Parents Need Only Two Prayers…April 14th

A representative from a lesser known media outlet made the following statement earlier this week; “…we’ve always had kind of a private notion of children: Your kid is yours and totally your responsibility. We haven’t had a very collective notion of, ‘these are our children.’ So part of it is we have to break through our kind of private idea that kids belong to their parents, or kids belong to their families, and recognize that kids belong to whole communities…”

For years we have embraced the notion, “It takes a whole village to raise a child.” We must never forget God’s instruction is for parents to bring their children up in the Lord, Ephesians 6:1-4. Mothers and fathers (Families, not communities) are responsible for raising children. Proverbs 6:20, “My son, observe the commandment of your father and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.” There are some who would like the passage to read…My son, observe the commandment of your community leader and do not forsake the teaching of your neighbor.

This coming Sunday morning our lesson will be focused on how parents prepare for children, and how parents come to understand the obligation of bringing their children to God. As always, I hope you’ll remember the inspired words of Paul from the 14th chapter of I Corinthians; “…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.”

Sunday morning, April 14, 2013

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“I Will Call Upon the Lord” – 63

Our opening song, the ‘call to worship’, comes from the book of Psalms, chapter 18:3…almost word for word. Penned in 1981, this contemporary psalm provides the singer a strong opportunity to express our deepest desire to ‘call upon the Lord.’

“Father, Hear the Prayer We Offer” – 777

Written over 150 years ago, this song is filled with poetry that stirs the heart…if you’ll take the time to examine the message. Notice the reference to Old Testament scripture in verse 2, “Not forever by still waters would we idly, quiet stay; but would smite the living fountains from the rocks along our way.” (Read Exodus 17: 5, 6)

“When My Love for Christ Grows Weak” – 350

Before we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we’ll sing this old spiritual song that reminds us to stay close to Christ. As we sing the first two verses we are reminded of Christ in the garden. The 3rd and 4th verses take us to Calvary as we sing, “There behold His agony, suffered on the bitter tree; see His anguish, see His faith…” But the final verse encourages us to learn from Christ, and to become self-sacrificing.

“More Precious than Silver” – 273

One of my favorite hymns (we are singing this song to our God) starts with the words, “Lord, You are more precious than silver…”. A song, as you look more closely at it, professing our desire for God and for God alone. We sing that He is more precious than silver…more costly than gold…more beautiful than diamonds. So I ask you, do I really believe that, or are you just singing it? Remember I Corinthian 14:15…

“When He Cometh” – 714

Known in some circles as a ‘child’s hymn’, this spiritual song reminds us that God will come back and take (collect) his children home. The chorus is an interesting analogy; “Like the stars of the morning, His bright crown adorning, they shall shine in their beauty, bright gems for His crown.” Who will shine in their beauty? Take a look at verse 3…“Little children, little children who love their Redeemer are the jewels, precious jewels, His loved and His own.”

“I Will Pray” – 840

“Father, in the morning…At the noontide…in the evening shadows…I will pray…Morning, noon and evening unto Thee I’ll pray.” How often do we pray? When times are tough and the going get’s rough? Perhaps when we’re happy and content. But read I Thessalonians 5:17, Paul tells us in to, “Pray without ceasing…” That would be morning, noon and evening!

“Hark! ‘Tis the Shepherd’s Voice” – 880

Another ‘children’s hymn’, this song calls for us to take on the responsibility of bringing our children (the lost) back to the fold of Christ. The words of Jesus from Matthew 18 sum it up pretty well; “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go the mountains to seek the one that is straying?” Let’s sing and then let’s ‘bring them in!’

“God’s Family” – 744

As we close the service this morning, we’ll sing about the family of God. Do we really see each other as brothers and sisters? Can we say we laugh together? How often have you cried with a brother or sister in Christ? Do we share with each other our heartaches and sighs? When was the last time you shared your dreams with the family of God? On Sunday morning we should do more than just say “Hi…how are you doing?” as we hurry away to lunch. Remember, we are part of the family…that’s been born again!

1, April 5, 20131, April 16, 2013

Does Anyone Know?…April 7th

Sunday morning, April 7th at Waterview church of Christ, we’ll be honored to hear a lesson from Kent Allen. Brother Allen is VP for Advancement for Oklahoma Christian University, and his message is sure to inspire us as we consider our outward display of faith.

Perhaps you’ve heard the comment; if you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? This morning we’ll consider just how much the world knows about OUR faith in God. We have the opportunity, better yet the obligation, to show Christ to a lost and dying world. The songs this morning are designed to make us think about our shining light.

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.”

I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, April 7, 2013

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“Christ for the World We Sing” – 626

Have you looked closely at the first line in all three verses of this song? Notice: “Christ for the world!” That’s a statement we loudly proclaim and boldly sing. And we sing it with 1) loving zeal, 2) with fervent prayer and 3) in one accord. We sing this message to the world, but we also have a responsibility to bring the world to Christ.

“We Will Glorify” – 578

Written over 30 years ago, this song is still contemporary to many of us. Twila Paris made it popular, but our God is the reason we sing it. Perhaps the closing statement from the first and fourth verses needs more examination and great proclamation; “…the Lord of lords, Who is the great I AM.” John 8:58 “Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I Am.”

“In My Life, Lord, Be Glorified” – 309

Before we bow in prayer, we’ll sing this hymn as we sing to Him! The first verse is very personal, “In my life, Lord, be glorified…” but in the second verse we’ll change it to the plural form, “In our songs, Lord, be glorified…” And finally we’ll close the song to include the Lord’s church; “In Your church, Lord, be glorified…”

“Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” – 648

Brother Kent Allen has requested this song to serve as our ‘song before the lesson.’ What a great way to admonish each other to live a life that puts Christ first. Have you thought about this song lately? We are singing about the armor of God (Ephesians 6), and in the third verse we’re reminded of the weakness we have in the flesh; “…Stand in HIS strength alone; the arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own” But what does the author mean when he writes, “…put on the gospel armor; and watching unto prayer…” Remember, ‘unto’ is a preposition that can mean ‘by’. So with that in mind; we have on the armor of God and we’re waiting (watching) by means of prayer. See Ephesians 6:18, “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert…”

“In the Hour of Trial” – 767

Not a typical ‘invitation song’, but this will serve us well this morning. Take a close look at verse one; “…Jesus plead for me, lest by base denial I depart from Thee; When Thou seest me waiver, with a look recall…” Remember Luke 22 when Christ is on trial? Peter adamantly denies knowing Jesus (base denial, as an adjective, ‘base’ can mean ‘contemptible’) and then in Luke 22:61, “The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord…”. With a look recall (help me to remember)…

“Lamb of God” – 176

We’ll remember the Lord’s supper this morning after our lesson as we sing this beautiful song, again written by Twila Paris. A song that we sing to our Father (a hymn). God’s gift of love (the Lamb of God) is crucified for our sins. He is scorned, mocked, defamed…and sacrificed. “Like a lamb that is led to slaughter” (Isaiah 53:7) “I love the holy Lamb of God.”

“O For a Faith That Will Not Shrink” – 540

As we close the service this morning, remember our lesson; “Does Anyone Know (you’re a Christian)? The words of this song were written by W. H. Bathurst in 1831. Oh that we would all have a faith in God that doesn’t shrink away in difficult times. A faith that doesn’t complain or ‘whine’ when troubles come. A faith that shines more bright and clear. With this kind of faith, even while here on earth, we’ll ‘taste the bliss’ of heaven.

1, March 29, 20131, March 29, 2013

He Is Risen…March 31st

Sunday morning, March 31st, is known in some ‘religious circles’ as Easter Sunday. Many god-fearing people select this Sunday as a time to commemorate our Lord’s resurrection…

However, at Waterview church of Christ, every Sunday we remember (memorialize) our Lord’s death, burial and resurrection. Together, we share in the Lord’s Supper. This week, March 31^st, will be no different. When you read Matthew 28: 1-7, you’ll read of the miracle surrounding Christ’s resurrection, and in that we find the title of our lesson. The following ‘order of worship’ is designed to focus on minds on our Savior’s resurrection; today and every Sunday!

I Corinthians 14:15, “…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.”

Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah – 3

This hymn of praise (which could also be considered a psalm since it parallels Psalm 148) admonishes the singer to recognize and glorify our Father. You’ll notice the word ‘praise’ is mentioned 10 times in this hymn…5 times in verse 1 alone.

You Are the Song that I Sing – 238

“You are the words and the music, You are the song that I sing…” Without a notation of authorship or composer this ‘contemporary’ hymn is an excellent example of a song sung to our God. When you sing this song ask yourself if you will truly do as this song states in its closing line? “…so now I give back to You the song that You gave to me…”

Thomas’ Song – 269

One of my favorite ‘communion’ songs, Thomas’ Song, is a possible (yet not recorded) narrative from the apostle Thomas as he considers the resurrection of Christ. John 20:25 reads, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails where, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe it.” While the chorus sings, “If I could only hold Your hand, and touch the scars where nails were driven; I would need to feel Your side where holy flesh by spear was riven. Then I’d believe…” But listen to Thomas’ closing statement as he stands before Christ and proclaims, “You are my Lord and my God!”

Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed – 324

An interesting song that was written in two time periods. The verses were written by Isaac Watts in 1707, while the refrain (by Ralph E. Hudson) came almost 180 years later. On a personal note, I prefer the verse separate from the upbeat tempo of the chorus. But more importantly let me direct you to the closing line from the first verse, “…would He devote that sacred head for such a worm as I?” Over the years this verse was edited to read, “…would He devote that sacred head for such a ONE as I?” Ask yourself, which version do you prefer…and why?

Low in the Grave He Lay – 344

When we sing this song following the Lord’s Supper Sunday morning, we’ll sing all three verses before we sing the chorus. My personal preference since the verses are designed to be melancholy and thoughtful, while the chorus changes tempo to excitement and jubilation. And certainly it should be as we proclaim; “Hallelujah! Christ arose.”

Surround Us, Lord – no book

Taken from Psalm 125:2, this ‘psalm’ serves as a great ‘spiritual song’, encouraging the singer and the listener to understand that, “…we need to be in Your (God’s) presence.” Listen to the YouTube link below if you are interested in learning it, or just want to sing it again!

He Lives! – 346

“…You ask me how I know he lives? He lives within my heart.” These words serve as the conclusion to a wonderful song of joy and adoration. This song, before our lesson, resounds with the declaration, the title:
“HE LIVES!”

Have You Been to Jesus – 904

These next two songs, our invitation and closing song, call for us to be ‘washed in the blood of the Lamb’ and to find our assurance in Him. But before we close the invitation we’ll repeat the chorus with one more call to respond. But then we’ll close with the following:

Blessed Assurance – 480

As we close this time of worship would that all Christians sing the chorus of this song with a stronger conviction and a clearer understanding. “This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long…” Let that soak in for a minute, praising God all day long? Would you, can you, will you praise God 24-7? You can and you will if you truly believe that…He Is Risen!

1, March 22, 20131, March 21, 2013

Weaving a Web…March 24th

This Sunday morning, March 24th, we will have a special guest speaker at Waterview church of Christ. David Friesen is one of our missionary’s, and he works with the congregation of God’s people in Camrose, Alberta, Canada.

How many people would you say it takes to strengthen the work in the mission field? Will we ever understand the influence and impact our collective efforts have on evangelism? David will share with us some of the work God is doing in Canada. Join us as he shows us the web of people who are woven together, helping spread the word of God.

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.”
I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, March 24, 2013

You’ll notice the following songs come from the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“I Stand in Awe” – 96

We’ll open our worship this morning with what many consider a ‘contemporary’ hymn of praise to God. This beautiful song was written over 25 years ago and calls for us to recognize our God’s position as “too marvelous for words.” Standing as we sing let us lift our voices in awe to our God! “Holy God to whom all praise is due…”

“Doxology” – 66

A beautiful, traditional hymn (a song sung to HIM) that was penned in the early 1700’s. But the music (Genevan Psalter) is even more antiquated as it dates back to the mid-1550’s…over 450 years ago. Yet the value of this song is found in its simple, everlasting words; … “Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.”

“Hallelujah! What a Savior” – 337

“Man of Sorrows”, what a name to place on our Savior, and yet we find it in the scriptures (Isaiah 53:3); “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering…” As we turn our minds toward the Lord’s Supper this morning, don’t miss the message that rings throughout each verse. 1) He has come to reclaim ‘ruined sinners’…2) He took my place and ‘sealed my pardon’…3) We are guilty and vile (filthy), yet He was spotless…4) He was lifted up on a cross, but now He’s exalted on high…5) He’s coming back to take ‘His ransomed home’…No wonder we conclude this song with the title. Hallelujah! What a Savior.

“I Am a Stranger Here” – 658

Most likely new to many though this song dates back to the early 1900’s. But old or new, do we consider ourselves strangers in this land? If we truly are God’s people, we are foreigners who serve as ambassadors for our King. Our charge, to take His message throughout the land. And as each verse in this spiritual song reaches it’s conclusion we sing; “…I’m here on business for my King.”

“Send the Light” – 650

This maritime hymn will serve as our song before the lesson. It clearly reflects a Biblical reference of taking the message (the light) to those in need as it draws us to Acts, chapter 16, “During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’.” In verse 2 we sing, “We have heard the Macedonian call today: Send the light! Send the light! And a golden offering at the cross we lay: Send the light! Send the light!” But have you thought why the song writer would mention an offering in the second part of this verse? Perhaps it comes from Romans 15 when the scripture says, “…for Macedonia & Achaia were pleased to make a contribution to the poor…” A country calling for helping, then giving back to God’s people.

“Hark! The Gentle Voice” – 907

Hark, by definition is to say listen attentively. We might say, “Quiet everyone, listen!” In that contexts we sing, “Quiet, listen to the gentle voice of Jesus calling…” Notice the end of the first and second verses; “…turn and listen, stay and hear.” and “…He (the Master holy) will teach if you will learn.” This song of invitation is calling for us to answer the call of Christ and accept His rest.

“You Are My All in All” – 484

We would consider it foolish to give up on a vast treasure if it was right within our grasp. Jesus is that treasure and yet we live in a world that foolishly walks away from Him. How often do we take this precious treasure for granted…without thinking twice we tend to give up. You and I know what Jesus means, He is our strength and our treasure…He is our All in All.

1, January 21, 20131, February 27, 2013

That’s All I Want…Jan 20th

A friend of mine shared a GREAT idea about posting the order of worship for members of the congregation and prospective worship leaders. This simple use of the world wide web will allow those interested to get a glimpse of what’s coming up for Sunday morning. Nice idea, and one I think will benefit those who what to learn about the songs we’ll be singing on Sunday. This post will reflect this past Sunday morning (January 20th). Be looking for the next few weeks as we’ll be posting the order of worship by Friday or Saturday before Sunday…

Sunday morning, January 20, 2013

Robert Oglesby has been the pulpit preacher at Waterview church of Christ since February, 1963. Yes, in a few short days he and his family will be celebrating 50 years as the preacher for this solid congregation in the Kingdom of God. Our sermon topic on Sunday was titled, “That’s All I Want”. Our scripture basis was the 23rd Psalm, so our hymn selection was almost a given. The following is an account of our order of worship and all song numbers are from the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“We Will Glorify” – 578

A great song that praises our God and King; beautiful way to set our minds on worship.

“The Lord’s My Shepherd” – 134

The music for this popular arrangement dates back to 1854. All six verse of the 23rd Psalm can be sung in this song. This is a perfect example of Ephesians 5:19 “…speaking to one another in PSALMS and hymns and spiritual songs”

“Hear Me When I Call” – no book

This has become perhaps my favorite of all Tillit S. Teddlie songs. Certainly one that asks for our God to hear our call and ‘attend unto my prayer.’ What better way to describe my weakness than to request that our Lord, ‘…hold my trembling hand, lest helpless I should fall.”

“We Have an Anchor” – 467

The question is asked by those who sing, “Will your anchor hold in the storms of life?” In other words, how are you doing in your relationship with God? We echo in response…”We HAVE AN ANCHOR!”

“I Need Thee Every Hour” – 837

This song of prayer serves as our invitation on Sunday morning. Would that we all come to understand and truly say, “I need Thee, O I need Thee…”

“I’d Rather Have Jesus” – 581

Singing the first verse this song you are stating that you prefer (would rather have) Jesus over the riches of this world. More than houses or lands…do you really? Would your wallet agree? Take a look at your bank statement if you want to see if you really believe this song.

“I Love the Lord” – 359

Penned in my life time (1970), this song by Tommy Wheeler makes the statement that proclaims our love for God. We sing “I love the Lord”, but why? You know and you sing, “…on Calvary His dear life He freely gave…that I might live some day with Him on high.”

“The Lord My Shepherd Is” -126

Like song #134, the music for this arrangement was in the mid 1800’s, but when Isaac Watt’s penned this psalm, he followed the poetry in the message from the shepherd/king David. An affirmation of who my Shepherd is…the Lord. And knowing that…what else could I want?

At Waterview church of Christ we use a screen to project all our songs. This allows faces to be up (out of the book) and voices to be projected forward. All songs on the screen are accompanied with the sheet music for those who will sing 4-part harmony. In a world that seems to be getting faster and faster, and schedules that we tend to pack to over flow, let me admonish you to be careful and not push Jesus out of your life. You and I both know that with Him in our life and when Christ is first, we can honestly say…That’s all I need!

1, August 15, 20121, August 14, 2012

What Does ‘A Capella’ Mean?

“Suppose they asked you if you could sing A Capella, would you know what to do?”

Barney Fife tries to explain to Rafe Hollister what it means to ‘sing A Capella’ and though he doesn’t get the definition right, he says what many may be thinking. [LINK] To defend his thoughts about A Capella singing, Barney comes up with a song that he sings about ‘A Capella’. Watch the short video, enjoy a laugh and then we’ll talk about ‘A Capella’…

By definition, a cap·pel·la means:

1. without instrumental accompaniment…or

2. in the style of church or chapel music.

Notice the FIRST definition; when we sing A Capella, we’re singing with our voices…only. Read Ephesians 5: 19 “…speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord…” Speak to one another…sing and make music in your heart… God’s word explains (better yet) commands, that we are to sing. And if you look closely, this singing is done with our voices and not with an instrument. Therefore we are to sing A Capella. Our culture doesn’t know much about this type of singing. Listening to music on the radio is almost exclusively with instrumental accompaniment. That would mean we aren’t much of an A Capella culture. But is it easy to sing ‘without instrumental accompaniment’? It takes work and that work takes practice. We need to be more focused on singing without instrumental assistance. Turn the radio off and start singing A Capella.

But you might be wondering, where do I start? Begin with a search for A Capella singing groups. Consider these as a few: His Harmony, Legacy, The McCoy Family Singers, Hallal, Acappella, Zoe, GLAD and many more. [LINK] But let me encourage you to consider this…why would we try to sing A Capella songs and still make ‘instrumental’ noises with our voices? Doesn’t make sense to me…but that’s just me. in my opinion, let’s support all of the true A Capella Groups (songs) who sing without any ‘instrupella’ or vocal band (using your voice to sound like a snare drum). Singing without any instruments or trying to act like an instrument is true A Capella.

The SECOND definition for A Capella states; “…in the style of church or chapel music.” A Capella singing, choral singing performed without instruments is done in the manner in which the early church, or chapel did their singing. The expression means “in chapel style” in Italian. Hundreds of years ago, religious music was composed for use in the chapels, which, unlike large churches today, had no bands, organs or instruments. Singing and music in the early church, via historical documentation was exclusively designed to be sung using the human voice only! A Capella singing is described in God’s word and was practiced in the early church. Even early on within the denominational world, instruments were universally rejected.

So…”Suppose they asked you if you could sing A Capella, would you know what to do?”

1, August 12, 20121, August 12, 2012

He’s Awesome!

What does it mean to say that something is ‘awesome’? In the excitement of the moment, or with the thrill of an event it’s not uncommon to hear someone say, “That movie was awesome!”. But how much attention or thought do we give to how and when we use this awe inspiring word.

By definition, we consider something to be awesome when that ‘something’ is inspiring awe or showing characteristic of awe. OK…then what is ‘awe’? Again, by definition, awe is ‘an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or the like.’ For emphasis, I want to say that again; awe is ‘an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or the like.’ If we say, ‘That car is awesome!’ are we truly saying that it evokes feels of reverence, admiration and fear? It might be that we ‘just loved’ that movie (admiration), but do we really have reverence for a form of entertainment or fear for an inanimate object? We toss “awesome” around almost like we abuse the term “love”. (The Greek language could help us here; Eros, Philoe, Storgy and Agape) But what really makes you awestruck? What is it in your life that makes you sit back and say, ‘That’s awesome…”?

The word “awesome” is not used in the King James version, but it can be found several times in the NKJV as well as other translations. Interestingly enough, all but one come from within the Old Testament.

Genesis 28:17…Jacob after his dream of the ladder going up into heaven, called the place awesome
Exodus 34:10…God telling about the covenant He was going to make with His people would be awesome
Deuteronomy 7:21 and 10:17…awesome God; & 21…awesome things God has done; 28:58…the name of God
Judges 13:6…angel of God, very awesome
2 Samuel 7:23…what God did for His people and the land
1 Chronicles 17:21…what God did for His people
Nehemiah 1:5, 4:14 and 9:32…all refer to the great and awesome God
Job 10:16…show His power (awesome); 37:22…around God is awesome majesty
Psalm 45:4…teach You awesome things; 47:2…Lord is feared (awesome); 65:5…You answer us in awesome deeds; 66:3 & 5…His works and deeds are awesome; 68:35…Awesome God; 76:12…kings of the earth fear Him (have awe); 99:3…praise His great and awesome name; 106:22…God did awesome things; 111:9…Holy and awesome; 145:6…God’s awesome acts
Song of Solomon 6:4 & 10…awesome as an army with banners
Isaiah 28:21…extra ordinary work; 64:3…You did awesome things
Jeremiah 20:11…the Lord is like an (awesome) champion
Ezekiel 1:18 & 22…vision of the wheel of fire;
Daniel 2:31…image of the statue was awesome; 9:4…great and (awesome) God
Joel 2:31…great and (awesome) day of the Lord
Zephaniah 2:11…the Lord will be (awesome) to them
Acts 2:20…the great and (awesome) day of the Lord

Each of the proclamations noted above are directed to God or something God has done. Our God IS an awesome God and He is deserving of all praise. Daniel 9:4, “I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: ‘Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments…’. “

Next time, before you hand out that compliment of awe, remember there is only one deserving of our ‘overwhelming admiration’. Each of us will take a stand for what we believe. It might be openly standing for what’s right or quietly standing in reverence and awe. This song should serve as a prayer we offer to God. Nothing else is His equal; I stand in admiration, fear and reverence to Him.

You’ll go to the movies and enjoy the show, and yes, that brand new car is pretty impressive, but what do you really admire? Is this world what you hold in reverence? Do we bow in fear of how ‘awesome’ our life is? My prayer is that we all come to see our God, and Him only, as AWESOME.

I Stand in Awe [LINK]

You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom
Who can fathom the depths of Your love
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty, enthroned above

And I stand, I stand in awe of You
I stand, I stand in awe of You
Holy God to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You!

1, July 19, 20121, July 21, 2012

Doing Chores…Part One

Having grown up on a farm I can clearly remember when it was time to do the chores. Each day we had some very specific chores.

During the 1970’s in a rural, farming community it was not uncommon for us to have chores that dominated our day. The cow had to be milked and the pigs had to be fed every morning and every evening. The eggs had to be gathered each night. Weeding the garden and cleaning out the animal’s pens was not weird, nor was it punishment, it was our norm. There was no option of ‘skipping out’ on the responsibility to feed the animals and taking care of them. If a chore was shirked and we chose to do something else, the price to pay would be staggering. Our breakfast in the morning consisted of the eggs we gathered the night before. The 2 gallons of milk we collected daily would feed our family of six (four growing boys) daily. The vegetables we grew in the garden would be canned or preserved for the winter months. We did our chores because we knew there would be consequences if we didn’t obey. But we also did our chores because our parents cared for us, and we loved our parents. You see, our chores were important to our survival.

But before we go much further you need to know that with all the animals we had to care for, we never owned sheep. Chickens, cattle, hogs and even an occasional horse or two, but never sheep. And as I understand them, sheep are very precarious when it comes to raising them. Some even say they’re stupid animals. Again, having never raised sheep I’m not speaking from direct experience, but from what sheep farmers and those who raise sheep have told me. Those who tend sheep know that the responsibility to care for them is intensified. Sheep challenge your resolve when it comes to feeding them, watering them and shearing them. Much less keeping them alive.

But have you ever noticed that the Bible calls followers of Christ ‘sheep’? Matthew 10:16, “Behold, I send you out as SHEEP…” and Matthew 25:33, “and He will put the SHEEP on His right, and the goats on the left…” and Matthew 26:31, “I will strike down the Shepherd, and the SHEEP of the flock will be scattered…” And no doubt you’ll remember the 23rd Psalm as it refers to us as sheep and the Lord as our Shepherd. “The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.”

There is a connection between doing chores and the idea that we are sheep and Christ is our Shepherd! Perhaps you can see the connection between doing God’s work (doing our chores) and the need to take care of the sheep when you look deeper into God’s Word. From a Biblical point of view, the world is not in the safety of the fold. And God calls His people (the sheep) with the help of the Shepherd (Jesus) to bring a lost people home. (The cattle are out of the pen; there’s a fox in the hen house; there are chores to be done.) Take out your Bible and read I Peter 2:25; “For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to your Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”

Next time we’ll see how to make sense of this comparison…being like a sheep, and tending the sheep. There are always chores to be done. We will look at a song (not a surprise) that addresses this responsibility and obligation to work in the fold. Stay tune as we continue to look at ‘doing chores’. Let’s work together.

1, July 6, 20121, July 16, 2012

The Value of Fine Gold and the Honeycomb!

“More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold!”

Psalm 19:10 is the beginning for the ‘chorus’ of a song I recall singing during my youth. A psalm that is not found in many (if any) of our hymnals. To be quite honest, it was only a few years ago that I actually found the sheet music. In my early years we would sing this psalm around the campfire (youth camp) or in the living room of one our friend’s homes (devotionals). There is not much repetition with the words in this song, so our ‘song book’ was our Bible. The words are almost a direct quote from the book of Psalms (19:7-10), but the musical arrangement was put together by Gary L. Mabry. Of the 3 verses and chorus, you’ll notice that all four stanzas are taken straight from scripture. (Remember, a ‘psalm’ is a song that is sung with the Bible as it’s text.)

Read these words as penned by King David in Psalm 19:7-10,

“The law of the Lord is perfect restoring the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
the judgements of the Lord are true; they are righteous all together.
They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.”

If you remembered singing this song (or if this is a first) you were able to ‘sing along’ as you read the text. But let’s dig deeper into the words of the Psalmist. David refers to the “law of the Lord”, the “testimony of the Lord”, the “precepts of the Lord”, the “commandments of the Lord”, the “fear of the Lord” and the “judgments of the Lord”. In turn, each one fulfills a need we have to follow ‘the Lord’. Let’s break this song down (verse by verse) and examine the specific elements of God’s law in relationship to mankind.

First, as we look at Psalm 19:7, we understand that God’s law is perfect. When we follow His law, it restores our soul to Him. In addition, the testimony (the evidence and overwhelming proof) of God is sure, and those who believe in Him are wise. Even, as this text explains, the ‘simple’ can gain wisdom and have confidence in the assurance of our Heavenly Father.

Psalm 19:8 continues with the precepts and the commandments of the Lord. A precept, by definition, is ‘a principle intended as a general rule of action’ and a commandment is simply, ‘to direct authoritatively’. Both precepts and commands are directives, given by and with authority. But you’ll notice these ‘directives’ are right and pure. They come from our Lord and give us true hope. When we follow them, our hearts will rejoice and our eyes will be enlighten.

The final verse of this song (Psalm 19:9) includes the fear and the judgment of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is clean, defined as thorough or complete, and last forever. Will we fear God throughout eternity? Undoubtedly YES! As we come to understand that fearing the Lord is respecting Him and honoring His name we’ll know that is our reason for living. As for the Lord’s judgments, they are true and righteous. Know this; God will treat mankind with fairness. He created us. He calls us. He longs for us. However, if we don’t follow His law, believe His testimony, obey His precepts, follow His commandments or fear (honor) His name; He will have no other option but to judge us in all righteousness (fairly).

As we wrap up this ‘psalm’ let us consider what we notice to be the chorus of the song. In the scripture we read verse 10 and understand from David that these God-given principles are of extreme value. From the gold-miner’s prospective, God’s word is more desirable than gold. And not just the raw gold from the bottom of the riverbed that is still unrefined. The value of God’s gifts are like that of pure and unblemished gold. To him who is hungry, God’s word is sweeter than honey, even the honey that drips directly from the honeycomb.

Sadly there are many who don’t believe any of these instructions. They’ll read them, perhaps even try and follow some of the teachings from God’s word. But in the end, they give up on His law. Determine His ways are too hard to follow. Remember that God will judge us all based on how much we value His commandments. As you go through this day I encourage you to honor (fear) God, and savor His precepts (rules). What we have in Christ is better than fine gold or the honeycomb.

1, June 25, 20121, June 23, 2012

Securing the Hearts of Our Youth…Part 1

“How shall the young secure their hearts, and guard their lives from sin?” Though penned almost three hundred years ago, this question continues to echo through the ages. Finding its roots in Psalm 119:9, “How can a young man keep his ways pure?” this passage and song express the concern of God-fearing parents and congregations of Lord’s church across the world. We who are genuinely concerned about the spiritual well-being of our children seek to know what can be done to take on the wiles of the devil. Many congregations actively study and prepare their teens for baptism; an admirable and Biblical objective but one that falls short if we fail to teach our youth the character of discipleship. As we prepare our young people for a life of faithful service, we must example the elements necessary to answer the question, “How shall the young secure their hearts?”

As we investigate the answer to this question, let’s look at three basic methods that will help us draw closer to understanding how we can mentor our youth toward a life of faithful service in Christ. If we take the approach that we must begin preparing our young adults (the college student or the recent high school graduate) for a life in Christ, we are (quite frankly) about 20 years late. The ‘mentoring’ of our youth must begin during the formative years of childhood; a principle that is fundamental in history as well as Biblical text. But where does it begin? Who bears the burden of responsibility for their foundation of faith? Can I wait until my son reaches grade school to begin to impart ‘words of wisdom’? As our young people begin life on their own, whether as a college student or a young professional, they take with them the building blocks from an early childhood. Fathers and mothers alike must model an example of Biblical consistency and Spiritual faithfulness. In a word, make God your priority and be certain your children know it.

That includes making worship on Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings and Wednesday nights (or your mid-week Bible study) more important than the baseball tournament on Sunday morning. When your congregation hosts a Gospel Meeting on the same Monday night your son is playing in a soccer tournament; you’ll need to ask yourself, “To which of these events will I take my child?” If your child’s coach calls for practice on Wednesday night, parents, you will model an example of Biblical consistency and Spiritual faithfulness when you inform your child’s coach that, “We won’t be there. Our family has already made plans to meet for Bible study tonight.” But you must understand this one basic principle: you can never make that statement if you as the parent fail to put God and Godly living first. What will your children see when they learn that your boss has given you tickets to the NBA playoffs, on Sunday night. Depending on where you go will be teaching your children about priorities. But this is all about making right choices when my family is young. What do I do if they are older, perhaps on their own and making their own decisions? How can I mentor young adults into a life of faithful service?

Let’s continue next time as we consider the importance of securing the hearts and lives of our young people. Remember the first step is to model an example of Biblical consistency and Spiritual faithfulness.