Prayer Request

     This winter, the area where I live has had a lot of storms. I've asked you to pray that they wouldn't be too bad, and we've escaped the worst of it. Once again, the prediction is for bad winter weather. Would you please pray that the weather is not too bad. Thank you. 

Verses For The Week

 Psalm 3:3 -- "But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the one who l lifts my head high."

John 16:33 -- "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Weekend Sermon -- What The Bible Says About Music -- Part 1

       Welcome to this week's sermon. I am thankful to all of those who take the time to read the sermon each week, and I am thankful to the Lord for giving me the opportunity to post these messages. 

     Last week, we finished up our series on the book of Habakkuk. This week, I am starting a new miniseries on what the Bible has to say about music. One of the reasons that I chose this topic is due to the fact that music is so important in my life. 

     Jazz and Classical are my two favorite musical genres. I prefer Jazz above all others, and it has made an important difference in my life. When I was about 16 years old, I happened on Jazz just by chance. I was listening to my radio in my room at home and was just turning the dial to find something that sounded like I might want to listen to it. I found a radio station based out of the University of Kansas that was playing Jazz. I was immediately hooked. Since that day, I honestly don't believe that there has been a day go by when I haven't listened to at listen some Jazz. Luckily for me, my friend Toby didn't mind Jazz being on. He absolutely did not like Rock or Country music. If he heard them, he would growl and go hide under the table. 

    Religious music has also been important in my life. I've gone to church since my earliest memories. I love the old hymns, and I especially like listening to organ music and large choirs. I had the opportunity to sing in three different choirs and play the trumpet in church and college. 

     The Bible tells us about many things, and the Bible has a lot to say about music. First of all let me say, the Bible is very positive about music in a variety of forms. The Bible mentions choirs, singers and instruments of all types. For instance, Psalm 150 tells us to praise the Lord with the trumpet, harp. lyre, timbrel, strings, pipes and cymbals.  Singers and instruments were part of the service that dedicated the Temple that Solomon built. 

     One of the most famous characters in the Bible was a musician. He was also a poet. You've probably already figured out that that man is David. David started out playing his harp to the sheep that he tended. He was a such a skilled player that he was brought in to play for King Saul when Saul was troubled. David's playing helped him to feel better and brought him to a different mental state. 

    David went on to use his musical and poetic talents to compose at least half of the Psalms. I'm sure that he composed many more musical and poetic pieces that we just don't know about. 

     The Psalms are all about music, even if it doesn't seem like it when we read them. They were originally meant to be sung. Over time, we've lost the original music behind the Psalms, but they were meant for worship in the Temple or in private worship.  Psalm 105:2 tells us, "Sing unto Him, Sing Psalms unto Him, talk ye of all His wondrous works."

     So, there are two points that I want to bring out in today's message. First of all, music is a good thing. I say this because some religions and some very conservative Christians are negative on a lot of music. The Lord definitely sanctions the use of music and musical instruments. We can use our voice and instruments to praise the Lord. And, music isn't just good for church and worship. It adds joy and happiness to our lives. I am about 100 percent positive that David didn't just play religious music. Jesus went to parties and weddings where music would have been played. There is nothing wrong with listening to or playing music as long as the lyrics being sung our not dishonoring to God. 

     There are many different forms of music that we can use to bring praise to the Lord. The Psalms have different patterns. Different instruments and combinations of instruments are used in the Bible to bring glory to God, and they can be used in the church today. We need to stop arguing about what type of music is right in church. If it brings glory to God and is intended to praise Him, that is what is important. 

    There is one other thing that I want to mention in the message this week. Listening to music other than Christian music is not wrong. The church I went to as a boy and young man was dead set against all music but Christian music, and they were even against contemporary Christian music. The pastor of the church almost had stroke when I told him I went to the outdoor Jazz festival in Kansas City. 

    Music that does not dishonor God is good to listen to. Music has helped me so much in my life. It helps me to not be depressed. It helps me to get through the day. I am thankful to the Lord for all of the different types of musical expression that brings joy to the world. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     I have been feeling a little bit under the weather for the past few days. Please pray that I will get to feeling better.

     Please continue to pray for an end to the coronaviruses pandemic. I am concerned about the fact in my country that they are starting to relax some of the masking standards. It seems like every time this starts, there is another upswing in cases. I pray that this is not the case this time. Speaking of the coronavirus pandemic, pray that people will care enough about their fellow human beings that they will be willing to take a few minimum precautions to keep people safe. I am tired of hearing people talk about their rights without mentioning other people's rights not to catch a disease that can kill them. I can't understand why people have made such a big issue about wearing a mask in public places. It is just ridiculous. 

     Let us continue to pray for peace in this world. Continue to pray about the situation in Ukraine. Pray for Syria, Yemen and all other areas where there is war. 

     Pray for Madagascar. That nation has been hit with a bad storm. Pray that the people will get the help that they need. Also, continue to pray for the nation of Tonga and the people who live there. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Tajikistan and Ivory Coast. Pray that many will hear about the love of Jesus. 

     Next week, I will finish our series about music. I will post the verses on Monday, and I hope to have a review of a dog book that I am reading midweek. May God bless you all. 

     

Website Recommendation

         When I come across something that I enjoy and I believe would be beneficial, I like to share it here on the blog. Over the last few weeks now, I've been studying the Welsh language on a website called Duolingo. I've learned a lot, and I enjoy the way that they use to teach you the language. I've tried studying Welsh before, and the courses I've used didn't really help me to advance very far. With Duolingo, I've progressed farther than I ever have before. If you want to learn a language, they offer instruction in many languages, I would give Duolingo a try. 

Verses For The Week

 Luke 6:36 -- "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."

Lamentations 3:22 -- "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end."

Psalm 103:8 -- "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."

Weekend Sermon -- Habakkuk -- Conclusion

      Thank you for taking the time to read the Weekend Sermon. I am thankful to the Lord that we didn't get the big snowstorm in my area. Please pray for those who are experiencing the bad winter weather right now. I hope that all of you are doing well. 

     For the past few weeks, we have been studying what the book of Habakkuk has to teach us. We have explored various themes and ideas through the first two chapters of the book. In today's message, we will finish our study by looking at what we can learn from chapter 3. 

     Chapter 3 of Habakkuk is actually a Psalm. Habakkuk starts out by giving praise to the Lord for His might and for His power. The prophet praises the Lord for His ability to do all things. The Lord is the creator and the sustainer of all that there is. The Lord is the one who has the power to bring judgment on those who do wrong, and He has the power to reward those who do what He wants them to do in this world. 

     In the context of the time in which Habakkuk was writing, the prophet was giving praise to the Lord for who He is and for what He has done even though Habakkuk knew that God was going to use the Babylonians to bring judgment upon the people of Israel. As we have learned, Habakkuk didn't understand all that the Lord was doing, but in spite of this, the prophet praised the Lord and believed that all would ultimately be done in accordance with the good will of God. 

    Habakkuk fully expresses this in Chapter 3 verses 17-18 that read, "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."

     These verses have great application for us today. There are going to be times in everyone's life when bad things happen. It doesn't matter if you are a Christian or a non-Christian. We are living in a world that is messed up and will be messed up until the day that Jesus returns and makes all things new. Because we live in this fallen world, bad things happen even to good people. 

     During the hard times in life, it can become easy to get upset with the Lord. We are often tempted during times of difficulty to turn away from the Lord and not follow Him and trust in Him in the same way that we did when everything was going along well. The test of our faith is when we can still praise the Lord and give Him glory even when things aren't going the way we planned nor the way that we would like. 

     Even though we may be facing difficult times in our lives, we do not need to be discouraged. We know that as believers in Jesus Christ, we have the victory over all in the end through the Lord Jesus.  Paul puts it this way in II Corinthians 4: 8-9 where he says, "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed, perplexed but not despairing, persecuted, but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed."

     Paul is telling us that even when it seems that things are as bad as they can be, we still have strength through the Lord Jesus to keep going. He will see us through now, and we will be with Him in the place that He has prepared for all eternity if we place our lives in His hands. 

     Habakkuk puts it like this in verse 19, "The Sovereign Lord is my strength, He makes my feet like the feet of the deer, He enables me to tread on the heights." In other words, the Lord gives us strength not to fall even in the hardest and most difficult times in our lives. God is our strength. He is the one who gives us the power and the peace in our hearts to make it when it seems that we can't go on. 

     I don't know what you might be facing today. You may be going through a really hard time, and you don't know how you are going to get through. Pray today and ask Jesus to be your strength in your times of hardship. Ask Him to be with you in a special way. Ask Him to help you to find the solution to your difficulty. Keep praising the Lord and keep believing that He loves you. No matter what bad thing happens to us in this life, we know that ultimately we will be with Jesus forever. He will wipe every tear from our eyes, and we will be at peace forever and forever. Amen.

Prayer Requests

     I want to thank everyone for their prayers. I am feeling a little better, and I am very thankful that I was able to get to work and not be stuck in the snow. 

     Please pray for those in Kentucky who are going through such a hard time. They've had the bad tornadoes, and now there is an ice storm there. Pray that the people will get the help and the aid that they need. 

     Continue to pray for Tonga. That little country needs a lot of help right now. 

     Pray for an end to the coronavirus pandemic. Pray that those who are sick will make a quick recovery. 

     Let us all keep praying for peace in the world. Pray for peace in Ukraine. Continue praying for Syria, Yemen, Chad, Ethiopia and Somalia.

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let's pray for those who live in China and Sierra Leone. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, I will post the sermon on Friday. I think that I will start a new series, but I am not sure quite yet. I will post the verses on Monday, and I hope to have a review midweek. May God bless you all. 

     

Movie Review

     I have really enjoyed the books James Bowen wrote about his relationship with his cat Bob. I've read and recommended all of the books. I also enjoyed and recommended the film about James and Bob that came out a few years back. 

    Yesterday, I found the film sequel at my local library. It is called "A Christmas Gift From Bob". Luke Treadaway once again plays James, and Bob the cat is in a lot of the movie playing himself, of course. 

    I watched this movie last night, and I liked it a lot. I think I liked it even better than I did the first film. In this story, James is thinking back to the last Christmas he and Bob were out on the streets selling papers and busking in order to make ends meet. It was really cold, and James was having a hard time finding the funds to keep the electricity and gas on . 

    On top of all of the financial problems, some animal welfare agents decide to give James a hard time about keeping Bob, and they threaten to take Bob away. 

    During the course of all this, James and Bob come to find out that they have touched the lives of many people, and they have a lot of friends who care about them. This film is a true reflection of the Christmas spirit, and I highly recommend it. You will enjoy watching it at any time of the year not just during the holiday season.