Sing It Out Loud!

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

    come before him with joyful songs. Psalm 100:1-2

In the church we went to years ago there was an awesome guy named Jim. He was a giant of a man, well over six feet tall and had a large build to go with his height. Jim had a big, deep, booming voice that matched his giant frame. When it was time to sing Jim was not particularly good at holding a tune, but he more than made up for it with lots of volume as he unabashedly belted out songs.

For most of my life during the music at church I would sing just loud enough to hear myself. My volume might move up a slight notch when the Spirit moved me. But I was envious of Jim’s fearless, shameless, loud singing.

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16

In all the verses in the Bible about singing and hymns there is never the caveat–only sing if you have a good singing voice.

I have been a lifelong music lover. As a boy I loved listening to The Jackson Five, The Osmonds, Elvis, and Dionne Warwick. In third grade a fellow student brought in a Doobie Brothers album to play in our school room and I first heard the song “Black Water” and thought it the best song on earth. By my teenage years I was joyfully drowning in Rock Music, a flood of it constantly playing wherever I went. And it seemed a great new band was popping up each week to enjoy listening to.

I don’t have a good singing voice. Between my year around allergies and stuffy nose and my asthma which sometimes leaves me breathless while singing, it is no wonder why I keep my singing at a low volume. But that doesn’t let me off of the hook. 

If you look up the word “song” in the NIV Bible you get one hundred and ten results. You get additional results if you look up the word “hymn”, and the entire “Book of Psalms” is a songbook. Clearly the Bible places music in a critical role regarding our service and worship of God. Great singing voice, or gravelly voice, nasally voice, or otherwise, we are all to sing to the Lord as a part of our worship.

It always made me smile and brought joy to my heart to hear Jim singing loudly off key in church. I think God and His angels must have smiled as well. Perhaps one day we will all be gifted to sing with perfect pitch like the heavenly beings who worship God continually. 

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Hebrews 13:5

We may get a slight dent in our pride when we sing loudly to God before others. It may be a “sacrifice”, but it is one worth making. Jim is the example to those of us who leave our singing voice in the shower when it comes to church. But maybe, perhaps, if all of us terrible singers get louder the cacophony of singing may become a joyful noise of praise that pleases the Lord.

Dear Lord, music is a gift that blesses us all. While individually we may not be the best singers, help us to lay aside our misgivings and pour out our praises to You. For You deserve our praise and worship, especially in singing. Amen.

Having A Blue Christmas?

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Cheer up, dude. It’s Christmas. –The Grinch (2000).

Last week I was in a doctor’s office staring at the magazine rack. There was a copy of Midwest Living magazine there with a beautiful house nestled back into some trees. The house was covered in soft white glowing Christmas lights. It was a serene scene. The title on the cover said: All Is Calm. The subtitle said: Settling Into The Season Of Joy.

But this is not a season of joy for everyone. Indeed, many people have a love/hate relationship with the Christmas holiday. Christmas reminds us of friends and loved ones who are no longer with us. While we try to enjoy the beautiful lights and music of the season we also recall difficulties, perhaps with our health, or finances, or remember loved ones going through terrible trials at this time. For most people Christmas brings blessings tinged with sorrows.

Just this morning I was talking to a man about Christmas and he said it was no different than any other day for him. His wife, because of worsening health issues, is now permanently in a nursing home. I tried to consider what that would be like to have Christmas in a silent, lonely household knowing you would ever share another Christmas with your loved one as in the past.

It must have been a difficult world that our Savior was born into. Much of it under the iron boot of Rome. Subject to the whims of a pagan society whose top god was a moody guy tossing around lightning bolts. We can hardly imagine it. There was no Jesus, no forgiveness, no loving heavenly Father revealed to mankind. Just an adherence to laws and sacrifices that were impossible to live up to. The constant fear of what must have seemed an angry God.

But then Jesus came. He brought light, hope, and joy into the world. From the lowliest shepherd to the mightiest king the playing field was leveled. Anyone who placed their faith in the Lord Jesus would find a place in God’s Kingdom. Any sins committed would be pardoned by receiving God’s grace as revealed through the sacrifice of Jesus. No death need ever be endless, but a promised afterlife for all who believe. A kind Savior and a just King had arrived upon the earth, and nothing would be the same afterward.

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12

Thankfully, we do not have to imagine a dark world without Jesus. What’s more, no matter what may be overshadowing our lives during this Christmas season we have a Lord who can bring light into our hearts and lives. He can give meaning to our trials and suffering, and a doorway of hope that can lead us out of despair.

The Christmas season does not always bring colorful lights, shiny bows, and pretty packages our way. It often brings painfully sad memories of loss, and current difficulties and challenges that overshadow our celebrations. Yet, no matter whether happy or sad, Christmas brought more than a single season, it brought a Savior that can turn our inner darkness to light, and bring hope and peace into our sorrows. We have hope of better things to come, something the world did not have until that small child was born in a Bethlehem barn long ago.

I hope you are having a Merry Christmas. But if you are struggling during this season, I would encourage you to remember Jesus. For no matter your sadness or difficulty, there is hope found in the baby boy who became a man and much more. A Savior who redeems us all and gives us an eternal hope that will more than compensate our pain and losses on this earth.

Prayer: Dear Lord, too many struggle with sadness during this time of year. Help us all in our momentary afflictions, and our current trials, to look up to You. For You are our hope and comfort in this difficult world. Amen.

If This Is Your Last Christmas

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15

Recently my mom came up to Ohio to visit from Kentucky. She wanted to have Christmas with us and especially with all the great-grandkids. She brought them presents to open. She can’t be with us on Christmas, so she celebrated early with everyone.

I know when mom comes up to visit that each visit could be her last one. Not wanting to sound morbid, but she is eighty years old, on dialysis, and has other health problems as well. So we try to make the most of each time she visits.

I was thinking about that and I sensed the Lord impress upon me the question: What if this were your last Christmas? What would you do differently? Now the Lord was not telling me this will be my last Christmas, but He wanted me to reset my priorities regarding this coming season.

My first reaction was what I would not do. I would not worry about my waist line. I would not stress over either presents or finances. Nor would I fill my mind with news about all the tragedies in the world. I would first remember the season is about Christ. Our Savior coming to earth and bringing hope and joy to a dark world. This season is the darkest of the year when it comes to daylight hours. We need plenty of light to drive away the darkness. Jesus came to overcome the spiritual darkness of this world. Every good thing we have and so much we take for granted is because of the hope, love, joy, peace, and mercy made possible by God becoming one of us.

And I would focus on time with family and friends. Enjoying good meals together. Time talking and just being together. I would listen to good music, enjoy the lights and decorations, and watch the Christmas movie classics. I would let the Spirit of Christ and the spirit of the Christmas season flood my soul. That was my answer to the Lord. I sensed Him telling me that every Christmas should be like that.

What if you had just one more Christmas? What would you do differently this season?

Prayer: dear Lord, we waste so much time on the non-essentials in life, stressing away our days and nights when we know deep down You will work everything out to our benefit (Romans 8:28). Whether this is our last Christmas, or we have many more to come, help us to enjoy it like it were our last, wringing every drop of joy and every blessing from this season. And we thank You for it. Amen.

Sometimes We Need Brainwashing

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; Ephesians 4:23

Sometimes we need brainwashing. I’m not talking about the religious cult type of brainwashing, but a mind cleansing.

We live in a world where course talk, negativity, atheism and agnosticism seem to permeate the very air we breathe. The old days when Christian ethics was the solid background music of America is long gone. All those God friendly television shows,  and all the packed churches every sunday are a thing of the past. God was once welcome in America, but the door has been increasingly closing on Him.

I would like to say that we Christians are changing the culture around us, as once was the case. But too often we are drowned out, or worse, affected by the ungodly noise surrounding us.

I find myself at times with an ugly thought in my mind or garbage coming out of my mouth and wonder where that nonsense came from. Then I’ll remember a show I let in under my radar where they said something ugly and realize I shouldn’t be surprised. Garbage In–Garbage Out.

Even if you are trying to watch a decent show on television a commercial will pop up that is at best borderline soft porn or ugly sexual innuendo. Things once not tolerated by American culture are now celebrated. I said about ten years or so ago The day will come in five to ten years when Christians will no longer be able to watch TV. We have been there for a while now. It is a struggle to find anything fit to watch and still you may get unpleasant surprises from the commercials. Back in the early 1980s we used to smile and sort of laugh to ourselves about the funny Christians who would not even allow a TV in their home. I’m not laughing now.

It is not just video and television that is a problem though. Thanks to the Internet and the anonymity it can offer people seem to have lost all civility. And that has washed over into the general culture. Online people are not treated as human beings but faceless nothings. Off line unless you fully agree with the crowd you are in you may find yourself scorned and “canceled”. Politics is the new religion and it is a team sport that can get you into family feuds and broken relationships quickly.  All this junk is in the air our minds drink in on a daily basis.

But as Christians we can cleanse our minds with prayer and the Word of God.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

We need a steady stream of good things pouring into our brains. Good music, good books, those old shows that actually had Christian Virtues in them. And of course the Word of God. Along with these things we can spend time with people who are positive and not dropping F-Bombs every other word they speak. And we need to monitor our own attitudes and language. For we also struggle with letting our lights shine rather than just reflecting the poor image of the worst things in this world.

Each day is an opportunity to reflect God’s goodness and love to a dark world. Let’s just be sure that we are so filled with God that the filth of this world cannot cling to us.

Prayer: Dear Lord, You told us the world would not get better, and we should not be surprised when we see that coming to pass. But you also said we are light and salt on this earth. Help us to keep our flavor and our light shining as You are reflected in our lives. Amen.

Only Immortal For A Limited Time

 We Are Only Immortal For A Limited Time

“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. Luke 12:8

The band Rush has a song called “Dreamline” with lyrics that have become stuck in my mind: 

Learning that we’re only immortal for a limited time.

When we were kids we thought we were unbreakable. That we would live forever. We all wanted to be like the daredevil Evel Knievel. He would use a motorcycle to jump over increasingly more dangerous obstacles. Long rows of cars, buses, even Snake River Canyon, though the latter in a rocket ship. He broke numerous bones, put his life in danger over and over again. It seemed that he was immortal. And we thought the same about ourselves. Flying at full speed on our bikes up homemade ramps, going airborne, and by some miracle not breaking our necks.

When we became teenagers we were no wiser, still thinking we were immortal. I remember my friend driving us in a Chevy van at ninety miles per hour off of the top of Children’s Home Road and doing a “Dukes of Hazzard” with wheels off the ground as if the van had wings and could fly. And again, as I was just shy of twenty years old I remember my friend Bob and I racing side by side at top speed as if we were drag racers flying down County Road 25A at breakneck speed. We were young and stupid and considered ourselves immortal.

Not everyone is so “young and dumb” as my friends and I. Yet I think many people live their lives thinking they will somehow cheat death, or that it is so far removed as to leave them alone. I remember once walking through a local cemetery looking at the gravestones in shock at the age of so many who had died in their youth.

At sixty years old I know for a fact that Rush was right, at least as far as this life is concerned. We are only “immortal” for a limited time here. If you have had dangerous bouts with your health, or have had many loved ones die, your mortality quickly becomes real.

I truly believe we are to live and enjoy our lives without fear and dread of death. Yet we are also to be wise and understand that tomorrow is not promised to us. For the Christian we truly have no need to fear death because we know we have a better home and better things ahead in a very real immortality with Jesus.

Nevertheless, even Christians, including myself, can get caught up in this life and absorbed by the minutia of it. We can let things, experiences, and events, people, places, accomplishments make us blind. We can begin to think like those young foolish stunt devils that we have many years to go and death so far removed as to be not worth considering. It is ironic to me at sixty, realizing it will be a miracle if I make it another decade or two, to meet people in their late seventies and eighties acting as if they have all the time in the world. We must remember that we are only immortal for a limited time, and the clock is running down fast.

My hope in what I share here is not to fix your mind on grim death, but to consider, keep in mind that time is short, how we live and behave matters. And most importantly, where you will live out your true immortality is the greatest and most relevant question you will ever consider. Make that decision soon. Graveyards are filled with people who quickly understood the limits of their mortality.

Prayer: Dear Lord, the clock is ticking for us all. Help us to look at where we will go when our life is at its end, and who will be awaiting us when we get there. Thank You for the gift of immortality through Your shed blood on a Cross for us. Amen.

Present With The Lord

 

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8 

 

An old English poet once said that every death diminishes us a little. I believe that is true. Contrary to the common saying that “Death is a natural part of life” I refuse to believe that. From the time I was a child and at my earliest funerals there seemed nothing natural to me about death. If you have ever seen a human or animal body in rigor mortis you can’t tell me that is natural. The body itself seems torn and twisted by the death event. 

 

Death was never God’s original purpose for us. Sin brought death into the world, and the Lord moved heaven and earth to defeat death by sending His own Son to die upon a Cross to Destroy Death and the Grave. 

 

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:14-15 

 

And: 

 

I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Revelation 1:18 

 

Nevertheless, this earth is still awaiting the revelation of our full redemption. Our spirit is saved and will be present with Jesus at our death for those who are believers. And one day Jesus will return to this earth and make all things new–a world without death and decay. There is a verse that speaks of nature or the present created universe waiting expectantly for our full redemption. 

 

For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. Romans 8:19-21 

 

Years ago I saw a show where a little boy described his afterlife experience. He was pronounced dead for a certain extent of time and he described what he saw in heaven. He said while he was in heaven he was surrounded by puppies frolicking all around him. What a beautiful experience that little boy had. 

 

This past friday night our little dog of over 12 years old passed away peacefully in my wife’s lap. I could not swear to you that dogs go to heaven or have some sort of afterlife, but I would not be surprised by it. How wonderful it would be along with seeing old family friends and relatives who have passed on to also see our beloved pets that were our loyal friends. I certainly hope so. 

 

What I do know is that God is Good. He has blessings in store for us on the other side that are beyond our imaginations. There is life beyond this life for those who put their trust in Jesus as their Savior. Our present body must die because it has been a part of this diseased and decaying world afflicted by sin. 

 

But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. Romans 8:10 

 

Yet we have a new body awaiting us on the other side of this life. 

 

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Corinthians 5:1 

 

We were not made for death. We were made to be God’s companions for eternity. We need not fear death when we have put our trust in Jesus for He has already conquered death for us. And the great hope of every Christian is that when our time comes to leave this earthly body we will be present with Jesus forever. 

 

Prayer: Dear Lord, death can be shocking and drive us to fear. Yet help us to always remember that You have conquered death and the grave and we need never live in fear or dread of them thanks to You! To live with Your presence in us is wonderful, but to die and see You face to face will be glorious! Amen.