Around 1980 Pat and I spent a memorable day with Pat’s parents touring the Palisades lining the Hudson River, a New York State Park, and the United States Military Academy, commonly known as West Point. One of the highlights of the weather-perfect summer day was a tour of the military museum on the West Point Campus. The museum is considered the most complete exhibit of its kind anywhere in the world.
One of the realities uncovered as one walks through the various stages of man’s hostility toward one another is that the order of magnitude continuously increases. At the beginning of the thorough and carefully documented history of conflict mankind, one learns that at the beginning men fought face-to-face and hand-to-hand. Cain’s fratricide was certainly a primitive one-on-one, personal conflict ending in Abel’s death.
The war museum carefully documents the evolution of weapons of conflict and death from crude bludgeons to the latest sophisticated, computer-guided missiles and contemporary warheads. The section documenting the machinery and strategies of World War Two slowed our progress to a standstill as my father-in-law, Roy W. Kolas, a veteran of the war, reminisced, telling of his experiences that spanned more than four years and travels across Europe all the way to the "The Bulge." My mother-in-law, Martha, along with Pat, and I had no idea. War became a vivid, real-to-life horror that Roy allowed us to experience it vicariously. I will never forget. The guns fired in John Wayne television movies were noisy things, part of a movie plot were inches away and were frightfully large, ominous and menacing. Photos of destruction and death are etched forever in my memory with Roy Kolas’ sound track playing in the background.
Richard Feynman, a Princeton University graduate physicist, was enlisted by the United States to serve on the team that developed the atomic bomb. Feynman was present at the first detonation of the bomb in a western desert. So awful was the explosive force of the detonation that for years Dr. Feynman slipped into his self-described "depression." He, and some fellow scientists, lamented that evil people would acquire the technology and materials needed to reproduce their prototype and obliterate the world. President Truman elected to eradicate Hiroshima and Nagasaki with the bomb. When Feynman saw men building a bridge or tall building, he often wondered aloud, "What’s the use? It will be destroyed."
The order of magnitude has advanced from weapons made from sticks and stones to unimaginable atomic power. The fratricidal evil in Cain’s heart resides in heads of state. Religious zealots have raised the stakes from a suicide dive-bomber attacking a plane directed at a military supply ship at sea to commandeering a passenger plane to use as a weapon to destroy a city skyline and thousands of citizens. Almost simultaneously, men with simple swords primitively lop off heads because of a shared hate boiling within human hearts.
This week I have read and listened to The Revelation, the Bible’s final Word. While reading and listening simultaneously, I remembered the fears of Dr. Feynman and the experiences of Roy Kolas. The horrors of the end are too awful to imagine. I will leave the time line and sequence of events to those with greater understanding. And, I choose to remember one of my father-in-law’s statements, "Those who lived through what Europeans experienced in the war believe they have lived through tribulation." Fellow Christians who are being beheaded today certainly know that their adversary, the devil, is roaring as a lion, seeking to devour (1 Peter 5:8). And, while evil men have sophisticated tools to kill and destroy, the power of the Gospel of Jesus, the Christ, remains greater than the evil in the most vile human heart and all the weapons deployed to destroy.
Our future on earth is uncertain at best. Let us remember that the One who sits on the throne, Jesus, God’s Son, has declared for all to know an eternal truth that will never be compromised.
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever."
And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. (Revelation 11:15-17).
Take courage friends. Roy Kolas’ confidence in the eternal omnipotence of Jesus is greater than the evil in men that cause the ravages of war. In contrast, Dr. Feynman lived with fear that the wrong people would use an invention he helped develop to destroy civilization. My father-in-law got it right! The word is "courage" friends!
While making my way through some "fun reading" – reading that is not directly tied to my vocation -- I was challenged by Charles Krauthammer’s about ones need of imagination. In his September 24, 2001 Washington Post column, Krauthammer, the sometime Fox News pundit and syndicated Washington Post writer, noted how unprepared the United States was for the terrorist attacks a year earlier. No one could imagine that people would hate our nation and way of life enough to fly airplanes into office buildings with intention to fly into the White House.
Krauthamer observed that by the time the evil, devastating attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon had been accomplished, word was received by the passengers on a flight over Western Pennsylvania. The passengers had to be stunned, but they needed no imagination. So, a few brave men acted courageously and decisively. An attack on the White House was successfully averted because no imagination was needed.
The scenario painted by a newspaper columnist triggered my memory of a verse tucked away in my spirit when I was still a pre-teen. In 2 Corinthians 2:9-10 Paul gave this description of God’s imagination. We are reminded, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit." The genius, creativity and imagination of God cannot be placed on the same scale as mankind’s senses, knowledge or ability to reach.
We mortals need to remember that simple powerful truth. As we apply another dose of man-made medicine, formulate strategies limited by finite knowledge, and desperately hope for solutions to life’s imponderables, we need to stop, reflect, and trust. In stopping we interrupt what may have been habitual God-limiting behavior. Stopping allows us to ponder, to newly consider the what no mind has conceived. Hope languishes when we get caught up in the web of habit.
In reflection the wonders of God’s past acts move into the present. This morning I sorted through a sizeable stack of business cards. Among the cards was the name, address and business information of a company that was extremely generous toward what was then known as "Highway Ministries." We were renovating the building now housing growing and thriving Resurrection Life Church. We were weary and had worn down teams of people who came to help from as far away as Michigan. The rebuilding process was long and tedious. And then, the unthinkable, what no eye had seen, no ear had heard, no mind had conceived happened before our weary, befogged eyes! A company specializing in pastas and sauces donated nearly all the interior doors hardware and jambs that we needed. I still am stunned and amazed at the imagination and creativity of God.
Many of you know that Pat has Parkinson’s Disease and those with any knowledge of the illness know how difficult and devastating the symptoms are. On occasion I leave the room where Pat is resting and simply and quietly weep. It happened yesterday. The sun had set, Pat and I enjoyed watching our favorite game shows following the evening news, and then I read the article by Mr. Krauthammer, a religious Jew. The idea about needing a better imagination was planted in my spirit. The Holy Spirit took the more-than-14-year-old Washington Post article and said, God has prepared, and will reveal to you, what you cannot yet imagine." Yes! Amen! I will trust the Word of God.
The last item I posted related my experience in a downtown Orlando, Florida church. I promised a follow-up and thought that it would come on the heals of that post. But, I continued to muse and assess what my brother and I had experienced. That took some time!
I thought that I would write about an old song the worship leader led following Charles Wesley’s "O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing." Though the song is beautiful and powerful, the real story is the effectiveness of the worship leader in bringing the congregation face-to-face with the truth of the grace of God. Wesley’s hymn was followed immediately with Haldor Lillenas’ "Wonderful Grace of Jesus." The artistry and skill of the leader urged the congregation to build on "O for a Thousand Tongues."
Allow me to explain what my brother Dennis and I experienced with about 200 others in a 20 minute worship segment. The leader’s explanation of how Wesley’s song came about and was first experienced prompted a deep reverence for the grace of God in my own life. I was ready for what was to come next, but not everyone was!
While singing the first verse, I was little concerned that my brother’s mellow tenor voice and my raspy "whatever" voice made us stand out like people who had recently eaten too much garlic. The last words of the verse waned.
Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden,
Setting my spirit free;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
Refrain
Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Wonderful grace, all sufficient for me, for even me.
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame,
O magnify the precious Name of Jesus.
Praise His Name!
The leader abruptly stopped the accompanying musicians and explained that the grace of God deserved a fullness and depth of worship. With no trace criticism he mentioned, "Men, sing ‘Wonderful!’ The grace of God is why we are here! The musicians were asked to add volume and deliberate emphasis, and the men were asked to stress ‘Wonderful’ playfully asking them to avoid anything that sounded like Lawrence Welk!.He then asked the men to sing, and about 75 or 80 robust men enthusiastically filled the cavernous space with:
Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching to all the lost,
By it I have been pardoned,Saved to the uttermost,
Chains have been torn asunder,
Giving me liberty;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
The ladies joined in the refrain, the organ soared, the piano embellished, but the Spirit of the Living God lifted souls into sin releasing, devil-defying truth. In a staid older congregation I saw hands being lifted and tears form and flow down cheeks. The staid were moved! No one had to say, "God is in the house," or "Someone give praise!" Everyone who has ever been touched by the Holy Spirit knew they stood in the Presence of the Holy!
The last verse was sung with a still greater intensity! I was near to heaven in that moment. We sang:
Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching the most defiled,
By its transforming power,
Making him God’s dear child,
Purchasing peace and heaven,
For all eternity;
And the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
Dennis and I were among about 200 people, but I was face-to-face with the Eternal God. I stood and sang in amazed wonder that I, the "most defiled" was allowed to sing because of a "transforming power" that made me "God’s dear child!" The song wasn’t the most important thing at that moment. As an instrument of the Spirit, the worship leader brought us face-to-face, heart-to-heart and mind-to-mind with the grace of God. At that moment worship happened! The grace and truth of Jesus were in very close proximity. I believe lives were changed. Mine was!
My friend and editor, Bob Neuman, has already asked that we attend this church during our denomination’s General Council later this year. We probably will!
Voices communicate with tones, inflections, and volume. A tone of voice may be snide, sarcastic, soothing, or assuring. By emphasizing a word in a sentence, meaning changes. It seems to me that American Evangelical Christians have become careless in their communication. We have moved from an assuring and soothing gracious voice to one of screaming sarcasm laced with entitlement. We seem to have forgotten the Spirit’s lesson delivered by the Apostle Paul, For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)
My brother, Dennis, and I worshiped in a downtown church in Orlando, Florida last Sunday because years ago Dennis had collaborated with the church’s newly-installed minister of music. We attended the service because Dennis wanted to spend whatever time he could with the noted musician, and because I wanted to see what accommodations a downtown church made to her surroundings. My brother was thrilled to spend a few minutes with an old acquaintance, I was lifted and moved spiritually, intellectually, and sensually as the music master led the congregation into a deepened appreciation for the grace of God. It was so timely because Dennis and I had discussed in depth about how easy it is to focus on style rather than substance, on "how" rather than "what," and human responses rather than divine presence.
The downtown church building was gorgeous, but dated. Vaulted ceilings, 20' tall windows allowed too much sunlight into the sanctuary to show quality videos, teal green carpet, and white enameled pews point to another time, and pipe organs are simply relics of another era. The first anthem was Charles Wesley’s "O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing," an Evangelical’s "Golden Oldie." The first verse was sung without emotion nor much apparent interest.
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!
At the end of the first verse the worship leader did something which makes most pastors begin to pray, seriously and intently, he waved off the musicians and began to talk! Worshipers learned the history of the song in a few short sentences! Charles Wesley wrote the lyrics on the morning of the first anniversary of Wesley’s salvation experience. After completing the stanzas Charles Wesley then rushed into the room where his brother John was very ill and fearing death. Charles read to John –
My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name.
Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,’Tis life, and health, and peace.
He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.
He speaks, and, listening to His voice,
New life the dead receive,
The mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
The humble poor believe.
Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb,
Your loosened tongues employ;
Ye blind, behold your Savior come,
And leap, ye lame, for joy.
In Christ your Head, you then shall know,
Shall feel your sins forgiven;
Anticipate your heaven below,
And own that love is heaven.
Glory to God, and praise and love
Be ever, ever given,
By saints below and saints above,
The church in earth and heaven.
On this glad day the glorious Sun
Of Righteousness arose;
On my benighted soul He shone
And filled it with repose.
Sudden expired the legal strife,
’Twas then I ceased to grieve;
My second, real, living life
I then began to live.
Then with my heart I first believed,
Believed with faith divine,
Power with the Holy Ghost received
To call the Savior mine.
I felt my Lord’s atoning blood
Close to my soul applied;
Me, me He loved, the Son of God,
For me, for me He died!
I found and owned His promise true,
Ascertained of my part,
My pardon passed in heaven I knew
When written on my heart.
Look unto Him, ye nations, own
Your God, ye fallen race;
Look, and be saved through faith alone,
Be justified by grace.
See all your sins on Jesus laid:
The Lamb of God was slain,
His soul was once an offering made
For every soul of man.
Awake from guilty nature’s sleep,
And Christ shall give you light,
Cast all your sins into the deep,
And wash the Ethiop white.
Harlots and publicans and thieves
In holy triumph join!
Saved is the sinner that believes
From crimes as great as mine.
Murderers and all ye hellish crew
In holy triumph join!
Believe the Savior died for you;
For me the Savior died.
With me, your chief, ye then shall know,
Shall feel your sins forgiven;
Anticipate your heaven below,
And own that love is heaven.
Time allotted for music allowed the congregation to sing only four of Wesley’s 18 verses. This worshiper has been musing on the effect of a brother sweeping heavy curtains aside and the sunlight of a new morning pouring into a sickroom. John, on that morning was certain of imminent death, lived for more than 50 years afterward! Imagine Charles excitedly saying, "John, listen to this!" and powerful presence of the Eternal God filling a death chamber with life!
Fears and sorrows have met their Master. Jesus is the music to this sinner’s ears! Sin is canceled, deaf sing, the church in heaven and earth sing of wondrous glory. Once harlots, murderers, and thieves, we now feel our sins forgiven! That’s the message! That ought to be the consuming thought and theme of song and sermon, GRACE! Political systems have thrived and tumbled, monetary systems have known boom and bust, movements have peaked and plummeted, but the grace of God endures forever! Peter was the Lord’s spokesman when he reported, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (1 Peter 2:9-10) Let us rise up and worship because of the Message of GRACE!
We have an opportunity to recalibrate our tone, renew an emphasis on the message of GRACE! The marketplace has heard enough shrill demands of entitlement. Our message is GRACE!
More about our Orlando church experience next time . . .
