Old Music for My Old Soul

I attended a rock and roll Good Friday service tonight that made me realize that I'm both old and old fashioned.  While my husband is busy with March Madness,  I took to Youtube tonight to listen to the the old hymns I grew up on.   I'm truly thankful for our faithful and talented young people, but I'm also grateful for the traditional music of the church.  So I believe I'll still cling to it.

Alan Jackson - "The Old Rugged Cross" ((Live))

New Thought vs The Ancient of Days

Colossians 2:2 New International Version (NIV)

2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,

Colossians 2:8-10 New International Version (NIV)

8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world rather than on Christ.

9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

John 1:10 New International Version (NIV)

10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

2 Corinthians 11:14 New International Version (NIV)

14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

I was surprised to learn that there was such a thing as New Thought Center, which functions in form and style very much like a Christian church.  If man is divine, as they believe, who are they gathering together to worship?  For whom are they singing?  Who are they following?  I guess themselves.  To spend a life worshiping what can never satisfy is terribly sad indeed.  New Thought will never stand against the Almighty God, the Ancient of Days.  

As I write the dog that belongs to the young man who's living at college is barking at the front door impatient for his master-in residence, my husband, to come home.  A Dog needs a master.  A soul needs his maker.  There was a line in a summer television show I enjoy watching, The Last Ship, that said, "Every soldier needs someone to salute."  In the same way every sinner needs a Savior; and only those who have been truly redeemed know the desire to love, serve, and glorify God that cannot be filled by another and never by yourself.  The hymn I'm hearing in my head right now is, "In The Garden" by Charles A. Miles.

In The Garden - Alan Jackson 

How Great God Is

Psalm 19:1New International Version (NIV)

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;

    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

How Great Thou Art - Alan Jackson

He Lives!

Galatians 2:20

New International Version (NIV)

20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

John 14:23

English Standard Version (ESV)

23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Zephaniah 3:17

English Standard Version (ESV)

17 The Lord your God is in your midst,

    a mighty one who will save;

he will rejoice over you with gladness;

    he will quiet you by his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing.

A favorite Easter hymn from my youth to today is "I Serve A Risen Savior" or as some would call it, "He Lives!"  It was written by Alfred Henry Ackley, a 20th Century composer of Gospel music.  Alan Jackson sings it without any embellishments just like I learned it decades ago.  Yes, I know He lives.  He lives within my heart.

Alan Jackson - He Lives

Taking Up My Cross

William Bouguereau 

Compassion!

Luke 9:22-24

New International Version (NIV)

22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.

Galatians 2:20

English Standard Version (ESV)

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

My pastor spoke on the meaning of taking up my cross and following Jesus.  Guess what?  It's not all about me!  My cross is not my ailments, financial worries, a crummy job or relationship difficulties, it is denying myself for the sake of Christ.  It's being willing to exchange my personal desires for the cause of Christ.  It's about death to self.  How far am I willing to follow my Lord?  Can I let go of what I want in order to do so?   Can I do so without making it a matter of personal pride, self aggrandizement of courageous suffering? 

May it be so, Lord, may it be so. 

Wherever He Leads I'll Go - Alan Jackson

Jesus Lives!

John 3:16

English Standard Version (ESV)

For God So Loved the World

16 “For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:36

King James Version (KJV)

36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

And I'm so glad!  My salvation was sure and real for me even at a young age, because I had asked Jesus into my heart.  A sister and I once practiced a special number for church, "He Lives!"  I loved it, even though my talent for singing was dubious.   Something happened and our song was cancelled but it's probably just as well.  I may have embarrassed my sister terribly, since she could carry a tune.  My singing in church since then has always been done in the pews; although, I've done plenty of singing in my car or at home alone.    I still love the hymn, so I'll sing it along with Alan Jackson.   And if you ask me how I know He lives, I'll answer with all sincerity and certainty, "He lives within my heart."

Alan Jackson - He Lives

Of Jesus and His Love

"Yes Jesus Loves Me" - Mark Spears

John 3:16(NIV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

I just spent the afternoon putting together a YouTube slide show for "The Gospel Song" by Sovereign Grace Music.  After assembling pictures of the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, I thought how the story never gets old.  Then the old hymn, "I Love To Tell The Story," learned in childhood, resurfaced in my head, where it's been happily looping through my thoughts since.  I found this version by Alan Jackson on YouTube.   Enjoy.

"I Love To Tell The Story " Arabella K. Hankey

I love to tell the story of unseen things above, Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love; I love to tell the story, because I know ’tis true, It satisfies my longings as nothing else would do. Refrain: I love to tell the story, ’Twill be my theme in glory, To tell the old, old story Of Jesus and His love. I love to tell the story, more wonderful it seems Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams; I love to tell the story, it did so much for me, And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee. I love to tell the story, ’tis pleasant to repeat, What seems each time I tell it more wonderfully sweet; I love to tell the story, for some have never heard The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word. I love to tell the story, for those who know it best Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest; And when in scenes of glory I sing the new, new song, ’Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.