Been nice here for a few days, which means the weather has been as expected.I find as I get older that change is really not hard unless you resist it. This is a bit of advice that I find hard to accept. Us old dogs don’t accept change all that well. One constant that has been around a long time is best verbalized as such… “this younger generation is taking us to hell in a handbag.” Now we find ourselves looking out of that handbag accusing this younger generation of doing just that… It is the old folks version of “groundhog day.” The truth is somebody got us here and that reminds me those famous words of POGO . “We have found the enemy, it is us.” Ever since that apple and the garden man & woman have always been at odds with the world  and as always it was someone else’s fault. Eve blamed the devil, Adam blamed Eve…and Adam, not to sure but I know he did disavow his headship which God had given him and in the process disobeyed God. Change is around us every day in most areas of our life…time doesn’t stand still. One recent change I read about involves the up-dating of a major denomination’s Hymnal. This is a subject worthy of at least a moment of pondering. A few years ago I lived out in the country… I define that these days as meaning we had a septic tank. Right behind my home was a place that for years had hosted a Gospel Sing every year. I would sit on my back porch and listen to the hymns being sung in the cool of a early summer evening. I loved the sound of those early hymns as they traveled over the empty ground from that stage to my home, a deep rich sound that carried God’s word over His creation to the ears of one in need of some good news. In most cases you are hearing The Word put to music. God’s people have sung hymns since the time of Moses in honor of the Almighty. That is what a Hymn is…a song of praise which in Greek understanding would be referred to as a hymnos, a musical praise to the gods or heroes of the day. We Christians of course sing hymns to the one true God. There is much to ponder about this thing…hymns and I have said that this time on the porch is meant to clear my mind but one thing I’ve learned from this time is that certain things need to be retained…it should also be a time of reflection. Some times in these times of quiet pondering we find a peace that gives us hope. 

Ephesians 5:19-20 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

The wonder and worth of a good ponder… It’s better than pointless chatter to clear a worried mind.

jk