Sorry, but the download section appears to be not working at this time. I will get it back up and functioning as soon as possible.
I’ve uploaded two old episodes of The Larry Black Show from 1980 and 1982 respectively. You can download these to listen to on the Downloads page on this site.
What I would like to know is this: Does anyone want to hear more of these shows? I’ve got about 3-4 more Larry Black Show episodes that I can post if there is interest.
Featured song: Silent Witness by Bob Ayala, from his 1976 album Joy By Surprise
The last command that Jesus gave to us before He left earth was to go and make disciples (faithful followers) of everyone in the world, teaching them to obey everything that He had taught his followers while He was with them (Matthew 28:18-20). To carry out this command might actually be easier to do with strangers than with people you see every day, or those you live with.
Why is that? Well, when you share your faith with people that you meet unexpectedly, people that you might never see again, it can be just a little easier to be bold and earnest with them. After all, that person doesn’t know you, doesn’t have any pre-conceived notions about you, and you may never see them again. So I can be as bold as Billy Graham if I wish, and don’t have to worry as much about my future dealings with that person.
But people where you work, or your family — that can be a different matter. Especially with family, they know you much better, and tend to take what you say less seriously than they might take it from a stranger. Even Jesus had problems with this; in Matthew 13:55-57 it shows the reaction of people in His home town when he preached to them. They “took offense” at Him.
Is it then impossible to share your faith with parents, brothers or sisters, or with your husband or wife? Not at all. But it takes more than your words, as important as words are. What those who know you best need to see is a changed life. If my actions are no different than they were before Jesus came into my life, what does the Gospel message have to offer them that should attract them to it?
In today’s song, Bob Ayala tells the story of a wife whose life was touched by the message of salvation, and how she was preaching it to her unbelieving husband — preaching it without words. This is indirectly taken from 1 Peter 3:1, where it talks about husbands been won over without words, by the behavior of their wives. Clearly the husband knows what brought about the newness in her life; he knows about “that God of yours”. May we all make the message of Christ known to those who know us, whether with or without words.
When the morning sun peeped through the curtain in our room
I heard you on the stairway hum an old familiar tune
And though your sense of timing when you hum is really poor
You’re never late to wake me with the kiss I wake up for
Oh my ladyAnd you know that breakfast is a pleasure when we’re alone
And you know your presence is what makes our house a home
And every day at lunch I find a love note in my sack
That let’s me know you love me, and you’ll
Be there when I get back
Oh my ladyOnly seven months ago,
Our marriage was near the end
And only seven months ago,
You’d break before you bend
Oh my ladyLately, Sunday mornings you wake me up and kiss me goodbye
You hurry off to church alone, sometimes tears were in your eyes
And I have seen a change in you
I’ve never seen before
I wonder if that God of yours
Has room for just one more
Oh I wonder
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Featured song: Grace Like Rain, by Todd Agnew, from the 2006 album of the same name.
Photo credit - Flickr, LordKahn
For me, the awesome thing about music is how it can take a moment, and make it suddenly slow to a stop, as the instruments and the singing suddenly wash over me, and I “hear” what is being sung as if it were for the first time. Possibly this happens because it is the music and words I specifically needed to hear at that time. To paraphrase what others have said, I believe that the reason music I hear on earth can sometimes cut so deeply is because it is a dim reflection of what the music in heaven will be like.
Today, I am dealing with a day that (so far) is a little less full of stress and strain than yesterday was. And as I drove from the hospital to my office, I’m enjoying the music playing in the car, and this song came on, and “washed over me”.
It was not a feeling of my wretchedness, my blindness, or my fears that spoke to me from this re-take on an old hymn. Rather, it was the chorus line: Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me. Grace. God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. It matters not whether today I am battered by storms of stress, or experience a calm and easy trip – the day is covered by God’s grace.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I’m found
Was blind but now I see, so clearlyHallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
Hallelujah, and all my stains are washed away
They’re washed away‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believedHallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away
They’re washed awayWhen we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing Your praise
Than when we first begunHallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
Hallelujah, and all my stains are washed away
They’re washed awayHallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
Hallelujah, and all my stains are washed away
They’re washed away
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Tags: grace, pain, Todd Agnew, worry
