Ice Cream For The Soul

I like ice cream. I love it homemade. I don't recall ever having bad homemade ice cream. I have many fond memories of sitting on the back porch while Dad cranked the ice cream freezer. It seemed to me that he turned that crank for hours before it was finally ready! Anticipation can really slow down time...the wait was always worth it though. That first bite of homemade ice cream is one of life's greatest pleasures!
We have a burger joint close to our home that serves frozen custard. I had never had frozen custard before moving to Rochester. I assume there is a difference in the recipe between frozen custard and ice cream, but I am not sure what it is. All I know is that their frozen custard is excellent! And, they have the wisdom to advertise the "Flavor of the Day" on their outdoor sign where we read it every time we come home.
We have an ice cream shop that is part of a national chain close by as well. You pick the flavor of ice cream and the goodies you want to mix into it and they put it together while you watch. It is a favorite place for the family to go!
We have another ice cream shop that is owned by another national chain close by that is one of the most recognized brands in America. You probably already know who it is! I am doubly blessed because they have ice cream within walking distance of my office too! I can have great ice cream at home and at work! What a deal!
We have a locally owned ice cream shop nearby that has a funny name and top-notch ice cream. They make their own ice cream and it is a great place to go on hot days...and days that are not hot!
I have never had a bad bowl of ice cream. I remember a little ditty that went something like this: "Everyone loves ice cream, yes indeed they do! Everyone loves ice cream, I do - do you?" Have you ever known someone who doesn't like ice cream?
Music is like ice cream for the soul. I have never met someone who dislikes music. We all like different "flavors" of music - some like it loud, others soft. Some like it fast, others slow. Some like the words, others the tune. We may like different kinds of music, but we all like it! I personally like both kinds of music - country AND western!
A while back my family attended a Christian conference and the music leader made a comment that "There is no bad music; there is only broken music. It may be broken because of bad lyrics, but all it takes to turn the music good is to change the lyrics." Then he proceeded to take some popular songs with questionable lyrics and rewrote the lyrics to glorify God instead! He was an amazing musician!
1 Chronicles 13:7 tells us that "David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets." Clearly they were in full worship mode that day! Music is truly a gift of God that we can use as praise to Him and which He can use to speak to our souls.
It is a shame that so many churches argue over the "appropriate" style of music to be used in worship. Remember, there is no bad music! While we all have our favorite flavors, it would be a sin to force someone who prefers a different flavor to always listen to OUR favorite flavor! God created mankind with great diversity and I am convinced He loves any song that praises Him as long as it comes from the heart! Let's remember that the next time the music is not our "favorite flavor." Sometimes the "Flavor of the Day" surprises us and we find ourselves worshiping in a new way!