Dear Music Majors

This is just a short note from me, to my music major friends. I don't have much to say. Many times I speak without thinking. It's one of my biggest weaknesses. A man of many words will often regret many of his words. That being said I hope you'll take this note with a grain of salt. Enough about me, let's get down to business.


First, I would like to thank you. Thank you for deciding not to waste the gift you have been given by the Lord in His kindness. Thank you for devotedly studying the wonderful thing we humanly call "music." You dedicate countless hours to practice and performance with the goal of doing your absolute best for the glory of God. You aren't satisfied with the talent you were born with but desire to wake up every single day better than the day before. You lose sleep, hair, weight, and sanity in your quest for musical perfection. Keep it up! Do not be discouraged by critics but strive to do better in the weaknesses they expose. Do not be saddened by the less-than-best performances but be glad for the opportunity to perform in the first place. Do not be disgusted by the imperfections in your playing but be grateful you have the ears, eyes, fingers, and breathe to even play at all. Thank you for doing what you love and loving what you do.


Second, I would like to challenge you. Challenge you to step up and face the task at hand. You will be the musical leaders for a generation of believers that is in transition. Our generation faces some important decisions as we look to the future. We must choose between what is good, and what is best. Our peers want to know why they believe what they believe, instead of simply being told what to believe. This is great! We ought always to be ready to answer those who ask us what we believe and why. But this means that you must be able to defend your convictions with a solid Scriptural foundation.

Third, I would like to exhort you. Colossians 3:16 says "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." This verse is great! Teach other believers with songs, exhort them in psalms and hymns and songs, sing with grace, sing from the heart, and sing to the Lord. But you cannot have the second part without the first. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom." You must know God personally before you can worship Him openly. You must talk to God privately before you can praise Him publicly. You must follow God whole-heartedly before you can lead others to Him. You must have the Word in you before you can share the Word with those around you. 

Let the Word dwell in you. Study Psalms, the greatest hymnal ever written. Get to know your God and you will learn to praise Him appropriately. The arguments about melody, rhythm, style, lyrics, artists, and instruments will sort themselves out if the Word dwells in you. As you allow the Word to blossom and grow inside of you the Holy Spirit will govern your heart. He will guide you as you go on your musical journey. 

Love music. Lead boldly. Live Christ. 

The Perfect Decision

Have you ever discovered The Perfect Decision for your next "life step?"

Maybe you found a job in a far-off city spanning the short three months of summer break that brings in a paycheck big enough to pay for the entire next school year. Yet for some reason you don't get the job and end up working the graveyard shift at Dollar General in your hometown for $8 an hour.

Maybe you met this really great person who is responsible, caring, supportive, sweet, and really, really good-looking. You just know they are The One. Yet for some reason they don't feel the same way and two weeks later you're listening to Taylor Swift while drowning in kleenex.

Maybe you heard about this volunteer position as a camp counselor at a camp in Hawaii that is specifically designed for handicapped campers from single-parent homes in third-world countries that don't have a good church to attend...

(I probably shouldn't have gone there.)

But you get my drift. It was a great opportunity! They are a perfect match! It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to "give of yourself sacrificially!" You will definitely be doing great things for God and pleasing Him by choosing the best option available. You probably even showed initiative and went out and found the job, person, or opportunity. None of this "sitting around forever and waiting for God business" for you!

Why didn't it work? Why did God shut the door on The Perfect Decision before you even had a chance grab hold of the handle?

King David had a "The Perfect Decision" moment. In 1 Chronicles 17 he said "Hey, I know! I'll build a real temple for the Lord. Why should I live in a real house while God dwells in a tent? I have resources, I know people. I'll build Him a temple that will make even Pharaoh jealous. Israel can finally have an official building to sacrifice and praise the Lord in! This will be The Most Perfect Decision ever!"

Sounds like a great plan. God gets glory, Israel gets an official temple to sacrifice in, and David does something for God. But what does God do? In verses 4-14 God tells the prophet Nathan that He doesn't want David to build the temple. God says "I don't need you David. I will build My house. Look at all these things I've done for you. I defeated your enemies, I have been with you every step of the way, and I have made your name great. Only I could have done that. Your family name will live on. I will bless your house and establish it forever. I have plans for you. Leave the temple building project to Me."

I want you to read David's response after hearing the message the Lord sent through the prophet Nathan. It's only 11 verses long. Click the link here, and come back when you're done. I'll be waiting. Promise.

Done? Good. You didn't cheat and just keep reading this post, right? I'll give you another minute to go back and read it in case you didn't.

What does David do in this situation? When God shuts the door, David doesn't whine. When God says no, David doesn't throw a fit. When God denies his attempt at a good investment of time and money, David doesn't throw his hands up and yell about how the best laid plans always seem to fall apart. He doesn't pound on The Perfect Decision door as God closes it, hoping to slip through and still get his way before it shuts completely.

David sits down before God and says, "God, you've been so good to me. You've given me more than I will ever deserve. You give me Your word and you never fail to keep it. You shower me with kindness. You've given me a huge blessing from a human perspective, and yet from Your perspective it is nothing. Thank You so, so much. Blessed be Your name forever and ever."

That is, by human estimations, a pretty good response. Good job David. Let us follow David's example in our response to similar situations in our lives.

Here's the tricky part for us though: God doesn't send Nathan the prophet to our dorm room to tell us the future. Our azalea bush in the backyard doesn't burst into flames and start uttering promises in a booming voice. We don't have visions in the night that reveal what God has in store. We can't see through the other door that opens when The Perfect Decision door closes. Sometimes, we can't even see that there's another door!

Regardless, we ought strive to respond as David did. Give God the glory, acknowledge that He knows best, and look forward to what He has in store for us.

"God, You have promised good to Your children. As a believer in the shed blood of Your Son on the cross that covers all my sin and His triumph over death three days later, give me the patience to wait on You. Give me the passion and desire to earnestly fulfill the duties You have called me to in the present. Grant me the discipline to prepare myself the best I know how for what You have in store. And allow my will to be yielded to Your plan for me, so that when my Perfect Decision gets taken away, I'll know it is because You have The Best Decision waiting for me. Amen."