For the past half year I’ve been part of a small church where most of our music comes from the hymnal. They’re very, very nice people, though, and are happy to have myself and a friend playing guitar in the front pews. We really enjoy it but it takes some effort to work with the piano players and their music so that we can find guitar chords to play from. This took me down the path of finding guitar chords for hymns and worship songs online. Here’s my tips for finding them…
Congratulations to those who haven’t muted me yet for sharing bible verses, you’re very kind and patient! ;) For the record, since August 2012 when I started, you’ve witnessed about 718 days of bible readings, 453 verses shared, 52 books of the bible cited, 3 books shared from every chapter (Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon), and 2 complete bible read-throughs (sometimes sequential, sometimes alternating OT/NT).
Why would I do this? Because I believe “the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) and I trust God when he says “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11).
These verses were shared primarily on Facebook and later ones simultaneously on Twitter (usually in shorter forms) on @Shovas .
Ever since I made a concerted effort to explore the Christian music scene, and discover the “good music” that I knew was out there, I’ve been aware of the controversy of Christian love songs. Controversy? Yes, in between the awkward attempts and lame lyrics, there were a number of good sounding attempts (for their time), but I found, like many, they played on sophomoric sleight of hand with ‘God is my girlfriend’ lyrics. There are Christian songs that appear to easily swap out “Jesus” for “girl”, and vice versa, without harming the content in anyway. And if the lyrics stand on their own, some are so ambiguous as to cast doubt on who exactly is the subject of the love. Astoundingly, for a faith that holds love as the highest ethic and motive, there are woefully few good Christian love songs. Now, however, I think I’ve found a truly exemplary one: And, if you’re reading a blog like this, I’m sure you’ve heard it and probably already love it, too.
Recently, on a Thanksgiving road-trip out east to PEI, I listened to a four-part message from James MacDonald called Romantic Love. I then found my next bible reading book was Song of Songs which that sermon series was based on. I usually share select verses, ones that particularly strike me, on Facebook and I was wondering how I’d do that with the intimate and personal nature of Song of Songs. So, I set myself a challenge: Read one chapter per day and try to find one thing to share from each Song of Songs chapter – something that would be ‘family friendly’ and not so sentimental as to make me look (overly) strange. Here’s the series of verses posted over eight days that I think provides an interesting overview of the whole book.
We rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. Song of Songs 1:4b
Come back unto me, oh please,
and I’ll tend to your ease;
soothe again with your sweet song,
I will sing well along;
long have I longed unto you,
o’er nights never a few;
vicious is this vile space,
e’ermore long I your face;
your fair words make me as dumb,
or your absence as numb;
under these long years return, oh please, and I’ll tend to your ease.
The great document Where in the World is Osama bin Laden? is playing behind me and I just watched the scene in which Morgan Spurloch walks through an orthodox Jewish quarter in Jerusalem.
He is assailed quite angrily by young and old very old school Jewish looking men. He is pushed, shoved and yelled at. One man threatens to break the camera.
He is assailed quite angrily by young and old very old school Jewish looking men. He is pushed, shoved and yelled at. One man threatens to break the camera.
I’ve seen parts of the doc a few times and that scene, in particular, always strikes me. I know my history. I know my scriptures. I know the unending struggles of the nation of Israel.
To me, it always surprised me that some still react in the way they do – and believe they are acting in the right way.
But I do see why they would act like that…
Back in the day, Limp Bizkit was a popular band. I don’t care for them much but one song in particular hits the right chord. The songs speaks to hate and why we hate. The way that it presents the thought brings to your mind something you knew all along but only just below the surface of understanding.
Here’s the song.
Listen for the lyric, “Now I know why you wanna hate me \ ‘Cause hate is all the world has even seen lately.”
While you’re there, bask in the head banging serenity that is the chorus.
The world sees so much hate. It’s a miracle any of us show any other emotion at all.
Third Day’s song Carry My Cross has an interesting lyric: I’ve come here with a mission \ And soon I’ll give my life for this world \ I’m praying in the garden \ And I’m looking for a miracle.
I’ve come here with a mission
And soon I’ll give my life for this world
I’m praying in the garden
And I’m looking for a miracle
A reference to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane the night he was arrested. He would be put on trial and condemned to crucifixion. Jesus’s words,
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)
Jesus was asking God for a miracle. I never considered that verse in such a profound light until the moment I heard that song. Jesus was asking for a miracle, one that would not be granted.
Not even Jesus, God’s own Son, was saved by a miracle although none but Him has ever been worthy of it.
When tragedy strikes, pray with all your heart for a miracle.
When it arrives, praise God.
When it doesn’t arrive, praise God all the more, for a miracle withheld once saved your soul.
