Sunday Evening Hymn Sing

Lesson Transcript

Good evening. Welcome each one of you to this special 80th hymn sing. Thank you so much for taking the time to come out. Let's begin with a word of prayer. Father, we thank you for this day that you've given to us. Thank you so much for the opportunity to gather in this way to celebrate your goodness, your faithfulness. Thank you for the many friends and family represented here tonight.

We just thank you for the freedom to gather like this, a freedom that so many around the world would long to be a part of, to meet freely like this. We pray that you would bless the time here. Be with Dad. Bless him in a special way. We pray this in your name. Amen. Just give you a little of the layout of the service. It's fairly, fairly straightforward. Dad's plan to come and lead a bunch of his favorites. And then those two sons-in-law, Heinrich and I, we plan to share a little bit of a commendation.

And then Dad plans to finish out with a few more of his favorites. We can't sing all of his favorites tonight, but we said that he's allowed to lead us in singing till about 8:00. He said he had enough to lead us till about 10:00, but I think we'll wear out by about 8:00. So I did want you to be aware that there is snack in the basement following the service this evening. You're welcome to stay for that. If you brought a card, there's a card basket down there. Feel free to put your card in the card basket.

All right. Thank you again for coming. And we'll turn the time over to Dad. Well, thank you so much for coming. When my family asked me what I wanted for a birthday gift, I said a singing. So that's all I ordered. So anything more than that, my dear family added. So let's begin this evening by turning to number one and have an invocation, invite Christ to be in our presence tonight. The Bible says that God dwells in the praises of his people. And so we want to invite him into our service tonight.

Now, my voice isn't what it used to be. I cannot hit the high notes. And after a while, I'm actually tired and beating time causes a problem. So you'll just have to put up with whatever I can do tonight. I might sing bass part of the time. You folks just go right ahead and sing whatever needs to be sung. Okay. Now, on this song, we're going to sing verses one, three, one, two, and four.

And on verse two, I would like those of you who are visitors—we do this frequently here—I'd like for the sopranos and sopranos and tenors to switch. And then the altos and basses, you sing just what you regularly sing. On the last verse, I want everybody 25 years old and younger to continue with the switch with the soprano and tenor and the rest go back to your regular parts. 25 and under will continue that switch on verse three. And so if I say this evening, tenors take the lead, that's what I mean.

Tenors and sopranos switch and altos and basses sing your regular part. And on the last verse, we'll have six parts the way I described. Okay. Come without God of grace. Do. Come without God of grace, make this a holy place where Christ is heard. Draw every heart to me and may our worship be lies offered pure and free to Christ our Lord. Be any song of praise which hear thy people rage with hearts aflame. Let every anthem rise like incense to the skies of joyful sacrifice to thy blessed name.

To the great one in three glory and praises be in love now given. Let songs to thee we sing, let hearts to thee we bring till we our God and King shall praise in ham. Amen. Number seven. This is one of my favorite tunes. One of my friends said, "John, I think your favorite tune is this one because it's four times in your hymnal." I rescued it from the funeral section of the church hymnal, the tune. Stand up and bless the Lord. Let's sing verses one, two, four, and five. And on verse five, we will have the desk ant.

Do. Stand up and bless the Lord. Ye people of his choice. Stand up and bless the Lord, your God, with heart and soul and voice. Though high above all praise, above all blessings, high, who would not fear his holy name and love and magnify? God is our strength and song and his salvation life. Then need his love in Christ, proclaim with all our ransomed powers. Stand up and bless the Lord. The Lord, your God adore. Stand up and bless his glorious name henceforth forevermore. Number 180.

This song has been called the national anthem of the Christian faith. It literally has been translated into every language where the gospel has gone. Edward Perronay was a very interesting person. He was a very vivacious person. He was part of the Wesleys for a while. I always liked what he said before he died. It gives you a little bit of the character of the man. "Glory to God in the highest"—I'm sorry—"glory to God in the height of his divinity. Glory to God in the depth of his humanity.

Glory to God in his all-sufficiency. Into thy hands I commend my spirit." Now, there are many stories connected with this song. I'll just tell you one. There was an E.P. Scott who was a missionary to India, and he was going to another tribe of heathen in that country. And as he approached the village, the tribesmen were coming toward him with their swords drawn. And he didn't know what to do.

And so what he did do was he took his violin out of the case, tucked it under his chin, closed his eyes, and began singing this song. And when he got to the verse that says, "Let every kindred, every tribe," he opened his eyes and all the swords were down—all the spears, I'm sorry, they were spears—were down, and there were tears streaming down their cheeks. And he stayed the rest of his life ministering to that tribe. This is a tremendous song. All hail the power of Jesus' name.

We want to sing verses one, three, and four. Do. All hail the power of Jesus' name. Let angels from straightfall. Let angels from straightfall. Bring forth a royal glory again and glory will be more. Glory will be more. Glory will be more. Glory will be more. Glory will be more. Gloy will be more. Glory will be more. Glory will be more. Glory will be more. Glory will be more. Glory. Let every kindred, every tribe on this earth show all, on this earth show all to him of majesty and strife and glory.

Glory will be more. Glory will be more. Glory will be more. Glory will be more. Glory will be more. And glory will be more. Glory will be more. Glory will be more. Glory will be more. Glory will be more. Gloy will be more. Oh, let with your under sacred throne we at his feet may fall. We at his feet may fall. We'll join the ever-blessing song and glory will be more. Glory will be more. Glory will be more. Glory will be more. Glory will be more. Gloy will be more. Glory will be more. Glory will be more.

Glory will be more. Glory will be more. Glory. Glory will be more. Glory will be more. Glory will be more. Glory will be more. Glory will be more. Amen. Now, they're going to—now, you're going to hear—we're going to sing some of our family favorites tonight. My wife's family favorite is 187. Let's sing verses one, three, and five. Do. Come, let us sing the song of song. The saints in hand begin the string. The homage rings to Christ belongs. Worthy of ham. Worthy of ham. Worthy of ham. For he was slain.

To him who suffered on the tree. Our songs and his songs rise today. Blessed he be and praise and glory be. Worthy of ham. Worthy of ham. Worthy of ham. For he was slain. Long as we live and when we die. And while in hell within we reign. This song, our song of songs shall be. Worthy of ham. Worthy of ham. Worthy of ham. For he was slain. 196. I knew we'd have some good singing tonight. Thank you for that wonderful singing. It's such an inspiration.

This song was written on the 11th anniversary of Charles's experience at Aldersgate. Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing. I guess I would ask this question. That's a very nice magnanimous statement to make. The question is, what are you doing with the one voice you have? I think I can say with confidence tonight you're using it well. Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing. Let's sing verses one, three, and four. Do. Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing. My great redeemer's praise. My great redeemer's praise.

The glories of my God and King. The triumphs of his triumphs. The triumphs of his triumphs. The triumphs of his triumphs. The triumphs of his triumphs are his praise. He brings the rough rock and souls sing. He sets the prisoner free. He sets the prisoner free. His blood can make the fallen sweet. His blood of hell falls free. His blood of hell falls free. His blood of hell falls down. His blood of hell for me. He sings and letters sing through his voice. New life for every sink. New life for every sink.

The humble broken hearts rejoice. The humble for believer. The humble for believer. The humble for believer. The humble for believer. 141. We've been singing about Christ. We want to sing about God the Father. This has long been a favorite of mine. It's so typical of Lowell Mason to write a song that is beautifully crafted, very simple to sing, very delightful. The last verse in this song is my favorite. Thy children shall not faint nor fear sustained by this delightful thought. And here's the delightful thought.

Since thou their God art everywhere, they cannot be where thou art not. All right. Let's sing verses—let's sing all the verses here. On verse three, let's have that tenor soprano switch and six parts on the last verse. Father and friend. Oh, Father and friend, thy light, thy love beaming through all thy works we sing. Thy glory gives the hands of hope and of the earth it's full of thee. Thy voice we hear, thy presence fear. Wells proud to glorify those sight. Impounding clouds invisible.

Praise us, the Lord of white and bright. We know not in what hallowed heart of the white hands I thronged and heed. But this we know that where hell was, strength, wisdom, goodness dwell with thee. Thy children shall not faint nor fear. Sustained by this delightful thought. Since thou their God art everywhere, they cannot be where thou art not. Number 32.

Now, one arrangement of this song puts a nice little run at the end of that second score where it says, "Mercy and truth are all his ways." And we can do that nice little run at the end if the altos drop down to an alto note, which will be re, and sing re mi fa. And the tenors start with so and just sing so la ti. And we can put that nice little run in there. So the altos, you're going to drop down and sing an alto note there where you have a unison note at the end, and then you'll take that run up to re mi fa.

Let's see what happens. All right. I think we'll sing verses one. Verse three. This song blesses me. For years, I thought that what they told us, that God created everything out of nothing, was probably true. And then I've been thinking—and then somebody corroborated this recently—energy is transferable to matter. And when God spoke, there was tremendous energy. And what we see is the corporeal expression of His person in all the physical things we see.

Now, to put that in perspective, it took only 20 pounds of uranium to blow up Nagasaki. Now, if you take—how much energy then? If all that explosion in Nagasaki would have been 20 pounds' worth of matter, what kind of energy did God express in what He created? It completely boggles your mind. So remember the little run at the end. We're going to sing verses one, three, four, and five. Remember the little run at the end of the second score. Do so give to our God in hearts of grace. Mercy and truth are all His ways.

Wonders of grace to God belong. Repeat His mercies in your song. He built the earth, He spread the sky, and this the star relights on high. Wonders of grace to God belong. Repeat His mercies in your song. He built the sun with morning light. He built the moon, thy rank the night. His mercies ever shall endure when suns and moons shall shine no more. He sent His son with fire to save from guilt and darkness and the grey. Wonders of grace to God belong. Repeat His mercies in your song. 100.

I am not able to write a good melody. I've tried and tried, and they all sound the same. But my wife has a talent I don't have. She wrote the music to this song. Praise the Lord. Yea, heavens adore Him. Do. Praise the Lord. Yea, heavens adore Him. Praise Him. Angels in the sky. Sun and moon rejoice before Him. Praise Him. All He stars abide. Praise the Lord for He has spoken. Worlds His mighty voice obeyed. All strengths ever shall be broken for their guidance He hath made. Praise the Lord for He.

His gloria never shall His promise fail. God hath made His saints victorious. Sin and death shall not prevail. Praise the God of our salvation. Most on high His power proclaimed. Hath met birth and all creation. Lord, and man gave thy His name. Worship, honor, glory, blessing, Lord, we offer unto Thee. Young and old, Thy praise expressing. In battle they tread the knee. All the saints in hand adore Thee. We worthow before Thy throne. As Thine angels serve before Thee, so on earth Thy will be done. 538.

This is a piece of music written by my late brother Luke. I think it's a very delightful piece of music, and I think this text goes very well with it. I knew Thee not, Thou wounded Son of God. We'll sing all the verses. Do so. I knew Thee not, Thou wounded Son of God. Till I'm breaking a path of suffering's road. Till in the valley, through the gloom of night, I walk with Thee and turn to Thee for light. I did not know the mystery of love. The love that doth the fruitless branch trees lose.

The love that stares not in the fruitful tree. The fruits that it may yet more fruitful be. I did not know the meaning of the cross. I counted it but bitterness and loss. Till in Thy gracious disciple of pain, I found the loss I dreaded pure resting. And shall my frighten of the darkest day. Lord, of all mercy, take my cross away. May in the cross I saw Thy hope and faith, and found there in the fullness of Thy grace. 955. This is one of Jeffrey's two songs in the book.

One evening, I was looking through some songs I was planning to place in the hymnal, and I had one little song I thought was nice. And I said to Jeffrey, "That's a really nice song, isn't it?" And Jeffrey said, "Well, anybody could write a song like that." I said, "Okay." And so he sat down at the piano, and he played this just as you're going to sing it. And we never retouched it at all. It's just the way Jeffrey played it, as long as it's going to take you to sing the first verse. My children now attend.

And so I put the words to it. This is my favorite chapter in Proverbs, chapter four. My children now attend. Do so. My children now attend. And wonderstanding gain. With all the heart thou hath breathed, pure wisdom frightened claimed. And praisers come with love. And whisper to thy heart. She is all other things above. With her refuse to part. If thou wilt lift her high, Thy honor she will raise. A crown of glory shall supply. And deck thy head with grace. My son, receive my word. For wisdom only shrines.

Ophaster, precepts thou asked her. Instruction is thy line. Thy heart, Lord, well and keep. Lights issues from its ring. Look well to wisdom's boundless key. And all of life will sing. Turn back a page to 952. Jeffrey was 14, and the Overholtz were on their way to a wedding. And they had been asked to write an original song to sing at the wedding, and they were writing it on the way to the wedding. Now, you people know the Overholtz, some of you. That's not unusual.

And they weren't making any progress, so they stopped in for my help, and I wasn't home. Jeffrey was home, and he did this just like he did the other one. He played it for them just straight through. They sat down and transcribed it and went on and sang it at the wedding. And so Jeffrey stood here two weeks before his death and gave a talk on time. He said, "We don't have much time. We need to do what we need to do." He had two weeks left.

So one of the sisters in our congregation took notes of what he said with all the scriptures. And so I basically have the essence of what Jeffrey told us that morning, set to his music. Mewso, my soul. Do. Mewso, my soul. Set thy heart now to ponder. Thy arrows fell of time. Look to thy end. Let eternity yonder. Speak to thee in thy pride. Wake from thy sleep. Low far stand is the night. Truely the day is now at hand. Cast off thy darkness. Be armored with light. Give all thy heart to understand.

See then, my soul, that ye waltz circumspectly. Let not the fools sway. High up the time. Judge the moment correctly. Shine well thee hero day. In thy done works know the will of the Lord. Filled with the Spirit ceaselessly. Speak forth in song. Glory in dwelling word. And in thy heart make melody. Time will not linger reduce. All illusion. You are thy gaze at best. Act lest thy aims all be brought to confusion. Quickly pursue thy quest. Cond thy devotion. The Lord doth deserve. Yield to His kingdom all thy days.

Keep from destruction. Thy works will preserve. And crown with glory all thy lace. And now 462, and we'll take a break after this. 462. I've been singing songs of our family. The music for this song comes from a musical called Exodus, I think, by Ernest Gold. And when I heard that, I thought that would make a beautiful hymn. So I sat down and wrote this, and I didn't think so much about the all-inclusiveness of what I wrote.

But a friend of mine heard this song sung, and he said, "John, that gives your entire theology." And I think it does. I think it pretty well has the entire theology that you'd hear me talk about. Who can fathom the wonder that Jesus, the Son, chose to humble Himself, leave His glory, and come? We'll sing all the verses. Do so. Who can fathom the wonder that Jesus, the Son, chose to humble Himself, leave His glory, and come? To save the creation. Let thankless swords turn His love.

Mocked His ways from the day He was born. But His love quite amazes the faithful who see what His holy incarnation affords you and me. His life as a human that's plainly shown. God can well live in flesh when the heart is His throne. How we thank, praise, and bless our great Savior who came to show us life. Shed His blood and redeemed us from shame. Ascended on high. Giving gifts to men so the whole world would see all His life with again. Give us hearts that enthrone Him. Our Father, we pray.

In repentance unfeigned. Help us live day by day. Give us by Thy Spirit reinforced new birth. Let thy sworn men they see Jesus' life lived on earth. Good evening. If you have listened to any of Dad's sermons, you'll find out very quickly that he loves to use acronyms. For example, when my wife and I got married 11 years ago, his sermon for our wedding was about the art of marriage. A for abandoned self, R for released spouse, and T for trust God. "Well, Dad, I " where are you there?

"Dad, I have decided I will use an acronym to highlight some key points about you." So the name John means God is gracious. So with that in mind, I'm using the word grace as an acronym. G for generosity. "Well, on the topic of economics, you helped me to better understand verses such as, 'Lay not up for yourself treasures upon earth, but rather lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.

For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.'" But one of my favorite ones is your explanation of how God loves a cheerful giver. As you love to say, "God loveth the hilarious giver." "We should all laugh and chuckle when we put our offering into the basket on Sunday morning." I have to admit that your teaching in this area has made me rethink some of my own ideas regarding finances.

But not only has it influenced me, I can attest that your teaching is not just some lofty idea, but you have been practically living it out in our family and in your community. R for recreation. Now, people might wonder what this is all about, but I'll fill you in. I believe it was in the summer of 2024 when my family was at John's place for a weekend stayover. And for dessert, we had everyone guess? Ice cream. Correct.

While we were enjoying the sweet substance, my younger son that's sitting there, he perked up and asked, "Grandpa, how much ice cream have you had?" Grandpa assured him he had only just had a few scoops of ice cream. But my boy then asked, "Have you eaten as much as a full house of ice cream?" Well, Grandpa laughed. Of course, my son was referring to how much ice cream Grandpa would have eaten in his entire life versus Grandpa just referring to the ice cream sitting in front of him.

Well, I guess I will refrain from estimating your entire life ice cream consumption. A for adoration. "Your passion for singing has often inspired me. Maybe because I like singing myself." Well, the fact that the main activity of this evening is singing is self-explanatory. You might know this, but if you visit at John's house, you seldom leave the house without just at least singing a couple's hymns, right? Here are some things Dad often said about the topic of singing.

Historically, when you came into the presence of a king, you would bring a gift. "God is our king, and singing is the gift He delights in when we come into His presence." Psalm 102. "Come into His presence with singing." Another, and that was more a new thought for me, another thought that he shared with me, he believes that singing is one of the most powerful resources in our spiritual life. "Well, thank you for inspiring me and my family to sing." C is for Christlikeness.

Your teaching of Christ has also challenged me quite a bit. There are two components that have stuck with me. One is in the area of crossbearing. One example you often have given in the past that I won't forget is this one. Before you converted, Christ is on the cross and self is on the throne. After you're converted, self is on the cross and Christ is on the throne. The other area is striving for perfection.

Matthew 5:48, "Be therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect." I'm now quoting a part of your sermon from the Kingdom Fellowship weekend in 2022. "The pursuit of perfection is what God loves. He loves that passion to be like Christ. He loves that passion to be like His original society. He loves that passion for the world to see what He always had in mind." Thank you for not only teaching those principles but also living them out in your family.

No, you haven't done it perfectly, but I witnessed the striving towards perfection. And E for exhortation. Well, your passion for preaching, I think, is evident. And I had a little phone conversation with Dad yesterday, and I asked him a question during this phone conversation. The question was, "How many sermons do you think or how many talk sermons do you think you had given in your life?" Well, you shared with me yesterday that you started preaching around 1990. That would mean that's about 35 years.

Just as an estimate, let's say you would have preached about two or three sermons per month, let's say two and a half. And you multiply that by 12, you end up with 30 sermons or talks a year. Multiply that by 35 years, and you end up with about 1,050 sermons. So let's say 1,000 sermons.

Well, this includes sermons at home, at your home church here, and at other churches, of course, and talks at music camp, Bible schools, men's seminars, and a Baptist identity conference, and a Baptist perspective, Strengths to Strengths, and various hymn sings. My guess is out of the thousands sermons, the majority probably were about the Kingdom of God. I was going to say 999, but probably not quite.

And the other sermons were about music, community life, plainness, non-resistance, non-accumulation of wealth, and warnings against individualism and selfishness. So Dad, I'm looking forward to your 90th birthday celebration, and I think my acronym for that one will be something like this: The Art of Aging. We have a little song as a family. This one is one that Dad often sings to himself. And our family kind of adopted it. We sing it frequently as well. So this is a song. It's a 428.

You can follow along if you want to. It's kind of a reminder of God's faithfulness when we are obedient to Him. I'm trying to think where I preach those half sermons. I know the Lord will make a way for me. I know the Lord will make a way for me. If I live a holy life, shun the wrong and do the right. I know the Lord will make a way for me. I want the Lord to have His way with me. I want the Lord to have His way with me. Though my needs and cradle's full, thou will give to Him my all.

I want the Lord to have His way with me. Thank you, Heinrich. Someone had suggested that we sons-in-law provide a few good words. That's what a eulogy is, a good word. And of course, Craig is in Ireland. He and Anne, and so they're not able to be here. But Heinrich and I are pleased to share some words of commendation. Dad wasn't too sure about this part. He did not ask for it, and he thought he might exit during this time, but he's still here.

So Heinrich and I did not confer, but I think we're thinking down some similar tracks. I thought that perhaps I should share three points in a poem followed by about 11 verses of an invitation, Dad. How would that go? Dad often likes to alliterate his points, and so I'd like to share three characteristics with you tonight about Dad. These each start with the letter C, so there are three Cs of things that I see in Dad, things that I appreciate about his life.

And I'm starting on the surface, and then I'm driving down deeper with each succeeding C. First of all, Dad is a communicator. That's probably how he is best known, perhaps. Of course, he's been involved in schooling and singing and speaking for years, and he's good at it, not just because he has a gift, but because he has cultivated the talent that God has given him. And I've talked with him enough to know that it takes work.

People looking on think, "Wow, he just pulls these alliterated things right out of his hat." That's not the case. They come out of the thesaurus, the same one you have on your shelf. But he does a lot of work, and I really appreciate the work you do, Dad. Ironically, it was miscommunication that almost kept me and Heather from getting together, but we got it all ironed out, so. It's something that Dad's always working on. Lots of people talk, but not everyone communicates.

Talking gets it out, but communication gets it through. And Dad is a communicator. Secondly, I appreciate the fact that Dad is a connector. We're going another level down now. The reason that his communication is so inspirational and helpful, I believe, is because he's living a life of constant evaluation and connection. He's constantly thinking about things, analyzing things. And this is true on several fronts. For one thing, he's regularly connecting cause and effect.

And there's a sense in which he can't help it. That's how he was raised. His dad was constantly talking to him and to his siblings about, "You see this here? It's because of this over here. This happened because of this and this, and you put those two things together." Constantly, the explanation was coming, and from what I hear from my wife, Heather, Dad passed that on as well.

He is still constantly talking about, "Well, why did this person end up over here?" Well, you check out their choices, and you track that trajectory, and it's not too much of a mystery usually how it all ended. Dad's also good at connecting with the decades of lived experience that he has had. We're talking 80 years. That's an amazing amount of time. Someone has said that wisdom doesn't come with age. Sometimes age comes alone. And they went on to say wisdom comes with reflection on experience.

It's not just the fact that we have lots of experiences that means we're going to be wise people, but it's the fact that we take time to reflect on those experiences and glean from them. And that's what I've seen Dad demonstrate again and again. Dad's also really good at connecting with a wide range of friends and family. And that's why you're here tonight. He connected with you. You've connected with him. And I'm constantly amazed by this person or that person he's talked to on the phone. People call him.

He calls people. I call him. And we were at the room several months ago, John, Patricia, and our family. The room is a soup kitchen for people in the Chambersburg area. And so we'll take a meal occasionally there to that place, provide a devotional, and then after that devotional, they can have a meal. And in that case, this was back in December, Dad was giving the devotional. I forget what all the topic was, but he was encouraging people to not be isolated, to connect with others.

And I remember a lady that was there, one of the homeless ladies that we know to a degree. She raised her hand and said something of, "Well, not all of us can handle having as many people around us as you can. We have our limits." And yes, Dad is pretty amazing in the parameters, the ability he has to connect with a wide range of people and to be with lots of people and enjoy it. He has a high tolerance for people. Due to his many connections, I try to chat with Dad about once a week or so.

I'll call him on the way to work in the morning, and often I'll say, "Hey, it's the Monday morning briefing. What'd you think about church yesterday? What'd you learn?" Or maybe he was away speaking somewhere, and so what'd you learn about so-and-so congregation? What are they doing over there? What's happening? Maybe we just had brothers' meeting, and I'll say, "So what'd you think about brothers' meeting last night?" Now, why did the brotherhood 30 years ago make that decision?

And what were they thinking at the time? And now, what are we thinking right now? What's going on with this trajectory? And I really enjoy that opportunity to talk with Dad about things that he lived. He's been part of it. He's seen a lot of things happen across the Anabaptist world. And not just the Anabaptist world, but he's constantly making connections in the political world, the nations of the world. There's just all sorts of connections that he's making. I love to chat with him.

So it's a huge blessing to have an octogenarian father-in-law who's able and willing to communicate so readily. So I really appreciate the fact that you are a communicator, but you're also a connector. And then thirdly, and even more deeply, Dad is a Christian. He's a Christian. And that may seem a bit trite. That may seem a bit ho-hum, but that is the most important of these three qualities.

In Proverbs 16:31, it says, "The silver-haired head is a crown of glory if it is found in the way of righteousness." If it's found in the way of righteousness, that's a beautiful thing. And I see that with you, Dad. All of your interests in music, the kingdom, culture, economics, it all flows from that love for Christ and that desire to be obedient to Him and become more like Him. There are two things that have influenced me in my talks with Dad lately that he's brought up or that we've talked about.

One is we've talked about several times now how important it is to finish well and how hard it is to finish well. We just know different older people or know about them, perhaps, who have disqualified themselves or have gone off track near the very end of their life. And it's so, so sad, so disheartening. And it makes me realize how hard it is to finish well. I want to finish well. I'm sure you do as well, and Dad most definitely desires to finish well.

And the second thing that he's mentioned several times is how sobering it is that the next big thing on his calendar is that he will meet God. He will meet God. And the reality is, as Christians, those of us who are believers, that's the next big thing for all of us. Someday, we will meet God. And that's been a sobering but a very important truth that I feel like Dad has reminded me of. So in closing, thank you, Dad, for being a man who is seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

To borrow your words, you aren't doing it perfectly, but you are doing it credibly. Thank you. And you're doing it beautifully. We're grateful for the eight decades that God has given you and value each day that He grants you to us. We love you, and we wish you God's greatest blessing. Amen. There's a song sheet that you have there in front of you. Just out of curiosity and by raise of hands, how many of you were at John's 70th birthday hymn sing? Do you remember if you were here? Okay.

I'm going to guess maybe 30% or so. At that time, I had a bit more energy and time, perhaps. And I collaborated with Lloyd Kaufman to write up a song for Dad and to bring that as a surprise gift to him. You can see that Lloyd playfully named the tune Septuagenarian. So that's what the tune name is that he gave it. I had been listening to some of David Berceau's messages, and I was inspired by the things that David was saying about the kingdom. And so that is the basis for this text here.

It's good to have Brother David and Sister Deborah with us this evening. The tune is a bit—it's a bit of a challenge. We've been practicing the last two weeks as a congregation, so we're going to do our best together. I had asked Dad if there were some other tunes we could put with it, and he suggested All Glory Laud and Honor. Now, I don't have the capacity or capabilities of changing the notes, so maybe someday we'll have a different tune to these words. But we're going to give it a go.

Let's all sing the melody together on the first verse. And for a change of position, let's stand. We'll sing the melody, and then two, three, and four, we'll break into our parts. Do God always have on earth bless us, sovereign strategy, the reason for creating this world's humanity. Through Adam's willful choosing, he sinned and greatly fell. Yet sainted him not trial, God's plan continues still. The plan God birthed in Eden and chose unto this day.

His purpose is a people who love Him and obey, who seek His kingdom firstly, whomselves they truly like. They are His special nation, the apple of His eye. His kingdom is increasing, filling all the earth. His government triumphing since His Messiah's birth. The devil's wicked plotting led to his sudden fall. When Jesus rose and bowed with victorious sword of cross, the Father's perfect purpose is of strength to live right. Who walk with Him in holiness and overcome the night?

Cast down and join Him, children, in your breakings and void. Receive your Father's pleasure and revel in His joy. Thank you. Good to see you. Excellent job for being the first time for many of you. I would like to say while I have this opportunity just a great big thank you to our church for all you've done to pull together for this celebration: car parking, ushering, bringing pies, and other snack items. Thank you very much. It's a joy to be a part of the church family here.

We'll turn the rest of the time over to Dad. I obviously have a dilemma, but I'll try to pick the best ones out of what's left. 810. This is a song we sang pretty much every Sunday on the way to church. It's a great family favorite. 810. It's an allegory of God leading His people through the wilderness, and it's applying it to us as Christians. Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah. Do so! Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land. High and weak, but Thou art mighty. Hold me with Thy powerful hand.

Breath of heaven, breath of heaven, feed me till I want no more. Feed me till I want no more. Open now the crystal fountain where sun healing streams do flow. Let the firing bounty filler lead me on Thy journey through. Strong deliver, strong deliver me. I'll steal my strength and shield. In, I'll steal my strength and shield. When I dread the verge of Jordan, be my anxious peers of sight. Bear me through the swelling current. Let me safe on Canaan's side.

Songs of praises, songs of praises, I will ever sing to Thee. I will ever sing to Thee. 422. Some of you of my age remember that song, "My God and I Walked Through the Fields Together." I've always loved that tune. I felt that the words maybe didn't have as much content as they should, so these words fit well. O man redeemed, fold with to Thy heart, Thy brother. I think we'll sing verses 1, 3, and 4. No, let's sing verses 1, 2, and 4. And the way we sing this here is we sing it the way we used to sing that song.

And that is on the second verse, the altos we'll sing, and the rest of us will hum. Okay? And altos give us a good strong alto on verse 2. And then we'll sing verse 4. Do so! O man redeemed, fold to Thy heart, Thy brother, where love prevails, a peace of God is there. To worship rightly and to love each other, make smile from Him each kindly deed of prayer. To worship rightly and to love each other, make smile from Him each kindly deed of prayer.

For He whom Jesus loved and truly spoken, the holier worship which He dates to bless, restores the lost and binds the spirit broken, and feeds the widow and the fatherless. Restores the lost and binds the spirit broken, and feeds the widow and the fatherless. Verses 3 and 4. Follow with reverence, self-surreigned example of Him whose holy work was doing good. So shall the wider see my Father's temple. Each loving heart a song of gratitude. So shall the wider see my Father's temple.

Each loving heart a song of gratitude. Then shall all shackles fall, the stormy clangor of wild-borne music, for the earth shall cease. Thou shalt tread out the baleful fire of anger, and in its ashes plant the tree of peace. Thou shalt tread out the baleful fire of anger, and in its ashes plant the tree of peace. Now I would like to sing 237. We can think when we talk about making peace, we can think about what that cost Jesus.

This song was written by John Hearman during the Thirty-Year War, which was a horrible war between 1618 and 1648, when the Catholics and the Protestants fought it out for 30 years. They didn't accomplish anything except devastate the whole countryside, and many people were affected. This man was affected. His mother lost four of her sons in that war, and he was the only one left.

And she vowed to God that if He would spare her life and his life, she would educate Him for the ministry, even if she had to beg in the streets. He did find well, let me talk a little bit about the Thirty-Year War. His village was plundered four times. It was devastated by fire and then ravaged by pestilence. He lost all of his movable properties several times, and twice he was in danger of his life. But he finally survived and became a pastor.

He didn't pastor very long until he had bad, bad trouble with his eyes. And so he retired from being pastor and decided he'd spend the rest of his life putting into song, personalizing what he had experienced of injustice and tell us what Jesus suffered, the injustice He suffered because of us. And that's what this song is about, set to a very beautiful melody. O holy Jesus, how did You offend? What did You do that caused people to hate You? It was me. It was my sin. What can I do to repay?

That's the basic message of the song. No longer, O holy Jesus, have Thy self offended. Let men to judge Thee as they may pretended. By those derided, by Thine own rejected, of most afflicted. Who was the guilty who brought this upon Thee? Bless my treasure, Jesus, have done Thee. Was I, Lord Jesus, I did was deny Thee. I crucified Thee. For me, Christ Jesus, was Thy incarnation. Thy mortal sorrow and Thy life's oblation. Thy death, the manguish, and Thy miser passion for my salvation.

Therefore, Christ Jesus, since I cannot fail Thee, I do adore Thee and will ever praise Thee. Think on Thy virty and Thy love unserving, not my deserving. Amen. 924. This we can do. What do we sing in this song? This is a folk tune. It never appeared in a hymn before I took it out of a high school hymn book or song book, and it's just a delightful tune. You sopranos will have to yodel a little bit on that last line there with that high do. In Full and Glad Surrender, it's one of my favorites in this book. Do so!

In Full and Glad Surrender, I give myself to Thee. Thy daughterly and lonely and nevermore to me. Thy daughterly and lonely and nevermore to me. O Son of God, You love me. I will be Thine alone. And though I have been heaven, Lord, shall mend for Thee, Thine own. And though I have been heaven, Lord, shall mend for Thee, Thine own. Pray over me, Lord Jesus, oh make my heart Thine throne. It shall be Thine dear Savior. It shall be Thine alone. It shall be Thine dear Savior. It shall be Thine alone.

O come and pray, Lord Jesus, rule over everything and keep me always loyal and true to Thee, my King. And keep me always loyal and true to Thee, my King. 499. We will sing verses 1, 3, and 4. Do so! Who is on the Lord's side, who will serve the King? Who will be His helpers other times to bring? Who will leave the world's side, who will face the foe? Who is on the Lord's side, who for Him will go? By Thy call and mercy, by Thy grace, by Thy grace we find. We are on the Lord's side, Savior, we are Thine.

Jesus, Thou hast taught us not with gold or gem, but with Thine own life and for Thy glory and death. With Thy blessing filling, He true comes to Thee. Thou hast made us willing. Thou hast made us free. By Thy great redemption, by Thy grace, by Thy grace we find. We are on the Lord's side, Savior, we are Thine. Fierce may be the conflict, strong may be the foe, but the King's own army never overthrow. Round His standard raging, victory is secure. For His truth unchanging makes Thy triumph sure.

Joyfully obeys His king. By Thy grace, by Thy grace we find. We are on the Lord's side, Savior, we are Thine. And now you all knew, those who know me, that we were going to sing 1009. This is my favorite song of all the choral pieces. And then we'll sing a closing piece. I had a lot more favorites, but you folks did a great job. This is one of the best singings I've ever experienced, you really sang. I've been watching you. There wasn't any person that I saw was singing half-heartedly, and that's how it has to be.

Okay, send forth Thy Spirit. Don't send forth Thy Spirit, O Lord, our God eternal. Send forth Thy Spirit, O Lord, our Spirit, our God eternal. And let the face of Earth be renewed. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Come now, come now, Spirit, enter heavenly. Extend our hearts with faith in Thy holy name. Come now, Spirit, enter heavenly. Extend our hearts with faith in Thy holy name. And grant us, and grant us, and mercy, O Lord, Thy peace, everlasting peace, everlasting peace.

Send forth Thy Spirit, O Lord, our God eternal. Send forth Thy Spirit, O Lord, our God eternal. And let the faith of Earth be renewed. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Amen. If ever the Holy Spirit needed to come down and renew the earth, it's now. And that's what inspires me, not just the music, but that message. The Holy Spirit can bring order out of chaos. 828, let's sing the Lord's Prayer. 828. On the second verse, why don't we have the six parts?

Tenor and soprano switch with—yes, we'll just do that. Those who are under 25, and the rest of you sing your regular parts. Do our Father in heaven, we have all Thy name. May Thy kingdom holy, on earth be the same. Forgive to us daily our portion of bread. It is Thy bounty that all must be fed. Forgive our transgressions and teach us to know. Thy humble compassion, which pardons each foe. Keep us from temptation, from evil, and sing. And blind me the glory forever amen. Shall we pray?

Father, music is a tremendous gift, and it has tremendous power, Lord, because You dwell in our songs. You give us light upon our pathway if we have the joyful sound. You give us prophetic wisdom. I pray, Lord, that You would receive all the honor and all the glory from our songs this evening. And Lord, we just want to continue to lift our voices to You.

And yes, we look forward to that day when we can sing with voices that are not tired, songs that are beyond our comprehension, even more delightful than anything we knew on this earth. Bless this congregation as they leave. I pray, Lord, that all of us would have been bettered and will serve Jesus better and reflect Him more perfectly and be able to demonstrate in our congregations what the whole world would look like if everybody obeyed Jesus. Bless the food which we are about to eat.

Help us, Lord, to have wonderful fellowship with each other and with You. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. I want to thank you all for coming. This has been—I couldn't have had a better birthday gift. And you did a wonderful—you didn't disappoint me. The singing was excellent. I thank the family for all your kind comments. They were a little bit exaggerated, but I appreciate it. And look, come back again and visit our congregation. Keep singing.

There's a lot of songs in this book that I'd love to sing, but we didn't get it done tonight. So God bless you as you leave. You're dismissed. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear John. Happy birthday to you. Thank you. I'm rich. I have lots of friends.