A Problem on the Way to the Promise Land…Feb. 17th

Sunday morning, February 17th at Waterview church of Christ, our lesson was aimed some of our trials/problems on our way to heaven. To be specific…complaining!

As we examined the Israelite nation (post Egyptian captivity), Robert opened the word and we looked at how often the people of God complained about; the water and food (or lack there of) and the leadership coupled with an ‘I can do better’ attitude. The following ‘order of worship’ was designed to focus our minds on this Lord’s day. Will you think about the songs you sing in praise to God?

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

Sunday morning, February 17, 2013

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

“Praise the Lord” and “Great Are You, Lord” – 74 & no book

Four songs in this hymnal begin with these three, power words; “Praise the Lord”, but our song this morning was written by J. Kempthorne in 1796. The words are taken from the 148th Psalm and the chorus resounds with “Hallelujah! Amen” repeated twice for emphasis. “Holy Lord” (or better known as “Great Are You, Lord”) came on the scene almost 200 years later. Written by a husband and wife team, Steve & Vikki Cook, this hymn again sings praises to our God. A wonderful introduction to coming together, with my heart and sing…Great are You Lord!

“Beneath the Cross of Jesus” – 314

We set our minds on the Lord’s Supper as we sang the 1st and 3rd verses of this song. As we set our minds and hearts at the foot of the cross, in our mind’s eye we can see, “the very dying form of One who suffered there for me.” But we’ll keep our eyes on the cross as we continue to focus during the Lord’s Supper this morning.

“The Old Rugged Cross” – 313

Perhaps a bit of controversy surrounds this old hymn as some feel we shouldn’t ‘cherish’ the old rugged cross. But to others, this is metaphorically cherishing the death of my Savior, for without that cross, I’m lost. This morning however, we specifically sang only the 3rd verse following the bread and before the fruit of the vine. Continuing to keep our eyes on Jesus we sang, “In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, a wondrous beauty I see; for ’twas (it was) on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, to pardon and sanctify me…”

“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” – 315

Though a very popular ‘communion’ song, again we only sang the third verse of ‘When I Survey.’ My reasoning was simple…keep your eyes on the cross of Jesus. “See from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flowed mingled down…” Keeping the volume soft and thoughtful we maintained a solemn focus on the death of our Savior as we partook of the Lord’s Supper.

“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” – 276

The title of this song comes from the chorus which was made famous by Helen Lemmel in 1922 (how many thought this to be a contemporary song). Though we rarely sing the first three verses of this song, (verse 1) “O soul are you weary and troubled?” the power of the chorus helps us keep our eyes on Jesus. As we conclude the Memorial of our Lord’s death, we continually strive to stay focused on Him. Would that our mind be so strongly tied to our God that, “…the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

“To Canaan’s Land I’m On My Way” – 867

With the title of our lesson on ‘the promise land’, I thought it appropriate our song before the lesson singing us toward Canaan’s Land (heaven). Interestedly enough we have lots of sorrows, struggles, tears and pain here on earth, but in heaven…“Dear friends they’ll be no sad farewells. They’ll be no tear dimmed eyes.” Why you might ask? Simply, in Heaven (Canaan’s Land) the soul never dies.

“Bring Christ Your Broken Life” – 911

Though specific for the hymnal Faith and Praise, I think it’s interesting that this invitation song, this call for sinners to ‘bring Christ your broken life’ is found on page 9-1-1. Notice these words: “Bring Christ your broken life, so marred by sin, He will create a new, make whole again; your empty wasted years He will restore, and your iniquities (sin) remember no more.” (Emphasis added) “Bring Him your every care if great or small – whatever troubles you, O bring it all! Bring Him the haunting fears, the nameless dread, Thy heart He will relieve, and lift up thy head.”

“A Mansion, Robe and Crown” – no book

Another contemporary song, this one again focuses on heaven. The third verse grabs my attention when I sing about difficult times; “My head is bowed and bloody now from the work I’ve tried to do…” Maybe not physically for most of us, for some in the mission field I’m certain this is true. Needless to say we are all looking forward to a mansion, robe and crown!

1, July 28, 20121, July 28, 2012

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?

1, July 24, 20121, July 23, 2012

How’s Your Memory?

On the first day of the week, every Sunday morning, Christians meet together to worship and fellowship with the family of God.

We sing, we pray, we read scripture and we listen to a message spoken from God’s Word. But our focus, every week, turns solemn as we remember our Savior’s death, burial and resurrection. We partake of the bread, and the fruit of the vine as we understand Christ’s words from Mark 14: 22-24, “While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, ‘Take it; this is My body’ And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them, ‘This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.’ ” From the gospel account it is clear what Jesus was saying. He was initiating for us a memorial. A means by which we could remember His sacrifice for our salvation.

Why? Are we so forgetful that we can’t remember something as important as our Savior’s sacrifice? Allow me provide you with a few ‘loose’ illustrations. Gentlemen, when’s your wife’s birthday? Do you always remember to call dad on Father’s Day? What happened on March 6, 1836? (Let me help you with that last one…’Remember the Alamo’) In another time it was not uncommon for families to drive out to the cemetery and place a bouquet of flowers on a loved ones grave. Why?, because we love(d) them? Is it because we miss them, or simply…so we won’t forget them. The point is…we often forget. We remember and partake of the Lord’ Supper for one basic reason…so we won’t forget! Perhaps Paul explains it best when we read I Corinthians 11: 24-26, “and when He had given thanks, He broke it (the bread) and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ in the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, ‘This is the cup of the new covenant in My blood; do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

We all have busy lives. Our days begin early and end late. The reason we have ‘fast food’ is because we want to eat it fast. We don’t have time to slow down, we’re busy. We don’t even have (more like ‘take’) the time to visit a grave site because we have slowly allowed the world to change our priorities. That’s why we have memorials. Without a constant reminder, our faith can become shallow and our love for God may slowly weaken.

In 1837 (the year after the Alamo fell), John R. Wreford penned a song of memory about our Savior’s death. A song that many still sing today as we meet on first day of the week and commemorate the Lord’s Supper.

When my love to Christ grows weak, when for deeper faith I seek,
Then in thought I go to Thee, Garden of Gethsemane.

There I walk amid the shades, while the evening twilight fades,
See that suffering, friendless One, weeping, praying there alone.

When my love for man grows weak, when for stronger faith I seek,
Hill of Calvary! I go to thy scenes of fear and woe.

There behold His agony, suffered on the bitter tree:
See His anguish, see His faith Love triumphant still in death.

Then to life I turn again, learning all the worth of pain,
Learning all the might that lies in a full self-sacrifice.

Continue to keep Christ close to your heart and always on the front of our mind. Remember the memorial is for us to remember Him, follow His will and prepare ourselves for His return. So let me ask you…

How’s Your Memory?