October 23, 2024
Leadership Notes
Driving back after reading to Melissa Hilton’s wonderful Young Fives class at Sutton Elementary today {October 22}, a great song was playing on the radio. Originally written by Curtis Mayfield in the 1960s, it was inspired by the Christian faith of his grandmother. This version of “People Get Ready” was covered by Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart. For my money, Beck was one of the greatest guitarists of his generation. And Stewart’s voice was perfect for this soulful song:
People get ready
There's a train a-coming
You don't need no baggage
You just get on board
All you need is faith
To hear the diesels humming
Don't need no ticket
You just thank the Lord
People get ready
For the train to Jordan
Picking up passengers
From coast to coast
Faith is the key
Open the doors and board them
There's room for all
Among the loved the most
There ain't no room
For the hopeless sinner
Who would hurt all mankind just
To save his own
Have pity on those
Whose chances are thinner
Cause there's no hiding place
From the Kingdom's Throne
So people get ready
For the train a-comin'
You don't need no baggage
You just get on board
All you need is faith
To hear the diesels humming
Don't need no ticket
You just thank, you just thank the Lord
That refrain, “you just thank the Lord,” struck me as I was driving up Evans Street. What a beautiful state of mind. How can you not feel it? The day is gorgeous. We are richly blessed in so many ways. “You just thank the Lord.” How can we not join together in giving God all the glory and honor and praise for all that He has done? We are soon entering the seventh year in our wonderful church home. God’s sovereign grace and mercy is prominent in our lives. “You just thank the Lord.”
For some reason, I’m resonating here with what Viktor Frankl once said:
“The pessimist resembles a man who observes with fear and
sadness that his wall calendar, from which he daily tears a sheet,
grows thinner with each passing day.”
Life is blessing and joy…each day a gift. With the Apostle Paul, we say, “Rejoice in the Lord always…again, I say, Rejoice.”
Also quoting Paul, dear to my heart are the words, “I thank my God for you every time I think of you.” Every night, before drifting off to sleep, in my prayer time, I thank God for the wonderful people of Covenant Church. He has chosen us to be part of this lovely little church. Together, we worship Him in truth and praise, we love each other, and we love the community in which we live, work, and have our being. There is no place on earth I would rather be.
Thank you, from the depths of my heart and mind, for your outpouring of kindness last Sunday {October 20th}. Your love and generosity shone through the wonderful gifts. My family will be well fed through the holidays! Plus, your kind words and laughter deeply touched my heart. “You just thank the Lord.”
One of the best things shared was your Moment of Spurgeon {which most definitely bears repeating}:
“THE MOTTO OF ALL TRUE SERVANTS OF GOD MUST BE, ‘WE
PREACH CHRIST; AND HIM CRUCIFIED.’ A SERMON WITHOUT
CHRIST IN IT IS LIKE A LOAF OF BREAD WITHOUT ANY FLOUR IN
IT. NO CHRIST IN YOUR SERMON, SIR? THEN GO HOME, AND
NEVER PREACH AGAIN UNTIL YOU HAVE SOMETHING WORTH PREACHING.”
Always of Good cheer, and Always with much Love and Affection,
Richard
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