Aesthetics to the glory of God!

Okay, this is not extremely pertinent to Dove Mountaineers, but I'm sharing it here on the excuse that (1) it's about folks with whom we share our building, and (2) it's about some folks whose have Dove Mountaineer last names, like Remer, Vos, and Melvin/Strong.

Pictured here are the members of the 2009-2010 Pusch Ridge Academy Fighting Lion Marching Band. It has been my joy to write their drill for the fall show this year, and I have also been engaged in their rehearsals, teaching the drill to them. First of all, I would like to say that they are a delightful group of covenant kids, and it has been a huge joy to be around them and work with them for the last six weeks. The culmination of their hard work will take place tomorrow at the annual University of Arizona Band Day. They take the field at about 8:45, and are a joy to behold.

The music for their show is from Grease, which was first a Broadway play and later a movie. The three selections are "Summer Nights," "Born to Hand Jive," and "We Go Together." Originally, there were to have been four selections, but their director, Mrs. Pam Reed, was approached by some of the band members who reminded her that the lyrics (which, of course, are not heard in a marching band performance) to the fourth selection contain some offensive language. So first of all, I give props to these responsible teenagers for having the conviction not to bring such language into the minds and memories of those listening, and secondly for the courage to speak up about it to adults (Mrs. Reed and me). For those who sometimes doubt that Christian teenagers are any different from the prevailing youth culture, may such a testimony as this put such doubts to rest.

While Grease may not seem a very spiritual theme for a Christian academy band to perform, it has nevertheless afforded the opportunity for some great spiritual lessons and discussions with the students. First of all, these are songs of great joy, and learning to perform them with good expression, both musically and on their countenances, has been an opportunity for the band to learn to think of performing as their gift to others, the audience.

Secondly, the process of tackling much more complex and challenging marching maneuvers and patterns than they had ever before attempted has afforded occasions to discuss such Christian concepts as orderliness, attention (devotion) to detail, submission to authority, and bearing their testimony, not to mention perseverance in keepng with a diffcult task until it is completed. Our opening prayers each morning have frequently spoken of doing this "to the glory of God," very fitting since PRCA's motto is Soli Deo Gloria (to God alone, glory!).

Like any group of young people about to perform on a gigantic stage (in this case, Arizona Stadium), they might have some nervousness about getting through the morning without embarrassing mistakes. If God brings it to your remembrance, would you pray for these young ambassadors of Christ tomorrow morning? Or better yet, come and see them youself! If that's not possible, you can still se the show repeated at the next two home football games, October 9 and 16 at...well, you know - the stadium right outside where our church meets!