He Walked Like a Man

“Do you fear the force of the wind, the slash of the rain? Go face them and fight them, be Walk Like a Mansavage again. Go hungry and cold like the wolf, go wade like the crane. The palms of your hand will thicken, the skin of your cheek will tan. You’ll grow ragged and weary and swarthy…but you’ll walk like a man.”  Hamlin Garland

This poem was introduced to me early in my adult life by a good man who I’m honored to call my father-in-law, James  Knight. He was a man who loved God, served the family and truly understood how to walk like a man. But Jim was more than just a swarthy man. He didn’t fear the wind and rain, but accepted them as God’s creation. And though he knew what it was like to wade like a crane, he was more interested in walking with God. And…I will never forget the strength in his hands. Even as the last years of his life was crippled by Parkinson’s, he maintained a strong grip on life.

Born and raised in Colorado, Jim taught me more about understanding and appreciating God’s creation than I would have ever imagined. His love for God’s handiwork was manifested throughout his life. From hunting the Colorado Rockies to driving the golf range, Jim loved the great outdoors. But the true joy of his life, next to his love for his family, was living and serving his heavenly Father. God was the source of his life. Jim made heaven his priority for each and every step of his life. His priority, even when his steps failed him, was to walk like a man of God.

IMG_0668And as a faithful man of God, Jim served more than 25 years as an elder in the Lord’s church. He would lead the congregation with his teaching and when necessary, preaching or song leading. Walking like a man in the Kingdom of God, perhaps one of the things I will miss most is his strong bass voice. He loved to sing praises to God, and he used that deep voice God gave him to praise and admonish the Lord’s church. I can still hear his voice thunder through the chorus as we sang; “There is a God…He is alive…In Him we live…and we survive.”

On Saturday night, July 18th at 8:30 MST, surrounded by his wife and children, his last steps led him home. He never faltered in his faith, and he always stood strong in his devotion to God. We will miss him in this family, but the legacy he gave us will provide a direction that follows faithfully the word of God. And it is from God’s word that he often recited the words found in 3rd John 1:4… I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.” Jim, thank you for walking like a man, your children will follow your lead.

How Can I Be a Christian in a Corrupt Society…July 19th

What does it mean to say that something is corrupt? A warning on your computer screen that reads, “Corrupted File” will no doubt put a damper on your day. If something has been corrupt messagecorrupted, the original has been compromised, damaged or destroyed. By definition, to be corrupt, there has been a negative impact that causes someone, or something, to be ‘dishonest, immoral or impure.’

But aren’t we as Christians called to be lights in darkness? How can I be a light in a dark place and not be subject to corruption? Wouldn’t it be best if I just kept to myself and left ‘well enough alone?’ The task is unmistakable. Christ called us to ‘go into all the world.’ Therefore we have an obligation to shine our light, but to keep ourselves ‘unstained by the world.’ (James 1:27) So how can a Christian keep from being corrupted? Join us on Sunday morning as we example our responsibility as Christians.

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, July 12, 2015praise the Lord

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“All Things Praise Thee” – 43

“All things praise Thee – Lord, may we!” Written not as a question, ‘May we praise you Lord?’, but as an exclamation, ‘May we praise God like the things that we sing about in this song. The earth, sea and sky. The silent night, the sun by day, those in ‘heaven’s high shrine,’ seraph and arch angel. We, too, are God’s creation…may we ever be praising Him!

“Doxology” – 6

Immediately after we sing, ‘Ever praising – Lord, may we!,’ our hearts continue the song of praise. “Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.” For more than 300 years these words have stood the test of time, and for more than 450 years this tune has been resonating in our ears. Careful not to just sing the tune, but speak the words with understanding.

“I Come to the Garden Alone” – 595

A quiet song of reflection as we consider our prayer to God. Consider this song as if written from the view point of Mary Magedalene during the early morning hours, John 20:1. Following Christ resurrection, she stands in the garden and we sing, “I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses…” Notice verse 3, ‘but He bids me go…His voice to me is calling.’ John 20:17 “Jesus said to her, ‘Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren…’

“In Christ Alone” – no book

In order to keep ourselves free from corruption while living in this world, we must fully rely on Christ, and on Him alone. For it is in Christ alone, in Him, that we find our hope!

“I Am a Sheep” – 533

Perhaps one way we can stay free from corruption in this dark world of sin and death is to remember the words of this spiritual song. As we sing the chorus we’re reminded, “And when the wind blows He is my shelter! When I’m lost and alone He rescues me! And when the Lion comes (Christ’s return) He is my victory! Constantly watching over me.” That is how you keep from being corrupted by sin…stay in Christ!

“I Know that My Redeemer Lives” – 528

It’s one thing to say, “I know,” but what do you do when the world says, “no one can know”? As a believer we have faith, and in our faith…we know! So we sing a song of affirmation, echoing through the ages, “I know, I know that my Redeemer lives, I know, I know eternal life He gives. I know, I know that my Redeemer lives.’ How to keep yourself from a corrupt and perverse generation? Believe, obey, follow and KNOW the Redeemer.Trusting like a Child

“Purer in Heart, O God” – 671

This is the perfect invitation song as we consider how to keep ourselves from a corrupt society. We must have a purer heart! But will we ‘devote’ our lives completely to Him? Are we willing to confess our ‘secret sin,’ and ask Him to reign in our lives? When we do, if we will, then we’ll be avoiding the corruption of the world.

“How Shall the Young Secure Their Hearts” – 432

“How shall the young secure their hearts and guard their lives from sin?” We sing the question and we might as well read the title of today’s lesson, “How can I be a Christian in a corrupt society?” The answer is right in front of you, God’s word will guide our youth (all of us) and support us throughout our days. We can still be God’s children in this corrupt world, as long as we don’t let the world corrupt us.

God Still Reigns…July 12th

An angry young man storms into the shop, slams his fist against the counter and shouts at the employee, ‘Who is in charge around here?’ With just a few words you know there is unrest and frustration. Someone has been offended and is looking for answers. To get ‘satisfaction,’ we need to know who is calling the shots. In 1952, while speaking to buck stops herethe National War College,  President Truman referenced a sign he had on his desk which read, ‘The buck stops here!’ A statement reassuring the nation, “I’m in charge.”

But when the ‘law of the land’ clashes with ‘God’s perfect law of liberty’ (James 2:25), we are left with angry men shouting, ‘Who is in charge?’ In 1974, Leonard Smith penned the words to a song that gives us the answer to our question. “How lovely on the mountains are the feet of Him who brings good news. Announcing peace, proclaiming news of happiness, Our God reigns, our God reigns!” If you are wondering who is in charge of this life, and if you want to know Who has the answer to your questions, join us Sunday morning as we remember…God Still Reigns!

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.”  I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, July 12, 2015

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“Come Thou, Almighty King” – 19

“Come Thou, Almighty King, help us Thy name to sing, help us to praise! Father all glorious, over all victorious, come and REIGN over us, Ancient of Days!” Do you see God as the One who reigns in your life? Can you trust that, ‘the buck stops’ with Him? When you do, then you’ll understand why His children long to see His sovereign majesty in glory. Where we will, for eternity, love and adore Him. (Which musically leads us to our next song…)

God Reigns

“O Come Let Us Adore Him” – 264

Many recognize this as the chorus to one of our ‘Christmas’ hymns. But today let me encourage you to sing it with ‘more understanding.’ This is a simple repeat of the cause for which we live, “O come let us adore Him…Christ the Lord!” Sometimes we can find a hymn of praise in the most basic of places.

 

“By Christ Redeemed” – 366

Breaking this hymn into two parts, we’ll sing verses 1-2 before the Lord’s Supper, then following the fruit of the vine we’ll close with verse 3. And yet for years I have sung this 3rd verse without knowing what I was singing. The message…“And thus that dark betrayal night with the last advent we unite, by one bright chain of loving rite, until He come.” We recognize ‘until He come’ from the words of Paul in I Corinthians 11:26, but what is the ‘last advent’ or the ‘loving rite?’ Understanding that an ‘advent’ is defined as ‘a coming’ and a rite is an act done continually, let’s try it again…”And because of that dark, betrayal night we are united knowing that He will come again (with the last advent). And as we continually, ritually (rite), keep the Lord’s Supper (the one bright chain of love), we keep it…until He come.”

“Sweet Adoration” – 253

Sung during the passing of the collection plate, this contemporary song reminds us that God reigns in our hearts. How often, how clearly does our adoration flow to the throne of God? Are we, as His children, constantly giving Him our praise? We would do well to remember that He is the Divine One who still reigns!

“Surely the Presence of the Lord is in This Place” – 398

Following the prayer, we’ll transition to this reminder that God is with us. Our God STILL REIGNS is in this place!

“The Love of God” – 122

A 100 year old song that resonates in our hearts, especially as we consider the chorus; “…the soul will glow like Jesus in His tender mercy, if the heart is made His dwelling place.” God isn’t looking to sit on an earthly throne. He is not running for office or looking to hold a seat in the senate. Our God doesn’t make His dwelling place Washington, D.C. But never forget that God Still Reigns. He reigns in heaven, and wants us to let Him reign in our lives.kneel at the cross

“Kneel at the Cross” – 945

With God as our King, He welcomes all who will come to Him. But before be can bow before the throne of God, we must first kneel at the cross. Through an acceptance of His death, burial and resurrection, we too die to ourselves and give Him reign over our lives.

“This World is Not My Home” – 957

Many value this world as home, and for the one who has nothing but this world… that would be a sad state. Yet for the child of God, we will live eternally, not in this world, but ‘up in glory land.’ If this world is what you desire, you’ll never know the glory of Christ in your heart. But when you seek ‘heaven’s door,’ and Christ lives in your heart, then you’ll know…God still reigns!