Category: A Biblical example

Posted on

Everything Changes, Except…

Change isn’t easy!  As a matter of fact, Sydney Harris, an American journalist for the Chicago Daily News once said, “Our dilemma is that we hate change and love it at the same time; what we really want is for things to remain the same but get better.”

Change can be hard to face at times and yet if we want to grow, we have to change.  For things to sincerely ‘get better’, they can’t stay the same.  This week my daughter (a senior in HS) went with me to the office.  As we talked about the changes in our family, big brother is now in college, I reminder her that we ALL change.  She wasn’t going to always be my little blonde, curly haired 5 year old.  She was growing into adulthood and, if the Lord wills, would one day have a family of her own.  If we remain the same, that would be nice, but how could things hope to improve.  As a matter of fact, in our spiritual lives we sing the song, “Change My Heart of God”.  If we want our lives to ‘get better’, we have to go through a metamorphosis (a change).  But why do we ‘hate change?’  Perhaps it’s because of the uncertainty that lies ahead.

How often I would like for things to ‘just stay the same’.  Actually some folks take great strides to make sure things never change.  We are comfortable with the tried and true.  Not needing to ‘wonder what will happen next’ is a good thing…isn’t it?  Let me direct you to another hymn that actually talks about the changes in our lives.  The transitions that we face in life.

Over 100 years ago Jennie Wilson penned a song that tells me what to do when uncertainty comes into my life.  I need to remember the words…

Time is filled with swift transition – naught of earth unmoved can stand (Nothing on earth can change this fact)
Build your hopes on things eternal, hold to God’s unchanging hand. (The earth changes…God, eternal, does not)

Trust in Him who will not leave you, whatsoever years may bring, (God is constant, even with the changes in life)
If by earthly friends forsaken, still more closely to Him cling. (People let us down, God won’t)

When your journey is completed, if to God you have been true (When life is over, and if you have been faithful)
Fair and bright the home in glory your enraptured soul (delight without measure) will view (Heaven’s really good!)

Hold to His hand…to God’s unchanging hand!
Hold to His hand…to God’s unchanging hand!
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.

We will face changes in life and some of them will make us ‘wish for the good ole days’.  But change will come and often it will come swiftly.  In a world that is created to ‘change’, hold fast to Him who created this world…He does NOT change.  James 1:17 “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom THERE IS NO VARIATION or shifting shadow.”  To put it simply…God doesn’t change.

Children hold the hands of their parents because there is comfort in knowing someone is beside them.  We hold hands as couples to show our spouse (and others who might be watching) that we find comfort and security in our loved ones presence.  In a world that is ‘swiftly transitioning’, perhaps we should be looking to reach out and take hold of our Father’s hand.  Changes will come into your life, but with God we will always find consistency.  Perhaps Mr. Harris was right, we do have a dilemma when it comes to change, but remember what he said, want we really want is for things ‘to get better.’

Posted on

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?”

Posted on

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!

Posted on

What If…You Make the Choice?

Have you ever ask yourself, “What if…”?

What if I oversleep?
What if I lose my wallet?
What if I miss my flight?
What if I have to sell my house?

The world is full of questions, and not just the ‘what if’ kind.  We could spend a lot of time talking and thinking about our answers to these questions, but take a moment to dig deeper into the ‘what if’ scenario.  During the early 1990, almost 20 years ago, many of us learned and began to echo a personal motto, a phrase that was used as a reminder of our belief.  A moral imperative that guided our thoughts concerning how we should act.  A phrase that not only directed our thoughts, but became a public display of our love for Jesus.  The motto could be found on bracelets and banners.  Do you remember WWJD, What Would Jesus Do?  This simple phrase was meant to motivate us to think about our actions.

So, what would you do if you overslept, or lost your wallet, or missed your flight?  Your heart will determine your actions and how you’ll react to your circumstances.  It’s important to keep this thought in mind as you live your life.  There’s a song that you will appreciate, and most certainly will help you consider a new dimension to the ‘what if’ question.  Click on the picture (or the title of the song below) and listen to the McCoy Family Singers as you read the words to this song.  What you would do if you had walked with Jesus?  How would that have changed you?

Song Title: “If I Could Have Walked with Jesus”

“If I could have walked the streets with Jesus.
If I could have washed my Savior’s feet,
if I could have seen His acts of mercy and love,
My joy would have been so complete!

If I could have seen Him in the garden,
if I could have waited while He prayed!
If I could have been there when my Lord was betrayed
I hope that I would not have strayed!

If I could have wiped the brow of Jesus
as He carried His cross to Calvary.
If I could have seen the open tomb where He rose
my faith would have transformed me!

O God, let me walk the streets for Jesus.
Let me wash Your people’s weary feet!
May I carry out His acts of mercy and love,
may faith in Him transform me!
May my faith in Christ transform me!”

Over two thousand years ago there were hundreds who really did walk with Jesus.  What if you had been one of them, what would you have done?  Would that experience have ‘transformed’ you?  Today we encounter people at every turn.  Within those encounters there are opportunities that will define who we are.  As we walk through life consider how you’ll treat people because ultimately that will determine your attitude toward God.  Carry out acts of mercy and love and see how you will change.  What if TODAY you decided to walk with Jesus?

How would that change you?

Posted on

Securing the Hearts of Our Youth…Part 3

As we conclude this series on ‘Securing the Hearts of Our Youth’, let’s example the third component of mentoring and preparing faithful families.  Let’s turn again to examine the three previously mentioned, elements of securing their hearts.  I truly believe that each of these will help us in drawing our youth closer to God.

Part 1, focused on the importance of a faithful example.  Remember your consistency and faithfulness as you talk with your children, walk through your life and choice your path.  Your example, in some cases, will impact people more than you words.  Our second component (Part 2) addressed the idea of providing opportunities for involvement in the work of the church.  We can include our young people when we give them a chance to work.  Remember, if they’re ‘thirsty’ they’ll ‘drink.’

We have talked about the value of a good example and the importance of training and teaching our young people.  And though these two methods of preparation are vital and needed to direct our youth, we must never forgot the ‘WHY’ behind it all.  For the past 10 years I have taught the college class at our congregation.  There has been Sunday mornings when only three (3) students came to class.  And then again, there have been Wednesday nights when more than thirty (30) young men and women filled the room.  During each class I ask them; “Why?  Why are you here?  No one is making you come; you are here because you chose to be.  Why?”  When we can come to understand the reason we attend a Bible study with God’s people is more than just habit, then they will grow closer to seeing the importance of doing more than just going through the motions.  As a congregation and as individual families we strive to set the proper example.  We focus on training and teaching our young people to serve (men to lead) in the Lord’s church, but our children must come to know why we do what we do.

During the early 1700’s, Isaac Watts at the age of 45, wrote a poem entitled “How Shall the Young Secure Their Hearts?”  The poem, a song many have sung for years, asks the question we set as the pinnacle in exploring our objective; Mentoring Faithful Adults into a Life of Service.  How can we safe guard the hearts of our young people for Godly service?  Isaac Watt’s doesn’t miss a beat.  His answer comes from the second part of Psalm 119:9 “…by keeping it (a young man’s ways) according to Your word.”  The song states; “Thy Word the choicest rules imparts to keep the conscience clean.”  How else can we, should we, mentor faithful adults if not through the Word of God.  The Psalmist continues as he writes in the 119th Psalm, “With all my heart I have sought You…Your word I have treasured in my heart…with my lips I have told of all the ordinances of your mouth…I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways.  I shall delight in Your statues; I shall not forget Your word.”  Notice the example of seeking God and treasuring His word in our hearts; of mediating on His instruction and delighting (making a priority) of his statutes (the Law of Christ).  As we mentor our young people and train them, we’ll teach them how to tell others about the ordinances (the word) of God.

We have a massive obligation to mentor our young people.  We need to begin early and continue mentoring often.  Our responsibility should never be take lightly.  If you still have children at home, focus your attention on bringing them to God…literally.  Don’t let culture dictate where they will go and what they will do.  Be certain, if you don’t show them that God is first in your life, the world will show they what it holds to be important.  And remember mentoring our young adults must start with you, the parent.   If you have grown children who are no longer faithful and no longer under your guidance; be sure you have your priorities right and pray for an opportunity to correct any errors from your past. You may still be able to sway them if they a change in your life.  If you have no children but want to impact and influence ‘the next generation’, search your heart and be sure you’re focused on Godliness.  Seek ways to teach, train and encourage the young adults in your congregation.  It’s never too late to secure their hearts and guard their lives from sin.  Use God’s word as the light that will guide them through the dangers of the night.  Rest assured, God’s Word is everlasting truth and every page of His word is pure!  Using the Bible as our foundation in life will guide our young people and, as Isaac Watts wrote, will well support our age.

Posted on

Securing the Hearts of Our Youth…Part 2

As we consider the importance of ‘securing the hearts of our young people’ for a life of faithful service, let’s continue to investigate the components of this pressing topic.  Digging deeper into the question at hand, we turn again to examine the previously mentioned, three basic elements of securing their hearts.  Together, I believe that each of these will help us in mentoring our youth.

To review ‘Part 1’, let’s reiterate the importance of a faithful example in mentoring our youth.  Consistency and faithfulness on an individual basis is important.  But next let’s consider the wisdom in the old saying, ‘You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.’  So if the time of establishing expectations is passed and the individual choice is in place, we have to ask the burning question; “If I can’t make a horse drink the water, what will make a horse drink?”  Here in lies the second method of training up and teaching our young people faithfulness.  A horse lead to water will drink…when he’s thirsty.  An understandable conclusion, but what indeed makes a horse WANT to drink?  A thirsty horse is one that has been working.  We must provide opportunities and for our young people to get involved in the work of the church.  There are vast areas where we expect work to be done around the church building and within the church family.  So who will do the work?  Often it’s easier to hire out the work to be done (missionaries, janitors, etc.) rather than putting the onus of responsibility on the family.

We live in a modest home in north Dallas with a good size yard on a corner lot.  One look around the house and you’ll find we have lots of grass to mow in both the front and back yards.  But who will do it?  For several years I hired out the work to a local lawn service.  They made it look easy and quick (actually they were much quicker than me) and the cost was minimal.  But then my oldest boy turned 12.  My wife and I quickly realized that the monthly cost for mowing could be put toward a new lawn mower and some yard accessories and then he could work with me mowing the yard.  But it wasn’t easy at first.  My son had to be trained.  There were times I was frustrated and could have simply told him to step aside and let me do it.  (Actually, that was said on more than one occasion.)  However, if he was to learn to serve the family and ultimately be able to do work in the yard by himself, he had to be taught, trained and provided the opportunity to ‘get involved.’  Let the young, baptized men of your congregation go to work serving.  Train them to read scripture and serve on the Lord’s Table.  Teach them, as Christ did, how to pray.  Show them how they can lead (yes…even the song service).  Let the young ladies get involved too.  Teach them how to teach in the toddler’s classes.  Introduce them to building bulletin boards or even baking unleavened bread.  Give them opportunities to be involved and start getting thirty.  But you know…training will take time and energy.  So ask yourself the question; “Do I really want the help secure the heart of our youth?”  If we want our young people to grow into a life of faithful service, we must we willing to do what it takes to mentor them into serving.

How shall the young secure their hearts and guard their lives from sin?  Next time we’ll look at the third and most vital of all elements when it comes to preparing our youth.  You’ll remember…“Thy word the choicest rules in part…”  See you next time!