I just filled out one of those little "note" things that go around on facebook and one of the questions was 'what song is going through your mind right now?' Well, this is the song that has been going through my mind for several days. I haven't sung it in a long time out loud. So sad - we seldom sing about Christ's second coming nowadays. As a kid, we sang about it often in church. Todays church is too focused on me, me, me, I, I , I. So very little on Christ. Even though we may say I praise You - who is the You? So sad. So, I will continue singing this in my mind and maybe, while Mel is gone, I'll belt out a couple verses to the cat and fish. :-)
Christ Returneth!
1. It may be at morn, when the day is awaking,
When sunlight through darkness and shadow is breaking
That Jesus will come in the fullness of glory
To receive from the world "His own."
2. It may be at midday, it may be at twilight,
It may be, perchance, that the blackness of midnight
Will burst into light in the blaze of His glory,
When Jesus receives "His own."
3. While its hosts cry Hosanna, from heaven descending,
With glorified saints and the angels attending,
With grace on His brow, like a halo of glory,
Will Jesus receive "His own."
4. Oh, joy! oh, delight! should we go without dying,
No sickness, no sadness, no dread and no crying.
Caught up through the clouds with our Lord into glory,
When Jesus receives "His own."
Chorus:
O Lord Jesus, how long, how long
Ere we shout the glad song,
Christ returneth! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Amen. Hallelujah! Amen.
Lyrics: H. L. Turner
Music: James McGranahan
Toogdag 2008 - Amsterdam Ghana SDA church Choir
Showing posts with label song. Show all posts
Showing posts with label song. Show all posts
Friday, October 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Humming Today
This song was running through my mind when I woke up this morning. I had a very sad dream in which this song played no part at all, yet the song fits perfectly as an answer to what I remember of my dream. I am often amazed at how our brain works. I woke up and immediately recited (with the music playing in my mind) all of the words to the chorus (we called it the chorus when I was growing up - when did it become 'the refrain'?).
I am once again reminded of how important hymns are. I learned this song as a child, singing it in church many times over the years. What will the children of today remember? "I praise you" 15 times with an "alleluia" between each one? "I, me, we, us" - with maybe an occasional "Jesus" thrown in?
I'm so thankful I was raised on "solid food" hymns and not just the watered down "milk" of today's modern stuff.
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Words and Music by Helen H. Lemmel
1922
Refrain:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!
His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!
I am once again reminded of how important hymns are. I learned this song as a child, singing it in church many times over the years. What will the children of today remember? "I praise you" 15 times with an "alleluia" between each one? "I, me, we, us" - with maybe an occasional "Jesus" thrown in?
I'm so thankful I was raised on "solid food" hymns and not just the watered down "milk" of today's modern stuff.
Words and Music by Helen H. Lemmel
1922
Refrain:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!
His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Tell Me The Old Old Story
I've been listening to more sermons by Arturo Azurdia. Sometimes I listen in the wee hours of the morning when I can't sleep. I'll sit down at my desk in the dark and turn on the computer, put on my headphone, start a game that doesn't require thinking and listen to a sermon. Other times I'll put a sermon on while doing the ironing, or some other chore that doesn't require a lot of thinking to get it done.
I finished a short series on Joseph a couple nights ago. Last night I started a series on Ruth. I've always really liked both of these stories in the Bible. Genesis is my favorite book of the Bible, and the story of Joseph is my favorite Biblical story.
Part of the reason I like these two stories, along with the stories of Rahab, Esther and Daniel, are because of the historical settings. Ancient Egypt, the Conquest of Canaan, the Time of the Judges, and so forth. So very little is known historically about these time periods. Yes, we have pyramids and Egyptian tombs and stuff, but really truly - we know very little about the people and how they lived. These Bible stories give us glimpses into those lives and times.
I admit that I have spent more time thinking about Rahab than Ruth, and more time thinking about Joseph than Esther. Way back in my personal 'ancient history', when we lived in Woodland Park and the kids were little, I read an historical novel about Joseph. It was very well written. I would love to get a copy of it now - that one was from the library. I tried looking on-line today but had no success. I think it was written in the 1970's, but I'm not sure. Next time we are home I'll try to get to a used book store and see what I can find, if anything.
While reading the Bible stories, and now while listening to these excellent sermons, I try to imagine myself 'there'. I try to imagine the heat, the wearing the clothing, the smells and sounds around me. I try to imagine cooking and washing clothes, listening to music and the bable of voices which would surround me. I try to imagine modes of transportation (animal and non-animal), buildings and plants and animals and birds. I try to capture the reality of then by the reality of now and what we do know.
So many people read the Bible and all they see is theology, dry and dusty. Commandments and rules for living. Do this - don't do that or God will get you. The Bible becomes almost an enemy, there only to point out what you do wrong, what you need to change, how you need to think and how you will never really succeed at any of it because, let's face it - NO ONE is that good and perfect. Except God, of course.
But if we read the stories and we see the people where they lived and how they lived and what they did and said and how they thought. And then we see what God has said and done in all of those circumstances...well, the Bible is no longer our enemy! In fact, it becomes our true Friend, showing us the way to God and revealing to us who God truly is. Through the lives of real people who lived real lives in real places at real times in history. We don't have every minute detail of their lives, but we have what is needed to teach us, to be examples for us.
Oh, it would be wonderful to know if Joseph loved his wife - but we don't know that! We only know that Pharoah gave him a wife. It would be interesting to know how Daniel spent his days - who did he meet in his line of work? What did he do all day? Did he travel anywhere? It would be nice to have some conversations recorded between Ruth and Boaz after the scene at the threshing place. I would love to know how the Israelite women treated Rahab and how she handled culture shock after the distruction of every single person she knew in Jericho (aside from family that was saved with her). I am very interested to know if Ruth lived long enough to see her grandson (or was it great-grandson?) David.
We don't know any of these things, really.
But we do know a bit about each of these people and that information is enough to give us a clue as to how it might have been for each of them. Some day, in heaven, we will be able to ask each of them questions and find out, if we still want to do so. :)
For now, I love to read the Old Testament, to think about the people and their reality. I love to see how God worked in their lives - and then look at my own and see where and how He is also working in mine.
I am so glad I belong to Him!
Sermons can be found here: Spirit Empowered Preaching
~*~*~*~
I Love to Tell the Story
Text: Katherine Hankey, 1834-1911
Music: William G. Fischer, 1835-1912
Tune: HANKEY, Meter: 76.76 D with Refrain
1. I love to tell the story
of unseen things above,
of Jesus and his glory,
of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story,
because I know 'tis true;
it satisfies my longings
as nothing else can do.
Refrain:
I love to tell the story,
'twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.
2. I love to tell the story;
more wonderful it seems
than all the golden fancies
of all our golden dreams.
I love to tell the story,
it did so much for me;
and that is just the reason
I tell it now to thee.
(Refrain)
3. I love to tell the story;
'tis pleasant to repeat
what seems, each time I tell it,
more wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story,
for some have never heard
the message of salvation
from God's own holy Word.
(Refrain)
4. I love to tell the story,
for those who know it best
seem hungering and thirsting
to hear it like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory,
I sing the new, new song,
'twill be the old, old story
that I have loved so long.
(Refrain)
I finished a short series on Joseph a couple nights ago. Last night I started a series on Ruth. I've always really liked both of these stories in the Bible. Genesis is my favorite book of the Bible, and the story of Joseph is my favorite Biblical story.
Part of the reason I like these two stories, along with the stories of Rahab, Esther and Daniel, are because of the historical settings. Ancient Egypt, the Conquest of Canaan, the Time of the Judges, and so forth. So very little is known historically about these time periods. Yes, we have pyramids and Egyptian tombs and stuff, but really truly - we know very little about the people and how they lived. These Bible stories give us glimpses into those lives and times.
I admit that I have spent more time thinking about Rahab than Ruth, and more time thinking about Joseph than Esther. Way back in my personal 'ancient history', when we lived in Woodland Park and the kids were little, I read an historical novel about Joseph. It was very well written. I would love to get a copy of it now - that one was from the library. I tried looking on-line today but had no success. I think it was written in the 1970's, but I'm not sure. Next time we are home I'll try to get to a used book store and see what I can find, if anything.
While reading the Bible stories, and now while listening to these excellent sermons, I try to imagine myself 'there'. I try to imagine the heat, the wearing the clothing, the smells and sounds around me. I try to imagine cooking and washing clothes, listening to music and the bable of voices which would surround me. I try to imagine modes of transportation (animal and non-animal), buildings and plants and animals and birds. I try to capture the reality of then by the reality of now and what we do know.
So many people read the Bible and all they see is theology, dry and dusty. Commandments and rules for living. Do this - don't do that or God will get you. The Bible becomes almost an enemy, there only to point out what you do wrong, what you need to change, how you need to think and how you will never really succeed at any of it because, let's face it - NO ONE is that good and perfect. Except God, of course.
But if we read the stories and we see the people where they lived and how they lived and what they did and said and how they thought. And then we see what God has said and done in all of those circumstances...well, the Bible is no longer our enemy! In fact, it becomes our true Friend, showing us the way to God and revealing to us who God truly is. Through the lives of real people who lived real lives in real places at real times in history. We don't have every minute detail of their lives, but we have what is needed to teach us, to be examples for us.
Oh, it would be wonderful to know if Joseph loved his wife - but we don't know that! We only know that Pharoah gave him a wife. It would be interesting to know how Daniel spent his days - who did he meet in his line of work? What did he do all day? Did he travel anywhere? It would be nice to have some conversations recorded between Ruth and Boaz after the scene at the threshing place. I would love to know how the Israelite women treated Rahab and how she handled culture shock after the distruction of every single person she knew in Jericho (aside from family that was saved with her). I am very interested to know if Ruth lived long enough to see her grandson (or was it great-grandson?) David.
We don't know any of these things, really.
But we do know a bit about each of these people and that information is enough to give us a clue as to how it might have been for each of them. Some day, in heaven, we will be able to ask each of them questions and find out, if we still want to do so. :)
For now, I love to read the Old Testament, to think about the people and their reality. I love to see how God worked in their lives - and then look at my own and see where and how He is also working in mine.
I am so glad I belong to Him!
Sermons can be found here: Spirit Empowered Preaching
Text: Katherine Hankey, 1834-1911
Music: William G. Fischer, 1835-1912
Tune: HANKEY, Meter: 76.76 D with Refrain
1. I love to tell the story
of unseen things above,
of Jesus and his glory,
of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story,
because I know 'tis true;
it satisfies my longings
as nothing else can do.
Refrain:
I love to tell the story,
'twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.
2. I love to tell the story;
more wonderful it seems
than all the golden fancies
of all our golden dreams.
I love to tell the story,
it did so much for me;
and that is just the reason
I tell it now to thee.
(Refrain)
3. I love to tell the story;
'tis pleasant to repeat
what seems, each time I tell it,
more wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story,
for some have never heard
the message of salvation
from God's own holy Word.
(Refrain)
4. I love to tell the story,
for those who know it best
seem hungering and thirsting
to hear it like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory,
I sing the new, new song,
'twill be the old, old story
that I have loved so long.
(Refrain)
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Night Sky
Today is my birthday. 55 years old. If I could have any wish I wanted, I would wish and receive a week of clear night skies in an area with no light pollution.
Yes, it is that simple. I really don't want (or need) anything else for my birthday. But oh how I would love to see the night sky again.
I've written about this before (Stars is one place), as regular readers of my blog know. I love the night sky. I thrill to the night sky. I am energized by the night sky. I am filled with more praise to our God and Father while viewing the night sky than at any other time.
I miss the night sky very, very much. I miss it more than I miss sunshine in winter here in Ukraine (maybe because this year we've had so much sunshine - yea!)
Today on Astronomy.com there was a short article about light pollution and how people all over the world are helping to measure how much light pollution is in their area this week. This is the graphic they used from last years reports:
I know that each time we go home to Colorado, less of the night sky can be seen from my parents due to the light pollution from the Denver metro area especially, but also from nearby Colorado Springs. The sky to the north is a perpetual orangish color at night now. Black spruce, Ponderosa pine and bare aspen trees are clearly silhouetted against that orange and it is hard to see the dimmer stars directly overhead.
So sad. Such a major loss to mankind and most people don't even know it. Maybe if people would spend more time looking up at the sky and around themselves on the earth there would be less crime. Maybe. sigh
So, this is kind of what the sky looks like here at night, almost this bad, but not quite:
And this is what it looked like in my childhood in Colorado, and still does look like away from light pollution:
If you are interested in being a part of this years GLOBE at Night project, check out this page: GLOBE at Night.
When I think about the stars, and night time, and the aurora and natural beauty that is being lost due to man's rape of the earth - when I think of these things, oh how I long even more for heaven and the new earth.
This song has absolutely nothing to do with being in heaven (although it does mention "living forever with me"), but it's kind of how I'm feeling today:Wilderness
(C.W. McCall, Bill Fries, Chip Davis)
From the album Wilderness
Come along and sing
A song you knew before
Come along and sing
Once more
Come along and live
A life you knew before
Come along and live
Once more
Wake with me and feel the misty blue dawn
Come hear the wild bird sing her mornin' song
See the sun that only wilderness sees
Then walk with me and let your heart run free
Come on along and chase the wind once more
Come on along and try one more time
Come on along and find the trail once more
Come on along and live again
Come with me and see the ridge run wild
Come hear the canyon call her wanderin' child
Breathe the air that only wilderness breathes
Then walk with me and let your heart run free
[Musical interlude. Slow banjo pickin' and violins.]
Come on along and climb the mountain once more
Come on along and try one more time
Come on along and cross the river with me
Come on along and live again
Come with me and hear the night bird cry
And see the starlight fill the wonderous sky
Feel the joy that only wilderness feels
Come on along along and we'll be free
Fly with me and find the end of time
Run with me and feel the wilderness high
Come on along and live forever with me
Come on along along and we'll be free
C.W. McCall Wilderness lyrics
Yes, it is that simple. I really don't want (or need) anything else for my birthday. But oh how I would love to see the night sky again.
I've written about this before (Stars is one place), as regular readers of my blog know. I love the night sky. I thrill to the night sky. I am energized by the night sky. I am filled with more praise to our God and Father while viewing the night sky than at any other time.
I miss the night sky very, very much. I miss it more than I miss sunshine in winter here in Ukraine (maybe because this year we've had so much sunshine - yea!)
Today on Astronomy.com there was a short article about light pollution and how people all over the world are helping to measure how much light pollution is in their area this week. This is the graphic they used from last years reports:
I know that each time we go home to Colorado, less of the night sky can be seen from my parents due to the light pollution from the Denver metro area especially, but also from nearby Colorado Springs. The sky to the north is a perpetual orangish color at night now. Black spruce, Ponderosa pine and bare aspen trees are clearly silhouetted against that orange and it is hard to see the dimmer stars directly overhead.So sad. Such a major loss to mankind and most people don't even know it. Maybe if people would spend more time looking up at the sky and around themselves on the earth there would be less crime. Maybe. sigh
So, this is kind of what the sky looks like here at night, almost this bad, but not quite:
And this is what it looked like in my childhood in Colorado, and still does look like away from light pollution:
If you are interested in being a part of this years GLOBE at Night project, check out this page: GLOBE at Night.
When I think about the stars, and night time, and the aurora and natural beauty that is being lost due to man's rape of the earth - when I think of these things, oh how I long even more for heaven and the new earth.
This song has absolutely nothing to do with being in heaven (although it does mention "living forever with me"), but it's kind of how I'm feeling today:
(C.W. McCall, Bill Fries, Chip Davis)
From the album Wilderness
Come along and sing
A song you knew before
Come along and sing
Once more
Come along and live
A life you knew before
Come along and live
Once more
Wake with me and feel the misty blue dawn
Come hear the wild bird sing her mornin' song
See the sun that only wilderness sees
Then walk with me and let your heart run free
Come on along and chase the wind once more
Come on along and try one more time
Come on along and find the trail once more
Come on along and live again
Come with me and see the ridge run wild
Come hear the canyon call her wanderin' child
Breathe the air that only wilderness breathes
Then walk with me and let your heart run free
[Musical interlude. Slow banjo pickin' and violins.]
Come on along and climb the mountain once more
Come on along and try one more time
Come on along and cross the river with me
Come on along and live again
Come with me and hear the night bird cry
And see the starlight fill the wonderous sky
Feel the joy that only wilderness feels
Come on along along and we'll be free
Fly with me and find the end of time
Run with me and feel the wilderness high
Come on along and live forever with me
Come on along along and we'll be free
C.W. McCall Wilderness lyrics
Thursday, February 26, 2009
We've Moved!
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No, not us! This firm, Rain Drops, has moved! Their new address is Naftovikiv 7. I have no idea where that is. :) Their two telephone numbers follow the address on the billboard.
I think this is a very clever ad. The painting, The Volga Boat Men, is very famous. There is also a Russian folk song about the Volga boat men. You can hear it next, and the words in English and Russian are at the end of this post.
from Wikipedia:The Song of the Volga Boatmen is a well-known traditional Russian song collected by Mily Balakirev, and published in his book of folk songs. It is a genuine barge-haulers' shanty. Balakirev published it with only one verse (the first). The other two verses were added at a later date. The song, also called The Volga Burlak's Song, was inspired by Repin's famous painting, Burlaks on the Volga, depicting the suffering of the people in the depth of misery in Tsarist Russia.
The song was popularised by Feodor Chaliapin, and has been a favourite concert piece of bass singers ever since.
(Traditional)
Refrain
Yo, heave ho! Yo, heave ho!
Once more, once again, still once more
Verse 1
Now we fell the stout birch tree,
Now we pull hard: one, two, three.
Ay-da, da, ay-da!
Ay-da, da, ay-da!
Now we fell the stout birch tree
Yo, heave ho!
Hey, hey, let's heave a-long the way
to the sun we sing our song
Verse 2
As the barges float along,
To the sun we sing our song.
Ay-da, da, ay-da!
Ay-da, da, ay-da!
To the sun we sing our song.
Hey, hey, let's heave a-long the way
to the sun we sing our song
Verse 3
Volga, Volga our pride,
Mighty stream so deep and wide.
Ay-da, da, ay-da!
Ay-da, da, ay-da!
Mighty stream so deep and wide.
Volga, Volga you're our pride.
Lyrics in Russian
Эй, ухнем!
Эй, ухнем!
Ещё разик, ещё да раз!
Разовьём мы берёзу,
Разовьём мы кудряву!
Ай-да, да ай-да, ай-да, да ай-да,
Разовьём мы кудряву.
Мы по бережку идём,
Песню солнышку поём.
Ай-да, да ай-да, ай-да, да ай-да,
Песню солнышку поём.
Эй, эй, тяни канат сильней!
Песню солнышку поём.
Эй, ухнем!
Эй, ухнем!
Ещё разик, ещё да раз!
Эх ты, Волга, мать-река,
Широка и глубока,
Ай-да, да ай-да, ай-да, да ай-да,
Волга, Волга, мать-река,
Эй, ухнем!
Эй, ухнем!
Ещё разик, ещё да раз!
Эй, ухнем!
Эй, ухнем!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Mary Did You Know?
Found this over on Rebecca Writes tonight. Enjoy!
Mary, Did You Know? sung by the two men who wrote it—Buddy Greene and Mark Lowry.
Mary, Did You Know? sung by the two men who wrote it—Buddy Greene and Mark Lowry.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Tell Me a Story!
Note: The name of this blog is My Thoughts and that is what I post here - my thoughts. I explore all sorts of things, I blog about all sorts of things, I wrestle with all sorts of things. My blog is not a place where I am asking anyone to argue with me. If you want to read my blog, please feel free. Please don't jump to conclusions and take things out of context. A lot of different people read this. If you don't like what I write - please stop reading it! :):)
*~*~*~*~*~*
I was in a meeting all day today, as were all of my team mates here in our city. Sometime during our meeting, I realized something. Something very sad to me.
Sometime in the past few years the Bible has become boring to me.
I ask myself: What? How could this happen? What is going on? Oh no!
And I realize that somehow it has become a book, oh a very important book, yes! but just a book where you go to find the answer to a list of questions. In fact, knowing the list has somehow become more important than knowing the Bible. Except, I rebel at learning the list and feel like a complete failure.
Some guys a bunch of years ago sat around in a big meeting that lasted several years and decided that everything that the Bible is and contains can be summed up in a list of questions and answers. Rules. The New Law for "Good Christians" to memorize and follow. Know this and you'll know all you need to know.
I did not grow up in that kind of church. Instead, I grew up in a church that emphasized End Times. End Times until everyone in my family was sick to death of charts, the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation. I could draw charts and give sequences of events with my eyes closed and one hand tied behind my back.
BUT - that church was very good in one area. I grew up knowing my Bible very well. I could find verses at the drop of a hat (I always won in those old "Sword Drills" that we'd have). The preacher would take a text and draw in other Bible texts from all over the place (it wasn't all End Times :):) ). I knew my Bible - the whole Bible very well. When I went to Bible College I actually had an advantage over several of the other students in my classes because I'd had such an overall good Biblical education in my local church (End Times not withstanding).
Somehow, though, over the past few years something else came to be the 'right thing to know.' A list of questions and their answers. I've never made it through a whole study of these questions and answers because (whisper - I'm whispering this) they mostly bore me to tears.
The Bible used to be a living book to me, full of adventure and excitement. It used to be a book that I could turn to when I hurt inside and find comfort from it's pages. Now, however, more often than not, it has been distilled into this list that is (yawn) boooooorrrrriiiing to read through. Reading the list I learn a lot about theology and a lot about God, but I don't get to know God Himself very well. Reading through the list I read what the "TRUTH" is, but I have lost the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ who smiles at me, laughs with me, let's me cry on His shoulder, puts His arms around me, guides me, who is Himself all truth. Instead, He has become a list of attributes that are foreign to me because they are so 'other.'
Church has become a "right way to do this and no way else." Robert's Rules of Order rule!
Now, I remember a Bible study I was involved in way back in the early '80's in a non-denominational church. It was a women's Bible study on the attributes of God. Many of these things I had learned in Bible college, but here we approached them in a different way. I remember how excited I was the first time I realized that God is sovereign - this meant something in MY LIFE, it was personal and not just an answer to a question that needed to be memorized.
I'm having a hard time writing this all down, trying to explain what I mean.
God has been put in a box, neatly wrapped and whenever we need an answer to a questions, we pull out the box, sift through the questions and find the appropriate one and read it's answer. Sometimes the answers make no sense to me in conjunction with the questions. Sometimes the verses used to prove the answer make even less sense to me. Everything is ripped out of context and bits and pieces of verses are used to prove points. And the language it is written in is, sorry to say, not my mother tongue, but the language my ancestors spoke.
So - call me a heretic. Bring me up on charges. What can I say, other than -
TELL ME A STORY!
Tell me the story of an axhead that floated. Teach me about God through the life of His prophets. Tell me the story of a woman who took her life in her hands to protect her worthless husband and ended up the wife of a king. Tell me the story of brothers who hated each other so much they sold the youngest into slavery - and he became the second most powerful ruler in the world of that time. Tell me the story of how much God loved a woman who had had 5 husbands and sent His Son to show her Truth and forgiveness. Tell me the story of Jesus, from Genesis to Revelation. Tell me the story of how God uses a man's disobedience to show His power through a shipwreck and a snake bite, while preserving his servant.
Tell me a story! God gave us a book of stories! Wonderful stories. Teaching stories. Beautiful stories.
Don't give me a boring list of questions and answers.
The Bible is a living book! Not boilable (is that a word) down to a list of questions and answers to be memorized.
Oh my.
Now here is a story for you: Here is a word picture that is far from boring: Here is LIFE:
For the word of God is living and active.
Sharper than any double-edged sword,
it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit,
joints and marrow;
it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
Oh my! I can feel that sword hanging over me, I can feel it piercing me, cutting against the bones, working it's way inside me very being. The WORD of GOD is living.
Now, this problem I now realize that I have is not my husband's fault. Nor is it the fault of my team mates. Nor is it the fault of the organization for whom we work.
No, I think the fault lies in the fact that I have tried to live by a completely foreign to my personality kind of religion. Rules. Regulations. Lists to do, think, believe. Wrap it all up into a neat package and satisfaction occurs. Or, it's supposed to. I can judge between good and evil by this list. You are right or you are wrong by how you line up against this list.
No - I am more messy than that. I don't like neat little packages that have no surprises. I don't like cut and dried. I don't want to listen to dull facts when there are incredible stories to read/hear instead.
Give me color! Give me blood and guts! Give me wars and feasting! Give me passion! Give me - The Word Of God, the Holy Bible.
Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word.
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard.
Tell how the angels in chorus,
Sang as they welcomed His birth.
“Glory to God in the highest!
Peace and good tidings to earth.”
Refrain
Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word.
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard.
Fasting alone in the desert,
Tell of the days that are past.
How for our sins He was tempted,
Yet was triumphant at last.
Tell of the years of His labor,
Tell of the sorrow He bore.
He was despised and afflicted,
Homeless, rejected and poor.
Refrain
Tell of the cross where they nailed Him,
Writhing in anguish and pain.
Tell of the grave where they laid Him,
Tell how He liveth again.
Love in that story so tender,
Clearer than ever I see.
Stay, let me weep while you whisper,
Love paid the ransom for me.
Refrain
I was in a meeting all day today, as were all of my team mates here in our city. Sometime during our meeting, I realized something. Something very sad to me.
Sometime in the past few years the Bible has become boring to me.
I ask myself: What? How could this happen? What is going on? Oh no!
And I realize that somehow it has become a book, oh a very important book, yes! but just a book where you go to find the answer to a list of questions. In fact, knowing the list has somehow become more important than knowing the Bible. Except, I rebel at learning the list and feel like a complete failure.
Some guys a bunch of years ago sat around in a big meeting that lasted several years and decided that everything that the Bible is and contains can be summed up in a list of questions and answers. Rules. The New Law for "Good Christians" to memorize and follow. Know this and you'll know all you need to know.
I did not grow up in that kind of church. Instead, I grew up in a church that emphasized End Times. End Times until everyone in my family was sick to death of charts, the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation. I could draw charts and give sequences of events with my eyes closed and one hand tied behind my back.
BUT - that church was very good in one area. I grew up knowing my Bible very well. I could find verses at the drop of a hat (I always won in those old "Sword Drills" that we'd have). The preacher would take a text and draw in other Bible texts from all over the place (it wasn't all End Times :):) ). I knew my Bible - the whole Bible very well. When I went to Bible College I actually had an advantage over several of the other students in my classes because I'd had such an overall good Biblical education in my local church (End Times not withstanding).
Somehow, though, over the past few years something else came to be the 'right thing to know.' A list of questions and their answers. I've never made it through a whole study of these questions and answers because (whisper - I'm whispering this) they mostly bore me to tears.
The Bible used to be a living book to me, full of adventure and excitement. It used to be a book that I could turn to when I hurt inside and find comfort from it's pages. Now, however, more often than not, it has been distilled into this list that is (yawn) boooooorrrrriiiing to read through. Reading the list I learn a lot about theology and a lot about God, but I don't get to know God Himself very well. Reading through the list I read what the "TRUTH" is, but I have lost the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ who smiles at me, laughs with me, let's me cry on His shoulder, puts His arms around me, guides me, who is Himself all truth. Instead, He has become a list of attributes that are foreign to me because they are so 'other.'
Church has become a "right way to do this and no way else." Robert's Rules of Order rule!
Now, I remember a Bible study I was involved in way back in the early '80's in a non-denominational church. It was a women's Bible study on the attributes of God. Many of these things I had learned in Bible college, but here we approached them in a different way. I remember how excited I was the first time I realized that God is sovereign - this meant something in MY LIFE, it was personal and not just an answer to a question that needed to be memorized.
I'm having a hard time writing this all down, trying to explain what I mean.
God has been put in a box, neatly wrapped and whenever we need an answer to a questions, we pull out the box, sift through the questions and find the appropriate one and read it's answer. Sometimes the answers make no sense to me in conjunction with the questions. Sometimes the verses used to prove the answer make even less sense to me. Everything is ripped out of context and bits and pieces of verses are used to prove points. And the language it is written in is, sorry to say, not my mother tongue, but the language my ancestors spoke.
So - call me a heretic. Bring me up on charges. What can I say, other than -
TELL ME A STORY!
Tell me the story of an axhead that floated. Teach me about God through the life of His prophets. Tell me the story of a woman who took her life in her hands to protect her worthless husband and ended up the wife of a king. Tell me the story of brothers who hated each other so much they sold the youngest into slavery - and he became the second most powerful ruler in the world of that time. Tell me the story of how much God loved a woman who had had 5 husbands and sent His Son to show her Truth and forgiveness. Tell me the story of Jesus, from Genesis to Revelation. Tell me the story of how God uses a man's disobedience to show His power through a shipwreck and a snake bite, while preserving his servant.
Tell me a story! God gave us a book of stories! Wonderful stories. Teaching stories. Beautiful stories.
Don't give me a boring list of questions and answers.
The Bible is a living book! Not boilable (is that a word) down to a list of questions and answers to be memorized.
Oh my.
Now here is a story for you: Here is a word picture that is far from boring: Here is LIFE:
Sharper than any double-edged sword,
it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit,
joints and marrow;
it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
Oh my! I can feel that sword hanging over me, I can feel it piercing me, cutting against the bones, working it's way inside me very being. The WORD of GOD is living.
Now, this problem I now realize that I have is not my husband's fault. Nor is it the fault of my team mates. Nor is it the fault of the organization for whom we work.
No, I think the fault lies in the fact that I have tried to live by a completely foreign to my personality kind of religion. Rules. Regulations. Lists to do, think, believe. Wrap it all up into a neat package and satisfaction occurs. Or, it's supposed to. I can judge between good and evil by this list. You are right or you are wrong by how you line up against this list.
No - I am more messy than that. I don't like neat little packages that have no surprises. I don't like cut and dried. I don't want to listen to dull facts when there are incredible stories to read/hear instead.
Give me color! Give me blood and guts! Give me wars and feasting! Give me passion! Give me - The Word Of God, the Holy Bible.
Write on my heart every word.
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard.
Tell how the angels in chorus,
Sang as they welcomed His birth.
“Glory to God in the highest!
Peace and good tidings to earth.”
Refrain
Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word.
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard.
Fasting alone in the desert,
Tell of the days that are past.
How for our sins He was tempted,
Yet was triumphant at last.
Tell of the years of His labor,
Tell of the sorrow He bore.
He was despised and afflicted,
Homeless, rejected and poor.
Refrain
Tell of the cross where they nailed Him,
Writhing in anguish and pain.
Tell of the grave where they laid Him,
Tell how He liveth again.
Love in that story so tender,
Clearer than ever I see.
Stay, let me weep while you whisper,
Love paid the ransom for me.
Refrain
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