"Undivided"

“Undivided”

 

In 1977 a young couple, Gayle and Dan Troy, began working with a youth ministry made up of teens from three churches in southern New Hampshire. The kids enjoyed the music the Troys provided so they decided to present a night of Easter music in 1978. When several adults liked what they saw they joined and the group grew to 15. The undertaking proved successful so plans were made to do a similar program the following spring. From those small beginnings The Dove Singers expanded to some 120 singers, dancers, instrumentalists, and technicians each year. Participants have come from about 50 churches, including a number from neighboring states. Many from our congregation in Manchester were part of the effort. As a pastor I was thrilled to see God’s people working together in a common purpose (“…In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”—Romans 12:5).

I spoke with Gayle and Dan recently to prepare for writing this article. When I asked when they began Dove the response was, “We didn’t start it, God did.” They’ve always seen it as His work and made themselves available as His means for doing it. When Gayle described the concept to some she was told, “It can’t be done.” But God proved the naysayers wrong. The biggest blessing was seeing people from all (or no) church backgrounds coming together to glorify God by telling the Easter story through music.

Rehearsals began the first Monday night in January and preparations continued into March with four performances in area churches on weekend evenings just prior to Resurrection Day (my preferred name for the celebration of the most significant event of our faith). Thousands have been blessed over the years as they’ve seen and heard the story of the completed work of Christ shown in this unique way. At the close of each program the entire troupe has always sung its theme song, “Undivided” by Melodie Tunney. The most meaningful lines express the thrust of the entire ministry: “It doesn’t matter if we agree, All He asks is that we serve Him faithfully…In our hearts, we’re undivided, bound by His Spirit forevermore.”

On March 26, 2017, The Dove Singers will lift their voices for the last time as Gayle and Dan “retire” after 40 years of God-focused leadership. What “couldn’t be done” was done for 40 years to God’s glory. All I can say is, “Well done (and sung), Gayle and Dan. You’ve showed how we’re undivided in Jesus.” God bless you in the years ahead!

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

(For performance schedule and other information please visit www.dovesingers.org)

"Spring's Coming"

“Spring’s Coming”

 

One of the most significant dates among residents of the northeast is March 1. That’s when we could say, “Spring’s coming this month.” After frigid temperatures, piles of snow, and icy roads we looked forward to the warmer conditions (although Old Man Winter often was slow in departing). Since moving to Florida the changes aren’t nearly as pronounced but we welcome more daylight and ditching the windbreakers (at least for the most part).

Asaph wrote, “…(God) made both summer and winter.” (Psalm74:17). Since God has a purpose in all He does (“…Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so will it stand.”—Isaiah 14:24) He has His reasons for the different times of year (including winter, much as we may wonder why). Winter gives the land a rest, removes old growth, and waters the earth as its snow melts to make way for the greenery and colors of spring. Solomon put it this way: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven….” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

Sometimes we go through desolate periods in our lives which remind us of winter. We may feel isolated, stymied in our activity, tired of the gray, or depressed. But just as the winter months lead to the emergence of new life in spring and summer, so the testings of our dreary times prepare us for renewal. Job expressed to his friends, “But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:8-10). So God is there in our hard times even if we can’t see Him or understand what He’s doing, but when our time of discontentment is over and we see the end result we rejoice that (in the words of songwriter Gary Paxton) “He Was There All the Time.”

Later this month our northern friends will bid winter adieu (at least on the calendar) and (hopefully) welcome the warmth of spring. And if you’re struggling through a lonely and bleak period, take heart. It’s all for your ultimate benefit (“It was good for me to be afflicted so that I may learn your decrees.”--Psalm 119:71).

Be encouraged—spring’s coming!

 

Grace and blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Out of the Ordinary"

“Out of the Ordinary”

 

As I was writing a previous article (“When God Has Things Backwards”) I recalled an incident from 50+ years ago. I was on break at my warehouse job and a fellow employee told of driving home five miles in reverse when his transmission wouldn’t go forward. (He was quite a jokester so I wasn’t sure if he was pulling my leg.) Then about a year ago while stopped at a light Karen and I saw a car cross in front of us going backwards! (After the light changed we tried to follow but lost him when he rounded a bend.) So maybe my friend of long ago was on the level.

When we see, hear, or read something out of the ordinary it piques our curiosity and we begin to speculate. Sometimes this happens as we read Scripture. Here are a few examples:

   “If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake   and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life.” (Mark 8:35, NLT)

   “…There are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.” (Luke 13:30)

   “…Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you….” (Matthew 5:44)

   “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5, quoting Proverbs 3:34)

In the account of Gideon (Judges 6-7) God told him to reduce the Israelite army from 32,000 to 300 to fight the Midianites. What right-minded general would do that? General God Almighty! And He won a great victory in an out of the ordinary way.

Some six centuries later Judah was threatened by Babylon. The Prophet Habakkuk complained that God was allowing a pagan nation to oppress His people (“Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?”—1:13). But God assured His messenger, “I got this” (“Look at the proud. They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked, but the righteous will live by their faith.”—2:4, NLT). God in His grace got through to His cantankerous servant because in the end Habakkuk said (paraphrased), “My world may be falling apart, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (3:17-18).

God sometimes does extraordinary things in out of the ordinary ways that may not make sense to you and me. Long ago Abraham asked the question, “Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25). How I answer today will reflect my level of trust in Him.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Hymn Humor"

“Hymn Humor”

 

Over the years church bulletins and newsletters have contained lists of hymns and songs comically appropriate to various professions and practices. Here are a few I’ve seen (or in some cases made up):

  Dentist: “Crown Him with Many Crowns”    Slow Driver: “Pass Me Not”

  Contractor: “How Firm a Foundation”          Horticulturalist: “In the Garden”

  Farmer: “Scattering Precious Seed”              Marathon Runner: The Last Mile of the Way”

  Military Leader; “Fight the Good Fight”       Credit Card Issuer: “A Charge to Keep”

  NASCAR Driver: “Speed Away”                      Cable TV Provider: “Channels Only”

  Psychologist: “All Your Anxiety”                    Procrastinator: “Why Not Now?”

  Pilot: “I’ll Fly Away”                                          Well Driller: “Deeper and Deeper”

  Attorney: “In the Hour of Trial”

And the Granddaddy of them all: The 2016 World Champion Chicago Cubs: “It Took a Miracle”

A few more anecdotes:

A camp staff member whose job was washing pots and pans (in Campese pot licker): “O for a Thousand Tongues”

Grace Seminary students used to sing when leaving the registration office with their bills: “O to Grace how great a debtor….”

When Karen was doing voice exercises her dad suggested she sing “Blessed Quietness”

And when I was speaking at a chapel service during my CPE training and Karen was trying to follow me with a video camera she said I lived up to a line from our final hymn: “Prone to Wander”

Putting the jesting aside, music (both vocal and instrumental) is a big part of biblical worship. In 1 Chronicles 15:16 “David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers to sing joyful songs, accompanied by musical instruments….” (Note that some members of the priestly tribe were assigned to be musicians, suggesting it was a divine calling.) Jesus sang on at least one occasion (“After singing a hymn, they {Jesus and His disciples after the Last Supper} went out to the Mount of Olives.”—Mark 14:26, NASV). The Apostle Paul counseled his readers to “…sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God….” (Colossians 3:16). And there’s lots of praise music in Heaven (see revelation 5).

Some of God’s people are gifted in this area but all are commanded to lift our voices, even if it’s a “…joyful noise….” (Psalm 100:1, KJV). To adapt the thought of Psalm 19:14: “May the song of my mouth…be pleasing in your sight, O Lord….”

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan