Hymn

I heard this song on Monday at the seminary and I can't stop singing it; it is so beautiful. The lyrics are below.

 

Click here: YouTube - "When In Our Music God Is Glorified" arranged by Harriet Ziegenhals

 

When in our music God is glorified,
and adoration leaves no room for pride,
it is as though the whole creation cried
Alleluia!

How often, making music, we have found
a new dimension in the world of sound,
as worship moved us to a more profound
Alleluia!

So has the Church, in liturgy and song,
in faith and love, through centuries of wrong,
borne witness to the truth in every tongue,
Alleluia!

And did not Jesus sing a psalm that night
when utmost evil strove against the Light?
Then let us sing, for whom he won the fight,
Alleluia!

Let every instrument be tuned for praise!
Let all rejoice who have a voice to raise!
And may God give us faith to sing always
Alleluia! Amen.

 

 

A thought for the day

"O Most High, when I am afraid, I put my trust in you." Psalm 56:2b-3a

 

"Let truth, the light of my heart, speak to me, and not my own darkness!"
Augustine, Confessons, Book XII, Chapter 11

"Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I will observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart."
Psalm 119:33-34

Pastor Kenneth Q. James

Next steps

Sunday's sermon (9/26) was from Daniel 5:1-5, 24-28), titled, "Living in the Light of Eternity." What are the "next steps" God will have us take in response to the Word we heard?

 

"May we receive the word we hear each in an honest heart

And keep the precious treasure there, and never with it part."

 

1. What do you think God has to say about the state of our world today? Is anyone listening or does anyone care?

2. Do you find it easy to be judgmental about others faults?

3. Belshazzar is disrespectful of holy things (Daniel 5:2-4). How are we guilty of failing to respect holy things?

4. Daniel's admonition to Belshazzar is sobering (Daniel 5:18-23). What life lessons from parents, elders, teachers, etc., have you failed to heed?

5. "Living in the light of eternity" means that we take our lives seriously, that we refuse to live "sometimes recklessly, sometimes carelessly, often thoughtlessly because we don't think about the consequences of our behavior, and certainly don't expect eternity to begin any time soon." How can we make decisions to live "on purpose" in light of eternity?

6. What questions/thoughts/convictions were raised in your mind after hearing this sermon or reading this passage? How is God speaking to you now?

 

"Let truth, the light of my heart, speak to me, and not my own darkness!"
Augustine, Confessons, Book XII, Chapter 11

"Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I will observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart."
Psalm 119:33-34

Pastor Kenneth Q. James

Check out YouTube - Aretha Franklin - Beams of Heaven - Audio from Gospel Fes

Hello, all,

I wanted to share with you this experience from June 3, 2005 (I will never forget the experience, but I had to look in my journal to get the correct date). The Pastor's Aid of Duryee Memorial AME Zion Church in Schenectady gave me as a gift a trip to New York to go to the "Gospel Fest" concert at Madison Square Garden in NYC. That night in concert, I heard Donnie McClurkin, Vickie Winans and the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. I will never forget hearing this song that night, already one of my favorites, but so beautifully done here that as I thought of it, I wanted to share it with you. I hope you will enjoy this very meaningful song as much as I do.

 

Click here: YouTube - Aretha Franklin - Beams of Heaven - Audio from Gospel Fest

 

"Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I will observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart."
Psalm 119:33-34

Pastor Kenneth Q. James

Check out YouTube - ELDER JAMES LENOX SINGS A MUST SEE!!!

At 1:59 this morning, I woke up singing this song, from out of nowhere, it seemed. It blessed me, and so when I found it on YouTube, I thought I should share it with you.

 

Click here: YouTube - ELDER JAMES LENOX SINGS A MUST SEE!!!

 

(p.s., there is another link for this song with a young lady singing this song, but for me, this one does it. Maybe you need a few gray hairs to sing this and understand it)

Just a thought...

I have never seen anyone in as much of a hurry as when they are rushing to judgment. "Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry" (James 1:19). If your words are seasoned with grace and prudence (Colossians 4:6) they won't taste so bad if you have to eat them later.

Words

Someone shared this with me this morning, and I thought it would be good to pass it on. Let's use our words well today.

The writer of Proverbs describes an unwise person as "one who speaks like the piercings of a sword" (12:18). Our tongues can be like a multi-bladed Swiss Army knife when it comes to the variety of ways that we cut and destroy each other.

Unhealthy attitudes of anger, irritation, frustration, and impatience—even disappointment, stress, guilt, and insecurity—all contribute to our damaging speech. And as we cut with our words, we wound and divide friendships and relationships. It's no wonder that the infamous list of seven things that are an abomination to the Lord includes anyone who "sows discord among brethren" (Prov. 6:16-19).

How do we stay off that list? For starters, we need to watch what we say. Gossip and slander are out, and words that hurt instead of heal are not welcome. Boasting, lying, and all the rest of the ways we use words to hurt and divide need to be gone as well. In their place, words that extend love and the healing power of forgiveness, mercy, and truth should rule our words and relationships. After all, where would we be if Jesus hadn't spoken words of forgiving love and grace to us?

So, put the "knife" away and use your words to help and heal.

Lord, put a seal upon my lips,
Help me to guard with care
The things I say and swift repeat;
O tongue of mine, beware! —Bosch

Our words have the power to build up or tear down.

"Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I will observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart."
Psalm 119:33-34

Pastor Kenneth Q. James