A Proverb, a Question, and a Song

 

He who trusts confidently in his own heart
is a dull, thickheaded fool,
but he who walks in skillful and godly wisdom
will be rescued.

Proverbs 28:26 (AMP)

Sure, there are plenty of people who don't like being told what to do or where to go. Still, all you have to do to be convinced that most folks are clueless when it comes to matters of eternity is to listen to the variety of responses to the Colbert Questionert question, "What happens when we die?"

Or watch all the scenes in all the movies when a fresh-faced youngster looks into the eyes of the Adult In Charge and asks the same question.

Or take your own poll. How much hemming and hawing do you run into?

It really is true that, even on our best days, we're at least goofy and probably closer to ridiculous.

For long-time readers, it will come as no surprise that today's Scripture and this train of thought remind me of a song by Rich Mullins, "Maker of Noses."

I believe there is a place
Where people live in perfect peace
Where there is food on every plate
Where work is rewarded and rest is sweet
Where the color of your skin
Won't get you in or keep you out
Where justice reigns and truth finally wins
Its hard fought war against fear and doubt

And everyone I know wants to go there too
But when I ask them how to do it they seem so confused
Do I turn to the left?
Do I turn to the right?
When I turn to the world they gave me this advice

They said boy you just follow your heart
But my heart just led me into my chest
They said follow your nose
But the direction changed every time I went and turned my head
And they said boy you just follow your dreams
But my dreams were only misty notions
But the Father of hearts and the Maker of noses
And the Giver of dreams He's the one I have chosen
And I will follow Him
©1992 Kid Brothers of St. Frank Publishing & Edward Grant, Inc.

https://youtu.be/hdspZ8Dexv0?si=hErLYzJFLmTbMDV1

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Truth is... Obi-Wan Kenobi aptly wraps things up with his piercing question in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope...

Who's the more foolish?
The fool, or the fool who follows him? 

For the Love of God

 

For several years, the Truth Is... Facebook page (click here) has featured a March tradition called #MarchingThroughScripture. Each day of the month, a Bible verse is posted that corresponds to that day's date. 

For instance...

On March 3, 2016, I would have posted John 3:16 (or 1 Timothy 3:16, or Insert a book of the Bible here, chapter 3, verse 16. (You understand, right?)

Well, to commemorate the recent publication of The Best of Truth Is... (click here), and the imminent beginning of this blog's 15th year, I'm taking the #MarchingThroughScripture concept and will be...um...2026ing through Scripture on each Thursday of the year, right here in this space.

But of course, it will be more than just posting a Bible verse a week. Our hope is that the Holy Spirit will lead us to a nugget of Truth worth considering 53 times before we're through. (Interesting note: 2026 has 53 Thursdays, starting January 1 and ending December 31!)

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Then God said, “Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth.”

Genesis 1:26 (AMP)

From the very beginning, humankind has not been just another animal that, through the laws of happenstance, finds itself alive and kicking on Planet Earth. We are not a tailless monkey or a hairless ape.*

We were created on purpose with an intentional internal likeness to our creator that renders us incapable of finding lasting contentment outside of Yahweh's design for us to be creative, authoritative, and loving...because God is not only The Creator and The Authority, but he is, to the very core, Love. (1 John 4:8)

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...This verse may very well be the greatest mystery of all. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were completely self-sufficient. They had no lack or weakness. So why create humans?

I can almost hear him say, "I've got so much love, I just can't contain myself!"

_______
*Sly allusion to the Rich Mullins song, "Higher Education and the Book of Love."

Bound to Come Some Trouble

 

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens — Jesus the Son of God — let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16 (CSB)

These verses remind me of the Rich Mullins song, "Bound to Come Some Trouble."

There's bound to come some trouble to your life
But that ain't nothing to be afraid of
There's bound to come some trouble to your life
But that ain't no reason to fear
I know there's bound to come some trouble to your life
But reach out to Jesus, hold on tight
He's been there before and He knows what it's like
You'll find He's there

There's bound to come some tears up in your eyes
That ain't nothing to be ashamed of
I know there's bound to come some tears up in your eyes
That ain't no reason to fear
I know there's bound to come some tears up in your eyes
Reach out to Jesus, hold on tight
He's been there before and He knows what it's like
You'll find He's there

Now people say maybe things will get better
People say maybe it won't be long
And people say maybe you'll wake up tomorrow
And it'll all be gone
Well I only know that maybes just ain't enough
When you need something to hold on
There's only one thing that's clear

I know there's bound to come some trouble to your life
But that ain't nothing to be afraid of
I know there's bound to come some tears up in your eyes
That ain't no reason to fear
I know there's bound to come some trouble to your life
Reach out to Jesus, hold on tight
He's been there before and He knows what it's like
You'll find He's there

https://youtu.be/60soztE8GOE?si=QWQBhBbMQUHDCQiN

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Truth is...From time to time, each of us feels like we are alone in our life experience, like there's nobody who could possibly understand or empathize. Well ... hold on tight, because ... you know ... Jesus.

The Price of Freedom

 

I have the honor of preaching for my church this coming Sunday. Because it's part of Independence Day Weekend, I'm talking about the price Jesus paid for our freedom from sin, and basing it on Psalm 22 — an amazingly accurate description of Jesus' perspective during his crucifixion. So much so, that Jesus even quoted the first verse for all the crowd to hear.

Here's a creative rendition of that psalm, from Eugene Peterson's translation/paraphrase, The Message:

God, God . . . my God!
    Why did you dump me
    miles from nowhere?
Doubled up with pain, I call to God
    all the day long. No answer. Nothing.
I keep at it all night, tossing and turning.

And you! Are you indifferent, above it all,
    leaning back on the cushions of Israel’s praise?
We know you were there for our parents:
    they cried for your help and you gave it;
    they trusted and lived a good life.

And here I am, a nothing—an earthworm,
    something to step on, to squash.
Everyone pokes fun at me;
    they make faces at me, they shake their heads:
“Let’s see how God handles this one;
    since God likes him so much, let him help him!”

And to think you were midwife at my birth,
    setting me at my mother’s breasts!
When I left the womb you cradled me;
    since the moment of birth you’ve been my God.
Then you moved far away
    and trouble moved in next door.
I need a neighbor.

Herds of bulls come at me,
    the raging bulls stampede,
Horns lowered, nostrils flaring,
    like a herd of buffalo on the move.

I’m a bucket kicked over and spilled,
    every joint in my body has been pulled apart.
My heart is a blob
    of melted wax in my gut.
I’m dry as a bone,
    my tongue black and swollen.
They have laid me out for burial
    in the dirt.

Now packs of wild dogs come at me;
    thugs gang up on me.
They pin me down hand and foot,
    and lock me in a cage—a bag
Of bones in a cage, stared at
    by every passerby.
They take my wallet and the shirt off my back,
    and then throw dice for my clothes.

You, God—don’t put off my rescue!
    Hurry and help me!
Don’t let them cut my throat;
    don’t let those mongrels devour me.
If you don’t show up soon,
    I’m done for—gored by the bulls,
    meat for the lions.

Here’s the story I’ll tell my friends when they come to worship,
    and punctuate it with Hallelujahs:
Shout Hallelujah, you God-worshipers;
    give glory, you sons of Jacob;
    adore him, you daughters of Israel.
He has never let you down,
    never looked the other way
    when you were being kicked around.
He has never wandered off to do his own thing;
    he has been right there, listening.

Here in this great gathering for worship
    I have discovered this praise-life.
And I’ll do what I promised right here
    in front of the God-worshipers.
Down-and-outers sit at God’s table
    and eat their fill.
Everyone on the hunt for God
    is here, praising him.
“Live it up, from head to toe.
    Don’t ever quit!”

From the four corners of the earth
    people are coming to their senses,
    are running back to God.
Long-lost families
    are falling on their faces before him.
God has taken charge;
    from now on he has the last word.

All the power-mongers are before him
    —worshiping!
All the poor and powerless, too
    —worshiping!
Along with those who never got it together
    —worshiping!

Our children and their children
    will get in on this
As the word is passed along
    from parent to child.
Babies not yet conceived
    will hear the good news—
    that God does what he says.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...There's more to think about than just being grateful for Christ's sacrifice and how it purchased a glorious future for me. Let this quote from Rich Mullins remind you of what Jesus said about taking up a cross in order to follow him: "Never forget what Jesus did for you. Never take lightly what it cost Him. And never assume that if it cost Him His very life, that it won't also cost you yours."

You Never Know Who God Is Gonna Use

 

It's interesting when a peripheral character becomes a pivotal part of the story.

According to The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson, Abraham Lincoln made a detour on his train trip from Illinois to the White House. He had been elected President and was moving his family to the nation's capital, but there was an actor...well-respected for his tragic roles...performing in a production of The Apostate at a theater in Albany, and Lincoln wanted to see the show.

That event would have been hardly memorable except that the actor's name was John Wilkes Booth, who would assassinate President Lincoln 50 months later.

The Law & Order "cha-chung" that sounded in my head when I read that is similar to the ominous feeling in any reenactment of the gospel story whenever Judas Iscariot is introduced. But when Judas became one of the twelve, he was just another guy wanting to learn from Jesus. There was nothing about him that immediately said "This guy's going to be a traitor."

In the same way, but in a positive light, there are people...and animals, even...scattered throughout Scripture who are simply living their lives but end up being important parts of God's plan.

Rich Mullins has a song that talks about that. (Oh...THERE'S a big surprise.)

Now Balaam, he had a donkey

Who was gentle and true and kind

And the donkey saw an angel with a sword

So he slipped old Balaam past him

And when he done it three times

Well, Balaam got so mad he beat the donkey

And so the Lord

Well, he gave the donkey language

And the donkey plainly brayed,

"Well, there's an angel about to strike you from the path"

Then old Balaam's eyes were opened

And he realized he'd been saved

By his donkey from the angel of God's wrath

And a princess pulled a baby out of the water

He was hidden in the rushes

Sleeping in a basket made of reeds

And you never know who God is gonna use

A princess or a baby

Or maybe even you or me

Now Esther, she was a beauty

Who was pleasing to a man

And the man that she was pleasing was a king

But her people's lives were threatened

By some wicked men's plans

Nobody knew just how the lord was gonna intervene

Well, Mordecai her uncle, he was honest but he was smart

And he knew that Esther's beauty was a gift

He said, "Maybe you could cook some supper

Maybe you could change a king's heart

Who knows but what you come into the world

For such a time as this"

And a princess pulled a baby out of the water . . .

There was Miriam a-dancing

And there was Jubal with a harp

There was poor blind Samson

Even Pontius Pilate played a part

And a princess pulled a baby out of the water

He was hidden in the rushes

Sleeping in a basket made of reeds

And you never know who God is gonna use

A princess or a baby

Or maybe even you or me

c.1991 BMG Songs,Inc. (ASCAP)

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Truth is...You just may think you're a minor character in God's story; that there's nothing outstanding about you that would say, "This person's going to make a difference."

Well...

You just may be wrong.

Land of My Sojourn

 

A Liturgy, a Legacy, and a Ragamuffin Band ends the way it began...with Rich Mullins contemplating his earthly existence, God's sovereignty over it, and mankind's need for redemption.

And the coal trucks come a-runnin'

With their bellies full of coal

And their big wheels a-hummin'

Down this road that lies open like the soul of a woman

Who hid the spies who were lookin'

For the land of the milk and the honey

And this road she is a woman

She was made from a rib

Cut from the sides of these mountains

Oh these great sleeping Adams

Who are lonely even here in paradise

Lonely for somebody to kiss them

and I'll sing my song, and I'll sing my song

In the land of my sojourn

And the lady in the harbor

She still holds her torch out

To those huddled masses who are

Yearning for a freedom that still eludes them

The immigrant's children see their brightest dreams shattered

Here on the New Jersey shoreline in the

Greed and the glitter of those high-tech casinos

But some mendicants wander off into a cathedral

And they stoop in the silence

And there their prayers are still whispered

And I'll sing their song, and I'll sing their song

In the land of my sojourn

Nobody tells you when you get born here

How much you'll come to love it

And how you'll never belong here

So I call you my country

And I'll be lonely for my home

And I wish that I could take you there with me

And down the brown brick spine of some dirty blind alley

All those drain pipes are drippin' out the last Sons Of Thunder

While off in the distance the smoke stacks

Were belching back this city's best answer

And the countryside was pocked

With all of those Mail Pouch^© posters

Thrown up on the rotting sideboards of

These rundown stables like the one that Christ was born in

When the old world started dying

And the new world started coming on

And I'll sing His song, and I'll sing His song

In the land of my sojourn

1993 - Edward Grant, Inc.
1993 - Kid Brothers of St. Frank Publishing

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is..."I call you my country and I'll be lonely for my home and I wish that I could take you there with me" applies not just to living in America but to occupying Planet Earth. As Paul says in the New Living Translation of Romans 8:22 and 23, "We know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us."

How to Grow Up Big and Strong

 

The penultimate song on A Liturgy, a Legacy, and a Ragamuffin Band is the hardest bit of rocking that Rich Mullins ever did...and it probably packs the hardest punch in terms of grief over how humans have steered so far away from God's ideal for them...all in the name of self-actualization.

Strong man strangle universe

He drown the stars

Blinded by the mission of a thousand wars

He fit and dominant

Not wonder why

He heed the battle cry

Strong man is survivor

He live to pound

Little wooden crosses in the bloody ground

He fit and dominant

He stand a chance

He not bound to circumstance

And the world keep on turning

And the sun keep on burning

And the children keep learning

How to grow up big and strong

How to grow up big and strong

Strong man take no prisoner

Favor no plea

He leave no gold in teeth of enemy

He fit and dominant

He rise above

He not have the word that mean love

And the world keep on turning

And the sun keep on burning

And the children keep learning

How to grow up big and strong

How to grow up big and strong

Strong man beat the plowshare

He forges sword

He take the flower and he curse the thorn

He crush the serpent

He bite the fruit

His hand is absolute

And the world keep on turning

And the sun keep on burning

And the children keep learning

How to grow up big and strong

How to grow up big and strong

1987 - Ideola Music

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Truth is...This song was written by another CCM artist, Mark Heard, but it brings to mind a quote by Rich: "If your life is motivated by your ambition to leave a legacy, what you'll probably leave as a legacy is ambition."

You Gotta Get Up (Christmas Song)

 

With the 10th song on A Liturgy, a Legacy, and a Ragamuffin Band, Rich Mullins has perfectly captured the anticipation and excitement that filled our hearts as children who just could NOT sleep in on December 25th.

I thought Christmas Day would never come

But it's here at last, so mom and dad,

the waiting's finally done

And you gotta get up, you gotta get up,

you gotta get up

It's Christmas morning

Last night I heard reindeers on my roof

Well you may think I'm exaggerating

but I swear I'm tellin' you the truth

And you gotta get up, you gotta get up,

you gotta get up

It's Christmas morning

Did my sister get a baby doll?

Did my brother get his bike?

Did I get that red wagon, the kind that makes you fly?

Oh, I hope there'll be peace on earth

I know there's good will toward men

On account of that Baby born in Bethlehem

Mom and Daddy stayed up too late last night

Oh, I guess they got carried away in the Christmas candlelight

And you gotta get up, you gotta get up,

you gotta get up

It's Christmas morning

And you gotta get up, you gotta get up,

you gotta get up

1993 - Edward Grant, Inc.

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Truth is...Even as commercial and secularized as the celebration of Christmas has become, there will always be the reminder of that baby born in Bethlehem. Sure, Jesus probably wasn't actually born on December 25th, but that's not the point. The miracle of the Incarnation, God taking on human flesh to carry out his mission of sacrificial love, is worth celebrating 365 days a year.

I'll Carry On

 

On Rich Mullins' album, A Liturgy, a Legacy, and a Ragamuffin Band, a fitting follow-up for the admission that being like Jesus is hard is this next song that expresses a determination to keep on keeping on.

Momma, I've got two strong hands.

And they're fine as far as hands go

I can shoulder the future, I can face the wind

For the dream that I must follow

It's a dream that can kill with its beauty

It's a hurt that can heal with its pain

And with all of these miles that lie before me

I may never get home again

But I'll carry the songs I learned when we were kids

I'll carry the scars of generations gone by

I'll pray for you always, and I promise you this

I'll carry on, I'll carry on

I kissed the earth on my daddy's grave

Said goodbye to my brave young companions

But when they hoist that sail I know my heart will break

As bright and as fine as the morning

I don't know where this road will take me

But they say there's a place there for a man

And I'm only afraid that my dreams may betray me

And I'll never get home again

But I'll carry the songs I learned when we were kids

And I'll carry the scars of generations gone by

I'll pray for you always, and I promise you this

I'll carry on, I'll carry on

And oh, I can shoulder the future, I can brave the wind

Oh, we go on, we go on, but we never get home again

So I'll carry the songs I learned when we were kids

I'll carry the scars of generations gone by

I'll pray for you always, and I promise you this

I'll carry on, I'll carry on

1993 - Edward Grant, Inc.
1993 - Kid Brothers of St. Frank Publishing

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Truth is..."Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14

Hard

 

After the instrumental piece, "78 Eatonwood Green," the "legacy" half of A Liturgy, a Legacy, and a Ragamuffin Band kicks off with a semi-peppy prayer of introspection and truthful confession.

Well, I am a good Midwestern boy

I give an honest day's work if I can get it

I don't cheat on my taxes, I don't cheat on my girl

I've got values that would make the White House jealous

Well, I do get a little much over-impressed

'Til I think of Peter and Paul and the apostles

I don't stack up too well against them I guess

But by the standards 'round here I ain't doing that awful

Lord, it's hard to turn the other cheek

Hard to bless when others curse you

Oh Lord, it's hard to be a man of peace

Lord, it's hard, oh it's hard,

You know it's hard to be like Jesus

Don't you know it's hard, oh it's hard,

Oh Lord, it's hard to be like Jesus

And it's hard to step out on them waves

Hard to walk beyond your vision

Oh Lord, it's hard to be a man of faith

Lord, it's hard, Lord, it's hard,

Oh Lord, it's hard to be like Jesus

Don't you know it's hard, oh it's hard,

Oh Lord, it's hard to be like Jesus

Well, His eye is on the sparrow

And the lilies of the field I've heard

And He will watch over you and He will watch over me

So we can dress like flowers and eat like birds

And it's hard when your soul has been stripped bare

Hard to lift your eyes toward Heaven

Oh Lord, it's hard to be a man of prayer

Lord, it's hard, oh it's hard,

You know it's hard to be like Jesus

Lord, it's hard to be a man of peace

But it's hard, ain't it hard,

You know it's hard to be like Jesus

Don't you know it's hard, and it's hard

To be a man of peace

But it's hard to be like Jesus

Well, I am a good Midwestern boy

I give an honest day's work if I can get it

I don't cheat on my taxes, I don't cheat on my girl

I've got values that would make the White House jealous

1993 - Edward Grant, Inc.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...As much as I like to talk about following Jesus and how that's a purposeful life to live, it's not all that easy. It IS hard to bless when others curse you. After all, in Luke 9:23, Jesus said that following him was going to be like carrying your own cross to Calvary every day.

Peace (A Communion Blessing From St. Joseph's Square)

 

The sixth song on Rich Mullins' 1993 album, A Liturgy, a Legacy, and a Ragamuffin Band, helps to emphasize one of the many facets of the Lord's Supper or Eucharist: the sharing of the ritual of remembrance with one's church family.

Though it's true the Lord's Supper can be a time of personal reflection and repentance, Paul calls us to be aware of our spiritual brothers and sisters as well. Consider First Corinthians 11:20-22, 27-29: "When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter! ... So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves."

Though we're strangers, still I love you

I love you more than your mask

And you know you have to trust this to be true

And I know that's much to ask

But lay down your fears, come and join this feast

He has called us here, you and me

And may peace rain down from Heaven

Like little pieces of the sky

Little keepers of the promise

Falling on these souls

This drought has dried

In His Blood and in His Body

In this Bread and in this Wine

Peace to you

Peace of Christ to you

And though I love you, still we're strangers

Prisoners in these lonely hearts

And though our blindness separates us

Still His light shines in the dark

And His outstretched arms are still strong enough to reach

Behind these prison bars to set us free

So may peace rain down from Heaven

Like little pieces of the sky

Little keepers of the promise

Falling on these souls the drought has dried

In His Blood and in His Body

In this Bread and in this Wine

Peace to you

Peace of Christ to you

And may peace rain down from Heaven

Like little pieces of the sky

Like those little keepers of the promise

Falling on these souls the drought has dried

In His Blood and in His Body

In this Bread and in this Wine

Peace to you

Peace of Christ to you

Peace to you

Peace of Christ to you

1993 - Edward Grant, Inc.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...I love the interplay between the first phrases of the two verses: "Though we're strangers, still I love you" and "Though I love you, still we're strangers." It is an appropriate reflection on being part of a church body that is by no means perfect but by all means striving to follow the Lord's lead.

Creed

 

Neither Rich Mullins nor I grew up in a church tradition that placed any emphasis on the Nicene Creed or the Apostles' Creed...or Apollo Creed, for that matter.

We did, however, grow up in churches that place plenty of emphasis on the Bible and on living as united as possible on "the essentials of the faith." And really, what better condensation of truth is there to uphold than one that has Scriptural foundations (see the series I posted on the Nicene Creed and its Scripture references) and has been revered since 325 AD?

I believe in God the Father

Almighty Maker of Heaven and Maker of Earth

And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son, our Lord

He was conceived by the Holy Spirit

Born of the virgin Mary

Suffered under Pontius Pilate

He was crucified and dead and buried

And I believe what I believe

is what makes me what I am

I did not make it, no it is making me

It is the very truth of God

and not the invention of any man

I believe that He who suffered

was crucified, buried, and dead

He descended into hell and on the third day, rose again

He ascended into Heaven

where He sits at God's mighty right hand

I believe that He's returning

To judge the quick and the dead of the sons of men

And I believe what I believe

is what makes me what I am

I did not make it, no it is making me

It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man

I believe it, I believe it

I believe in God the Father

Almighty Maker of Heaven and Maker of Earth

And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son, our Lord

I believe in the Holy Spirit

One Holy Church

The communion of Saints

The forgiveness of sin

I believe in the resurrection

I believe in a life that never ends

And I believe what I believe

is what makes me what I am

I did not make it, no it is making me

I did not make it, no it is making me

I said I did not make it, no it is making me

It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man

I believe it, I believe it

1993 - Edward Grant, Inc.
1993 - Kid Brothers of St. Frank Publishing

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...First Corinthians 15:1-6 says it well. "Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time."

Hold Me, Jesus...Again

 

Having been a huge fan of Rich Mullins for decades and having already referred to him and his songs many times while producing the Truth Is... blog for over 11 years (at this point), it was inevitable that this moment would arrive.

The moment to which I refer is that, in the course of reviewing and revering Rich's album, A Liturgy, a Legacy, and a Ragamuffin Band, I find that I have already written about the next song, "Hold Me, Jesus."

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Truth is...I can't do the song any more justice than to ask you to read the original post from March 2016: https://deweytruth.blogspot.com/2016/03/hold-me-jesus.html

The Color Green

 

The third song in the liturgy section of Rich Mullins' A Liturgy, a Legacy, and a Ragamuffin Band is a song of praise filled with allusions to the glories of nature.

And the moon is a sliver of silver

Like a shaving that fell on the floor of a Carpenter's shop

And every house must have it's builder

And I awoke in the house of God

Where the windows are mornings and evenings

Stretched from the sun

Across the sky north to south

And on my way to early meeting

I heard the rocks crying out

I heard the rocks crying out

Be praised for all Your tenderness

by these works of Your hands

Suns that rise and rains that fall to bless

and bring to life Your land

Look down upon this winter wheat

and be glad that You have made

Blue for the sky and the color green

that fills these fields with praise

And the wrens have returned and they're nesting

In the hollow of that oak where his heart once had been

And he lifts up his arms in a blessing for being born again

And the streams are all swollen with winter

Winter unfrozen and free to run away now

And I'm amazed when I remember

Who it was that built this house

And with the rocks I cry out

Be praised for all Your tenderness

by these works of Your hands

Suns that rise and rains that fall to bless

and bring to life Your land

Look down upon this winter wheat

and be glad that You have made

Blue for the sky and the color green

that fills these fields with praise

1993 - Edward Grant, Inc.

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Truth is..."And the moon was a sliver of silver" is one of my favorite lines in all of music. and then "Like a shaving that fell on the floor of a Carpenter's shop / And every house must have its builder / And I awoke in the house of God" immediately draws our attention to the Creator rather than the Creation.

Brilliant.

52:10

 

Titled simply "52:10", the second song on Rich Mullins' A Liturgy, a Legacy, and a Ragamuffin Band serves as a call to worship for the "liturgy" section of the project.

It is Isaiah 52:10 set to a haunting and compelling melody and it calls our attention to Yahweh's awesomeness in a more organic way than the earlier, more well-known song, "Awesome God".

The Lord has bared His Holy arm

The Lord has bared His Holy arm

In the sight of all the nations

And all the ends of the earth shall see

The Lord's salvation

The Lord has bared His Holy arm

His Holy arm

1992 - BMG Songs, Inc.

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Truth is...There is comfort in the thought of Yahweh rolling up his sleeves. Psalm 77:15 praises him when it says "With your mighty arm you redeemed your people."