Blog Archives

I HEAR YOU TALKING

7/31/2014

Perhaps you have heard the old story about a judge who was interviewing a woman regarding her pending divorce. It goes like this...

The judge asked, "What are the grounds for your divorce?" She replied, "About four acres and a nice little home in the middle of the property with a stream running by."

"No," he said, "I mean what is the foundation of this case?" "It is made of concrete, brick, and mortar," she responded.

"I mean," he continued, "what are your relations like?" "I have an aunt and uncle living here in town, and so do my husband's parents."

He said, "Do you have a real grudge?"  "No," she replied, "we have a two-car carport and have never really needed one."

"Please," he tried again, "is there any infidelity in your marriage?" "Yes, both my son and daughter have stereo sets. We don't necessarily like the music, but the answer to your question is yes."

"Ma'am, does your husband ever beat you up?" "Yes," she responded, "about twice a week he gets up earlier than I do."

Finally, in frustration, the judge asked, "Lady, why do you want a divorce?" "Oh, I don't want a divorce," she replied. "I've never wanted a divorce. My husband does. He said he can't communicate with me."

In truth, divorce is no laughing matter. Anyone who has gone though it knows this firsthand. Second only to one's relationship to God, marriage represents the most important earthly relationship any person can have. Because of this, its dissolution, when it occurs, is very often painful and difficult.

Last night, after Bible study at church, I completed a series of premarital counseling sessions with a young couple in our church who are preparing to be married here in a few weeks.

In our sessions together, we have talked about the Biblical Purposes of marriage (of which there are several, including companionship, pleasure, procreation, and providing a foundation for society), the Biblical Price of marriage (which is sacrificial love as demonstrated by Christ for His own bride, the church) and the Biblical Pattern for marriage.  For the latter, I like to draw upon Dr. D. James Kennedy’s material on “The Ten commandments of Marriage”, about which I wrote an earlier blog.

Prior to these discussions, I always ask a couple to undertake a Personality Profile Inventory (PPI) from the Prepare/Enrich Company. Utilized by over 100,000 trained clergy members, professional counselors, mentors, and marriage educators throughout the U.S, it has been applied to over three million couples in the last thirty years. For these reasons, it is easily the leading relationship inventory and skill-building program used by marital and pre-marital counselors today.

The PPI assesses the couple’s strengths and/or weaknesses in ten different areas, including, among other things, conflict resolution, marriage roles, sexuality, finances, and spiritual beliefs.  For me, one of the most significant areas measured is communication.  For I have learned down through the years that if a couple does not communicate effectively, their marriage is in trouble.

When God said that it is not good for man to be alone, He was acknowledging our need for interpersonal relationships.  Chief among those is a spouse with whom we can share our innermost
thoughts and feelings. Whenever a husband or a wife clams up and stops communicating, a fundamental need is no longer being met by his or her spouse.

The Apostle Paul admonishes husbands and wives in the fifth chapter of his New Testament letter to the Ephesians. Just as the church, as the bride of Christ, is to be in open communication with Him through prayer, even so must earthly husbands and wives make it a priority to communicate effectively with one another on a regular basis.  If not, our relationship suffers and we tend to drift apart.

So, husband, make certain that your wife hears you talking. Wife, make certain that your husband hears you talking.  Sadly, if not, as is all too often the case these days, the only one listening to and then talking to either of us will be the judge in divorce court!

NOTE: This joke is an “oldie, but goodie” available widely in the public domain. A Google search will provide many source sites.

You can read more about the diagnostic tools offered by PREPARE/ENRlCH at their official web site: https://www.prepare-enrich.com/webapp/pe/overview/template/DisplaySecureContent
.vm;pc=1406812589639;jsessionid=70333AB030B34CE191F156
05C41F17B6?id=pe*prepare_enrich*introduction.html&emb_org_
id=0&emb_sch_id=0&emb_lng_code=ENGLISH.

A SIGN UNTO THEE

7/28/2014

It's about time for a little humor. Those of you who read my blog regularly know that, periodically, I like to share something designed to provide a chuckle or two. And with good reason. In the Old Testament Book of Proverbs (17:22), the Bible affirms that "a cheerful heart is good medicine".

In any event, my wife and I have just returned from our last little bit of summer vacation. Actually, we went down to Georgia to see my mother and then over to Alabama to see my sisters, before making our way back home to Tennessee. Along the way, we encountered several relatively lighthearted church signs.

Reading them brought a smile to my face, and, in so doing, lifted my spirit. So, I wanted to share a little of that  humor today. But since I could not stop and take that many pictures, I thought I would re-post a few similar such ones from a piece titled “50 Hilarious Church Signs” as originally posted by  Jillian Madison back on October 27, 2011.

The good people from East Tennessee should like the first one, and the folks down in Miami should appreciate the last one.  Enjoy…

NOT IN MY HOUSE

7/25/2014

While on our recent vacation visiting my sister down in Alabama, I noticed a strange sight on her back porch. A wind chime had a bird’s nest built on it. That, in and of itself, is not all that uncommon. I have seen the same sight at my in-laws’ house. What made this unique was that there was snake wrapped around the chime and obviously preparing to attack the nest.

Not wanting to miss this rare scene of natural predation, I went out to investigate. Imagine my surprise to discover that it was a rubber snake that had been wrapped around the wind chime by my sister. And yet, why should that be surprising?   No doubt many folks have done something similar in an attempt to keep birds from building their nests in inappropriate places.

What was interesting here is that some brave birds had apparently gone ahead and built their nest in the wind chime even after the snake was placed there. You can see for yourself...

Now, from the perspective of a homeowner like my sister, I certainly would not want to see birds building their nests on my back porch and/or in my decorative items. But from the perspective of the little birds, I have to say “Bravo”!

It is hard to know just why they went ahead and built there. Perhaps they were too dumb to recognize imminent danger. Or perhaps they were smart enough to know the colorful rubber snake was not real. Either way, one thing is certain. Upon encountering the obstacle, irrespective of the risks involved, they went on with their plans… They built their nest. They hatched their brood. They reared their chicks. And they abandoned their nest. In short, they lived their lives out just as they were designed to do in spite of the dangers they faced.

It strikes me that the same can be true for us.  All around us there are dangers.  Some of these are easily seen; while others are not. Some of these are small; while some of these are great. And one of these is greatest of all.  He is the evil one that the Bible (in the second verse of the twentieth chapter of the New Testament Book of Revelation) calls “that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan.” Moreover, the Apostle Peter, in first New Testament letter, tells us that “our enemy the devil prowls around … looking for someone to devour.”

Now, in light of this, we have two choices.  We can choose to be paralyzed with fear and give up on living the life God intended us to live. Or we can choose to follow the Biblical admonition of the Apostle James, who tells us (4:7) to: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Just as these little birds boldly called the bluff of what was ultimately a harmless serpent, even so we can have courage in the face of the evil one. How do I know this? Because Jesus Himself, in the Gospel of John (16:33),says, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." This truth is further affirmed by the Apostle John in his first New Testament Letter (4:4), when he says, “the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

And that is later verified by the Apostle John's great vision of the end of times in the twentieth chapter of the New Testament Book of Revelation when the old devil is thrown into a lake of fire where he will be punished and tormented for all eternity!

In closing, I am reminded of the teachings of Jesus in the famed “Sermon on the Mount” as recorded in the New Testament Gospel of Matthew (6:26), when He said, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

There on my sister’s back porch sits the evidence that God did indeed take care of a small family of birds.   And there, as well, for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, sits the reminder that God will also take care of His children!

TEND TO YOUR FLOWER!

7/21/2014

“The Baldwin Online Children’s Literature Project”, located at (http://www.mainlesson.com/) has one single mission: “Bringing Yesterday's Classics to Today's Children”.

Accordingly, a whole host of stories  from yesteryear, particularly ones with with clearly discernible morals, has been assembled there. These include such classics as “A Story of Robin Hood”, “George Washington and His Hatchet”, “The Story of William Tell”, “Androclus and the Lion”, “The Sword of Damocles”, “Damon and Pythias”, “Diogenes the Wise Man”, and “The Brave Three Hundred”, to name but a few.

One of their lesser known stories that has been included is titled PICCIOLA. The author was a French dramatist and novelist named Xavier Boniface Saintine, who lived from 1798 – 1865. First published in 1836, PICCIOLA is a novel about the Comte de Charney, a political prisoner in Piedmont, whose reason was saved by his cultivation of a tiny flower growing between the paving stones of his prison yard.

The story is considered a masterpiece of French literature; and it has been translated into many foreign languages. The version related by the Baldwin Project is as follows:

Many years ago, there was a poor gentleman shut up  in one of the great prisons of France. His name was Charney, and he was very sad and unhappy. He had been put into prison wrongfully, and it seemed to him as though there was no one in the world who cared for him.

He could not read, for there were no books in the prison. He was not allowed to have pens or paper, and so he could not write. The time dragged slowly by. There was nothing that he could do to make the days seem shorter. His only pastime was walking back and forth in the paved prison yard.  There was no work to be done, no one to talk with.

One fine morning in spring, Charney was taking his walk in the yard. He was counting the paving stones, as he had done a thousand times before. All at once he stopped. What had made that little mound of earth between two of the stones?

He stooped down to see. A seed of some kind had fallen between the stones. It had sprouted; and now a tiny green leaf was pushing its way up out of the ground. Charney was about to crush it with his foot, when he saw that there was a kind of soft coating over the leaf.

"Ah!" said he. "This coating is to keep it safe. I must not harm it." And he went on with his walk.

The next day he almost stepped upon the plant before he thought of it. He stooped to look at it. There were two leaves now, and the plant was much stronger and greener than it was the day before. He stayed by it a long time, looking at all its parts.

Every morning after that, Charney went at once to his little plant. He wanted to see if it had been chilled by the cold, or scorched by the sun. He wanted to see how much it had grown.

One day as he was looking from his window, he saw the jailer go across the yard. The man brushed so close to the little plant, that it seemed as though he would crush it. Charney trembled from head to foot. "O my Picciola!" he cried.

When the jailer came to bring his food, he begged the grim fellow to spare his little plant. He expected that the man would laugh at him; but although a jailer, he had a kind heart.

"Do you think that I would hurt your little plant?" he said. "No, indeed! It would have been dead long ago, if I had not seen that you thought so much of it."

"That is very good of you, indeed," said Charney. He felt half ashamed at having thought the jailer unkind.

Every day he watched Picciola, as he had named the plant. Every day it grew larger and more beautiful. But once it was almost broken by the huge feet of the jailer's dog. Charney's heart sank within him.

"Picciola must have a house," he said. "I will see if I can make one."

So, though the nights were chilly, he took, day by day, some part of the firewood that was allowed him, and with this he built a little house around the plant.

The plant had a thousand pretty ways which he noticed. He saw how it always bent a little toward the sun; he saw how the flowers folded their petals before a storm.

He had never thought of such things before, yet he had often seen whole gardens of flowers in bloom.

One day, with soot and water he made some ink; he spread out his handkerchief for paper; he used a sharpened stick for a pen—and all for what? He felt that he must write down the doings of his little pet. He spent all his time with the plant.

"See my lord and my lady!" the jailer would say when he saw them.

As the summer passed by, Picciola grew more lovely every day. There were no fewer than thirty blossoms on its stem.

But one sad morning it began to droop. Charney did not know what to do. He gave it water, but still it drooped. The leaves were withering. The stones of the prison yard would not let the plant live.

Charney knew that there was but one way to save his treasure. Alas! How could he hope that it might be done? The stones must be taken up at once.

But this was a thing which the jailer dared not do. The rules of the prison were strict, and no stone must be moved. Only the highest officers in the land could have such a thing done.

Poor Charney could not sleep. Picciola must die. Already the flowers had withered; the leaves would soon fall from the stem.

Then a new thought came to Charney. He would ask the great Napoleon, the emperor himself, to save his plant.

It was a hard thing for Charney to do,—to ask a favor of the man whom he hated, the man who had shut him up in this very prison.  But for the sake of Picciola he would do it.

He wrote his little story on his handkerchief.  Then he gave it into the care of a young girl, who promised to carry it to Napoleon. Ah! If the poor plant would only live a few days longer!

What a long journey that was for the young girl! What a long, dreary waiting it was for Charney and Picciola!

But at last news came to the prison. The stones were to be taken up. Picciola was saved!

The emperor's kind wife had heard the story of Charney's care for the plant. She saw the handkerchief on which he had written of its pretty ways. "Surely," she said, "it can do us no good to keep such a man in prison."

And so, at last, Charney was set free. Of course he was no longer sad and unloving. He saw how God had cared for him and the little plant, and how kind and true are the hearts of even rough men. And he cherished Picciola as a dear, loved friend whom he could never forget.*

And what do we make of this humble little story? What great truth has the author encapsulated here? I believe it is simply this: when you find yourself in some prison, faithfully tend your flower!

Statistically, very few of us will undergo actual physical incarceration. And yet, most all of us will invariably spend time in some respective dungeon; for very few are exempt from the periodic senses of confinement that life presents.

So, if you find yourself unduly confined in some given situation, circumstance, or condition, be it emotional, psychological, chemical, or otherwise, make the most of whatever you have at your disposal, even if it is not much. For only as we are faithful in the little things that God gives us to do will His divine will be played out in our circumstances.  Our faithfulness is the very thing that God rewards.

The Biblical story of Joseph bears this out.  Unjustly accused and thrown into prison through no real fault of his own, he nonetheless remained faithful and tended his God-given flowers.  He ministered to both the butler and the baker of Pharaoh in their times of need. They were the plants God gave him to tend. And in due time, God rewarded his faithfulness. Not only was he set free, but he was placed in the highest position in the land of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh as a result.

If Charney were here today, his advice would probably be for us to do much the same. No doubt he would say, “Whatever your lot in life, always tend to your flower!” And he would be right! Always, always tend to your flower!

*SOURCE: http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=baldwin&book=fif
ty&story=picciola.

FEEDING THE SOUL

7/17/2014

Every year about this time, my in-laws begin the process of harvesting their garden. They have always had a garden of some form or another.  And this year is no different.

I am not much of a gardener myself.  I suppose I might be if I had the time. Perhaps one day I will.  But for now, I’m glad they love to grow good things to eat.  And as long as they are in production, I plan to be in consumption!

Another individual who loves to garden is author Allen R. Rumble.  He has written a short piece titled “The Top Ten Things I Have Learned from Gardening”. I found it inspirational and thought I would post it here today.

THE TOP TEN THINGS I HAVE LEARNED FROM GARDENING*

10. We really do "reap what we sow". Good seeds bear good fruit.

9. Without rains and storms there is no growth - no fruit is produced.

8. When weeding, be careful! We can't always tell the difference between a nasty weed and a beautiful flower.

7. Deep roots are a good thing. Without them, we'll wither and die.

6. Pruning and trimming, as painful as it seems, actually works to our advantage.

5. In gardening, as in life, cheating does not work. Short-cuts, slipshod efforts, and neglect always show up in the quality of our garden.

4. Like anything worthwhile, beautiful gardens require attention, hard work, and commitment.

3. We cannot rush the harvest. Bearing fruit takes time and patience. Premature fruit is almost always sour.

2. Gardening and growing is a lifetime experience. We can experience growth and beauty until the day we die.

1. Fertilizer happens! In fact, nothing much grows without it.

*SOURCE: http://highvoltagehealth.com/tag/fruits-of-labour/.

NO BACKUP PLAN

7/14/2014

Ken Adams is a gifted minister who serves as Senior Pastor of the 3000 member Crossroads Church in Newnan, Georgia. He has a passion for discipleship and, as a result, founded Impact Ministries to help his church “be and build Disciples of Jesus Christ”.

In his 2006 book titled Becoming a Plan “A” Christian, he tells the following story.

During my first year of seminary, I heard a professor tell a story that has remained etched in my mind for years and has changed the way I look at life.  I remember my professor telling this well-worn preacher’s story that went something like this. When Jesus returned to heaven after His resurrection, the angel Gabriel greeted Him.

As soon as Gabriel saw the Lord, he welcomed Him back to heaven and asked Him how things had gone during His time on earth. Jesus told Gabriel that His time on earth went very well. He told him that while on earth the Father had allowed Him to do many miraculous things and to teach some very incredible truths.

Jesus went on to say the enemy crucified Him, but the Father gave Him the final victory through the power of the resurrection. Gabriel said, “Wow Jesus, it sounds like you had an awesome experience. So now that you are back here, what happens? Is it all over?”

Jesus said, “Oh no, Gabe. While I was on earth, the Father gave me twelve men to disciple. Over the past several years, I have entrusted to them the very things the Father has given Me. They will pass on to the next generation all the things I have given to them.”

Gabriel had a curious look on his face and asked Jesus another question. “Lord, that sounds great. However, what if those twelve men do not pass on what you have given them. Lord, what is plan ‘B’?”  Jesus looked at Gabriel with a sense of expectation and said, “Gabriel, I have no other plan. There is no plan ‘B’. If these men don’t pass it on, no one will!”*

How true! God could have chosen any way He desired to reach the world with the message of the gospel.  But He chose His followers to do it for Him.

In the sixteenth chapter of Mark’s gospel (verse 15), Jesus told His followers to “go into all the world and preach the gospel…”

In the twenty-eighth chapter of Matthew’s gospel (verses19-20), Jesus further said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you...”

And there it is: God’s Plan “A”. There is no Plan “B”.  We either do what we have been called to do or not.  But that is His plan. There is no backup plan. In light of this, Christians everywhere should re-double their efforts to share the love of Jesus with everyone with whom they have opportunity.  For nothing less than eternity hangs in the balance!

*SOURCE: http://impactdiscipleship.com/files/PlanA.pdf. Ken’s e-book is available in a pdf format on his web site at: http://impactdiscipleship.com/.

THEY’RE PLAYING MY SONG!

7/10/2014

The folks down at “Make It Clear Ministries” in Baker, Florida have a wonderful web page devoted to religious humor.  The site contains a large collection what might be termed “oldies, but goodies” in the realm of Christian humor.

One of those pieces is titled “Favorite Hymns of Different Professions”.   I thought I would re-post it here today…

The Dentist's Hymn ... Crown Him With Many Crowns
The Weatherman's Hymn ... There Shall Be Showers Of Blessing
The Contractor's Hymn ... The Church's One Foundation
The Tailor's Hymn ... Holy, Holy, Holy
The Golfer's Hymn ... There Is A Green Hill Far Away
The Politician's Hymn ... Standing On The Promises
The Optometrist's Hymn ... Open My Eyes That I May See
The IRS Agent's Hymn ... I Surrender All
The Gossip's Hymn ... Pass It On
The Electrician's Hymn ... Send The Light
The Shopper's Hymn ... In The Sweet By and By
The Realtor's Hymn ... I've Got A Mansion Just Over The Hilltop
The Pilot's Hymn ... I'll Fly Away
The Paramedic's Hymn ... Revive Us Again
The Judge's Hymn ... Almost Persuaded
The Psychiatrist's Hymn ... Just A Little Talk With Jesus
The Architect's Hymn ... How Firm A Foundation
The Credit Card Telemarketer's Hymn ... A Charge To Keep I Have
The Zoo Keeper's Hymn ... All Creatures Of Our God And King
The Postal Worker's Hymn ... So Send I You
The Waiter's Hymn ... Fill My Cup, Lord
The Gardener's Hymn ... Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
The Lifeguard's Hymn ... Rescue The Perishing
The Criminal's Hymn ... Search Me, O God
The Baker's Hymn ... When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder
The Shoe Repairer's Hymn ... It Is Well With My Soul
The Travel Agent's Hymn ... Anywhere With Jesus
The Geologist's Hymn ... Rock Of Ages
The Hematologist's Hymn ... Are You Washed In The Blood?
The Men's Wear Clerk's Hymn ... Blest Be The Tie
The Umpire's Hymn ... I Need No Other Argument
The Librarian's Hymn ... Whispering Hope*

Of course, all believers have their favorite hymns, songs, and tunes. The same is true for you and me. And to be honest, we all have those hymns, songs, and tunes that we do not like as well. (And if you grew up as a Baptist, you probably have an affinity for the first, second, and last stanzas of many a hymn, but not the third!)

This week, we have been undertaking summer Worship Camp at our church, for kids who have completed Kindergarten through the 5th grade. This year’s theme is “Eye on It!”, from Toby Mac’s song of the same title. This is our ninth year doing worship camp; and we are thankful that our participation level grows most every year.  It is good to see boys and girls embracing the public worship of God as they learn the arts of singing, playing, recital, performance, drama, black light, creative movement, and the like.

Worship, of course, is a very “hot potato” in the modern church. Entire web sites are devoted to this subject. But worship wars are really nothing new.  As a child, I instinctively understood this.  In the little country church my family attended, we first sang from the old 1933 American Hymnal (by Broadman Press), then from the actual 1948 Broadman hymnal, then from the 1956 Baptist hymnal, then from the 1975 hymnal, then from the 1991 Baptist hymnal, etc… Now there is yet another: the 2008 hymnal. And each of these, in their respective time, introduced "new-fangled" music, to which it took people quite a while to adjust.

A case in point: when Bill Gaither’s music first showed up in the Baptist hymnal of 1975, suffice it to say that it was met with some resistance, particularly by the older generation.  At the time, many well-meaning Christians simply did not like or accept his music. But now, 39 years later, the songs he wrote (including such classic works as “He Touched Me”, “The King Is Coming”, “Let’s Just Praise the Lord”, “Because He Lives”, and “Sweet, Sweet Spirit”, among others) are all considered standard fare for traditional Christian worship today.

In truth, this cycle has been repeated over and over throughout Christian history.  In the 1700s, Charles Wesley wrote over 6000 classic Christian hymns.  But when he first brought an organ into a church, people accused him of being irreverent for bringing profane “tavern music” into God’s house. Yet, within a short century or two, no self-respecting church was without both a piano and an organ.  Martin Luther faced similar criticisms in the era of the Protestant Reformation in the early to mid 1500s.

My only point is that musical styles change. They always have and they always will. What matters is that only the God of the Bible and the Book that relates His story do not change. And His people are called to worship Him in every generation – be that with lyre and harp in the Old Testament or with Gregorian chant in the Middle Ages or with cornet(t), flute, and hurdy-gurdy in the Renaissance or with organ and piano in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries or with guitar and drums in the twenty- first century.

For my part, I am simply glad to know that the church has a future. The fact that these little boys and girls are embracing the public worship of God in a way that is relevant to their world is, for me, very encouraging.  For this is the pattern of Christian history.

At the age of 52, I have come to accept that the worship style of the church my grandparents inherited from my great-grandparents was not the same one that was then passed on to my parents’ generation. In turn, my parents’ generation received and then passed to my generation a heritage of worship; but one that they themselves had also modified.

And the same is true with my own generation, which like its predecessors, has left its unique imprint on Christian worship. No doubt the coming generation will do the same thing.

I rejoice to know that, in their own way, they are fulfilling the admonition of Scripture, which calls us to worship Him with passion. In the fifth chapter of the Apostle Paul’s New Testament letter to the Christians at Ephesus (v.v. 18-20), he challenges his fellow believers to “be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.”

And long before this, in a previous generation, King David did much the same for fellow believers in his day, when he penned the now cherished words of the 100th Psalm:

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.

“Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and praise His name.

“For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.”

May we, along with each and every succeeding generation of believers, always be faithful to do these very things!

*SOURCE:   http://www.makeitclearnow.org/relhumor.html.

NOTES: For those unfamiliar with Baptist history, Broadman Publishing (now Broadman & Holman) was a leading publishing house named for John Albert Broadus and Basil Manly, Jr., both considered eminent Baptist Theologians in their day.

Bill and Gloria Gaither’s music is available widely online. Their official web site is: http://gaither.com/.

The use of tavern music tunes and instruments by both Martin Luther in Germany and the Wesleys in England and America is a contested issue among historians. Web sites exist both in favor of and against the notion. But one thing is certain: numerous hymn writers, including Fanny Crosby and William Booth did make use of secular music and incorporate such tunes into their work.

Cf.: http://www.apologetix.com/faq/faq-detail.php?faq_q_id=89 and http://www.christianforums.com/t7625305/.

Lastly, in a related matter, the entire music industry itself is in a state of flux in the modern world, from the way it is packaged and consumed to the current relevance (or lack thereof) of actual musical genres. An insightful article on this subject can be found online at: http://online.wsj.com/articles/for-taylor-swift-the-future-of-music-is-a-love-story-404763219#printMode.

I leave you with a couple of pictures from our recent 2014 Worship Camp Celebration on night...

THE DAY AFTER

7/6/2014

It happens each year on this day. July 5th sees the end of the annual Independence Day’s festivities and the return to the humdrum of daily routine.  This year, of course, July 4th fell on a Friday.  This small fact allowed for celebrating not only on the actual fourth of the month, but also again on the fifth.

And celebrate we all did: parades, ballgames, family reunions, cookouts, swimming, concerts, etc…  All day Friday and again all day Saturday, we enjoyed ourselves immensely. For many, this went on well after dark, as we saw the rocket’s red glare and heard the bombs bursting in the air.

Of course, the latter is a reference to the exploding of huge volumes of fireworks, which is the one annual ritual most often associated with the celebration of Independence Day.  In Knoxville, we have day-long “Boomsday” and “Rockin’ the Docks” events, each of which culminates in huge fireworks displays.

Seemingly just as large, though far less well known, is the annual fireworks celebration that takes place up and down the street where my wife and I live. Starting at dark, it does not usually wind down until around midnight. The two of us enjoy the experience together.

I do have to admit that I am a bit too cheap to buy fireworks myself. But I do get to enjoy the view as my neighbors light everything from Sparklers to Roman Candles. And when I get tired, I simply go inside.  It is the best of both worlds.

When the sun comes up on the morning after fireworks, however, I have observed that one thing generally holds true:   it does not really matter where fireworks were set off, they tend to come down everywhere.  My yard, my neighbors’ yards, the roofs of our homes, the woods, the street – you name it, wherever we look, there are the remains of fireworks.

And even though my wife and I did not technically set them off, we gladly accept the responsibility for helping to pick up their remains.  After all, we did enjoy the view while they were going off.  We did get a free ticket to the show.

I share this with you because, for me, it illustrates a great truth about our freedom. We treasure freedom; as well we should. We dutifully recognize it each and every year on Independence Day.  We celebrate it and have a wonderful time together.

But in truth, freedom requires much more than mere celebration.  It requires responsibility.  The festivities of July 4th must inevitably give way to the duties of July 5th.  We must accept and assume responsibility for our actions if we are to be truly free.

Our forebears learned this. Declaring independence from Great Britain was one thing. Fighting to secure that freedom was quite another. And yet, this they were willing to do.

But even then, there is more. Becoming free then begs the issue of remaining free. And that necessitates rolling up one’s sleeves and going to work. For my neighbors and me, that means picking up burned out cardboard tubes and brightly colored wooden stems. If we do not do this for ourselves, no one else will.

For our founding fathers, this meant accepting the responsibility of governing themselves. It meant drawing up laws and setting up a nation - which may sound simple until you stop and consider just what all that really involves!

When an eaglet finally leaves the nest, it is free.  It can fly anywhere it wants.  It can come and go as it pleases.  It gets to make its own decisions.  But that always comes with a cost. For now, there are no parents to feed it. There is no parents’ nest in which to live.

No, the price of freedom is responsibility. Accordingly, the new adult eagle must now learn to provide for itself. It must hunt on its own. It must build its own nest. It must find its own mate. It must raise its own brood. That is the way of things in the natural world.

And the same is true for people and also for nations.  The responsibilities of July 5th always follow the festivities of July 4th.  The sun comes up; we get up; and then we start to pick up.  And that is how it should be.  For unless we are willing to be a responsible people, we can never truly expect to be a free people!

MY COUNTRY, ‘TIS OF THEE

7/3/2014

Harvard graduate Charles Graves "Chase" Untermeyer (born March 7, 1946) is a United States Naval Veteran, former Texas State Representative, and former United States Ambassador to Qatar. In a speech given at Texas A&M University on October 1, 2008, he related the following anecdote.

The story is told that Ronald Reagan’s secretary of State, George Shultz, would receive U.S. Ambassadors when they were back in Washington. After a discussion in armchairs, the Secretary would ask each Ambassador to follow him over to a corner of the room where there was a large standing globe.  "Would you mind showing me exactly where your country is?" Shultz would inquire.

Ambassadors were surprised that Shultz, holder of a doctorate in economics, needed to be shown where Norway or Nigeria are, but they would dutifully spin the globe and point to the country where they were serving. At that moment, Shultz had them. "No, it isn’t," he would say, spinning the globe back and pointing to the United States. "Always remember, this is your country."*

Shultz himself apparently first related this story to Brian Lamb back on a June 27, 1993 while appearing on C-Span Television Network’s show, Booknotes. His version is slightly different in that, eventually, one newly appointed ambassador, Mike Mansfield (who was headed to Japan), did correctly point out that his country was the United States.

At the time of the television show appearance, Schultz added this thought: "I've told that story, subsequently, to all the ambassadors going out... Never forget you're over there in that country, but your country is the United States. You're there to represent us. Take care of our interests and never forget it, and you're representing the best country in the world."

For my part, I am immediately reminded of the Apostle Paul's words in his second New Testament letter to the Christians at Corinth (5:20): "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."

Again in his letter to the Christians at Ephesus (6:19-20), he states: "…and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."

In both of these passages, the Apostle uses a very specific word to describe the relationship of Christians (his, theirs, and ours), to this present world: "ambassador". In the original "Koine" (or "common") Greek language of the New Testament, this word is "presbeúō" ("to act as an ambassador"), and it means "to act as an established statesman (diplomat) – a trusted, respected ambassador who is authorized to speak as God's emissary (represent His kingdom)".

According to Scottish Biblical scholar, Alexander Souter, "This term is used in the ancient phrase, 'I am on embassy to the Emperor, I am an ambassador' - i.e. as someone respected as trustworthy (loyal, knowledgeable), especially in the opinion of those they know (belong to)".**

Why would Paul use this term? Because Jesus Himself affirmed that His Kingdom was not of this world, but of another (John 18:36). Here, Jesus was, of course, referring to the Kingdom of Heaven. And therefore, the writers of the New Testament affirm that the followers of Jesus hold dual citizenship (Philippians 3:20) – both in a given country in this world and in another country in the world to come.

As citizens of the United States of America in this world, we love and support our wonderful country. Because of this, we willingly embrace the responsibilities of citizenship, from abiding by its laws to military service to voting to paying taxes. But we also long for the advent of that other, greater Kingdom.

As the Apostle Paul states:  "…our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body."

I leave you with the excellent words of the Bible Gateway Blog team for July 4, 2012…

"Chances are that if you live in the USA, you’re probably on your way to the nearest lake or a family member or friend’s house for a classic Fourth of July cookout. Grilled burgers and sandy beaches await! In the evening follow fireworks, while families and friends shoot bottle rockets and light sparklers from the driveway.

"American Christians can be proud of their national history, and the hand they’ve played in shaping the United States over the years. It isn’t that either America or the Christians who live there are perfect. But Americans can be proud of the religious freedom that’s integral to their national identity, and American Christians can be grateful to God for the opportunity to worship Him without fear of persecution - a freedom that countless believers past and present have not enjoyed.

"Christians approach patriotism differently. Yes, we can be proud to be Americans, just as any person of any nationality can be proud of their national heritage. But as Christians, we know that our true kingdom is not here on earth. We’re citizens of a heavenly kingdom…

"The national borders we know so well are only temporary. This earth will pass, and the kingdom to which we are called by God will replace it. We can celebrate the cultures and histories that shape us while looking ahead to a better world to come.

"Whoever you are, American or otherwise, you have a plenty of reasons to be thankful today. Let’s take this time to celebrate, relax, and enjoy!"***

Well said!

SOURCES:

* A copy of Ambassador Untermeyer’s speech has been posted online at:   http://untermeyer.com/through-embassy-windows-the-job-of-the-modern-american-ambassador/.

Many communicators have related Secretary Shultz’s story and its implications for Christians down through the years. The original published source for these appears to have been: http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/1998/fall/8l4067.html.

** The web site, www.biblehub.com,  is an excellent source for Hebrew and Greek language studies, especially for those have not been to Seminary or else  trained in Biblical studies.  Cf.: http://biblehub.com/greek/4243.htm.

*** Bible Gateway’s blog site can be found online at: https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2012/07/we-are-citizens-o f-heaven/.