Tag / worship

by vunglaub

Entrance Antiphon

“The biggest  closet is the church “the old woman told the child. “But we cant go there  Grammy ,the doors are locked” the child told the old woman. “I will take you to a secret one “the old woman whispered as they walked down the sidewalk.

Today side by side they walk towards a chapel. It is a very strange day in history when all the churches are  closed like vaults because of a virus. Still, the old woman took the child in hope ..in Hope the child might know God. 

Fifty years earlier, I was child. I rode my bike many places. It was long before it became common for men and women to abduct and abuse, before it became dangerous to ride without helmets and phones, before bikes had many styles and gears. It was in the days when a red Schwinn bike could take you to the biggest prayer closet in town. And so it took me one day, my first day of worship in a church. 

I was very thirsty on my ride and found the park waterfountain out of water . So I thought if the church was open they may have water. I pulled the door open. It was like Alice opening into a wonderland. Suddenly I realized  I  also might find out about a question I asked my mother the night before. “Who is God?”

A friend , Susan McGahee , talked  every day about “God”  as if  he was someone in her family . She would often introduce me to “God” by referring to him often and saying I needed to meet Him.  But  everytime I  would say ” God” , it  felt awkward. I was certain it sounded to her I might not like him. I was somewhat suspicious since my father had told me to not trust people that talked about “God”. And I just wanted to know it wasnt someone she made up in her imagination. Fifty years ago every child had a great imagination. There was no doubt that she or anyone else could have made up a character called “God”. 

When I entered that first church, I didnt plan to ask bout “God” but, something about this big closet demanded a either a request or a greeting. For those who knew “God” they might greet him. But I did not know Him so when I saw a box with a labeled “prayer requests” I wrote my request. I had just had the word request in my vocabulary list and knew its definition.

Though I was 10 years old , I felt as big and bold as an adult in a prayer closet . I wrote”Hi Mr. God who are you? Let me know you like my friend Susan” I folded it tightly in a square , slurped from the fountain beside the wooden box , left singing the chorus of a song my mother played “I really wanna know you” from “my sweet lord” by Beatles member George Harrison. This was my first encounter with church and this was my first entrance antiphon. 

Entrance antiphons start the mass with an expectancy. An expectancy that we will meet  God and he will meet us in  our minds and hearts.  As the leader anounces “the enterance antiphon”, folks rise, even since the beginning of Christianity, to say a text or verse of the psalm . It’s friends, brothers and sisters , in unison, greeting and asking of God. 

Even folks that are not catholic enter their prayer closets with such intention. They want to meet with God. It is the knock on the door of heaven when we say from our hearts “show me your ways oh God” . The enterance antiphon  has been the created way of the church since its inception. Not because of mans intent, does the antiphon enter our worship,  but because of  God’s intent in us. God creates us requesting of Him to show Himself  and Him desiring to fulfill our requests by showing Himself to us. 

It was for 48 more years that I entered the empty open churches with my own enterance antiphon. Most all my requests were desperate pleas and most all were childlike . And everyone of them , every enterance antiphon ,placed as a prayer request , was answered by the one I first called “Mr God.”

I write this now outside such a church . I write this outside the biggest prayer closet of all… the Catholic Church. I write this now as I watch the old woman and little girl sanitize their hands before going into a chapel, a closet that is always open.A closet that is always open when everywhere is closed.  I write this now knowing that forever little girls can ask “Mr God who are you?” and get an answer. 

Notes:

  1. Entrance antiphons were first solidified as part of the mass by Pope Celestine 1 432 . In early time,  lines from  the psalms of David were to be sung. Presently , mostly psalms are used but, other scriptures from the old testament and sometimes new, are used. It is usually a short sentence that reflects the core  message of the mass for the day. For me it sounds as if it is a souls summary of the Lords intentions for the day… but that is only my interpretation. I am after all a closet catholic. 
  2. https://youtu.be/8qJTJNfzvr8My Sweet Lord was a song by George Harrison that tried to incorporate Christianity into all religions. A postmodern song with the intent to bring peace among all religions with a sweet chorus ” I really want to know you” that God did indeed use for me. But Jesus would return with His antiphon… no , “I did not come to bring peace but a sword ” “I am the way the truth and the life, no man can come to the father but through me” Matthew 10:34,John 14:6

 

 

 

by vunglaub

Live Stream

They said that I could not come and see you

They said I could imagine you were here with me

They said I should  dress as if you were coming to see me

They said  I should put chair and cross and water out for you

So I did , I dressed , I lit a candle , and in a bowl I poured water

And Suddenly, before  I could kneel, before I could think on you , before  I invited you to  come

you came. … as a voice of light on all that I thought about you

You came with a legion of light in places hiding from you

you said that you came to see me

you said that you are more than I can imagine

you said I can sit with you

You said to see your love on the cross

You said to drink of your water

you said “you are lovely”

you wrapped and warmed and wooed me in your arms of light.

4Th Sunday in Lent

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.””

‭‭John‬ ‭8:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

 

by vunglaub

My Everlasting New

I told them “time is always new when it finds its rest in you.”

I told them of days so pure yet wild , with your love so true.

How it is  lit with flashes of your Face Of never setting Rays ..

Dew drips Mercy on mornings  “Amen ” from you  oh Ancient of days.

Oh havoc of hurricanes and hate , my Enemies plead me to ” remember….”

Instead I turn in labor groan to your watch nights late in December.

I push for Glad tidings of Hope as these  Sad longings grieve to leave.

More yet more will be born Anew , Oh Lord , as with you, I push to believe!

All the while , you take my years in your  hand and thrust them into flight,

all the while you hold my face at your chest so I might become your delight!

And though I hear clocks on your wrist tick tick tock my days  to only few,

Your Open Heart will ever beat” There is Eternity for me and you !”

Father Time seems harsh to  fling  us all through such years to the Grave

But its You oh Jesus who woos me to High heaven , and guides me through this dark cave!

I love you more and more anew oh ancient one of ancient days

For Time is now swallowed by your Word and burned by its Eternal rays

I now see Our days together will be more than galaxies or stars in the sky!

I now see Your Love for me is beyond that where deepest seas lie!

Oh Ancient of Days let’s NOW plan “Whats New ” not on manmade calendar lines

For NOW my New rests in you forever, The One, I love who lives outside of time!

************************************

“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.”

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭7:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

by vunglaub

Advent #8

Isaiah 44, Genesis 3

Come oh Come oh Foot of Jesus to the ground beneath THIS TREE. . .

Does your foot still come to corrupt gardens , does it come crushing bud and head?

Does it come crush double faced flowers and snakes long ago dead?

Come oh Come oh Foot of Jesus to the ground beneath my feet. . .

Does your foot still come in snowy fields , does it come where limbs stiffly pray?

Could it come pick me amidst trees that bend and break and sway?

Come oh Come oh Foot of Jesus to the ground beneath the dirt. ..

Does your foot still bleed into these roots, does it come where sin and doubt do rot?

Could it soak this evergreen right here and uproot me for your pot?

Come oh Come of Foot of Jesus , please dig me out from this ground. . .

Does your foot still move across the barren, does it move through filth with snow?

Could it bring me to your home of Lights and from your light  would  I glow?

Come oh Come oh Foot of Jesus, lift me to the beauty of your arms . .

And carry me carry me to the house of Our Father where I will be a TREE dressed in heavens charms!

“And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.

And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3:8, 14-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

http://bible.com/1/gen.3.8,14-15.kjv

“For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭44:3, 23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

http://bible.com/1/isa.44.3,23.kjv

by vunglaub

Reformation Day 

Reformation is Revival. And so , now in these “last days”when The Holy Spirit yearns to make The Bride the One Pure reflection of the Bridegroom, we press in prayer for Revival . We need no longer to be “formed” and “transformed “and “re-formed” , we need to be regenerated Alive !!! I repost this poem to burn the two most hideous cancers in the Bride of Today, PRIDE and HYPOCRISY. I repost that we may … that I may …agree with the Father to be purified and Revived!

The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites.  Who among us shall dwell with the DEVOURING FIRE? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? Isaiah 33:14 And the Lord answered me; and said  . . Behold His Soul is puffed up and not upright , BUT THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITH. Habakkuk 2:4

Pride and Hypocrisy dressed for church  one day. 

Pride put on swagger and hypocrisy put on sway .

Both went to church  and both  were invited to stay.

Early one morning they rose from their bed

Hypocrisy and pride shook their sleepy head.

They looked at each other, no need for a mirror.

There is nothing to see when you are without error.

Emotionless  they spoke, the princess and the knight.

“we must be in love because we look so right”

Pride and hypocrisy dressed for church one day 

Pride put on swagger and hypocrisy put on sway 

Both went to church  and were invited to stay.

No need to rinse the white wash face of last week

One splashed on “bold “and the other splashed on “meek”.

Buttoned  and blinged in the finest of coat,

one dressed as sheep the other as goat.

He ,with Pocket full of bills ;Her ,with purse and phone

Morning Offerings were  made ready  to the god called “unknown”

Tithes were first  to be paid to their Facebook and text.

Then God given affections were  paid to seculars and sects.

 Pride and hypocrisy dressed for church  one day .

Pride put on swagger and hypocrisy put on sway .

Both went to church  and were invited to stay.

Into the church , how  their ears itched and burned

Their lips greeted the “whole” but, the “broken” they spurned .

From their  pleasantries they chose only a few.

like “halleluiah  ” and “amen” and “may the lord bless you”.

Then, they hurried to sit  near the altar before the curtain most thick

Intending to not be “too cold or  too hot ” lest Jesus get sick.

 Pride and hypocrisy dressed for church one day 

Pride put on swagger and hypocrisy put on sway 

Both went to church and were invited to stay.

Each Song they sang  with right pitch and key

 as their Hands  raised ready for everyone to see.

The Words they sang  their mind soon forgot.

The Words they sang  their heart knew not.

For Pride and Hypocrisy were dressed with a grin

allowing no pain or tear to move from  within.

 for  Pride and Hypocrisy had forgotten they sinned.

Pride and Hypocrisy dressed for church one day

Pride put on swagger and hypocrisy put on sway

Both went to church and were invited to stay. 

Now, everything was the same as of Sunday before.

Except for a Holy gentleman who  walked through the door.

He stealthily walked by every person and pew.

Looking intently for a likeminded soul or two.

None could be found from the door to the altar,

Except one or two who cried from the psalter.

In fury His feet marched forward  and His eyes burned Fire.

Till he came to hypocrisy and pride and shouted “Liar!”

He saw Pride and hypocrisy in church on that day

Pride with his swagger and hypocrisy with her sway 

Both were in church and were held hostage to stay.

A flame released from The Holy man’s eyes like a torch.

And the flame soon caught the thick  curtain to  scorch.

The curtain became like a track and the fire like a train.

Flames kindling clothes while the “few”  cried  for rain.

Yet hypocrisy curled inward  and clung to her  cape.

And pride shouted loudly  while looking for  an escape.

While the fire glistened like mirrors showing death all around.

Hypocrisy and Pride  could only look up as they fell to the ground.

Flames quickly burned every garment and burned every door.

And left hypocrisy and pride as a heap of ashes on the floor.

Pride and hypocrisy dressed for church one day.

Pride put on swagger and hypocrisy put on sway.

Both went to church and were invited to stay.

REFERENCE :

“So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23:28‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.23.28.esv

“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.7.5.esv

““Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.6.1.esv

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23:25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

http://bible.com/1/mat.23.25.kjv

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23:23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

http://bible.com/1/mat.23.23.kjv

“In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.”

‭‭Zephaniah‬ ‭3:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

http://bible.com/1/zep.3.11.kjv

“This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the Lord of hosts.”

‭‭Zephaniah‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

http://bible.com/1/zep.2.10.kjv

“And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭50:32‬ ‭KJV‬‬

http://bible.com/1/jer.50.32.kjv

“His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

http://bible.com/1/rev.1.14.kjv
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

http://bible.com/1/2ti.4.3.kV
“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

http://bible.com/1/rev.3.16.kjv

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/2co.3.18.esv

by vunglaub

A Sunday Shooting

This poem was written Sunday Oct 2 before I heard of the Las Vegas shooter. It is not about the shooting in Las Vegas but about what happens in spiritual space when we gather in our churches to WORSHIP on Sunday. Satan becomes an indiscriminate destroyer of a distracted crowd.

Sunday Shooting ( a poem)

No need for guns no need for missiles

Raise the Sickle to harvest the wheat and thistles!

Oh Lord , Our Lord

sharpen Your knife ,draw Your sword!

Cauterize our culture

kill what we horde

Sunday morn we enter in the precious door

holding free tickets as we hope with hope for more

Maybe something will lift our loud silence

a Song, a Shout, a Word without violence….

A peace from breaking pieces, a gathering for the Son

A place from the places where Satan steals our fun

No need for guns no need for missiles

Raise the Sickle to harvest the wheat and thistles!

Oh Lord , Our Lord

sharpen Your knife ,draw Your sword!

Cauterize our culture

kill dreams we horde

Surely here we have no need for missles and guns

As our band prepares to kill all our bored humdrums.

Empty yet rich we always offer change from our jar

and dream days not as now, but brilliantly afar

our jeans and leggings dance both free and tight.

hands hallowed raise our waving rite.

No need for guns no need for missiles

Raise the Sickle to harvest the wheat and thistles!

Oh Lord , Our Lord

sharpen Your knife ,draw Your sword!

Cauterize our culture

kill sins we horde

Your bishop ,he warned us to not be unaware.

Yet ,distracted ,our gaze goes here and there

Till one so small slithers invited on our scene.

Trailing grass from A garden where he first did glean.

Hell without hands he cocks missle and gun.

Loading venge filled bullet for both dead and undone.

No need for guns no need for missiles

Raise the Sickle to harvest the wheat and thistles!

Oh Lord , Our Lord

sharpen Your knife ,draw Your sword!

Cauterize our culture

kill self we horde

Who crouches in the windows above the scene?

And rapid fires these bullets to destroy God’s redeemed?

While one shoots back with a word from above

And minstrels sing a muted song about Everlasting Love.

Likewise the door of heaven swings to receive this earths Cry

Of those few and bended singing

” Mercy! Mercy from the Most High”!

As He ,the One of the One, saddles Donkey and Horse

With Wind and Water, We feel the move of His Force

boldly He barrels to the certain and few

commanding “NOW bread  NOW wine to all Satan slew!

He Speaks:

There is no need for guns or for these missals
I AM the sickle and harvest both wheat and thistles
I AM  sharper than any of your knives or sword
And I pull angel armies from on high downward

I lift every soul as it drops to the floor . . .

And I quicken , I gather , saying mine and mine ,forevermore’!”

Post note:

Every Sunday If our eyes are not on Him and Him alone , we become a casualty…….

Even in church . In essence we are a casualty  whenever we take our worship casually. In these moments, we are a wide target for Satan. He takes opportunity to shoot  at  our faith leaving us weak wounded  unbelieving hypocrits.

It has happened to us all. Parched wounded dying from thirst we can barely pray.

Strangely, after reading this a week later, I could see that the shooter in Las Vegas and the Enemy have much in common …the same way of operating. The tragedy felt ,in my soul ,like a picture of an invisible spiritual reality.

In as much as we recognize that there are evil people, we must recognize there is an Evil One, the Devil. And , in as much as we recognize that an evil person can invade an area without our knowing so, we must recognize that the Father of Evil tries to get into every good place. Even church.  

It may seem we are as helpless as the victims in Las Vegas. And were it not for Jesus in us  and the Holy Spirit for us we are victims!.

But true Worship is the rise of the voice of the Son in Us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He who is Our Praise is  Jesus and the Joy of our praise is the Spirit.Together, United with Chist in us , the Spirit moving us,  is the FAthers Greatest Praise!  May The Bride , The Church , Take time before Sunday to see how this Beautiful Saviour Stands ready to release all of Heaven to purify us as we worship.

Behold, How He comes when we stand at His door singing of Him to Him for Him and through Him !In this moment …..

Sunday worship , despite the Enemy attacks, there remains the greatest concert of our worship. God delights to send His Spirit and all of heaven to join a church looking to its Head ! While our hearts and hands and heads are up , the Father releases armies upon armies of angels.

These angels not only sing but fight to fight for us to sing with them ! Perhaps they are singing our songs as they fight for Jesus’s Bride.

And without ceasing,in prayer and worship may we be one in praying for the victims in Vegas . May we pray and praise our Father in Heaven as He works against this tragedy that interrupted a concert. May we be certain the Perfect concert awaits In heaven through His Son Jesus.

So He explained. “The farmer who sows the pure seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the pure seeds are subjects of the kingdom, the thistles are subjects of the Devil, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, the curtain of history. The harvest hands are angels.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13:37-39‬ ‭MSG‬‬

http://bible.com/97/mat.13.37-39.msg

“in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2:11‬ ‭BOOKS‬‬

http://bible.com/31/2co.2.11.books

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from Godʼs sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:12-13‬ ‭BOOKS‬‬

http://bible.com/31/heb.4.12-13.books

by vunglaub

Beautiful Song

“He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:11‬ ‭

Geno got to see his  brother today.

Geno got to see Dennis today. Kinda strange how Our Father gets us all together over time. Geno left out of this town without as much of a good bye on his birthday. And today , bout a month later, his brother Dennis did the same thing.

 They both just “high tailed” it out of here without a word.They both went to a city whose designer and builder is God.

I don’t know why Dennis went chasing so fast after Geno. All I could think was that he got all frustrated . He got frustrated , like the rest of us, with saying “good bye”. 

We’ve all been trying to say bye to Geno since he left last month. We have tried every day and even late into the night. Folks in his town even made a billboard at Chicken Delight saying “We miss you Geno”. I reckon that they put it there just  in case Geno wanted to grab a wing before going or just in case Geno was looking back that might  see his name all big on a billboard.

We all tried lots of other ways to say good bye to Geno. Some with flowers, some with paintings, some with food, some with photos, some with words, some with tears. But we all knew Geno was far away . And we all knew that …only our Love made perfect, in Jesus , could really reach and touch Geno. He was just that far away. He was just that close to Jesus. 

Geno was a long way gone. Lots of songs are written bout folks leaving without good bye’s. Country and folk and blues all  cry from the heart of the one left behind.  But, when folks leave for good, when they are “a long way gone” it’s a whole different song. 

When we have folks we love  leave for good ,our sad hearts try to sing a song that just doesn’t fit in any category. It doesn’t even feel like a song. It feels like a cry from the dirt of the ground. It is off key and wordless. It is cold like silence with a groan.

Singing
It wasn’t ever like that with Geno. It was never cold silence. And though Geno wouldn’t talk much and often would just grunt , “ha ha”,” hee hee”, “humph”, “yes mam”, “uh huh,”;Geno never ever groaned. 

Geno never groaned cause Geno always had a song. And ,cause he always had a song, when the preacher would call “Geno , I need you to play a song on Sunday”, Geno was ready. 

Geno was ready since the day he turned face to face with Jesus. He called this place with Jesus “a place of joy”. He was always ready with new strings tightened and his guitar tuned to show off this place of joy”.

“ If God calls you to the altar to give everything to Him and you give it to Him , you are Free, free to do anything He asks.  . and what he asks brings joy” was what Geno last said to me three days before he left town.



Geno was joyfully free. And He would pick a set of songs Our Father would give him to tell us all how  free we can be. Geno was free to play many songs. And, If church were a bar , we could have requested any song and he would play it . He would play it ,not asking for  a single coin for his case. 

But , in the church,  the pick was Geno’s . So with each set of songs for church, Geno would pick a song called  “10000 reasons”. And instead of coins in his case,  Geno had 10000 reasons of joy in his soul.

Bless the Lord Oh My Soul10000 reasons
10000 reasons is a song based on psalm 103 where King David remembers all the blessings of Our Fathers goodness. The son after Our Fathers heart, David, serenades Our Father with “all the benefits “ of being a child of God. And ,like a big boy child, Geno would stand with guitar strapped around his shoulder, dressed in a white shirt, radiant with a joy unspeakable and play  his guitar before his Father. Soon, with a verse or two, we all felt the same joy. Singing “Bless the Lord oh my soul , oh my soul and worship His holy name”.



Then eyes of folks hearts opened as they saw the Bigness of God. And seeing made their souls fat with Praise.! For as large as the Father , as vast as His creation are the 10000 thankyous waiting  to bless Him. Every soul heard the commanding BLESS The LORD oh my SOUl when their eyes saw His goodness!

Geno seemed to sing from a deep place where He saw the Goodness and Mercy of our Father. I don’t know if he was on key or off key but he was in tuned to Our Father. And even if we couldn’t name it everyone one of us knew … really knew that we too had a reason to sing.


“YOUR RICH IN LOVE AND YOURE SLOW TO ANGER
YOUR NAME IS GREAT AND YOUR HEART IS KIND
FOR ALL YOUR GOODNESS I WILL KEEP ON SINGING
10000 REASONS FOR MY HEART TO FIND” we joined Geno. All one voice. One voice full of joy . Those were the days before Geno and Dennis left without a goodbye.

Sing Like never Before
I play “10000 reasons”10000reasons real loud in my car on my way to church as I go through the town Geno left. As the car moves east, I remember Geno. I remember times when Geno would sing 10,000 reasons and I would want to start singing with him as soon as he began to strum .  Aching to start singing, I would tighten my lips waiting for others to sing.

.
“why don’t ya go ahead and sing mam?” Geno would ask.

He was really asking me “why don’t ya live free”. And his wife ,Rita might have said it that way.
“Well , I cant sing very well. . . Im really off key” I told Geno.
“That’s okay God makes it all beautiful” Geno said with a warm chuckle. Geno always warmly chuckled after a sentence where he said “beautiful”
And I would say “Beautiful” back to Geno. 

                                                                            I would say it slowly “ Beautiful . . Geno tell me again about your older brother” I would request. 

Geno would then tell me about his older brother “John John”. John  John was a brother that did not “know “the way most folks  “know,”or think the way most folks think or act as most folks act. So folks called John John special names .But he himself chose never to call anyone such a name. Instead he chose to call everyone “beautiful” .”John John “left town” a long time before Geno and Dennis left town. And , unlike his brothers   , John John probably said “goodbye Beautiful” to everyone when he left. He  was “beautiful” like that , Geno and Dennis would say. 

 I think John John waited a long time for today.  He waited a long time to see his brothers. But  to him , like Our Father, it was like barely waiting  a day. I bet today  he holds his two brothers  hands feeling like not a day had been between them at all. It probably feels as if they never needed a goodbye. 

But “John John” didn’t know a lot of what he missed down here with us. For example , he never heard Geno sing 10000 reasons. . It will be a whole new  song for him in that ” city of God”. And even though Geno and Dennis sang this song , it will be a new song for them too !. It will be a song ,perfected in Love , and it will be in perfect key.

 And , maybe just  maybe,  if we turn to Jesus ,and worship Him today , it may be the “good bye” none of us got to hear or say to Geno and Dennis before they went away.  Just maybe ,  if we listen with the ears of our heart , we may hear echos from heaven as …

 . . . . as they sing to us. . . .
“ON THAT DAY WHEN OUR STRENGTH WAS FAILING
THE END DREW NEAR AND OUR TIME HAD COME
No time was lost because …STILL OUR SOULS SING PRAISE UNENDING
1000 YEARS AND THEN FOREVER MORE!!!

And we might not think we need a “Good bye ” after all. .. 

This post is for Mary , Rita and Carol ….dear sisters left behind  with souls that also sing now and forever more. !

1. “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:10‬ ‭

2.“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:” 1Peter‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬
 

by vunglaub

In Wonder Land ( a child’s view of Church ) based on September services

Childhood Painting 012 Who is like you , Oh Daddy, among all men? Who is like you, majestic in Holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? Who is Love ! Exodus 15:11, 1 John4:9b

“This blasted rocker is always getting caught!’ Uncle Grumble said to his niece . (1)

The girl looked up from the porch floor where she knelt, drawing. “Let me help ya Uncle Grumb.” She slid her knees across the old wooden porch.

“Hmm ” she said after a quick study of the rocker and floor boards beneath .”Looks like ya done worn the wood thin and its all rotten underneath . Lets scoot ya over.” She stood up and ran to the end of the porch. ” Hey, ya can come over here Grumb. We will turn the rocker this way. Its a better view . Ya can see the sun set from here . I’ll help ya. first, let me get my stuff.” She ran back to her uncle.

“Hold on kid. I’ve been looking at these same woods for years ! ” the old man said as he stared at a blanket of dense green pines, scub oaks and briers.(2) I don’t know bout looking over there . . there are only a few trees” Then, in pursuit of a distraction for the little girl, he looked down at her drawings and asked “What’s that ya drawin kid?”

Excited that her Uncle took interest ,she said “Oh uncle its a place I went on Sunday. Its Wonder Land”

“Wonder land eh. . moons and stars and a sun with a heart around it?”

The girl sighed . “Not really. I wish I could draw what it looks like. I just thought I would draw the big special beautiful things I know to show how i feel about Wonder Land. (3)

“See ” she pointed to a sun with an outline of a large heart surrounding it. “That’s God, our daddy, with the great big heart that holds the sun. You can’t see Daddy . He is invisible you know . But you can see his heart(4). . . . wait let me color it in for you . See now. . .” the girl pressed hard with her crayon pushing across the border of the heart rapidly.

“Easy girl you’re going way outside the lines ” Uncle Grumb counseled

“Its okay Grumbs, that’s God! He looks like that . . . like spilling out. Now see , “She held up the picture.

drawing

“Beautiful!!” Uncle Grumbs declared

She set the picture down “so lets move ya now Grumbs. . . over there. . . the sun is bout to set and you will get to watch it if we hurry”

Still not wanting to move Mr Grumble asked “So that’s Wonder land. Well, what about those moons and stars?”

” Oh that’s folks like us . You gotta go uncle Grumble. They got old kids like you there” The little girl said as she bent down to push the old man’s rocker across the porch. “Grumb your gonna have to stand up a bit” she said grunting

“Hold on girl” the old man lifted slightly from the chair to pull his snuff from his pocket.” Well, ya know, I have been to places like that before. ” Then mumbling ,he said “They all fizzle out and become Wonder lost”

“But Grumb. . . ugh. .” she grunted as she tried to slide the rocker beneath the man. ” You haven’t been here or you would have talked about it and told me about it.”

“I just cant go now little girl. You will see when you are my age and ya got this bad back and cataracts and. . ya know my hearing aint so good. . and look at that old dog over there. Who’s gonna watch after him. .”

“But Uncle Grumb it all goes away when you get there. All that goes away. Hey , stand up again , I almost got it off the bad spot.”

After a slight move , Grumble said, ” Well little Miss Alice in Wonderland tell me more about this fairy tale”

“Ugh!!” the little girl exclaimed stomping her feet “This is not a fairy tale!! It is real!!!”

Looking up into Uncle Grumbs eyes, she said ” I gotta tell you . . when you first get there, this Daddy (she points at the heart) makes you unpack everything at the door. But it is all easy to do . And everybody is so suprised at how much stuff they bring .But Daddy just slips it off your back and puts this fancy robe on you . It’s very light but warm robe.Its matches the robe Daddy’s son wears. He, the son is the sun.” She pointed her red crayon at the sun. I think our robes catch the light to make us into stars and moons.”

Some folks sneak stuff inside cause they wanna keep track of their stuff . Ya ain’t supposed to. It’s kinda like puttin litter in Wonder Land.”

“What kinda stuff ya talking bout ?” Uncle Grumb asked

“Oh just regular stuff like you and i got. . . like snuff and photos and trucks and whiskey and memory books and phones and Facebook pages. . you know bout facebook Grumb dont ya?”

Indignant Uncle Grumble replied, “yes little girl I know bout facebook but what do you know about whiskey and snuff?”

“Oh I just know bout it cause I peaked a look one time when I looked back at my stuff. I had to leave stuff too. I left my journals and pictures and my favorite books and drawings and even old Sam over there ” she said pointing to the dog. “Everybody leaves something. You bout gotta go in naked . . . well naked with the lightweight robe. That’s when everybody starts looking like this” she pointed at the stars.

” See Daddy gets all fat in the room and spills on everyone there and they start looking at that big sun that shows off His big love. And the light that comes from the sun makes em shine like moons and stars. So it’s like that Grumb. . . we start looking like moons and stars as we look at the Sun. ”

The porch begins to creak The rocker stops .

Suddenly the girl slaps the drawing to the ground in frustration. “But Grumble this is just a picture, you have to go there!! This is just a little girls drawing. There is no special power in this. You just have to go to Wonder land. Lets move this rocker before that board falls through”

Uncle Grumble resists “Here is my wonder land right here on this porch. He shifts his rocker a few inches away from the divet in the wood, “I ain’t moving ”

“Well then, Uncle Grumble.” the girl sighed. ” I will tell you how everybody turns into a star or a moon. ” The girl sat Indian style by her picture. “Once Daddy takes all the junk , he then gives us something like glasses. He sets them right on our nose and over our ears and over our eyes. so you begin to not only see but hear and smell and . . well everything is different. “(5)

“Wait a minute little whippersnapper, I know bout them 3 D glasses that you get at them new fangled places you go on Sunday morning”

“No , it’s not 3D it’s. . . well it’s like infinite D. You see everything . You see wonderful in all things. The room lights up with the stars and moon as they reflect wonderful things. See my friends Jackie and Rita , Barbara and Ernie and bunches more. . look at em all: they sparkle. See that’s them” she pointed to three stars and a moon. Then she pulled out a yellow crayon and began to draw more stars.

“Why is that one a moon?” Uncle Grumble asked.

“Well a full moon don’t happen much. A full moon is like when you hear and see something awesome in a single moment. It makes big light in every part of you. That’s what happened when Jackie began to sing words from Daddy’s heart and Pastor sang them back . It made every star sparkle and shine from the inside out. And all the arms went like this. The girl stood in front of her uncle and stretched her arms out . “Big fat stars next to a big fat moon gettin shined on by the big fat sun.”(6)

Uncle Grumble lifted his hands slightly. “Here Grumb give me your hands. I will show you”

The old man slowly stood. The rocker rocked empty.

“Its like this” the girl began to move her feet and the old man followed. ” Love goes this way and then joy over here” she began to sing “now peace and even longsuffering and gentleness. . watch out Sam we are coming your way” she said as she and her uncle waltzed across the porch past the old dog. “And goodness and wow. . . here we are Uncle Grumble. . just in time. . . Faith. . and the sun is bout to set, I will go get your rocker . you hang on to the rail” (7). The girl ran back to the rocker and slid it behind her uncles knees. “here ya go! Sit right here and look at that big sun!! It makes me think of Wonder Land”

As the old man settled in his rocker the girl set her drawing in his lap. “Uncle grumble , you have just got to see it!! ”

“I feel like I have been there from what you told me little girl ” he said as he patted the picture.

“Nope’ she shook her head ” I done told you all i can but it aint nothing. It’s more that you can imagine ” She looked over across the field at the sun. “Lookey Grumble. . .I got an idea. . you know one day I’m just gonna bring Wonder Land to this porch!”

“you do that” the old man said as he pulled out his snuff and began to rock.

THE END

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD holding fast to the word of life. . Phillippians 2:14-16a ESV

References

  1. 2 Corinthians 10:9,12 “we must not put Christ to the test as some of them did and were destroyed, nor grumble as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall
  2. Isaiah 10:16-20 tells of the Holy One (Jesus) devouring thorns and briers, “consuming the glory of the forest” till “the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few,”(the remnant of the Lord’s )” that a child may write them.” . And this remnant will “stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Isreal, in truth” ESV
  3. Psalm 89:5 , Daniel 4:2 And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord; thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints (so) it seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High has done for me.
  4. 1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. GOD IS LOVE; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in Him. KJV
  5. Bring forth the blind that have eyes and the deaf that have ears (Isaiah 43:8)This is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes (Psalm 118:23 & Mark 12:11)
  6. 2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, ‘let light shine out of darkness’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ESV
  7. Galatians 5 walking in “fruits of the spirit”
by vunglaub

Advocate: Before the Throne of God above

Children love to sing.  At times you hear them in bathtubs and backseats, closets and corners, stairs and  swings singing with with all of grace and gusto, When we see them, we anticipate joyful noise as their tiny chests fill with air. Like birds on a perch in the morn, they are ready to bring beauty to air.

??????????? Songs that capture their hearts they learn well, Every word holds the attention  of their mind and mouth so they articulate with pride. No matter how shy the child’s spirit, when they hold a song close in their heart  they eventually long to sing it to their Mother or Father.”Daddy, let me sing to you” they say. God created them this way.

This Sunday, Pastor did not preach because we had a special guest. But, during worship, he taught much of worship.  He talked about getting before our “Daddy” (God the Father) and praising him.  He spoke of praising Him everywhere, in car, in kitchen, in work ,in field.  Song upon song was played as he led our souls into the audience  of this great “Daddy”. It was a beautiful picture to see the church filled with true “children of God” singing to Daddy. Indeed, It is by Daddy’s design and, our inheritance from Him ,that our souls can dance before Him.

 Though it be ever so natural for a child of the Daddy to sing,  it was bought with a very great price . Children in old earthly tents often forget the price and can no longer sing.  Our speaker, a young man set free into this inheritance of song, reminded us of the price God paid in His son, Jesus. As he recounted youth wasted apart from “Daddy”, year upon year forgetting the price, mute without song, the church remembered “we were all dead in trespasses and sins in which we once walked” (Ephesians 2:1). We waited in anticipation to hear “BUT GOD. .” When the time was right, the young man from jail and  possibly facing prison declared in tears “nothing matters but Jesus”. This is the heart of a worshiping child of the Daddy. A heart softened , “circumcised” to sing  from old earthly tent and ready to perfectly sing in heaven.   Oh how many of us has He , the perfecter of our faith, made sing!! “But God rich in mercy. .. (Ephesians 2 )  makes a worshiper out of an enemy.

Worshipers like folks in  the church ,like me, like the  the young man and like a woman named Charitie, who wrote the song we sang on Sunday.  Charitie Lee Cheney  (1841-1869) wrote a poem called “The Advocate” . It was later developed into a hymn named ” Before the Throne of God Above.” What makes this song most unusual is that it was written with each stanza pointing to a declared promise in the Word.  Promises only made available to us by our “Advocate” Jesus. A child of God cannot help but rejoice in singing this song.  It is the testimony of every believer: slave, prisoner, homeless or free. Here we sing to Daddy what He first sang to us.

The “Advocate”

Before the throne of God above , I have a strong and perfect plea (Heb. 4:15-16) A Great High Priest whose Name is Love (Heb 4:14) Who ever lives and pleads for me (Heb 7:25) My name is graven on His hands, (Isa 49:16), My name is written on His heart.  I know that while in Heaven He stands no tongue can bid me thence depart. (Rom 8:34). When satan temts me to despair (Luke 22:31-32) And tells me of the guilt within, Upward I look and see Him there (Acts 7:55-56) Who made an end of all my sin (Col 2:13-14)  Because the sinless Savior died, My sinful soul is counted free.  For God the just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me(Rom 3:24-26). Behold Him there the risen Lamb (Rev 5:6) , My perfect spotless righteousness, (1Cor 1:30; 1 Peter1:18-19) the great unchangeable I AM , (Heb 13:8, John 8:58) The King of glory and of grace, One with Himself I cannot die. My soul is purchased by His blood, (Acts 20:28). My life is hid with Christ on high, (Col 3:3) With Christ my Savior and my God! (Tit 2:13) 

  • www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xUK2Dx5RkY