WHERE COULD I GO?

          There is an appointment that we all have and can't avoid.  That is our final earthly appointment with death.  We don't know how it will happen or when it will happen.  For some it happens quickly for others it is a long painful event.  And while we can't do anything to avoid it, the key is being ready for the next step - eternity, with or without the Savior.  I have watched many of my friends and family meet this appointment over the years, some seemingly too early in life.  But a loving God has a plan and purpose for each.  Recently another friend of mine, a good Bible teacher, received a terminal diagnosis.  Here are some things that he shared with me.  "Pray that in this journey ... I will bring the Lord honor and glory, that in some way I would radiate Jesus to everyone I come in contact with in the medical world.  There is no medical cure at this time only treatment to stabilize and maintain.  Death is a natural part of life and I have faith that the Lord is in this some how.  It certainly is not what I had planned.  But in His wisdom He has made this a part of our lives.  It is now time for my last teaching assignment and that is to teach younger saints how to die.  Pray that I teach it well."  We can't predict how we will each react when we receive this news, but one thing is certain.  Where we can really go at that time is to the Lord. He alone will provide the strength and peace we need to meet this appointment. This week's song asks the question where can we go?  It was written in 1940 by James (J. B.) Coats (1901-1961), a songwriter from Mississippi. The inspiration for the song came some years earlier when Coats was at the bedside of one of his dying neighbors, an African-American gentleman named Joe Keyes.  Being a preacher, Coats had asked Keyes if he knew where he would spend eternity when he died. Keyes simply replied, "Where could I go but to the Lord?" Some years later, as he was away from home teaching a singing school, Coats finally included these words in his gospel song.  As Coats wrote, "Life here is grand with friends I love so dear. Comfort I get from God's own word.  Yet when I face this chilling hand of death, where could I go but to the Lord?"  What a joy to know that when we come to that final appointment, the Lord will be there to safely carry us through the fear and pain, safely to the better land He is preparing for us.  Do you have this assurance?

1.     Living below, in this old sinful world

Hardly a comfort can afford

Striving alone, to face temptation's sword

Where could I go but to the Lord?

Where could I go, oh where could I go?

Seeking a refuge for my soul

Needing a friend, to help me in the end

Where could I go, but to the Lord?

2.     Neighbors are kind, I love them everyone

We get along in sweet accord

But when my soul, needs manna from above

Where could I go but to the Lord?

Where could I go, oh where could I go?

Seeking a refuge for my soul

Needing a friend, to help me in the end

Where could I go, but to the Lord? 

3.     Life here is grand, with friends I love so dear

Comfort I get from God's own word

Yet when I face this chilling hand of death

Where could I go but to the Lord?

Where could I go, oh where could I go?

Seeking a refuge for my soul

Needing a friend, to help me in the end

Where could I go, but to the Lord?

Listen to it here.   LISTEN

IF I GAINED THE WORLD

          So often throughout history men have dreamed of conquering new lands and becoming powerful and rich world leaders.  And while they may have thought that they had  successes along the way, in the end they lost all and eventually, sadly, they lost their soul and moved into a hopeless eternity.  It is human nature to dream of gaining great wealth and power. Some times attempts to gain riches are made through illegal means.  Sometimes people try through scams, or they gamble.  Often they play the lottery.  But even those who win huge jackpots often find nothing but problems handling their new riches.  And while they might enjoy it for a season, they can't take it with them when they eventually leave this earth.  And, sadly, they often miss the very most important thing in life.  Matthew 16:26 explains it all with the question, "What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"  The question is one of the most serious questions we will ever face and surely most of us will answer it, more than once.  This life offers so many material things - riches, popularity, power, pride - all things that seem so important to we earthly beings.  Anna Olander (1861-1939), the daughter of a clergyman, was a Swedish hymn writer. Early in life she started writing poems and stories. She edited nearly 50 books, translated hymns into Swedish from English and German, and wrote some original songs of her own. But the only song of hers that is still in use in English today is "If I Gained the World", written by her in 1904. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."  (Matt 6:19-21). Where is our treasure? What are the desires of our heart? Do we desire to gain the whole world, or even a small part of it - a world that will leave one empty?  As this  hymn asks, "Are all earthly pleasures worth comparing for a moment with a Christ-filled life?"  We need to live with eternity's values in view.  Are our values and priorities right?  What is more important to us - our work and vacations or our worship, our investments or our tithing, our hobbies or our ministry, our sports and television or our times with the Lord?  Sometimes a look at our datebooks and our checkbooks can give us those answers. As Olander wrote, "If I have but Jesus, only Jesus, nothing else in all the world beside - O then everything is mine in Jesus; for my needs and more He will provide."  The scriptures challenge us to "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."  Matthew 6:33.    Think about it!

1.   f I gained the world, but lost the Savior,

Were my life worth living for a day?

Could my yearning heart find rest and comfort

In the things that soon must pass away?

If I gained the world, but lost the Savior,

Would my gain be worth the lifelong strife?

Are all earthly pleasures worth comparing

For a moment with a Christ-filled life?

2.   Had I wealth and love in fullest measure,

And a name revered both far and near,

Yet no hope beyond, no harbor waiting,

Where my storm-tossed vessel I could steer;

If I gained the world, but lost the Savior,

Who endured the cross and died for me,

Could then all the world afford a refuge,

Whither, in my anguish, I might flee?

3     O what emptiness! - without the Savior

'Mid the sins and sorrows here below!

And eternity, how dark without Him!

Only night and tears and endless woe!

What, though I might live without the Savior,

When I come to die, how would it be?

O to face the valley's gloom without Him!

And without Him all eternity!

4    O the joy of having all in Jesus!

What a balm the broken heart to heal!

Ne'er a sin so great, but He'll forgive it,

Nor a sorrow that He does not feel!

If I have but Jesus, only Jesus,

Nothing else in all the world beside - 

O then everything is mine in Jesus;

For my needs and more He will provide

You can listen to it here.    
               choice 1   LISTEN1

               choice 2   LISTEN2

REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH

          For centuries believers have looked for the return of the Lord and yet one day, maybe even soon, it will happen.  Jesus himself promised that He would come again to take us home with Him.  Over the years many have tried to set dates for this coming event, but they have all failed.  And that shouldn't surprise anybody for we are told that we won't know when His return will happen.  Mark 13:32 says, "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."  But yes, it could even be today - at morning, at noon or at night, at a time when we least expect it. Signs of the time are everywhere.  Our redemption does draw nigh.  Gordon Jensen knew the scripture and the promise of Jesus.   He knew the scripture, Luke 21:28, "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."  And that led him to write this week's song choice.  Gordon himself shared the story of the writing of "Redemption Draweth Nigh". He told of how he took the song to one of the biggest groups of that time period and the group didn't like the song and told him it wasn't the kind of song that people wanted to hear. Not giving up, he continued to pitch the song until it was finally recorded.  Duane Allen of the Oak Ridge Boys told Gordon that "Redemption Draweth Nigh" was the type of song that would be sung for years.  Well, that statement came true as most of the groups of the early 1970's recorded this gem.  Even now, groups still record and stage what is now Gordon Jensen's classic.  It is good Gordon didn't listen to the first group who shot the song down but continued to believe in what he wrote because look at all the countless listeners who have since heard this song in the decades that followed.  What a wonderful day it will be when Jesus comes again.  The return of Christ is "the blessed hope" of every believer (Titus 2:13). We eagerly "wait for His Son from heaven" (I Thessalonians 1:10). Perhaps He'll come today. What a tremendous way that would be to start a new year.  I trust that you count yourself among those who "love His appearing" (II Timothy 4:8).   For the Christian, this is an exciting and energizing prospect, long anticipated - Jesus is coming again. Are you ready should it be today?  "Keep your eyes upon the eastern sky. Lift up your heads, redemption draweth nigh!"

1.     Years of time have come and gone

Since I first heard it told,

How Jesus would come again someday.

If back then it seemed so real,

Then I just can't help but feel

How much closer his coming is today.

Chorus:

Signs of the times are everywhere.

There's a brand new feeling in the air.

Keep your eyes upon the eastern sky,

Life up your heads, redemption draweth nigh!

2.   Wars and strife on every hand

And violence fills our land,

Still some people doubt he'll come again.

But the Word of God is true,

He'll redeem his chosen few.

Don't lose hope, soon Christ Jesus will descend.

Chorus:

Signs of the times are everywhere.

There's a brand new feeling in the air.

Keep your eyes upon the eastern sky,

Life up your heads, redemption draweth nigh!

Listen to it here.   LISTEN

NO ONE UNDERSTANDS LIKE JESUS (TH #14)

TIMELESS HYMN #14 - Another revised and repeated blog of one of the great hymns of the faith - NO ONE UNDERSTANDS LIKE JESUS - originally shared on March 15, 2009.

          All of us go through periods when we feel all alone and think nobody seems to care.  The problems seem so heavy and we wish that we just had somebody who could help us through the fog that we face.  The difficult times in which we live have brought new, heavy tensions -   unemployment, bills, mortgages, illnesses, family struggles, fears, terrorism, loss of freedoms, uncertainty - heavy burdens to bear.  And as we begin a new year we start afresh hoping that things will change for the better.  But we live in a sinful world where problems are not going to vanish even if we make good "resolutions".  A hymn by John Peterson (1921– 2006) has often been a comfort to me when I have faced these seemingly "impossible" pressures.  Incidentally, back when I used to sing solos, this was the first hymn that I sang with a taped background - in fact it was the first time any soloist used a background tape in our church.  Mr. Peterson wrote this hymn in the early years of his ministry.  Here is his account of how it was written. "At one time I had a fairly responsible position with a well-known gospel ministry. One day a supervisory position opened up in my department. I was led to believe that I was to be promoted to this position. I was thrilled and challenged by the prospect of a new job. But I was by-passed, and a man from the outside was brought in to fill the position.  There followed days of agonizing heart searching. It was all I could do to keep from becoming bitter. One night I had occasion to spend an evening with the man who was brought in for "my" position. For some reason or other, though otherwise a very pleasant fellow, that night he became quite caustic in some of his remarks to me; and I was deeply hurt.   Later that evening, after returning home, I was sitting in our living room thinking about the events of the past days and about the bitter experiences of that evening. I began to feel very alone and forsaken. Suddenly, I sensed the presence of the Lord in an unusual way and my mind was diverted from my difficulties to His faithfulness and sufficiency. Soon the thought occurred to me that He fully understood and sympathized with my situation  In fact, no one could ever completely understand or care as did He. Before long, the idea for the song came and I began to write."  Since then this hymn and its truth have been a special comfort to me as well as to untold scores of believers. Yes, Jesus is a friend who will never leave us or forsake us.  He is our only true friend.  May the words of this song encourage you during the new year.  Cast your every care on Him.

1.     No one understands like Jesus.
He's a friend beyond compare;
Meet Him at the throne of mercy;
He is waiting for you there.
No one understands like Jesus
When the days are dark and grim;
No one is so near, so dear as Jesus--
Cast your ev'ry care on Him!

2.     No one understands like Jesus;
Ev'ry woe He sees and feels;
Tenderly He whispers comfort,
And the broken heart He heals.
No one understands like Jesus
When the days are dark and grim;
No one is so near, so dear as Jesus--
Cast your ev'ry care on Him!

3.     No one understands like Jesus
When the foes of life assail;
You should never be discouraged;
Jesus cares and will not fail!
No one understands like Jesus
When the days are dark and grim;
No one is so near, so dear as Jesus--
Cast your ev'ry care on Him!

4.     No one understands like Jesus
When you falter on the way;
Tho' you fail Him, sadly fail Him,
He will pardon you today.
No one understands like Jesus
When the days are dark and grim;
No one is so near, so dear as Jesus--
Cast your ev'ry care on Him!

Listen to this beautiful hymn sung here.    

A solo   LISTEN1

A choir   LISTEN2