Songs from Sunday School

            A friend of mine in Illinois recently reminded me of songs we learned in Sunday School. He had enjoyed learning those songs which remain in his memory. I got to thinking, “When was the first time I attended a Sunday School class?” As a child, we didn't go to church at all let alone some Sunday School class. I didn't even attend a Sunday School class when I was dating the daughter of a local Christian Church minister. My first Sunday School Class was probably at Christian Fellowship Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia in the early 1970's. I began to learn a lot of class songs by attending a weekly session of Child Evangelism Fellowship that would prepare teachers for the coming Sunday lesson. I was the junior church leader at that time. I missed out on a lot of those old songs but have picked some of them up during my later years. “Sunday schools were first set up in the 18th century in England to provide education to working children. William King started a Sunday school in 1751 in Dursley, Gloucestershire, and suggested that Robert Raikes start a similar one in Gloucester. Raikes was editor of the Gloucester Journal.” I have been very thankful for the Sunday School ministry in many of the churches in our country. It gives us a chance to look into the Word of God and to learn more about His Word and its application in our lives. Second Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

          Today's verse is a famous one that is often the foundational verse for many religious school and colleges especially in our country. It was the theme verse for Washington Bible college The people have not always had the opportunity to learn God's Word for themselves. In recent years, it was up to the “clergy” to tell the people what the Bible said. They would receive instruction that if they had a question in regard to the Bible, go find a preacher or a priest and find out the answer. In fact, for many years, the public, the common folk, did not have access to a Bible. We have learned about men like Wycliffe and Tyndale who gave their lives translating the Bible for the common folk of the English speaking world. Not everyone has a copy of God's Word today. Mission agencies such as Wycliffe and New Tribes Mission and the Lutherans are still about the business of translating God's Word for various groups that currently do not have their own copy of God's Word. If you are reading this, you probably have a copy of the Bible and in fact, may have several copies around your home today. The average citizen of the U. S. A., probably has at least one or more copies of the Scriptures. Since we have access to the Bible so freely, the question may come up as to whether or not we are spending time reading what God has to say to us in His Word? We have no excuse. You probably have the Word on your computer, your phone, your tablet, your Kindle and your laptop but have you read a portion of it today? While missionaries gave their lives to translate the Scriptures, what are you giving up to read just a portion of it today? We need to praise God that we have our own copies of God's Word and spend time in hearing it, reading it, studying it, memorizing it and meditating on it. Praise Him for His Word today.

Harps on Willows

           After playing a weeks long concerts at a copper mine in Chile, our band pulled into Mejillones Bay to get back on our ship and complete the cruise. We were exhausted and had about 3 hours of sleep, packed up all of our gear and headed for the bay to wait for the barge to take us back on board the ship. While at the dock, a handful of Chileans gathered to watch what was going on. The chief noticed the group and so ordered the band to break out the equipment and play a concert for them. To be honest, we were exhausted and just didn't feel like playing another note of music. Being in the navy, we did it anyway and I am sure the people liked it, all six of them. Some times, you just don't feel like playing or even singing for that matter. Psalm 137:2-4 says, "We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?” 

        In today's passage, we notice that the Israelites are on their way to Babylon complete with their “harps” which were used in the worship of the LORD. At this point, there is no doubt that they were feeling rather low with the prospect of being led to a captive land and their land lying in ruin. All they had now were memories of what was and indeed everything looked so bleak that we notice here that they hung their harps upon the willows. They just didn't feel like singing anymore. Have you ever gotten tot he point that you just don't want to sing another note? We have just completed a year of a pandemic and government restrictions and turmoil in the land and then heaped upon that are all of the personal problems that probably each and everyone of us are experiencing. I have had close friends pass on into glory, which is good for them, but leaves a hole in my life and in the lives of their families and friends. Sickness, hospitals, staples and mounting bills seem to move us to “hang our harps upon the willows.” Who wants to sing when we are in such a mess? At this point however, I am reminded of the theme core of 1 Peter which to me, says, “Suffering leads to glory.” The word “glory” appears twelve times in First Peter and reminds us of that which is to come. We are reminded of the song that begins, “It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus.” Sure, many of us are feeling like hanging our harps on the willows and just giving up, but God has a different plan for all of our lives. We are steadfastly marching to Zion and our labor in the LORD is not in vain. Take a moment and reflect on what God is doing in your life even today and maybe you can pluck a few notes on your harp to give praise to God. Praise God today for the wonderful and glorious salvation that He is providing as head to gloryland.

The High "C"

            Trumpets are often mentioned in the Bible and for the most part they are associated with the Shofar, a ram's horn that is hollowed out and allows one to make a definite and loud sound. It gets your attention. A year ago or so, my wife and I were in a church service and we sat fairly close to the instrumental group. It was a lively song and at the end the trumpet player popped a high “C.” At least it sound like one to me. My wife covered her ears at the piercing sound. It did get our attention. The trumpet player was my friend, Albin Crutchfield. He was one of the best trumpet players I had ever heard. He could play soft and his fingers moved graciously over the keys in even runs up and down the scales. He could also point the bell up and get your attention with a High “C.” Most of all, Albin loved the LORD with all of his heart and had a wonderful testimony. He would also write hymns and take old tunes and put his own words to them. On January 2, Albin went to be with the Lord. I was shocked to hear the news about his passing, but I was also comforted in the realization that he was with the Lord Jesus Christ, safe in the arms of Jesus. We were the same age and he always warmed my heart with his greetings and demeanor as his life always shined with the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. I would like to say that perhaps Gabriel will have some competition but Albin wouldn't allow that anyway. First Thessalonians 4:16-18 says, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 

            Can you imagine the excitement in the hearts of believers when that shout and trumpet are sounded. For the believer, it won't make any difference what you are doing. It will be dropped, your focus will look up to the clouds and in the twinkling of any eye, you will be in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. The dead in Christ will have been raised and you will be caught up together with them. We have often heard of the description of the scene as believers will suddenly vanish right before the eyes of the unsaved. For us, the sound will be like the largest shofar or trumpet ever made. It's sound will be unmistakable as believers are “raptured” out of the scenes from which they were a part. It will be the high “C” to end all high “C's.” The believer can look at the various scriptures and notice that the times are upon us and each day is one day closer to this wonderful and glorious event. I can still hear Albin going over his warm up exercises modulating up a half step to the next and the next with a mute in the bell. The Archangel is all warmed up and ready to blow the trumpet of God that will bring the believers home. Are you ready? I wouldn't put it off for even a moment. Praise God for His plan of salvation.

Detours

             I have asked myself over the past month, why certain events took place in such a way as they did. I have not had a particularly close relationship with the local VA hospital, but suddenly found myself in their Emergency Room and then and eventually 4 day visit in the hospital itself. I found myself facing some serious decisions in regard to my foot but also an unusual event that took place in Sunday evening. I was scheduled to have an MRI on Monday that would determine the decision in regard to my foot to amputate or not. I woke up on Monday morning with the MRI canceled and a quick kidney ultrasound and then discharged by noon. No explanation was offered and I didn't ask any questions. There was however, an unusual event that took place on Sunday evening when a patient was admitted to my room. His condition was serious and cardiac related. It was determined that the VA couldn't help him and so he would be transferred immediately to another local hospital. Our lives intersected for only 90 minutes and during that time the Lord impressed upon me to have prayer for him which we did. Since our beds were about 20 feet apart, I had to muster up enough of a voice for him to hear me. Perhaps that was why I was there in the first place. Acts 8:26 says, "And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.” 

           The Bible often contains examples of people being transferred from one place to another. Some of these events were miraculous while others were normal but directed by God for an individual to go from one place to another. Philip the Evangelist had both types of experiences in his life. In the above passage, we find that Philip is impressed by an angel speaking to him to go from Samaria down to Gaza to speak to one man. Philip, at that time, was in a very successful and rewarding ministry in Samaria, but still, he obeyed the leading of God and went down to a place in Gaza to find the Ethiopian eunuch in a chariot reading from the book of Isaiah. The man was reading chapter 53 and it is no wonder then that Philip took that passage and preached unto him, Jesus. It is always amazing to me how God can change my path and my plans on any given day by simply placing a detour sign somewhere in my road. I could be a physical sign of a detour or even a phone call or a request that was not planned to place you in a place where you didn't expect to be. It could be that you have been placed there to make a comment about how God has worked in your life, or even to give a smile or a word of encouragement to someone who desperately needs it. It could be a simple act of kindness that God wants you to do at that moment. Our lives are filled with detours as God moves us from one place to another. We may think that we may have our lives all planned out but the Master Planner often has a different course planned for the day or even the year. Where will God have you to go today and whose lives will be changed by your presence? Praise God that He is still directing traffic in our lives.

Sheep and Shepherds

           Most people have a title in one way or another. They are known to the world by that title. We give ourselves titles and the world gives us some also. A person who always does things that are a little bit foolish may soon become known as the village idiot or a goof ball or some other term that describes their actions. When I went to work at a retirement facility, people often asked me how I would like to be addressed. Since it was a Catholic facility, many wanted to call me “Father” but I came up with “Just call me Pastor Dan.” That is how I was known for nine years to staff and residents alike. At times, I was introduced as “Father” and then politely reminded them that I was not a priest. To me, I was a pastor to the nearly 200 residents who came and went over the nine years that I was the Pastoral Counselor. I guess that's why I still sign my devotions as “pastor dan.” I handed out about 40 copies of the devotion to the residents everyday. My “flock” was a bunch of older sheep but they were and still are very important to me especially in regard to their eternal state. Psalm 23:5-6 says, "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." 

                Psalm 23 is a Psalm that describes a Shepherd, but not just any Shepherd, but they Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ. You don't see a lamb or a sheep mentioned in the Psalm, but just the guidance of the Shepherd as He cares for the sheep. The Psalm is not about the sheep so much as it is about the Shepherd. To put it in today's idea, "It is not about me, it is about Him." It is interesting to note that people generally don't choose a lamb as a character for themselves. A "go getter" in today's society prefers to be like a bull or a lion or a panther or some strong animal. No super hero was characterized by a sheep with a cape. Sheep need things in almost every area of their lives. They are good at growing wool and eating grass but are poor fighters, are not too aggressive and are good at wandering off in almost any direction but where they are supposed to go. Sound familiar? That's us. Without a Shepherd, we are in a miserable state and we in need every aspect of Psalm 23. We need guidance and protection. We need food and shelter. Even flies take advantage of the sheep and need to have their heads anointed with oil. Well, I am a lamb, one of the sheep in a vast flock and I desperately need the leading of the Shepherd in every area of my life. Of all the titles that you might have, realize that you are also a lamb in need of the Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ. As a lamb of the Lord Jesus Christ, you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. What could be any better than that. Praise God for the Great Shepherd and that you are a part of the flock.

Thirsty?

           Can you ever have too much of a good thing? My life has been dotted with medical concerns over the past 40 years that have resulted in a pill box which contains about 14 pills everyday. Some of them, I have been on for almost 20 or more years and some only four or five years or even less. My recent stay in the hospital was due to two medications that were silently killing me and I didn't know it. It turns out that the high potassium levels were caused by a blood pressure medication and a diuretic. I had been on the blood pressure medication for a number of years. The two pills have been removed from my daily dose of medications. While the medication had once provided a reduction in my blood pressure, the medication, Losartan, was now taking its toll with my potassium and had to be removed. It was once a good thing but now turns out to be a bad thing for me. There are somethings however, that you can never receive too much of such as your communion with God. Psalm 42:1-2 says, “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?”

           It is always a peaceful scene to see a deer drinking at a brook. I haven't seen that many deer at brooks myself, but have watched other animals as they would come into the barnyard after spending the day in the field eating grass. Their first stop was the watering trough. You had had make sure that it was full when they arrived as a herd was going to drink it dry in a matter of a an hour our so. The Psalmist here makes the comparison of the thirsty “hart” with the life of the believer. Our souls long for the fellowship and communion that only God can fill. You can try to fill up your life with material things but in the end they won't fill the void that exists in your soul. You can get too much macaroni and cheese or too many possessions, or too many baked beans but you can never get too much of God. There have been so many times that my own heart has longed for more of God's presence and then I blow it. Something will happen to break my fellowship and I seem to be back at square one. Satan knows the tricks that will keep moving your attention away from God. It is called the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. They are the same tricks he used in the Garden of Eden and the same tricks that he used in the temptation of our Lord Jesus Christ In the wilderness. Last year was indeed a tough year for many people but one thing was for sure, each one of us had more time to talk to God and to be in His presence. God has His ways whether you like them or not, to get our attention. The question is, what is the main thing that you thirst after? What is it that you long for most in your life? Take heed to the lesson of the Psalmist in the above passage and long after that sweet communion with God and realize His presence in, not only the world, but in your own life. Do you long after Him as the hart longs after the water brook? Praise God today that He is only a prayer away. Come to the stream and drink.

Contrasts

           We are pretty much aware of contrasts that occur in our lives. About three weeks ago, I was feeling fine and went in for some medical issues and had some blood tests done. I left the facility feeling fine and went home to a night a peaceful sleep only to have it interrupted at 2:45 in the morning. I hesitated to answer the phone and so laid in the bed until about 5 until I could no longer find out who the dingbat was that called me at 3 in the morning. It was the VA emergency room requesting that I come in immediately for an EKG. My potassium was 6.6 and apparently could cause a lethal heart attack at any moment. I, however, at the time, felt rather good and then came the IV's in each arm and the beginning of two hospital stays, one surgery and three bottles of a horrible tasting stuff to clean me out. I was begin detoxed so to speak of the excess potassium. “I felt good when I went in, but....” That's how contrasts often begin. Second Timothy 3:10-13 says, “But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” We often quote the first five verses of this chapter as they describe the age in which we live. In the last days, perilous times will come, etc. etc. Paul begins the next section in verse 6 with the word, “but.” You know something is coming that is important. Notice the the words, “...out of them all the LORD delivered me” and “all that will live godly I Christ shall suffer persecution, The closer we get to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the more things will get worse. It will seem as though the evil in the world will keep getting worse and worse but we long for the contrasts, the “buts” that will come when the Lord Jesus Christ steps on the scene. Paul had that great faith in Christ that no matter how bad things looked Christ was going to take care of all of it. That is our hope also in this day. In other words, “He” is our hope in this day that no matter how bad things look, there will come that time when everything will be made right. You may have some contrasts in your own day, today, and yet you also can have hope in the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ who rose from the dead and so has guaranteed your deliverance. Praise God today for the contrasts and His deliverance.