Much has to be done about it

The whole world is appalled at the atrocity committed in Newtown CT on Friday, December the 14th, 2012. Twenty children, six and seven years old, along with six adults, who were their teachers and psychologist, were killed by a young man who used a repeating high-powered rifle to carry out his insane plan. He killed himself as well. Children and their teachers must be protected against mentally deranged persons who satisfy their aggressions by invading schools and murdering students and teachers. People in public places need protection too.

We hear there must be effective laws governing the licensing of firearms, and that massacres must cease. We are told it is a complicated issue to resolve. Definitely so, and it involves not only the control of who owns a gun, but the way in which the minds of people are conditioned into accepting that carrying a gun is simply a way of life. Many people carry a gun, believing it is for their protection. At the slightest provocation, it is used to settle an argument. In Louis L’amour’s Wild West books, arguments were often settled when one or both opponents lay dead in the blood-drenched dusty street. It was an absolute waste of human life. Neither one would ever enjoy another sunny day or benefit others by his God-given talents. Children murdered in their classrooms will never have the satisfaction of graduating from public or high schools, universities or technical schools, developing their musical or sports talents, or of becoming successful in society. Their parents can never enjoy seeing them get married and have their own children.

We’ve experienced other atrocities in schools and have seen similar instances in public places. Not just the guns have to be controlled, which includes their manufacture, importation, sales and the gun clubs to which enthusiastic members belong, but it is necessary to condition the way of thinking of Americans and Canadians, and in fact of all people in our world. At one time, violence was condemned on television. Now it is rampant.

Gunfire is seen in advertisements for the most recent movie releases. It is to be considered an acceptable way of living, or might I change that to say it is accepted as a way to die…in gun blasts and a hail of bullets. Those movies are not born out of intelligent creativity, but from the expectation of moviemakers to make millions by exploiting the public’s insatiable desire to see the most shocking episodes to which they can be exposed. This kind of creativity is not born from intelligence, but from evil thinking. For those who attend movies or enjoy movies at home, there have to programs that are enlightening, to provide ways to spend evenings that will allow times that are unpolluted by violence, enabling everyone to think about life and eternity!

In other ways, young minds are conditioned to accept violence as a way of life and our attention must be given to eliminate those methods. Electronic games, designed to kill one’s opponent, are intriguing to receptive minds. Monster killers and robotic persons with various weapons are the toys designed so children can maneuver them to kill their opponent in one slash. Mind-conditioning methods designed to imagine killing one’s opponent have to be replaced with programs that will challenge minds in constructive ways. Teaching handiwork, music and sports would be an excellent substitute.

Stimulation of a person’s imagination to think of things that are edifying is more honorable than the excitement generated by fighting, or by teaching that violence is acceptable as a way of life. Psychologists remind us that erratic thinking is addictive, and it creates the desire for more of the same, but of increasing violence. A similar example is the feeding of one’s mind on pornography, which leads to the need for satisfaction in reality.

The whole aspect of training healthy minds and controlling gun laws doesn’t have to be as complicated as it seems. Everyone must resolve to develop a healthy mind and body, and appreciate all God has given us, and to help others who may not be as fortunate or who would appreciate a helping hand. All that would be better than to spend our time satisfying inappropriate desires and thinking how we should be protecting ourselves. We need to think positively, rather than negatively.

I too, in my piping career, have experienced playing for the funeral of a student who was shot in her classroom.  When my wife and I lived in Winnipeg, Canada, I was asked to pipe at such a memorial service.  A boy smuggled a long gun into the Technical School by hiding it in his pant leg. Innumerable families and friends of bereaved families suffer because society has not cracked down on the causes of atrocities. They will carry their sorrow for life.  We’ll be safer when people are conditioned to think differently about the causes of violence. The answer is not only to consider “guns and their control,” but it involves our complacency and how to rise above it.”

Please visit http://www.sandyhookpromise.org and make the Sandy Hook Promise today.  Promise to honor the 26 lives lost at Sandy Hook Elementary School.  Promise to do everything you can to encourage and support common sense solutions to make our communities safer from similar acts of violence.

Keith MacDonald, OD
The Church Piper

My faith in God

The Bible tells us that only a fool doesn’t believe in God and fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Scripture advises a person to look around and observe all of creation, for who could have created the world and all that is in it but God, and it is here for us to appreciate and study. If one cannot believe in the Creator, he or she has no excuse for not believing, because God’s existence is apparent from the design of all things in nature.

The subject can be approached from the miracle of reproduction, that is, from the fertilization of an egg cell, which is the union of sperm and egg cells to form the fertilized egg of an embryo destined to grow into an individual, whether an animal or person. All the necessary constituents are present in the embryonic cell that will determine its development “after its own kind.” It is remarkable that parental characteristics are apparent in the individual born from the organized growth of one cell into millions of others. At various stages of growth, anatomical features are formed. Remarkable similarities between offspring and parents result.

Attention can be drawn to the size of a fertilized egg cell, which is smaller than a period on this page. In the cell are all the necessary components that decide the characteristics of a mature person or animal. Chemical constituents are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorous, chlorine, potassium, iron, fluorine and iodine in the correct amounts. In addition, enzymes work in conjunction with complicated molecules to carry out reactions impossible in chemical laboratories. Tremendous magnification by electron microscopes enables study that reveals chromosomes containing genes, the keys that carry identifying characteristics of offspring. The wonder of it all is that new life is given even before the birth of a person or animal. Birth is so wonderful that it can be attributed only to God. Our world too, must be appreciated as the work of the Creator.

Just as we have peered through electronic microscopes to learn about the intricacies of reproduction, outer space can also be studied for its great wonders using magnificent telescopes. There, the distances can be so great that they are measured in light years rather than miles. The location of earth in this great outer space is so perfect, making it neither too hot nor cold, that it is ideal for sustaining life. All that is needed has been provided, including air, water, food and shelter, as well as minerals, gas and oil. One can observe the planets and marvel at the originality of their Creator. There are interesting things to observe, such as the rings that encircle Saturn, with its nine moons, one of which travels in the opposite direction to the others. Neptune’s two moons travel in opposite directions while Jupiter, with its twelve moons has eight that travel in one direction and four that travel in the opposite direction. One can assume that our Great and Wonderful Creator has a sense of humor. Why not include such originality, while creating the world and all that is in it?

We continue to elaborate upon Creation because it implies the Creator. Much can be learned about God by studying our world and its contents. It is not logical to disbelieve in God. More likely it is a person’s choice not to believe, because acknowledgement would require reflection upon one’s life and whether or not it is lived in accordance with God’s acceptability. If wrong choices have been made, ones that are sinful, then one would suddenly understand that he or she is separated from God and requires some way to be redeemed. What would be required to make things right? Enough good acts; would that be enough? More than anything, a sinful person needs a Personal Saviour. God provided Jesus, both God and man, willing to take upon Himself the sins of mankind that cause separation, enabling a person to enjoy communion with God, as if binding chains had been removed.

A person can continue to profess disbelief in God by being unobservant of the wonders of nature or reluctant to read. One who doesn’t read is no better off than another who cannot read at all. Scientific books reveal the wonders of God, while the Bible tells the story of God’s love, in that it is personal. One needs to read the Bible to know the love of God assures us that His Spirit is like having a Friend on whom to rely. My faith rests on what the Bible has revealed. I know that ignorant men crucified Jesus, the Son of God, on a cruel cross. Nevertheless, within a few days, two of his friends encountered Him as they walked along a country road. They least expected meeting Jesus because they had witnessed his death on the cross. They were so astounded by His living presence that it was as if their hearts burned within them. He has the power over death just as He has over life, which we observed earlier. I can imagine being one of those two men, in the presence of God. They had forgotten that He had already demonstrated His power over death and life, by having resurrected Lazarus from the grave as well as having restored the Centurion’s daughter to life.

Personal friends of Jesus have written for us to read in the Scripture. A person needs to read about what they experienced. Having been to Israel, even to have crossed the Sea of Galilee in a boat, caused the feeling in me that I had been there when Jesus’ disciples cried out to Him in the midst of a storm, “Master, do you not care if we drown?” His reply was “Ye of little faith, what does it take for you to believe?” Then, He calmed the storm.” They asked one another, “What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the waves obey Him?” The picture becomes even clearer to me when I play the hymn, “Master, the Tempest is Raging,” on the bagpipes. The song builds until it reaches its climax. Then one hears the Master calling, ”Peace, be still, peace, be still.”

I can tell you what Jesus means to me and who I know God to be, while you can determine for yourselves who God is. With some study and concentration, you will realize the great blessing to know God personally as you Friend, Jesus Christ.

Those who knew Jesus have written much about Him. His friend John wrote, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” John 21: 25

An Amazing Couple of Days

One of our church members arranged a special bus day-trip for anyone interested. On such trips we’ve seen some beautiful sights, not so far away that it would prevent us from returning by four in the afternoon, after leaving at 10:30 in the morning.

This trip was from White Rock to Maple Ridge, BC, to visit Arte Vargas Glass Blowing Inc. The Vargas father and son team demonstrated their specialty of “hand crafted art glass.” Most of us had never witnessed the process of producing a piece of art in blown glass, so this was an experience about which to tell others. Two kilns are heated to 2200 and 1800 degrees F. An oven holds the finished article at 500 degrees and is allowed to cool during the night.

The Vargas team asked our group to suggest an ornament they could make for us. My suggestion was, an angel, and they accepted the challenge with gusto. After many procedures such as shaping the body, adding the head, arms, hands and halo, it was given the finishing touch, which were the wings. The son said, “Every angel must have wings.” When it was finished, it was beautiful in shape, size and color and was immediately placed in the cooling oven. It would be presented for sale the next day and could be shipped to any part of the world. Their web site is, www.aratevargas.com. One can custom order from them or select from hundreds of vases and ornaments they’ve made.

As an optometrist I was anxious about their eyesight because they have to look directly into their kilns which radiate harmful light rays. These can cause “glass-blower’s cataracts.” The father has a filter in his glasses, but his son doesn’t wear glasses. I had to impress upon him that he must wear protective lenses even though they may not contain any power.

After this exciting exhibition of artistry, we drove to Clayburn Village Store and Tea Shop in Abbotsford. This is a 100-year-old general store that at one time sold everything from groceries to dry goods. It was central in a town that manufactured bricks. Today, it specializes in all sorts of candy and at the same time, it’s a Tea Shop where people can satisfy their noon-day hunger. We enjoyed red-pepper soup and a sandwich, topped off by a small piece of coconut cream pie. Our expert bus driver delivered us back to the church by four PM. The trip had been most enjoyable.

Our pipe band practice is on Thursday nights, beginning at seven o’clock, so there still was time to drive there and prepare for the Legion’s Remembrance Day Celebration in November. This definitely made it a full day.

The next day was also very special in that we had tickets for a musical concert in our church. The acoustics are considered so good in the sanctuary that choirs and instrumentalists elect for this church venue. Friday night we were guests at a piano extravaganza, consisting of four seven-foot grand pianos with two duo pianists, namely a father and son team, Alexander and Daniel Tselyakov from Brandon Manitoba and Elizabeth and Marcel Bergmann from White Rock, BC. The audience consisted of about 500 enthusiastic classic music lovers and they were not disappointed. The music was wonderful.

The web site for these concerts is, www.whiterockconcerts.com and one may Email either, rickgambrel@gmail.com or gzuk@telus.net to learn more about them.

An Embarrassing Situation

We love it when our pipes are “going like bells” as the saying goes, but it’s with despair when they respond less than perfectly. I’d like to pass along an experience to other soloists to prevent the same thing from happening to you.

I was invited to play for a memorial service in our church, for the processional and recessional. Twice before, I had played for the family, for another memorial service and a wedding. I had two weeks to prepare and I practiced conscientiously, having selected several hymns to lead the family into the service and to play while they were leaving. I planned not to play too long, but have a hymn or two to spare.

I practiced in the church recreation hall and in the local forest and the pipes were sounding well. On the morning of the service, on blowing up my pipes, I was astounded when it was impossible to get air into the bag. It was ten o’clock and at two o’clock the service would begin.

Did I need a new Wee Mac valve, or could the neck of the bag be choking off the air? I replaced the Wee Mac with a Moose valve, which I had in reserve and I tried cutting a flapper valve out of one of my work gloves but the problem still remained. Through constant bending of the neck of the pipe bag, to put the pipes in their case, the leather had become flattened and it adhered to the end of the blow stalk choking it off completely. There was no way of correcting this in the short time before the memorial began and I telephoned the pastor in charge to inform her of my predicament.

To my relief I was assured that predicaments can happen and that I was not to worry. Once corrected, it probably wouldn’t happen again. There would be a next time and I could look forward to the next invitation to play in church. I’m thankful for such compassion.

Since then, I lubricated the inside of the pipe bag in the area of the blow stalk, and also installed an angled pipe in the chanter stalk. I intend to do likewise for the blow stalk, to prevent the bag from ever flattening and sealing it off.

If anyone else has experienced this constant training of the bagpipe’s neck, which causes it to cut off the air from the blow stalk or to the chanter, I would be interested to know how you solved it. I wonder if a deeper throat to the pipe bag’s design would help? I’d be glad to hear from anyone who has had the same experience. If you’ve never had it happen, be sure it never does, because it’s a tough experience, especially when the piper is counted upon to be a part of an important ceremony.

In the meanwhile, here is a video entitled "Epic Bagpipe Malfunction".  I think it represents every piper's worst nightmare.

Improve With Practice

Disciplined practice, while one strives for perfection will reap great rewards. As an example, “Amazing Grace” when played with more expression, will be improved immensely. Its enhancement will be from maintaining constancy of its beat and giving full amount of time to the first beat of each bar. The tune is not to be hurried and the pipes should be exceedingly well tuned and blown to their full tone. The triplets need to be played with more emphasis on the first note of the triplet. Some music shows these three notes as a triplet, and yet they were not originally so. Organ and piano music show then as two eighth notes. Pipers have written them as a triplet. Triplets should be given a slight emphasis on the first note, but in “Amazing Grace” it is more than an emphasis. The first note is to be played as an eighth note and the following two as sixteenth notes. The tune will be much improved. Strict three-four timing must be maintained throughout. Other hymns can be improved similarly. One for example is “Sweet Hour of Prayer,” also written in 3/4 time.

Six-eight marches and slow marches, are composed with two groups of three notes in each bar, and most of them, but not all, are played with more time given to the first note of the three. Often, it is not played long enough. Instead, the third note is improperly given the extra time. Considerable improvement is possible in the playing of these tunes, when the dotted notes are given their proper amount of time. Practice should be spent concentrating on maintaining this strict 6/8 time throughout each tune.

Often, three notes are played as though they were sliding down to the third note instead of being played with emphasis on the first one. Occasionally however, in pieces written in 6/8 time, the first note in a bar is the one that is cut, while the second note is dotted. These should be played distinctly. In so doing, the timing is not interrupted. Grouping of notes into threes also occurs in music written in 9/8, 12/8 and 6/4 time. While it is important to know the correct notes of a piece, their expression depends upon the time given to them. In piping this is of considerable importance because there is no "louder" or "softer," just emphasis in the timing.

Rather than learn a new piece of music while sitting at a table, it will be better to learn it while standing and marching. This is definitely an advantage when practicing the 6/4 piece, “Sands of Kuwait.” With six beats in a bar, each footstep has to be coordinated with a beat, with the piper’s heals coming down on each beat. It takes practice, which is worthwhile, as it produces exactitude. The result is coordination of each piper in the band. This is an excellent tune for marching when it has been practiced with accuracy.

Practice on the chanter or the bagpipes should involve marching as it helps to develop steady timing. Whether it is a march, reel, strathspey or jig, this kind of practicing will develop one’s control on timing and fingering so tunes will not simply get away on a person, but may eventually be speeded up and retain their accuracy.

A tune often played carelessly is “Dark Island,” also written in 3/4 time. Its timing is strict and its beats are like a metronome in a piper’s head. Emphasis is required on the first note in each bar. When they are not emphasized, the time is given erroneously to the second note and it doesn’t sound right. It happens in the seventh bar, and sounds incorrect, like it was played by ear rather than from the music. The song can be found in The Church Piper volume 12B, “More Songs of Scotland.”

Pipers around a table often tend to speed up. This happens because dotted notes are ignored, and a tendency exists to clip other notes. Improvement would be made in expression and constancy of timing, if dotted notes were held and notes were not clipped. Having practiced holding down the time when playing chanters, pipers can learn to listen to one another conscientiously while playing in the band. Playing will be improved tremendously to allow well-tuned pipes to “sing” their melody.

These are just a few considerations a piper can make to improve his or her practice time, and be assured that wise use of practice time will result in enhanced performance.

Summer Kids' Camp

Having heard about Keats Camp, a summer camp for kids, from those responsible for its operation, twenty-five of us took the church bus to Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver, where we boarded a water ferry. It took about an hour to get to Keats Island which is directly across a narrow strip of water from Gibsons, where “The Beachcombers,” the television program was filmed. We would see the camp and how kids spend their week.

Those in charge, said kids would be happy on the island even if they had to sleep in tents. Instead, numerous cabins provided superior accommodation. Beautifully finished inside, each accommodated 14 neat bunk beds. Skylights illuminated up-to-date washrooms. The workmanship in such fine cabins reflected the love and skill of handy men who contributed freely of their time. We were taken to other buildings too, in which meals were served and gatherings were held. Central outside green space was adequate for games, and a convenient hall complete with sofas, a TV, tables for Ping-Pong and Snooker, provided recreation facilities for the staff. A naval-style flagpole and a large anchor nearby accented the overall nautical theme.

Staff composed of energetic university students motivates the young campers. Permanent staff members include the chairman of the board, camp director and general manager of all operations. The general manager’s responsibilities are considerable, because of the need to make repairs on dwellings and other buildings in the camp complex, neglected for years before the present executive took over. His own house, which is three stories, is being renovated, and will include a new roof. It is a similar situation for the camp director’s house. Presently,  a tarpaulin covers his roof, waiting the date for repairs. Some friends discussed plans to drape a permanent canvas over the Quonset tool shed. The vinyl has been made to size. They are anxious to safeguard the tools and equipment from rust. The time for six or eight men to work together must be coordinated. The same men would like to interest a group to finance buying a tractor-mower, which will cost six thousand dollars.

While looking out the third story window of the general manager’s house, I watched with interest, a group of kids enjoying their water slide. They could have been thirteen or fourteen years old. A long strip of vinyl had been spread down the hill, and a stream of water was running over it. Kids would take a run and slide, either on a piece of plastic or without it. It didn’t seem to matter if they were out of control and collided with one another. Lots of hooting and hollering indicated they were enjoying the activity immensely. From a second story window, I saw a group of kids and their staff member heading down to the docks for a swim. The day was gorgeous, nice and hot, just right for swimming at camp.

A stroll through the tall evergreen trees and over rocks took us down to the docks where campers were swimming. It was obvious they enjoyed it, and so we had to stop and watch their numerous fancy dives. Kids love an audience and they surely performed for one another and for us. There were two powerful motor boats ready for those who would water-ski.

I learned from the general manager, that he draws the plans and figures out materials required for any buildings needed. He orders them from the lumberyard at Gibsons. They don’t have to come from Vancouver. (Groceries too, are ordered from Gibsons.) He and volunteers familiar with building are invited to work together for the construction.

A delicious lunch was served to our group of twenty-five and the camp director told us of the plans they had to improve the camp and how the executive plans to finance them. With 1500 or so campers during the summer and various church groups coming to spend a few days at conventions, along with money regularly subscribed, their huge budget is met. Keats Camp is a great place for kids to spend a week or two in the summer. Here, they can enjoy the great out of doors and be amazed at the mountainous scenery. God’s creation can be appreciated to a far greater extent out there on Keats Island, than anywhere imaginable.

An hour’s ride back to the Ferry Terminal and our bus ride home completed the morning and afternoon. Everyone enjoyed the day immensely and we were home in time for supper.

All on a Sunday

Sunday began early. We arose at six AM, had breakfast and left White Rock BC for Vancouver, to be there for the Provincial Track Meet. Our two grandsons, 10 and 12 years old, would be competing and the first race would begin at 8:30. The younger of the two lads ran first, -in the 800-metre race. He came in second. His opponent, who he had beaten before, had grown since the last race and his legs were just that much longer. He had also become stronger. Consolation for our lad was to be assured that he ran the course faster than he had last year. He was enlightened, and he expects to do well next time, after growing some more. He intends to train every day.



Our older grandson ran in the 1200-metre race. It was exciting to watch. He drew alongside his opponent, challenging him in the last stretch to the finish line and won, but only by a step. After congratulating both of our grandsons, we drove back to White Rock, to attend church service. It was a sunny day and we felt there was much to accomplish.



After lunch, I took my pipes to the forest area and found a clearing in the trail to do some fine-tuning and rehearsing for the birthday party for which I would be playing that afternoon. Something interesting happened. A lady, who had been listening, came over and said she liked the pipes very much and that she had a Scottish background. She said her maiden name was Buchanan. I introduced myself as Dr. MacDonald. She asked, “Are you Dr. Keith MacDonald?” I replied affirmatively, wondering how she would know. Was it because she had seen The Church Piper music books that I published, or that she knew me from the International Fellowship of Christian Pipers and Drummers? When she said she had been Judy Buchanan before she was married, I recognized her as having been my brother’s dental assistant after she graduated from High School. She reminded me that my brother, Ken and I, played the pipes for her wedding. That would have been 40 years ago. Her face was familiar. She said that she and Tom now have two daughters, and the dog, which she was taking for a walk in the forest. She lived in a nearby town and was in White Rock for the day, visiting one of her daughters. I guess you’d have to say, “It’s a small world.”



I went home and dressed in my MacDonald Highland outfit, had a quick bite and drove to the birthday party in Surrey. The map gave a very clear route and it wasn’t far to the home where the party would take place.



Being ahead of the scheduled arrival time, I tuned up in preparation for the arrival of the man whose 90th birthday party was to be celebrated. In my strategic spot on the back deck, I got the signal from the kitchen when to begin playing “Happy Birthday.” You can be sure the elderly gentleman and his wife were pleasantly surprised to be piped into the presence of their family and friends. In the spirit of the moment, “Let’s Have a Ceilidh,” was a great welcoming song to be played on the pipes.



A young Highland dancer demonstrated several dances and I continued with a few old familiar Scottish songs such as, “The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen,” “I Belong to Glasgow,” “The Road to the Isles,” and “Scotland the Brave.”



It was a wonderful day for an outdoor party, and everyone was enjoying it immensely, particularly the elderly couple who were originally from Scotland. What an appropriate celebration for one who is 90 years old and still able to enjoy being with his family and friends. It had been a joyous day for me as well, and I would be able to tell my own family and friends all that had transpired that Sunday.