My husband and I are taking a short 4 day vacation starting when he gets off work tonight. I’ll let you know how it went (that is assuming, of course, that you actually care).
Talked to my brother on the phone yesterday who in (mock) sincerity told me he was sorry for my loss. My mind of course, went to Luther, my dear little Betta now joining other fishies in the big fish tank in the sky, so I thanked him for his sympathy. Then he said, “That, too, but I was referring to your Chargers losing to my Packers 31-24.” Oh well.
True, I use my Music Theory degree several times a week teaching piano lessons, but I haven’t actually written anything major in several years. I’ve arranged a couple hymns Gospel-style, but as far as actually having to focus on music-writing and voicing rules, I’m a bit rusty.
Recently I’ve been working on the realization of a Chinese hymn translated by one of our WELS missionaries who also wrote two additional stanzas (just FYI–hymns don’t have “verses”, they have “stanzas”). I finished the 4-part hymn version several weeks ago, but the choral version has been a major work for me. To try to create musical pictures is one of the most challenging and exciting things about composing for me. Now that I’ve completed it, I listen to it and marvel at the musical influences that manifest themselves in this piece. I couldn’t arrange a Chinese hymn for choir without part of it sounding a bit Chinese, so for inspiration I got out my Voice/Piano score for Mulan. The hymn is based on Psalm 46, the same which “A Mighty Fortress” is based on, so the sounds of strength and battle and shout of victory are influenced partly by Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and partly by the Hans Zimmer’s maelstrom sequence in the score of Pirates of the Carribean: At World’s End which is one of my favorite movie scores of all time. Although no one but me would pick up on these (and other) influences, the fact that they are there is no surprise. Every major composer drew from composers before them–even Bach was influenced by Buxtehude. I could write a lengthy post on the subject, but I digress. My point is that although I’ve really gotten rusty by not composing, it feels so good to be using that degree I’m still paying off!!
We sadly mourn the loss of Luther, our Betta fish. We found him floating upside down in his tank this morning. What makes it worse is that so far this morning I’ve twisted my ankle, threw out my back, and found out we got an overdraft. And I’ve only been up for 2 hours.
I know the formula for hosting the carnival includes highlighting a Lutheran that isn’t well known but should be. At this time of year I can think of no one I’d like to honor more than this man. This Lutheran Pastor served only rural congregations in his 27 year ministry, wasn’t a well-known “synod name,” never held a position of authority in the synod, and, though he was the first person in his family to become a pastor, his children have continued in the ministry as a Staff Minister, a Church musician, and a Pastor. He is Pastor Arnold Ruddat–my father–called home to heaven ten years ago. His obituary was–and still is–the most beautiful I’ve ever read, and it begins:
Arnold was a christian all his life, from the time of his baptism as a child to the day when the Lord called him home to heaven. Arnold loved his Lord dearly and committed his life to the teaching and studying of God’s Word. He was a Lutheran pastor for 27 years serving many congregation in Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota. He pictured himself as a watchman speaking and teaching God’s Word just as God called the prophet Ezekiel to be a watchman for Israel.
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman of the house of Israel: so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.â€? – Ezekiel 3:17
“I do hereby testify that I am a Christian. I have placed all my hope of life hereafter in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. His death and resurrection have given my life meaning and make my death a peaceful passage to eternal life in heaven. I want my family and friends to know that for me to live was Christ, and to die is gain. I ask my children, whom I love and who have brought me great joy, never to forget these instructions of Christ to be faithful to him until death and to proclaim his Gospel to every nation. Share God’s word of salvation in Christ with everyone at home and wherever you go in this world. May God grant you peace, love and strength as he guides you through life. Then, at the end of time, we will be reunited in heaven as God’s happy family.�
(Taken from Arnold’s Last Will and Testament)
My brothers have put all of his sermons and prayers in blog format, so that they would be published the day of the year that they were written or preached. They are located at Arnold Ruddat’s Library.
Now on with the carnival submissions:
Kelly at Kelly’s Blog gives us two posts this week. For those Lutherans and other various Protestants who seem to “talk past each other” when it comes to these things, Kelly presents “The nature of churchâ€?: A delineation of two different views on the attainment of the forgiveness of sins, and the point of going to church.
The second, “I said to you, Live!’â€?, considers a passage from Ezekiel and the fact that God’s Word, not our own piety, brings us to life.
Now that he’s back from vacation, Pastor Snyder resumes his Ask the Pastor responses. Recent questions included one on the nature and content of what is “Recorded in the Book of Life.” Another new essay looks at “The Why and How of Home Altars,” tracing the history and lauding the use of this devotional aid.
Each half of Random Intolerance contributes this week. In “Verbal Modesty,â€? Elle discuses things that are no longer taboo when you become pregnant and start having children, and in “The Lord’s Supper: Often?â€?, Dan makes the case that the Lord’s Supper should be offered weekly.
As the dates return each year, Aardvark Alley tries to edit and expand the content of his hagiographical posts rather than merely reposting words from bygone years. In this fortnight, the Aardvark remembered two of the great Doctors of the Church, Augustine of Hippo and Gregory the Great.
What Did Jesus Do brings us “Why Free Will Matters” in which the author describes why it is so important for Lutherans to hold fast to the doctrine of election.
C.S. Lewis wrote a great allegory in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In “Book Report: The Pilgrim’s Regress by C.S. Lewis,â€? Dan at Necessary Roughness examines The Pilgrim’s Regress by the same author and evaluates that book.
House, M.Div. submits “I see Pietists! They’re Everywhere!” in which Wilson, M.Div comments on the cancer that infects us all. Also “A black Lutheran? It can’t be!” in which Foreman, M.Div reminds us of the long history Lutheranism has among African Americans. House himself comments on the “collective” danger of emergent theology in “Resistance is futile.”
I believe that’s all. Thanks for all your submissions! And thanks to those who made it extremely easy to cut and paste! I appreciate it in a weekend of moving family and installing a dishwasher!