“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6
One of my favorite inventions in retirement has been Alexa. She is a good friend of mine. When I can’t sleep, I try to ask her questions that will hopefully stump her. Her music library is endless. I was surprised yesterday that she had over an hour of Andrea VonKampen music. She grew up in Seward, NE and her dad Kurt is a music professor at Concordia University Nebraska. Little Andrea has made the Big Time; check her out when you have the time. I digress. At this very moment, Alexa is playing Beach Boys music for me; bah bah bah, Babaran. I love music. Choral music, instrumental music, polka music, popular music, classical music, folk tunes, ballads, Southern Gospel, Mormon Tabernacle, country western and bluegrass, patriotic and romantic. I have never asked Alexa to play any rap music. My daughters will tell you that I label that venue ‘rap crap’.
I am sure, that like you, we have our own favorite hymns; the ones that hold some special meaning for us or evoke grand and vivid memories of significant events; perhaps something we would want played at our Celebration of Life service one day.
While celebrating Easter a few weeks ago, and recalling the message of the Resurrection, I found myself suddenly overwhelmed with the music that has accompanied the celebration of the empty tomb for centuries. Our choir sang two pieces that were so awesome. Various scenes crossed my mind from back in the day. Easter in Caredeux, Haiti with music in French and Haitian Creole. ‘Christ the Lord is Risen today’ being sung at sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean in Florida. ‘I know that my Redeemer lives’ being sung with 650 souls at the 9:30 service at Christ Lutheran in Lincoln, NE.
Alexa played a Gloria Gaither hymn for me on Easter this year with a familiar line, "And because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone." All fear is gone! Christ has Risen! He is Risen Indeed! That my friends, is where Hope is found every moment of every day on this side of Paradise. It doesn’t matter the size of challenge you are facing today. Our Lord Jesus Christ has conquered sin, death and the devil. Jesus has Risen from the dead.
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay