Quote from Forum Archives on December 1, 2003, 10:23 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

Lsst week, we ended up going very light on the messages. Perhaps
some of you needed a break from reading Email messages. I needed
time to spend with my family and establish priorities.

This week, we start off with a message that I've read before from
my friend Larry Davies. It's a personal message from Larry
about humility. As a good leader, Larry reveals a personal area
in his life to show us something that (chances are) many of us
also need to deal with. I find that even at times when I think
I've got an area of my life "under control", a closer inspection
reveals that there is still plenty that needs to be dealt with.
I'm not sure if that's the case with everyone or not, but there's
a good chance that we can still learn lessons, even when we
understand and appreciate how God wants us to live.

With that spirit in mind, I offer you this message from my friend
Larry.

Yours in Christ,
Brian
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Sowing Seeds of Faith...

Dear Larry, I too want to thank Sowing Seeds of Faith as I look
forward to reading the word of God and gain wisdom from it and
also in my own way although I'm not a prayer partner I try to
pray for all those people out there with problems and will
continue to do so to make this world a better place for all of
us to live in. Thank you, Larry for all your hard work and
contribution towards this ministry and God Bless You and
Everyone on Your team. Kalpana, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Get your friend a Christmas present they will never forget.
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"The Minister and the Choir: A Lesson on Talent and Humility"
Part 1 Larry Davies

Recently, I stopped the director just as she was about to lead
the choir during our Sunday morning worship service. "Excuse me.
I'm sorry to interrupt but do you mind if I take over the
choir?"

She gave me the strangest look but coolly replied, "No, not at
all."

I said to the choir: "I've always wanted to direct you so today
I'm going to do it. Will you help me?"

You could hear the mumbling as first one then another choir
member finally replied, "Sure... okay."

My hands went up just as I had seen the director do so many
times before. "Are you ready?"

"Wait," a voice from the choir shouted interrupting my
directorial debut. "What are we singing?"

1. To be an effective choir, it helps to know what you are going
to sing.

"Oh, that's a good question." I replied but already beginning to
lose my confidence. Maybe this job wasn't so easy after all.
"Let's do something familiar and Christmassy. Let's sing, "The
First Noel?"

The murmurings among the choir began again but stopped as soon
as I raised my hands high. With a flourish I began the rhythmic
side to side motions I watched so many Choir directors use. I
was confident my inspired direction combined with the solid
voices of our talented choir, would create the finest
performance of "The First Noel" ever rendered but alas, I was so
wrong!

What really happened was an explosion of noise, off key singing
and unrecognizable words. Some choir members were singing loud,
some soft. Others seemed to be singing a different song.
"Stop.... Stop..." I screamed. "What version of "The First Noel"
are you singing?" I soon found out: "I'm singing from the
Hymnal," said one choir member. Others quickly chimed in.

"I'm singing from an arrangement I brought from home."

"I decided to start with verse two."

"I wanted to sing in Spanish!"

"What are we supposed to be singing?"

2. To be an effective choir, we need to sing the same music.

At this point, I didn't think it could get any worse but I was
wrong again. An argument broke out: "Larry, This piece calls for
a soloist and I will gladly volunteer my voice." Protests
quickly emerged:

"Now, wait a minute. I'm the one that sings the solos here. I've
been doing it for thirty years."

"It's been twenty years too long if you ask me."

"Why does Dan always have to play the organ? I want to play the
organ."

"I'm confused. What are we singing again?"

3. To be an effective choir, we desperately needed direction and
leadership.

At this point, choir members were arguing, the congregation was
mumbling and I was bewildered. "What's wrong with our choir?" I
wondered. Actually, the problem was not with the choir but with
me. I was about to receive a lesson on spiritual leadership
courtesy of God and the real choir director.

Read Sowing Seeds of Faith... everyday! Click here:
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/Devotions.htm

Are you receiving prayer concerns from around the world? Join
our prayer team today. Check it out by clicking here:
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/sign-up.htm

How can I regularly support your ministry? Become a Sowing Seeds
Ministry partner. Click here:
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/ministry_partner.htm

Jesus said: "You are the light of the world-like a city
on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide
your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it
shine for all." (Matthew 5:14-15)

"Breaking the Peanut Butter Habit: Following God's Recipe for a
Better Life" now on sale only through our website.
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/peanbutt.htm

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=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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