the grace of God, all of our music groups were able to sing their scheduled songs! Praise the Lord for these hard-working musicians, although exhausted from the big soul-winning weekend and early bus rides they filled their positions in singing groups, the choir, and orchestra. All of the glory goes to the Lord, but our LBT musicians sure are a blessing!!