dual personalities

I can’t say I exactly bounce back ever, but I try. On Mondays I always get back to my Bible reading and I do my Bible Study homework. My house is not the only thing that needs to be ordered and tidy.

We had a really good sermon on Sunday on Hebrews 2:1-9.

“Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.”

Indeed, we all know people who have made a “shipwreck of their faith” by the slow drift of indifference. This is your weekly reminder not to let that happen!

This is a great Ask Pastor John answer from John Piper. “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”

Also this article about corporate singing really rings true. “Christians can’t seem to stop singing: in catacombs, in cathedrals, everywhere throughout church history. In Saudi Arabia, the underground churches soundproof the walls and windows, sometimes with mattresses, so they can lift their voices in praise without detection. As Jesus said of the rejoicing multitudes, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out’ (Luke 19:40).”

Funnily enough, our “ministry” minute in church this week was provided by the choir and our young friend Ridge, who invited people to join the choir. He has sung in a church choir ever since his father “volun-told” him he was joining at age 12. All through high school, college, law school, and now young parenthood, it has been his priority to show up on Wednesday night and Sunday morning. He is one reason our congregation really sings! We sing five hymns in the morning service plus the Gloria Patri and the Doxology. Sometimes there is an organ accompaniment, sometimes a piano. And sometimes there is a guitar or a trombone or trumpet or a harmonica. We have a lot of participating musical members.

I know ‘joy’ is an overused and mis-used term these days, but even we very serious Presbyterians really do feel the joy in our hearts. I think that is why I cry so much.

Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget
the wormwood and the gall,
go spread your trophies at his feet,
and crown him, crown him,
and crown him Lord of all.

(Edward Perronet, 1779)

The Peace of Christ be with you.

*D.A. Carson