Barnabas Letters, part 5

Good morning, Barnabas Ladies! Hope my toe email last time didn't gross you all out too much. I promise not to talk about my feet this time around. :D

This week's email is about music. We have always been a singing family. When I was converted to the Lord's Church I didn't have any problem with the acapella singing, because I had always loved singing and music in general. In our house there's almost always some kind of music going, from streaming Pandora radio to traditional radio to the girls practicing piano.

Music is also a great way to memorize something, or to teach a concept. My girls are old (*sob*) but they still remember singing "Be Careful Little Eyes" in Bible class. :) And I'm sure you can all relate to those little "earworms"--songs that get stuck in your head and you find yourself humming them over and over.

 I want to challenge you to spend this week only listening to songs with a Christian message. I'm absolutely not opposed to secular music in general, please don't misunderstand. But I think you might find it interesting how uplifted you can be in general if you spend some time only listening to Christian music. It is my opinion that outside the worship service, Christian songs with instrumental accompaniment are okay, but that's not what I want to focus on right now, so please go with your comfort level on this challenge.

To get you jumpstarted on this, I will have some CDs with me on Wednesday evening that I would love to share with you all. :) The songs are sung by the McCoy Family Singers, a fantastic acapella group that I have heard several times at the Tahoe Family Encampment. Please listen to it in your car, or stick it in your computer while you work, I think you will be really encouraged by it.

 In closing, I'd like to share a song with you that I find very beautiful. The link below is to the YouTube video.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky5rAgjLEAI

The song is called In Christ Alone, and this version is done by Adam Young of Owl City (the song was originally sung by the Newsboys). Please be aware that there is piano accompaniment to the song, if you'd prefer to just read the lyrics, you will still be edified. :)

"In Christ alone, my hope is found 

He is my light, my strength, my song

This cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm 

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My comforter, my all-in-all 

Here in the love of Christ I stand 



There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me 

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ



No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

Till He returns or calls me home 

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand"

 So now you know why I always sign my emails this way. Have a richly blessed week. :)

In Christ alone--
Elena

P.S. For scripture memorization, I highly recommend the CDs by Sing The Word (http://www.singtheword.com/). And if you would like to listen to more of the McCoy Family Singers, you can go to http://www.scripturessay.com/index.php?page=songs .