Whispering Hope

          Several years ago, a local small evangelical church needed a piano player.  They contacted my wife and offered her a small stipend to play for their Sunday services.  At the time our church had plenty of musicians and didn't really need my wife, so we agreed to minister with them for a year.

          Their Sunday worship service averaged about 60 in attendance.  Their Sunday night service averaged about eight, including the pastor and his wife, the church treasurer, and Dianne and I.  During our time with them the pastor preached through Isaiah in the evenings, an hour each evening. And they didn't seem to understand why they didn't grow.

          They didn't have any musicians except for the pastor who had an excellent singing voice.  Their folks were nice but they kept to themselves.  We never really felt accepted by them – we were outsiders.  I was never asked to lead in prayer, lead singing or participate in the services.  We did sing one duet during our year with them.

          However, we did enjoy our time with them.  They enjoyed Dianne's playing.  But why wouldn't they?  God has blessed her with a special gift.

          But looking back there is one event that I really regret.  There was an elderly widow who attended regularly.  We tried to be friends with her.  Then one Sunday morning she came to me and said she was going to sing a solo that morning.  She wanted the pastor and I to provide some background for her number, "Whispering Hope".

          Now I had never heard her sing. We had no music.  And I really didn't want to do it.  Fortunately, I had a good excuse and could tell the truth.  I had a very bad cold and couldn't sing that morning.  So, I said that I couldn't do it.

          But, the pastor sang background alone for her.  It was terrible.  When we got in the car to go home, Dianne asked me what I thought.  I said that it was the worst thing I had ever heard.  We both burst out laughing and didn't stop until we got home.

          Now that years have gone by, I realize how wrong my reaction really was.  The widow was doing it for the Lord.  It was her offering for the Lord. It now reminds me of the story in the Bible of the widow who gave her last coin.  And it meant so much more than the large gifts given by others.  And now I believe the same thing could be said about this widow's song – it was her best!  Now I am embarrassed by my thoughts.  I was wrong and have accepted it differently.

          And what about the thoughts of the congregation?  They responded to the music with loud "Amens" throughout the church.  

          They understood what at the time I did not.

Yes, they said that

          Some grade school teachers must agree that students say the strangest things, because they keep journals of amusing things their students have written in papers. Here are a few examples:

 

- The future of "I give" is "I take."

 

- The parts of speech are lungs and air.

- The inhabitants of Moscow are called Mosquitoes.

- Water is composed of two gins. Oxygin and hydrogin. Oxygin is pure gin. Hydrogin is gin and water.

- (Define H2O and CO2.) H2O is hot water and CO2 is cold water.

- A virgin forest is a forest where the hand of man has never set foot.

- The general direction of the Alps is straight up.

- A city purifies its water supply by filtering the water then forcing it through an aviator.

- Most of the houses in France are made of plaster of Paris.

- The people who followed the Lord were called the 12 opossums.

- The spinal column is a long bunch of bones. The head sits on the top and you sit on the bottom.

- We do not raise silk worms in the United States, because we get our silk from rayon. He is a larger worm and gives more silk.

- One of the main causes of dust is janitors.

- One by-product of raising cattle is calves.

- To prevent head colds, use an agonizer to spray into the nose until it drips into the throat.

- The four seasons are salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.

- The climate is hottest next to the Creator.

- The word trousers is an uncommon noun because it is singular at the top and plural at the bottom.

- Syntax is all the money collected at the church from sinners.

- The blood circulates through the body by flowing down one leg and up the other.

- In spring, the salmon swim upstream to spoon.

- Iron was discovered because someone smelt it.

- In the middle of the 18th century, all the morons moved to Utah.

- A person should take a bath once in the summer, not so often in the winter.

- The law of gravity says no fair jumping up without coming back down

- You can listen to thunder and tell how close you came to getting hit. If you don't hear it, you got hit, so never mind.

- A vibration is a motion that can't make up it's mind which way it wants to go.

- There are 26 vitamins in all, but some of the letters are yet to be discovered.

- Vacuums are nothings. We only mention them to let them know we know they're there.

- I'm not sure how clouds are formed, but clouds know how to do it, and that's the important part.

- Water vapor gets together in a cloud. When it gets big enough to drop, it does.

- Rain is saved up in cloud banks.

- It is so hot in some places that people have to live in other places.

The Great Disappointment

           Sunday will mark the anniversary of "The Great Disappointment", an event which had it happened would have changed all our lives.
          In the early 1800's there was much speculation about the exact day and year when Christ would return.  Among those making predictions was William Miller, a minister from New York. After much study he felt that the return would come on October 22, 1844.
          As that date approached a foreboding fell over New England.  People gathered in churches and on mountaintops. Many normal activities ceased while folks watched the skies and looked for the sudden end of the world.
          But, alas, nothing happened.  Many Christians became disillusioned.  Some became cynical. The event became known as "The Great Disappointment".

          Miller and his followers forgot Christ's warning against setting dates. Matthew 24:36, "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father".
          Miller predicted a few more dates, also without Christ's return. Miller responded publicly about his mistakes, writing, "I confess my error, and acknowledge my disappointment; yet I still believe  that the day of the Lord is near, even at the door.
          Well I do agree with part of his conclusion.  I also believe the day of the Lord is near.  It could be today and we are to be ready.  As He tarries there is still much for us to day in this sinful world.

          An old song sums up my hope.

                                   (1)    Often my soul has been lifted above

Lost in the ocean of God's mighty love

Higher and higher, but once still I say

I'm going higher someday

 

I'm going higher, yes higher someday

I'm going higher, yes higher to stay

Over the mountain, beyond the blue sky

Going where none ever sicken or die

Loved ones will meet in that sweet by and by

I'm going higher someday

 

(2)    Soon will the Savior appear, bless His name

And in a moment, we all will be changed

Then when he calls for his bright come away

We're going higher someday

 

I'm going higher, yes higher someday

I'm going higher, yes higher to stay

Over the mountain, beyond the blue sky

Going where none ever sicken or die

Loved ones will meet in that sweet by and by

                                        I'm going higher and someday!

Be ready, it might even be today!

A Ministry

          As I was nearing retirement, I knew that I needed a hobby to keep me active.  Most of my life I earned money doing writing assignments for newspapers.  I also spent time writing a book for my grandchildren.  So I liked to write.
          Blogs were rather new two decades ago but I thought I would give this a try.  So, I started a personal blog which was fun but did not have much of an audience.  And the only place I had to publish it was on the Awana website which I ran.  But that made it difficult for potential readers to find it.
          Then the Lord directed me to the idea of a weekly hymn blog.  I also found a google site that allowed blogs without any cost.  The blogs were open to any reader with internet access.  So, on October 19, 2008 I published my first hymn blog, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness".

          I am still amazed at how fast my readership grew.  As of today (July 23) I have had 1,252,058 visits.  These have been people from all over the world.  As a result, this has become a ministry and not just a hobby.
          Over the years here are the most popular hymns that people have visited.
1.  What a Day That Will Be,  2. Peace, Peace Wonderful Peace,  3. It Will Be Worth It All,  4. Bringing in the Sheaves,  5. I Shall Know Him,  6. Finally Home,  7. The Old Rugged Cross,  8.  No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus,  9. Learning To Lean,  10.  Higher Ground.
          Let me close this blog by including some of the many comments that readers have left for me over the years.  

          + When singing this song, my heart feels peace, my mind imagines heaven on that day I shall meet my Redeemer face to face. It a hymn of peace and joy. Glory to God and Praises be His name for this song.

          + I was up praying now and Holy Spirit just brought this song fresh into my heart, I have to search for it on line and behold I found it here, is still asking me again and again that HAVE I LAID IT ALL ON THE ALTER?

          + Thank you so very much, Bro. Barry. I'm 70 years old and still gravitate to the older gospel songs of my youth. These Scripture-based songs convicted, gave hope, had true praise, and so much more. they contained words you don't even hear from most pulpits like SIN, BLOOD, REPENT, ATONEMENT, and JUDGMENT.

           + I'll soon be 78 years old. I grew up in a family with missionary parents who exposed us to all kinds of Christian music. Out of nowhere, as I first awoke this morning, the words 'when Jesus comes, the tempter's power is broken' came to mind so I immediately googled. What a powerful message, so timely always but especially fitting in today's world.

          + This old song came back to me this morning as I was contemplating and praying about what to do. My mother is 100 1/2 years old, still lives independently in a retirement village but is now beginning to lose her balance and fall.
          + I have always feared having to have her in a nursing home and that seems to be what is ahead of us. This song came to my mind in the midst of those thoughts and prayers. I know the Lord will guide us and open the right doors leading us on to His perfect will for her.
          + Thank you so much for posting these precious hymns for those of us blessed to have been raised on hymns, Gaither music, and other non-repetitive music with a real message.
          +This was one of my mom's favorite hymns. It gives me such peace and assurance because she had that confidence, to one day see our wonderful Jesus. I long to see both of them!

          + Hello my name is David from South Africa and a born again Christian and loves the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To me He is my everything my Alpha and the.Omega. 

           +This is a hymn I remember singing as a child. I remember my elderly Grandmother singing alto to this wonderful song also singing it as a child in Sunday School. It brought tears to me because JESUS gave HIS life for me and I can vow to live my life for HIM!

          +Thank you for sharing this! We have not found many songs written on the mercies of God, and the history behind this one is a blessing as well. God bless!

          + I look forward to each Sunday's hymn! Thank you for sharing the hymn's history as well as a video! I'm a "senior" like you and find that living "moment by moment in His care" is very satisfying! "The virus" has allowed me to slow down and enjoy the moments He has given me! Keep the hymn messages coming! And the Peace of God be on you as you journey on with the Lord Jesus!

          +I look forward to each Sunday's hymn! Thank you for sharing the hymn's history as well as a video! I'm a "senior" like you and find that living "moment by moment in His care" is very satisfying! "The virus" has allowed me to slow down and enjoy the moments He has given me! Keep the hymn messages coming! And the Peace of God be on you as you journey on with the Lord Jesus!

          + My husband and I are missionaries in Mexico, we have been there 18 years, we went there later in life. We are now 61 and 58 years old.  Out of the clear blue, my husband began singing this song.

          + It's been so long since I heard this wonderful song; thank you, Barry for sharing it this week. The timing was right on for me. God has been "breaking" me and I weep; but, the "spilling out" is coming and I look forward to that. AND, one day soon, I will be with my Saviour who was broken and spilled out for me. Praise the name of Jesus!

Remembering Octobers

          October – one of my favorite months.  Cooler temperatures, leaves changing colors, football, baseball play-offs, and much more.
          But years ago, during my lifetime, the start of October annually brought stress to pastors and their families in our denomination because it was decision time.  In the middle of the conference week they could be told that they were being transferred to a different church in a different town.  Without ant warning they would need to pack up and move.  The children would be forced to change schools and childhood friends.  It was a stressful time for many.
           I was aware of some of this stress since it affected my grandparents, my father and my aunts for many years.  It also affected me as a member of our church since we had to wait until Sunday to see who our pastor would be for the next year.

         We attended a small church and movement of pastors was common for us.  We had five different pastors before I graduated from college.  But only once did we know a change was coming and that was because our previous pastor had died.  And I remember waiting for the news of who the new one would be.  Because of my involvement with our denomination I knew many of the pastors and had my favorites.

          And when the news finally came, I was stunned.  Pastor John Dunn was assigned to us and I was very disappointed. He was older.  He had a deformed arm.  He was short. He was not very dynamic.  He would not have been my choice.  But he was God's choice for us at that time.
          Pastor Dunn was a godly man who loved the people.  He visited.  He cared and he was very adequate in the pulpit.  Under his ministry we grew and we expanded.  God worked under his ministry.  And he was definitely one of the top three pastors I ever had.  I thank God for directing that assignment.

          Before he retired, the denomination changed the pulpit procedure giving churches the opportunity to call pastors of their choice.  No more do pastors and families have to face a possible sudden move during conference week in October.

          The change is great for pastors but I'm not always so sure it is always better for the church.  Who can argue with a process where God makes the choices rather than congregations.  I'm glad He made the choice that year for us.