Tag Archives: singing

Jan 2 2009

Wishing you a fine ’09


Except for the noise of sporadic fireworks in the neighborhood back yards 2008, (my 63rd), quietly slipped into history. My wife and I ordered pizza, watched America’s Funniest Home Videos, some Fox News and the dawn of a New Year was upon us.

Even in the midst of a failing economic climate ’08 was a very good year for the Ogle’s. We were blessed in so many ways I can’t list even most of them. Our greatest blessings are the wonderful people we have met and know. Carol has recruited even more gals for her chapter of Sweet Adeline’s and through her work with WFR Relief has made many wonderful friends and acquaintances. Our Grief Share ministry has allowed us not only to meet some dear folks but to be a part of their healing as well. And, I began two weekly meetings with groups of believing men who have been an enormous blessing and a joy to my life. God has been very, very kind to us indeed.

At almost 63 1/2 we are both is very good health with a few annoyances due mostly to very high mileage. We are both full of optimism and greet 2009 with enthusiasm. We have nothing to fear and much to look forward to. Our grand children are growing up very quickly and we cherish our time with them. And, we like their mamma’s and daddy’s too. 🙂

We are excited about ministry opportunities, travel, a garden, bluebonnets blooming, singing competitions, fishing, NASCAR, and a host of other things in no particular order. Life is good and sharing some of it with you, my readers, is a joy. My sincere hope is that something I post here will guide someone to Christ, encourage someone to follow Him more closely, to love Him more deeply, and to love those He loves in more tangible ways.

So I am happy to welcome a new year but my hope is in the One who lives outside the time/space continuum and knew my future before I had my beginning. In good times or in bad He is with me. No man can ask for more.

Wishing you all the best,
Royce

Sep 5 2008

A Capella only. Mandate or Myth?


The first time I heard a congregation sing a capella I loved it. Now, having been a member of a church of Christ for over eight years I still love the absolute beauty, the primitive feel, to good a capella singing. Wednesday nights at our church we meet in what was years ago the main auditorium and the acoustics compliment singing. It is wonderful to hear!

I will never forget when I was first given a “proof text” for a capella only singing in church. When the man read Colossians 3:16 my reply was “That’s it?”. I am amazed that this issue is still a hot issue in coC circles. Only the role of baptism is mentioned perhaps as much.

In only a few days after Peter’s first gospel sermon there were in Jerusalem several thousand new Christians. And, we know that they met together and worshiped. Interestingly, it would be at least twenty to twenty five years before the Apostle Paul would write what is now purported to be “authorization” for a capella only singing in worship gatherings. I am not suggesting that these earliest believers did not sing a capella, what I am saying is that they had no scriptural mandate to do so. And, the few who likely had some part of the Old Testament, or heard it read, did not find any such “authorization” in it. In fact they would have learned the opposite from the OT. When Ephesians and Colossians were finally written the context of neither “proof text” even hints that Paul’s intention was to prohibit the use of musical instruments in worship.

I was recently reminded that many coC people consider this issue to be a “salvation issue“! This could be used in the seminary class room as a case study on poor Bible scholorship and interupitation of Scripture.

A capella singing by Christians is a beautiful experience. It is a rich tradition and is worth continuing and passing to generations to come. However, it is foolish to tell anyone the Bible demands it. And I thnk even sinful to consider someone lost who does not agree.

Your opinion?

His peace,
Royce