Make a Joyful Noise

Posted on April 27, 2022 by Roger E. Bruner

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord;
Praise Him with the joy of your salvation.
Praise Him with the joy of your salvation,
And make a joyful noise,
Make a joyful noise,
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord!

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord;
Praise Him for His every perfect gift.
Praise Him for His every perfect gift,
And make a joyful noise,
Make a joyful noise,
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord!

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord;
Praise Him for His every answer to prayer.
Praise Him for His every answer to prayer,
And make a joyful noise,
Make a joyful noise,
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord!

About This Song:

Trying to identify the various verses from the Psalms that comprise “Make a Joyful Noise” would be like trying find specific grains of sand at the beach.

So I did an online Bible search for “joyful noise” to find the relevant verses. Just for the heck of it, I did my search in the King James version–the original 1611 one–and found the following verses…

Psalm 66:1
Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:

Psalm 81:1
Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

Psalm 95:1
O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

Psalm 95:2
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

Psalm 98:4
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

Psalm 98:6
With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.

Psalm 100:1
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

Thanksgiving is many months away. Nonetheless, what better time than now to “make a joyful noise” of praise to God?

That seems like a no-brainer, doesn’t it? What do you have to make a joyful noise of praise to God about today? How about leaving a comment.

I’ve never made a recording of this song, but here’s the lead sheet.

I’ll be back again next Wednesday. Please join me then. Better still, sign up to receive these weekly posts by email.

Best regards,
Roger

Recalled to Life (11-13 - whole cover)     The Curmudgeon Books

Eighteen Novel 4x6 Postcard

Links you might be interested in:

Posted in Gifts, Joy, Noise, Praise, Prayer, Psalms, Salvation, Thanksgiving | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Yesterday’s Dirt

Posted on March 31, 2022 by Roger E. Bruner

When I get up in the morning,
I jump into the shower.
I turn the water on full force
And lather up some soap.
Then I commence to scrubbing
From my head down to my toes,
So I won’t keep on wearing
Yesterday’s dirt.

Yesterdays’ dirt was something awful;
I was really quite a mess,
And I wondered if I ever could get clean.
But when I’d finished bathing
And the dirt all washed away,
It’s amazing what a little soap can do.

Then I slip off to some quiet spot
With my Bible in my hand,
So I can listen to the Lord
And see what He wants from me.
I immerse myself in God’s love
And scrub off with His truth;
Forgiven, I am free
Of yesterdays’ dirt.

Yesterday’s dirt was something awful;
I was really quite a mess,
And I wondered if I ever could get clean.
But when I’d finished bathing
And the dirt all washed away,
It’s amazing what the love of God can do.

Don’t ask me why I go to bed
Before I’ve had a shower.
I know I would sleep better clean
And wake up more refreshed.
But sometimes it seems harder
To do things the easy way.
Lord, don’t let this become
“Yesterday’s Dirt.”

Today’s dirt is something awful;
I am really quite a mess,
And I wonder if I ever can get clean.
But when I finish bathing,
I know the dirt will wash away;
It’s amazing what the Love of God can do.

About this Song:
I hope the words to this song have left you smiling. Maybe even laughing. I mean, who but me would write a song about taking a shower? (Unless you’re old enough to remember Bobby Darin’s hit from the fifties, “Splish Splash.”) Or even use showering as a metaphor for something else?

Yet the message is quite serious. The dirt I’ve described is guilt. The shower itself is the overall process of seeking and receiving God’s forgiveness. The soap we scrub with is His love. The water is His willingness–His desire–to forgive us. And the resulting cleanliness is freedom from guilt.

You probably caught that part, though.

The real importance of this message is that we so often–too often–wallow in our guilt for a period of time before we finally turn to God rather than come to Him when we first became aware that we’ve sinned. We could have “showered” then without suffering unnecessary guilt and enjoyed His forgiveness and the freedom from guilt all the sooner.

Have you been postponing this kind of shower for something you’ve done? It’s not too late, you know.

Here’s an audio recording from 1993, the only one I ever made of this song. And here’s a PDF of the lead sheet.

I’ll be back again next Wednesday. Please join me then. Better still, sign up to receive these weekly posts by email.

Best regards,
Roger

Recalled to Life (11-13 - whole cover)     The Curmudgeon Books

Eighteen Novel 4x6 Postcard

Links you might be interested in:

Posted in Cleansing, Dirt, Forgiveness, Guilt, Shower, Soap, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

When Two Friends Walk Together

Posted on March 24, 2022 by Roger E. Bruner

When two friends walk together,
When two friends walk together,
When two friends walk together and one falls,
The other helps him up.

But when someone walks alone,
When someone walks alone,
When someone walks alone and he falls down,
There’s no one to help him up.

If a rope has several strands,
If a rope has several strands,
If a rope has several strands and one strand breaks,
The others will hold fast.

When I’m walking with the Lord,
When I’m walking with the Lord,
When I’m walking with the Lord I need not fear.
He will not let me fall down,
He will not let me fall down,
He won’t let me fall down.

About This Song:
Roger-2021
I always associate this song with my father. The week he died, he fell in my parents’ bathroom and wasn’t able to get up. My mother couldn’t lift him.

She called me and I rushed over from work, but he was too heavy for me as well. So we called the paramedics, who had no problem putting him on a stretcher and transporting him to the hospital.

The song–like many of mine–is based on Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.

9 Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
(NIV)

At first glance, that Scripture doesn’t sound “religious.” Those verses express truths that don’t appear to have anything to do with faith or God.

Yet the Scriptures–and consequently my song–have always seemed Christian.  Even before I added a new final stanza a few years ago (twenty-seven years after first writing the song), using an idea not based on Ecclesiastes.

As a whole, I think the lyrics describe the ultimate in Christian unity and fellowship: when a Christian helps to lift a fallen brother or sister; when a church as the body of Christ cannot be broken by the failure of one weak member.

So it’s not surprising that I view the second stanza as a sad reminder of the hopelessness of people who aren’t part of a church fellowship and have no one to depend on. Therefore it’s ultimately a call to be on the lookout for the fallen who may not even be part of the church fellowship–and to be willing to help.

Willingly. Without counting the cost.

You may listen to an audio recording of this song here.  It predates the addition of the fourth stanza listed above. A free lead sheet is available here.

I’ll be back again next Wednesday. Please join me then. Better still, sign up to receive these weekly posts by email.

Best regards,
Roger

Recalled to Life (11-13 - whole cover)     The Curmudgeon Books

Eighteen Novel 4x6 Postcard

Links you might be interested in:

Posted in Church, Ecclesiastes, Falling, Fellowship, Friend, Helping, Lifting, Rope | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Now Let Me Share it with You!

Posted on March 16, 2022 by Roger E. Bruner

When Jesus Christ was born upon the earth,
Son of God, yet fully man,
His Father sent a choir of angels
To announce the good news.

“Glory to God, peace on the earth,
Good will from God to man. Christ is born.”

I’ve heard the Good News; I believe it.
Now let me share it with you.

When Jesus Christ arose from earthly death,
Son of man, yet fully God,
His Heavenly Father sent an angel
To announce the good news.

“He is not here; the tomb is empty.
Christ lives again. Go tell everyone!”

I’ve heard the Good News; I believe it.
Now let me share it with you.

About This Song:
Roger-2021
Okay. So early March isn’t during the Christmas season. But that doesn’t make the message of “Now Let Me Share it with You” any less relevant for Believers. Especially now that we’re getting closer to the Easter season.

God used angels throughout the Bible. Maybe more in the Old Testament, although we may be more familiar with those in the New Testament.

They were messengers. And the messenger-angels in this song–as in the Scriptures it’s based on–announced the best of Good News, Jesus’ birth as a human baby and His resurrection from death.

The first stanza is based on Luke 2:13-14…

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  (NIV)

The second stanza comes from Mark 16:4-6…

4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”
(NIV)

I wasn’t alive at the time of Jesus’ birth or resurrection. But I’ve read and heard those biblical accounts  many times, and I believe they’re true.

And now that I’ve used this song to preach to myself, I’ve also shared that same Good News–at least in part–with you.

What better news have you heard today? Ever? How about leaving a comment.

You may listen to an audio recording of this song here. A free PDF lead sheet is available here for you musicians.

I’ll be back again next Wednesday. Please join me then. Better still, sign up to receive these weekly posts by email.

By the way, I’ve written and published nineteen Christian novels and I’m currently polishing #20. Click on the graphics below to check them out at Amazon.

Best regards,
Roger

Recalled to Life (11-13 - whole cover)     The Curmudgeon Books

Eighteen Novel 4x6 Postcard

Links you might be interested in:

Posted in Angels, Christmas, Easter, Good News, Jesus' birth, Jesus' Death, Messengers | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

One Lone Angel

Posted on March 9, 2022 by Roger E. Bruner

In these days of great darkness,
The righteous are not spared.
Though they’re on mission for their God,
The dangers are quite real.
Sometimes the Lord assures them
That He’s still in control
By sending one lone angel forth
To lead them through the storm.

‘Twas in the midst of chaos,
A bullet struck her head;
Unconscious for a moment,
She lay still upon the ground.
Her husband rushed to help her;
The bleeding would not stop.
A friend helped get her to the car,
Their passports left behind.

A man stepped through the chaos,
A stranger to them all.
He knew this lady would die soon;
Her life was in his hands.
He led them to the clinic
By many twists and turns.
The precious moments that he saved
Helped get her there in time.

The doctor said the bullet
Had passed right through her head,
And it had done no damage,
Though it glanced against her skull.
He said, “You are hard-headed.”
She laughed. “Like those I love.”
While friend and stranger went back for
The passports left behind.

When their friend turned to thank him,
The stranger was not there;
Though this was in an open place
With no place he could go.
They said, “We’ve seen an angel
Sent by the Lord today:
He’s come here just to help us
And remind us of His care.”

In these days of great darkness,
The righteous are not spared.
Though they’re on mission for their God,
The dangers are quite real.
Sometimes the Lord assures them
That He’s still in control
By sending one lone angel forth
To lead them through the storm.

About This Song:
Roger-2021
Around Christmas we’re apt to think about angels. The Bible usually portrays them as messengers. For example, an angel told Mary she would become the mother of Jesus. An angel told Joseph not to reject Mary for her pregnancy because God was the father. Angels announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds.

But angels in the Bible aren’t limited to Christmas. Neither are they limited to being messengers, as we see in this song.

“One Lone Angel”  is based on a news article written by Robert O’Brien and published by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) a number of years ago. It’s an accurate rendering of Robert’s article. The incident took place during fighting in Albania, where Burt and Debbie Ayers served as CBF missionaries.

The “friend” who helped Burt was an unnamed Mennonite missionary. The stranger who saved Debbie’s life was–who knows?

Not everyone believes in personal angels. But it’s difficult–in my case, impossible–to read this story or consider the words of the song and deny that something quite supernatural occurred that day. If you don’t believe it was an angel, please share your explanation in a comment.

The Ayers don’t have any other explanation.

A free lead sheet for “One Lone Angel” is available here. An old recording may be heard here. In spite of the recording quality I highly recommend listening to it to get a feel for the song itself.

I’ll be back again next Wednesday. Please join me then. Better still, sign up to receive these weekly posts by email.

Best regards,
Roger

Recalled to Life (11-13 - whole cover)     The Curmudgeon Books

Eighteen Novel 4x6 Postcard

Links you might be interested in:

Posted in Albania, Angels, CBF, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Friend, Life Saving, Missionary, Stranger | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

One Word from Him

Posted on March 3, 2022 by Roger E. Bruner

The grass will soon wither,
And the flowers will soon fade;
So the strongest of men will soon weaken and die.

Only the Word of the Lord lasts forever;
And one Word from Him gives us eternal life.
One Word from Him gives us eternal life.

About This Song:
Roger-2021
“One Word from Him” is one of my Word-related songs. It comes from the book of Isaiah:

Isaiah 40:6-8…
6 A voice says, “Cry out.”
    And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass,
    and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    because the breath of the Lord blows on them.
    Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    but the word of our God endures forever.”
(NIV)

At seventy-five,  I’m far past middle-aged; I have no hope of surviving to the age of 150. And I have no idea how long I will live–and remain healthy enough to enjoy life.

But as I look at the pill bottles on the breakfast counter–the cholesterol, blood pressure, thyroid, and blood sugar medicines keep all of the numbers looking good–I’m also aware that I’m a blade of grass and a flower. My time to wither and fall is coming. It’s inevitable.

Gracious! Like any of you–no matter what your age–I may not have much time left on earth. None of us knows for sure, do we?

But do I find that depressing?

I’m smiling as I respond to that question. My confidence is in the never-failing “word of our God.” He has promised more abundant life on earth–and He’s certainly lived up to that promise–and He’s promised eternal life with Him in Heaven for those of us who are Believers.

So no matter how much I enjoy my earthly life–no matter how much time I hope I have left–my hope for the future is in the Lord.

I hope yours is, too. How about leaving a comment?

You can find a free lead sheet of this song here. The only recording I have is very old, but you may listen to it here.

I’ll be back again next Wednesday. Please join me then. Better still, sign up to receive these weekly posts by email. And if you like to read, I’ve written and published nineteen Christian novels and am working on number twenty. Click on the book covers and postcard below for more information.

Best regards,
Roger

Recalled to Life (11-13 - whole cover)     The Curmudgeon Books

Eighteen Novel 4x6 Postcard
Links you might be interested in:

Posted in Age, Deterioration, Eternal Life, Flowers, God's Word(s), Grass, Hope | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

I Can Do All Things

Posted on February 23, 2022 by Roger E. Bruner

I can do all things,
I can do all things,
Not on my own,
But through Christ who strengthens me.

If I should walk on the water
Or move a mountain to prove my faith,
Such power would accomplish nothing at all
Unless as an act of love.

I can do all things,
I can do all things,
Not on my own,
But through Christ who strengthens me.

If I love the Lord my God,
I’ll love my neighbor as I love myself;
I’ll feed him and I’ll forgive him,
And I’ll turn the other cheek.

I can do all things,
I can do all things,
Not on my own,
But through Christ who strengthens me.

About This Song:
Roger-2021
I’ve never been physically strong, but that hasn’t stopped me from doing a number of things I couldn’t have done on my own.

Years ago, in Toowoomba (Queensland), Australia, I refused to let the rough terrain above keep me from climbing Tabletop Mountain to enjoy the sights from the smooth, flat, grass-covered surface at the top. I believe God helped me make that climb. And that’s just one example.

But challenges often require something other than physical strength.

God led me to make several career changes over the years–always to something better than the one before. But making changes is scary…unsettling. I not only couldn’t have found the new positions on my own, I wouldn’t have had the courage to make the change without His help.

“I Can Do All Things” is based on several Scripture passages, including Philippians 4:13…
I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (GNT)

and 1 Corinthians 13:1-3…
1  I may be able to speak the languages of human beings and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell. 2 I may have the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move mountains—but if I have no love, I am nothing. 3 I may give away everything I have, and even give up my body to be burned—but if I have no love, this does me no good. (GNT)

And let’s not ignore Mark 12:33…
And you must love God with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your strength; and you must love your neighbor as you love yourself. It is more important to obey these two commandments than to offer on the altar animals and other sacrifices to God. (GNT)

1 Corinthians 13 really emphasizes the importance of love–and the fact that love is the most important thing God gives us and allows us to share with others. I couldn’t agree more.

A free lead sheet of this song may be found here. Any of you who’re musicians feel free to try it out or use it.

I’ll be back again next Wednesday. Please join me then. Better still, sign up to receive these weekly posts by email.

Best regards,
Roger

Recalled to Life (11-13 - whole cover)     The Curmudgeon Books

Eighteen Novel 4x6 Postcard

Links you might be interested in:

Posted in 1 Corinthians 13, Accomplishments, Change, God's Help, Love, Mountains, Strength | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Call Upon the Lord

Posted on February 17, 2022 by Roger E. Bruner

Why should life discourage you so?
Why despair when you’re feeling low?
Let the Lord be the strength of your heart.
Call upon His name, call on His name.

Let God be your shelter and your strength,
An ever-present help when life’s at its worst.
There’s no need to fear, though the world fall about you.
Calm down and know that He is still the Lord.

Troubles in this world never cease,
But the Lord wants to give you His peace.
Take heart; He has conquered the world.
Call upon His name, call on His name.

Do not worry about anything.
Pray instead about everything.
Tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank Him
For His each and every answer.

Why should life discourage you so?
Why despair when you’re feeling low?
Let the Lord be the strength of your heart.
Call upon His name.

Troubles in this world never cease,
But the Lord wants to give you His peace.
Take heart; He has conquered the world.
Call upon His name, call on His name.

About this song:
Roger-2021
I wrote this song many years ago–part of it, anyhow. The original first stanza is based on Psalm 46:1-2. . .”God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble. And so we need not fear even if the world blows up, and the mountains crumble into the sea.” (Living Bible).

The original second stanza is adapted from Philippians 4:6. . .”Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for his answers.” (Living Bible)

In the original version of this song, then titled “Do Not Worry,” the two stanzas were reversed.

It always seemed too short, though. So, a few years ago, I started searching through the Bible for some related ideas. Finding enough appropriate Scriptures wasn’t a problem, but finding too many.

John 16:33 was perfect: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

So was Psalm 73:26. . .”My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

So I took these Scriptures–perhaps several others–and mixed them up in my usual prayerful way and came up with the current version of this song.

It was interesting coming up with a tune for the refrain after having sung the old version of the song for so many years.

I still recall a time several years ago when I was in a very down mood.  But when I got in the car to go walking at the mall, I started singing this song to myself while driving. By the time I got there, my mood had done a one-eighty. I felt great! I pray this song may do the same thing for you.

I have a brand-new recording of this song. Listen to it here if you like.. You may also view, print, or download a lead sheet here. And don’t forget that I write Christian novels. If you’re interested, click on the links below.

Please leave a comment.

Look for me again next Wednesday. Better still, subscribe to receive these weekly posts by email.

Best regards,
Roger

Recalled to Life (11-13 - whole cover)    The Curmudgeon Books

Eighteen Novel 4x6 PostcardLinks you might be interested in:

Posted in Despair, Discouragement, Do Not Worry, God's Provision, Hope, Thanks, Trust, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nobody Else

Posted on February 9, 2022 by Roger E. Bruner 
Who else is as wonderful as Jesus?
Nobody else, nobody else.
No one is as wonderful as Jesus.
He's the only Son of God.

Who but Christ would die to pay for our sins?
Nobody else, nobody else.
Only Christ would die to pay for our sins.
He's the only Son of God.

Who but Christ could rise from death in victory?
Nobody else, nobody else.
Only Christ could rise from death in victory.
He's the only Son of God.

Who but Christ will come back to take us home?
Nobody else, nobody else.
Only Christ will come back to take us home.
He's the only Son of God.

About this Song:
Roger-2021
You may listen to a recording of this song here and a PDF of the free lead sheet is available here.

Unlike the Bible, which never changes despite the wide variety of translations available these days, my song lyrics aren’t set in stone. Occasionally I realize there’s a better way to say something or–in this case–something I should emphasize differently.

“Nobody Else” used to have three additional stanzas after “Who else is as wonderful…?” and no matter how appropriate “loving,” “merciful,” and “selfless” were in describing Jesus, I had done what authors are supposed to refrain from doing: I was telling, not showing.

Although I quickly grew tired of that song as written in 2010, it took six years for me to feel led and to find a way to improve it.

In 2016 I deleted those three stanzas and let the remaining ones show how wonderful Jesus was by pointing out that He died for our sins, rose from death in victory, and will come back again at the end of the age to take us home to Heaven.

“Nobody Else” is a pleasure to sing now. It helps me celebrate in a very personal way just how wonderful Jesus was…and still is.

If you’d like to say something about this song, I’d love for you to leave a comment.

I’ll be back again next Wednesday.

Best regards,
Roger

Recalled to Life (11-13 - whole cover)    The Curmudgeon Books

Eighteen Novel 4x6 Postcard

Links you might be interested in:

Posted in Jesus' Death, Jesus' Resurrection, Jesus' Second Coming, Jesus' Uniqueness, Mercy, Resurrection | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My Strength Alone

Posted on February 2, 2022 by Roger E. Bruner 
My strength alone cannot compare
With power God gives to me through prayer.
I draw fresh power both day and night
To walk by faith and not by sight.

My batteries need charging, Lord;
My power's running low.
My will is bending to itself;
Without You, I can't go.

My charge has drained since my last prayer
While doing what I would.
Lord, plug me in and fill me up.
Help me do what I should.

My batteries need charging, Lord;
My power's running low.
My will is bending to itself;
Without You, I can't go.

About This Song:
Roger-2021
A PDF lead sheet of this song is available here and a very old audio recording may be heard here.

God gives each of His beloved human beings a certain amount of physical and mental strength. Although some people have more than others, He expects us to use the resources He’s provided us with.

But our resources are limited. They often run out.

I can’t speak for you, but all too often I don’t have enough strength to face the daily challenges of life on my own. “My Strength Alone” isn’t enough.

I find that praying for God’s help is like plugging a battery charger into an outlet in order to give run-down batteries a fresh charge. To return them to useful condition. In effect, to give them new life.

Do you find yourself running out of mental, emotional, and spiritual strength sometimes? Are you having trouble keeping up with the demands of life?

Plug into God’s unlimited resources and let Him provide the strength you need.

I’ll be back again next Wednesday. Please join me then. Better still, sign up to receive these weekly posts by email.

Best regards,
Roger

Recalled to Life (11-13 - whole cover)     The Curmudgeon Books

Eighteen Novel 4x6 Postcard

Links you might be interested in:

Posted in Batteries, Power, Prayer, Recharge, Strength | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment