I never cease to be amazed how God speaks to people whenever His word is being proclaimed. This past Sunday, I addressed Jonah’s apparent indifference over the spiritual destiny of the people who lived in Nineveh. (Indeed, more than indifferent, he actually became angry that God chose to spare them rather than to judge them.)
In any event, as I was speaking about how God’s people so often become self-absorbed and thereby inattentive to the needs of those around them in the world, God laid the words to a song on the mind of one of our church’s secretaries. That which she shared with me, I share with you this week.
A few years back, Timothy Mark (http://www.timothymark.com/) wrote a song titled The Church Across the Street (Copyright 1998, Global Outreach Music/BMI). It has been recorded several times, as well as being made into more than one video. The lyrics are very convicting to those of us today, who, like Jonah of old, are called to reach out to those around us with the life-giving power of God’s word.
She put the phone back in its cradle,
and she leaned against the wall,
Devastating silence from a long awaited call.
“Congratulations” had confirmed her deepest fear,
As she gave herself the label Unwed Mother, 18 years.
And at the church across the street the band played on,
And the choir sang another verse of another lovely song.
But her world was crashing in apartment thirty-three.
And she wondered if she would ever meet
Someone from the church across the street.
She left her apartment at a quarter after eight,
Drove the mile to the clinic and walked inside the iron gate.
She was greeted warmly with reassurance in his voice,
A simple safe procedure,
but had she made the proper choice.
And at the church across the street the band played on,
And the choir sang another verse of another lovely song.
And she wondered if she would ever meet
Someone from the church across the street.
Aching recollections she tries to forget,
But the room where she had lived alone
she shares with her regret.
She sits by her window and longs for something more,
As she listens to a baby cry in apartment thirty-four.
And at the church across the street the band played on,
And the choir sang another verse of another lovely song.
But her world was crashing in apartment thirty-three.
And she wondered if she would ever meet
Someone from the church across the street.
And she wondered if she would ever meet
Someone who could help her with her need.
Maybe someone from the church across the street.
In any event, as I was speaking about how God’s people so often become self-absorbed and thereby inattentive to the needs of those around them in the world, God laid the words to a song on the mind of one of our church’s secretaries. That which she shared with me, I share with you this week.
A few years back, Timothy Mark (http://www.timothymark.com/) wrote a song titled The Church Across the Street (Copyright 1998, Global Outreach Music/BMI). It has been recorded several times, as well as being made into more than one video. The lyrics are very convicting to those of us today, who, like Jonah of old, are called to reach out to those around us with the life-giving power of God’s word.
She put the phone back in its cradle,
and she leaned against the wall,
Devastating silence from a long awaited call.
“Congratulations” had confirmed her deepest fear,
As she gave herself the label Unwed Mother, 18 years.
And at the church across the street the band played on,
And the choir sang another verse of another lovely song.
But her world was crashing in apartment thirty-three.
And she wondered if she would ever meet
Someone from the church across the street.
She left her apartment at a quarter after eight,
Drove the mile to the clinic and walked inside the iron gate.
She was greeted warmly with reassurance in his voice,
A simple safe procedure,
but had she made the proper choice.
And at the church across the street the band played on,
And the choir sang another verse of another lovely song.
And she wondered if she would ever meet
Someone from the church across the street.
Aching recollections she tries to forget,
But the room where she had lived alone
she shares with her regret.
She sits by her window and longs for something more,
As she listens to a baby cry in apartment thirty-four.
And at the church across the street the band played on,
And the choir sang another verse of another lovely song.
But her world was crashing in apartment thirty-three.
And she wondered if she would ever meet
Someone from the church across the street.
And she wondered if she would ever meet
Someone who could help her with her need.
Maybe someone from the church across the street.