Hello OCBC family! Listen to the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, “Then Jesus said, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear’” (Mark 4:9 – NIV 1984). Tobias Clausnitzer was thirty years old when he heard about peace. He born at Thum, near Annaberg, in Saxony, probably on Feb. 5, 1619, a year after the Thirty Years Wars began; Europe was torn apart, and many lives were lost. He studied in several universities but he finished his studies in the University of Leipzig. He was appointed as a chaplain and because of this position was has able to preach in the famous church of St. Thomas of Leipzig. This is important, especially for musicians, because this is the same church where Johann Sebastian Bach worked as the music director. Tobias wrote several hymns and Bach created the melody and harmony for many of them.

The most popular one of his hymns is “Blessed Jesus, at Thy Word.” This is a gathering hymn that helps believers to focus on the Lord; it helps Christian to move from the dark world to the presence of the Lord. Yes, Tobias heard Him, the perfect and incarnate Word of God, and then he received peace.

May the Lord grant you peace every time you open His blessed word.

1. Blessed Jesus, at your word
we are gathered all to hear you.
Let our hearts and souls be stirred
now to seek and love and fear you.
By your gospel pure and holy,
teach us, Lord, to love you solely.

2. All our knowledge, sense, and sight
lie in deepest darkness shrouded,
till your Spirit breaks our night
with your beams of truth unclouded.
You alone to God can win us;
you must work all good within us.

3. Glorious Lord, yourself impart;
Light of Light, from God proceeding,
open lips and ears and heart;
help us by your Spirit's leading.
Hear the cry your church now raises;
Lord, accept our prayers and praises.

In His service,
Israel

Hello OCBC family!

I want to share a verse with you. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8 – HCSB). This particular verse is a powerful call to preach the gospel wherever we are. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can share the good news of salvation to those who are in darkness. I say this because tomorrow will be the anniversary of the death of William Carey, “the father of modern missions”, a humble man who dedicated his life to share the message of salvation.

This same fervor that William Carey had, a young lady had as well. Her name was Kate Hankey, the daughter of a prosperous British banker. Even thought she had a nice position in society, her love for the word of God took her to teach bible lessons to girls, first in her own neighborhood, and when she was eighteen years old, she went to London to teach a Bible class for “factory girls.”
Sadly, her health was fragile and she became very ill. Doctors told her that she needs a year of bedrest and she cannot teach her Bible lesson to her “factory girls.” During this year she wrote several poems, and through these poems two hymns were born, “Tell Me the Old, Old Story” and “I Love to Tell the Story.”

When she was strong enough, she came back to her girls and started again her Bible lessons. She did this for several years. When she became too old to teach in the factory, she found the opportunity to teach girls who were in jail, and she started a prison ministry in London.

Enjoy once again the lyrics of her hymn “I Love to tell the Story”:

1. I love to tell the story
Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory,
Of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story,
Because I know its true;
It satisfies my longings
As nothing else would do.
I love to tell the story,
'Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and His love.

2. I love to tell the story;
More wonderful it seems
Than all the golden fancies
Of all our golden dreams.
I love to tell the story,
It did so much for me;
And that is just the reason
I tell it now to thee.
I love to tell the story,
'Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and His love.

3. I love to tell the story;
'Tis pleasant to repeat
What seems, each time I tell it,
More wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story,
For some have never heard
The message of salvation
From God's own holy word.
I love to tell the story,
'Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and His love.

4. I love to tell the story;
For those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting
To hear it, like the rest,
And when, in scenes of glory,
I sing the new, new song,
'Twill be the old, old story,
That I have loved so long.
I love to tell the story,
'Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and His love.

In His service,
Israel