New Life Symphony Orchestra Southwest
June 6th Concert is fast approaching
by Michael Bowen on 05/24/10
We are about two weeks away from our June 6th concert and as you might expect things are getting quite busy. In the midst of all the details that must be taken care of and the interviews that must take place and score study, score study, score study etc. etc. I find that there is a source of strength and peace amid the storm of all these details that is found in our Lord and Savior. In Philippians 4:6-8 Paul tells us to "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. (NASB)
I have always found these verses comforting. Often, when I'm anxious about something I focus on my problems. I focus on my problems and only glance at God, instead of focusing on God and only glance at my problems. A verse that has really helped me is Phil. 4:8 which tells us what we are to set our minds on. Verse 8 says..."Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5b to "take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." I like to take what is occupying my mind...(i.e. troubling thoughts, worrying thoughts, anxious thoughts) and run them one at a time through the filter of Phil. 4:8. Let me see if I can explain this in a really practical way. "I'm anxious about what I'm going to say in my talk at the concert." Now if we run this through the list found in Phil. 4:8 here is what the Bible tells me about this thought that I'm having.
The very first imperative we find in Phil. 4:8 is: "Whatever is true". Well, I could say that "it's true, I'm anxious about what I will say at the concert." But if I look a little deeper at the passage it tells me something else. The Greek word for true means one who cannot lie. Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) Jesus is truth. Is this thought, "I'm anxious about what I will say at the concert" truth? No, it isn't. So, my thought fails the very first condition of verse 8. This is sufficient to take this thought captive to the obedience of Christ. But I'm a stubborn man and want to remain anxious for the moment. The next condition is, "whatever is honorable" or in the King James Version it says "whatsoever things are honest". The Greek word for honest (Semnos) means to worship, venerate, venerable, reverend, reputable, dignified. Semnos isn't limited to earthly dignity but is derived from a higher citizenship, from heaven. There is embeded within this word something that is majestic and awe-inspiring which does not repel but rather invites and attracts. Well, its easy to see that my thought about being anxious about what I will say at the concert certainly isn't honorable.
The next condition is "whatever is just". The Greek word for "just" is dikaios which means righteous or just. Only God is righteous and only God is just. Man cannot ever fully meet the expectations of God in his life.
Next we encounter "things that are pure." The Greek word for pure means freedom from anything that defiles or any impurities. As used in Phil. 4:8 it means innocent, pure and blameless.
Are you getting the picture here that this verse directs us to think about God? My thought of being anxious is beginning to fade away in the light of His glory and grace.
Since you have stuck with me so far let's finish this verse. The next condition is to "dwell on things that are lovely." In Phil. 4:8 it means things that are acceptable and pleasing to God. Next we find we are to "dwell on things that are of good report". This means to think on things that are well-spoken of, things that are praise worthy.
Paul finishes the verse by directing us to "dwell on things that have virtue and are worthy of praise". Wow, as you can see God's word has transformed my mind from anxiety to thinking on things above. Being awed by God has taken my mind off myself and placed it where He wants it to be...on Him.
When we focus on ourselves, and what we are going through our problems start to press in on us. But God wants us to cast all our cares upon Him, because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). A wonderful reminder of God's provision in your life is found in Matthew 6:25-34. Why don't you open up the Word of God now to that passage and let your mind dwell on Him. Oh, how great His love is for you.
Blessings -
Michael Bowen
Coffee Musicale
by Michael Bowen on 02/28/10
On Saturday morning, Feb. 27th, 2010 at Robertson & Sons Violin Shop in the recital hall the New Life Symphony Orchestra Southwest had it's first Coffee Musicale. A small committee of people involved in the planning of this gathering struggled over when to hold the event and we finally tossed out the idea of trying 10AM on a Saturday morning. Well, it seems that over 40 people who attended agreed that it was a good idea. What a wonderful place to share our time together. Starbucks on Montgomery donated the coffee. We were blessed with helpers Clarice & John Hodges who were just as sweet as the pastries that they served and we had some wonderful musicians: Suzzane Bloom - Flute; Marlene Bryan - Clarinet; Melissa Freeman - Horn; Brian Tuffnell - Bassoon; and Kurk Sugars - Piano all from Chamber Chops (visit http://www.ChamberChops.org for more info) perform the Mozart Piano and Wind Quintet in E-flat Major K452. What a nice piece that Mozart considered one of his best works at the time. It inspired Beethoven to write a similiar piece for the same instruments in the same key.
Michael Bowen, the music director shared some of the events of the past that have added tremendously to the group noting the addition of the First United Methodist Church Festival Chorus under the direction of John Clark as a huge blessing. Last June we performed the Mozart Requiem with them and this June we will be performing the Haydn Lord Nelson Mass with them at Central United Methodist Church. The next wonderful addition was a soloist from Juilliard, Professor Emeritus Dr. Stephen Clapp who performed Bach and Vaughan William with the us in August.
Dr. Stephen Clapp was such a blessing that the board began to explore how we might invite other Christian Artists to perform with the orchestra. We realized that right here in Albuquerque we have some amazing High School Christian Musicians. To that end we have invited a High School Student to perform with us in our August concert. We will be performing the Mozart Clarinet Concerto featuring Katrina Clements as our guest artist.
The New Life Symphony Orchestra Southwest is also looking for opportunities to partner with other non-profits to do benefit concerts for them where the proceeds would go to help those in need whether it was for Cancer Research, or to help someone get an operation that they need and can't afford. We are currently exploring this possibility with another non-profit organization that provides services for hundreds of people in need.
If you were in attendance and would like to host a Coffee Musicale similar to the one at Robertson and Son's Violin Shop please contact us at http://www.NewLifeSOS.org/contact.html.
