Weekly Update 6/7

Dear Friends and Family,

It was such a joy to worship with you this morning.  How amazing is it that we are reconciled to God!  I was happy to be able to introduce a new song to you, and I hope it is one that will satisfy and grow you.  “Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery” is a song full of Scripture.  I believe it is important to sing the words and thoughts of Scripture, so that we may hide God’s Word in our hearts, and not sin against Him.  

Here is a link to a paper I wrote about “Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery”: http://drewsinternship2015.blogspot.com/2015/06/come-behold-wondrous-mystery-hymn-study.html

Here is a link to a lyric video of “Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqWiIp_KLUc

Today’s hymn writer is Matt Papa.  Papa is one of the men who bring us “Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery.”  He was born on July 3, 1983, and is now married and has three daughters.  Ministering in Raleigh, North Carolina, he has had a positive influence in Christian Music.  His songs are purposefully centered on Scripture.  He is quoted saying, “Songs are sermons people remember.  I often don't remember a sermon I heard yesterday, let alone a year ago. But with songs, there's a hook, and people remember it. So that's why I want to write with Scripture. I don't want to waste time."

Here is a link to an article about him by Today’s Christian Music: http://www.todayschristianmusic.com/artists/matt-papa/biography/

Here’s a link to a great video that he made explaining the gospel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4cL-Zcxa9M

This upcoming week is shaping up to be quite a full one.  I’m looking forward to some great ministry opportunities.  In Summer Spirit, we will be taking a look at the story of the road to Emaus.  We will learn that Jesus was a fulfillment of the prophets.  I hope that the kids understand that Jesus is at the center of the story of the Bible.  In Tuesday night Bible study, we are going to read the second chapter of the first unit in Why God Created the World.  We will discover some nineteen things about God.  We are going to then consider how these attributes of God lead Him to create the world.  It is important to remember that God was fully sustained within Himself before creation, so the purpose for creating is contained in who He is.  So, in order to understand creation, we must understand Him more.

This week’s psalm from The Psalms of David: Written in the Language of the New Testament and Applied to Christian Worship by Isaac Watts is Psalm 1.  This particular translation is in Common Meter.  I suggest you sing it to the tune AZMON which is used in the church’s hymnal for “O for a Heart to Praise My God” #650, “All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord” #221, and, probably most familiarly, “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” #21.  I hope that you will take a few moments to sing this one.  It is a great blessing to sing the words of Scripture translated into beautiful language by such a talented brother in Christ.

1. Blest is the man who shuns the place

Where sinners love to meet;

Who fears to tread their wicked ways,

And hates the scoffer’s seat:

2. But in the statutes of the Lord

Has plac’d his chief delight;

By day he reads or hears the Word,

And meditates by night.

3. He like a plant of generous kind,

By living waters set,

Safe from the storms and blasting wind,

Enjoys a peaceful state.

4. Green as the leaf and ever fair

Shall his profession shine,

While fruits of holiness appear

Like clusters on the vine.

5. Not so the impious and unjust;

What vain designs they form!

Their hopes are blown away like dust,

Or chaff before the storm.

6. Sinners in judgment shall not stand

Amongst the sons of grace,

When Christ the Judge, at his right hand,

Appoints his saints a place.

7. His eye beholds the path they tread,

His heart approves it well;

But crooked ways of sinners lead

Down to the gates of Hell.