Planning for our August 26th worship service (theme: Growing Older) made me start thinking of older hymns and memories of songs that older Christians love to sing.
One of my dad's all-time favorite songs is "It Is Well With My Soul." Dad would get up to lead it, announce the number, pinch his pointer finger and thumb together (other three fingers extended), smile across the crowd, and start it.
At this point, as a teenager, I would shrink down about three inches into my seat and hold my songbook in front of my face. You see, Dad would get to the second and third verses and be practically yelling the words as he waved his arms (and most of his body) in gigantic circles. The other kids would smile as they glanced at my blushing face, but were mostly glued to the action up front. Later in life, I would discover why...
My parents came to visit me when I was the youth minister in Ponca City, OK. One particular Sunday night, we had a 5th Sunday singing, where the podium was open for any man who wanted to lead a song or two. Of course, my dad could not let such an invitation go unanswered, so as he strode up to the front, I knew what was coming.
"Turn to number four-hundred and ninety. Four. Nine. Zero."
The smile came and the hand went up, but this time I didn't bury my face in my songbook. I watched my father lead a song that was dear to his heart.
As he came to the second verse, he sang as LOUD as possible, waving his arms back and forth to emphasize the words. And during that moment, I heard these words that I had heard all my life, but never really noticed...
My sin, o the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part, but the whole
Is nailed to the cross
And I bear it no more
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, o my soul!
As Dad yelled/sang these words, my voice cracked and I put my hands over my face to hide the tears. Now that life wasn't about me and my embarassment, I understood my dad a little better...especially why he liked that song so much.
What about you? Anyone have funny or fond memories of an older Christian and an old song that they LOVED to sing?
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Baptistery Guard
A 9 year-old young man came to me last Wednesday wanting to talk about baptism. His mother told me that he had been contemplating it for well over a year.
As I sat down with him, I had a list of things in my mind that I thought most people should know before they are baptized. Please understand, they are more like guidelines than "stop signs." In other words, I wouldn't use "lack of knowledge" as a reason to prevent someone from becoming a Christian.
Listening to him talk, I could tell that he had been thinking about this decision for quite a while. And he had been thinking about it hard. But there were a few things I felt like he wasn't grasping, so I told congratulated him for mulling over this topic, asked him if he wanted to meet again next week (with any more questions he could think of), and told him to ask himself, "Am I willing to give 100% of my life over to God?"
We gave each other a high-five and I escorted him back to his mom. We spoke for a few more minutes and she was very appreciative of me taking time to speak with him.
I hurried back to my office to get some things and headed to the Wednesday night devotional in our gym. Standing in the hallway looking concerned was the mother I had just encountered.
"Isaiah is pretty upset," she said. "I found him around the corner crying. He kept saying, 'But, mom, I AM ready! I AM ready to give 100% to God! I don't need to think about it any more!"
At that point, Isaiah shuffled over to us. I crouched down and put my hand on his shoulder.
"I am so proud of you!" I whispered. "Listen, buddy. If you are really ready to do this, then who am I to stop you? If you're ready to do it, then let's do it tonight!"
His teary eyes brightened and he smiled at his mom.
I straightened up and apologized to her. "It's not my job to guard the baptistery. If he says he's ready, then let's do it."
Now I have a new little brother in Christ. Isaiah Mallet. What a cool kid! By the way, he's very forgiving, too...we're meeting again tomorrow night (a week after his birth into Christ!)
As I sat down with him, I had a list of things in my mind that I thought most people should know before they are baptized. Please understand, they are more like guidelines than "stop signs." In other words, I wouldn't use "lack of knowledge" as a reason to prevent someone from becoming a Christian.
Listening to him talk, I could tell that he had been thinking about this decision for quite a while. And he had been thinking about it hard. But there were a few things I felt like he wasn't grasping, so I told congratulated him for mulling over this topic, asked him if he wanted to meet again next week (with any more questions he could think of), and told him to ask himself, "Am I willing to give 100% of my life over to God?"
We gave each other a high-five and I escorted him back to his mom. We spoke for a few more minutes and she was very appreciative of me taking time to speak with him.
I hurried back to my office to get some things and headed to the Wednesday night devotional in our gym. Standing in the hallway looking concerned was the mother I had just encountered.
"Isaiah is pretty upset," she said. "I found him around the corner crying. He kept saying, 'But, mom, I AM ready! I AM ready to give 100% to God! I don't need to think about it any more!"
At that point, Isaiah shuffled over to us. I crouched down and put my hand on his shoulder.
"I am so proud of you!" I whispered. "Listen, buddy. If you are really ready to do this, then who am I to stop you? If you're ready to do it, then let's do it tonight!"
His teary eyes brightened and he smiled at his mom.
I straightened up and apologized to her. "It's not my job to guard the baptistery. If he says he's ready, then let's do it."
Now I have a new little brother in Christ. Isaiah Mallet. What a cool kid! By the way, he's very forgiving, too...we're meeting again tomorrow night (a week after his birth into Christ!)
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Erased a post
I just wrote a whole post and erased it. Wasn't sure that it was "proper" enough to be posted...hahahaha.
In case you're wondering, it was about youth ministry in the United States and the pressure to perform as a youth minister. The pressure to provide results, even though you can't force people to do things!
Oh, the post was not brought on by any discontent in my job. A friend of mine called recently to tell me he was getting out of youth ministry because of the pressure.
In some ways, I understand. Some days, I think it would be easier to do a job where I could see tangible results.
At the same time, however, I'm sad. We've lost another good man. Oh, he won't leave the church or anything, but he has been wounded...wounded by family.
Encourage your ministers today, will you?
Let them know that you love them. Tell them that sometimes you get mad at them, disagree with them, think they're immature, don't see results from them, etc...but tell them YOU STILL LOVE THEM. That's family. That's what I believe God wants.
In case you're wondering, it was about youth ministry in the United States and the pressure to perform as a youth minister. The pressure to provide results, even though you can't force people to do things!
Oh, the post was not brought on by any discontent in my job. A friend of mine called recently to tell me he was getting out of youth ministry because of the pressure.
In some ways, I understand. Some days, I think it would be easier to do a job where I could see tangible results.
At the same time, however, I'm sad. We've lost another good man. Oh, he won't leave the church or anything, but he has been wounded...wounded by family.
Encourage your ministers today, will you?
Let them know that you love them. Tell them that sometimes you get mad at them, disagree with them, think they're immature, don't see results from them, etc...but tell them YOU STILL LOVE THEM. That's family. That's what I believe God wants.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Touched By A Song
As I mentioned in my last blog, I am not a huge gospel/r & b fan, but I have enjoyed listening to some of Kirk Franklin's stuff lately. The following lyrics are from a song called "Imagine Me." I think you'll be touched by these powerful words, which seem to capture God's good news perfectly...
"This song is dedicated to people like me, those that struggle with insecurities, acceptance and even self esteem. You never felt good enough,You never felt pretty enough, but imagine God whispering in your ear letting you know that everything that has happened is now...
Gone, gone, it's gone all gone
(Every sin, every mistake, every failure)
Gone, gone, it's gone all gone
(Depression, gone, by faith, it's gone)
Gone, gone, it's gone all gone
(Low self-esteem, hallelujah, it's gone)
Gone, gone, it's gone all gone
(It's gone, all my scars, all my pain)
Gone, gone, it's gone all gone
(It's in the past, it's yesterday)
Gone, gone, it's gone all gone
(What your mother did, what your father did)
Gone, gone, it's gone all gone
IT'S GONE!!"
If you would like to watch the video, go here and click on the flashing "Watch the Imagine Me Video."
Warning: Some material is almost PG-13 (in my book) AND...you might want some tissue nearby!!
"This song is dedicated to people like me, those that struggle with insecurities, acceptance and even self esteem. You never felt good enough,You never felt pretty enough, but imagine God whispering in your ear letting you know that everything that has happened is now...
Gone, gone, it's gone all gone
(Every sin, every mistake, every failure)
Gone, gone, it's gone all gone
(Depression, gone, by faith, it's gone)
Gone, gone, it's gone all gone
(Low self-esteem, hallelujah, it's gone)
Gone, gone, it's gone all gone
(It's gone, all my scars, all my pain)
Gone, gone, it's gone all gone
(It's in the past, it's yesterday)
Gone, gone, it's gone all gone
(What your mother did, what your father did)
Gone, gone, it's gone all gone
IT'S GONE!!"
If you would like to watch the video, go here and click on the flashing "Watch the Imagine Me Video."
Warning: Some material is almost PG-13 (in my book) AND...you might want some tissue nearby!!
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