The value of joyful music

Psalm 100:1-2 "Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
                        Worship the LORD with gladness;
                        come before him with joyful songs.

Those of you who are familiar with our story know that Nicole and I moved 450 miles away from home in January so that I could take over as the new pastor of the First Baptist Church of Franklin.  That sort of change involves a whole host of new experiences from things as small as where you can get the kind of cereal that you like to where you find spiritual nourishment.  For my wife, there has been an additional adjustment because she must also find a new church to attend for Mass.  Back home Nicole (and I) went to the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Grand Rapids where the music direction was handled superbly by Nick Palmer and the choir was led with gusto and fun by Tom Good.  Thus far in the Franklin area, we haven't found much to compare.  Nicole has been to several churches, and they will of course not feel the same as home, but the thing that always seems to be missing is the music.  It doesn't have the same life, the same joy.  It has been more often than not the same songs that we're used to from St. Andrew, but something is missing.
Of all the things that I learned by going to Mass with my wife a thousand times, the combination of reverence and joy in the music probably tops the list.  I grew up with uplifting music in church, and we certainly have beautiful music here as well, but I hadn't really felt the connection to the music until I saw it through my wife's eyes.  (A lot of that has to do with talent, she's got loads of musical talent, I have only a handful)  And so our search continues, I'm not sure if she will find that "something" that feels like it felt before, but when it isn't there you can tell.  I know that Baptists see the sermon as the culmination of the service, and Catholics feel that way about the Mass, but we should both remember how uplifting and fortifying our music can, and should, be to those who have come to join us in our worship of the Lord.  Shout for joy to the Lord!

Sermon Video: Joseph: Interpreter of Dreams - Genesis 40-41

Joseph remains a prisoner despite his innocence until an opportunity to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh's officials offers hope of release.  Unfortunately for Joseph, the cupbearer forgets about him and Joseph remains in prison for two more years until finally given the chance to interpret Pharaoh's dream.  Ultimately, Joseph's faithfulness and trust in God are rewarded as Pharaoh elevates Joseph from the dungeon to the palace.  One good man can save a kingdom.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

Sermon Video: Jesus' winnowing fork - Luke 3:15-22

Why was Jesus baptized by John the Baptist, and why did John tell everyone that the Messiah would be carrying a winnowing fork? Oh yeah, and why is John talking about untying somebody's shoes?


The humility of John is on display as he denies that he is the Christ. Furthermore, he assures the crowds that the Messiah will baptize with the Holy Spirit, a more potent and permanent baptism than the water with which John is baptizing.
 
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

"Where a people prays, there is the church"

That's part of a quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor who was executed for his part in the assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler (the same one in Tom Cruise's movie, Valkyrie)  The whole quote is: "Where a people prays, there is the church; and where the church is; there is never lonliness."  Dietrich wrote those words before moving away from his family and friends in Berlin in 1928 to spend a year as the vicar (pastor) of a German church in Barcelona, Spain.  To me, those words ring particularly true in light of the past few months.  Nicole and I moved 450 miles away from home, leaving family and friends behind.  What we have found here in Franklin is a new group of people, not brought together out of common interest, but out of a common bond far more strong; our love of Jesus.  In our prayers for each other, for the work of this church, and for this town, we find a new community.  I won't claim to have not felt any homesickness, nor could Nicole say that, but I understand Dietrich's point.  Here, in this place, is the church.  We left a loving community of believers behind in Palo, as well as our friends at the Cathedral of St. Andrew, and before that Galilee Baptist in Saranac, but we have found another loving family of believers here.  Why do they accept me and follow my leadership?  Because they see the hand of God in it; not that there's all that much special about me in particular, but God prepared this path long in advance.
When you feal disconnected, lonely, or sad, do yourself a favor, pray with God's people.

FYI, the quote is from the book, Bonhoeffer: pastor, martyr, prophet, spy by Eric Metaxas; it has been fascinating thus far to read about Dietrich's childhood and the influences in his life that lead him to stand up against the Nazis when so many other German pastor did not.

Sermon Video: Joseph in Potiphar's house - Genesis 39

How would you react to being sold into slavery by your own brothers?  Would your faith by ruined by their betrayal?  For Joseph, his time spent as Potiphar's slave proved that his faith was still strong the indeed the LORD was still with him.  When he began to have success, and was placed in charge of the household by Potiphar, Joseph was confronted by a new challenge; the sexual advances of Potiphar's wife.  Rather than believe sin's lie of sex-without-consequences, Joseph refuses to dishoner himself and sin against God.  Despite her repeated enticements, he stand firm.  In the end, Joseph's honor is rewarded with a prison sentence, so is the LORD still with him??  Once again, in prison, Joseph proves worthy of God's favor by keeping his faith in spite of the dark road he has been forced to walk down

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video