Adjusting to the Situation

I was invited to participate in the Remembrance Day Service at Westminster House, a retirement home in White Rock, BC. As there wasn’t a trumpet player, I volunteered to play The Last Post as well as The Lament. The latter selection follows a one-minute’s silence. For The Last Post, I played “The Bugle Horn March,” accented, as a trumpeter would play it. The lament was a medley of two familiar selections, “The Minstrel Boy” and “Danny Boy,” because they would be familiar to this group of people. Afterwards, an Irish couple spoke to me saying how much it meant to them to hear those two beloved Irish songs. A year ago, I also played for the same group of people, and elected to play as the lament, “Dark Island,” which has the sadness and reverence suitable for remembering our veterans of many wars. I made the choice between it and “The Lament of the MacDonalds.” Whenever I play the latter selection, I imagine the bitter winter winds through which the Scottish clan escaped from those at Glencoe who wished to annihilate them in the middle of the night. Thank goodness they didn’t, because I’m a MacDonald. For years, in services in which I played at cenotaphs, war veterans expected to hear their piper play the prolonged strains of “The Flowers o’ the Forest,” while they remembered their comrades. I respectfully complied. Later on, however, at a businessmen’s banquet in Winnipeg, I substituted a beautiful hymn. The speaker was a veteran of the Dieppe landing. Many of his friends were killed and he was certain he would be too. As he waded into shore with bullets flying past him, he looked up and prayed, “God, if I should get out of this alive, I promise to honor You for the rest of my life.” God saved him, and people of the underground assisted by bringing him back safely to England. Since then, he gladly accepted invitations by groups such as the one to which he spoke that day, to tell of his experience and his thankfulness to God. Immediately after this dear veteran soldier completed his story, it was my responsibility to play the lament. I heard that still small voice inside me saying, “Play a tribute to God with, ‘When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.’” As I played this fine old hymn, in this intimate setting, slow-marching around the dining room, I distinctly heard individuals saying aloud, “Yes, Lord, yes, Lord.” Truly, they recognized the miracle that saved this soldier’s life when all around him his friends were cut down before they made it to shore. Once, in Winnipeg, I was invited to play for a Remembrance Day service in a retirement home. While planning the program, the social director still needed a pianist. I offered to play the piano too, if she couldn’t find one. The hymns would be familiar, such as, “O Valiant Hearts,” “O God Our Help in Ages Past,” “Faith of our Fathers” and “God of Our Fathers.” She was relieved, and we agreed that if God should send someone better qualified, we would both be thankful. It was our good fortune that a few days later, a new resident moved in, who was a musical director in one of the churches. Already, she had formed a choir and was preparing them to sing in the service. The Remembrance service in that Retirement Home was a definite tribute to our military people. The color party was led in and out by the pipes, and the choir performed beautifully. The people sang under skilled direction and the pastor delivered an honorable address. A well-practiced trumpet player played, “The Last Post" and "Reveille," and there was a minute’s silence before the pipes reverently broke in with “The Flowers o’ the Forest.” I often think how God did the exact thing for us by having that lady director move into the retirement home just when we needed her. Even though I could have played the piano, her contribution allowed me to concentrate on doing my best, playing the lament. In a month or so, I will have published the 15th volume of The Church Piper. The music book is “Patriotic Music and Familiar Folk Songs for the Church Piper.” In it are included 84 beautiful selections arranged for the pipes. Several arrangements have been written for “The Last Post” and “Reveille.” For the enthusiastic piper who would love to have the music for these selections, they will be there for practice. It is a lovely challenge to learn these pieces as well as to know other suitable laments for this sacred occasion. I hope other pipers will experience God’s presence too, as they help others to remember the great contribution our soldiers have made towards our freedom.

There is Power in a Hymn

A beautiful hymn has an indescribable quality that touches and stirs the hearts of its listeners even more acutely than the well-chosen words of an orator could accomplish.  Clearly stated by the poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1807-1882, music is the universal language of mankind.

Beyond the tune and the poet’s rhyming stanzas, is God’s Spirit who uses these components to produce an overwhelming power that affects the emotions and makes His presence very assuring.

Thanks to God for having inspired the writing of hymns, that we may, on the right occasion, sing or play them for others to enjoy and praise God.  Hymns are the means by which lost souls will be found and saved; the power by which our fellow men and women will be brought to know forgiveness, experience renewal and have hope for eternal life.

For call to worship, the piper could select a hymn that extols God’s power, and such a hymn is, "I Sing the Mighty Power of God."

1. I sing the mighty power of God

That made the mountains rise,

That spread the flowing seas abroad

And built the lofty skies.

I sing the wisdom that ordained

The sun to rule the day;

The moon shines full at His command,

And all the stars obey.

2. I sing the goodness of the Lord

That filled the earth with food;

He formed the creatures with His Word

And then pronounced them good.

Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed

Where’er I turn my eye:

If I survey the ground I tread

Or gaze upon the sky!

3. There’s not a plant or flower below

But makes Thy glories known;

And clouds arise and tempests blow

By order from Thy throne;

While all that borrows life from Thee

Is ever in Thy care,

And everywhere that man can be,

Thou, God art present there.

                                                                 - Isaac Watts, 1674-1748

                               

Top-Notch Piping

Playing an instrument or singing a solo for call to worship in church requires top-notch musicianship. It is not an occasion for testing one’s ability as a performer, but instead, it is a sacred time in which a congregation is led in praising our Lord and Creator. Only one’s best is good enough and the musician must rank amongst the most proficient of musicians and definitely not be a beginner.

For the piper asked to play for call to worship, a few suggestions can be made to help in attaining that degree of perfection.

The first of course, is to assure that his or her instrument is working perfectly and will be beautifully tuned. The pipe bag must be absolutely airtight, to require easy blowing, and no effort to maintain constant pressure, not allowing the slightest waver of the drones throughout the hymn. This assures a steady sound that will be pleasing. If a tenor drone does not stay perfectly in tune, shut it off, and tune the remaining one to perfection. When there’s an opportunity to do so, spend time to restore the drone’s function.

The hymn medley should be selected weeks ahead and be well practiced. Not too many hymns or even too few should be selected. Three or four are sufficient to play in and out and across the front several times. Be sure not to confuse a hymn with any band tune that is similar. Consequently, one should forgo practicing any selection that may conflict with his or her memory. For an example, there are two tunes, “Highland Cathedral,” and “See, What a Morning!” in which there is a similarity in the beginning and one must avoid making a pitfall in which to fall.

Another suggestion is to assure you will be marching in step with the beat and with the emphasis. This is not quite so difficult when playing solo, but in a band everyone must practice the beginning of a three-four-retreat march. It is unlike any other march. Unless one begins differently, then he or she can be assured of playing out of step. The drums should provide the customary roll, but begin instead, by playing it on the right foot. Pipers will begin their introduction of the three-four march on the right foot, with the left foot coming down on the first beat of the bar as it should. In a medley, any tune following the three-four hymns or retreats will then be played in step. The procedure simply needs to be practiced. The usual drummers’ introduction on the left foot just doesn’t work for retreats or for hymns in three-quarter time. This is the simplest way. It makes an appreciable difference to the expression given to the music when one’s feet fall correctly on the notes to be emphasized.

When there are four quarter notes in each bar, it is well to notice that there are two ways in which the music may be played. In 4/4 time, one counts four beats to a bar, while in common time, the count is only two. The signature for common time is a C with a line drawn through it. The beat comes only on the first and third quarter notes. “Loch Lomond” is a good example for this timing or rhythm. Played in 4/4 time, the music is restricted and ponderous, while in common time, the tune flows along smoothly.

While mentioning rhythm, and expression, it is indeed noteworthy to consider the beautiful hymn, “Amazing Grace,” and explain that there is a world of difference in how it might be played as compared with how it should sound. Commonly, one hears the triplet-like notes played as a downward run with emphasis on the last note. Instead, one should endeavor to put emphasis on the first of these three notes. In fact, the whole hymn should be played with a solid beat going on in the piper’s head. Beginning with power in the two introductory notes. With Ah-a, on the right foot, and conviction on the rest of the word, ’mazing,’ which involves the entire first bar. “Grace” comes on the right foot. Throughout, the time is firm and constant, with emphasis placed on the first note of the triplets and power supplied to the high notes that have two or three beats. It is actually a thrill to play this great hymn using power and solid timing to support it. With practice, the beauty in this hymn will be extolled and its sweetness will be a wonderful tribute to God. The pattern used to play “Amazing Grace” may be applied to any other hymn when the feeling they deserve is given.

Once, having been requested to play “Amazing Grace” from the platform in church, for a memorial service, I was anticipating playing it solo for three verses. I completed the first verse, and then, unannounced to me beforehand, the organist drove home the introduction to the second verse, and he was right in tune for me to continue. The Bison Men’s Choir of Winnipeg was in the choir loft and they received the signal from the organist that they were to sing the verse, “When I’ve been there ten-thousand years.” It was a wonderful experience. Now this is often considered to be the third and final verse to the hymn, although there are thirteen verses. I didn’t dare try for another verse, for I had no idea if all the singers would have the same choice for a third verse. So, I gave the signal to the organist that two verses would be sufficient. I would have loved to play all the verses written, but couldn’t take the chance.

Often one hears someone say that his or her music teacher taught that a dotted quarter note causes the note to be played one-and-a-half times as long. That’s true of course, but it isn’t always understood that a dotted quarter note is played with two beats. First, one should notice that the quarter note has a full beat. Then notice that the dot comes on the second beat. Instead of a dot, the quarter note may be tied to the next note, which will be an eighth note, and that eighth note will complete the second beat. This makes a very neat difference in a piece of music, with the quarter note A or F for examples, tied over, then with an immediate short burrel or an eighth note being played to complete the second beat, the note of the third beat is struck. There are several good examples for playing with this neat expression. They are, “The Sands of Kuwait,” “Highland Cathedral,” “The Minstrel Boy” and “Oh! Rowan Tree.”

To be able to play well in the church setting, there is much for the piper to gain from his or her experience in a pipe band in which the pipers and their teachers conscientiously try to produce the best expression. It is insufficient merely to play the pipes, while it is necessary to uphold with pride, Scotland’s traditional and beloved musical instrument, by which one may offer genuine praise to the Lord. I hope with all my heart that these few suggestions will assist pipers to play their very best in the church setting, that all those present my respond well to his or her all-out genuine effort.

The Loss of a Dear Friend

Al was a dear friend and I shall surely miss him. He took his life, and there was nothing I could have done to prevent it from happening. It was quick, in the privacy of his home, and in the middle of the night. The evening before, he and another friend had dinner together at their favorite restaurant. There was no indication to any of us that Al had formulated his plan. Nevertheless, the details had been made, even to leave his important documents on the table.

Al was loved in our community. He often helped several elderly widows in one way or another; getting their groceries, taking them to doctors’ and hair appointments, planting their shrubs and cleaning their eves. I loved to work with him, removing overgrown shrubs, digging out the rocks so new shrubs could be planted, chopping out roots, laying sods and putting up Christmas lights. Sometimes, from his garage workshop, he'd find me the bolt or a hook that I needed. There were shelves full of model cars that he built over the years, and hanging from the garage ceiling were either scale model planes or flying models with gas engines. Several tall ships adorned the shelves.

After we laid a neighbor's sod, I remember saying to Al that I knew he must have Jesus in his heart because we worked so well together. Besides, I told him, I knew because he loved to help the widows in our small community. I invited him a couple of times to attend a men’s fellowship dinner at the church, where there'd be a guest speaker. He enjoyed those events. When we invited a number of people from our community for dinner, a neighbor lady was talking so loudly that he politely asked her to “-be silent so Keith can ask the blessing.”

During his lifetime, he had attended church, but discontinued going because of a breakdown in his marriage. To help him overcome his discouragement, his two sons introduced him to the hobby of building model cars, planes and ships. He must have built them in earnest because there were so many. He lived alone and was obviously very lonely, except for the times when he was helping others. During those times, he was happy and would work until the sweat ran from the end of his nose. We'd take a break for lunch on the patio and Al would tell us about his sons whom he loved and for whom he was greatly concerned for their success and good health. Then, we'd go and finish our project in a neighbor’s garden.

I noted those things about Al because I know a person has to be right with God to be with Him after death. Al had a Christian’s faith. I'm sure he did, even though he didn't loudly proclaim it like some others do. Because Al accepted my comment, that he must have the spirit of Jesus in his heart, it assured me that he was right with God and would enjoy eternity in Heaven. By his love for helping others, his radiance when working on a project with others, and his ability not to use the Lord’s name in vain, I knew he loved God. I am reminded of the Scribe who asked Jesus, "What commandment is the foremost of all?" Jesus responded by saying, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and the second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.” Al loved God and he certainly loved his neighbors. He'd do anything to help them. Although we'll miss him very much, it is our hope that he is with God in Heaven.

Today's Hymns On Pipes

The old hymns are wonderful for their Christian messages and melodic quality.  Many of them have been arranged for the pipes.  As one would suspect, in recent years new hymns have been written that are beautifully suited to the bagpipes after transposition and arrangement.  Specifically, hymns written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend are a delight and lend themselves perfectly to playing call to worship on a Sunday morning.  These two Irish musicians instill their creations with native culture, to give them a Celtic lilt familiar to Irish and Scottish music.

In my repertoire, I have been playing, “In Christ Alone,” by Keith Getty and “How Deep The Father’s Love For Us,” by Stuart Townend.  Now, having had Keith & Kristyn Getty’s “In Christ Alone Songbook” to enjoy, I’ve added three more of their hymns to my repertoire, namely, “See, What A Morning!” “Speak, O Lord,” and The Power Of The Cross.”  My notes will enable a person to select them for the occasion upon which each may be played.

“See, What A Morning!” is a song to be played at Easter or a morning worship service, because it is exciting and triumphant, proclaiming the truth of Christ having risen from the grave.  It is a marvelous hymn for a piper to lead a congregation in praise of our Saviour.

“Speak, O Lord,” is a prayer asking God to continue speaking to us through Scripture and by His Holy Spirit.  His Word is powerful, and by it, God spoke the world into creation and inspired writers to record His instructions for all generations.  It has transforming power to improve life’s quality when people listen humbly and respond.

“The Power Of The Cross,” was written for Easter and Communion and is an ideal choice for the piper.  It reflects upon Christ’s suffering and challenges people to renew their lives as they wonder about the significance and power of the cross.  One observes and acknowledges the awful price Christ paid to redeem us from our sins.  As terrible as His crucifixion was, it was nevertheless God’s plan, designed long before Christ sacrificed his life and suffered for us.

“In Christ Alone,” was the first hymn that Keith and Stuart wrote together; simple yet powerful.  We will sing, “No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me.”  Christ was God sacrificed on the cross.  Only Jesus could have such power to be returned to life because He was God in human flesh.  Even death could not have power over our Lord.  He is God and we believe in Him.  He affects us all and we know He desires to have a personal relationship with each one of us.

A church piper will do well to build his or her repertoire upon Keith Getty’s and Stuart Townend’s compositions, and be ready to respond to requests for leading a congregation in worship.

Keith MacDonald

It's No Joke

The other day, I received an e-mail to which I have given some thought.  There is more to think about than to consider it just another joke.  I don't find it particularly funny.  See what you think.

‘One day God was looking down at earth and saw the entire rascally behavior that was going on...
So He called His angels and sent one to earth for a time.  When the angel returned, she told God, 'Yes, it is bad on earth; 95% are misbehaving and only 5% are not.  God thought for a moment and said, “Maybe I had better send down a second angel to get another opinion.”

So God called another angel and sent her to earth for a time.  When the angel returned she went to God and said, “Yes, it's true. The earth is in decline; 95% are misbehaving, but 5% are being good.”  God was not pleased, so sHE decided to e-mail the 5% who were good, because sHe wanted to encourage them, and give them a little something to help them keep going.
Do you know what the e-mail said?

Okay, I was just wondering, because I didn't get one either.’  -By an anonymous person

This forwarded e-mail has such an important message.  The intention of the person who wrote it was to have us laugh, and yet I didn't find it funny.  Actually, I thought, because it was most likely designed to cause a laugh, that it was just the opposite.  Think about it and you will see that everyone, according to these figures, is destined to go to Hell.   Consequently, all are ineligible for the promise that God gave us, which is, as most of us have read in John 3:16; "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." 

If everyone is misbehaving, as the story says, and disregards God, then that's "curtains" for him or her.  I can't make a joke of something so wonderful as the gift of eternal life.  It was given to us simply because we believe in God having created all things and that He loves us so much that He sacrificed His Son to pay for our forgiveness for misbehaving.  Those who are misbehaving, (which is just another word for sinning), are turning their shoulders to God.  It is if they are saying, " I don't need you; I'm having too much fun just doing what I want to do.  Besides that, I plan to continue after I'm done with this world, by cavorting with my friends in Hell, the place about which we like to joke.  There, I'll have a great time with all my friends.  Yes, in Hell I'll have a great time!"

Well, think about it.  We can't expect to find any friends there.  Who could we trust?"  "Everyone knows it's the place where murderers and thieves end up, and besides, it's described as a smoldering ash pit where sinful people abide forever and ever.  Could you say they would be enjoying their days? 

I wonder if this article was meant to be a joke or to be considered as something to provoke our sensibilities into thinking that we should appreciate what God has given us, and to be reminded that God so loved the world?  Should we not remember that we must love God too?  Some will laugh about this "joke" and others, like me, will read it with sadness and think about those who will be missing out on being with their Lord and Saviour forever.

In the Bible, God is referred to as He.  We remember the prayer that Jesus taught us, beginning with, "Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name."  He never, ever, referred to His Father in Heaven as sHe, whatever gender that is?

You might thank the author of the "joke" for at least provoking me, to write my thoughts about it.  As the expression goes, "It ain't no joke!"  We see it as it is, and that Jesus gave us the order to protect our friends from this kind of thinking, by saying, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel."  We have a responsibility for our friends and to those who aren't our friends just yet, but who will thank us some day for warning them against such falseness as we saw in that Email.  A final thought is about what Jesus taught when He said, "Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends." Soon afterwards, He did just that, for He gave His life for His friends and even for His enemies.  That is, for all who would believe.

By the way, who is this person called, sHe?

Vision Impairment

With considerable interest, I read the story of the man who was born blind and was miraculously given his eyesight.  It was the first time in his life that he was able to see and it would have been an amazing day for him.  It was a day worth remembering and celebrating.  Besides celebrating the miracle of this man receiving his sight, it was an occasion for others to join with him in praise, to acknowledge the actuality of something considered impossible, but obviously, not for God.  To no one before had this happened, and it would be unlikely to happen again. 

Being an optometrist, I took a particular interest.  I’ve experienced joy with patients whose eyesight was considerably improved and I’ve joined with others, thankful to God that I was able to prevent them from becoming blind.  Never, have I witnessed anyone given perfectly good eyesight that had been blind from birth.  It would have been wonderful to behold.  Only God could perform such a miracle.

For this man, it was an exceptional day; one in which to be thankful, except, no one pondered the wonder of the miracle.  Instead, they questioned who did it and said that whoever it was that gave him his eyesight, did so on the Sabbath, which wasn’t good.  Can you imagine that?  They considered any individual who performed a miracle on the Sabbath to have committed a great sin.  Consequently, he could not be a prophet but instead, he must be from the devil.  That was their premise: if he took away the man’s blindness on the Sabbath, then he must be an evil person.

The priests had someone locate the man’s parents who assured them this was their own son who had been born blind.  Others assured them that they too, recognized the man who had been blind from birth.

Someone was sent to find the poor fellow so he could be questioned.  The priests learned that he had no idea who had given him his eyesight. This man who had been blind could offer little in the way of helping them to know who was his benefactor but to say, “Once I was blind and now I can see.”  We recognize his words from our hymn, “Amazing Grace.”  However, Jesus, who had been looking for him too, revealed Himself to him.  The man not only thanked Jesus profusely, but he chose to praise Him as a man of God.

One has to admire the man for his retort to the priests who questioned him incessantly.  He said he had told them but they wouldn’t listen and that they must want to praise the Person who performed the miracle, because of their repetitious questioning.  They excommunicated him from their church because he professed that his benefactor was a Prophet from God.  It didn’t worry him to admit his belief to the priests.  He knew it was better to praise the man of God who had given him his eyesight, than to belong to a church that put more emphasis on rules than it did on praising God.  He recognized that they were more interested in having people obey the rules set by the church, which included not helping anyone on the Sabbath, than they were intent upon worshipping God.  Ironically, they had the opportunity before their eyes, to worship God in reality. 

The man’s parents reacted differently, for they were non-committal.  They admitted that this was their son, and that he had been born blind, and now was able to see, but they were not ready to say that the one to be recognized was a Prophet from God.  They knew that if they were to say that this was what they believed, they’d be excommunicated too.  One feels badly for them, because it was plain for them to see that God had performed a miracle and they could praise the very One who did it but they would not.  Their faith could have been made whole if they were to praise God for performing the miracle. They were not unlike many others who are blind in spite of having eyes capable of seeing.

The actual story can be read in the book of John, in chapter nine.  You will enjoy the man’s response to the priests who he is in effect teaching, but who are so wrapped up in their own rules that they too, can neither listen or see.