Paul, yes, tambourines are bound to throw us back to that decade. Maybe that's why I have such a love/hate thing with them!

Carmen, a video of this story just might make you laugh &amp; cry simultaneously. And if I threw in all the details? You'd be floored. This is the all-audiences-approved version!

Maureen, that makes me really sad. I hope I'm never responsible for making anyone feel like they can't just use their gifts to praise God. I grew up in a church with a very "serious" choir and music program, which was a good fit in many ways, since I come from a family of musicians. But I have to say, if I had to choose an extreme, I'd rather have the sort of freedom of worship I have at my church now, and the sense that all of our true expressions of praise make God rejoice. Church is not a place for performance—it's a place for being real and broken, and for practicing grace. (I hope you will try choir again, in your new church.)

P-Marsh, I love this expression: "It is hard to let cool water run down your neck, and not jump!" So true! And I'm sure I would love to hear your thoughts on Americans and tambourines, but I'm not sure it would steer me in the right direction. :) You're right—we need to make sure we're not so focused on the annoyances that we miss the good happening around us.