Ray’s Blog - February 2007

First Corinthians 13 is known as the love chapter, and so it is. It reads, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child; I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Today, we often confuse love and lust. Let me be clear about the difference. God’s love focuses on us extending love to others, not selfishly focusing upon ourselves. Paul tells us that love bears all, believes all, hopes all, and endures all things. Love never fails. Solomon said, “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it” (Song 8:7 KJV). Valentine’s Day is February 14th. Remember it’s all about Him and the more we become like Christ, the more our love will show to others.

Coming to our area on February 22, 2007 is the movie Amazing Grace. (www.amazinggracemovie.com)

It will be shown in Palm Beach Gardens at PGA Cinema 6. (Check for times) On Sunday February 18, 2007, people around the world will sing this hymn.

I encourage you to get involved and become a part of Amazing Grace Sunday by:
• Asking your Pastor or Worship Leader to lead the church in singing Amazing Grace on Sunday February 18, 2007
• Register your church’s participation at www.amazinggracesunday.com.
• Download lyrics, bulletin inserts, and a history of the song and songwriter, the former slave-trader John Newton.

Here are ten facts about Amazing Grace from the website that I thought might whet your appetite:

• The words were written by a reformed British slave trader turned Anglican minister, John Newton, who wrote it to accompany a New Year’s Day church service in 1773.
• Amazing Grace is the most covered song in history. Over 3200 different recordings exist.
• The tune we now associate with Amazing Grace wasn’t matched to the words until 1835 in William Walker’s Southern Harmony. Until then, it was set to a variety of tunes.
• The final stanza – “When we’ve been there ten thousand years” – was added by Edwin Othello Excell in 1909 and was taken from another hymn.
• Amazing Grace is considered to be an Anthem of the Cherokee Nation because the song was sung on the Trails of Tears during 1838-39.
• The first gospel recording of Amazing Grace was made in 1926 by Rev. H.R.Tomlin.

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• Most of the recordings of Amazing Grace have been made since Judy Collins had a surprise pop hit with the song in 1971.
• A survey of British teenagers in the mid 1970’s found that the majority thought that Amazing Grace was a love song about a girl named Grace.
• The popular bagpipe version recorded by the Royal Scots Dragon Guards based on the hit version by Judy Collins and was only added to an album as an afterthought. Later released as a single, it became a huge international hit.
• Amazing Grace was sung at the funerals of Richard Nixon, Sonny Bono, Barry Goldwater, Joe DiMaggio, and John Kennedy Jr.

Our small group is studying God’s Pattern for Revival and Spiritual Awakening, “Fresh Encounters”. It is authored by Henry T. Blackaby and Claude V. King. This six week study examines God’s pattern for revival and spiritual awakening from a biblical and historical perspective. Our group is developing a renewed sense of identity and are preparing themselves to respond to God’s invitation to revival. Remember, it all starts with revival in you own heart and spirit.

A friend recently sent me a Bible Study on the 7 Promises of a Promise Keeper. In their introduction it says the 7 Promises were formed to paint the picture of a man made in God’s image, living in that image. Men need to discover and recover the lives they were made for resembling their Image-Giver in the process. We will probably make it a seven week study.

I would also encourage you to go to www.floridamenofintegrity.org. FMI (Florida Men of Integrity) is a statewide network of over 200 men (and some women) who work together to provide information, support and encouragement to pastors in their ministry to men and through men, and serve as the field ministry in Florida for the National Coalition of Men’s Ministries (NCMM). FMI serves all Christian churches in the state of Florida. FMI’s vision is to see a discipling making men’s ministry in every church in Florida. Check out some of the awesome things they have planned for 2007:

• The Men’s Challenge Weekend; Walking in Biblical Manhood (Senior Pastors attend free). For registration information email retreat@floridamenofintegrity.org
• FMI 10th Year Anniversary and Concert featuring Steve Green in concert
• 8th Annual Pastors Appreciation Breakfast featuring Bishop Larry Jackson Senior Pastor, Bethel Outreach International Church, Matthews, North Carolina
• Iron Sharpens Iron Conference featuring Dr. Ted Roberts of Pure Desire Ministries and Rod Handley of Character that Counts. There will also 16 breakouts sessions covering many topics.

For those of you watching the Super Bowl today, enjoy yourself, be safe and take pride in the fact that both coaches are awesome men of God and readily proclaim it. Be blessed.