Additional Information

Prayer Letters
Music Philosophy
Doctrinal Statement
References
Piano Hymn Arrangements

GFA Missions, Greenville, SC

Background

Training:

B. Mus. Church Music (piano proficiency), Bob Jones University, 2001

M.A. Church Ministries, Bob Jones University, 2006

Experience:

Private Piano instructor (1992-present)

Music Teacher, Thrifthaven Baptist Academy, Memphis, TN (now Heritage Baptist Academy, Cordova, TN) (2001-2004)

College music teacher, BJMBC, Queizon City, Metro Manila, Philippines (2006-2008)

Learn About the Philippines

Operation World
World Factbook

Forever Redeemed: Arrangements of Hymns for the Pianist

Philosophy of Music

Music can have powerful effects.  It can create happiness, sorrow, anger, frustration, or pleasant feelings.  Different kinds of music are appropriate for different occasions.  Some types can be used for parties, while other kinds are more appropriate for worship in a church service.  There is music that is appropriate for a Christian to use for pleasure (i.e. classical music) but may not be proper to use during a Sunday service.  Some music is worldly and should not be a part of the Christian’s daily listening life because it can create a very strong temptation to sin against our holy God (i.e. jazz, pop, rock, reggae, country, and other popular styles).  Any music such as this is inappropriate to use in our worship of God.  A biblical example can be found in Exodus 32.

Ex. 32:15-20. 15 And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. 16 And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables. 17 And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. 18 And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear. 19 And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. 20 And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.

Psalm 40 speaks of the Christian’s “New Song.”  The music a Christian uses should be different from that of the world.  According to vs. 3, the “New Song” is a song the LORD puts into the Christian’s mouth when he trusts in Christ as His Savior.  It should be a different kind of song from that of the world.  Others should notice the difference.  They should hear the song and desire to know the God Who created such beautiful music. 

Psalm 40:1-3. 1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

God’s “New Song” is a song of holiness.  Ps. 29:2b says, “Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”  In the Old Testament, the priests played instruments and sang praises to God in worship (I Chron. 15:16, II Chron. 7:6, II Chron. 29:26).  Music was offered as a sacrifice to God.  God always demanded those who worship Him to bring pure, holy sacrifices.  No one could offer an animal that had any kind of blemish whatsoever (Lev. 22:24, Deut. 15:21).  Just as the priests offered pure sacrifices to God, so must we offer our best “sacrifice of praise to God continually” (Heb. 13:15).