If anyone would like a DVD or MP3 file download link of my piano hymn recordings, just contact me!

Also, I occasionally post short videos about my favorite Bible verses - see here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1qiNwCuDbQ&list=PLsstdlF0MZTaAL0YFuget_SQQj43dvytZ

I am considering posting some apologetics-related videos... contact me if you'd like to be informed when those are posted.

10 hours of free piano music - ask me if interested!
I'd be glad to share my amateur piano recordings of hymns and songs with anyone who wants them. I could put them on a flash drive or DVD for you, for your computer or phone or car. I'd also be glad to record favorite songs for you- just let me know.

Interesting historical glimpse... Johann Sebastian Bach's acceptance letter for the Leipsig Thomas-Schule Cantor position, with my comment below...

May 5 1723

Whereas the Honorable and Most Wise Council of this Town of Leipzig have engaged me as Cantor of the Thomas-Schule and have desired an undertaking from me in respect to the following points, to wit:

(1) That I shall set the boys a shining example of an honest, retiring manner of life, serve the School industriously, and instruct the boys conscientiously;

(2) Bring the music in both the principal Churches of this town into good estate, to the best of my ability;

(3) Show to the Honorable and Most Wise Council all proper respect and obedience, and protect and further everywhere as best I may its honor and reputation; likewise if a gentleman of the Council desires the boys for a musical occasion unhesitatingly provide him with same, but otherwise never permit them to go out of town to funerals or weddings without the previous knowledge and consent of the Burgomaster and Honorable Directors of the School currently in office;

(4) Give due obedience to the Honorable Inspectors and Directors of the School in each and every instruction which the same shall issue in the name of the Honorable and Most Wise Council;

(5) Not take any boys into the School who have not already laid a foundation in music, or are not at least suited to being instructed therein, nor do the same without the previous knowledge and consent of the Honorable Inspectors and Directors;

(6) So that the Churches may not have to be put to unnecessary expense, faithfully instruct the boys not only in vocal but also in instrumental music;

(7) In order to preserve the good order in the Churches, so arrange the music that it shall not last too long, and shall be of such nature as not to make an operatic impression, but rather incite the listeners to devotion;

(8) Provide the New Church with good scholars;

(9) Treat the boys in a friendly manner and with caution, but, in case they do not wish to obey, chastise them with moderation, or report them to the proper place;

(10) Faithfully attend to the instruction in the School and whatever else it befits me to do;

(11) And if I cannot undertake this myself, arrange that it be done by some other capable person without expense to the Honorable and Most Wise Council or the School;

(12) Not go out of town without the permission of the Honorable Burgomaster currently in office;

(13) Always so far as possible walk with the boys at funerals, as is customary;

(14) And shall not accept or wish to accept any office in the University without the consent of the Honorable and Learned Council;

Now therefore I do hereby undertake and bind myself faithfully to observe all of the said requirements, and on pain of losing my post not to act contrary to them, in witness whereof I have set my hand and seal to this agreement.

Johann Sebastian Bach, Leipzig, May 5, 1723

Bach's desire and promise (well-fulfilled!) to compose music "not to make an operatic impression, but rather incite the listeners to devotion" is the perfect ideal for Christians today as well...!    Our goal ought to be to exalt Christ, and to minimize attention to ourselves...   to "incite the listeners" to meditate on Christ, pray to Him, tell Him of their gratitude, and worship Him...

Interesting article about beauty...  although I think he delves too much into philosophical speculation, and not enough into scripture.  In fact, I sometimes wonder if Edwards and Augustine (whom he quotes) do the same thing.

And now I may be accused of the very same thing, as I propose something (which, nonetheless, is, I think, at the very least "countenanced" by Scripture) - about a related topic/question - "What is art?"

Most people consider Rembrandt's, Da Vinci's, Michaelangelo's work to be "art."  A relatively smaller number consider Marcel Duchamp's work to be "art".  And a much smaller (though growing) number of people consider Marina Abramovic's work to be "art."

And if someone tries to tell one of Abramovic's fans that her work is "not art," they'd better be prepared for a rabidly indignant excoriation in which one is informed that one has no right to impose one's own aesthetic standards on other people.

So here's my thought on this (though it's probably not original)...  the question ought not to be "What is art?"  but rather, "What is good art?"

I.e., related to Mohler's article referenced above, there exists morality in this world, based on God's ultimate/transcendent standard.   Art that reinforces/corroborates/gives-glory-to/affirms God's own standards of truth, morality, beauty, and that promotes worship of God Himself, is "good" art, and ought to be supported.

By "supported," I mean not only that we should buy/listen-to/watch/absorb this "good art," but also that we should actively seek to have this art promoted in the world around us.  We ought to seek to reduce the prevalence of pornography in our nation/world (though carefully, so as to avoid censoring other things like the Bible itself).  We ought to lobby public art museums to sponsor good art.

If someone tells me that I'm "imposing", I can reply, "Well yes, actually, that is part of my job description, to be "salt of the earth" and "light of the world."  And if you are telling me that I 'ought not' to do this, then you're imposing your morality on me.  May I ask what moral basis you have for doing so?"

So that's some of my thoughts on the matter.  Here are a few corollaries...

Are Thomas Kincaid's paintings "good art?"   There is a fierce reaction among Christian youth, I've found, that decries the "plain, simple, beautiful, sugary" in favor of the "stinging, shocking, noir, acidic."   It seems that there is definitely plenty of wiggle-room for "taste", within the morality provided by God's word... e.g. many different types of music recorded in the Psalms, all of which presumably are glorifying to God.   And sometimes the "shocking" is powerful good art!  E.g. many of Jesus' parables... very shocking in their original cultural context.  But never shocking in morally-wrong ways... only in against-the-grain-of-the-culture-but-with-the-grain-of-God's-Law ways.

Next, does art have to be "purposefully good" to be considered good art?  If a sweet old christian lady writes a poem and accidentally uses a phrase that is vulgar in youth-talk, does that make it bad art?  Or if a hard-core secular band writes a dark/nihilistic song that unwittingly/accidentally opens thousands of peoples' eyes/hearts to the message of the gospel of Christ, does that make it good art?  There would seem to be a two dimensional gradient (at the very least!)... both "morality" and "skillfulness"...  the best art is both moral (affirming the truth, glorifying God, explicitly or implicitly) and also skillful (i.e. baby Johnny's stick figures with "God is good" scribbled above may not deserve a place in the world art museums, though of course God Himself may be delighted with Johnny's motives and final product).

A final gradient is the actual lifestyle of the artist... some of the world's finest "art" has been produced by men and women with very low moral standards...  should that factor in to our own valuation of what "good art" is?  I think so... not exclusively, certainly, but it is certainly a factor.

"Soli Deo Gloria."   His glory is all that really matters... we're just passing through this earth briefly.  What, of all our works and words, will last through eternity?

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.... For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come. Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

Wow, this link really sums up well what I was trying to say to some of my friends a few weeks ago about "Christian" movies.  Actually, it might seem to be saying the opposite as what I was telling my friends (I was saying "we need more 'mainstream' christian movies"), but I don't think there's a conflict.  I agree with what the author of the article says - that there is a time and place for "underground" Christianity in the mainstream/public arts, of a breaking-up-fallow-ground-of-nonBiblical-worldviews sort of nature (e.g. the Passion, or perhaps like the Chronicles of Narnia will be??  probably not, but who knows?)

But the main point that the author makes seems very true - it is actually impossible to produce explicitly 'Christian' art that is deemed 'acceptable' and 'mainstream' by 'the world'.  In as much as it becomes mainstream, it is no longer Christian; in as much as it is is pure Christianity, it will be relegated to the 'fringes' of 'fundamentalist evangelicalism.'

Thoughts?