O LORD, our Lord, the majesty of your name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.
I look at the sky and see the work of your fingers--the moon and the stars you have set in place, the sun shining in the skies…
Their words aren't heard, but their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.
The eyes of all look to you. The created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming next.
The mountains and hills will lead the parade, bursting with song. All the trees of the forest will join the procession, exuberant with applause:
Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.
Psalm 8:1,3 NLT, Job 31:26 NLT, Psalm 19:3-4 MSG, Psalm 145:15 NIV, Romans 8:19 MSG, Psalm 55:12 MSG, 1 Chronicles 29:11 NLT
Wednesday
Tuesday
Confession
Written for a service in which the text is Proverbs 10:25 ("When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever") and a dominant image is Jesus' story from Matthew 7:24-27 about the wise and foolish builders.
Lord, you have provided a foundation
For all who put their faith in your strong word,
who place their hope in Your abiding love
made real as Your blood was shed on the cross.
Why is it so easy to turn away,
believing we can frame a better life
on the shifting sand of our own wisdom?
Forgive us, God, for turning from your plan,
placing our trust anywhere but in You.
We return to You: Hear us as we pray.
Let the cleansing of Your blood make us clean.
By Your Spirit, help us walk near to You.
© Rick Lindholtz 2005
By the way, it's another iambic pentameter piece. In staff meeting today we watched a clip from Henry V and I guess I just got inspired.
; )
Lord, you have provided a foundation
For all who put their faith in your strong word,
who place their hope in Your abiding love
made real as Your blood was shed on the cross.
Why is it so easy to turn away,
believing we can frame a better life
on the shifting sand of our own wisdom?
Forgive us, God, for turning from your plan,
placing our trust anywhere but in You.
We return to You: Hear us as we pray.
Let the cleansing of Your blood make us clean.
By Your Spirit, help us walk near to You.
© Rick Lindholtz 2005
By the way, it's another iambic pentameter piece. In staff meeting today we watched a clip from Henry V and I guess I just got inspired.
; )
Thursday
Observing Lutheran Ordination
Last Sunday was a rare treat. Our former Vicar (Seminary Intern) Nate returned to CTK to be ordained. As Nate put it, when he came to Seminary, and later when he came to CTK for his year-long vicarage, he had objectives other than pastoral ministry. After experiencing ministry here, he has no other objective than pastoral ministry. CTK really became the home church of his heart for pastoral ministry. So this was the logical place for his ordination.
Covenant readers will spot a couple of interesting differences in the way these two bodies approach ordination to ministry. The obvious place to start is that in the Covenant, the national body ordains, and does it once every year with all the ordinands, whereas the LCMS ordains individually, all over the country. Each seminary graduate makes the arrangements along with the local church and district where it will happen. Which raises another distinction: Ordination occurs in the weeks after seminary graduation, rather than 2 years later as in the Covenant.
What was most interesting to me, and not at all surprising, given what I have learned about the Missouri Synod, was the precise questioning regarding, not only the authority of the Scriptures, but the accuracy of the three ancient creeds as summaries of true biblical faith (Apostles, Nicene, Athanasian) and all of the major components of the Book of Concord - by name - The Augsburg Confession and its defense, the small and large catechisms of Luther, the Smalcald articles, the Treatise on the power and primacy of the Pope, and the Formula of Concord - are in agreement with true biblical faith.
As a body, the LCMS seems to need the security, comfort, and validity of a greater precision and definition in its theology more than The Evangelical Covenant Church does.
Covenant readers will spot a couple of interesting differences in the way these two bodies approach ordination to ministry. The obvious place to start is that in the Covenant, the national body ordains, and does it once every year with all the ordinands, whereas the LCMS ordains individually, all over the country. Each seminary graduate makes the arrangements along with the local church and district where it will happen. Which raises another distinction: Ordination occurs in the weeks after seminary graduation, rather than 2 years later as in the Covenant.
What was most interesting to me, and not at all surprising, given what I have learned about the Missouri Synod, was the precise questioning regarding, not only the authority of the Scriptures, but the accuracy of the three ancient creeds as summaries of true biblical faith (Apostles, Nicene, Athanasian) and all of the major components of the Book of Concord - by name - The Augsburg Confession and its defense, the small and large catechisms of Luther, the Smalcald articles, the Treatise on the power and primacy of the Pope, and the Formula of Concord - are in agreement with true biblical faith.
As a body, the LCMS seems to need the security, comfort, and validity of a greater precision and definition in its theology more than The Evangelical Covenant Church does.
Tuesday
Grace - MP3 - fixed link
This is a link to an mp3 of the song I've mentioned previously, with music and verses I've written to accompany a chorus by Rita Baloche. I call the portion I've written "Grace".
Thursday
Verses and music - "Grace"
Earlier I posted 2 verses for which I wrote music, to function as verses to the chorus "But for your Grace" by Rita Baloche. Later that day I wrote a third:
Now let me live to serve you,
in Grace to share Your Word,
until you come
and I say again
as I stand before my Lord:
© Rick Lindholtz, 2005
Click here to see the notes and chords. (When it comes up it will be reduced to fit your screen and so will look too small, but right-click and save it to your computer. Then you can print it in any size you want. Oh, and if you use it, you owe it to Rita and Integrity Music to buy a copy of her music as originally published.)
If possible I'll also get the MP3 up next week (I'm leading worship this weekend and we're introducing this song.)
Now let me live to serve you,
in Grace to share Your Word,
until you come
and I say again
as I stand before my Lord:
© Rick Lindholtz, 2005
Click here to see the notes and chords. (When it comes up it will be reduced to fit your screen and so will look too small, but right-click and save it to your computer. Then you can print it in any size you want. Oh, and if you use it, you owe it to Rita and Integrity Music to buy a copy of her music as originally published.)
If possible I'll also get the MP3 up next week (I'm leading worship this weekend and we're introducing this song.)
Confession drawn from Isaiah 30: 1-18
Forgive us, God.
We’ve piled one sin on top of another.
We’ve made our own plans without listening to Your Spirit.
We’ve looked elsewhere for security.
We’ve been rebellious people,
Unwilling to hear what You have to say.
We’ve wanted to hear words that made us feel good
instead of listening to Your words of truth.
But You call us to turn back to you
and to trust in what you offer us –
a life that comes from Your Son Jesus,
forgiven and made clean
by His blood shed for us.
You wait for us to return
to Your grace, love, and compassion.
Faithful God,
Here we are. We come in faith to You.
Receive us and forgive us
in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
We’ve piled one sin on top of another.
We’ve made our own plans without listening to Your Spirit.
We’ve looked elsewhere for security.
We’ve been rebellious people,
Unwilling to hear what You have to say.
We’ve wanted to hear words that made us feel good
instead of listening to Your words of truth.
But You call us to turn back to you
and to trust in what you offer us –
a life that comes from Your Son Jesus,
forgiven and made clean
by His blood shed for us.
You wait for us to return
to Your grace, love, and compassion.
Faithful God,
Here we are. We come in faith to You.
Receive us and forgive us
in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
Wednesday
But for your Grace
Rita Baloche wrote this beautiful little chorus:
But for your grace, I could not be saved,
But for your grace I would go my way.
I'm forever grateful
that you have been faithful to me, Lord,
for your Amazing Grace.
©1998 Integrity's Hosanna! Music
It's a sweet melody and a beautiful prayer, but I felt it would have benefitted from a couple verses. With a short and simple chorus, I often wish the writer had said more. So I decided to write a couple verses of music and lyrics to fill the song out. Of course I cannot tell you that these are the verses for the above song. They are simply song fragments I have written. I gave them the title "Grace".
In grace you came to free us,
to save us from our sin.
Receiving grace,
we know the embrace
of the Father once again.
My life, so torn and broken,
where sin had left its scar.
In Grace you came,
our lives to reclaim,
and to heal our broken hearts.
© Rick Lindholtz, 2005
I will scan the melody, lyrics and chords into a pdf file and post a link here asap.
But for your grace, I could not be saved,
But for your grace I would go my way.
I'm forever grateful
that you have been faithful to me, Lord,
for your Amazing Grace.
©1998 Integrity's Hosanna! Music
It's a sweet melody and a beautiful prayer, but I felt it would have benefitted from a couple verses. With a short and simple chorus, I often wish the writer had said more. So I decided to write a couple verses of music and lyrics to fill the song out. Of course I cannot tell you that these are the verses for the above song. They are simply song fragments I have written. I gave them the title "Grace".
In grace you came to free us,
to save us from our sin.
Receiving grace,
we know the embrace
of the Father once again.
My life, so torn and broken,
where sin had left its scar.
In Grace you came,
our lives to reclaim,
and to heal our broken hearts.
© Rick Lindholtz, 2005
I will scan the melody, lyrics and chords into a pdf file and post a link here asap.
Tuesday
a Trailer for the Chronicles of Narnia
If you are, like me, a lover of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, the wonderful series of children’s books written as an allegory of the story of redemption, you’ll enjoy this link:
http://www.allocine.fr/webtv/acvision.asp?nopub=1&cvid=18389258&emission=&player=ASF&debit=T
It’s a French site so the subtitles are in French but the trailer is in English.
http://www.allocine.fr/webtv/acvision.asp?nopub=1&cvid=18389258&emission=&player=ASF&debit=T
It’s a French site so the subtitles are in French but the trailer is in English.
Celebration Concert
April 24 was the "Commitment Sunday" of our capital campaign. As part of the celebration, in between our two services (8:20 and 11:00) we had a reception at 9:40 followed by a concert at 10 am. It ran to about 45 minutes and about 9 songs. I had the pleasure of mixing the sound and recording the event, and it was wonderful in the extreme.
You want to hear it? I'll send you a CD. Five bucks will cover the cost and the shipping.
Rick Lindholtz
3803 W Lake Houston Parkway
Kingwood TX 77339
You want to hear it? I'll send you a CD. Five bucks will cover the cost and the shipping.
Rick Lindholtz
3803 W Lake Houston Parkway
Kingwood TX 77339
A Responsive reading of scriptural praise
It's from Easter 2005, but it would work on any Sunday.
Leader: What a rich and glorious inheritance God has given to his people- the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him - the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead.
People: He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death.
Leader: Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.
People: Christ is God's ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one.
Leader: It's God's powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him. It was sin that made death so frightening, and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power.
People: But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three--sin, guilt, death--are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ.
Leader: Although he died on the cross in weakness, he now lives by the mighty power of God.
People: We, too, are weak, but we live in him and have God's power.
Leader: Your sins have been washed away, and you have been set apart for God. You have been made right with God because of what the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God have done for you.
All: Glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.
Arranged by Rick Lindholtz. Based on Ephesians 1:19-20, Philippians 2:8-11, 1 Corinthians 1:24, Romans 1:16, and
1 Corinthians 15:56-57 from “The Message” – a contemporary paraphrase of the Bible
and 2 Corinthians 13:4, 1 Corinthians 6:11, and Ephesians 3:20 from the New Living Translation of the Bible
Leader: What a rich and glorious inheritance God has given to his people- the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him - the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead.
People: He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death.
Leader: Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.
People: Christ is God's ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one.
Leader: It's God's powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him. It was sin that made death so frightening, and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power.
People: But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three--sin, guilt, death--are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ.
Leader: Although he died on the cross in weakness, he now lives by the mighty power of God.
People: We, too, are weak, but we live in him and have God's power.
Leader: Your sins have been washed away, and you have been set apart for God. You have been made right with God because of what the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God have done for you.
All: Glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.
Arranged by Rick Lindholtz. Based on Ephesians 1:19-20, Philippians 2:8-11, 1 Corinthians 1:24, Romans 1:16, and
1 Corinthians 15:56-57 from “The Message” – a contemporary paraphrase of the Bible
and 2 Corinthians 13:4, 1 Corinthians 6:11, and Ephesians 3:20 from the New Living Translation of the Bible
Prayer for a heart like Your Heart
This prayer was written to accompany the song "Give me a Heart" by Greg and Pamela Fadness (Maranatha! Music). The song's chorus:
Give me a heart like Your heart, beating for the lost,
Give me a love like your love, no matter what the cost.
Give me a road to travel, a race that I can run,
Give me a heart like your heart, to stand until you come, until you come.
I wrote the prayer not to be spoken out loud, but to be read silently by the congregation as the words gently appear, a phrase at a time, on the screens. It takes about 90 seconds, during which the piano plays softly underneath. When the reading is completed, the chorus of the song is gently reprised.
God, all too often my heart is like stone.
Uncaring.
Cold.
Hard.
Unresponsive to Your voice.
I see the needs of others
for affirmation,
for encouragement,
for hope,
for prayer.
I even desire to respond as You would.
But all too often I become absorbed with my own wants
for attention,
for importance,
for comfort,
for satisfaction.
I hear Your word
through Scripture,
through Your Holy Spirit's voice,
and I long to awaken with joy
to follow after You.
But all too often I heed other voices:
the voice of the tempter,
the voice of the world,
the voice of my own selfish will.
I need a heart like Your heart.
Come to me now, Lord Jesus,
with Your heart of tenderness and compassion,
Your heart that longs to heal me,
to forgive me,
to restore me.
Give me a heart like Your heart.
© Rick Lindholtz, 2003
Give me a heart like Your heart, beating for the lost,
Give me a love like your love, no matter what the cost.
Give me a road to travel, a race that I can run,
Give me a heart like your heart, to stand until you come, until you come.
I wrote the prayer not to be spoken out loud, but to be read silently by the congregation as the words gently appear, a phrase at a time, on the screens. It takes about 90 seconds, during which the piano plays softly underneath. When the reading is completed, the chorus of the song is gently reprised.
God, all too often my heart is like stone.
Uncaring.
Cold.
Hard.
Unresponsive to Your voice.
I see the needs of others
for affirmation,
for encouragement,
for hope,
for prayer.
I even desire to respond as You would.
But all too often I become absorbed with my own wants
for attention,
for importance,
for comfort,
for satisfaction.
I hear Your word
through Scripture,
through Your Holy Spirit's voice,
and I long to awaken with joy
to follow after You.
But all too often I heed other voices:
the voice of the tempter,
the voice of the world,
the voice of my own selfish will.
I need a heart like Your heart.
Come to me now, Lord Jesus,
with Your heart of tenderness and compassion,
Your heart that longs to heal me,
to forgive me,
to restore me.
Give me a heart like Your heart.
© Rick Lindholtz, 2003
Monday
off-topic: "Cleopatra Had a Jazz Band"
My friend Brad posted a note on Saturday about an online collection of old sheet music available at The University of Colorado, Boulder. Aha!. Another point of common interest, which leads to a story...
The Kingwood High "Pops Concert" is coming up (May 12-14), a very big event with some 400 kids on stage at one time during the big numbers. ElenaClaire wanted to audition for a solo slot and needed a song. After rejecting a few ideas, I pitched her an old song from 1917 called "Cleopatra had a jazz band". I heard it once about 30 years ago and just always remembered it - memory is a funny thing.) She loved it - where could she get an accompaniment tape and sheet music, she asked. Now I knew I was in trouble. But I did an internet search and found it! Indiana State University has a collection similar to the one Brad found.
I found the song and downloaded the pdf; wrote an arrangement for piano bass and drums on MIDI and recorded it to CD. Alicia gave her some costuming and choreography tips and we both coached her on how to "sell" the song. "Forget the Pops Show", I said. "The performance to be excited about is this one, even though the audience is only 2 directors. Make them enjoy your performance. If they do, they'll want to share their enjoyment with the whole Pops audience."
End of story: She was selected to do a solo on this song, backed by two women's choirs. We've since learned that it's pretty rare for a singer to get a solo for the song she auditioned with, especially as a sophomore.
The Kingwood High "Pops Concert" is coming up (May 12-14), a very big event with some 400 kids on stage at one time during the big numbers. ElenaClaire wanted to audition for a solo slot and needed a song. After rejecting a few ideas, I pitched her an old song from 1917 called "Cleopatra had a jazz band". I heard it once about 30 years ago and just always remembered it - memory is a funny thing.) She loved it - where could she get an accompaniment tape and sheet music, she asked. Now I knew I was in trouble. But I did an internet search and found it! Indiana State University has a collection similar to the one Brad found.
I found the song and downloaded the pdf; wrote an arrangement for piano bass and drums on MIDI and recorded it to CD. Alicia gave her some costuming and choreography tips and we both coached her on how to "sell" the song. "Forget the Pops Show", I said. "The performance to be excited about is this one, even though the audience is only 2 directors. Make them enjoy your performance. If they do, they'll want to share their enjoyment with the whole Pops audience."
End of story: She was selected to do a solo on this song, backed by two women's choirs. We've since learned that it's pretty rare for a singer to get a solo for the song she auditioned with, especially as a sophomore.
Wednesday
A confession in response to the word of God
Jesus, we remember Your Holy Word:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Lord, we confess that sin continues to stain the lives we live in this broken world. We fail to love You; we fail to love others with Your love. Our lives do not reflect the grace and glory you planned for us. Please, Lord, have mercy on us and forgive us.
Jesus, we remember Your Holy Word:
“You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you.”
Lord, we have heard Your word; You have made us clean. We give You thanks; we offer You our lives in grateful praise.
Jesus, we remember Your Holy Word:
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy --think about such things.”
Lord, too often our lives are cluttered with things that are mere distractions. We fill our lives with the trinkets and toys of our world - things that do nothing to further Your kingdom and the glory of Your name. Please, Lord, send Your Holy Spirit to fill and empower us for Your service.
Jesus, we remember Your Holy Word:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.”
Lord, we praise you for the confident certainty that You, who began a good work in us, will carry it on to completion. Release us now to celebrate Your goodness.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Lord, we confess that sin continues to stain the lives we live in this broken world. We fail to love You; we fail to love others with Your love. Our lives do not reflect the grace and glory you planned for us. Please, Lord, have mercy on us and forgive us.
Jesus, we remember Your Holy Word:
“You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you.”
Lord, we have heard Your word; You have made us clean. We give You thanks; we offer You our lives in grateful praise.
Jesus, we remember Your Holy Word:
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy --think about such things.”
Lord, too often our lives are cluttered with things that are mere distractions. We fill our lives with the trinkets and toys of our world - things that do nothing to further Your kingdom and the glory of Your name. Please, Lord, send Your Holy Spirit to fill and empower us for Your service.
Jesus, we remember Your Holy Word:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.”
Lord, we praise you for the confident certainty that You, who began a good work in us, will carry it on to completion. Release us now to celebrate Your goodness.
Monday
Responsive Prayer from Matthew 5
You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. (Matthew 5:3, The Message)
Father God, when all my reliable resources fail, when all my self-confidence abandons me, help me then to remember that Your Word is true, and your rule in my life is all I need.
Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? (Matthew 5:13, The Message)
Lord Jesus, when I doubt my ability to add flavor to your world, when I lose the vision to connect others to you, remind me then of the flavorful presence of Your Spirit whom you have placed within me.
God's Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God's Law will be alive and working. (Matthew 5:18, The Message)
Holy Spirit, when I question the certainty of what I believe, when I’m unsure of whether I can continue this walk of faith in Jesus, restore me with reassurance in the ancient words of Scripture, for they are Your Word to me – constant and unchanging. Amen.
Scripture portions from "The Message", © 1993, 1994, 1995 by Eugene H. Peterson
Prayers © Rick Lindholtz, 2005
Father God, when all my reliable resources fail, when all my self-confidence abandons me, help me then to remember that Your Word is true, and your rule in my life is all I need.
Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? (Matthew 5:13, The Message)
Lord Jesus, when I doubt my ability to add flavor to your world, when I lose the vision to connect others to you, remind me then of the flavorful presence of Your Spirit whom you have placed within me.
God's Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God's Law will be alive and working. (Matthew 5:18, The Message)
Holy Spirit, when I question the certainty of what I believe, when I’m unsure of whether I can continue this walk of faith in Jesus, restore me with reassurance in the ancient words of Scripture, for they are Your Word to me – constant and unchanging. Amen.
Scripture portions from "The Message", © 1993, 1994, 1995 by Eugene H. Peterson
Prayers © Rick Lindholtz, 2005
Thursday
Prayer for a Heart Set Free
In the fall of 2004 we wrote our own follow-up to our very positive experience with "40 Days of Purpose". We entitled it "A Heart Set Free: 40 Days in Philippians". We published a book of 40 devotionals, small group studies, and a DVD with six teaching segments by our Sr. Pastor. We've since made the whole package available to churches looking for a similar resource.
In addition to writing one week's worth of devotionals for the book, I wrote a series of spiritual disciplines including a prayer that each participant was invited to pray daily. We also used it most Sunday mornings of the 40 days:
Father God, there are chains that would imprison my heart today
– bonds that would hold me back from all that You have for me.
Chains of guilt or doubt, chains of selfishness or fear-
Chains formed in my past or my present,
by someone else’s hand or by my own-
Chains known and unknown to me.
But you know them all, Lord, and You can free me from their hold.
In the power of Jesus, please break the chains and release me this day,
so that I may live in the joy of a Heart set free. Amen.
© Rick Lindholtz, 2004
In addition to writing one week's worth of devotionals for the book, I wrote a series of spiritual disciplines including a prayer that each participant was invited to pray daily. We also used it most Sunday mornings of the 40 days:
Father God, there are chains that would imprison my heart today
– bonds that would hold me back from all that You have for me.
Chains of guilt or doubt, chains of selfishness or fear-
Chains formed in my past or my present,
by someone else’s hand or by my own-
Chains known and unknown to me.
But you know them all, Lord, and You can free me from their hold.
In the power of Jesus, please break the chains and release me this day,
so that I may live in the joy of a Heart set free. Amen.
© Rick Lindholtz, 2004
Sunday
Gardener: a speculative monologue
Hey, How ya doin? Don’t know if we’ve met. My name’s Isaiah.
No, not the one you’re thinking of.
It was my Dad’s idea. Isaiah was his favorite part of the prophets. He always loved that part that goes “Comfort ye my people”. So when I come along, he decides to name me Isaiah.
So anyway… what can I do for you? You say you want some Landscaping done? Yeah, that’s right up my alley. What kind of work you need?
Sure, sounds like my specialty.
What? References? You want references?
No, no, it’s not a problem. It’s just no one ever asked before. No problem. References….Hmmm. I guess old Joe could give me a reference…
Huh? Oh, sorry. Who’s Joe? He’s one of the first guys I did landscaping for around here. I worked for Joe for about 2 years. A real rich guy, Joe. Beautiful grounds. He had just moved here from… where was it? … Emmaus, I think.
No, wait a minute: Arimathea.
Yeah, old Joe. A real religious guy, Joe. He’d heard about this teacher who was getting a lot of attention back then. In fact, Joe became a follower of this fella. And I went with Joe once to hear him teach.
I’ll never forget the love in his face, the sparkle of life in his eye – the warmth of his voice.
But then things weren’t looking too good for him. Oh, he shows up in town and he’s welcomed by the crowds, with Palm branches and all, but by the end of the week he’s on trial. When it’s all over, the guy’s sentenced to death. Old Joe was pretty upset about it, and I don’t blame him. I mean, that young teacher wasn’t a murderer; he wasn’t a thief – even though they killed him with one.
No, wait a minute: they killed him with two thieves.
Anyway, Joe decides the last nice thing he can do for his teacher is give a place to lay the body after he’s dead. So he tells me, get the garden tomb ready. Now you gotta know, by this time I’ve probably put in 3 or 4 months in that area of the garden, and it’s looking good. He’s got a lot invested in that site, so for him to give it to the teacher, that’s a pretty big gift.
Right before sundown, Joe and some of his friends show up with the body, and oh man, the guy looks awful. They’ve whipped him, beat him, and crucified him. You could hardly recognize what’s left as a human being.
We all wrap the body in the shroud – yeah, “we”. I helped, cause it was getting late, and – well, I felt bad. He was really a good man. He didn’t deserve what they gave him on that cross, and he never said a word of complaint.
Just when we’re finishing the job, up come all these soldiers. After the stone’s rolled in place, they say they’re gonna stand guard all night.
And they’re stomping all over the plantings I’ve got out there. You can’t treat plants like that and still have a beautiful garden. So I figure, great: after Sabbath, I need to be back here early the next day to try and clean up all the mess they made.
So the morning after Sabbath, I’m there real early, I’m just going into the garden, when this lady runs right past me toward the tomb area. I recognized her; it was one of the ladies who was there before sunset the other night, preparing the teacher’s body. It’s early and I’m thinking, what’s this about? I walk past the tomb to the place where I keep my tools.
As I’m walking back I hear some voices in the tomb area. My first thought was, one of those soldiers is giving that lady some trouble. So I get up there, behind a shrub, and the first voice I hear clearly is hers. She says “Sir, I know you’re only the gardener here…”
“Only the gardener” – I liked that part–
“...I know you're only the gardener, but if you’ve carried away the body, tell me where you’ve put him and I’ll get him”. At first I think she’s talking to me, until I look around the corner and I see her. She’s on her knees before this man.
And this is the part that you’re gonna find hard to believe – everyone else does– but I saw the man in front of her; I saw the love in his face, the sparkle of life in his eye – it was him. It was the teacher. He says to her “Mary”, and when I heard the warmth in his voice, I was sure.
That moment, I became a follower of the teacher. Jesus.
He’d been as dead as could be Friday night. But there he was, as alive as you or me.
No, wait a minute … more alive.
You know, I work with plants. I take a seed and drop it into the ground. And it dies. And then, up out of the ground comes new life. Happens all the time. But I saw it happen to a man.
No, wait a minute…. more than a man.
© Rick Lindholtz 2002, 2005
No, not the one you’re thinking of.
It was my Dad’s idea. Isaiah was his favorite part of the prophets. He always loved that part that goes “Comfort ye my people”. So when I come along, he decides to name me Isaiah.
So anyway… what can I do for you? You say you want some Landscaping done? Yeah, that’s right up my alley. What kind of work you need?
Sure, sounds like my specialty.
What? References? You want references?
No, no, it’s not a problem. It’s just no one ever asked before. No problem. References….Hmmm. I guess old Joe could give me a reference…
Huh? Oh, sorry. Who’s Joe? He’s one of the first guys I did landscaping for around here. I worked for Joe for about 2 years. A real rich guy, Joe. Beautiful grounds. He had just moved here from… where was it? … Emmaus, I think.
No, wait a minute: Arimathea.
Yeah, old Joe. A real religious guy, Joe. He’d heard about this teacher who was getting a lot of attention back then. In fact, Joe became a follower of this fella. And I went with Joe once to hear him teach.
I’ll never forget the love in his face, the sparkle of life in his eye – the warmth of his voice.
But then things weren’t looking too good for him. Oh, he shows up in town and he’s welcomed by the crowds, with Palm branches and all, but by the end of the week he’s on trial. When it’s all over, the guy’s sentenced to death. Old Joe was pretty upset about it, and I don’t blame him. I mean, that young teacher wasn’t a murderer; he wasn’t a thief – even though they killed him with one.
No, wait a minute: they killed him with two thieves.
Anyway, Joe decides the last nice thing he can do for his teacher is give a place to lay the body after he’s dead. So he tells me, get the garden tomb ready. Now you gotta know, by this time I’ve probably put in 3 or 4 months in that area of the garden, and it’s looking good. He’s got a lot invested in that site, so for him to give it to the teacher, that’s a pretty big gift.
Right before sundown, Joe and some of his friends show up with the body, and oh man, the guy looks awful. They’ve whipped him, beat him, and crucified him. You could hardly recognize what’s left as a human being.
We all wrap the body in the shroud – yeah, “we”. I helped, cause it was getting late, and – well, I felt bad. He was really a good man. He didn’t deserve what they gave him on that cross, and he never said a word of complaint.
Just when we’re finishing the job, up come all these soldiers. After the stone’s rolled in place, they say they’re gonna stand guard all night.
And they’re stomping all over the plantings I’ve got out there. You can’t treat plants like that and still have a beautiful garden. So I figure, great: after Sabbath, I need to be back here early the next day to try and clean up all the mess they made.
So the morning after Sabbath, I’m there real early, I’m just going into the garden, when this lady runs right past me toward the tomb area. I recognized her; it was one of the ladies who was there before sunset the other night, preparing the teacher’s body. It’s early and I’m thinking, what’s this about? I walk past the tomb to the place where I keep my tools.
As I’m walking back I hear some voices in the tomb area. My first thought was, one of those soldiers is giving that lady some trouble. So I get up there, behind a shrub, and the first voice I hear clearly is hers. She says “Sir, I know you’re only the gardener here…”
“Only the gardener” – I liked that part–
“...I know you're only the gardener, but if you’ve carried away the body, tell me where you’ve put him and I’ll get him”. At first I think she’s talking to me, until I look around the corner and I see her. She’s on her knees before this man.
And this is the part that you’re gonna find hard to believe – everyone else does– but I saw the man in front of her; I saw the love in his face, the sparkle of life in his eye – it was him. It was the teacher. He says to her “Mary”, and when I heard the warmth in his voice, I was sure.
That moment, I became a follower of the teacher. Jesus.
He’d been as dead as could be Friday night. But there he was, as alive as you or me.
No, wait a minute … more alive.
You know, I work with plants. I take a seed and drop it into the ground. And it dies. And then, up out of the ground comes new life. Happens all the time. But I saw it happen to a man.
No, wait a minute…. more than a man.
© Rick Lindholtz 2002, 2005
Wednesday
Just an "Offering"
Late last year someone suggested I send Paul Baloche the Christmas lyric I wrote for "Above All". I was a little hesitant to do that because, as I have been cautioned before, copyright forbids that sort of thing. But I went ahead and sent Paul my lyric. He replied and said it didn't bother him at all, in fact he often made lyric edits or additions as a worship leader in his own church - something that is my "stock in trade" around here.
If an author or publisher ever asked me to stop using something I've written, I would certainly do so. In the meantime, I continue to write edits (when a lyric needs theological correction, artistic enhancement, or a verse for seasonal use.) If it bothers you, don't think of it as a verse to someone else's song. Think of it as a free-standing poem - that happens to fit the meter of a song.
This is a poem I wrote that has a lot in common with a song of Paul's. I call the poem
"This Wondrous Love". I especially like the echo of three hymns: "What Wondrous Love is This?", "Amazing Grace", and "O Sacred Head now wounded".
"This Wondrous Love"
What is this wondrous love that made you climb that hill
to bring Your healing to the nations?
What vast, amazing grace, that you would take the nails
all to accomplish our salvation?
But you let your blood be shed,
and you took the thorns upon Your sacred head.
© Rick Lindholtz, 2005
If an author or publisher ever asked me to stop using something I've written, I would certainly do so. In the meantime, I continue to write edits (when a lyric needs theological correction, artistic enhancement, or a verse for seasonal use.) If it bothers you, don't think of it as a verse to someone else's song. Think of it as a free-standing poem - that happens to fit the meter of a song.
This is a poem I wrote that has a lot in common with a song of Paul's. I call the poem
"This Wondrous Love". I especially like the echo of three hymns: "What Wondrous Love is This?", "Amazing Grace", and "O Sacred Head now wounded".
"This Wondrous Love"
What is this wondrous love that made you climb that hill
to bring Your healing to the nations?
What vast, amazing grace, that you would take the nails
all to accomplish our salvation?
But you let your blood be shed,
and you took the thorns upon Your sacred head.
© Rick Lindholtz, 2005
Lift High the Cross
Easter Sunday will also feature an arrangement of the hymn "Lift High the Cross" - given a fresh and contemporary sound but still retaining its character - lots of brass, flutes and sax - but the hymn, though it fits our "Living the Mission" theme, doesn't have the kind of Easter message we also wanted to be included. Thus the following new verse 1:
Reveal the truth recorded in Your word:
yourself, the risen, everlasting Lord.
© Rick Lindholtz, 2004
Reveal the truth recorded in Your word:
yourself, the risen, everlasting Lord.
© Rick Lindholtz, 2004
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