Online Services

A seemingly innocuous church sign message. A possibly not-so-innocuous response. What does the future hold in a less than United States of America? Join me for a few minutes in Philippians 4:4-7 as I wrap up our series on God's help for anxiety.

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Music Today: 'Lay My Worry Down,' Sandra McCracken'
Dark is the night/deep is your love/Great is my need/you are enough.' If you haven't discovered Sandra yet, she is a rich treasure store of hopeful music tied to Scripture.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0HwDyQI6vA

'Cherry Blossoms,' Andy Squyres
Perfect song for this time of year, for this time of the pandemic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqMSPU8e7Uk

Olafur Arnalds, 'Re:member'
As far as I know, Arnalds is not a Christ-follower, but this piece is a tremendous aural meditation on Phil. 4:4-5. A peaceful opening blossoms into joy. If I could set my alarm to start each day with this, I would!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN_gcFcI68c

Few experiences can top physical suffering for unleashing anxiety in our hearts and minds. Yet even here the gospel can provide a full and rich hope. Join me for a few minutes in 2 Corinthians 4:7 and following.

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Music Today:
"I Shall Not Want," Audrey Assad

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8Td9cZajyE

"Deep River," Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
African-American spirituals can provide powerful relief in the midst of all kinds of suffering. It may seem a little strange to provide an example of this song of hope in the face of death from a white mezzo-soprano, but Lieberson had an incredible voice before her life was cut short by cancer in her early 50s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_O12gCK5WU

"It is Well With My Soul,"
Chris RiceIf I had only one recording to help me through a tough bout of physical illness, it would be Rice's collection of hymns. Nothing complicated here, he puts the focus on the lyrics - real 'comfort food' for the ears and soul.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HLyhEdh92E

It's one thing to consider what other people think about us; what happens when we look in the mirror? And is the man (or woman) in the mirror the best judge of who I am? Let's take a few minutes with 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 and the only courtroom - and verdict - that matter.

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Music Today: 'You Say,' Lauren Daigle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZvKJl1kK8g

'Piece of Glass', Caedmon's Call
Our view of self can become distorted like a nightmare in a funhouse. Danielle Young from Caedmon's Call sings of the struggle of anorexia, but this can fit all kinds of lies that the devil and the culture can cause us to believe when we look in the mirror. The studio version of this song has a brilliant close harmony on the final verse that brings chills, even as it reminds of our inability to accurately judge ourselves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtFDZUBhZvk