Saturday, April 2, 2022

“Listen 15 Minutes to Church Music”

 

Since April Fool’s Day has already passed, I don’t need to worry about this Lenten Challenge being a joke. This one is real. As usual, I’m trying to figure out why this Challenge made the final cut. If this is easy for you, congratulations. This one is near impossible for me.

If you know me well, you know why I don’t like today’s Challenge. I listen to music that most people do not consider to be appropriate. I listen to hard, heavy rock. I blast my music into my headphones at maximum level. When at work in my office (yes, I work in a church), hard rock is always running in the background on my computer. When you hear that loud thumping from a truck driving by your home, you might think an eighteen-year-old boy just drove by. Relax, it’s just me.

I have a close friend who often reminds me, “Garbage In – Garbage out”. Yes, I suppose that is true. But in my case, I gain inspiration from loud and rowdy stuff. It’s not that I don’t like other styles of music; I actually like almost every genre. But something in the drums, guitars, and high-octane power of hard rock has always pushed me in my focus and tenacity. However, today is going to be different. Today, I’m forcing myself (and trying to make you do it with me) to listen to church music. Classic hymns, gospel choirs, and praise bands will qualify. As long as it’s inspirational music that one might hear in a church, it’ll qualify today…and I need it.

What about you? Do you need a little inspiration today? Try it with me! Listen to 15 minutes of church music!

“O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!” (Psalm 95:1, NRSV)

Lent Devotion/Challenge Calendar

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