Category Archives: Faith and Practice

Finding Hope

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It is hard to be hopeful these days. Bad news just keeps rolling down. We continue to read of the spread of Coronavirus and the rising death toll. We hear of a rise in violence, suicide, and depression, and we wonder if this is just the beginning of the long-term affects of social-distancing and pandemic threats. We see the political talking heads pointing blame at one another, which only shakes our confidence and heightens our fears.

In the middle of all of this, it is the roll of the Church, of every believer, to shine as a beacon of hope in a dark and dreary world.

Hope: it’s such a small yet powerful word. 

We often use it rather casually. We may talk of a “fools hope;” like when you hope your team wins even though they’re on a 5 game losing streak. Or maybe hoping that they’ll have a better year than last year – if they even get to play (yes, I’m thinking specifically of my Royals).

Then there are things we hope for that are really an expression of deep desire. “I hope to see you soon!” a parent will write to their child, indicating that they will be working toward that goal.

So what are the things we are hoping for right now?

  • I hope to stay healthy.
  • I hope no one I know catches this virus. If they do, I hope they don’t suffer.
  • I hope to go back to work soon. I hope I still have a job.
  • I hope college will start again in the fall.
  • I hope my marriage can survive this quarantine.
  • I hope that the Church can come back together soon – and that people won’t stay home even after it is safe to assemble.

There are many things we may be hoping for today, but there is one hope to which we are called to share in Scripture. The way the world speaks about hope (wishing for something that may or may not have any guarantee of coming about) pales in comparison to what the Bible means when it speaks of hope. The Psalms make it very clear that our hope is in the Lord:

  • Psalm 39:7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.”
  • Psalm 62:5 “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.”
  • Psalm 71:14 “But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.”

We put our hope in God, the one who is faithful, unchanging, and true. The Christian’s hope is established, strengthened, and encouraged in God’s Word. Christian hope is a confidence that something will come to pass because God has promised it will come to pass. Hebrews 11:1 teaches, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen.” 

So what do we hope for?

The hope of Scripture rises above the day to day wishes and desires, and is a longing for the very presence of God Himself. Our hope goes far beyond sickness and health, poverty and riches. Our hope is to find ourselves in joyous fellowship with God through eternity. This fellowship with God is only possible because He has promised to save us, and has done so through the death and resurrection of Christ our Lord.

Ps. 119:81 says, “My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.”  Our hope is in the Salvation of the Lord, His deliverance of His people from sin, from despair, from the brokenness of this world.

This is what Paul speaks of in Titus 2:13, when he writes, we are “waiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Our hope in this age, and in the age to come, is that we will see Jesus Christ; that we will stand with Him in the Kingdom of God, robed in His righteousness, called by His name. Our hope is that the one who ascended in glory, who now reigns over all things at the right hand of God the Father, will one day come again in glory to bring all things into submission before Him. Our hope is that this Savior, who died to atone for our sins, will also care for us unto the very end, and will not lose one of those whom the Father has given.

This is our hope, and our hope does not put us to shame (Rom 5:5). Therefore we will “rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and constant in prayer” (Rom 12:12).  So beloved, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Rom 15:13).

SDG

Music for the Quarantine

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I don’t often make music recommendations; there are too many differing tastes and preferences in music.  Too many wars have been started in Churches over simply the style of the music, regardless of its content or quality – and having stated that fact probably offended someone.

Still, as we are in the midst of our 6th week of Quarantine due to the Covid-19 virus, I thought I’d share some of the music that I’ve been listening to. I’ve found these to be albums/artists who’s music conveys beauty and goodness, bringing encouragement in troubling times, and even conveying greater Biblical truth.  Not all of the albums or artists listed here meet all of those categories, but I have found their music to be soothing  in these long weeks.

I’ve tried to include Spotify links were available so that you can check out their music as well.

Andrew Peterson – Resurrection Letters, Vol. 2

Peterson music has a folk, bluegrass, country feel to it, but what really drives his music is the wonderful writing. Deeply Biblical pictures come through his lyrics, expressing a sense of something greater that gives us purpose and meaning in life.  If you can find a way to listen to all of Peterson’s music, do so, but the Resurrection Letters albums are particularly good.

Josh Garrels – Home

I don’t know how best to describe Josh Garrels’ music, but it certainly resonates with me. There’s a mix of west coast hip hop, folk, bluegrass, and Christian that makes his music rise above any particular genre. Combined with lyrics that are layered, moving, and story-telling, his music is always a journey.  The Home album is a type of concept album that tells the story of salvation and liturgy in worship. Garrels himself wrote about this album, “While writing these songs I was searching for joy, and this pursuit instinctively brought my attention back to the people and places closest to me. Because of this, these songs have less of an outward, expansive scope, and rather turn the attention inward, to the intimacy of family, forgiveness, and homecoming.”

John Williams – American Journey

Whether or not you are a fan of the Symphony, you are certainly familiar with John Williams’ music. He has written the soundtrack for just about every blockbuster movie since the 80’s (Jaws, E.T., Star Wars, Superman, Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan, Home Alone, Harry Potter, just to name a few). The American Journey was committed by President Clinton for a multimedia presentation called “The Unfinished Journey” released on New Year’s Eve 1999. When you listen you can almost see the history of America unfold in your imagination.  The music is wholesome, inspiring, and beautiful.

Cardiphonia Music – Hollow Square Hymnal

This is a collection of artists who have come together for an album of Shape Note Hymns.  There’s not enough space here to try to convey what shape note signing is, but the original shape note singing feels like old Appalachian Gospel singing.  This album has a mostly modern setting, and will introduce some hymns that have been long forgotten.

Alan Golgoll – Grizzly Caterpillar

Sometimes you just need some soft music playing in the background, and this is my go to.  From his website – Alan Gogoll is an Australian acoustic guitarist and composer most known for the invention of his two-handed simultaneous artificial harmonics technique he has called ‘Bell Harmonics’, which is featured in many of his original songs such as Mulberry Mouse, Pepperleaf Pipes and Bell’s Harmonic. Intrigued?  Give it a listen and you’ll be hooked.