Singing A New Song

My wife and I slipped into our seats at the theater last Thursday to view the opening of The Jesus Revolution, the movie just released portraying the Jesus Movement of the 1970s.  It brought back memories. 

 We were not California hippies in 1970, though I did wear bell-bottom pants, a white belt, and played a guitar.  I was already a 24-year-old pastor.  The Lord had called me into the ministry a bit earlier, in 1965.  I remember celebrating what God was doing on the West Coast among those of my generation that had “turned on, tuned in and dropped out.”  It was thrilling to see thousands coming to faith in Christ.

 That movement changed things.  It changed how we do church. The music changed.  We had been singing the hymns of our fathers and grandfathers, the songs that emerged from the previous spiritual movements that swept our country.  Songs written by John and Charles Wesley during the Great Awakening of the 1700s.  Songs like O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing. Christ The Lord Is Risen Today, Love Divine All Loves Exceling. Songs written by Ira Sankey and Fanny Crosby during the days of Dwight L. Moody: Blessed Assurance. All The Way My Savior Leads Me , Jesus Is Tenderly Calling and many more.

 In the late 1940s a youth revival movement swept the nation.  During that movement Dick Baker wrote over 200 songs, among them Longing For Jesus, His Way Mine, I’d Rather Have Jesus, All To Thee and Have You Been To Calvary?

 After the Jesus Movement, organs were out. Pianos disappeared.  Drums and electric guitars took center stage.  The songs and hymns of previous generations were replaced with songs of praise such as  Lord I Lift Your Name On High, Shine, Jesus Shine, Shout To The Lord.

 A new spiritual movement erupted spontaneously three weeks ago at Asbury College in Wilmore, KY.  Characterized by humility, confession and prayer more than 50,000 showed up from over 200 other campuses and many countries. The college of 2,000 was overwhelmed.  It has ignited similar movements on campuses at Samford University in Alabama, Lee and Belmont Universities in Tennessee, Anderson University in Indiana, Baylor University in Waco and Texas A&M. In all at least 20 campuses have reported revivals.

 Those involved are mostly Gen Z, young adults born after 1995 and the advent of the internet, true “digital natives.”  Demographers say they live more slowly than previous generations, consume less alcohol, have lower rates of teen pregnancy and are better at delaying gratification. A profile of Gen Z by The Economist considered them highly educated and well behaved, but noted high levels of stress and depression. According to the CDC 1 in 5 Gen Z high school students have seriously considered suicide.  

We can hope the movement continues to spread and demonstrates lasting power so that a new generation once again steps forward to inspire the world with hope and faith.  Perhaps they will teach us to sing a new song.

 Movements of the Holy Spirit are always accompanied by music. It was so in the first century and has been so in every century since. When Jesus finished His last supper with his disciples, the Bible notes, “after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives,” (Mark 14:26).

 The Apostle Paul exhorts all believers, “ be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord,” (Ephesians 5:18-19). 

Bill Tinsley's historical fiction, Bold Springs, is free as an eBook on Amazon Kindle February 28-March 2.  Bold Springs received the Reader's Favorite Award as the best Christian historical fiction in 2022.

Asbury Awakening

 On February 8, students at Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, filed into Hughes Auditorium for their regularly scheduled chapel service.  What happened was anything but regular. What has continued to happen is far beyond anything anyone could have scheduled.

 A spontaneous prayer meeting broke out that has continued for weeks.  Tens of thousands of people have since been drawn to Asbury to participate in the outpouring. This week, the continuous prayer service is being moved to various other sites to accommodate the crowds that threaten to overwhelm the small town.   The University posted on its website: “the university in consultation with local law enforcement and city administration notified incoming visitors that parking and seating had exceeded capacity.”  The University’s Communications Director said people were coming from all over the country, including some who just arrived from Finland and the Netherlands.

 According to the executive editor of the campus newspaper, the continued prayer meeting has been “a mix of worship, testimony, prayer, confession and silence.”  According to other sources the Asbury experience has spread to at least four other Universities, including Samford, University in Homewood, Alabama.

 According to Beck Taylor, President of Samford, "This is spontaneous, organic, student-led worship.”  He continued, “What's happening isn't contrived, programmed, or scripted. Nor is it performative or disingenuous. Students and others see it as an opportunity for the Samford campus to find unity in Christ, to encourage one another to faithfulness, and to extend the love and grace of Jesus to everyone.”

The participants are young, many are students, others in their 20s and 30s.  It is not the first time.  In 1970 a similar spiritual movement started spontaneously at Asbury and spread across the country.  The broader context of that movement came to be know as The Jesus Revolution of the late 1960s and 1970s.  Thousands of lives were changed as many who had sought fulfilment in drugs and the hippie culture found faith in Christ.

 There have been others spiritual movements in our nation’s history, most notably the Great Awakening of the 1700s that swept England and the American Colonies.  That movement included John and Charles Wesley, George Whitefield and was witnessed by Benjamin Franklin who published Whitefield’s sermons. 

 At noon on September 23, 1857, a businessman named Jeremiah Lamphier waited for others to join him for prayer in a room on Fulton Street in New York.  Six people showed up. The next week, 20 came.  Then 40.  They started meeting daily. The crowd swelled to more than 3,000 following the financial panic of October 14.   In less than 6 months, 10,000 businessmen were attending daily prayer meetings in New York. More than 10,000 came to faith in Philadelphia, 5,000 in Boston. At its peak, 50,000 people a week were professing faith in Christ.  In Bethel, Conn. businesses closed for prayer.  Led by laity and crossing denominational lines, the movement swept more than one million people to faith in Christ leading up to the Civil War.

 We don’t know what the long-term results will come from the current experience at Asbury. It is too early to tell.  What is undeniable is the evidence of deep and widespread spiritual hunger among the young across our nation.  We can pray that God will do something in our day and in this generation that will redeem our nation and produce the fruits of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23).

What Do You Know?

 No one knows what you know. And everyone else you meet knows things you don’t. Even though my wife and I have been married more than fifty years, we each know things the other doesn’t.

At birth we know nothing, but we immediately begin to build our knowledge from family and friends. Most of us tend to remain close to those who first taught us for a lifetime. But as we grow, our knowledge differs. We follow different paths, study different subjects, pursue different careers, live in different places, and meet different people. Our individual knowledge becomes unique, like our fingerprints.

The pursuit of knowledge is a good thing. And we should celebrate each achievement that increases our knowledge. But how much does any one of us really know? And how much do we all know if the knowledge of every human being could be combined?

Scientists are continually trying to piece together the puzzle of the past, to reconstruct our origins and the path we have taken to get to where we are. In 2012 physicists discovered the Higgs boson, what some refer to as the “God particle,” which could answer the origin of all mass. But, even with this discovery, the sum total of our scientific, philosophical and historic knowledge represents only a small fragment of the total knowledge in the universe. The more we discover, the more we realize what we don’t know. The puzzle pieces of the past are often misleading, having to be rearranged and reconfigured to correct our preconceived ideas.

Solomon, considered by many to be the wisest man to ever live, wrote, “I concluded that man cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun. Even though man should seek laboriously, he will not discover; and though the wise man should say, ‘I know,’ he cannot discover.” (Ecclesiastes 8:17).

Perhaps the most important discovery is not what we know, but the fact that we are known. David wrote, “You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways.Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it all.” (Psalm 139:2-4). To Jeremiah, God said, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” Jesus said, “the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

As we expand our personal knowledge and strive to understand the universe, we can live with confidence that the One Who made it all knows us and loves us as He demonstrated in His Son, Jesus.

Once You See

 Every once in a while, a book comes along that stops you in your tracks. A story that challenges all previous assumptions.  Over the holidays I read such a book, Once You See: Seven Temptations of the Western Church, a book written by Jeff Christopherson. It is a novel, Jeff’s second work of fiction.  The unlikely intersection of his characters spins a story that peels back the veneer of western Christianity and exposes a crisis of faith for America’s future.

 Jeff is Canadian.  I first met Jeff in 2003. He was the keynote speaker at a missions conference in Atlanta. He had started a church in Toronto two years before called the Sanctuary. It was already averaging over 300 and had started 4 other Sanctuary churches.  He recognized my name tag and remembered my early church planting book, Upon This Rock.  He said 15 years earlier he was a discouraged young church planter on the verge of giving up until he read my book.  He said it changed the trajectory of his life.  Today he is the Executive Director of the Canadian National Baptist Convention, as well as the Executive Director of Church Planting Canada.

For many years we have known that Christianity in the West, especially in the United States, is in decline.  At the same time, the Christian faith has exploded in Africa, South America, and Asia. According to Lifeway Research, “In 1900, twice as many Christians lived in Europe than in the rest of the world combined. Today, more Christians live in Africa than any other continent.”  Many have attempted to address this growing discrepancy, often with detailed research full of demographic data.  Many times their efforts are dry.  But Jeff Christopherson has charted a new course to reveal the spiritual and social forces at work.  He has chosen to write a  novel-length parable full of insight and inspiration.

 The story revolves around three individuals. The son of an African American pastor from Philadelphia who is grieving over the death of his father and dreaming of a better way.  And then a pastor of a waning mega-church in Atlanta who struggles to live up to the reputation of his famous preacher-father. And a promising law student in Yemen who experiences a crisis in his Muslim faith, finds peace through the witness of a faithful Christ-follower, and then faces persecution.  All three of these intersect in a profound discovery of faith in the 21^st century.  Jeff’s writing style reminds me of John Grisham whose stories are so mesmerizing that I forget I am reading words.

 All of us are like the blind man at Bethsaida, (Mark 8:22-25).  Once Jesus touches us we see things differently. Often, we need a second touch so that we see things clearly.  Christopherson’s book may be just what this generation needs to experience a second touch from God.  “Once you see, you cannot unsee.”

Lessons from Buddy

 A year ago we said goodbye to Buddy, our tri-color Pembroke Corgi.  I am writing this week in his memory and in honor of all the dogs that have loved each of us in our childhood, youth, and old age.  Buddy was a young dog when he found us, full of energy and full of confidence.  He thought he could leap any barrier and outrun any rabbit.  Of course, he could do neither.  But that is one of the things that makes Corgis so loveable. They do not know their limits, and don’t care. They will try the impossible.

 Unfortunately, the lifespan of dogs is far shorter than our own.  After 14 years, our vet told us he was in his mid-nineties, in dog years.  He suffered from Degenerative Myelopathy, a genetic disease similar to ALS in humans and common to Pembroke Corgis. We tried to keep him comfortable and continued to love him as he loved us until we laid Buddy down one year ago, gently and tenderly, with tears.

 Along the way, he taught me a few things.

Buddy taught me to trust. Whenever I got in my truck he jumped in and took his place, ready to go. He didn’t know where we were going or what we were going to do. He believed that if I was driving it was okay. I need to be more like that with God. I always want to know where I am going, when I am going to get there and what I am going to do once we arrive. I need to jump in the truck with God and give him control of my life.

Buddy wanted to be with me. He didn’t care if it was at the lake running, splashing and rolling in the mud, sitting in a chair next to me on the patio or in my study lying at my feet. He just wanted to be where I was. He even followed me from room to room in the house. I need to spend time with God like that. What made the early disciples different was the fact that they lived with Jesus and spent time with Him. (Acts 4:13).

Buddy followed me. Whenever we went for a walk in an open field I let him run free. But he kept an eye on me. He developed a radius of his own, about thirty yards from wherever I was. Within that radius he felt comfortable exploring smells and marking trees. Occasionally he got out of eyesight. But when I called his name he came running. Not real fast, but as fast as he could. After all he was a Corgi. It reminded me of what Jesus said to His disciples, “Come, follow me!” “My sheep know my voice.”

And, he taught me patience. He would wait on me forever. If I was writing, he would lie down, rest his head on his paws, keep one eye on me and wait. If we were walking and I stopped, he would sit down with his tongue hanging out and wait. If I went to the store in cool weather, he waited in my truck until I returned. Buddy never complained about waiting on me. He never got in a hurry. Maybe I should be more like that with respect to God and those I love.  (Isaiah 40:31). 

Bill's book, Buddy the Floppy Ear Corgi is free this week as an eBook on Amazon, Jan 31-Feb 4. 

Importance of Neighbors

 We went to the movies again. Settled into the same seats, E3 and E4, aisle seats on the first row of the upper section, shared our popcorn and Diet Coke, and sat back to watch Tom Hanks’ new movie, A Man Called Otto.  We had already seen the earlier Swiss version with English subtitles on Amazon Prime,  A Man Called Ove.   Otto is the Americanized, English language version. Both are terrific! But, when I looked at Tom Hanks, I had difficulty not imagining Ottos as a castaway, an engineer on Polar Express, or any number of other characters.

 Both films are based on a book by the Swedish author, Fredrik Backman that was published in 2012. The English translation followed in 2013 and it immediately hit the New York Times Best Seller list. The Swiss movie followed in 2015, and, 2 weeks ago, the Tom Hanks version, A Man Called Otto  was released.

 Backman claims to have been inspired by an article he read about a man named Ove who became unhinged at an art museum over difficulties purchasing tickets.  Backman identified with the man’s frustrations and started writing blogs about his own pet peeves under the title, “I Am A Man Called Ove.”  Over time the pet peeves took a leap to another level and the story was born.  In the movie, Otto moves beyond frustration and anger to understanding, acceptance and love in an aging and diverse neighborhood. A Man Calle Otto  shares similar themes with Clint Eastwood’s 2008 movie, Gran Torino.

 We all have pet peeves.  We all are annoyed at times by the behavior of others, by rules and regulations that make little sense.  We all feel pulled toward inwardness, the temptation to be consumed by our own concerns, oblivious of others and their struggles. In our old age, many face the challenges of living alone in an increasing generational disconnect. We all have prejudices.

 Ultimately we all need one another.  Even the wealthy and famous can succumb to the ravages of isolation and loneliness.  Real relationships are always  close up, face-to-face, those with whom we share daily life.  I was reminded of Otto in our recent Colorado snowstorms.  I woke to the sound of a shovel scraping on concrete and ice. When I went outside, my neighbor was shoveling our drive. I grabbed my shovel and joined him.  A widow lives on the other side of him. I asked if he had shoveled her drive and walk yet.  He said no, but he was going to. So we shoveled together, and then, moved on the house beyond hers, a retired couple who moved to our neighborhood a year ago.   A few days later, our neighbor from across the street crunched her way across the ice with her 10-month-old baby on her hip to deliver fresh muffins she had baked for the neighborhood. We are grateful for the neighbors, young and old, who choose to share life with us.

 I am always glad to see a movie that captures the essence of Jesus’ teaching about how we should live.  Personal relationships sometimes appear complicated and confusing, but Jesus boiled all the complications down for us into very simple term:  “Love your neighbor as yourself,” (Mark 12:31).  “In everything therefore treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets,” (Matthew 7:12).

The Power of Imagination

 Imagination. It is the magic carpet of the mind. With it we can journey centuries backward in time or fly forward to a future we have never seen. We can imagine things as we wish they were, and, when it is most productive, we can actually change the world around us.

In his famous speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 Martin Luther King, Jr., imagined a world where men would “not be judged by the color of their skin, but the content of their character.”  “I have a dream,” he proclaimed, “that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. ,,, I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. ... . With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.” 

Dr. King’s imagination made a difference.  While prejudice remains in many places, racial equality and inclusion have advanced since he spoke those words and cast that vision. Jesus cast an even greater vision 2,000 years ago in his Sermon On the Mount, (Matthew 5-7).

 If we lived as Jesus imagined we could and should live, we would treat everyone with respect. No one would be considered a fool and no one would be expendable. Adultery and lust would vanish. Marriage would prosper. Each of us would speak truthfully and no one would lie. We would refuse to retaliate, and no one would seek to get even with those who have wronged them. We would go the extra mile and, if anyone asks for our shirt, we would give him our coat. We would not only love our friends and family, we would love our enemies and seek to do good for them. 

Our faith would be authentic and real without hypocrisy. We would give to the poor in secret without even taking a tax deduction or hoping someone recognized our charity. Instead of praying long repetitious public prayers, we would pray privately from our hearts. If anyone has wronged us in any way, we would forgive them without requiring them to ask for it. We would no longer be driven to accumulate possessions and money. Instead, we would invest our resources in doing good for others who are in need. We would no longer worry. Everyone would treat everyone else the same way they desire to be treated.

Each of us, every day is creating a world of our own imagination. In the end, we each must choose what we imagine and what the world around us will become.