For God Alone

Recently, our congregation sang This Is My Father’s World in worship. Rev. Maltbie D. Babcock, (1858-1901), a Presbyterian minister in New York and Maryland, wrote this hymn text, just one of many he wrote during his short lifetime. Not only is this a worthy poem with solid theology, it is set to a good melody with singable harmonic and rhythmic structures. This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears All nature sings and round me rings the music of the spheres . This is my Father’s world, I rest me in the thought, Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; His hand the wonders wrought. This is my Father’s world, the birds, their carols raise; The morning light, the lily white declare their Maker’s praise! This is my Father’s world, He shines in all that’s fair; In the rustling grass I hear Him pass, He speaks to me ev’rywhere. This is my Father’s world, O let me ne’er forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. This is my F...

One of my favorite scripture verses - and there are many - is Psalm 115:1. I have heard many preachers quote this verse throughout my nearly forty years of ministry, but none as frequently as Duane Brooks during our shared years of ministry at Tallowood Baptist in Houston. Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,  for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! I often sign my correspondence with this verse, not so much to point my readers to its truth, though that is true; but more as a personal reminder that my singular purpose in this life is to give God’s name glory, for the sake of His steadfast love and faithfulness. For the sake of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. In August of 2013, I participated in a mission project in Dublin, Ireland with a small team from our church, Central Baptist Bearden in Knoxville, Tennessee. We were there as guests of a Romanian Baptist congregation to partner with them in their first Vacatio...

This past Sunday, I joined our Bridge Builders Sunday School class for fellowship and Bible study. How encouraging to see the faces of some of our members (some 30 or so) via ZOOM, and hear their teacher, Dennis Parrott teach from God’s word. During his lesson, Dennis mentioned a verse that is dear to most of us, and certainly to this pilgrim, who learned it singing Jimmy Owens’ setting in the 1970’s, If My People.* If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14, KJV) Dennis mentioned that this verse is a favorite of one of the class’s members, whose name is Mack. Upon hearing Dennis make this statement, a light came on in my head and heart. For the past year-plus, each first Tuesday of the month, I have joined a group of twenty or so faithful men for a prayer breakfast at Southern Recipes Gri...