“Listen, heed, obey and serve him.”

Hymn: “Tell It Out with Gladness” – Georgia Harkness (1891-1974)
Common Tune: HYMN TO JOY

I love it when a short hymnline encapsulates so much in so few words… and all are easily understood the first time you sing them. Even though I truly enjoy the deeply meaningful texts that require some plumbing in order to grasp an insight, sometimes simple is good. Such profundity in six words, eight syllables.

Pay attention to the call of Christ in your life. Take it to heart. Do what you’re told to do. Be willing to carry through, even if that means taking on a more menial task. That’s what this hymnline calls us to do; Harkness just said it more succinctly!

The next line is a call to worship: “Kneel before him and adore.” Together, that’s a pretty pithy two lines of hymn-singing, don’t you think?

To quote a Quaker hymn, “’Tis a gift to be simple.”

Patrick Scott plays Al Travis’ setting of this hymn

“His own little band.”

Hymn: “The Master Hath Come” – Sarah Doudney (1841-1926)
Tune: ASH GROVE

If you are a guy, and you grew up in the sixties or seventies, and you liked music and thought you were going to be a star someday – you were probably a part of a garage band. I was. We were called the “Sonics,” and we actually played a couple of very short gigs around Pigeon Forge. Most of our playing was in Jimmy Barnes’ rec room… which, as I recall, had originally been a garage! We were the worst ever – no doubt about it.

Jesus had his own little band of twelve disciples and several other tag-alongs – groupies and roadies, I guess! However, they did not hole up in a stable and do covers of all the popular songs of their day. They WERE, however, “his own little band” of devotees… followers of him, his teachings and his example. They hung on to his every word, yet rarely “got it” when it came to understanding what he really meant. They did, however, assist him with his social ministry of feeding the thousands and healing the sick and lame.

Now, some two thousand years later, you and I are a part his band of brothers and sisters. We are bound to him with bands of love; he is, in fact, our blood brother. I am proud to be included in his marching band – moving forward in step with other believers, ever marching to Zion! His is also a Rock band: “On Christ the solid Rock I stand…” His ensemble is also a country band, speaking straight-forward truth to the common people. I guess we could also consider his band a Jazz group because he allows members to express themselves freely while sticking to the basic chord progressions!

The local community theater is rehearsing for their fall production of THE MUSIC MAN; one of my grandsons (Carson) is in the cast. Everyone in River City comes under the influence of Harold Hill, eventually coming to believe in themselves in ways that may be completely unrealistic… but they are better people for it, and the “trouble” in River City is not as great as it was at the beginning of the show.

We have been drawn to Christ. He has improved our attitude and our belief in ourselves. For the most part, trouble has taken a back seat to hope.

Suit up, friends. It’s about time to take the field. We need 77 of you to grab a trombone, 110 of you with cornets blaring, over a thousand reed-players and a few double-bell euphoniums. Your Drum Major is about take his little band to the fifty-yard line.

Now, aren’t you glad you joined this not-so-little band? Play on!

This hymn accompanied by a “little band”!

“Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more.”

Hymn: “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” – William Williams (1717-1791)
Tune: CWM RHONDDA

"I am the bread of life that has come down from heaven. The one who comes to me will never go hungry, and those who believe in me will never be thirsty.” This “I Am” quote of Jesus from John 6:35 gives us the starting place for today’s hymnline.

Is it possible for Christ to feed us to the point of wanting no more of his nourishment? Can we gorge ourselves on the truth of who Christ until we say, “That’s all I can take?” Somehow, I don’t think so. Admittedly, I have never over-indulged at Christ’s table; I have snacked, selectively dined, taken the ‘pick and choose’ approach; I have rarely feasted on the Bread of heaven or over-imbibed from the fruit of the Vine.

I’ve over-done church before. I have gotten to the point that I’ve had all the committee meetings and the rehearsals I could bear. I’ve given myself in mission and outreach until I thought I had no more to give. I’ve been to the point I want nothing else to do with church folk.

But I have yet to be binge on the person of Jesus… so full of who he is and what he wants to teach me that I cry “uncle”!

Come to the table. Feast on Jesus until you have to loosen your belt! Devour every facet of his nature, and replicate that in your life. Then you can sing with great sincerity, “Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more.”

Isn’t it about time we get fed up with Jesus?

Listen to this hymn

“Kindle a flame of love and zeal within this heart of mine.”

Hymn: “Breathe on Me” –Edwin Hatch (1835-1889)
              adapted by B. B. McKinney
Tune: TRUETT

This Pentecost text calls on the Spirit of Christ to breathe its power into our hearts, illuminating our darknesses, harnessing our stubbornness, cleansing the dirtiness, and totally taking up residence.

This hymnline is almost a juxtaposition of two extremes. Somehow we can hardly imagine a zealot being also loving. It is one of the paradoxes of the faith: can one boldly stand for the faith and be totally compassionate at the same time?

Zeal has become associated with fanaticism. We equate zealots with abortion-clinic protestors, street-corner preachers who shout narrowness at the top of their lungs, or those who garner congregations to embarrass the faithful by blockading funerals of American soldiers. That is not zeal; that is radical extremism.

You and I are called to be fervent, consistent followers of the Lamb. Our zeal (deep commitment) must be energized by a kindhearted, unbridled love for our fellow travelers on this journey. Conversely, our compassion must draw its animation from our godly determination. Each sets fire to the other. We’re back to one of those cyclical paths which are so common in good theology.

As we sing this hymnline, we’re asking Christ to blow on the dwindling kindling… the twigs of love and zeal which have about lost their fire. Can you hear the answering wisps of God-breath? Can you feel the warming of God-fire? Will you be a compassionate zealot? Will I?

Blow, Spirit, blow.

Julie Huggins Littleton performing an arrangement of this hymn

“Always looking on his smiling face, that is why I shout and sing.”

“Always looking on his smiling face, that is why I shout and sing.”
Hymn: “He Keeps Me Singing” – Words & Music by Luther Bridgers (1884-1948)
Tune: SWEETEST NAME

Have you ever noticed how much difference a smiling face makes? We all know it is always better to smile than to scowl, but sometimes we Christians forget!

We were at the local Chili’s one Sunday after church. Our buzzer went off to let us know our table was ready. As we vacated the little bench we had occupied for several minutes, a gentleman – no, there was nothing gentle about this man – almost knocked us down taking our obviously much-coveted spot by the bar. I glanced in his direction and held back from saying what I wanted to say lest a Texas bar fight break out. He had the ultimate unhappy, mad-at-the-world look on his face. I admit, I didn’t give him a smile, but just kept following the hostess to our table.

I wondered to myself if that guy had probably been in church a while earlier, singing in the choir, taking up the offering, or (God forbid) standing in the pulpit!

All of that to say that we who represent Christ in the world should have a visage that matches his… that compassionate, pleasant look that we all seem to share with newborns and small children. It is often a look that we don’t share as often with our peers.

While feasting on the riches of his grace and resting beneath his sheltering wings, I keep my attention on his smiling face which gives me good reason to shout and sing. So says the song.

If you have seen the smiling face of Jesus, pass it along to someone else. Pay it forward. Make sure you don’t grab it and hold it for yourself, your children/spouse, or the people who accompany you to weekly worship. You may even have to smile at some guy who topples you in the waiting area of a local restaurant!

See Jesus’ smile? Share it regularly.

Sung straight-forward by Mennonites

Sung with a 40’s swing by Babbie Mason