Bill’s Blog

For the first time in thirty-eight years, I have not written nor am I directing a nearly two hour Christmas Celebration.  Do I miss the work, the stress, the several hundred singers, instrumentalists, the actors, dancers, large media team, the sets, the crowds, the JOY?  Well….yes, yes I do. HOWEVER, this year I have the opportunity lead a […]

Earlier today I posted my first blog in almost two years.  Why it has been so long?  I’m not really sure, but I guess I was focused elsewhere.  However, after a three and half year “interim” at a truly wonderful church, Level Grove in Cornelia, Georgia, I retired again.   For me, retirement is really good… […]

It has been a very long time since I wrote on my blog and during this “sabbatical” much has happened and I’ve learned many things.  I plan to write several blogs in the next few days, maybe even later today, to express where our life and ministry is as we launch out into 2018. After […]

As I re-read the following paragraphs, I  became depressed even though I wrote the text.   However, the bottom line, God is in charge.  I have victory in Jesus as to all believers.   We have joy even in the middle of elections.   This world is not our home, yet, while here, I belive […]

The IOWA CIRCUS… CAUCUS…THE HAWKEYE CAUK-EYE…. I realize this a serious and an important event, but I have laughed out loud many times during the build up to February 1.   Anyone who knows me realizes I am one of the “curses of the world,” a Christian, right-wing  conservative, white, white-haired baby boomer, but the […]

Last week a high school friend of mine posted a question on Face Book, “Should ‘religion’ be taught in School?” and then posed “would that be all religion or just mine?”   It was late, I was tired, but as I pondered the question, thoughts just began to pour out of me. So, I began to […]

This has been a MERRY CHRISTMAS!  For Dorothy had me, it has been what has become a “normal” Christmas with her baking and me doing things around the house; today was working in the garage.  Mid afternoon we went to our Christmas Banquet at the Waffle House.  No, we haven’t been abandoned by our family.  […]

Dorothy and I will return to Israel/Palestine, The Holy Land, October 24-November 2, 2016.  We where in Israel this past October on a concert tour with the Sons of Jubal. We began traveling to The Holy Land back in the mid 70’s.  We love this land. WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US.  This is a […]

December 12, 2015    This has been a week…uh, make that a year.  The following is not a recap of the entire year or The Annual Coen Christmas Letter; actually, I don’t ever remember writing one of those.  This is, however, reflections of what is on my heart this evening.  We just completed Christmas Celebration 2015, […]

I am melancholy  this evening in the fact that a dear dear  friend went to be with Christ this week.  I met Don Beard in  1971.  Don was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in St. Louis where I was called to serve as music man.  I learned quickly that Don was one of […]

Talk about behind… I haven’t written for two months and so much has happened.  The Level Grove Choir has recorded and wonderful new CD, Dorothy had I traveled to Israel and Palestine with the Sons of Jubal and now I am just two weeks from Christmas Celebration 2015, my thirty-fifth full Christmas musical.  THEN, The […]

I haven’t posted for a long time and I have a number of things that I have been learning and look forward to writing.  At the moment, I am very excited to bring Jessica Lynch to Level Grove Baptist Church September 13.  I was honored to meet Jessica on the set of the new motion […]

Today marks exactly one year that I have been “retired.”  Well, I did retire…..uh….  Well, uh…. I thought I retired…….uh…  Actually, all I did was retire  from my greatly loved full-time church staff ministry as music man at FBC Statesboro.  I guess I’ll never really retire and to be honest, I hope I never do.  […]

In an earlier blog is a great article by Mike Harland, Director of LifeWay Worship.  He poses the question, “Does the church organ need to go?” This is a real question that I hear time and again.  With the multiple conversations and recent articles on the subject, I think  I’ll write a few words on […]

Mike Harland is the Director of LifeWay Worship. Does the Church organ need to go? It’s a fair question. With the onset of rhythm-driven worship in many of our churches, many call the use of the organ into question these days. Often the renovation of worship space includes this question. Some might say, “We don’t use it […]

    One of the things I knew I would miss when we moved from Statesboro was my friends I ate breakfast with each morning, first at Snooky’s and then R.J.’s.  Most of the men didn’t attend FBC, but they became wonderful friends and actually,  brothers.  I still miss them and go back every chance […]

Since I last wrote in this venue, I have had the honor of singing in eight  Sons of Jubal concerts within the state of Georgia.  Each February, directed by Dr. Jon Duncan,  the SoJ’s present regional concerts of praise in some of our smaller churches.  However, the attendance of both Jubals and crowds demand two […]

WOW!  Did January go by fast or what?  I have intended to write a full blog for several weeks, but the pace of “retirement” is faster than I expected; of course, I love it.  As a youngster I learned of Jesus being “about the Father’s business” and I made the assumption that is what I […]

It has been weeks since I wrote my last blog and the things on my mind and heart today will take a two or three posts.  However, my thoughts on this Lord’s Day afternoon are focused on several specific things: 1.  TODAY, the last Sunday of the year.  Generally, this Sunday, about everywhere, is an […]

This week, Dorothy and I experienced our first FIRST IMPRESSIONS DINNER.  This is a very nice dinner for new members and people who would like to know more about Level Grove.  Many churches have this sort of gathering and it was wonderful.  Each staff member “hosted” a table of guests.  We got to know them […]

Most everyone, at least those who would bother to read my blog, have eaten sometime in their life at Waffle House.  My children often remind me that when on trips, I would say, “There’s a Waffle House,” they have great hamburgers.” In January of 1991,  my ministry at the Atlanta Baptist Tabernacle was in jeopardy […]

My most recent blog discussed the “Too busy” syndrome.  Yes, I’m busy, but I’m not stressed about it.   LEVEL GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH MUSIC MINISTRY.  First of all, it is a delight to serve the Lord with this wonderful church family.  This church has vision and a great desire to make an impact on North […]

Not sure why I wrote the words below on this particular evening. It isn’t what I sat down at my desk to write, but this is what came out.  Apparently the Lord wanted to speak to me and maybe you too….   I hear all the time from church members, friends in the community, as […]

I  am certainly aware that if totally prepared or flying by the seat of our pants, God often steps in and does His perfect work through our music.  We sit down exhilarated or defeated, we realize we had absolutely nothing to do with what He did.  I also know that God honors work.  He has […]

I thought I knew what “retirement” meant.  WRONG!  I certainly didn’t expect to rock on the front porch until I drop dead, but I did anticipate a little slower pace.  Of course, for the most part I set my own pace and I guess it is in my nature to run full steam most of […]

After fifty years of ministry and over thirty major Christmas productions,  assumed Christmas Celebration 2013 would be my last.  I haven’t directed a “traditional” cantata since the early 70’s.  In the ’79 and ’80 I began to stretch a bit, then in 1981, Christmas Celebrations (Year) were born.  In the early days, David and Karen […]

A very special opportunity  and  honor has come my way. I have been cast in the new motion picture, ONE CHURCH.  This is a film produced and directed by my long time friend, Bill Rahn.  This is a “True story that hasn’t happened….yet.”   This is a very plausible story of how the government could […]

THE WORLD IS WATCHING This week I wrote a simple post on Facebook that receive a great deal of response. It simply read, “The world watches the way we worship.”  Those of you who know me, have heard that again and again over the years, but I am burdened at how our congregations not only sing, […]

Earlier today I posted a Facebook note acknowledging I didn’t know if anyone read my blog.  Well, the past few hours, I have learned there are quite a few of you and I am a bit shocked, and for certain, humbled.   These blog posts are simply “overflow thoughts” of my current and past ministry.  As […]

One of the most exciting things for me, and I’m certain all ministers of music, is to welcome a new singer to the  choir.  I love to watch those who have been with me a while encourage the new singer, show them “around,” help them find music, introduce our guest to those who will be […]

This morning I am studying scores for a choir retreat at Union Baptist Church in Winder, Georgia.  My good friend, Brian Faglier, is minister of music. Brian is a fantastic musician with a great spirit and heart for ministry.  He is the “keyboard man” for the Sons of Jubal and has a great understanding of […]

This is the first of probably many posts concerning the role of the church choir and orchestra.  Many of my references will be choral, but most apply to the orchestra as well.    I don’t  know how many choirs I have led over the past fifty years, but I have served as staff minister of […]

Today is the day after my first Sunday at Level Grove.  We had a wonderful time and the folks were very gracious.  Now I find myself sitting in the office seeking the Lord’s leadership in planning the worship services for the remaining Sundays in July and into August.  Fifty years ago my role was to […]

After a couple of months “off,” tomorrow morning, July 6, I will begin as interim music ministry at Level Grove Baptist Church in Cornelia, Georgia.  Level Grove is just about fifteen minutes from our new home in North Georgia.  This is a strong church with a great Christ-centered music ministry and a long musical heritage. […]

Today I visited seven of my former students from the music ministry of FBC Statesboro at the Georgia Baptist All-State Choir and Orchestra rehearsal in Toccoa. Saturday morning, these students with over one hundred of their peers will head for Baltimore and Washington DC for concerts and mission projects. I am so honored to have […]