Last night while reading the news on-line, I came across this piece from PJMedia.
“This is the latest video about Musicorps, a program that gives (often very severely) wounded combat veterans the opportunity to play music. It’s the creation of a wunderkind in Washington DC named Arthur Bloom, a Juliard prodigy who has performed with some very famous musicians and written some very successful compositions, including movie scores. He took his profits and put them into Musicorps, which maybe, just maybe, is beginning to attract the attention it deserves.”
I must say, I was intrigued. So I checked out their website, watched some more video, got choked up more than once, and knew I had to share it here. It’s a program started at Walter Reed. The benefits of the program are obvious once you watch. These folks deserve our best, and a program like this that helps enrich their lives is certainly worthy of support and encouragement. I salute them and their efforts. Well done.
“Musicorps replicates “real world” music relationships so that injured veterans work on, and are motivated to work on, robust goal-oriented projects many hours a day. Musicorps integrates individualized projects, regular visits by accomplished musicians, and the use of specially-assembled computer-based music workstations along with traditional instruments. Working in any musical style they prefer, wounded warriors are able to learn, play, write, record, and produce original material.
Facing a jarring shift from rigorous activity to the pain and isolation of recovery, Musicorps brings activity, accomplishment, and joy. The program helps wounded warriors overcome injuries, remain productive, and recover their lives.
Musicorps also aids recovery from war-related trauma, including PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and TBI (traumatic brain injury). Concussive blasts from roadside bombs cause TBI, and it has been called the signature injury of the war on terror. Learning, creating, and performing music involves so many aspects of brain function that it is believed to recruit uninjured parts of the brain to compensate for parts that have been injured, and help those parts that are injured recover. Among others, Musicorps is advised by Dr. Allen Brown, Director of Brain Research and Rehabilitation at the Mayo Clinic.”
And here’s one more. You can view more videos at their link.
And could you please continue to pray for those of us still dealing with the aftermath of this storm.
Also, I’ve witnessed many good things about my neighbors and friends in the neighborhood. Despite the conditions, many are going out of their way to help others. My neighbor Jimmy is one such, and I’d ask you to pray for him. He’s interested, and has questions about God, but isn’t quite there yet. May the Lord show him the answers he seeks thru this experience.
Still no power. Todays free WiFi is from the fine folks at McDonalds.
Quote of the Day
“This stinks!”
Me
🙂
We’re hoping to have power back soon. The stuff in the fridge is a loss. But between ice and a time share on a generator from a good friend and neighbor, the freezer is still good. The problem now is it’s getting cold, and the furnace needs electric to run. Continued prayer is appreciated.
As you may already know, this past Sunday was designated Pulpit Freedom Sunday. It was an attempt to force the IRS, and the courts, to remove the federal statute enacted by LBJ which they feel unfairly limits churches from endorsing candidates for office from the pulpit. Let’s face it, Democrats have been doing this for years at certain churches anyway, and those churches have never faced penalties for it. The IRS is on shaky ground here, and they know it, that’s why they seem reluctant to enforce the law. They don’t seem to be in a hurry to have the courts review this, opponents say because they know they will lose. Usually, a strongly worded letter is as far as it’s pursued. But isn’t it time the courts revisit this?
Now I’m of two minds on this. I can see why a church might like the freedom to advocate for candidates that join them in sharing biblical reasons to take one position over another. But at the same time, I’m uncomfortable with the idea of politics being the focus of a worship service. I, like most of you I’m sure, don’t attend church for political reasons or guidance. I attend to join others in worshipping and praising God, as well as to continue to learn what His word says. I think if you know and study God’s word, you will already know which candidate you should support. Hearing my pastor say it isn’t necessary, and it’s not why I’m there.
Here’s a little more info on the group behind it, and some news on it.
“Doubtless many of you are thinking to yourself, “That’s illegal—churches can’t endorse candidates.” You are correct that such endorsements violate a federal statute. However, that statute is almost certainly unconstitutional.”
“When serving in the Senate on July 2, 1954, Johnson pushed through the Johnson Amendment on the Senate floor without any committee hearings or discussion, making it illegal for nonprofit tax-deductible entities to speak in any manner intended to influence an election.
As ADF—a Christian legal organization that fights for the unborn, marriage, parental rights, and religious liberty—explains at its Pulpit Freedom website, this broke almost 200 years of practice where American pastors could freely speak on their understanding of how biblical principles applied to major issues facing the country, and which candidates for office those pastors believed did a better job of adhering to Christian principles in their proposed government actions. Video messages from leaders such as Pastor Jim Garlow and ADF’s lead lawyer on this project, Erik Stanley, walk visitors through the history of this issue and the specifics of ADF’s plan to combat this silencing of churches.”
“The Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution protects the ability of churches—including pastors and lay Christians—and adherents of other faiths—to freely live out their faith through participating in the political process. And the Supreme Court has made it clear for more than a century—most recently in 2010 in Citizens United v. FEC, that the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment guarantees that citizens can speak as freely through a corporate entity (such as a church) as they can individually about political and social issues.”
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Here’s why.
When I first became a Christian I had a conversation with my sister-in-law Ellen. I was new to the whole scene and was seriously lacking in my knowledge of the Bible and what it had to say. This verse hit home to me. It was so simple, so easy to understand, and Ellen said it so matter-of-factly that it hit me like an “Of course! How could I not see something so obvious?” kinda moment. It made perfect sense. It still does. It’s not a difficult verse to understand, it’s a straight forward and honest statement of truth. It is the only way.
Wandering Views 