How to Celebrate Your 53rd Birthday

In case you're wondering...

Get up and have a great breakfast.  Then load up the bikes and head to Santa Monica.

Start pedaling.  Stay upright as you dodge other cyclists, walkers, runners, roller bladers, strollers, and dogs.

Take a lunch break at Redondo Beach at mile 19.5

Start pedaling again until you reach Santa Monica.  Finishing with 39 miles.

Drive to Malibu for dinner at Duke's.

Watch whales and dolphins out your ocean front window.

Share a slice of Hula Pie.

That's not so painful, is it?

Our Growing Family

 
Les stepped outside to take some pictures of our roses this afternoon.  As soon as he opened the door a bird flew away from the wreath on our door:

He reached up and found this nest:

Oh dear!  There's an egg!  What should we do with the nest?  Wait, is something moving...

Why yes, there is a brand new baby bird...

There are actually at least two, possibly three, with one more egg left to hatch...

They must be only a few hours old!  The nest is now resting safely back inside my wreath.  I have no idea how long it will be before they are old enough to fly away but we will be very careful until they do.  I'm just glad we didn't have a repeat from a few years ago when I destroyed an entire nest with eggs in it!

Joy to the World!

I know we don't usually say Joy to the World on Resurrection Sunday, but that is truly when the joy happened!  My favorite song for this morning is "Easter Song" written by Keith Green.  You can hear his version here.  Second Chapter of Acts does a fabulous job with it, too (listen here).  Turn up the volume and sing along!

Hear the bells ringing
They're singing that you can be born again
Hear the bells ringing
They're singing Christ is risen from the dead

The angel up on the tombstone
Said He is risen, just as He said
Quickly now, go tell his disciples
That Jesus Christ is no longer dead

Joy to the world, He is risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah, hallelujah

Hear the bells ringing
They're singing that we can be born again
Hear the bells ringing, they're singing
Christ is risen from the dead

The angel up on the tombstone
Said He is risen, just as He said
Quickly now, go tell his disciples
That Jesus Christ is no longer dead

Joy to the world, He is risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah!

The Second Day

I was out for a run this morning thinking about the events we celebrate this weekend.  On Good Friday we pause to remember, thinking of the sorrow. On Resurrection Day we rejoice.  This is a post I wrote 2010 about that day in between the sorrow and the joy...

If you count like I do, you've probably wondered about three days from Friday to Sunday. In my counting, that is two days. But according to Jewish calendars, Friday is day one, Saturday is day two, and Sunday is day three.

So here we are on the second day. If you've read your Bible, you know that on the third day Jesus arose. On the third day all was right again. If you've ever seen a passion play or Easter drama, the crucifixion scene is quite prominent, followed by a song or some narration, no more than 5 minutes later "He's Alive!" But there was an entire day, the second day, the sabbath. Travel with me in my imagination as I think about what happened on the second day...

Store fronts were buttoned up tightly. No business would take place on the sabbath, even with Jerusalem teeming with visitors who had arrived for the Passover. The only place they would go is the temple. Heavy hearts, guilty minds, relieved hypocrites, all were in attendance.

What now Caiaphas? Are you and Annas patting yourselves on the back? There is the nasty little business of Judas hanging himself, so you can't keep that money, but you've rid yourself of Jesus. Now you can relax. No one will be driving out the money changers from the temple again. Calling you a hypocrite! He should have known better.

I wonder about the man born blind. Sitting in his house, looking on the faces of his loved ones. He'd never seen a Roman crucifixion before, only heard the description. The vivid details are almost too much. Why the One who gave him back his sight?

There are soldiers dispatched to guard the tomb. They must have laughed, thinking how anyone would be able to steal the body. The silly Jews - always creating some kind of drama. Was there one boasting that it was his sword that pierced Jesus' side? Of course a surprise was coming their way on the third day, but the second day was just another day of duty.

What was it like in the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha? Lazarus spent four days in the grave. They knew the pain of grief. Was Martha silently weeping as she thought, "I just wanted to take care of Him and His followers, but I should have also spent more time at His feet. I told myself I would do so the next time He came. That chance is now gone."

What about the young lad who gave his lunch? His five loaves and two fish were used to feed thousands! But now... "Mother, why were you yelling 'His blood be on us and our children?' "

What were the thoughts of the lepers He cleansed? The woman with the issue of blood? Jairus and his daughter? So many whom Jesus touched. Had they all been swayed by the yelling crowd? Did anyone still believe He was the Messiah?

Where were the disciples? Faith seemed to be missing in Jerusalem that day. If they truly believed what Jesus taught, wouldn't they have been anticipating his resurrection? Shouldn't they have been making plans to be there when He arose? Only three women returned to the tomb on the third day, but only to take spices to anoint his body.

Somewhere, Barabas was sitting in wonder. He was a free man.

I just wonder if anyone sang this song:

VERSE 1
I was guilty with nothing to say
And they were coming to take me away
But then a voice from Heaven was heard that said
"Let him go and take me instead"

CHORUS
I should have been crucified
I should have suffered and died
I should have hung on the cross in disgrace
But Jesus, my Lord, took my place

VERSE 2
Crowns of thorns, the spear deep in His side
And those pains should have been mine
Those rusty nails were meant for me
Oh Jesus took them and let me go free

CHORUS
I should have been crucified
I should have suffered and died
I should have hung on the cross in disgrace
But Jesus, my Lord, took my place

The Power of Music

As I mentioned in my review of "Long Way Gone," music played a prominent role in the story.  Cooper's father was a preacher who held tent revivals for many years.  As Cooper's talent became more evident his father did his best to guide him in how he used that gift.  He told Cooper there was healing in music, it touches people in a unique way.

I have been involved in music in one way or another the majority of my life.  I started in children's choir and have been involved in just about every type of choir or group there is.  I love music and I know how it can move me.  I've written before about crying over "Jingle Bell Rock."  The thoughts I want to share have been in my heart for quite some time.  After reading Long Way Gone, I decided today would be the day to share them. 

Church Isn't American Idol
There are a couple of minor characters in Long Way Gone.  The first chapter opens with an old man playing his guitar on a street corner.  Much later we meet his grandson, Jubal.  When Jubal is going to play in front of a crowd for the first time he is very nervous, wondering how people will respond if he messes up.  "But all those people on the TV shows always get raked over the coals by the judges..."  Cooper sets him straight, telling Jubal that music is a gift that we make to give away.  And anyone who doesn't like that can "go suck on a lemon."

It's tough playing or singing in church sometimes.  Over 30 years ago I was part of a small singing group.  The director stopped us in practice and pointed me out, telling me I was not singing my part correctly.  He went over our part again.  When the sopranos sang, I just listened, trying to hear our part in a female voice and figure out what I was doing wrong.  The director stopped us and again pointed me out, telling me I was still off (even though I hadn't actually been singing.)  I've never forgotten how he made me feel and I've tried to be careful in offering even "constructive" criticism to others.

I've been on the receiving end of criticism many times.  I'm not the greatest singer or musician in the world but I give it my best.  Words hurt and and they can make people back completely away from doing what God wants them to do for His glory. Sitting in church, judging those who are striving to lead the congregation in worship only accomplishes one thing - it takes our minds and hearts away from Who we should be worshiping.  Believe me, musicians and singers know when they've messed up.  You don't need to tell them!

Music is Powerful
Choosing songs for a service, whether it's a solo or the entire service set, is something I struggle with.  It's not that I don't have songs.  I've got hundreds of them.  But I don't take the responsibility lightly.

Music is powerful.  It can cause people to dance and shout or bring them to tears.  Hurting souls walk through our doors every service.  They may be first time visitors or long time saints, but life has brought hurt their way.  Music can bring peace and healing. We can't take that powerful gift lightly, but must prayerfully consider each song. 

Where Do Your Songs Point?
It was about a year ago when Pastor McGriffin came to the end of music practice at New Life.  He talked to us about horizontal songs and vertical songs.  Horizontal songs are about us ("I'm Gonna Dance") or to us ("Everybody Will Be Happy Over There")  There's nothing wrong with these types of songs, but they shouldn't be the only types of songs we sing.

Vertical songs point to Jesus.  The songs I love to play and sing the most are the ones that I sing directly to Him.  Sitting at my piano, with an audience of One, and singing, "Jesus, I love You, because You care," draws me to Him.  Leading a congregation in singing, "You are good and Your mercy is forever," focuses all the attention on Him and what He has done for us.

There are appropriate times for both horizontal and vertical songs.  Pastor McGriffin challenged us to keep track of the mix of songs we sang.  If we are out of balance, it definitely needs to be in the direction of more vertical songs than horizontal.  There is a reason why old hymns like Amazing Grace, which was written in the 1700s, can still touch hearts today.  They point to Jesus.

Songs that lift up Jesus have a real purpose.  Jesus said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."  If we'll do the lifting, he'll do the drawing.

Keep on Singing!
If you're a musician or singer, I hope you'll be encouraged.   If you've been burned and are thinking about hanging up your microphone, don't!  Remember Who gave you the song in the first place and keep on singing!

Book Review: Long Way Gone

I recently finished "Long Way Gone" by Charles Martin.  This is the first time I have ready anything by Mr. Martin and the book was outstanding!  The description from Amazon.com says:

“No matter where you go, no matter whether you succeed or fail, stand or fall, no gone is too far gone. You can always come home.”

At the age of eighteen, musician and songwriter Cooper O’Connor took everything his father held dear and drove 1,200 miles from home to Nashville, his life riding on a six-string guitar and the bold wager that he had talent. But his wager soon proved foolish.

Five years after losing everything, he falls in love with Daley Cross, an angelic voice in need of a song. But just as he realizes his love for Daley, Cooper faces a tragedy that threatens his life as well as his career. With nowhere else to go, he returns home to the remote Colorado mountains, searching for answers about his father and his faith.

When Daley shows up on his street corner twenty years later, he wonders if it’s too late to tell her the truth about his past—and if he is ready to face it himself.

A radical retelling of the prodigal son story, Long Way Gone takes us from tent revivals to the Ryman Auditorium to the tender relationship between a broken man and the father who never stopped calling him home.

This was more than just a retelling of the prodigal son.  The story was beautiful, heartbreaking, humorous and joyful.  The descriptions Mr. Martin uses are so good.  His writing style was very enjoyable.  I finished the book on Sunday and continue to think about it.  Along with the telling of Cooper's story there is a lot about music that I found insightful as well, which will be a post for another day.

We all have prodigals in our lives.  Sons, daughters, friends, family members.  People we went to camp with, prayed with, sat next to in Sunday school or sang in the choir with.  They need to know that they can come home.  Many kicked us on their way out, but they need to know that they have a safe place to return to.

We can't see the road the prodigal has traveled.  We might see them from time to time, but we can't see their hearts.  Maybe we haven't seen them in decades, but we need to keep looking down the road for their return.

Maybe it's you that is the prodigal.  You left with your head held high and dreams that couldn't be squashed.  Maybe you're still living high.  But there's a piece of you that wants to come home.  A song you hear on the wind calling you back.  Please come home.

Cooper's father said it best, "No matter where you go, no matter whether you succeed or  fail, stand or fall, no gone is too far gone. You can always come home.”  The road back won't be easy, dear prodigal, but please know you can always come home.  Unfortunately not everyone will wait with open arms, some haven't recovered from the pain you inflicted.  But there is a Father watching the road and looking for you.

If you've been praying for a prodigal, I encourage you to keep praying.  They may be making their way home even now.  No gone is too far gone.

Aloha from Room 1394!