A Thanksgiving Story

Recently I read the following story and thought I'd pass it along. Happy Turkey Day!

Two old friends met each other on the street one day. One looked forlorn, almost on the verge of tears. His friend asked, “What has the world done to you, my old friend?”

The sad fellow said, “Let me tell you: three weeks ago, my uncle died and left me forty thousand dollars.”

“That’s a lot of money.”

“But you see, two weeks ago, a cousin I never even knew died, and left me eighty-five thousand dollars, free and clear.”

“Sounds to me that you’ve been very blessed.”


“You don’t understand!” he interrupted. “Last week my great-aunt passed away. I inherited almost a quarter of a million from her.”

Now the man’s friend was really confused. “Then, why do you look so glum?”

“This week . . . nothing!”

That’s a problem with receiving something on a regular basis. Even if it is a gift, we eventually come to expect it. The natural tendency is that if we receive a gift long enough, we come to view it almost as an entitlement. We feel hurt, even angry, if we don’t receive it any longer.

It is the same way with the blessings God gives us every day. I don’t deserver my comfortable home that I live in, the beautiful scenery around me, the clean water I drink. But after receiving these gifts (and a multitude of others) for years, I sometimes fail to be grateful. I’ve come to expect these good things. And when one of them is removed for a short time (like water or electricity or internet going down), I get upset.

Let’s make an effort today to recognize the blessing we’ve come to take for granted. Focus on what we have rather than on what we don’t have, and see if it doesn’t improve our attitudes.

On This Veteran's Day

On this Veteran's Day, I am more aware than ever of the sacrifice, commitment and incredible steely resolve of our men and women in uniform. Recently, I read an article that perfectly summarized my feelings on this Veteran's Day. We ought to be immensely grateful for a wonderful country and for brave soldiers that have sacrificed so very much. God bless America! Below is an excerpt from that article:

I hope that you will take the time today to express appreciation to those who have worn (and still wear) the military uniform of the United States of America. I trust that your expressions of gratitude will go far beyond the obligatory "thank you." Instead, may we stop, stand tall, look these heroic patriots straight in the eye (while warmly gripping their hand) and say, from the bottom of our hearts, "I sincerely appreciate your service to our country." They didn't do it (and still don't) for our thanks. But, it would be ungrateful, unpatriotic and, in my humble opinion, criminal if we don't say it!

Why Have A Music Program?

There have been a lot of debate over the years about music programs and the styles of these programs. Why is this issue so important? Why have music programs at all?

I have been involved in music programs most of my life. Over the last six years, I have run, coordinated, and directed a music program from the ground floor up. Currently I find myself involved in starting yet another music program. Let me share with you what I believe to be the four fold purpose of a music program:

(1) Share the gospel of Christ through song.
(2) Encourage believers in their walk with Christ.
(3) Lead the congregation in worship
(4) Provide an avenue through which individuals may share their talent. We believe that talent is a gift from God, and that to be good stewards of that talent, we should develop people’s talent and return that talent back to God.



Scripture has a lot to say about using the gift of music and singing unto the Lord. We accomplish the command of praising Christ through music in a variety of different ways: congregational singing, instrumental praises, special music, choir, and various guest groups. This does not differ much from church to church.

Recently, I preached a message regarding a music program and why I believe that it is so important. Why do we have a music program? Is it something that we do mainly out of tradition? Is there a Biblical model and basis for such a model?

There are many places throughout the OT, where God specifically records for us the use of music programs being used to lift up praises to God:

* Levite Choir is in 2 Chronicles 5
* The book of Ezra records the fulfillment of God’s promise to restore Israel to her land after 70 years of captivity in Babylon. The book shows Ezra’s return to Jerusalem to help bring spiritual revival to the people. We find when they did a census of the people of God, there were 42,360 and there were among them a choir of 200 singing men and women. Most of these where the Levites again (2:41) with 128 singers… then, Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem with the blessing of the king and rebuilds the wall in 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15). Nehemiah recorded everyone that had a part and was in the city. The number was 42,360. They now though had 245 people singing (vs. 66, 67).
* We know that David organized official choirs or singers and instruments in the temple. He knew the power that music played in worship. Psalms, which David is credited for writing a great majority, is the earliest hymn book in our tradition.
From the material provided in Chronicles and Psalms, we learn that Heman, Asaph, and Jeduthen were directors of separate temple choirs. (Heman’s choir, for example, was called “The Sons of Korah.”)

The fact that emphasis was placed on the temple singing being directed and accompanied by musicians can not be overlooked. The great value of a choir from Biblical times to present, is to glorify Christ through words of music (music that is beyond that capacity of the congregation).

Choirs are found before, during and after the temple in the OT, and they are a part of worship. We even see in the NT what appears to be a choir in heaven. Choirs are biblical (2 Chronicles 5:12-14; Nehemiah 12:31-40; Revelation 19:1-6).

One thing is clear, we are commanded to praise Him!

Psalm 18:49 - "…sing praises unto thy name."
Psalm 100:2 - "…come before His presence with singing."
Psalm 105:2-4 - "Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him."

We have various Old Testament examples of singing and praising in the temple. There are also several commands given in the New Testament regarding worshiping Christ through music. My favorite is found in Colossians 3:16 - "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

(Music programs teach and train people to sing musically.)

In short, music programs fulfill the Old Testament examples of praising and it fulfill the New Testament command of teaching and training others to sing for the Lord.