September 2025

Singers of a New Song

Read Psalm 96

As the modern proverb goes, “Everybody sings in the shower.” Good voices or bad or in between, for most people it is hard not to sing at some time, especially in the shower. Even for the non-singer, music touches the heart. Music is a deep expression of the inner being. That is why music is so important to the expression of our faith in Jesus Christ. Can you imagine the church without music?

To be sure, some music is trash. Ugly and immoral thoughts have been put to music. That has to be among the highest forms of misuse of a gift from God. Music is the deep expression of one’s inner being. It is a gift from God to be used to honor and praise God. Should not all music, sacred and secular, be sung as a praise to God? If it doesn’t honor God, then it is not worth singing or playing.

WE are to “sing to the Lord a new song.” That does not necessarily mean that you have to write a “new song” every time you sing. It does mean that songs, new or old, that capture the depths of you heart and love for God, has to be sung. When the song fits the circumstances, needs, and expressions of your life, it is a new song.

The hymnody of the Church is a wonderful gift! It is among the highest expressions of praise to God. Think of all the music you know. Much of it is music of the Faith and of the Church. Take away such “church music” and tunes derived from the music of the faith and we lose a giant chunk of all the tunes in the music library of this culture. Take music from the worship service and you suffer a major loss., “Sing to the Lord a new song!”

The strong yearnings of heart and soul have been expressed in music. Think of the hymns of faith that came out of the slavery years of this nation. The beliefs of our faith are supremely expressed in music. Prayers are put into song. The mighty acts of God are put into liturgies and anthems. Music is a marvelous medium for praising God. With all of God’s people say, “Sing to the Lord a new song!”

PRAYER THOUGHTS: AS you pray, sing or read a beloved hymn.

Pastor Doug

August 2025

Everyone His Witness

Jesus said, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1

The Christian Church has Good News to share with every nation, tribe, people, and language. Christ is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. He died and was buried. But on the third day, He rose triumphantly from the tomb and now lives eternally. He wants all people to be saved from sin and death through faith in Him. And as the resurrected Lord said in Acts 1, we are His witnesses – the ones entrusted with the sharing of this Good News with people both close to home and far off.

EveryoneHisWitness is a website designed to help Christians find the right words as they share their faith with people close to home. Every One His Witness is a Lutheran evangelism program that teaches you how to witness to people who are a part of your everyday life by using the LASSIE approach – listen, ask, seek, share, invite, and encourage. Whether you are an experienced evangelist or a novice, perhaps you’ll learn at least one new idea by visiting the website above.

May God continue to bless you with faith, hope and love throughout this Easter season. And in every season of the Church Year, Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15

Let us pray:

Almighty God, merciful Father, we rejoice that Your Son, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, has triumphed over death and the grave. Give strength to our hearts and voices, that we would meditate on the glorious splendor of His resurrection and proclaim His victory to all the earth; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Pastor Doug