What a difference 24 hours can make! I started off yesterday, Friday, February 21st, with an early morning meeting at the church with a few of our men, three squad cars and a K-9 unit. When I get a midnight call from our church alarm, I know there is a good chance that it isn’t just that sister Mildred forgot to disarm the alarm. Sure enough, upon arriving “on the scene”, with my trusty bodyguard, Jacob, I found our sound room door busted in.
Within a minute or two, the first officer arrived. And the first thing he did was tell me to put my bat away. He indicated that my peewee metal baseball bat wouldn’t be much of a help against a gun, anyway. After the other officers arrived and the K-9 unit sniffed the church, to no avail, we were finally let back in to batten down the hatches.
That is how my Friday began. But I am glad to say it ended in a much different way. For we were blessed with the opportunity, Friday evening, to reconnect with “old” friends (though they might take exception to that description), support the ministries of Care Net, and enjoy music that moves the soul in a Fernando Ortega concert.
There are a handful of musicians I know of whose music has really moved me. I think of sitting in the dark listening to Simon & Garfunkel as a teen. That was emotionally moving. I think of joining with the congregation singing great songs of worship on any given Sunday. That is spiritually moving. But with Fernando Ortega, I am moved both emotionally and spiritually with a combination of lyrics, melody, instrument and voice that is nothing short of inspiring. Hence this blog post!
I could pick any of his songs to share as an example. But after the way my day began, I think the song with which Ortega concluded the worship service (aka, concert) is most appropriate—Jesus, King of Angels…
Jesus King of angels Heaven's light
Shine Your face upon this house tonight
Let no evil come into my dreams
Light of heaven keep me in Your peace
Remind me how You made Dark spirits flee
And spoke Your power to the raging sea
And spoke Your mercy to a sinful man
Remind me Jesus for this is what I am
With all my heart I love You Sov'reign Lord
Tomorrow let me love You even more
And rise to speak the goodness of Your name
Until I close my eyes in sleep again
The universe is vast beyond the stars
But You are mindful when a sparrow falls
And mindful of the anxious thoughts
That find me surround me and bind me
Jesus King of angels Heaven's light
Hold my hand and keep me through the night
Want a treat? Find this song on line and read the lyrics as you listen. Talk about a wonderful antidote to the crazy things this world throws at us.
Admittedly, it is a bit difficult to get to sleep at 1am after dealing with a break in at church. However, this is nothing compared to other things dear people we know are walking through, including a mother’s sudden death this week after a fall while shoveling snow. These are the gut-wrenching, dark night of the soul kinds of life experiences which call us to fall upon Jesus, King of Angels.
Life is strange, in part because you just don’t know what might happen next. However, whether you find yourself basking in the sun light of a beautiful day or riding out a storm, how good it is to know that Jesus, King of Angels is ever close.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
In Him, Pastor Dan