The term and admonition "live out loud" has been sneaking in and out of my consciousness lately. I know that, being an avid listener of K-LOVE, there is a popular song by Stephen Curtis Chapman with that title, and I have likely heard the song within the past several days. But I don't think that's the only reason those words are ringing in my ears. I think I'm being convicted by these words!
As followers of Christ, we are all called to "live out loud". What does that mean, exactly? Well, I can tell you what it means for me. You see I tend to do everything in a rather subdued, quiet manner. It's just who I am. I am more comfortable blending into the fabric of what's going on around me, rather than creating some of the fabric myself. But as a Christian, this doesn't really work. I may be perfectly happy blending in, but I don't think God wants me to do that. It's way too comfortable. The life giving power of Christ is not something I can continue to bottle up. It's time for me to "create some fabric"!
Jesus said, "No one lights a lamp and puts it in a jar or hides it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light." He wanted His followers to know that we have something within us that should not be hidden. We are to live our lives in such a way that the Holy Spirit, who indwells us, has no choice except to be seen and heard by all with whom we come into contact. For me, although I have seized a couple of opportunities with two close friends of mine recently, I don't speak up NEARLY enough. When I'm in situations where I stop and wonder what the person who doesn't know me as well will think, those are the times that I need to "shout" the LOUDEST! And so the words "live out loud" are quite convicting.
Are you living out loud?
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Saturday, April 05, 2008
In Awe of History
What started out as a routine recruiting trip for the UAM band program, wound up being one of the best days I've ever spent. I had to travel to two Little Rock high schools yesterday to listen to several kids, interested in playing in the UAM band next fall, play a mini audition for me. My second stop would thrust me back in time, and it was an honor and a privilege to be there.
I knew my second stop of the day would be at Little Rock Central High School, but it wasn't until I drove down the street named after Daisy L. Bates that it began to dawn on me where I was about to go. You see, I had never been there before, despite how long I've lived in Arkansas, or how many times I've been to Little Rock. And then...I pulled up in front of the building. I looked over at the senior music major that accompanied me on the recruiting trip, and said, "Oh man...do you realize where we are? We're at CENTRAL High School." We both just stared at the front of the building for a while before deciding that we simply HAD to walk up those steps!
Once inside, the first thing we noticed to our right was a trophy case that enclosed plaques in honor of the nine students on whose shoulders the task of integration had been placed in 1957. After reading these for several moments, we finally made our way into the main hallway. That's where the painting commemorating this years 50th anniversary of the event caught our attention. The painting depicted two giant hands in a semi-cupped position, one hand white, the other black, with children of both races interacting within the hands. In the paintings background was the front view of Central High School. But what really made this a truly awesome painting was, in the center of it all were these ethereal figures watching the childrens' interaction. They had no faces, and were dressed in all black. Upon counting the figures, we noticed that there were nine of them; they obviously represented who we now know as The Little Rock Nine.
I finished the day by auditioning two great Central High seniors who I trust will become UAM freshmen this fall. As it was it promised to be a memorable day. As it ended up, I received a marvelous opportunity to have an experience I'll never forget.
I knew my second stop of the day would be at Little Rock Central High School, but it wasn't until I drove down the street named after Daisy L. Bates that it began to dawn on me where I was about to go. You see, I had never been there before, despite how long I've lived in Arkansas, or how many times I've been to Little Rock. And then...I pulled up in front of the building. I looked over at the senior music major that accompanied me on the recruiting trip, and said, "Oh man...do you realize where we are? We're at CENTRAL High School." We both just stared at the front of the building for a while before deciding that we simply HAD to walk up those steps!
Once inside, the first thing we noticed to our right was a trophy case that enclosed plaques in honor of the nine students on whose shoulders the task of integration had been placed in 1957. After reading these for several moments, we finally made our way into the main hallway. That's where the painting commemorating this years 50th anniversary of the event caught our attention. The painting depicted two giant hands in a semi-cupped position, one hand white, the other black, with children of both races interacting within the hands. In the paintings background was the front view of Central High School. But what really made this a truly awesome painting was, in the center of it all were these ethereal figures watching the childrens' interaction. They had no faces, and were dressed in all black. Upon counting the figures, we noticed that there were nine of them; they obviously represented who we now know as The Little Rock Nine.
I finished the day by auditioning two great Central High seniors who I trust will become UAM freshmen this fall. As it was it promised to be a memorable day. As it ended up, I received a marvelous opportunity to have an experience I'll never forget.
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