In Case of Emergency

Have you seen this particular meme show up on any of your social media streams yet?

It has now been shared by several of my friends on Facebook over the past few weeks, and I really feel the need to address this type of thinking.

First, keep in mind that this is an internet meme. I have, quite literally, no idea about the accuracy of the quote or if Lecrae actually said it. Maybe he did not, maybe he did. Then someone else created this image and posted it on the internet. Then, someone who I know (and you may or may not know) shared it on Facebook. Now, I am sharing it with you in this blog post. From your point of view, you're getting this at least third or fourth hand.

With that in mind, please do not take this as a direct attack aimed specifically at this artist or anyone who created or shared this picture. It is not. This is meant to be a discussion of the underlying concept of the destructive mentality that is the "What if you're wrong/what if I'm right" approach to witnessing or discipleship.

That mentality truly does exist, whether or not Lecrae actually did speak the words attributed to him here. You've probably heard it many times. I know I have. There have even been contemporary christian music songs recorded and released that argue using this same logic.

I believe that it is well past time for us to put an end to this particular thought process.

As Christians, we should never be attempting to convert an unbeliever by directly attacking their existing beliefs in the first place. That makes for a poor witness. John Mayer was on to something when he sang "Is there anyone who really recalls ever breaking rank at all for something someone yelled real loud one time?" But, what if somehow it works? Well, then you run the risk of the other person "accepting" or believing God for the wrong reasons. Or worse, they may not actually receive salvation at all.

How could that be? If someone believes in God, aren't they saved? Aren't they going to Heaven when they die? It doesn't matter if they're convinced to believe "just in case" they were wrong and we were right, right?

In a word, no.

The pastor at my church has used a really accurate metaphor to illustrate this type of belief.  He calls it "fire insurance," as in God is real and you say that you believe in him in case you need him when you die and find out that the fires of Hell are very real. Many Christians have become merely fire insurance salesmen.

The problem is that the "fire insurance" approach won't work. In fact, it could doom the person you're attempting to convert. You see, simply believing in God, no matter what reasons or logic have led to the belief, is not enough to save someone from eternity in Hell. If you convince someone to follow God simply as a precaution against the possibility of flaws in their previous belief and understanding, they may feel that this is sufficient and that they've done enough to escape damnation. That is extremely dangerous. The Bible teaches us in Romans 10:9-10 that we are saved if we believe AND confess and that it is "with the mouth one confesses and is saved."

Moreover, the key here is what should be believed and confessed. Verse 9 says to confess that "Jesus is Lord" and to believe that "God raised him (Jesus) from the dead." Jesus Christ is the true answer. This is also expressly revealed to us by Jesus himself in John 14:6. "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Even if someone achieves and acknowledges a belief in God, they cannot be saved without also accepting Jesus Christ as Lord of their life. That Nichole Nordeman song I referenced earlier actually does have one lyric that barely touches on this in passing. "What if there's hope you've never dreamed of hoping for?" There is! It's Jesus. It's Christ in me, the hope of glory.

It's Jesus Christ who saves us. THAT is what we should be preaching. THAT is what we should be sharing. R.P.C. Hanson said that "Grace means the free, unmerited, unexpected love of God and all the benefits, delights, and comforts which flow from it. It means that while we were sinners and enemies, we have been treated as sons and heirs." We should be leading others to God, through Christ, because of who he is and what he has done for us, not as simply a fallback plan.

Otherwise, we risk creating a bunch of Beni Gabor's who don't comprehend how the power of God actually works to save us.

Beni Gabor is a character from the movie "The Mummy." If you haven't seen the movie, you don't get the reference. If you have seen the movie....I'm so sorry.

In the movie an ancient mummified ruler is somehow magically awakened and, naturally, terrorizes the modern world. Along the way, Beni comes face to face with the mysteriously reanimated, rotting corpse that is death personified. Faced with his own mortality, Beni pulls from his pocket a collection pendants and charms representing every religious symbol he could think of on Planet Earth. As the titular mummy closes in, poor Beni repeatedly holds up different icons of religion, futilely hoping that simply being associated with the supposed right one will be enough to save him from death and destruction.

This is Beni.



Don't be like Beni.

Scripture: "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us." - 1 John 4:18-19

"Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths." - 2 Timothy 4:2-4

Quote: "The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it but that it is too low and we reach it." - Michelangelo 

My battle...

I hope you're sitting down as you read this, because I'm about to shock you. I'm going to write a blog about a song.

I know. Crazy. Right? Oh well, there's a first time for everything. So, here we go.

One of my favorite characteristics of any great composition is the ability of the piece to mean different things to different listeners hearing from different viewpoints and applying different filters. This can happen in one of several ways.

One way is simply irritating. That's when someone takes someone else's song and changes the lyrics to make their own point. I don't mean a comedic parody like songs recorded by Weird Al Yankovic or Cledus T. Judd. Those are specifically designed jokes to either poke fun of or pay an odd type of respect to the original artist or songwriter. There are, however, bands who put out entire albums of other people's music with the lyrics rewritten as Christian songs. I hate that. Frankly, it's just sad. Write your own stuff people.

Another method is the cover version. That is to reimagine or reinvent a song to "make it your own." This is the concept employed by the most popular music-based reality television shows. It can cause the viewer or listener to grasp the emotion or meaning of a particular song in a completely new way.

A third, and perhaps my personal favorite, way a song can impact different people in different ways, is when the song isn't changed in any way at all, but the listener simply considers the music or lyrics from an alternate perspective. Allow me to give you an example. Give a listen to this great song "Just In Time" as performed by the one and only Dean Martin. (There are likely many versions by many artists, but we all know Dino is the greatest.) Check it out here.

Nice right? Now listen again, but change your viewpoint. Don't listen to the song as a grateful lover addressing his lady. This time, imagine he's a sinner saved by grace singing of the love of his savior, Jesus Christ, rather than a human love interest. Every word is nearly perfect.

Then there's the rare occasion where a song is so perfectly crafted that you could swear it was written and recorded specifically for you and your situation. Such is the case for me with the song "No Longer Slaves" by Jonathan David and Melissa Helser. You can see the video and hear the song here.

My situation is, simply put, fear. I am a father of one incredible daughter. As I write this, I am within two weeks of becoming the father of two incredible daughters. As illogical and irrational as it may be, I have been battling fear of failure as a father and a husband. I do not recall feeling this way and this strongly as we were awaiting the arrival of our first baby. I have no explanation for why this is happening this time around. It has been a very emotional and stressful battle for me.

Then God used this song to break through to me.

Listen to the first line of the song again with this one little fact of information from my personal life. My oldest daughter is named Melody. My youngest will be named Caroline, which means "a song of happiness."

"You unravel me with a Melody. You surround me with a song (Caroline)."

First, I love the word "unravel" here. When you unravel something, you reduce it to its most basic building block such that it can never be reconstructed into its previous iteration. Many of you know that a firstborn will change everything in and about you and your life.

Second, if the song is applied to my personal life, then I can't help but be amused by the lyric choice of the words "surround me with a song." When Caroline arrives, the girls will have me outnumbered by three to one. I will actually have become surrounded because of her.

Finally, the rest of the song expresses the main point that I so desperately need right now. When it comes to what you face in your situation, or to fear of failure in mine, we are not to be slaves to fear. Please note, that did not say that we are not to ever experience fear. I have long felt guilty any time that I felt fear about anything. I labored under the misinformed belief that because I was afraid, I had somehow failed to believe in or did not possess enough faith in God. It was very disconcerting.

It was also wrong. You see fear, much like doubt or sin, is a natural human experience. In fact, fear is often a beneficial and healthy emotion. What would happen to the human race without the instinctual fears that we have, such as fear of snakes or wild animals? The Bible does teach us to "fear not." But the instructions don't end there. Why are we not supposed to be afraid? "...for I am with you says the lord."

That's the key.

Fear is going to come into your life. That is inevitable. Let God into your life and into your situation. Let him have control. Follow him and lean on him. Then, and only then, you will overcome your fears.

It is ok to get scared. It is ok to be scared. It is not ok to stay scared.

You don't have to stay scared. You are no longer a slave to fear. The truth is, staying scared will not do any good for you. That's what I have to remember myself.

That's what I have to fight for in my life.


Scripture: O do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10

Quote: "Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway." - John Wayne


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Change...again.

It was Sunday, July 12, 2015.

It was the end of what will be a very memorable weekend for my family. We had just spent several days celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary. The actual anniversary was on Thursday. That evening my wife, Mandy, and I had a wonderful dinner out with just the two of us and our daughter, Melody. Then on Saturday night, we had a nice dinner celebration with a bunch of our friends and family. Sunday afternoon was spent unwinding and resting up for the coming week.

Then, everything changed...again.

I don't actually remember what I was doing. It is probably a safe bet that I was watching television. That's a fairly constant weekend activity for me. It was likely some sporting event. Then, Mandy called me back into our room. She handed me a small box and told me that she had one last anniversary gift for me. Mandy is always going above and beyond in the gift giving department. For this particular anniversary, she had already given me a banjo. I'm a guitarist and have said for years that I am intrigued by the banjo and would like to try my hand at it. So, she bought me one. Needless to say, I certainly did not expect or deserve anything else from her. So, I opened the box.

Inside were several pairs of tiny socks. (I'll be honest. As I wrote that last sentence, I heard it in the voice of Lily Aldrin.) Now most, if not all of you, have already cleverly figured out the significance. Sadly, I was not so quick. Melody is two, and I was trying to figure out why Mandy was giving me more socks for her. I totally missed the fact that they were way too small. So, I had to ask. "What are these?" Then she showed me the test.

It said we were pregnant...again.

That's how she broke it to me.

It couldn't have been more perfect...again.

We are going to have another baby. We are switching to man to man defense. We will soon be the prototypical family unit: dad, mom, and two beautiful children.

Now is a good time to share a little background. Mandy and I were married for over six years before we were finally told that it would be both medically possible and safe for us to have kids. Our oldest child is about to turn three, and we have had discussions on and off again for most of those three years about the possibility of having a second baby. I have often said, semi-jokingly, that we shouldn't have another because we had the perfect child already. Based on the horror stories that we've heard from others, we had a relatively easy pregnant and delivery, and Mel is and has been a great kid who is kind, obedient, and respectful at least most of the time. How could we possibly follow that up successfully?

Then, a few months back, we made the decision. We both wanted another baby. We hadn't really discussed it much with anyone else. We didn't broadcast to all we know that we were trying. We just began working toward our new dream.

Now that dream is coming true. With that, a new set of questions and concerns has arisen.

With our first pregnancy, my primary concerns were financial and parental. The financial worries are largely similar this time around. While we were able to economically survive having a baby once, how can we make sure we are able to do it again? For one thing, the items and supplies needed for child care have undoubtedly risen in price over the last three years. Also, we no longer have to learn to budget for a family of dad, mom, and new baby. Now we must successfully plan for dad, mom, new baby, and a growing three year old. Having experienced the economic effect of a new baby once, I feel as though we should be able to handle it again. However, the concept of a second baby is just as foreign now as a first baby was three years ago. I can't help but wonder and worry a little.

The parental concerns for a second kid are much different than they were for the first. I believe that Mandy and I have a very good approach to parenting, and I believe that the abilities and attitudes exhibited by our daughter are evidence of this. Are we perfect? No. Are we the best parents in history? Not likely. However, I am extremely proud of the person our daughter already is and is becoming and of the role my wife and I have played as parents shaping that person. New questions arise when contemplating a second child. How do we help Melody transition from being an only child to being a big sister? How do we provide appropriate levels of care and attention to both children and not risk short changing one or the other? How do we keep both kids from developing entitlement complexes and using terms like "deserve" or "fair" with regard to their sibling, parents, or the world around them? What, if anything, can we do to ensure both children remain healthy and happy? Can we avoid a repeat of Melody's hospital stay and the emotional toll that it took on my wife and me? (That remains the darkest time in my life to date.) What am I not seeing or considering? Am I missing anything?

What am I supposed to think...again?

Honestly, I still don't know what to think. The simple fact is, having one baby doesn't automatically mean that you can or should have two. Yes, there will be many similarities. However, there will be many differences as well. I have said it before, and I'll say it again. Whatever is coming will come whether I'm ready or not. So, I am going to use the same approach as I did the first time. We can do some planning as necessary, but avoid paralysis by over-analysis. Wait and see. Read and react.

After all, it has worked out very well for us thus far.

We're going to have a baby...again.

Bring it on!




Scripture: Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. - Psalm 127:3

Quote: "Well I just heard the news today. It seems my life is going to change. I close my eyes, begin to pray. Then tears of joy stream down my face." - Scott Stapp

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Love

I have been given the perfect illustration of God's love.

Would you like to see?

This...

...is my daughter Melody Joan. She provides a daily reminder of the endless love of God for me.

It is not because she was a miracle gift from him after we had been told we could not have kids and spent years as a married couple believing that we would not have a family.

It is not because she has a remarkably joyful personality, and she brings light and love to my wife and me on an endless basis.

So why is she a "perfect illustration" of God's love?

It is because she is, and most probably will remain, my one and only child.

The Bible tells us that "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) You see, Christ is the one and only son of God.

God literally sacrificed his only child on my behalf, and on your behalf.

As you read this, whoever you are, you have a certain relationship to me. You may be immediate family or a distant relative. A close friend or a mere acquaintance. A brother or sister in Christ or a complete stranger. Whatever our relationship, I have some degree of love in my heart for you. That degree varies according to our relationship and situation. I truly love some of you very dearly.

Still, would you like to guess how many of you, how many people in all of human history, mean so much to me that I would sacrifice my Melody Joan on your behalf?

To quote Phil from the mail room on Boy Meets World, "I'll give you a hint. It's less than two."

That's why she perfectly illustrates the love of God for me. Knowing how much I love her, and how unwilling I am to give her up for virtually anybody, I can appreciate how much more God loves me if he was willing to give up his son for me.

That amount of love for me is also how much love he has for you. Even if you were the only person in history, God still would have made that sacrifice. For you.

For you.

That is the truest love.

It is a truly sobering reality.

Scripture: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

Quote: "Grace means the free, unmerited, unexpected love of God and all the benefits, delights, and comforts which flow from it. It means that while we were sinners and enemies, we have been treated as sons and heirs." - R.P.C. Hanson

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Doubts

I doubt that God exists.

Wait...what?

I actually said that. I doubt that God exists.

To the few people who truly know me, that admission could be startling, unsettling, infuriating, and potentially heartbreaking. After all, I was raised in a Christian home. My entire family is Christian. I married a Christian girl, and I have been actively involved for years in various levels of service in Christian churches.

How could a guy with such a background, not believe in God?

Because of some recent changes in my life-old friendships lost, new friendships growing, and moving to a new (Christian) home church-there are other people who don't know me so well yet. These people sit and discuss God and the church with me. They play with me on the worship team at the new church, or they see me playing guitar and singing songs to God every Sunday morning and helping to lead others in worship of God.

How could that guy not believe in God?

Then there's a third group of people. You may actually be one of these people. They're past acquaintances or friends and family separated from me by great distances or the passing of time who, in between photos of my daughter and interesting historical quotes, read scriptures or Christian song lyrics that I post on Facebook. They're complete strangers who, in between rants about the flaws of the Texas Rangers or Carolina Panthers and the most brilliant 140 character quips online, read the spiritual thoughts and insights that I tweet or retweet on twitter. Perhaps they're readers of this blog, either loyal followers or someone who accidentally stumbled upon it through some long, crazy web browsing session. They've read my posts about God's freedom, God's music, and even God's justice. They see that I incorporate God into most of my writings and include at least one Bible verse or passage at the end of each post on this blog.

How could a writer with so much published material about, related to, or referencing God actually not believe in God? (The words "writer" and "published" being very loosely defined for the purposes of this illustration.)

To clarify, I didn't say that I don't believe in God. I said I doubt that God exists.

What's the difference?

The truth is that I utilized a dirty little writer's trick where I took a few words out of context, set them out as their own stand alone thought, and created a misleading point to grab the observer's attention.

You know. It's like when somebody tells you that "You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves..." (from Leviticus 19) when you start talking about finally getting that body art that you have wanted for years.

You see, if I had started off by saying "Every once in a while, because of circumstances or events in my life, there are moments in time where temporarily I wonder or I doubt that God exists...occasionally," you probably wouldn't have been as interested. It just doesn't have the same gripping effect.

I think the problem is that many people, some believers and some non-believers, have confused the concepts of doubt and unbelief. I do not think that they are interchangeable. Yet, I'm certain some of my Christian friends and family saw the beginning of this writing and immediately feared that I had turned my back on God. I've also heard atheists discuss their outlook with phrases like "Here's why I doubt that God exists." I've listened to skeptics who state that they doubt there is a God, but that it is possible

That is the difference. Doubt is not unbelief. Doubt, if not dealt with or confronted properly, can lead one into unbelief.

The definition of doubt is to be uncertain about something. It is a natural, human reaction to many things a person may (or may not) see, hear, or experience. To disbelieve something, by definition, means to withhold or reject belief. That is very different. Unbelief is not a fleeting moment of wonder or questioning. Unbelief is a personal, conscious decision to not believe.

I can remember being a kid when Nolan Ryan threw his seventh and final no hitter for the Texas Rangers. My parents had to tell me about it the next day. I didn't see it for myself. I recall arguing with them because I wasn't sure it was possible. I thought perhaps they were just playing around with me. I doubted.

How did I resolve my doubt? Two ways really. One, I listened to my parents. They were the people with more knowledge and who had actual experience with the question at hand, in this case baseball history. Two, I checked documentation. Turns out they keep records of major events in history. All you have to do is read all about it.

I have stated before that doubt is one of my most frequent struggles. This is due in no small part to my scientific background. Having spent much of my time in high school and nearly all of my time in college inside a science classroom, I have been presented with many reasons to disbelieve God. Many in the scientific community will not acknowledge the possibility of God or supernatural events because they cannot not be physically tested and explained.


Many others believe that the evidence presented by our physical world overwhelmingly indicates that everything in the universe formed and/or evolved naturally, without any influence of God at all.

That type of education combined with my analytical personality and what my wife describes as a "hyperlogical brain" probably leads me to doubt more than many other Christians might. However, it does not change my beliefs.

Allow me to state definitively: I believe that Nolan Ryan did throw seven no hitters. More importantly, I believe there is a God. I believe there is only one true God, and that he is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I believe there is a heaven and a hell and that you and I both will eventually end up spending eternity in one of those destinations. I believe that science and the diversity of life and complexity of life on Earth serves as evidence for, not against, God.

I also believe that I am not immune to doubt.

To date, the most successful post on this blog relates the story of the event in my life that tried my faith the most. It is the closest my doubt has ever come to being converted to unbelief. There have been a plethora of smaller thoughts, events, or experiences that have led to doubt.

How do I resolve my doubt? I use the same two techniques that I did with Nolan Ryan. I rely on the knowledge and wisdom of others with more experience than me. This could be family, friends, pastors, teachers, etc. Also, I check the documentation. I refer to the official record book, the Bible. I can ALWAYS find the answer there.

I often regret the fact that doubt enters my life.

I don't believe that I should feel guilty though.

Those are often the instances where I seek after, and draw even closer to, God.

Scripture: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." - Hebrews 11:1

Quote: "Science brings men nearer to God." - Louis Pasteur

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RIP Mr. Price

Today is a sad day.

Mr. Price has passed away.

Robert Price spent many years as a teacher at San Angelo Central High School. That is where I met him. That is where I remember him-in his classroom, sharing his knowledge and his love of science with hundreds of high school students.

I remember more of Mr. Price's lessons than any of those from my other teachers. And just about every Central student, whether they had to...er...make that GOT to attempt it or not, knew of his famous "bug project."

The greatest thing that he shared with me was passion for science and specifically for biology. You see, I earned my college degree in biology. Mr. Price was my first biology teacher. He was the man who truly introduced me to the discipline. More importantly, he was the first to instill a love of biology in me-a love for a study that would eventually become my college major.

I had heard recently that Mr. Price was having health problems. Sadly, in the years since I graduated, I have only seen and spoken with Mr. Price a handful of times. I regret that.

Now, he is gone.

So, I just have a few things that still need to be said.

Mr. Price, for the last time, from one biology lover to another, thank you.

And goodbye sir.


Scripture: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us," - Hebrews 12:1 ESV

Quote: "What we have done for ourselves alone, dies with us; what we have done for others and the world, remains and is immortal." - Albert Pike

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Where Words Fail

One of the great things about having a blog is that you get to share your passions with your readers. I am sure to include at least one scripture in every post I write. I have written about my wife. I have written about my daughter...on more than one occasion. If you look closely, you may even find an occasional reference to sports, movies, or TV shows like "Boy Meets World" sprinkled in to my writing. These are all passions of mine that God uses to reveal things about my world, my life, or myself.

Yet there is one very important area in my life that I have yet to write much about.

Music.

"Music is well said to be the speech of angels." - Thomas Carlyle

More than any other medium, God uses music to reach my heart. Also, I personally believe God most often and most effectively uses me through music.

I am by no means a professional musician. I don't have a record deal or a hit single on iTunes. In fact, I have never successfully written an entire song. The music that I do make doesn't reach millions of people, yet. Rather, I am very much involved in the wonderful world of music ministry. I am now, and have been for years, a guitarist (and occasional bassist, pianist, drummer, or vocalist) on my church's worship team. It is a position that I am humbled and honored to hold. It is simultaneously a privilege and a responsibility for which I could never express enough gratitude. It is a task of which I do not ever grow tired. In short, it is what I am supposed to do.

This is why I was created.

Serving my Lord and leading others into his presence through praise and worship is a truly special experience.

"Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without." - Confucius

So why haven't I written about it before? I'll tell you.

I don't know.

For some reason, I had to hear my entire philosophy on music ministry packaged perfectly into four little lines to trigger my creativity. I know this will be hard to believe at this point, but what got me going on this was, of all things, the chorus of a song.

It was like a kinder, gentler version of God's backhand smacked my forehead. "Wake up!"

"One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain." - Bob Marley

The song is a gospel song. I'm sure that, just like every gospel song, many individuals and/or groups have recorded it. The version I like is performed by the Gaither Vocal Band (another shocker) and features Guy Penrod. It's called "I'm Gonna Sing." Here's how it goes:

"I'm gonna sing just as long as it takes for a song to make sad, heavy spirits free.
I'm gonna keep making music that carries the secret that Jesus is liberty.
I'm gonna turn off the sounds that will drag people down to the pit of despondency.
With a sweet happy tune, He is coming soon for His children like you and me."

Each individual line in that chorus is a worthy aspiration of any member of a music ministry team. Add them up and consider them all together, and you have a very succinct description of what I feel music ministry is or at least should be.

The first parts of each of the first two lines speak of persistence or endurance. Music is something you can learn, improve upon, and share for the rest of your life. Your level of involvement, your position or title, or your church might change many times, but once called, you are a minister.

"Without music, life would be a mistake." - Nietzsche

If you were to call my cell phone, you would hear part of an incredible song off of the Zac Brown Band's latest record. The last part of the chorus says "When I've lived out my days until the very end, I hope they find me in my home with my guitar in my hand." That really illustrates my desire to share God through music as long as I can still breathe air.

The third line in the Gaither song tells of the power that worship music has to lift one's spirit. Now, let me be clear here. I am NOT condemning secular music. I'm not the kind of person who believes we should all listen to only Christian music. In fact, if you were to scan my personal CD collection, you would find a very eclectic array. I just love many types of music. However, I also realize that there are certain genres, artists, or songs that are truly influenced by Satan. They evoke very dark responses and emotions from the listener. These are the sounds that we need to tune out and replace with songs glorifying our Lord God.

The ends of each of the first two lines remind me of the freedom in Christ described in John 8:36 and 2 Corinthians 3:17. When you've been set free in Christ, why wouldn't you want to sing about it? I may have chosen a different word than "secret" in the second line though. It's not a secret. People may not have had the chance to hear the good news yet, but God's love is for everyone on Earth. Nobody is intentionally left in the dark. (As I write, a gut wrenching thought hits me. If I know Jesus is liberty, and the person next to me doesn't know yet, and I don't tell them, have I just turned it into a secret by keeping it to myself?)

"Music is God's gift to man, the only art of Heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take to Heaven." - Walter Savage Landor

Finally, we come to the last line. Jesus is coming soon to take us home. When he does, what do we have to look forward to? Revelation chapters 4 and 5 describe the throne room of heaven. In particular, the end of chapter 5, starting with verse 11, says this.

"Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped."

Here, we call it Revelation Song. In Heaven, it will simply be all of us giving honor and glory to God.

Holy, holy, holy is The Lord God almighty who was, and is, and is to come.

Sounds like a great praise and worship service, doesn't it?

You see, I have long felt that our job as music ministers or praise and worship leaders is twofold. One, to invite and usher in the presence of God. Two, to guide and lead those around us into that very presence.

I firmly believe, and will believe until my dying day, that when this happens, we all have the most spiritual experience possible on this mortal planet...true, honest worship of the King of Kings.

It is literally the closest we can come to Heaven on Earth.

"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." - Aldous Huxley



Scripture: "Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!" - Psalm 98:4-6

Quote: "Where words fail, music speaks." - Hans Christian Andersen

Bonus Quote: "There's energy there in music. No one ever danced to Houdini." - Penn Jillette

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