Blog

09 Dec 2007
By jasondsears

The Christmas Program

seasonal programs
There is a specific moment and experience that happens for me during our Christmas programs - and it's occurred over the past few years, with each program. It's the moment when we get ready to start the first song, and I sit at the piano - and watch Linus - the character created by Charles Shultz back in the 60's, finally explain what Christmas is really all about. It's actually one of the hardest parts for me to make it through without getting teary, as it's such a simple reminder of where our focus needs to be. And this morning…
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01 Dec 2007
By jasondsears

New CD's Available

Uncategorized
Just in time for Christmas - I'm releasing the last two seasonal programs that we've done, on CD. And they're great! Last year's Christmas program - "Do You Know Him" and this year's Palm Sunday program - "The Revelation Song," are going to be available at the welcome desk starting this Sunday.
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27 Nov 2007
By jasondsears

Time to start thinking about Easter

Uncategorized
This year, Palm Sunday and Easter border our spring break, so we're planning a "not really Palm Sunday Spectacular Spectacular," for March 9. Yes. March 9. That Sunday also has the added bonus of being "Spring Forward" Sunday for Daylight Savings Time.So I thought it might benefit Mom and the 4 others that read this to know WHY Easter is so early this year (March 23). Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon that follows the first day of Spring (in the Northern Hemisphere). Clear?So - mom, and the 4 others, please tell the choir that…
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06 Nov 2007
By jasondsears

He was going deaf, and crazy . . .

Friday Favorites
and writing incredible music. Music always reveals things to me as only music can - through its unique transcendence - but lately I'm going through a classical music phase - especially classical piano. I have this one piano student that's working on the Moonlight Sonata - by Beethoven. The emotion that he [Beethoven] wrapped up in that piece of music is so thick . . . I wonder if a non-musical type can sense it. He wrote it when he was 31, and had been dealing with the symptoms of going deaf for about 3 years. He had a constant…
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06 Nov 2007
By jasondsears

It's not that I lied . . .

Uncategorized
it's just that I intentionally avoided ever touching an iPhone. Until this guy - let's call him "Bob" got one. And he let me see it, and then I had to have one. And it is quite possibly the coolest piece of technology that I've ever had/used - and I've used some pretty cool technology.From a phone standpoint, I have improved reception in my office and home (still have the same wireless service). From a technology standpoint - it's like having my Mac on my hip. Email is seamless, safari is fast, and it connects to wi-fi networks.
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17 Oct 2007
By jasondsears

Two incredible influences

Friday Favorites, personal
This man - Dr L. Gene Black - taught me everything I know about putting a choir together, teaching blend and balance, vowels, breath control - one of the most gifted men on the planet when it comes to achieving a sound unlike any other - from 40-60 totally different voices. And although we lead two totally different choirs, with totally different styles and repertoire, his influence is like none other on my picture of a worshipping community. A tremendous man of God, a huge influence.THIS man is Dr. Witold Turkiewicz - my piano professor from Samford University, and quite…
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15 Oct 2007
By jasondsears

The Gospel of Grace and our Comfort Zone

Friday Favorites, personal
I didn't know Bubba at all, and I only got a glimpse into who he was, based on short accounts of those that knew him well - but the Gospel grabbed him amidst a life of drugs and prison. Literally changing his life in the pen - he came out on fire for Christ, completely gripped by the Gospel - and wrecklessly, whole-heartedly loving others, if only to get an opportunity to share the Gospel. And he really didn't care what other people thought, and although he loved Jesus, and knew that Jesus loved him, it didn't mean that he…
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