New Baptist Hymnal

Lifeway is putting out a new baptist hymnal. When I say new I don't just mean another one. They did publish the last one about 1991 or so. I mean a NEW hymnal.

Did you not think that Lifeway had it in itself to go outside the box. Well check it out. This is a hymnal that includes praise and worship songs as well. More radically though, it makes this available online for individual purchase of tracks, instrument parts, and video accompaniment.

Follow the link above and watch the video and you will get a good look at what is in store.

Sound Operator Instruction

I have found that both learning about sound reinforcement and teaching a willing volunteer about this is very challenging. I come to this out of need since I am the most "expert" in our congregation. That is not saying much. Therefore I need a good deal of education in this area. The volunteers that I can find need much education in this area as well.

People learn in many different ways. I like to have a step-by-step instructional textbook to methodically guide me through. In the sound field, you also need some examples to listen to and occasionally someone to show you physically how to do something. I have found the perfect resource!!!!!!!!

The Ultimate Church Sound Operator's Handbook.
This is a great resource for the church. It assumes a volunteer's knowledge base, but does get very technical at times. The first 5 chapters are just the place to start. Bill Gibson, the author, starts with a discussion of the heart matters.

• Ch. 1 -- Qualifications for being a sound operator
• Ch. 2 - Responsibilities of a sound operator
  
• Ch. 3 - The Spiritual Importance of Worship and Music
• Ch. 4 - Relational considerations
• Ch. 5 - To get paid or not

The next 17 chapter tackle audio topics from sound theory to microphone design to mixing etc. There is also a CD/DVD with audio examples and video examples as well.

I think it is a must have. I bought two. One for me and one for the sound volunteer.

Singing about Sin

As we approach Easter, we tend to sing songs about His suffering, death and resurrection. This is a great time for music in the church. There are so many songs about the cross (At the Cross, Near the Cross, The Old Rugged Cross, Above All, The Easter Song, Christ the Lord Has Risen Today, He Arose, In Christ Alone, etc).

These are all great and powerful songs about the truth of God's love. It seems to me that few of these songs focus on why Christ had to die. Namely our sin! The lyrics focus on other truths like His resurrection, our salvation, defeating death, His sinlessness.

I am grateful that our pastors preach about sin. They don't hammer on this topic week in and week out, but they do not shy away from this topic either. I find it difficult to find songs about sin. I have found a song by Billy Foote called "Break Our Hearts."

Break our hearts, o God, break our hearts

Break our hearts, o God, break our hearts

For the sin in our lives, break our hearts

For the sin in our land, break our hearts

Chorus:We cry out, Need your hand

Come back to our land

We confess:We've lived in sin

Show your power once again.

Artist: Billy James FooteCopyright: 1997 Bear Foote Music (ASCAP)

You can hear the song from his website. Look under music. It is off of the album I Have a River.