Hello OCBC family,

The Psalm 103:1-6 said, Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.  The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.”

These verses were the inspiration to Joachim Neander (1650) to write the famous hymn “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty.”  This hymn of praise uses different psalms and it is one the most popular hymns to open a worship service.  First written in five stanzas in German and published in 1680 by Joachim Neander, the first three verses of the original text were translated in 1863 by Catherine Winkworth. The fourth and fifth verses were translated anonymously. Modern hymnals contain anywhere from 3-5 verses, usually choosing to omit the original 3rd stanza: “Praise to the Lord, who has fearfully, wondrously, made you.”

The goal of this hymn is to present every image of God; according to this hymn He is a creator, sovereign, defender and befriender, refuge, and protector.

Normally when we read a hymn in an article (like this one), we think about the melody and we forgot what the lyrics said; therefore I asking you to take few minutes and read this hymn without singing it, and use it as a prayer before the Lord, I know it will impact your life.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation!
Come, all who hear; now to his temple draw near,
join me in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, above all things so wondrously reigning;
sheltering you under his wings, and so gently sustaining!
Have you not seen all that is needful has been
sent by his gracious ordaining?

Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you;
surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
if with his love he befriends you.

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him.
Let the Amen sound from his people again;
gladly forever adore him.

In His service,

Israel

Hello OCBC family,

Let me share a verse with you.  2 Timothy 1:12 said, “Which is why I suffer as I do.  But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me” (ESV).

When people look for a job, friends said, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”  But this statement is a reality in Christian life.  We might know all the theology, but it is useless if we do not know Jesus.  Do you know Jesus?

As a POW during the Civil War, Daniel Whittle (1840 – 1901) began reading the New Testament his mother had given him when he went to war, and he committed his life to Jesus Christ.

After the war, Whittle became a successful businessman, and in 1873 he began preaching in evangelistic services.  For 25 years he led revivals throughout the United States.

He wrote several hymns like “Showers of Blessing” and “Moment by Moment” but his most popular hymn at that time was “I Know Whom I Have Believed.”  Whittle penned this hymn in 1883, perhaps thinking back to questions he had asked during his imprisonment.  There were still many things he didn’t know, but he certainly did know Jesus.

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

                But “I know whom I have believed
                And am persuaded that He is able
                To keep that which I’ve committed
                Unto Him against that day.”

I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I’ll walk the vale with Him,
Or “meet Him in the air.”

In His service,

Israel

Hello OCBC family,

 I want to share a passage that is powerful and one of my favorites (and maybe yours too); Philippians 2:9-11, “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (ESV).

What attraction the name of Jesus has that throughout centuries this name has been the inspiration for good things (and sadly, for bad things).  It is obvious that the name of Jesus has power, a power that we cannot explain.

Because of the name of Jesus we have “The Last Judgment” by Michelangelo.  Because of the name of Jesus we have “The Last Supper” by Leonardo Da Vinci.  Because of the name of Jesus we have “The Passion according to St. Matthew” by J. S. Bach.  Because of the name of Jesus we have “Messiah” by G. F. Handel.  Because of the name of Jesus we have “Ben Hur” by Lew Wallace.  I could continue and make this list longer, because His name has made such a big impact in the lives of men even non-believers fell under this influence.  Do you know that Leonard Bernstein wrote a Mass, which is a traditional catholic (Christian) ceremony?  Bernstein was Jewish.  Do you know that Ralph Vaughan Williams was a British composer that helped with the creation of the hymnal for the church in England?  He loved the music that exalts the name of Jesus, even though he was an agnostic.

Yes, the name of Jesus is powerful.

Let me close with the lyrics of the song by Bill Gaither, “There Is Something about That Name.”

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

There's just something about that name

Master, Savior, Jesus

Like the fragrance after the rain

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

Let all heaven and earth proclaim

Kings and kingdoms shall all pass away

But there's something about that name.

In His service,

Israel