"The Gospel According To Music"

And, so I just kinda dropped my microphone and waved and it seemed like a long time until the light changed to green. Music just does something to me, especially country music.

This past weekend I had a rare opportunity to get together with 2 of my best buddies from high school (and their families). Now, things have changed a bit since high school. Now, we’re all married and there were 8 kids under the age of 11 in the house all weekend. But, a couple things didn’t change. Every night we played cards just like high school and listened to some old tunes, like, Springsteen’s “Glory Days”, Eagles and some other songs that were not nearly as well known but they had some great memories attached to them. We laughed, told stories, and turned up the music when a good one came on. It was an amazing time of friendship and faith and music.

Music is a funny thing. It has a strange power to it. What does music do for you?

It has the ability to remind us of what life is supposed to be about.

It allows us to put our busy minds at rest, and it actually has the power to take our minds off the things we don’t need to focus on. Now, here’s the twist. Music also has the ability to set some things right, politically, socially, even relationally. Music also has the ability put our minds on the right things, not to just take our minds off the wrong things. Many song writers in our culture have become the poets of our society who point out things in our culture that need to be set right.

I don’t know how many of you caught the concert last night for the victims of Katrina, “Shelter from the Storm”. It was interesting to me that musicians were among the first to band together to do something for the people of New Orleans and to address some cultural and political issues of our day. However, the best part of the concert I think was just hearing music because music alone has a way of setting things right.

For me, the greatest thing music does is that it has the ability to put me in a different spot. It has the ability to give me hope. The concert for Katrina victims did some of that Friday night, for the people of America.

Like I said before, music has a strange power to it and it has the ability to transport us to a different space in our live. For example, around our house when we need some energy, when we need to do some house cleaning at the Angell’s on Saturday morning, when we want to have fun, we listen to music and it gets us there. The flip side is also true. When we want to relax, we listen to music and it gets us there.

When I want to focus on God and quiet my spirit and get prepared to connect with my Creator, music is most often how that happens. A cd playing and a candle glowing early in the morning at my desk and suddenly my spirit is ready to meet with God.

Music really is a powerful thing. It transcends our lives and moves us to a different place inside. You know, all summer long, I was thinking about this opening weekend. I was thinking about our lives and how music and the good news that God so desperately wants us to hear. The gospel, that’s all that word means, the gospel means “good news”. It’s amazing how those 2 things, music and the gospel, are connected together in our lives. All summer there was just one word that came to my mind over and over and over again when I thought about all that . . . and that word was HOPE. It was actually kind of strange – how God kept bringing my mind back to that word for us for this day.

See, I believe hope is not only the center of what music is all about. Music is designed to put us in a different and better space. But, hope, in a much bigger and deeper way, is the very center, the very core of the message that Jesus spoke. Hope is the good news of the Gospel. Hope is the rhythm of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Listen to how Webster describes hope. It says that hope is “the expectation of something desired.” Now, I don’t know where all of you are at today in your life. And, I don’t know what kind of summer you’ve had, whether it was good or bad and I don’t know what you might be facing this fall. I don’t know if you’re feeling nervous or excited or up or down or scared to death as you look at your life ahead in this new season. But let me tell you what I know for sure and it’s a bigger truth than the immediate circumstance of our lives. I know that God has placed something eternal inside of every one of you and you may or may not beware of it. But, that eternal something is hope and it lasts forever, through every circumstance of life and that is a really big deal. Within the very fabric of your soul, in the moment of your creation, God placed eternity. In the center of your soul, he created an ability for you to hope and to be drawn to that desire for eternal things. Hope is within each one of us, all the time. And it comes directly from the hand of God. The only trouble is that sometimes we forget that hope is there. And you know what? That is one of the saddest parts of being human. That we forget the hope our Creator has given us. There are lots of things that happen to us that make us forget that we’re eternal beings and tons of life stuff that makes us forget our hope.

If you were like Pam & I this week, you watched a fair bit of

CNN and the devastation of New Orleans and the whole Gulf Coast

Region. And what happens when tragedy hits? Amid the confusion and death and fear and brutalness of life, hope is dashed. For me as I watched all that stuff, the worst part wasn’t the water and how much it wrecked everything. The worst part was how hope just drained from people’s hearts, eyes and lives. You could watch hope disappear in the last 2 weeks. And if you listened, you could almost hear the evil one laughing because when hope is gone, people have a hard time hearing the rhythm of God. It isn’t just a hurricane that can devastate our lives and steal our hope, is it? I mean, right here at Lakeview church this weekend. Some of you are facing severe illness, right now. The illness is casting a shadow over your hope. I can’t count the number of people who are facing an uphill battle physically and emotionally in this faith community and when you’re sick, hope is hard to find.

Some of you are struggling financially heading into this fall season and it’s creating huge stress in your life. It’s covering up your hope. Some of you are facing relational struggles, big time, in your marriage or with your kids or in your family and when that happens it’s like a huge wet blanket that just gets dropped over your hope and you can’t find it.

And still others of you are just so busy, your life is so full of stuff that you haven’t even taken a minute to evaluate the future enough, to hope. You don’t have time to hope, you’re just grasping for air in your schedules.

Now, for some of us, those are our stories and that is what we face this September and you know what? I just want to give you a very simple message today that I think can make a difference.

Folks, let me tell you God’s truth, the truth of the gospel – the good news. There’s more to life than most of us see and it’s better. Hope is very real and alive and it’s already in your life – it’s there. And it can be awakened by faith, no matter what your circumstance. There is a rhythm that God wants to remind us of and if you listen close, you can hear it, HOPE.

Listen to this verse from the Bible written about the certainty of promises of God in our lives. The verse is found in Hebrews 6:19. Listen to the confidence it expresses.

“We have this hope (an eternal expectation) as an anchor for our souls, firm and secure . . . who is Jesus”

People, our hope, our firm anchor when the storms of life rage around us is Jesus Christ, and none other. He is the one that holds our future secure. He is our eternal hope and our souls’ great expectation. Hear that today with confidence.

I did a lot of running this summer. In fact I ran more this summer than ever before in my life, nearly every day in June and July. I ran several miles. I like running because it helps me sort stuff out in my mind. I run and I think and I ponder. And then I run some more and I think and I work things out and this summer I had lots of stuff to work out.

I’m not sure how many of you know this or not but last year was the toughest year of my life, by a long shot. I had relational struggles all around me that I had never faced before. I lost a bunch of money in a business deal that went south. And I had some pretty severe health issues

I was facing. And with all of those things going on in my life, there was the added pressure of just leading this church. Last year nearly wiped me out . literally. But the worst part wasn’t any of those things. The worst part was that when I looked at my life and really analyzed it, it was a mess, in every category and I couldn’t see any hope for quite a while, in fact, for months. It was like a cloud was hanging over me and I couldn’t find hope.

Anyways, this summer when I was running one day, something very strange happened. It was a simple thing but profound at the same time. That particular day was hot, really hot and I didn’t feel like running and I wasn’t motivated to work through my issues while I ran and did I mention it was hot, like 33 ° c hot and I don’t like hot. But, I went running and the funniest thing happened. I put on my music just like I do every time I run and this song came on called, “Pressing On”. It’s kind of a punk song that talks about not quitting and it has this driving beat. Pretty cool. That song put my mind in a different space and because of that song, somehow I immediately remembered that crazy little sheep and jack rabbit clip that said bound, bound, bound and rebound and that gave me a little bit more juice.

And then I started to run and then out of no where came this breeze and it was like the heat just disappeared and I was unbelievably refreshed, physically. I felt I could run and it sounds crazy but it was the first run in several months when I didn’t think about all the unsorted out stuff in my life and I just kinda knew that God had a breeze that was blowing in my life and in that moment I knew that I was able to run spiritually, and not just physically. I knew that my ability to rebound in life would only ever come from Him. I hope this makes some kinda sense to you but that day was the first time I had felt real God-filled-kinda-hope in a long time and hope like that changes everything in life. It was like I could feel the rhythm again.

Now, here’s the story from the Bible that that experience connected with for me. It’s one of my favourites. Way back in the Old Testament, there was a prophet named Elisha, powerful man of God. He did amazing miracles and spoke words of truth and spoke to the nation of Israel on behalf of God.

Elisha was so strong spiritually that when the King of Israel followed his words from God, Israel would have victory after victory and when the king didn’t follow Elisha’s words from God, Israel would be defeated. Elisha was a great Hero of the Faith and when he was with Israel, the armies of God fought Israel’s enemies for them.

Anyway, there was a king from a neighbouring land that was tired of Elisha fighting for Israel and this king wanted Elisha killed. Let me read the story in 2 Kings 6:8-17 (NIV).

“Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, ‘I will set up my camp in such and such a place.’ The man of God (Elisha) sent word to the king of Israel: ‘Beware of passing that place, because the enemy is going down there.’ Time and again, Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places. This enraged the king of Aram and so he summoned his officers and demanded of them, ‘Will you not tell me which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?’ (He thought there was a traitor). ‘None of us, my lord the king,’ said one of his officers, ‘but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.’ ‘Go, find out where he is,’ the king ordered, ‘so I can send men and capture him.’ The report came back: ‘Elisha is in Dothan.’ Then the King of Aram sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. When the servant of Elisha got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘My lord, what shall we do?’ the servant asked. ‘Don't be afraid’, the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

The army of God was fighting for Elisha, unseen to everyone else, but clearly seen by Elisha. Everyone else was terrified by the enemy. But, Elisha alone had HOPE. Why? Because he could see through God’s eyes and the enemy always looks smaller through God’s eyes.

Let me ask you, if you could see the enemy and the obstacles and challenges in front of you through God’s eyes, what would you see? I mean if you and I could really see how God wanted to fight for us and with us, wouldn’t the future look different. And if you and I could see our health struggles or addictions or our emotional challenges or our marriage problems or our financial issues through God’s eyes, wouldn’t those enemy’s seem weaker when we could see the power of God surrounding them.

Folks, seeing and sensing and knowing that the power of God is with us during dark days, is called Hope and somehow, we’ve got to hear that rhythm. So let me ask you, if you could see your life with God’s eyes like Elisha did, what would you see?

Here’s what the Bible says, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than what is against us.” And it says that God promises to make a way for us, even when there seems to be no way out. God can make a way out of the situations life throws at us.

And God’s Word promises that when we find ourselves in the desert,

He will be like a river flowing in our souls.

Psalm 62:5,6 & 8

Find rest, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. Trust in him at all times, pour out your hearts to him. . .

Psalm 91:1, 2 & 4

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say this of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge . . .

Isaiah 43:1b-3a, God says,

But, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, your Saviour . . .

Matthew 28:20b, Jesus said,

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Folks, those aren’t just a bunch of nice words. They’re the truth. That is the rhythm of God beating in your spirit.

Hear the good news, when you have faith in Jesus Christ there is hope. Hope for a better life and more life and abundant life and there is hope for health and until there is health, we have hope that He will strengthen us. In Jesus Christ, there is hope for your family and your kids and your marriage whatever state it may be in. There is hope for wholeness in our homes.

And, in Jesus Christ, there is hope for our addictions. With Him, all things are possible. With Jesus, we can stop the negative cycles that are defeating our lives. In Jesus Chris, there is great hope for your future, no matter what kind of past you’ve had, no matter what kind of abuse you’ve endured. God can and will bring wholeness to your life. And, folks, that’s the message of the gospel; the good news is full of Hope. Yes, life can and will do a lot of things to try and sweep our feet out from under us.

But, we must remember, that the music can take us to a different and better space in our lives. The rhythm and beat I want to remind you of as

we head into this new fall season is that God has placed hope in the very center of your soul and it can be awakened by faith and no matter what enemy you’re facing in life, God wants to fight for you and with you. So, awaken your faith this fall and see what God sees. Hear the music that He continues to play and you’ll be amazed at the Hope He Brings.

There is a great movie called “The Shawshank Redemption”. I think it wraps this message up very well.

Trapped in the Superdome: Refuge becomes a hellhole

September 1, 2005 by Scott Gold Los Angeles Times

“The Louisiana Superdome, once a mighty testament to architecture and ingenuity, became the biggest storm shelter in New Orleans the day before Katrina’s arrival Monday. About 16,000 people eventually settled in. Within two days, it had generated into unspeakable horror.

‘We pee on the floor. We are like animals,” Taffany Smith, age 25, said as she cradled her 3-week-old son, Terry. In her right hand she carried a half-full bottle of formula provided by rescuers. Baby supplies are running low.

At least three people have died, including one man who jumped 50 feet to his death, saying he had nothing left to live for.

There is no sanitation. The stench is overwhelming. The city’s water supply, which had held up since Sunday, gave out early yesterday, and toilets in the Dome became inoperable and began to overflow.

The Superdome is patrolled by more than 500 Louisiana National Guard, many of whom carry machine guns as sweaty, smelly people press against metal barricades that keep them from leaving, shouting as the soldiers pass by: ‘Hey! We need more water! We need help!’

Thousands clutched their meager belongings, sitting in seats normally used for football games or lying on the Astroturf field, its end zones still painted with the word ‘Saints.’ ‘This is a nuthouse’, said April Thomas, age 42, who fled to the dome with her 11 children. She has enlisted the older boys to take turns walking patrols at night as the rest of the family sleeps.

Suddenly, the first notes of Bach’s Sonata No. 1 in G Minor, the Adagio, pierced the desperation. Samuel Thompson, 34, is trying to make it as a professional violinist. He had grabbed his instrument – made in 1996 by a Boston woman – as he fled the youth hostel Sunday where he had been staying in New Orleans for the past two months.

‘It’s the most important thing I own,’ he said. He had guarded it carefully and hadn’t taken it out until yesterday afternoon, when he was able to move from the Superdome in the New Orleans Arena, far safer accommodations. He rested the black case on a table next to a man with no legs in a wheelchair and a pile of trash and boxes, and gingerly popped open the two locks. He lifted the violin out of the red velvet encasement and held it to his neck.

Thompson closed his eyes and leaned into each stretch of the bow as be played mournfully. A woman eating crackers and sitting where a vendor typically sells pizza watched him intently. A National Guard soldier applauded quietly when the song ended, and Thompson nodded his head and began another piece, the Andante from Bach’s Sonata in A Minor.

Like most in the shelter, Thompson’s family in Charleston, S.C., has no idea where he is and whether he is alive. Thompson figures he is safe for now and will get in touch when he can. Meanwhile, he will play, and, once in a while, someone at the sports complex will manage a smile.

‘These people have nothing,’ he said. ‘I have a violin. And I should play for them. They should have something.’”

Folks, the world needs something called Hope and people need to feel the rhythm of God in their heart. It isn’t just people in Louisiana, its’ people in Saskatoon as well.

Church, hear this, ”You and I are called by grace to hope and to provide hope in what can be a very dark place”. And I want to call you as the church of Jesus Christ this year to provide HOPE.

We are committing our lives this year at Lakeview to be a place of HOPE. Hear this, “You are not and will not, be alone . . .”

Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV)

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”