NEW TUNES

Acts 18:24-28
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. 27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

Jack and Jo Popjes had a serious challenge. The Canadian couple, missionaries in northeastern Brazil, had been trying to learn the music of the Canela people for 20 long years. They had been successful in translating the Bible into the native language, but the complexities of the locals' tunes had them stumped.

As the Canelas sang and played their ancient songs using huge gourd rattles, four-holed flutes, bamboo horns, and other instruments, the Popjes would sit and listen. But they had no clue how to create similar melodies so the people could sing new tunes about Jesus.

It was time for Dr. Tom Avery, an ethnomusicologist based in Brazil, to lend them an ear, uh, hand. The good doctor recorded the traditional music of the tribe and then analyzed it. Using computer-generated graphs and other resources, Tom was able to figure out the music of the Canelas.

He explained to Jack and Jo that the intervals in the indigenous music were different from the European scale. Canela music, he found, couldn't be played on a piano because some notes would "fall in the cracks."

With Dr. Avery's assistance, the Popjes were able to create 23 new Canela songs based on Scripture. The people have loved singing them--and other new compositions--since their debut in 1987. Jack feels that the song project may have been the best thing he and Jo accomplished during their 22 years of service to the Canelas.

The Popjes would have been lost without the help of Dr. Avery. They needed to know that it's a good thing to tap into the expertise of fellow believers in Jesus.

If Apollos had brushed off Priscilla and Aquila's gentle instruction (Acts 18:26), his teaching of the gospel would have continued to be deficient. Instead, he "was a great help to those who by grace had believed" (v.27).

Is someone trying to help you grow in your faith? Have you been resisting the kind rebuke or gentle instruction of a more mature believer in Jesus?

If so, it's time to sing a new tune! --Tom Felten

DESTINATION POINTS

* What in my life could use the attention of someone with more knowledge or expertise than I have?
* What's holding me back from asking for help?
* Whom should I ask to be my spiritual mentor?

LINKS:
Music to Their Ears
http://www.wycliffe.org/ethnomusic/canela.htm

bottom line: Others can help us stay in tune with God.

soul journey