The Fredösphere

This morning I lead the worship at the monthly men's breakfast at my church.  I used guitar, an instrument I haven't touched in years.  I used to have callouses when I played regularly, but they are long gone.  That unpleasant sensation I feel in my fingertips on my left hand -- could that be the thing you mortals call pain? 

My one innovation was to insist on no amplification.  We had about 55 guys packed in a room not terribly large, and the situation did not require a microphone.  I think amplification creates a barrier.  That's bad enough for a performance setting, but its doubly bad for a worship setting.

Consider two churches.  One is the stereotypical traditional congregation, with an organ and small, bad choir.  You notice the congregation doesn't sing the hymns.  Now you go to a congregation with contemporary worship:  the guitars, keyboards, and vocalists are all mic'ed.  The music pounds in your ears.  You say, "Great!  -- a little vulgar maybe, but at least people are participating!"  I say, look around.  Maybe a lot of people will be singing, but often, it will be just a few.  If you have a congregation that won't sing, turning up the volume and adding a drum set won't necessarily fix things -- but it will make the problem easier to overlook.

What's this?  I'm trying to make a serious point?  On a Friday?  How dare I?  I should have gone straight to the good stuff.