I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

When I Know Why I Believe

When I was a teenager, way back in the dark ages of the 1950s, two songs rose high in the popular music charts. Both songs were sentimental. Both songs had nice, flowing, rich orchestral accompaniments, which were far more appreciated then in popular music than they are today. Both songs were recorded by artists who enjoyed a wide popularity at the time. One of the songs was called He and was recorded by a blind singer named Al Hibbler. The other was called I Believe and was recorded by many artists, but perhaps was most identified at the time with Elvis Presley.

These songs had much in common, as noted here. And besides these things, there was one more characteristic the two songs shared. They both perpetuated and popularized a false god of human invention.

He can turn the tides and calm the angry sea
He alone decides who writes a symphony
He lights ev’ry star that makes the darkness bright
He keeps watch all through each long and lonely night

He still finds the time to hear a child's first prayer
Saint or sinner calls and always finds him there
Though it makes him sad to see the way we live
He’ll always say “I forgive.”

He can touch a tree and turn the leaves to gold
He knows every lie that you and I have told
Though it makes him sad to see the way we live
He'll always say “I forgive.”

Words by Richard Mullan. Recorded by Al Hibbler and others

I believe for every drop of rain that falls
A flower grows
I believe that somewhere in the darkest night
A candle glows
I believe for everyone who goes astray, someone will come
To show the way
I believe, I believe

I believe above a storm the smallest prayer
Can still be heard
I believe that someone in the great somewhere
Hears every word
Every time I hear a new born baby cry,
Or touch a leaf or see the sky
Then I know why, I believe

Words & music by Erwin Drake - Irvin Graham - Jimmy Shirl - Al Stillman Recorded by Elvis Presley and many others.

The true God is not “someone in the great somewhere.” He is the God of Heaven and earth. The true God is not always ready to say “I forgive.” There is a price to pay for sin, and His righteousness and holiness demand that price be paid. He also, in love, sent His Son, Jesus to pay for the sin with His own blood. God forgives those who come to Him by the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.

I Believe does not make reference to God except to say that “someone in the great somewhere” hears prayers. He says that God is “sad” by the way we live, but offers no word on what God has done about our situation. The Bible, of course, says much about what God has done to correct our sin problem.

Neither song makes any direct reference to sin, to judgment, or to the shedding of the blood of God's own Son, Jesus. These are the things the true God is concerned about.

So, why bring up songs that have long ago faded into the history of popular music in North America, and no doubt are unknown to most younger readers of this blog? The songs may be a distant memory, but the concept of the weak, powerless, sentimental god they praised still exists and has actually grown in acceptance today. Perhaps most people today think of God as he is depicted in these songs. He is a vague and distant “someone in the great somewhere.” He is sad. He spends his time turning leaves to gold and listening to a child’s first prayer, but he can’t do anything about the death both leaves and children ultimately face.

The only way to know the true God is to find Him in the pages of the Scriptures. Those who find Him there can establish a faith relationship with His Son Jesus. When I see Jesus, that is when I know why I believe.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

A Memorable Conference

Stepping into the shower just as the lights went out. Having a hand soap dispenser squirt its liquid on the front of my pants in a darkened men’s room. Staying alert in spite of the rising temperature and humidity in the conference rooms where the air conditioning was not working. These are some of the impressions that stay with me from the Faith Writer’s Conference I attended in Livonia, Michigan August 12 and 13, 2011.

These are negative impressions. And they do not represent the majority of the impressions I have of that brief time from Friday evening to Saturday evening. The most memorable impression I have of the conference is the people, fellow writers, each enjoying different levels of success, but all working together to improve their craft, a craft they have each dedicated to the Lord’s use and glory.

I remember the comedy of fellow Canadian Timmy Doyle, and the heartfelt sincerity of Hanne Moon’s struggle to subdue her will to that of God. I remember the delightful exchange I had with Jan Ackerson just before her workshop on conflict in literature began.

Jan commented to the people who were sitting in the front row. “You were all over achievers in school,” she said. “I taught high school for many years, so I know. And I know why guys sit in the back row.” She looked at me, the single occupant of the back row.

“I taught high school, too,” I said. “That’s why I sit in the back row.”

“What did you teach,” she asked. I know that Amy Wiley will tell me to remove some of those dialog tags.

“English.” There, Amy. See? No dialog tag.

“Then why are you here?” Jan asked. It was true, of course. I had annually taught high school students about the different kinds of conflict that authors use in their work. But I learned some new things from Jan’s presentation and enjoyed hearing again what I had taught so many times, to a less enthusiastic crowd, I might add.

I also appreciated Amy’s instructions concerning showing instead of telling the reader what is happening, something Jan had reminded us of as well.

Patty Wysong’s presentation concerning blogging was especially challenging to me. I have a blog, two blogs, in fact, and a website. But keeping them fresh and current is a bit like rolling a large rock uphill for me.

Perhaps the most memorable thing about the conference to me will always be the people, both those who presented workshops, and those I met between workshops. Not only did they share with me their passion for writing, but they also shared their even greater passion for serving Christ.

It was a great conference, even if I did have to take a shower in the dark and have an over aggressive soap dispenser squirt me.