Worship and Music Ministry
News and Information from Hilldale Baptist Church, Clarksville, TN
* Rev. R. Lyndel Littleton - Worship Pastor
* Dr. Larry D. Robertson - Senior Pastor
I was down at my "vacation" home yesterday cutting the grass and repairing the bridge, so I didn't get around to a Memory Monday post. The bridge had lost part of the rail from the 500 year or 1000 year flood last May. B UT MY HOUSE DID NOT FLOOD! So, for those people who didn't want to buy my house because they thought it would flood I very kindly and respectfully say, "I told you so!"
Haha!
Well, when I'm out in the yard working - it's truly is one of my favorite things to do. I had to sing. I just can't help it. I feel a lot like Fanny Crosby when she penned these wonderful words, "I sing for I cannot be silent, His love is the theme of my song. Redeemed, Redeemed, Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. His child, and forever, I am." If you don't know about Fanny Crosby, you should. Perhaps I'll post more about her when I'm not hurrying off to Children's Choir.
Fanny Crosby
So I think a verse from the Psalms would fit in good today for a good verse to memorize (and live).
Here's Psalm 104:33 Psalm 104:33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live ; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
I'm headed out to Children's Choir. Can't keep typing. Have a great day!
I love honey!
I remember once as a child that mom or dad brought home one of those little collections of honey from different kinds of plants. There was clover honey, barley honey, probably ragweed honey. It was all good! and once or twice I remember getting honey in a jar and a big hunk of the honeycomb was in there too. That was so awesome! Can you still get honey that way?
Some people say if you eat honey made in your area that it will help you with your allergies. Sounds good to me!
Honey it hot tea is yummy! Honey on Pillsbury crescent rolls is the perfect ending to your Sunday dinner!
And Honey Nut Cheerios make a great breakfast (and apparently they're good for your cholesterol. What a deal!
I learned a song when I was a teenager from Psalm 19 that talks about honey. (Paul Purifoy taught it to us. He led music for a retreat we were on. I wonder if he's still around. I haven't heard the song anywhere else, so maybe he wrote it. It's about the word and the words of the song were pretty much straight out of - hmmm, probably KJV - it was the mid 70's after all.)
Anyway, these verses from Psalm 19 compare the Word of God to the sweetness of honey and the honeycomb. Is your desire for God's Word as strong as your desire for honey? Have you found it to be as sweet?
Here are in the verses from Psalm 19 from the NASB.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul ; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart ; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever ; The judgments of the LORD are true ; they are righteous altogether. 10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold ; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned ; In keeping them there is great reward.
For more great verses about God's word check out Psalm 119. Psalm 119 has 176 verses that talk about the word of God. It uses many words as synonyms for God's word - testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, word, law...
The verse from Psalm 119 that you probably know is 105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path." We'll be singing that verse Sunday morning.
Here is Sunday's music for August 29, 2010
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
Hosanna
Choir Anthem – I Will Worship You
Fellowship song – Standing on the Promises
Thy Word
Ancient Words
Special Music – Laughrie Tucker
Message – Dr. Larry D. Robertson
Invitation song – Come, Just As You Are
Offertory – Bro. Lyndel Littleton
Ancient Words - I learned my love for God's word from my dad, Bill, and from my home church pastor, Dr. Tom Elliff. I didn't pick the music for my dad's funeral two years ago (almost two years) but it was very fitting that we sang "Ancient Words" then.
I hope as we sing these songs Sunday morning that you will sing out of your love for God's Word - and more importantly, I hope you will spend some time in His Word between now and then.
If you are like me, you have probably read Romans 10 many times a year for the past 30 years. (Well, unless you're only 22.)
I was reading Romans 10 again this past week and saw something I hadn't noticed before!
How is that possible when you have read a passage 274 times? I don't know - except that according to Hebrews 4:12 the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Back to my story...
So, I was reading Romans 10 - such wonderful verses (you should memorize if you haven't)
9. if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved ;
10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."
13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."
Then I read the last verses - which I'm sure I have before - well, of course I have... but they really spoke to me in a different way. You see, there is an army guy I am praying for - that he would be saved - be a true follower of Jesus Christ. But he's not looking for God. He's just finished Ranger school and is in that I'm big and bad and tough and don't need anything or anyone kind of mode. But look what verse 20 of Romans 10 says,
20 And Isaiah is very bold and says, "I WAS FOUND BY THOSE WHO DID NOT SEEK ME, I BECAME MANIFEST TO THOSE WHO DID NOT ASK FOR ME."
(By the way, in the New American Standard translation of the Bible the quotes in the New Testament that are from the Old Testament are written in ALL CAPS. I wasn't adding my own emphasize to the words above.)
So verse 20 is my memory verse for the week 20 And Isaiah is very bold and says, "I WAS FOUND BY THOSE WHO DID NOT SEEK ME, I BECAME MANIFEST TO THOSE WHO DID NOT ASK FOR ME." And it is my prayer for this young army guy, that God would show Himself to him even though he isn't seeking God.
For YOU, if you have never memorized Romans 10:9-10, you should do that this week. If you have someone you have been praying for to be saved, maybe you'll want to memorize Romans 10:20 and let it be a guide to how you pray for your friend this week.
Here's our music for worship this coming Sunday. If you practice singing with any of Chris Tomlin's songs you'll notice he sings very high. We usually do his songs about a third lower than he does. (much more singable for a congregation.)
August 22, 2010 AM
Sing to the King
O Worship the King
Choir Anthem – Revive Us Again
Fellowship Song – Mighty to Save
Lead Me to Calvary
Jesus Messiah
Special Music – Johnathan Woodside & Lacey Waynick
How Deep The Father's Love For Us
by Stuart Townend
(C)1995 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Verse 1
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory
Verse 2
Behold the Man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
Verse 3
I will not boast in anything
No gifts no power no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
Here's a beautiful arrangement of this wonderful new hymn by a guy named Carlton Forrester. Go to his website Carlton's websiteand hear more beautiful songs. Or look him up on YouTube. Buy his CD. Wonderful music!
We're going to go with another verse about all the nations this week. Last week's verse was Psalm 96:1-3 Sing to the LORD a new song; Sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. 3 Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
I had chosen this verse so I could advertise our new ESL ministry. (Scroll down and check out my posts if you are behind on ESL.) So this week I am celebrating a great start to ESL ministry at Hilldale. We had 18 people at our first meeting. A few had been to the recent training at the TBC (Tennessee Baptist Convention) from NAMB (North American Mission Board), some teach ESL in the public schools and some have taught ESL at other churches and have been through training.
So... we have a fantastic group of teachers that are all excited about beginning an ESL Ministry here.
Here's a great verse for you all to memorize this week. It's from Psalm 57
9 I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations.
10 For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens And Your truth to the clouds.
11 Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Your glory be above all the earth.
"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
