Happy 4th of July

Instead of sharing my own words, I thought I would share an article that I received this morning entitled "Worship and Patriotism-Part 2" by Mark Sooy....

Here in the United States we are reminded of our freedom on the 4^th of July each year. This freedom has been bought with the blood of men and women sworn to protect us. And, for this freedom we should truly be thankful.

We are also reminded of the freedom we find in Christ. True freedom is found in a relationship with Him. And, for this freedom we should truly be thankful.

Below are the lyrics of the hymn "Eternal Father, Strong to Save." The fact that this is referred to as the Navy Hymn is also a reminder that the freedom we enjoy in this country is intertwined with the love of God and His care for humanity. Regardless of the detractors in society today, our country has threads of faith winding through its very core. We should not be ashamed of this foundation of faith, and our yearly celebrations provide another opportunity to be reminded of this truth.

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who biddest the mighty ocean deep,
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy Word,
Who walked on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

O Trinity of love and power!
Our family shield in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect us wheresoever we go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

Sorrow and joy

This has been rather a sad week for me in the fact that two old dear friends from Congregation Beth Simcha went home to be with the Lord within the space of about a week or so....first was Betty Cochran...if there was a dear sweet lady it was her. She would come with her husband Chris, even to the point where arthritis had confined her to a wheelchair and rendered her hands to almost uselessness....she could have used that as an excuse not to come to service, but she didn't. I pray that that serves as an example to those of us who have full use of our body-if she could come to worship the Lord with a body that had been ravaged by something like arthritis, who are we to say that we cannot come to worship because of whatever small thing that we have.

And then Friday, Bryan Bain went home at 3:00 in the afternoon...I remember Bryan as one of the first people to help and be back of the sanctuary to help pray for others. He leaves a loving and wonderful wife and seven small kids who I pray will remember their father as a man of God and that they will grow up to be just like him....

And if I were just to focus on the pain of their departure, it would be a sad occassion, but there is something that I know, that they both knew Jesus as their Savior and that in reality they are free from the bonds of arthritis, leukemia and other diseases, that they have a new body that are free from the contaminations of our earthly existance and that they are in the hands of the loving Savior who tells us in John 10:29 "My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of MyFather's hand." Just think about that, that they will be with the Father and none will be able to take them away from Him...that they will be rejoicing and being with others such as Richard Haynes, Felix Castillo and others who know Jesus as Savior...with homes prepared for them, with new bodies, eternal citizenship in Heaven.....that is the joy we all should have....knowing that they have passed into a far better place!

So as we wait to join them...I think that this song by DeGarmo & Key should let us know what's on the other side.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDrLhgBPxSg