Psalm 8 - Children's Praise

What can I say that hasn't already been said about Psalm 8. It has been a favorite Psalm of hymn and song writers for centuries. I found  new (to me) site www.hymnary.org where you can look to find hymns and songs that have been written using the text from the Bible.  Or you can look at a hymn and see all of the different scriptures that were used or referenced in it.

I checked on Psalm 8. According to hymnary dot org there are 162 hymns and songs written that at least have some lines in them based on Psalm 8. Wow! The hymn text "LORD, our LORD, Your Glorious Name", is from the Psalter 1912. It is in 25 hymnals set to various tunes. (But it hasn't been put in any Baptist hymnals.)

That was just some bonus info for you today. :-)

What jumped out at me today was verse 2

2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. NIV

2 You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you. New Living Translation

In my favorite setting of Psalm 8, "The Majesty and Glory of Your Name," this part of Psalm 8 is worded like this, "Little children praise You perfectly, and so would we, and so would we. Alleluia!"

When my grandson, Malachi, who is 4, got glasses and put them on for the first time he said, "Wow! I can see! I can even see God!" I don't doubt that he did.

I was going to tell you about the time Malachi said he talked to Elijah, but when I called his mom to ask about it - I couldn't quite remember the whole story - it ended up that there is a boy in his mother's day out class named Elijah. From other things he has said his whole life I just figured he had talked to THE Elijah.

I've noticed that children do praise the Lord, maybe not perfectly, but often better than youth and adults do. Their faith seems to be more pure and innocent. They haven't become as skeptical, perhaps. Or maybe they haven't had to deal with the terrible or disturbing or unholy things of life like we have. Maybe because of that they can see God more clearly or trust Him more fully. 

Bottom line: 

Whether or not they praise God perfectly or actually see and talk to Him in person, when children praise God and tell how wonderful He is they silence God's enemies. They establish a stronghold against God' enemies.

SO...

• Talk to your children about God as part of your normal conversations. Day to day point out the things God is doing. Don't just talk about God on Sundays.
• Make sure your children are in church. Set a good example for them in your attitude about church attendance. Come to worship and Bible study with joy.
• Bring your children to Children's Choir on Sundays at 2:00 (at Hilldale. Check your own church for choir times.)

Bonus material.

My favorite setting of Psalm 8.

TOGETHER - Music for November 7th

Many people use the old excuse "I can worship God wherever I am" as an explanation of why they only come to church a few times a year. "I can worship God out on the golf course when I see how beautiful all of nature is." Well, yes, you can. But do you?

But besides that, there is great value in worshipping TOGETHER.

Others have started worshipping "on line." There are many churches that live stream their services (ours included) and some have gone so far as to actually set up their church where everyone just meets on line and chats and listens to a sermon. If you can't get out of your house because you are recovering from major surgery this is a great option, but there is great value in worshiping TOGETHER.

The same can be said for those who watch services on TV. It's a great option for those who can't get out and a good supplement if you want to hear more preaching and sing some more, but (again) there is great value in worshipping TOGETHER.

Together we join our voices in a great chorus of believers as we sing to God and about God and encourage each other with our singing. Together we show the world that in Christ people from all walks of life and all ethnic backgrounds are brothers and sisters. Together we share our joys and sorrows, we pray and care for each other, we model for our children how true followers of Jesus Christ live their lives, we live out Philippians 2:4 where we consider others as more important than ourselves...

Are you seeing the picture of how TOGETHER is important and better than by yourself?

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Haha! Did you notice that? There were people out golfing during worship back when Hebrews was written!

One of the things that I think is very important in the church in our worshipping TOGETHER is singing songs that different people like. It's important for the teenagers to sing songs that grandma likes because they are considering her as more important than themselves. It's important for those who have been singing great hymns for 60 years to sing new things that the younger people like because then they are encouraging them. It's part of being a family and being TOGETHER.

One of the ways I like to do this is by pairing a great hymn with a new song.

One of the best pairings of old and new songs is singing "How Great Is Our God" and "How Great Thou Art" together. First of all, they are in the same key. That's makes it easy to go from one to the other. Second, they have texts that compliment each other. One directs our singing to each other encouraging each other to sing "How great is our God" while the other turns our praise directly to Him, "How great Thou art!"

Join us Sunday morning as we worship our great God TOGETHER.

Music for August 15

August 15, 2010 AM


Come, Thou Almighty King

"Come, Thou Almighty King? Why would you sing an old hymn like that?"
 I'm so glad you asked.

First of all, just because something is "old" doesn't mean it's bad and just because something is "new" doesn't mean it is good. The way to judge a song is first, by it's text - Is it scriptural? Does it make sense? Is it well written?
Come, Thou Almighty King gets great marks on all three of those questions.
Then a song should be judged by it's tune - Is it singable? Is it boring? Does it have a nice melodic line?
Again, this tune passes with flying colors.

I'm afraid too often we judge a song by whether or not it sounds good on a guitar. There is something wondrously majestic about a grand hymn such as this one played on a big pipe organ in a beautiful sanctuary. (There are a lot of times I really miss having a nice organ.) But, you know, this song actually would be just fine played on a guitar.

 A good song is good no matter how it is presented. If a person can only worship if the instrumentation is exactly how he likes it then I fear he may be worshipping the music rather than the Creator of music.

As we sing these words, my prayer is that you will sing them as a prayer - that they will echo the sentiments of your heart, that God will "show up" and help us to praise Him.

Come, Thou Almighty King,
Help us Thy name to sing;
Help us to praise;
Father, all glorious, O'er all victorious,
Come, and reign over us, Ancient of Days.

Here are the other songs we'll be singing Sunday.
You Are God Alone

Choir Special – Sing Alleluia

Fellowship Song – He Keeps Me Singing

Offering
Shout to the Lord

Special Music – Diane Carroccia

Message – Dr. Larry D. Robertson

Invitation Song – Refiner’s Fire

Offertory – Michelle Dickerson

What's that new song?

April 18, 2010


A few years ago at another church we sang a medley of songs. In the medley was a new song I had written titled "In the Morning." It's a song about seeking the Lord and hearing from Him in the morning. Hmm, let me think... I believe I was using Psalm 143:8 Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning ; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk ; For to You I lift up my soul. as my inspiration.

After the service a lady - I'm guessing late 20s, maybe early 30s - came up to me and asked me about "that song." "I've never heard it before. It was beautiful!"

"Oh," I replied, "that's a new one I wrote a few weeks ago." and I said something about the words or tune - I don't really remember. Then she held up her bulletin (We put the order of worship in our bulletin there.) and she said, "No, not that one, this one." And she pointed to one of the other songs in the medley, "In the Garden."

Hahaha! So much for that beautiful "NEW" song. The song that was so beautiful to her was that wonderful old hymn. It was "new" because she had never heard it. She hadn't heard it because we didn't sing it much and she was new to the church. It's not very "contemporary" after all.

Her response kind of proved a point. Many people say they don't like any song that wasn't written last week. Everything else is "old stuff." There are so many songs that we have loved for many years because they have beautiful melodies and well-written texts. All that most of them need is a little change of the accompaniment so they don't sound like something that needs to be played on an old upright piano.

If you are one of those who only likes loud guitars and music written last weekend, let me encourage you to find an old hymnal. Read the words. Listen to the melody. Let these "old" hymns touch your heart in a new way.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Forever
Choir - Majestic

Fellowship Song – Mighty to Save

In the Garden

Draw Me Close

Special Music – Laughrie, Traci, Jimmy and Pat - Jesus, What a Friend 

Message – Dr. Larry D. Robertson

Invitation song – I Give You Me

Offertory – Bro. Lyndel Littleton

Baptisms - Both Services

If It Wasn't Written Last Week It's Too Old

I actually have heard of a music guy who actually said that. "If It Wasn't Written Last Week It's Too Old." Seriously?!

I totally believe in singing all the newest and latest songs. There are so many wonderful new songs being written. I've written a few myself and we have sung them at Hilldale (I just don't announce, "O, by the way, I wrote this next song. Sing purty now!")

However, those who want to throw out the old songs just because they are old are missing out. I've come up with a short list of things they are missing.

1. Great, deep, theological truths expressed in rich language

2. A connection with the Saints who have gone before us, (this is important) the great cloud of witnesses of Hebrews 12:1 NIV

3. Many people in each congregation like some of those songs that weren't written last week

4. Just because it's new doesn't mean it's good. A song should be judged on it's text and the craftsmanship of the song. A bad melody or uninteresting chord structure can't be overlooked just because it's new. Bad theology is never excusable just because you or even someone famous wrote it and you like it.

Hmmm. My list changed from things missing to other things too, but you get the idea.

My latest poll gives you a chance to vote on your favorite hymn written before 1800. Wow. We still sing a lot of these.

Your Favorite Hymn - New Poll

It's very difficult to choose just one, but of the list (over there, on the left) of the hymns on our new poll, which one is your favorite?

It's very possible that I didn't list your favorite old hymn. Feel free to leave the name of your favorite hymn in the comment section.

In my search for a picture of an old hymnal I came across this article. You might get a few laughs from it. Overhead to Powerpoint Proposal Creates Firestorm in Local Church

Wales - Religion and Rugby

Here is a link I think you will find very interesting.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/networks/wales/aod.shtml?wales/allthingsconsidered

a Presbyterian Chapel



A Baptist Chapel



Please remember me and the Tennessee Baptist Men's Chorale as we sing in Wales next week.