Stress Relief, Classical Music, and Paderewski videos

Dinner Topics for Friday

Hear Paderewski's own Minuet in G


Jan Paderewski Fantasie Polonaise for Piano and Orchestra

Stress Management, Classical Music, and Johann Strauss Jr

Johann Strauss Jr: Waltz King

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Voces de Primavera
 


Vienna Waltz






Johann Strauss II (October 25, 1825 – June 3, 1899), also known as Johann Baptist Strauss or Johann Strauss, Jr., the Younger, or the Son (German: Sohn), was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed over 500 waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, and other types of dance music, as well as several operettas and a ballet. In his lifetime, he was known as "The Waltz King", and was largely then responsible for the popularity of the waltz in Vienna during the 19th century.
 

Stress Management, Classical Music, and Verdi

Classical Music and Stress Management 

Dinner Topics for Friday

"Va, Pensiero,"(Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves) from Nabucco

Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi (10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. Musically, he was part of European Romanticism, and was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century. His works are frequently performed in opera houses throughout the world and, transcending the boundaries of the genre, some of his themes have long since taken root in popular culture – such as "La donna è mobile" from Rigoletto, "Va, pensiero" (The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves) from Nabucco, "Libiamo ne' lieti calici" (The Drinking Song) from La traviata and the "Grand March" from Aida.

Verdi’s masterworks dominate the standard opera repertoire a century and a half after their composition.

Stress Management, Classical Music, and Johann Pachelbel

Pachelbel Canon in D Major

Dinner Topics for Tuesday

September Theme: Words of Wisdom, Isaiah

Enjoy!

Stress Management, Classical Music, and Debussy

Dinner Topics for Wednesday

Enjoy the relaxing music of Debussy's "Claire de Lune "

Stress Management, Classical Music, and Rhapsody

Classical Music, Romanian Rhapsody

George Enescu  born August 19, 1881

  Enjoy watching and listening to musicians play some great music!

Bible Study, Economics, and Stress

Economics and Bible Study: A Way to Calm Economic Stress

 Dinner Topics for Monday

Elijah and the Widow

Unemployment continues to rise; people despair of finding jobs. We all see the gloomy forecast before us continually. It is not easy to keep from being oppressed by fear. But this is not the first economic depression in history. How did people handle it in the past?

As always, we can look to history and gain understanding for our present circumstances. In this case, Biblical history is very enlightening. The first example is the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. Because of Israel’s wickedness, God had sent a great drought upon the land.

When Elijah entered Zarephath, he saw a woman gathering sticks and asked her to bring him water. While she was at it, he asked her to bring him bread.

Sadly she told him that all she had was a handful of meal in a barrel and a little oil in a cruse. She was preparing a small fire that she might make one small cake. She and her son would then eat that last cake, and die of starvation.

Elijah told her not to fear, and to go ahead and make him a cake first. He promised her that God would bless her, so that the barrel of meal would not waste, and the cruse of oil would not fail until rain came again upon the land. She did so, and as promised, the meal and oil were sufficient, and she and her son were sustained.

The widow acted in faith, and she was blessed, miraculously.

When I read this story recently, it reminded me of a time several years ago when a leader in my church made us a promise: if we would faithfully pay our tithings and offerings (generous offerings to the poor), we would always have enough. I have always found that to be true. But that leader’s words were not his alone; rather they are a promise from God, as seen in the next example, where the Lord is speaking to the people through His prophet, Malachi.

Malachi told the people they had robbed God. How? They had robbed God in tithes and offerings; therefore the whole nation was cursed. Note that when the people withheld their tithes and offerings, their whole nation was condemned.

Dallin H. Oaks observed, on the other hand, that when many citizens of a nation faithfully pay their tithes, they “summon the blessings of heaven upon their entire nation.”

Note the marvelous promises God gave to Israel if they would but give Him the mere tenth that is His. He challenged the people to bring their tithes to the church, and watch his promise be fulfilled. Just watch me, God said, and see how I will “open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes.”

What can we learn from these moments in history? Has this nation robbed God? How much of this economic downturn is due to consequences of unwise choices made by many people? Blessings are the result of obedience to the laws upon which they are predicated.

“Return unto me, and I will return unto you,” God told the people. When the people of a nation turn from selfishness and entitlement, and once again honor the Giver of the blessings they seek, He “returns” unto them, abundantly. Moses told the nation to “Look to God and live.”

Generations, now, have not been taught these epic stories, so the nation as a whole is being forced to learn things the hard way. The wrongs will not be righted quickly.

In the meantime, we as individuals can do something about it. Tithes and offerings will protect us and the fruits of our labors from the devourer. If we look to God, we need not fear, for we will be blessed.

Copyright © 2010 by Christine Davidson

Download More Epic Stories

Classical Music, Stress Management, and Johannes Brahms

Classical Music has a Calming Effect,

while stimulating the mind to exalted thoughts.

Dinner Topics for Monday

Here is a video of Brahms' Hungarian Dance no. 5

Classical Music and Relief for Stress

Rachmaninov, born April 1, 1873, was considered the last of the romantics. Here is an excerpt from his dynamic concerto #3.