music

Sweet Spirit at Life Care

/ pastorpete51 / 6 Comments

In 1962, when four guys named, John, Paul, Ringo and George were releasing their first hit song, Doris Mae was helping with choir practice. One particulat night, Doris felt the presence of God in such a powerful way that she hesitated to dismiss everyone. As they lingered a bit, she told someone. “There is such a sweet spirit in this place.” Doris was so enraptured by that experience, that she went home and wrote the words, “There’s a sweet sweet Spirit in this place. And I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord.”

Today, almost no one remembers Doris Mae Acker, but millions still sing that song which God gave her. And ironically that big hit song, “Love Me Do.” by The Beatles, is rarely played. That story makes me recall some other lyrics written a bit earlier, “I’d rather have Jesus than world wide fame. I’d rather be true to His Holy name.

It was my privilege to sing Dotis’ sweet song with my friends at Life Care today. I ho0e you can hear their voices as we sang together for Jesus and that you will join in. Have a blessed dsy everyone!

Our Great Conductor’s Chorus

/ pastorpete51 / 7 Comments 
Though we may feel our part is over
As our voices start to age
And notes we sing grow quiet
Near the bottom of the page

There are still a few more stanzas
That He’s chosen us to sing
Even some new crescendos
With those high notes left to ring

Look how our great conductor 
Taps His baton and lifts His hands!
Then on His mark we'll start the chorus
For those listening in the stands

Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
    tell of his salvation from day to day.
Psalm 96:1-2 ESV

Our Great Conductor’s Chorus
By Peter Caligiuri
Copyright © 2023
All rights reserved
Photo by Ramazan Karaoglanoglu on Pexels.com

God’s Dinner Music

/ pastorpete51 / 14 Comments

I will sing of your love and justice; to you O Lord I will sing praise! Psalm 101:1 NIV

My saying with our family, is “Media and meals don’t mix.” That is with the exception of music. One of my most detailed childhood memories is of my step-dad playing, Beethoven’s Ninth symphony or Benny Goodman on the stereo at suppertime. After 60 years, I can still feel Bababa-boom through my feet and hear the high notes on Goodman’s clarinet.

God invented music long before heaven and earth were created. I believe that the first thing He taught the angels was how to sing Holy-Holy-Holy! Jesus Himself sang after the Last supper and in today’s verse David tells us that the song He sings is of God’s love and justice.

Music is special. Maybe that’s why so many generations, from ancient Hebrew festivals to 18th century English pubs have resonated with songs while they ate and drank. Music has the power to bring our minds and bodies into unity around its melodies and rhythms. We need to ask ourselves “What kind of music are we listening to at our dinner times?” Are we choosing the sounds of football, the boink-boink-boink of video games or the tapping out a reply to some text message, or are we listening to the symphony of heaven? When we do, our hearts our minds can be filled with God’s dinner music and our lips with His praise!