Song Talks

"I was amazed to find my old enemy, intemperance, so suddenly subdued, that I almost forgot that was ever in bondage to him."  Charles Wesley had wrestled with salvation early in life. When he and his brother John were finally and gloriously converted their mother was somewhat suspect, but the life change had been evident. When she received word from her sons about their new found faith, she replied, "You say that till within a few months you had no spiritual life and no justifying faith…I heartily rejoice that you have attained to a strong and lively hope in God's mercy through Christ, but it is one thing to have faith, and another to be sensible that we have it." Charles Wesley went on to accomplish great things for the Lord, in preaching and hymn writing. He found opportunities to preach in many places, not the least of which was Newgate prison, where he would lock himself in with inmates on death row on the eve of their execution to comfort and s...

" Oh, hero of Heaven, You conquer the grave, You free every captive and break every chain Oh God, You have done great things, We dance in Your freedom, awakened to life Oh Jesus, our Savior, Your name lifted high Oh God, You have done great things" This is the chorus of a new song we will be singing at 11 next week and soon at 9:30.  Phil Wickham has crafted a song that speaks not only to the truth of what Christ has done in redemption but also, what He has done and will do in the life of the church. In our current situation it would be easy for us to feel dejected, defeated and discouraged. However, if we consider the faithfulness of God through the long history of Second Baptist, we can only say with full confidence, "He has done great things!" Listen to the words of the second verse: " You've been faithful through every storm. You'll be faithful forevermore. You have done great things. And I know You will do it again, For Your pro...

So, I had to bring my kids to church today. They are currently in my office making all kinds of noise and being completely unruly. I am sitting out in my outer office trying to focus and write this blog. It sounds like a herd of laughing hyenas have cornered Simba and are about ready to feast! I can barely control the need to barge in there and rain on the parade. As I'm forming the verbal beat down they are gonna get in my head, Ryleigh (my administrative assistant) says, "Don't you just love that sound?" Uhh…in a word, "no!". She goes on to say something to the affect that it sounds like life. Joy is happening. Unbridled, no worries, straight up, joy. It got me thinking. When was the last time I felt like that? When was the last time I can honestly say that I was just living life and loving it? Or how about this one, when was the last time you or I felt like that in a church service?   Joy is such a deep and meaningful experience. The apostle P...