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Lost Hymns

Lyrics. Music. Songs. Melodies. Harmonies.

Since I was a little boy I have loved to sing. I remember sitting on Dad's lap during worship services as a really little boy and learning to sing bass (even if I was a few octaves higher). I vividly remember Dick Cochran leading Victory In Jesus, and singing out to my lungs capacity. There are secular songs I remember from childhood (Rhinestone Cowboy comes to mind quickly), but none of them have the impact of some of the lost hymns.

On Tuesday nights my family and Teresa have "English service". I started this after realizing that all of our worship now is in a language I barely understand. At first we shared laptops and used PowerPoint to have the words and music for songs and Scripture readings. Then I began work on a song book for us to use - it is still not complete. In the mean time, Marlon brought a stack of song books from storage somewhere. These old blue books with songs glued into the covers and songs with the same number only with a "B" after them are a welcome addition to our worship. Songs of the Church by Alton H. Howard.

There are some really great new songs I really miss singing with the family at Mt. Hope. The words to Above All; Lord, Reign In Me; Mighty to Save; and more speak to me in a very powerful way, and each is beautiful to sing. But a song had been on my heart for several days. I used the first verse as my Facebook status Sunday:
I must needs go home by the way of the cross,
There is no other way but this;
I shall ne'er get sight of the gates of light,
If the way of the cross I miss.
That is the first verse to The Way of the Cross Leads Home, words by Jessie Pounds, music by Charles Gabriel. So, I led that song from the old blue book last night. After we sang it, Erin looked at me and said, "I don't know that one."

I don't know that one. The words kind of just bounced off the inside of my head as I grasped what she had said (and Nathan had affirmed). We then proceeded to sing some songs I hadn't sung in a lot of years. Including You Never Mentioned Him to Me. Before we sang that song Erin noticed how much of a guilt trip it was. After we sang it I explained that, not always, but sometimes Christians need to be reminded what it will be like for the lost to realize they could have spent eternity with Jesus if only their friend, neighbor, coworker, boss, etc. had been bold enough to share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Erin said that kids will someday not know the songs she sings now. True. As long as the message and reasons are not lost, I'm OK with that.  Some day Chris Tomlin's popular praise anthem How Great Is Our God may become a lost hymn. As long as we have lost it only because we have replaced it with an equally powerful song full of heartfelt praise or exhortation, I'm fine with that.

Tonight we sang, Señor Mi Dios. Even though the words are foreign, I can raise my voice in praise to God in spirit and truth. Here is the first part of that song:
Señor, mi Dios, al contemplar los cielos,
El firmamento y las estrellas mil,
Al oír tu voz en los potentes truenos,
Y ver brillar el sol en su cenit.
Can you finish with the chorus? If I give you the first few words I believe you can, "Then sings my soul..."

Lyrics. Music. Songs. Melodies. Harmonies. These are powerful tools for encouragement, teaching, challenging, and (not least of all) praise.

My plea, though, is this: Let us never think that the songs of our generation are the only songs worthy of praising God. Do not be afraid to look back or look forward. As long as the praise is there the rocks will remain silent. It is our job to make sure that they do.

Many of you know the place in my life music holds. Being here, doing what we are doing, working as we are, frequently the thoughts of praise, laments, encouragement, and teaching at times flood my mind. Recently I had such an experience while working on our song book. I was adding a song and couldn't help but add a few verses. So now I will share it with you. The first verse comes from Habakkuk 2:20, the others I added.

The Lord Is In His Holy Temple
The Lord is in His holy temple,
Let all the earth keep silence before Him.
Keep silence, keep silence,
Keep silence before Him.

The Lord is on His mighty throne,
Lift our voices to sing adoration.
Adoration! Adoration!
We sing adoration!

The Lord is the King of creation,
Let our lives be praise to His Glory!
Be praises! Be Praises!
Be praise to His Glory!

The Lord is God in three persons,
The Father, the Son, and the Spirit!
Keep silence! Adoration!
Be praise to His Glory!

Tomorrow promises to be another good day.

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