Category: Meeting

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Good Morning, Lord!

sun rise“Well I’m up in the morning and I’m feeling OK…Don’t want the devil to get in my way so I’m down on my knees and I’m starting to pray, ‘Good Morning, Lord!’ Good morning, Lord! Send a little sun(son)shine down my way. Good morning, Lord! I just want to live for you today.”

Earlier this month I was honored to worked with more than 20 young people (JH/HS & College) at the 1st Annual Ark/La/Tex Singing Camp  in central Louisiana. With the combined talents of Andy Singing CampBaker, Benjamin Bruce and our camp director Doyle Bruce the young men were taught more than just how to read shape notes and understand music theory. We imparted a working knowledge that embraced the responsibility of leading singing and bringing the congregation closer to honoring and glorifying God. The young ladies were directed by Katheryn Baker, Kristy Huntsman and Emili Bruce.

When we consider our opportunity and obligation to sing and teach singing, we come closer to knowing how GREAT our God really is. We come to appreciate the vast debt we owe for the hope we have in this life and in the life to come. But when it comes to trying to understand that debt and how I should live in response to God’s great gift, we start by looking at the first chapter in the book of Psalm. Thanks, Andy, for taking us through this psalm as we sang and learned how to live for our God!

“Blessed is the mantree by the river
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and in His law he meditates…day and night.

He shall be like a tree
Planted by rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

Godly man…PARALLELED…with the Ungodly man

The ungodly are not so
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation (family) of the righteous.

For the Lord knows the way of the righteous
but the way of the ungodly…shall perish (shall not last).”

Make plans to join us next summer, but in the mean time let me encourage you with these words from Andy Baker…

“Spend time in the Son (sun),
Spend time in the Scripture and
Spend time in Self-Refection.”

 

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Why Come Together?

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known.norman rockwell thanksgiving
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our Defender will be.
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

This old hymn finds it’s beginning in the late 1500’s as the Dutch celebrated their victory in the war of liberation from the Spanish. It stands the test of time when we consider the message of deliverance. From the time it first came into print (1626) in a collection of patriotic hymns, to the early years of World War I, this song of prayer calls on Jehovah God to protect and defend His people.

Since the mid-1930’s, thousands across the country have sung this song of thanks in their worship services prior to Thanksgiving Day. Families gather together on this National Holiday to say thanks. But to WHOM and WHY have we done this year after year after year?  Do we remember why ‘we gather together?’ As the Dutch sang years ago, ‘we gather together to ask the Lord’s blessings.’ Never forget that the blessings we enjoy come from the hand of God. It is from His compassion and grace that we enjoy what we have been given. And therefore…we gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing!

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Vacation Bible School…Part 3

How quickly the summer seems to fly by. And whether you’re feeling the heat of the summer months, or enjoying some unseasonably mild temperatures, at the Waterview church of Christ, we’re in high gear preparing for and planning our annual Vacation Bible School. This article concludes a three-part series looking at VBS songs that motivate and encourage the young and the young at heart.

We’ve reminisced on the words of “Joy, Joy, Joy”, “Daniel and Ruth”, “The Wise Man”, “The Lord’s Army” and “Roll the Gospel Chariot.” Though so many more could be explored, we’ll  wrap up with these three oldies; “His Banner Over Us is Love”, “My God is So BIG” and “Wrapped Up, Tied Up, Tangled Up in God.” For many of us, we may not realize the scripture that serves as the foundation of this first ‘VBS’ song. Read Song of Solomon chapter 2 verse 4…then let’s sing!

Share these words and you will be a “Booster” for your Vacation Bible School…
Read the text and remember this classic:

“He invites us into to His banquet table…his banner over us
and His banner over us is love. (repeat 2 times)
His banner, over us, is love!”

“He is mine and I am His…
and His banner over us is love. (repeat 2 times)
His banner, over us, is love!”

“The one way to peace, is the power of the cross…
His banner over us is love. (repeat 2 times)
His banner, over us, is love!”

And this favorite among the little ones…

“My God is so BIG, so strong and so mighty
There’s nothing my God can not do! (repeat 1 time)

The mountains are His,
the valleys are His,
the trees are His handiwork too.

“My God is so BIG, so strong and so mighty
There’s nothing my God can not do!”

wrapped up tied up tangled upA warning to the adults…
don’t pull a muscle on these hand motions!

 

“I’m all wrapped up, I’m all tied up, I’m all tangled up in Jesus.
I’m all wrapped up, I’m all tied up, I’m all tangled up in God.
I’m all wrapped up, I’m all tied up, I’m all tangled up in Jesus.
I’m all wrapped up, tied up, tangled up in God…Oh Yeah.”

 

For centuries, songs have been used to pass down lessons from generation to generation. Think about when you first learned the books of the Bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Acts and the letters to the Romans…), or the names of the 12 apostles (Jesus called them one by one, Peter, Andrew James and John…). History is told in verse and many young minds have come to better understand the message by listening, memorizing and singing songs.

Next time you hear about Vacation Bible School being hosted by your congregation, or the next time a sister congregation announces plans for VBS, make every effort to join them. We do more than just ‘boost our Bible School’ when we attend these summer activities. We model an excitement to spreading the study of God’s word. You can show young children that God’s ‘banner over us is love,’ and that your ‘God is So Big’ when you make Him your priority at VBS. So this year get ‘all wrapped up, tied up, tangled up in God’ at Vacation Bible School!

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The Difference a Word Makes?

Terry Harmon, my good friend and brother in Christ, has begun a new work with his family in Denver, Colorado.  He has served more than 20 years in the mission fields of Russia and Ukraine, but in the last few years has been drawn back to the states where he worked as a pulpit minister.  Just this year, however, Terry has returned to preach to the Russian speaking people, only this time on American soil.  He and his family are involved in a work that specifically reaches out to the Russians living in Denver.

Terry Harmon...Bible StudyThis article from Terry features a glimpse at the work that God is doing through him and his wife as they strive to serve the Lord and spread His word.  Thanks to my brother and friend for his example of service and devotion as he shares THE story of salvation.

In the Russian language, like some others, there is no use of the articles ‘a,’ ‘an’ and ‘the.’  When you and I speak we find it necessary to specify an item as being general (a song we sang last week) or to be specific (the song we sang before the lesson).  When the Russian speaks, they think about their sentences being specific or general, but their language doesn’t express it.  As foreigners learn to speak English or enroll in an English class they take the time to discuss and explain the phraseology of the English sentences using these articles.  Understanding the difference between ‘a’ or ‘an’ being non-specific while ‘the’ has a specific meaning is important to properly communicate with each other. Another example we might give is, “This is a dog” compared to “This is the dog.”

In all reality, this is what the ultimate goal is in teaching the difference about God’s Church to the Russian speaking people.  It may be a bit of a surprise to Americans, but many Russians are very ‘religious,’ with some of them knowing the Bible quite well.  They may be wondering why there is a need for another church. Our intent (the inner-city Russian ministry in Denver, Colorado) is to help people not to be part of a religious group, or to be associated with an organization that is following the Word of God in part, but to read the Scriptures and be completely convinced that we must be THE Church that we read about in the Bible. We must teach and preach how one becomes a Christian accurately, then how one is able to remain faithful, and finally how we must worship the Lord the way He intended.

It is critically important that all people (Russian & English speaking alike) understand that we do not get to decide how we want to worship Him.  Rather, we have an obligation to respect and obey the ways God wants to be worshiped. No more and no less. While we can never be perfect, God’s Word is!  And if we will simply read it and obey it, all people will respond as Peter did in John 6: 68, 69 “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” (NAS)  We long to share with the Russian people that they can be part of His church, the Church that Jesus died for and established (Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23).  And just as Aquila and Priscilla took Apollos aside and taught him the way of the Lord more accurately (Acts 18:24-26), so we want to do the same, so that as many might be saved and have eternal life.

Thanks Terry, for the reminder of how important a single, ‘three-letter’ word can be.

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Lessons from a Pulpit

Pedestal PulpitFor those ‘church going’ folks, you know what the pulpit is.  You’ve seen one almost every Sunday morning, and you know the preacher (most of the time) stands behind it to deliver a message for the word of God.

But sadly enough there are times when the message (the sermon) fails to live up to the position the pulpit represents.   There are some who preach without the strength of understand and the conviction of word.  Too many ‘softballs’ are lobbed out to the congregation making them feel secure, pacified and justified in their day-to-day activities.  (Waterview church of Christ is the exception; Robert Oglesby’s Bible strong lessons challenge the status quo.)  Still ask yourself, are the sermons you hear each week solid or soft.  Will you hear a forward condemnation toward drunkenness, or quiet acceptance to social drinking?  Do the sermons admonish the ladies to practice modesty, or are we fine with short skirts and tight tops?  Are we concerned about the activities that accompany Prom Night?  Or is that just ‘a right of passage’ for our young men and women?  Are these activities (and others like them) discouraged from the pulpit?

Maybe, if we could have ‘seen’ the sermon 2000 years ago that held a crowd spell-bound for more than 6-hours we would understand what’s important in the walk with Christ.  (Mark 15:25 we read, “It was about the third hour (9:00AM) when they crucified Him.”  Then again in Luke 23:44-46 we notice, “It was about the sixth hour (noon), and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour (3:00PM), because the sun was obscured; and the crucifixion of Jesusveil of the temple was torn in two.  And Jesus, crying out in a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.”  Having said this, He breathed His last.”)

For six hours (9:00 in the morning till 3:00 in the afternoon) people stood and watched the Savior die.  Some passed by shaking their heads (Mark 15:29) while others, rulers and soldiers included, stood looking and listen to the lesson from our Lord.  We remember the short statements He made while on the cross; “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”, “Woman, behold your son.”, “I thirst.” , “It is finished!” and several other short proclamations.  But what lesson was taught on this dark day in Jerusalem over 2000 years ago?  What life altering lesson can I learn from this sermon of all sermons?

The group Acapella recorded a song entitle, There Never was a Pulpit Like the Cross.  As you listen to this song consider the message that came on Calvary.  What was the crowd hearing on that dread day as Jesus was crucified for the sins of all mankind?  If it’s been a while since you’ve read the account of Christ death, burial and resurrection I encourage you to read it again.  Listen to the sermon that Jesus preaches as He hangs on the cross for man’s redemption.

1) Jesus climbed the hill of Calvary
And they nailed Him on a cross
Though He had no sin my friend, like me and you
He submitted like a gentle lamb and let them nail Him there
And prayed “Forgive them, for they know not what they do”
Chorus:
Oh, there never was a pulpit like the old rugged cross
And there never was such a meeting place as Calvary
There never was a greater lesson preached on love by mortal man
And there never was a pulpit like the cross

2) What a crowd was gathered on the hill of Calvary that day
Not long before Christ’s victory was won
As His own mother watched and wept beside a friend whom Jesus loved
Christ said, “Dear mother, when I’m gone, he’ll be your son”
Chorus

3) A guilty man was hanging on another cross that daytheif on the cross
Convicted of some thievery, his sin
And suff’ring Jesus saw some good in him and he forgave that man
And said, “Today, into My Heaven enter in”
Chorus

4) As you sit and pray in comfort, and in finery adorned
Without a thought of shame, regret, or loss
Just think of Jesus on that hill in pain, to awful to be born
And remember that old pulpit called the cross
Chorus

No, there never was a pulpit like the cross

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Mother Power…May 12th

dynamite

Power is described in many ways.  Often we think of power coming from the strong and stout.  But it can also be found in some unexpected areas.  Someone once said, “Dynamite comes in small packages…”  This Sunday morning, May 12th, we’ll consider the ‘power’ found in mothers.

 

In mid-May, each year we set aside time to honor our mothers, shower them with gifts and tell them we love them.  This year will be no different.  But as we worship this coming Sunday morning, we’ll explore motherhood in another light.  We’ll honor our mothers, but worship our God.

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

Sunday morning, May 12, 2013

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

“We Shall Assemble” – 718

This call to worship is a song inspired by the pen of Twila Paris.  We’ll add a second verse which calls for us to consider the journey’s end.  “And at the ending of our journey, we will bow down on bended knee.  And with the angels up in heaven, we’ll sing a song of victory…”  With confidence we know the redeemed will sing to the King; “Glory and honor and dominion…”

“We Have Come into His House” – 296

This spiritual song comes as a follow up (medley) with “We Shall Assemble”.  Though the words may seem repetitive, as we sing we hear a strong case for worship.  Verse 2… “Let’s forget about ourselves and magnify His name and worship Him!”  The original words were changed from ‘Let’s forget about ourselves, concentrated on Him and worship Him…”  Don’t think we can go wrong with either one, as long as we will worship Him!

“Tell Me the Story of Jesus” – 387

Most have sung this old spiritual song their whole life (considering it was written in 1880).  As we ‘forget about ourselves’ we hear the singer pleading for you to tell of the cross Christ was hung.  And to tell of the grave were Christ was ‘buried’.  But in the same line we hear of the promise of His resurrection, “…tell how He liveth again.”  (We’re singing the gospel, the death, burial and resurrection.)  We’ll conclude the third verse as we sing the emotional plea to let me stay, and weep as the story teller whispers, “Love paid the ransom for me.”  Ask yourself this question, ‘Do I weep when I hear the story of Jesus?’

“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” – 226

“Here I raise my Ebeneezer, hither by Thy help I’ve come.”  Don’t be fooled, this isn’t a song about Ebeneezer Scrooge, this is a reference back to 1 Samuel when the sons of Israel defeated the Philistines.  This verse is almost a direct quote from 1 Samuel 7:12 (KJV) “…hither by Thy help I’ve come.”  But there’s more to this hymn, “O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be.  Let Thy goodness like a fetter bind my wandering heart to Thee…”  Have you thought about chaining your heart to God?  Let God’s goodness chain your heart to Him.  Why?  The answer comes in the next verse, “prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love…”

“Hear Me When I Call” – no book

Though not at all new, this song of comfort is a call for us to seek God in times of struggle.  How often have we wished someone would hear our call for help.  To hear our cry, our voice, our prayer.  Does God hear us and know how we feel?  Certainly He does, but still we ask that He will “hold my trembling hand, lest helpless I should fall…” I’m so thankful God hears me when I call…

365050.TIF“Faithful Love” – no book

As we sing this song before the lesson, we’ll sing of the faithfulness of God.  Our understanding of how His love is flowing down to make us whole and to save our souls.  Look around this world and you see the love of God.  He is faithful to us and we can see Him all around, if we’ll only take the initiative.  Do we realize that it is He who holds our hands when we can’t stand on our own?  His love is faithful!

“Nearer, Still Nearer” – 478

Perhaps not designed to be an invitation song, this hymn is sung as we desire to stay ‘close to (His) Thy heart…’  But you’ll notice the realization that as we come nearer to God, by design, we draw further away from sin and its folly (foolishness).  Are you willing to resign all of life’s pleasures, pomp and pride?  The call is for us to draw nearer…still nearer.

“Stand Up and Bless the Lord” – {to the tune of: “This is My Father’s World”}

A familiar tune to a song perhaps not as familiar.  This is one of those examples of using the meter to form a new song.  This song (found on page 192) is a call to glorify God.  So whatever tune you choose to sing it, you have to ask yourself the question… Am I willing to stand up and bless the Lord?

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Face Time…Feb 10th

Sunday, February 10th at Waterview church of Christ, our sermon title is “Face Time”.

face time

In today’s terminology, when you hear the term ‘face time’, you most likely think about talking on the phone or computer and seeing the face of the one you’ve called.  But Sunday morning at Waterview, as we listen to Robert’s sermon, the meaning will be a bit different.  Join us as we consider “Face Time”.  The following ‘order of worship’ will serve as our song service for Sunday morning, February 10th.  As always, let me encourage you to think about the songs you sing in praise to God.

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

 

Sunday morning, February 10, 2013

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

 

“O Worship the King” and “All Things Praise Thee” – 144 & 43

As we sing this medley let’s consider the message.  We sing to bring glory to God as we worship the King.  Notice the last line in our first song in conjunction with the first line of the next song; “…pavilion in splendor and girded with praise.” “All things praise Thee, Lord most high…”  Though we see the connection with the words (and the key), what does it mean ‘pavilion in splendor’; how can something be ‘girded with praise’?  The fact is, our God is our shield and defender.  He is the ancient of days and He is our pavilion in splendor (which mean’s He is ‘covered with splendor’) and He is girded (surrounded) with praise!

“We’ll Work Till Jesus Comes” – 634

An old spiritual song that admonishes the singer to keep working.  Have you ever sighed for something?  We sing, “O land of rest…for thee I sigh, when will the moment come when I shall lay my armor by and dwell in peace at home?”  You know, I think I can understand what Elizabeth Mills must have been thinking we she wrote this song; our life is full of work (at least it should be) and after a long day’s work our thoughts go to resting…”when will the moment come?”

“Come, Share the Lord” – 364

A contemporary song by Bryan Leech encourages us to come together as we remember the Lord’s Supper.  Perhaps we should keep in mind the third verse as we draw this song to a close and sing, “…now we anticipate the feast for which we wait.  Come take the bread, come drink the wine (drink from the cup) come share the Lord.”

“Gentle Shepherd” – 845

“Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us, for we need you to help us find our way…”  As sheep we are often lost and in need of direction, protection and guidance from our Shepherd.  The good news, our Shepherd not only guides us and leads us, He is also gentle.  This beautiful hymn (because it is sung to HIM) reminds us that we are a blessed people…

“Face to Face” – no book

A song that speaks toward the end of life as we anticipate coming face to face with our God.  As we pass the collection plate on Sunday morning we’ll sing this song.  Let’s think about our life when we see Him “…by and by.”  HINT: This is a good lead in for our lesson… 

“I Am Resolved” – 948

This familiar hymn serves as our song before the lesson.  Listen to what you say in the chorus, “I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free.  Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.”  How about singing it this way… “I will hurry to Him…”  Are we eager to see Jesus, eager enough to hurry?

mother daughter walking

“Only a Step” – 940

As we sing this song of encouragement on Sunday, take a look at the message found in the second verse, “Casting your heavy burden down, come to the cross, the world may frown: Yet you shall wear a glorious crown, when He makes up His own.”  How often do we hold on to the things that hinder us and keep us back?  We could better our health, but poor eating habits hold us back.  We could grow in our education, but laziness has a tendency to hold us back.  We struggle with our spiritual walk, but our sins hold us back.  Today’s a good day to cast your heavy burden down and come to the cross.  It’s only a step…

“Faithful Love” – no book

Faithful Love came to earth to show the Father’s love.  And I never be the same…do you know why?  Because I have seen Faithful Love (Jesus) all around me.  Can you see the majesty, the love of Jesus in this world?  Have you read the Word of God?  Jesus came to this earth, lived as a man, died on the cross and reconciles us to God.  When we are looking for Faithful Love, we need to look no further than our Bibles…then we’ll see Him face to face!