Month: January 2021

discoveryourjoy.com

thecourtesyofpinterest

you asked me
if I was fine

but what would you’ve done
if I was not?

things going on inside my head
like a bat out of hell

which makes me sometimes
an unfeeling swine

but I chose to keep
my mouth shut

even though I had
a lot to tell

you think
you know me well

but there is so much
inside of me

a lot more I could never tell!

a lot more you could never see!

“It’s smooth sailing all the way with God of the Angel Armies.” – Psalm 84:12 (MSG)

Rick Warren, author of the best-selling book – The Purpose Driven Life – claims that in order for any individual or organization to achieve success they need a picture, or symbol, that captures the essence of their mission. If I were asked to choose one symbol that communicated the mission of my life – and of every Christian’s life, really – I would choose the sailboat. Hands down, no questions asked.

I’ve always loved sailboats, and they decorate my desks and walls at home. They have always made me think of daring journeys and new destinations. But here are three truths the sailboat gives us that have the power to fill our lives with spiritual significance:

1). Sailboats are fragile.

We’re not exactly talking about the Titanic, here! Sailboats are easily tossed…

“It’s smooth sailing all the way with God of the Angel Armies.” – Psalm 84:12 (MSG)

Rick Warren, author of the best-selling book – The Purpose Driven Life – claims that in order for any individual or organization to achieve success they need a picture, or symbol, that captures the essence of their mission. If I were asked to choose one symbol that communicated the mission of my life – and of every Christian’s life, really – I would choose the sailboat. Hands down, no questions asked.

I’ve always loved sailboats, and they decorate my desks and walls at home. They have always made me think of daring journeys and new destinations. But here are three truths the sailboat gives us that have the power to fill our lives with spiritual significance:

1). Sailboats are fragile.

We’re not exactly talking about the Titanic, here! Sailboats are easily tossed…

During our “snack break” in a preaching class last night, an Asian gentleman said, “You’re a worship leader.  Can you tell me, what is the difference between Christian music and secular music?”

Now that woke me up!

Seriously.  I really had to think about that one.  Throughout history, each generation has held a certain collection of songs to be “more holy” or “more spiritual” than others.  During the Middle Ages the Church condoned only the use of Latin Chant; during the Reformation church-goers would sing Lutheran Chorales;  a few decades ago Christian people would swear up and down that their Modern Hymnals were sacred writings; and today we have split congregations right down the middle –  half of the church firmly believes that hymns are still the “most holy” music, while the other half believes just as firmly that the hymns are “dead” and that more recent praise music is…

During our “snack break” in a preaching class last night, an Asian gentleman said, “You’re a worship leader.  Can you tell me, what is the difference between Christian music and secular music?”

Now that woke me up!

Seriously.  I really had to think about that one.  Throughout history, each generation has held a certain collection of songs to be “more holy” or “more spiritual” than others.  During the Middle Ages the Church condoned only the use of Latin Chant; during the Reformation church-goers would sing Lutheran Chorales;  a few decades ago Christian people would swear up and down that their Modern Hymnals were sacred writings; and today we have split congregations right down the middle –  half of the church firmly believes that hymns are still the “most holy” music, while the other half believes just as firmly that the hymns are “dead” and that more recent praise music is…

If you were to ask me which religious song inspired me the most this past year, I wouldn’t hesitate to answer, The Love of God.  This hymn, written in 1917 by F.M. Lehman, has inspired countless generations to reflect on the sheer magnitude of God’s love for us, and has always been a personal favorite of mine.  A few months ago, however, a co-worker asked if I knew the story behind this hymn.  The more research I did, the more amazed I became at the miraculous way that God has put this hymn together through the centuries.

Tracing the history of this timeless hymn is nothing short of inspiring:

A Medieval Prayer

Akdamut Millan is an 11^th century Hebrew poem that was written by Rabbi Meir Ben Isaac Nehorai – a cantor, or “synagogue singer,” from Worms, Germany.  The poem’s title can be literally translated as “Introductory Words,” and…