Neighbor

Posted on July 1, 2020 by Roger E. Bruner

NOTE: You may listen to this song here.

A man went on a business trip that took him far from his home.
A Sunday stroll took him to the worst part of the city.
His shoes and clothes bespoke such wealth; his watch and rings so glittered.
Thugs beat him up and picked him clean and just left him there dying.

A preacher came along that way en route to church that morning,
A sermon forming in his mind about God’s love and caring.
He saw the man, his clothes stripped off, another hapless street bum.
An illustration he could use, he noted as he rushed by.

A deacon from that preacher’s church came by there moments later.
He saw the blood and bruises and he feared he’d get infected.
He knew he’d be late if he stopped, so scared that he’d get robbed, too.
It wouldn’t do to get involved and fail to do the Lord’s work.

A homeless man awoke near by, his cheeks red from the cold winds.
He looked into that dying face, his heart filled with compassion.
He took the blanket from his back and wrapped it round the victim;
He tore a patch from his own shirt and worked to stop the bleeding.

Though old and bent, that homeless man ran to the busy curbside.
He waved his arms to stop a cab and pointed to the stranger.
“Take him for help or else he’ll die.” The cabbie hesitated.
“My coins are few; take these for him. Come back. I’ll find more for you.”

When you are bruised and broken, who would you want for your neighbor?
A man whose love is only words or one who’ll tend your bleeding?
A man who always counts the cost or one who holds back nothing?
And who will YOU be neighbor to? Will God’s love reach out through you?

About This Song:
Novelist John Grisham probably doesn’t know that his book, The Street Lawyer, was a major inspiration for this song. I’d long wanted to retell Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan in song. With its emphasis on the homeless, The Street Lawyer gave me the handle I needed.

The comparisons aren’t perfect, of course, but they make the point, I believe:

    • A traveler gets robbed, beaten, and left for dead
    • Hypocritical religious people see the victim, but don’t want to get involved
    • A man the victim would probably have otherwise despised comes to his rescue
    • The rescuer does everything he can to help the victim
    • The rescuer arranges for the victim to go elsewhere for additional care
    • The rescuer offers to make good for any additional cost

And just as Jesus then asked his listeners who the real neighbor was, this song ends by challenging the listener/reader to be the kind of neighbor Jesus described.

Free lead sheets (lyrics, tune, and chords) are available for many of my songs. Click on the Lead Sheets tab at the top of this page to see whether one is available for this song. Videos for many of my songs, some recorded at home and some at our church’s nursing home ministry, can be accessed at my website, RogerBruner.com, under the Listen tab.

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

Best regards,
Roger

Links you might be interested in:

Posted in Caring, Helping, Homeless, John Grisham, Neighbor, Street Person, The Good Samaritan, The Street Lawyer | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

When I Am Scared

Posted on June 17, 2020 by Roger E. Bruner

When I am scared, God gives me His courage;
When I am weak, He gives me His strength.
When I am lost, God gives me His guidance;
When I am cold, He gives me His warmth.

When I’m in doubt, God gives me assurance;
When I am sad, He gives me His joy.
When I’m alone, God gives me His presence;
When I am tired, He gives me His rest.

When I’m distressed, God gives me His comfort;
When I’m in pain, He gives me His balm.
When I’m confined, God gives me His freedom;
When I’m in darkness, He gives me His light.

When I’m perplexed, God gives me His wisdom;
When I’m besieged, He gives me defense.
When I lose sight, God gives me His vision;
And when I die, He gives me new life.

About This Song:
My daughter, Kristi, was eight years old and having symptoms of something that might have proved to be quite serious.

I woke up in the middle of the night and started fretting about it. No, not just fretting. I was worried sick about Kristi. Scared of what might happen to her.

Then I realized I should pray instead of worry. After doing that–possibly even while I was still praying–I was able to get back to sleep. Kristi’s problem went away and has never surfaced again, but the effect of that prayer on my tendency to worry has been long-lasting.

And I wrote this song because of that prayer time.

In a long ago Bible study, the speaker on the video shared this idea: “I don’t know what God will do [in a given situation], but I know what He’s capable of doing.”

That’s more than enough for me.

What about you, though? Do you have confidence in God’s ability to deal with all of your challenges and problems? Notice that I didn’t say, “And fix them the way you think best.”

God’s ways are beyond our comprehension, and sometimes His answers aren’t the ones we want to hear. But He’s always there to help us through our crises, even if He doesn’t  let us come through them unscarred.

That’s a lot to think about, isn’t it? Is there a time in your life when you’ve been especially conscious of God helping through an especially tough situation? How about sharing a comment?

Free lead sheets (lyrics, tune, and chords) are available for many of my songs. Click on the Lead Sheets tab at the top of this page to see whether one is available for this song. Videos for many of my songs, some recorded at home and some at our church’s nursing home ministry, can be accessed at my website, RogerBruner.com, under the Listen tab.

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

Best regards,
Roger

Links you might be interested in:

Posted in Assurance, Belief, Despair, Disasters, Faith, God's Help, God's protection, Helping, Prayer, Problems, Suffering, Trouble, Trust, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hearing…Telling His Story

Posted on June 10, 2020 by Roger E. Bruner

Hearing, believing His story,
Living, telling the story of Jesus.
Hearing, believing His story,
Living, telling the story of Christ.

Someone cared enough to tell me of God’s love;
Christ is not just someone who once was,
For He lived and died and rose from death to give me life.
That’s the kind of truth I needed to hear!
(refrain)

Though his words sounded almost too good to be real,
God spoke to me through him and I believed;
For the life he lived told me that his words were true.
That’s the kind of truth I needed to believe!
(refrain)

Then I placed my life in Jesus’ hands;
I told Him I wanted to obey.
I’ll be known as His if I bear His fruit of love.
That’s the kind of truth I need to live!
(refrain)

In God’s love, I care enough to tell you who Christ is;
He is not just someone who once was.
I pray my life may tell you that my words are true.
That’s the kind of truth I need to tell!
(refrain)

About This Song:
Every year the International Mission Board comes up with a slogan to use in all of its products and communications. In 1986 it was “Hearing, Believing, Living, Telling.” I could be wrong, but it may have included “the Story of Jesus.”

I really liked that idea. The ideas flowed so logically. One must first hear the Good News of God’s love and Jesus’ sacrifice. Only from hearing can one come to believe. And after a person believes, he’ll want to live in the Godliest way possible. And part of that Godliest way involves telling the Good News to others.

That begins the cycle all over again. Pretty neat, isn’t it?

Where are you in the cycle? Are you listening to–and really hearing–the Gospel as it comes to you from various sources? Have you become a believer? Has becoming a believer changed how you live–and made you a more righteous and more loving individual? And–as part of your Godliness–are you sharing the Good News with others?

Free lead sheets (lyrics, tune, and chords) are available for many of my songs. Click on the Lead Sheets tab at the top of this page to see whether one is available for this song. Videos for many of my songs, some recorded at home and some at our church’s nursing home ministry, can be accessed at my website, RogerBruner.com, under the Listen tab.

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

Best regards,
Roger

Links you might be interested in:

Posted in Believing, Hearing, International Mission Board, Living, Telling | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Secure in You

Posted on June 3, 2020 by Roger E. Bruner

Oh, Lord, You live forever;
So long ago You made this world with Your hands.
And when the heavens and the earth have all passed away,
Even then You’ll remain.
Lord, You’ll remain.

And when the world’s been used up,
And You’ve discarded it like worn-out clothes,
You will still be the same,
For Your life never ends,
And we’ll remain secure in You.
Lord, we’ll remain secure.
Lord, we will remain secure in You.

About This Song:
If you’ve been following this blog or looking back at previous posts, you realize that I have a great fondness for the Psalms. Because many of the Psalms–perhaps most of them–were meant to be sung, my love of adapting them for my own songs shouldn’t be surprising.

Today’s song is no exception. It’s based on Psalm 102:24b and following. I’ve included a little extra below to give more context.

Psalm 102 (New International Version)
A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the Lord.

23 In the course of my life he broke my strength;
    he cut short my days.
24 So I said:
“Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days;
    your years go on through all generations.
25 In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will perish, but you remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
    and they will be discarded.
27 But you remain the same,
    and your years will never end.
28 The children of your servants will live in your presence;
    their descendants will be established before you.”

I don’t know about you, but I find “eternal” to be one of those concepts that’s beyond my ability to comprehend. “Infinite” is another. Then again, everything about God is more than I can fully understand. His love is so much greater than my best feeble attempts to love. Also beyond my comprehension are His mercy and His forgiveness.

So how can I possibly understand the fact that God has always been and will always be?

When I was a small child–and occasionally as I grew older–I asked myself, “If God created everything–if nothing existed before He did–where did He come from? Who created Him?” As childish as that question might sound, it was a source of great assurance. How could I  worship or place my trust in someone who has been created?

I’m different, though. I’m a created being, and so are you. We all face the eventual end of our earthly lives.

I don’t know about you, but I feel so much better about that because “the children of your servants will live in your presence.” We will live forever because God lives forever.

Can I explain that? Definitely not. But I believe it and try to live accordingly–in a way that pleases God.

Those of us who’ve placed our faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God (that’s something else I can’t fully understand) don’t have to wonder where they’ll spend eternity. Whether I know you personally doesn’t matter. I want you to be there in heaven with me when the time comes.

Free lead sheets (lyrics, tune, and chords) are available for many of my songs. Click on the Lead Sheets tab at the top of this page to see whether one is available for this song. Videos for many of my songs, some recorded at home and some at our church’s nursing home ministry, can be accessed at my website, RogerBruner.com, under the Listen tab.

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

Best regards,
Roger

Links you might be interested in:

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The Skies Reveal God’s Glory

Posted on May 20, 2020 by Roger E. Bruner

The skies reveal God’s glory;
Without speech, without words,
Each day tells the next day
About the wonders of God.

Like a ready runner,
The sun moves across the sky,
And–where its light shines–
Some of God’s splendor is seen.

There is no place where the sun doesn’t shine,
Where it doesn’t shine–
Or where God’s wonders cannot be seen.

The skies reveal God’s glory.

About This Song:
I used to visit a website for photographers. It had the the most unlikely name, The Ugly Hedgehog. The participants were an interesting mixture of novices, professionals, and every degree of experience (or inexperience) in between. Certain subjects showed up frequently in the pictures they post. Among the most popular were hummingbirds and eagles.

I didn’t always take the time to look at each day’s posts, though. But I always took time if I saw “sunrise” or “sunset” in the subject line. Those are, in my humble opinion, the two most beautiful times of day, and a photographer who could capture one of them even half-way adequately deserved recognition.

So it’s no wonder I would be so fond of Psalm 19:1-6. . .

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5     It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
    like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
    and makes its circuit to the other;
    nothing is deprived of its warmth.
(NIV)

1 How clearly the sky reveals God’s glory!
    How plainly it shows what he has done!
2 Each day announces it to the following day;
    each night repeats it to the next.
3 No speech or words are used,
    no sound is heard;
4 yet their message goes out to all the world
    and is heard to the ends of the earth.
God made a home in the sky for the sun;
5     it comes out in the morning like a happy bridegroom,
    like an athlete eager to run a race.
6 It starts at one end of the sky
    and goes across to the other.
    Nothing can hide from its heat.
(GNT)

I love the images the psalmist uses in these verses–especially the one about the skies “announcing” God’s glory without the use of speech or words. Also noteworthy are the comparisons of the sun to a “happy bridegroom” and an “eager athlete” who’s ready to run a race.

Just as no camera can perfectly capture the beauty of a sunrise or sunset–some do come close, however–I can’t say anything else about this passage. It speaks for itself.

Does this song say something special to you? How about leaving a comment?

Free lead sheets (lyrics, tune, and chords) are available for many of my songs. Click on the Lead Sheets tab at the top of this page to see whether one is available for this song. Videos for many of my songs, some recorded at home and some at our church’s nursing home ministry, can be accessed at my website, RogerBruner.com, under the Listen tab.

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

Best regards,
Roger

Links you might be interested in:

 

Posted in Athlete, Bridegroom, God's Glory, Skies, Sun, Sunrise, Sunset | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

All My Godless Ways

Posted on May 15, 2020 by Roger E. Bruner

Two rough-hewn wooden structures tell so much about our Lord:
The manger where the baby lay and the cross on which He died.
Though God Himself, Christ chose the birth of every mother’s child
Though God Himself, Christ chose the death that no one on earth would choose.

Each rough-hewn part of who I am wants to tell about Christ, too:
The very words I try to speak and the deeds I try to do.
Though earthly man, I chose rebirth to become a child of God;
Though earthly man, I chose the death of all my Godless ways.

Though God Himself, Christ chose to become human;
Though human, I’ve become a child of God.

Each rough-hewn part of who I am wants to tell about Christ, too:
The very words I try to speak and the deeds I try to do.
Though earthly man, I chose rebirth to become a child of God;
Though earthly man, I chose the death of all my Godless ways,
Of all my Godless ways.

About This Song:
If you’ve been following this blog for a while or you’ve gone back and looked at some of the previous posts, you may have noticed my fondness for combining Christmas and Easter ideas in one song. Today’s song is another one.

I hope my comparison of Jesus’ birth as a human baby and the Christian’s rebirth as a Child of God is thought-provoking. And that the comparison of Christ’s voluntary human death and the voluntary death of the Christian’s sins is thought-provoking as well.

Some animals grow into adulthood rapidly. We have a miniature dachshund puppy who’s grown now. In many ways she still looks like a puppy. Yet I can look back to what a difference a month or two made when she was young in seeing the transformation into a  fully grown dog.

Although we can see the changes in people, too, they take years to reach physical adulthood–and even then some of them aren’t fully “grown up.”

Growing into maturity as a Child of God is similar. Except it takes even longer than maturing physically. We won’t mature spiritually–not fully–until the end of our earthly lives.

Sometimes I imagine God getting frustrated with me for the slowness of my growth, but then I think about His fondness for children. Jesus said, “Let the little children come unto me.”

God doesn’t expect instant changes or huge spurts of spiritual growth, but He doesn’t want me to get stagnant, either. So I prefer to think of Him as cheering me on each time He sees any sign of growth. Even the tiniest one.

A Christian can grow frustrated if he looks at what he wants to become and and frets over how far he is from the goal. Better to look backwards at where he started and note the progress he’s made.

If you’re a Christian, are you growing? If you’re not a Christian, wouldn’t you like to have God as your heavenly father, encouraging you to live the most meaningful life possible?

Free lead sheets (lyrics, tune, and chords) are available for many of my songs. Click on the Lead Sheets tab at the top of this page to see whether one is available for this song. Videos for many of my songs, some recorded at home and some at our church’s nursing home ministry, can be accessed at my website, RogerBruner.com, under the Listen tab.

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

Best regards,
Roger

Links you might be interested in:

Posted in Christmas, Cross, Death, Easter, Growth, Human, Manger, Rebirth, Wood | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Balm Song

Posted on April 29, 2020 by Roger E. Bruner

I need not fret. I need not worry.
God’s love is the balm that calms my soul.
Why be concerned about tomorrow?
My life is in God’s loving hands.
Why be concerned about tomorrow?
My life is in God’s hands.

I’ll sing of God’s love,
And I’ll sing of His compassion.
I’ll sing of His concern for me.
I’ll sing of God’s care,
And I’ll sing of His provision.
I’ll sing of all He does for me.

I need not fear. I need not be anxious.
God’s love is the balm that calms my soul.
Why be concerned about the future?
My life is in God’s loving hands.
Why be concerned about the future?
My life is in God’s hands.

I’ll sing of God’s love,
And I’ll sing of His compassion.
I’ll sing of His concern for me.
I’ll sing of God’s care,
And I’ll sing of His provision.
I’ll sing of all He does for me.

About This Song:
Watch and listen to this song here.

Because I have a limited number of songs, it’s my custom to look back three or four years or something to re-post. I always review and update the “About This Song,” and occasionally I’ll have something to update about the song itself.

But this song is a very special exception because I shared it when it was brand-new in December of 2019. Not long ago at all.

Why re-post it so soon? Two reasons.

In December we weren’t yet in the midst of the worldwide coronavirus crisis which has made numerous  people around the world fearful, worried, and desperate for hope. But we’re in the midst of that now.

I hope each of you is already a Christian and that you are relying more fully on God’s promises than ever before. I also hope you’re having opportunities to share  that hope with others.

The second reason I’m re-posting this song is it’s not exactly the same song it was in December. I’ve added a refrain.

I wanted you to have the complete song.

In the midst of chaos, I find so much hope in God’s promises that I can’t keep from singing. I sing of His love, His compassion, and His concern for me personally. And I sing of His care, His provision, and everything He does for me.

If you’re already aware of some of the various ways God has given you hope in this life-threatening season, why don’t you download this PDF of “The Balm Song” and sing it to celebrate His goodness.  Click here to open the PDF. Feel free to sing along with the video.

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

Best regards,
Roger

    

Links you might be interested in:

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When I Walk with Him

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Roger E. Bruner

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Nothing is impossible when I walk with Him.
When I walk with Him, yes, when I walk with Him,
Nothing is impossible when I walk with Him.

Though the night is dark, I know I won’t get lost.
Jesus lights the way ahead when I walk with Him.
When I walk with Him, yes, when I walk with Him,
Jesus lights the way ahead when I walk with Him.

Though the path is steep, I know I won’t fall down.
Jesus takes my hand in His when I walk with Him.
When I walk with Him, yes, when I walk with Him,
Jesus takes my hand in His when I walk with Him.

I am not afraid of what tomorrow brings.
Jesus whispers words of hope when I walk with Him.
When I walk with Him, yes, when I walk with Him,
Jesus whispers words of hope when I walk with Him.

About This Song:
Since I started writing novels years ago, I haven’t written as many songs as I used to. Maybe one every year or two.

I’ve frequently wanted to write a new song, but it’s not something I can just decide to do. I have to have a God-inspired idea, usually in the form of a first line or two that really grabs me and speaks to my heart.

Sometimes the idea comes while reading the Bible. Other times it comes from a sermon or devotional I’ve heard. And some of those song ideas simply come out of nowhere–right from God to me, I suppose you might say.

This song started with the Scripture that says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” A possible tune came to me almost simultaneously, and I was on my way. Or so I thought.

But I didn’t actively work on it anymore at the time, and that was unusual.

For some reason I started imagining the Little Lambs (youngest children’s choir) at church doing the new song. But it was simpler and had a totally different tune. That’s the version I felt led to finish.

The director of the Little Lambs thought learning all four stanzas would be too much for her youngsters, so we decided to go with three–and have somebody sing one of them as a solo if it was used at all.

So they didn’t use the first stanza–the one the song was originally inspired by. But that’s more of an adult concept, anyhow. Not getting lost, not falling down, and not being afraid are all concepts that kids and adults alike find relevant.

Free lead sheets (lyrics, tune, and chords) are available for many of my songs. Click on the Lead Sheets tab at the top of this page to see whether one is available for this song. Videos for many of my songs, some recorded at home and some at our church’s nursing home ministry, can be accessed at my website, RogerBruner.com, under the Listen tab.

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

Best regards,
Roger

Links you might be interested in:

Posted in Children, God's Leading, Hope, Light, Lostness, Reliance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Called to Celebrate

Posted on March 25, 2020 by Roger E. Bruner

Sometimes we’re called to work the fields.
Sometimes we’re called to work the fields.
Sometimes we’re called to work the fields
And sometimes to clean the stables.

Sometimes we’re called to till the soil.
Sometimes we’re called to till the soil.
Sometimes we’re called to till the soil
And sometimes to mend the fences.

Sometimes we’re called to sow the seeds.
Sometimes we’re called to sow the seeds.
Sometimes we’re called to sow the seeds
And sometimes to feed the livestock.

Sometimes we’re called to pull the weeds.
Sometimes we’re called to pull the weeds.
Sometimes we’re called to pull the weeds
And sometimes to store the silage.

Sometimes we’re called to gather crops.
Sometimes we’re called to gather crops.
Sometimes we’re called to gather crops
And sometimes to remove dead trees.

And when the harvest is complete.
And when the harvest is complete.
And when the harvest is complete,
We’re all called to celebrate it.

About This Song:

I was getting ready to go on a mission trip to Wales in 1993–right at harvest time. So it seemed appropriate to write this song to use there.

It’s inspired by 1 Corinthians 3:6-9. . .

6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
(NIV)

and by 1 Corinthians 12:4-7. . .

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
(NIV)

The primary goal of a farm is to grow and harvest crops to eat and to sell. That requires a variety of activities, some of which don’t have a direct connection to the harvest. Yet without people performing all of those tasks, the farm wouldn’t function well and the harvest would be poor. Perhaps even nonexistent.

As the body of Christ, the church consists of different members playing different roles, all of which are necessary to keep the church functioning. While the primary task of the church is to harvest souls into the Kingdom of Heaven, not every member plays a direct role in every harvest. Yet without each person’s part being carried out faithfully and thoroughly, the harvest would be a major disappointment.

But when someone walks forward to make a public profession of faith in Jesus, does anyone fail to rejoice just  because he or she didn’t play a part in that person’s decision?

Not in my church. We may not all actively perform “crop-related” tasks, but that doesn’t keep us from rejoicing over each and every person we see enter the Kingdom.

~*~

Free lead sheets (lyrics, tune, and chords) are available for many of my songs. Click on the Lead Sheets tab at the top of this page to see whether one is available for this song. Videos for many of my songs, some recorded at home and some at our church’s nursing home ministry, can be accessed at my website, RogerBruner.com, under the Listen tab.

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

Best regards,
Roger

Links you might be interested in:

Posted in Celebrations, Fields, Harvest, Serving Jesus, Sharing, Sowing, Various Tasks, Workers | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

From the Manger to the Cross

Posted on March 4, 2020 by Roger E. Bruner

My life is a journey,
Yes, sometimes a hard journey, Lord,
From the manger to the cross,
From the manger to the cross.

From my birth as a child of God,
From my birth as a child of God
To the death of my old self
To the death of my old self.

So Christ can come alive in me,
So Christ can come alive in me
And make me like Himself,
And make me like Himself.

My life is a journey,
Yes, sometimes a hard journey, Lord,
From the manger to the cross,
From the manger to the cross.

About This Song:
Strange as this comment may sound, I wrote this song to share at a New Year’s Eve gathering some years ago. Stranger still, I can’t remember why I thought it was appropriate. I simply did.

Nonetheless, the imagery of the manger and the cross isn’t something to take lightly.

Christ was born as a human child. I’ve been born as a child of God because of my faith in Jesus. So I’ve had a “manger experience.”

And Jesus died an earthly death, just as I need to put my natural, sinful ways to death. That process, my “cross experience” began taking place at the time I became a Christian.

Did you notice the word “began”? I’ll never be perfect until I die and reach heaven. So my life is the “long journey” from the beginning of becoming Christlike to the time I truly achieve it.

Are you on that journey? How about leaving a comment?

Free lead sheets (lyrics, tune, and chords) are available for many of my songs. Click on the Lead Sheets tab at the top of this page to see whether one is available for this song. Videos for many of my songs, some recorded at home and some at our church’s nursing home ministry, can be accessed at my website, RogerBruner.com, under the Listen tab.

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

Best regards,
Roger

Links you might be interested in:

Posted in Cross, Journey, Life, Manger, New Years, Perfection | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment