DESTINY MUSIC NEWSLETTER - SongLover.com - MAY 2001
CONTENTS:
FREE AT LAST
By Ray Agnew
TENDING THE GARDEN
By Catherine Gortner
CAREGIVERS HELPING HURTING PEOPLE
George Cole (Phoenix, AZ)
Mrs. Gellia Benson (Greenville, MS)
Louela Manzano (San Diego, CA)
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FREE AT LAST
By Ray Agnew
© 2001 Ray Agnew, all rights reserved
FREE AT LAST
Tonight I went to the Kensington Road Elementary School Talent Show.
I accompanied my six-year-old daughter, Tori, and I watched in amusement and
amazement as kid after kid lip-synched to N-sync, Brittany Spears, and Back
Street Boys. Or else they played short piano solos, or tap danced, or
pranced around the stage in mock choreographed splendor to old 40's, 50's,
60's or 70's tunes clearly chosen by their parents.
My daughter was thrilled to see her friends on stage. She's only in
Kindergarten, so she'll have her chance to be up there next year.
As the first half ended and we headed to the lobby to spend a few pennies on
homemade brownies and lemonade, I realized, quite to my abject horror, that
there had to be at least another 45 minutes of this fun filled talent-fest
left to go. Bummer.
The children ran around the dusky schoolyard during intermission, and a
spring day of God drenched splendor came to a close here in the Northeast. I
listened to a cardinal sing his last few notes of the evening. I watched
young, innocent, beautiful kids dash about, reveling in this "spring heat
wave" we are experiencing. I smiled at the parents with the video cameras,
proudly asking, "did you see my son?" And I felt for the young girl who
could not be consoled after completely losing her place while trying to
perform a short piano etude.
"It's OK," I intoned. Slowly my attitude adjustment began to take affect. I
pride myself on being able to do attitude adjustments on very short notice...
"So this is not an exercise in artistic purity of intent, nor is it a stretch
in terms of a learning experience for my daughter and her friends," said my
inner voice striving for peace. "It is just a little kids talent show! And
isn't that great?" I was prepared!
And then he took the stage as the first act of the second half.
Many people chuckled out loud, or quietly laughed nervously, because there on
stage was a somewhat older dad - meaning 50ish with young kids - rounded by
the years, and grayed as well, just about to offer his talent after being
introduced as "the tallest entertainer" in the show.
"You have got to be kidding me," were the first words that came into my mind.
My reaction was to be embarrassed and to avert my eyes - like when you watch
an old I Love Lucy rerun and you just know that Lucy is about to do something
ridiculous. "Please give this poor guy the courage to sit down," I thought.
And then he opened his mouth.
And then he captured our attention.
And then I became amazed.
He told us that his young son had come home to tell him about a remarkable
woman he was learning about named Harriet Tubman.
"You see," he told us, "my son helped me learn that Harriet had managed to
gain her freedom from slavery and escape to the North. But that was not good
enough for her. She had to return to find her parents, alive but in their
70's, and very afraid having only known a slaves life. Still, she had to
find them. Risking her new freedom and her life, she would bring them north
to their own freedom. But still that was not enough, and so she returned to
find others in her family, and to look for friends she had known, and new
friends she had never met. All in all Harriet Tubman made more than 40
additional trips in to the slave south, because freedom is worth the risk."
Then this dad, this somewhat overweight, terminally un-cool dad opened his
mouth to sing.
As he sang the refrain, "Free at last, free at last. Great God Almighty, I
am free at last," a complete hush came over kids and parents alike.
When he finished, the children of this school, my daughter included, rose to
their feet and cheered him at the top of their lungs. He was a hero, and he
was loved, and I was so proud of him!
What courage to seize the day and the moment. And it was a teaching moment.
With conviction and belief, he turned an entire school on to Harriet Tubman
- and God bless the teacher who sent his son home with the message.
How often I forget that Jesus risked his freedom and his life for us. How
often we all forget that Jesus died for us. And here, in a public school
room, a very caring, very courageous parent shared a story born in the shame
of one of our country's darkest times. But the lesson is one of hope and joy
for today. If Harriet Tubman could maintain her faith in God and Jesus, and
be inspired to accomplish a greater good than anyone ever thought her capable
of, certainly we can apply the lesson to our 21st century lives.
Free at last, free at last. Great God almighty, I am free at last.
* * * * * * * *
TENDING THE GARDEN
By Catherine Gortner
© 2001 Catherine Gortner, all rights reserved
TENDING THE GARDEN
Could there be times when you pour some of the oil from your alabaster jar
onto His feet in deep dependency rather than choose to sell your perfume to
feed the poor? (Luke 7, John 12). We will always have the poor among us to
care for and not neglect (John 12:8, Galatians 2:12). But is it possible to
neglect Jesus, to neglect replenishing intimacy with Him while tending to
others in His name?
As one becomes burnt out in a secular job, I had become burnt out in my
Christian "job." I was tired of serving in scattered ways over time via different
ministries. I was tired of people telling me what Christian books to read, or
what cleansing streams or Bible studies to join, or what other church I should
try out. I was tired of being goaded to throw my hands out and sing loud
praises in the style of King David ("Davidic worship" in church lingo) when I all I
wanted to do was be still and know He was God.
I wanted to get close like a child snuggling up to a warm and caring Father.
What ever happened to "let [your adornment] be the hidden person of the heart,
with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in
the sight of God" (1Peter 3:3-4)? Gentle and quiet. I was becoming more and
more that way by the delicate surgery of His Spirit. The church kept prodding
me to be bold and brazen with my faith. But I wanted to rest. Just rest from
their pushing. To be with Him, in His peace (John 14:27).
On the little hill that rises from the backyard to my house, I spent the waning
evening hours searching for the untainted Jesus I knew years ago. The One
who's Spirit I drank and drank in to fill my thirst that this desert world created in
me (John 7:38). The One who gave me a hearty and nutritious Spirit, like bread
satisfying a gnawing stomach (John 6). He filled my need to be known, since
He knew me fully. He filled my need to be loved, since He loved me so much
my mind could not even comprehend His loving. He filled the emptiness that
worldly blessings - a comfortable home, a decent job, a nice car - couldn't fully
satisfy yet for which I was grateful. He comforted me when I couldn't find
comfort with my brothers and sisters who seemed more like distant cousins
than close family on Sunday morning... me included.
To heal I turned to gardening and walks in the woods... alone with Him.
Although I still poured oil from my alabaster jar on people and ministries in His
name, I began pouring my costly perfume on His feet where only He sees.
Where He and I met alone, as Jesus Himself had set the example going alone
to the wilderness to pray.
Many people find God in His creation. They reconnect there because the pace
and treasures are different. On a walk in the state park one finds three deer
lying down in the cool of shady trees. They're tame because it's a park and
you're just several steps away. They peer at you with solid, black brown eyes.
Trusting yet calmly evaluating. Their faces look too delicate and gentle poised
on their languid bodies. Maybe their protected rest is similar to the rest apostle
John enjoyed as he reclined on Jesus' bosom. As a family member might
recline on another loved one. The deer never rose... though I eventually walked
on.
A few days later the walk in the park comes upon a lizard in the middle of the
path. The lizard is perfectly still. So you get a soft twig and gently encourage it.
It's eyes stayed closed then finally they open. You are concerned someone will
step on this sleeping lizard so you find a sturdier twig and nudge it sideways. It
moves a leg, then another, it's clearly alive. But it doesn't make an effort to get
out of footsteps way. So you finally lift it with the twig and place it off the trail.
Such a little deed for a lizard. Yet you marvel it simply would not move. It was
resting.
How do animals like deer and lizards rest with such abandon? Do animals
have gentle, humble hearts? Jesus said come, learn, and He'll give you rest
(Matthew 11:29).
I planted roses yesterday, sweating as I shoveled but rewarded by the delicious
aromas on each plant. Today I planted geraniums, periwinkle, morning glories
and some flowers who didn't have nicknames but only long Latin names. The
rosemary falls in lush cascades over the retaining walls. The yellow and
lavender irises are blooming tall and proud in seemingly bland soil. Some of
the oranges and lemons are already juicy and sweet. And the tomatoes are
springing towards the sky with open arms like overfed vines. A friend
commented my yard is looking sharp. "It's in tip-top shape," he exclaimed.
"Can I say it this way? From head to toe!!"
My garden is growing... from head to toe. In my outward gardening, under the
sun with the Son, my inner garden is being tended as well. Contentment in the
quiet of the flowers, grass and trees and Presence of His peace is nourishing
my own soul. Weeds of worry are being pulled out of my emotions as I notice
my flowers aren't worried. Nor are the pair of doves that keep returning to the
fence to watch me kneel on the soil. And stalks of peace, trust and steadiness
are manifesting new buds. Buds today that promise to open tomorrow.
* * * * * * * *
CAREGIVERS HELPING HURTING PEOPLE
The following are this month's inspiring examples of
Caregivers Helping Hurting People. These Caregivers
will be giving Salvation Prayer and Poem Bookmarks
* * *
I visit our suffering brothers and sisters in Christ in countries such as Southern
Sudan and Indonesia, where just being a Christian can mean imprisonment,
beatings, and even death.
As I visit churches and secret home bible studies in these countries, I'm always
asked to share a word of hope from God's precious Word. I always try to leave a
small gift to remind these brave Christians that they have not been forgotten by
the church in America and that we're praying for them.
But more importantly than this, I leave them with the unfailing promises that our
Lord Jesus is always with them and He will He never ever forsake them, no
matter what might happen to them. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING can separate
them from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. I can't even begin
to describe the tears of joy that His promises brings our hurting family in Christ.
Grace and peace to all
HB 13:3
- George Cole (Phoenix, AZ)
* * *
I have always wanted to help my church bring in hurting souls. I will walk the
town telling people that God loves them and He can handle any kind of
problems that they have.... I have a strong urge to show and tell people how to
let God be in control of their lives and life will be much easier for them. All they
have to do is to surrender all to Him. And as I tell people about Our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ I will give them the bookmarkers and when they come to
lay their problems at the altar they will receive one. Also, I will soon hope to set
up a church library for people to checkout books. That is one of my main goals
and in the books there will a bookmarker.
- Mrs. Gellia Benson (Greenville, MS)
* * *
We usually have evangelistic crusades. I'm involved in our praise & worship /
youth ministry where we minister to young people in different places. I'll bring
this to the Philippines to give to these young people for them to remember how
good our God & how God loves them so much!
- Louela Manzano (San Diego, CA)
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