Save the Songbook

My wife is a singer and musician who plays piano and ukulele. She leads worship at our church. More importantly, she is led by God in her choices for songs in each service. I can't count the number of times that she has chosen a set of worship songs that fit in perfectly with what God wanted to say and do in our services and through the preaching of His Word. No one provides a list of songs to her and it's rare that she's asked to use a particular song. And yet, time and time again the songs connect to the words of the message that is preached and the atmosphere of the service at any given time.

Over the last couple of years, she has been on a quest that she calls, "Save the Songbook."

She has become something of a hymnal archaeologist, drawing out old beloved songs that have nearly been forgotten. She has tracked down old record albums to hear the songs. She has brought some of those hymns back into use in our worship services and it has been a refreshing experience revisiting them. There are powerful songs in those hymnals. There is great doctrine in the lyrics of many of those songs. Admittedly, we've both reached an age where our nostalgia has increased. We both grew up singing many of these songs. It's more than reminiscing, though. There is something about those old songs! More and more lately I read and hear discussions of the potential crash of modern-day worship services. Our church has newer and contemporary songs in some services that you won't find in any hymnal. But I think our worship leader chooses the songs in consideration of what made some of the older songs so powerful.

I love the way Rev. Martin Ballestero said it not long ago, "I know the Bible says sing unto the Lord a new song. But I never read where it said we had to stop singing the old ones."

(Visit my wife's YouTube channel to hear some of these great hymns revisited: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPWzN8k__BYetDTuvdyvB7w)

The Temptation in the Temporary

Every Church Planter I know has a vision and desire to see the new work eventually move from temporary locations and become an established church in their cities. If you go back to the earliest posts here on Ground Up, you'll see mentions of times when the church I pastor was meeting in coffee shops, hotel conference rooms, and small storefront buildings. Those were necessary steps in our journey and those early days hold great memories for us. In fact, we've worked to keep some of the settings as a part of our ministries even as we've grown beyond those original locations. As we've grown and expanded ministries, we've continued to look ahead to the time when we would become more established in our city. This year is the time.

It has been a busy year as we move toward a permanent location for the first time since the church was planted. We have been working on the purchase of land, and building a new building for Joyful Life Ministries. People have given sacrificially. Every person at JLM, in every age group and demographic, has gotten involved in giving, fundraising, and support. Donors from outside our church body have given toward our goal. It has been inspiring to see the excitement level!

What did we deal with on the way to this new place that God has provided? Common temptations that every Church Planter will struggle with as they move from the temporary to the permanent:

One of the temptations of God's people on the way to God's promise is the temptation to settle too soon.

Recently I read this reminder:"Don't think permanent thoughts in a temporary place." - Rev. J.B. Sims
While we have enjoyed our temporary locations, and each one has been better than the last, we've had to stay mindful of God's promise. Each place was a stop along the journey. Some lasted longer than others, but none of them have been the permanent place God wanted for His Church in this city.  Israel, after being delivered from Egypt, struggled with this temptation. In one leg of their journey, they found an oasis that was so much better than anything they had experienced in Egypt, they were ready to set up camp and stake a claim. The problem? The place was better than Egypt, but not nearly