"What a Friend We Have in Jesus"

Although well into his seventies, the Pastor of the church I attend is really quite up to date. He began his sermon today with FACEBOOK as his first illustration on his theme of having Jesus as a friend.

The hymns we sang had such friendship as a base for his theme.

“Oh, Jesus I have promised to serve Thee to the end

           Be Thou forever near me, My Master and my Friend.”

My personal all time favorite song is the hymn, What a Friend We Have in Jesus! My grandmother sang it to me as a youngster. Maybe, because she liked it so well, it became a favorite of mine. It is a song that really touches my heart, and I find very uplifting.

This was our closing hymn today.

Music was written by Charles C. Converse in 1868. I don’t know anything about Mr. Converse.

The words were written by Joseph M. Scriven in 1855 to his mother in the form of a poem as she dying. The poem was put aside and later found among her effects. Mr. Scriven did not receive credit for it for almost thirty years. Although Mr. Scriven was raised in a prosperous home, he had much adversary in his life, including the loss of two women he loved very much and died just before each of the planned weddings—one drowned; the other had TB. Yet through all this, Jesus was still close to him.

Coming out of Church, I mentioned that my two favorite hymns were included today. “What a Friend…” and “How Great Thou Art” which was played before the service started.

The woman to whom I was speaking, thought “What a Friend” was very depressing. I, on the other hand, oft sing it when I am most down in the dumps and find it uplifting.

It goes to show that two people can see or hear the very same thing and get two totally different views. I guess that can be true on anything in life. That is what makes us individuals!

Anyway, it is still my favorite hymn!

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear

May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.

Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer

Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

THE LORD HAS RISEN! HE HAS RISEN, INDEED!

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised. Psalm 113:3

Easter Morning—Resurrection Day

If Christ did not rise from the dead, his death on the Cross would have been for naught! Without Easter (and the Resurrection, Good Friday would have been just another day when someone died.  Both days are important as one cannot have one without the other.

Steve (who is one of those twice a year church goers) and I got up early to go to the sunrise service at the local Baptist Church. This is the sixth year we have attended this particular service. We started going two years before the current pastor arrived, so we feel we have some seniority, even though this is not my regular church. The Church was small when we started attending this service. Under Brother Keith, the Pastor, the Church has grown enough for them to buy additional land for a new future larger building.

I love the concept of a sun(Son)rise service. It brings back some really wonderful memories. Lots of different places hosted by various demoninations.  When I was somewhere between 9 and 11, I went to the first one which I can remember. I had a new reddish dressy jacket which I could not wait to wear. When I put it on to wear to sunrise (where no one would see it anyway), I thought I was the cat’s meow!

It was still dark, when I got up. (Duh! How else can one see the sun rise??). I can’t remember how I got there, but I may have walked. In this time frame, we lived about a mile or two from the church (the Evangelical Congregational). I did lots of walkin’ in those days, as we did not have a car. The service was behind the church where there was a huge outcrop of rock. The setting was really awesome. The rock, as we were reminded, was kind of like the tomb in which Jesus had been placed. The first rays of sun poured over the peak of the outcrop. Awesome does not describe it, but it is the best word with which I can verbalize. Don’t remember much more, but obviously the two things that impressed me were my coat and the rock with the smattering of the sun’s rays.

Today’s service was quite different. It was held at the new property, which can be seen from the “old” property (well, almost). Lots of singing, including Amazing Grace, accompanied by a bagpiper from the local sheriff’s department. She was great! The initial prayer was done in Spanish by Pastor Carlos. Their Church shares the Baptist Church for services and ministry.

The preacher’s sermon theme was “I Believe.” It was not very long, but contained the doctrines and concepts shared by most main stream Christians—Virgin birth, death on a cross, resurrection, etc.

Brother Keith is a dynamic preacher and really gets into his sermons and--like many Baptist preachers--walks around a lot. As Baptists, the congregation, of course, is usually very verbally responsive—not so much this morning (guess not too many had had coffee yet). Anyway, he said “I BELIEVE” many times in his sermon. One little girl who was about four years old started echoing him. He’d say, “I BELIEVE!” She’d respond in her tiny, but loud voice, “I Believe!” It made most of us smile. But Pastor Keith used her response, by saying something to the effect that “She gets it. Wake up!” From that point, the congregation also responded every time he said, “I BELIEVE!”

My guess is that there were approximately two hundred folks in attendance. Two hundred people echoing “I BELIEVE” cannot be described. Wonderful! Awesome! Exhilarating! Great!

The church members prepare a wonderful breakfast for all who attend. I don’t how they plan as every year it grows larger, and LARGER. It is free. We have enjoyed it all these years. I bet for such occasions they will be glad and joyful to see a new, bigger facility in the future. Grits (of course—this is the SOUTH), scrambled eggs, biscuit, bacon, sausage, and the most wonderful potato and cheese casserole, coffee and juice (I did not get any beverage as it was just too crowded.) They used to have the bestest (I know how bad this grammar is, but they were better than best) cinnamon rolls, but I guess the crowd has just overwhelmed them and the focus had to be put on regular breakfast stuff. The breakfast was at the Church. We drove from the new property. Some how we managed to be very near the front of the line. (Don’t know how this happened—as usually I am near the back of lines.)

Normally, I enjoy the fellowship that goes with this type of meal. But there were so many people waiting in line and not many tables left. So, we downed our grub and drove home.

Steve and I have dined with Don three days this week--at both Masonic gatherings and at the Baptist breakfast. I tease him that every time I see him, we are stuffing our faces. Friendships can grow over food.

Later I went to the regular service at the local Presbyterian (wish this was easier to spell) Church.  I might have skipped, but I had not been there in several weeks.  I missed the folks.

Steve and I dined alone.  We had an invitation to Lynne's.  But Steve thought the two-hundred mile drive was more than with which he wanted to deal.  Traffic coming north on I-75 is horrible on Sunday afternoons.  The ham was tender and the trimmings a treat.

Good Friday

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Today marks the day when most Christians celebrate Good Friday, the day which Christ was crucified. It is one of the most holy days leading to the most holy day…the Day of Resurrection.

I spent some time this morning reading in all four Gospels from the King James Version about the earthly death of the human portion of Jesus. The Last Supper, visit to the garden, prayers, arrest, trial and eventual crucifixion. Portions in all four Gospels are almost word for word. Several chapters are devoted to the aforementioned events.

Matthew: tax collector and accountant of the bunch, one of The Twelve. Matthew writes to the Jewish population.

Mark: a follower of Jesus through Paul, much younger than the rest. Mark preaches primarily to the Gentile population.

Luke: the physician, also a follower of Jesus through Paul. Luke writes of the human side of Jesus. Luke is the only gospel, for instance, that tells of his birth. He, indeed, is a son of man (woman).

John: the beloved Disciple, he and James are likely related to Jesus. John writes of the Divinity and Godliness of Jesus, the Son of God, the Father.

Some observations not often discussed:

In Mark’s version, there are two verses (Mark 14:51-52) which are sort of surprising. This particular incident is not mentioned in any of the other Gospels:

              51. And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him.
             52. And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.


Some scholars believe that this young man may have been Mark who witnessed the arrest of our Lord. To me this makes a lot of sense, as why else would that be important enough to mention it in his Gospel. If this is true, then he “found” Jesus long before he was mentored by Paul. Did God touch his heart in that garden? Maybe.

John’s Gospel, although relatively short, gives ever so much of the spoken word of Jesus…much more than the other three Gospels. John must have stuck close to Jesus throughout the entire evening of the trial and followed him closely to the Cross:
           1. The words and conversation of Jesus are expressed from the dinner to the His death.
           2. Although written in third person, John is there to hear the charge Jesus gave his mother and to John to care for her. (John 19:26, 27).
           3. There seems to be much more of fulfilled scripture mentioned in John than in the other Gospels.
           4. John is the only Gospel to name Peter as the man with the sword in the garden who severed the servant’s ear. (John 18:10)
           5. And named the servant (Malchus). (John 18:10)


Luke, the story teller of the human side of Jesus, goes into much more detail about finding the appropriate place for the Passover dinner. He also discusses food and drink in more detail.

Matthew’s story is geared toward much of the religious aspect of Jewish life. (Matthew 26:3-5)
          3. Then assembled together the chief priest, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.
         4. And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.
         5. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.


The truth is the same, but enhanced by the personalities of each of the writers.  Isn't wonderful that God gave us each a distinctive personality!

Praise Be to God!