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Occasionally someone will ask me for a tip on how to liven up their spiritual life. What’s the secret code to get you into God’s presence and into the bank vault of his blessing? I haven’t come across any secret codes or magic spells worth repeating, but I have found two resources too good to keep to myself. These power sources have kept my spiritual lights on and engines humming.

One will come as no surprise. Reading, remembering, and responding to the Bible has been my most secure connection to God. F.B. Meyer says, “God’s voice most often travels along the thin wire of Scripture.” That has been, and continues to be, my experience.

But next to the Bible, I dial into God’s presence through music more than any other spiritual channel. I was 12 years old when I first heard Christian music in a popular form. I had sung church hymns and children’s ditties about God, but when I heard Russ Taff and The Imperials bolt out a rock ballad about God, I found myself humming the tune and meditating on the lyrics. What was pleasing to the ear soon became nourishment for my heart.

Throughout my adolescence, I developed a broad taste for different styles of music, but I continued to listen more and more to Christian artists. I soon had a catalog of songs that served as my own contemporary book of psalms. Whatever my mood or circumstance, I could find a song that lifted my needs to God and drew me into God’s presence where strength, comfort and hope could be found.

David was about 3,000 years ahead of me in discovering the spiritual power of music. He writes, The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation (Psalm 118:14). He mentions in numerous other psalms how God placed a new song in his heart. I think David and I experienced the same thing: the ability of music to open our hearts to God so that He can complete the good work He has started in us.

One of my favorite Christian songwriters and singers will be with us on Sunday, September 14. For over 30 years, Wayne Watson has produced beautiful songs that feed the soul and connect us to God. His songbook includes 23 #1 singles on Christian
radio—including “Friend of a Wounded Heart,” “When God’s People Pray,”
“Watercolour Ponies,” “Another Time, Another Place,” and “Home Free.” He has received dozens of awards and Grammy nominations, and has performed on NBC’s Tonight Show. He will join us for worship that morning, and perform in concert that evening at 6 p.m. Learn more about Wayne and listen to his music at www.waynewatson.com.

Mark the date on your calendar and prayerfully consider who will join you for this evening with Wayne. You will find some new songs for your heart that will strengthen your faith long after the concert is over.

And speaking of concerts, allow me to back up to last night and tell you what a wonderful time we had in the Fellowship Hall. It was, indeed, “A Beautiful Night.” It was the maiden voyage of our newly renovated space, and some of our finest instrumentalists and soloists were on hand to create a worshipful atmosphere that praised the Lord. The evening began with a summer shower and ended with ice cream in the courtyard under a brilliantly glowing dusk sky, complete with a double rainbow. Below are some photos of the event featuring soloist Mary Hannah McWilliams, vocal team (Mark Snow, Lorenzo Torres, Jill Nauta & Cathy Carey) and Danny McGee and our talented worship band.

‘See you this weekend
Fr. Greg