Monday Morning Music Ministry

6-23-25

The Bible is the Eternal Word of the Everlasting God, supremely relevant to all peoples in all places at all times. Yet as the last written words were recorded about 2000 years ago, there are a few perceived anomalies. 

I am talking about language, vocabulary, grammar, and syntax… not the Book’s theology. I was privileged to be part of the editorial team on the 1599 Geneva Bible project, the first updated-language printing of the Bible that the Pilgrims brought to the New World, and that the Founders read; not the King James Version. Even at that, virtually the only changes were Thees and Thous (and “breeches” for Adam’s fig leaf). That’s all.

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

Yet, as I said, there are anomalies, or certain hurdles that might present themselves. None is major. Even if children never have met a lamb, they can understand what a shepherd’s job is, for instance. Men in Biblical times wore robes. Travel was by foot, or perhaps horses, donkeys, or camels. “Why did the Bible stop being written after Jesus?” Well, Jesus is the “revealed Word of God” – He came to fulfill Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit inspires, guides, and supplants what needed to be written in the earlier dispensation of God.

(In this regard, I laughed at a conversation this week between two of my wife’s sons. Talking about ghost-writing – which I am doing for a book “by” a former Trump adviser – they deconstructed the term and agreed that the Bible was written by many men but basically was ghost-written itself: Holy Ghost-Written. Can’t argue with Robbie. Or Marcus, for that matter.)

Some of the terms that still do make sense but whose use, today, are almost obsolete are the names of God. Ironic. But stick with me:

We still have kings these days. Some are august and serene, projecting a sort of authority. I am thinking of Abdulla of Jordan; and, maybe, King Mswati III of Eswatini. No offense to Mswati, if I may be familiar, but except for my friend Becky Spencer, who has established wonderful missions projects there, I would not be able to find that king or kingdom on a globe. Then there are monarchs we know better, like Charles of the “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland” whose vast realm includes the commonwealth nations of St Vincent & the Grenadines, and some place called Tuvalu. 

Some monarchs are called “majesties” but they do not always reflect majesty or even “highness.” The aforementioned Charles, for instance, is an admitted adulterer, despite his job description as head of the Church of England.

Nevertheless, the Bible refers to kings – humans on thrones – but also Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. God and Jesus are bestowed other descriptions and titles throughout Scripture: Potentate (I Timothy 6:15); Cornerstone; Deliverer; Elect; First Witness; Heir Of All Things; Alpha and Omega; Horn of Salvation; Lawgiver; Light Of the World; Mediator; Mighty One; Morningstar; Redeemer; Rose of Sharon; Shiloh; Great Witness; Truth; True Light…

Now, some of these terms and titles are Scriptural: theological descriptions of names that had been prophesied. Often they are for our edification in later church ages. If Jesus lived today and had a cell phone, I doubt He would have recorded a message, “Hi. This is the Light Of the World. I’m not in right now…”

There is a serious point in here, somewhere. Readers in the 21st century – let us say youngsters, or people around the world, encountering the Gospel for the first time – might not easily identify with “kings” and “majesties” since those professions are reaching their titles’ expiration-dates. But, would it do to substitute modern equivalencies? What would they be today? – Boss; Chief; General; CEO; Prime Minister; Prez; Chairman…? God sort of is our Boss. Jesus is a kind of Chairman. But…

These otherwise normal cultural evolutions add to the gaggle of factors that make faith difficult. No: these things do not make faith difficult to acquire or embrace or exercise; they only oblige us all (and those we nurture) to study more, understand better, and invite the entitety of God’s Word into our hearts. The Holy Spirit will help us “get it.”

Recently this became even more of a relevant question because of a brand-new protest meme, “No Kings.” (It can be called “Astroturf” and not a “Grass-Root” movement because it is artificial, managed, and PR-directed.) Our president is charged with harboring monarchical ambitions, while of course he is rather shrinking the size and influence of government. This illustrates, however, that kings – who they are; what they can do – are becoming abstract concepts. Trump’s predecessors acted far more arbitrarily than he has. MAGA, at its core, is about Restoration, not Revolution.

But in the meantime, let us keep in mind that God is on His throne. That is where kings sit. And you can address “King Jesus,” or call Him – oh, I don’t know – maybe “the Best Friend You’ll Ever Have.” Good title.

Is He “Lord” of your life, whatever that is? Claim it. And some day think about all the names and titles Heaven has for you: Beloved; Child; Disciple; Saint; Follower; Son; Daughter; Redeemed; Forgiven; Saved…

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A song whose message is as ancient as the kings of old; and as relevant as the awful events in today’s headlines:

Psalm 2 Song

4-15-24

This week I received a shocking response to a routine e-mail I sent to a friend. He told me that he had been sick and underwent surgery during which cancer in another organ was discovered. Factors have prevented chemotherapy treatment, and other palliatives evidently have failed. No number of his LOLs could mask the prognosis: perhaps mere months to live.

I pray, of course, that the diagnosis and timeline may be wildly off. But the news rocked me; and – as sometimes happens, “bad news coming in bunches” – I also learned this week of the passing of two professional associates. Sad for the quick and the dead, sad for their families. Sad for myself… as we tend immediately to internalize such news.

Thinking of mortality, I remember another friend who recently sustained two heart “episodes” that were dangerous and still threaten her. And I had a flashback to my own experience last Fall at an appearance for my new book, where I collapsed in front of some dignitaries and C-SPAN cameras (not yet rolling). I am fine, yet I still dwell on mortality, especially again this week.

Mortality is the title of Abraham Lincoln’s favorite poem. He committed William Knox’s verses to memory during one of his melancholic periods. Some of its quatrains are:

Oh! why should the spirit of mortal be proud? / Like a swift-fleeting meteor, a fast-flying cloud / A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave / He passeth from life to his rest in the grave….

Yea! hope and despondency, pleasure and pain / Are mingled together in sunshine and rain; / And the smile and the tear, the song and the dirge / Still follow each other, like surge upon surge.

‘Tis the wink of an eye – ‘tis the draught of a breath / From the blossom of health to the paleness of death, / From the gilded salon to the bier and the shroud: / Oh! why should the spirit of mortal be proud?

The poem indeed reflects Lincoln’s periodic and famous melancholia. He committed many things to his memory; we all do – for instance, song lyrics. I suppose we are attracted to lines and sayings because they appeal to our natural inclinations. This basically applies even to Bible verses. We are intrigued, or sometimes by God’s providence convicted, by passages. We not only want to, but need to, “hide them in our hearts.”

To return to the concept of mortality. I think it is true that when we hear of a friend’s bad health or mortal illness, or death, if we are honest, our thoughts are in a sense “selfish.” Self-ish. We have regrets for things we might have done. Or words never spoken. We think of chances we missed. Lost opportunities for visits or trips. We think of how we will miss the person. Our perspective.

I am reminded, especially this week, of resolutions I have broken: There are conversations – such as with my friend who shared his news – I never got around to having. There are calls I didn’t make and notes I had wanted to send to my children and grandchildren, that I postponed… again and again. There are relatives, and old friends, I have wanted to connect with, even for no specific reason.

Days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, months turn into…

It is a short step from having mere regrets to condemning ourselves, which is the devil’s greatest trick. It is easy for any of us to fall into a mindset where we think we are lazy friends or bad parents. Self-condemnation can turn into self-fulfilling identities. It is the path of least resistance to keep traveling those byways… but those paths are really two-way streets. God allows U-Turns, as my friend Allison Bottke calls her ministry.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you are unworthy of family or friends, or yourself, or our Lord once we have accepted Him. Because that acceptance makes us worthy. You are issued a new ID card when you invite Christ into your life.

A new friend, Heather Renea Heaven, this week shared a truth: “God did not make a mistake when He created you.” Wow. Sit up straight!

Yes, God created you. You are His handiwork. He created your family members and friends too. It is your job – no, your glorious opportunity! – to fill in what is “in between” you and me and others. So many gaps to fill! Friendships, relationships, fellowship, concern, sympathy, support, nurture, encouragement, love.

We lose many things in life, sometimes forever… including a lot of things that we do not have to lose, yet we do. Money, we can cope with and regain. Jobs? We move on. Homes? We re-locate. Health? More serious, but we often can forestall, or manage, or battle. But…

Time – and some “relationships over time,” as the phrase goes – cannot be retrieved. When gone, forever gone. Does our priority become clear?

Cherish. While you can. Cherish what you have, who you are, and those whom you have. Hold them close, let them know. While you can.

And do not let loose the most important relationship of all. You might lose your friends, a great sadness. But remember that you will never be alone. You have a Friend who never leaves you… and that is a start toward redeeming what was lost!

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Click: Never Alone