Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem
The sanctuary of the little church held about 1000 people, and it was always full. There were hymnals, but most people knew the songs by heart. The whole first part of the service was singing, and it was a combination of Old-Time-Gospel, Traditional Hymns, and lots of Choruses, accompanied by piano, organ, drums, guitars, and the occasional wind instrument. There was no official choir, because everybody sang. To my newly-blessed ears, it really sounded like angels singing in heaven.
Skip, a friend of mine, who had introduced me to this lovely little church, had a problem though. When the music was at its loveliest, there was a woman's voice somewhere behind him that was horribly out of pitch. The woman sounded sincere, but her voice was awful. Nobody except Skip seemed to notice or mind it, so he said nothing. The following Sunday, Skip sat himself in the very opposite section of the offending singer.
But! There it was again, right behind him. He dared not turn around to see who was singing so horribly, and resolved to change his seating next Sunday.
Next, he sat in the last row, right by the door, so nobody could sit behind him. The music started, and there it was again! The voice seemed to be coming from inside his own head.
Well, that was it! Skip left the church and did not seek out a new one. It seemed that he was harboring a secret sin and finally moved away to a place where he could be "himself". Anyway, that's what he said on his Facebook page as he showed a picture of himself waving a rainbow flag.
We never did find out who the horrible singer was, but I have a feeling she was not "human", if you catch my drift.
The enemy of our souls has many tactics to distract us from worship. He often uses music to do that because music is so powerful. The very notes and rhythms that lift us up into clouds of glory can also lead us into battle, comfort us in our grief, or plunge us into depression. The notes, rhythms, harmonies, and tempi are neutral, but the spirit behind the music is what stirs the soul for good or for evil.
I haven't seen or heard from Skip in about 25 years, but I still pray for him. May the music in his head be from God Alone, and bring him back to sanity.
Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.
"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)
God Bless America!
Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.
This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.
Hallelujah and Amen
ML/LTOS
