It's Just Singing

“It’s Just Singing”

Years ago the church we were a part of would occasionally devote a service to
hymn singing. One good, knowledgeable brother who was usually faithful to
attend the assemblies, would choose not to come then, because, as he put it, “It’s
just singing.” I have also heard people say, “Some people like to sing, but that’s
just not my personality.”
How would you answer this question: “Why should we sing in worship to God?”
A quick answer could be, “Because He has commanded it.” However there is
much more involved than that.
God created us with the capacity to feel strong emotions. He also fashioned us in
a way that music can strongly arouse those emotions.
William Congreve once wrote, “Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast
(sic).” Another famous quote (variously attributed) is, “Let me make the songs of
a nation, and I care not who makes its laws.” The truth being emphasized is that
words which are spoken take on new vitality when they are sung.
When we see God’s people singing throughout scripture it is not “just singing.” It
is the natural, spontaneous outpouring of heart-felt emotions to their Creator.
I feel indebted to those who have the gift of thoughtfully composing spiritual
songs that accurately convey scriptural messages. I am equally thankful to those
with the ability to lead us as we sing.
The world rings with praise: lovers praising one another, readers praising an
author, spectators praising sports heroes. We delight to praise that which we
enjoy because such expression serves to complete the enjoyment.
God deserves and desires our praise.
Psa 13:6 I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me.
Has God dealt bountifully with you ?
Psa 89:1 I will sing of the lovingkindness of the LORD forever; to all
generations I will make known Thy faithfulness with my mouth.

Do you want to tell others about God’s goodness ?
If I do not participate in the worship in song I:
 fail to honor God as He deserves
 do not exert the proper influence on others
 deprive myself of one of life’s greatest privileges
 am not preparing myself for heaven
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the
rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with
thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. - Psa
95:1-3
- Leonard White

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Who Moved the Stone ?

Albert Henry Ross (1881 - 1950) was an English printer, advertising agent and
freelance writer. He wrote several books using the pseudonym Frank Morison.
In 1930 he published the best-known one of these, entitled Who Moved the
Stone? The theme of this book, especially the story behind its writing, is quite
interesting.
Morison was a skeptic of Christianity. At one time he wrote: “When, as a very
young man, I first began seriously to study the life of Christ, I did so with a very
definite feeling that his history rested on very insecure foundations.” And so he
decided to investigate and write a book demonstrating that the story of Jesus’
resurrection was pure myth – that it never actually occurred.
When he took the time to carefully examine the writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke
and John he repeatedly found that their accounts were filled with credible
evidence. There were many things he found difficult to explain, such as the
impact of the resurrection upon the lives of eyewitnesses:
 Peter denied Christ three times, yet only weeks later began boldly
proclaiming that he had seen him alive after his death.
 James (Jesus’ half-brother) at first doubted Jesus’ claims but after his
resurrection became a leader of the Jerusalem church.
 Saul of Tarsus, a bitter persecutor of Christians, turned his life completely
around and became a much-persecuted apostle.
It is especially noteworthy that these three (and countless others) died as
martyrs, refusing to deny what they knew to be true.
Morison’s research led him to a much different conclusion than he was expecting.
He was forced to admit that there is abundant, convincing proof that Jesus
actually did rise from the dead. The first chapter of his book is entitled: “The
Book That Refused To Be Written.”
- Leonard White

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Don’t Be Like The Baboon

There are two interesting stories about the behavior of baboons, each containing
a practical lesson for us humans.
Baboons love salt, which led to the invention of a clever way to trap them. Some
salt is placed inside a hole with an opening barely large enough for a baboon’s
hand to squeeze through. When a baboon gets his fist full of salt he cannot
retrieve it through the opening. He will then stubbornly refuse to release his
“treasure,” which leads to him being captured.
The other story was related by a man who preached in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)
years ago. He once watched a baboon working his way down a row of maize
(corn). The baboon would grab an ear and tuck it under his arm, then grab
another and put it under the same arm. Of course, when he raised his arm to put
the second ear safely under, the first ear dropped out. Reaching the end of the
row the baboon sat down puzzled, searching under his arm for the missing maize.

Do we ever behave like those foolish baboons? Do we ever refuse to turn loose of
something that will ultimately bring us harm? Are we sometimes dissatisfied
with what we have and obsessed with getting more?

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