Hope
Isn’t this a wonderful song of praise?
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
Alicia and I have just spent a week in Nashville, during which we had several good experiences … but three stand out. The first was arriving in Music City in time to celebrate Easter Sunday worship at First Baptist Nashville, located in downtown just a couple of blocks from the Ryman and the Sirius XM studios. It was a hope-filled service with Pastor Frank Lewis’s message titled “Hope Is Risen,” based on First Peter 1:3 … “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
Love
We also had the opportunity to spend some time with Mrs. Pam Kidd, the wife of a retired pastor from here in the Nashville area. Alicia had first encountered Pam through her writings in Guideposts, the inspirational publication founded by Norman and Ruth Peale, and felt led to write to her. Until now, neither of us had ever met her or even talked with her on the telephone. However, we knew we needed to meet her, and she invited us to make contact when we were headed this way.
Pam and her daughter, Keri Kidd Cannon, visited Zimbabwe in 1999 and quickly realized that they needed to pour out whatever love they could to bring hope to the children of this country where AIDS is nothing less that rampant. They returned to this country and immediately took action and began a journey that continues to this day. The two ladies even became real estate agents in order to raise funds to support the effort, which continues to expand thanks to gifts large and small from numerous individuals and organizations. To read more of this story, please visit http://www.childrenofzimbabwe.com.
Joy
Then, what brought us to Nashville at this time was the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration, held at the River of Life Church located just south of town in Smyrna, Tennessee, which is pastored by Johnny Minick, who you may remember from his singing with the Happy Goodmans in their later years. It was a grand evening and was great for me to spend an evening in God’s house which was filled with folks who both love and sing Southern Gospel music. I feel the Unthank family did a great job of putting this annual event together … two-and-a-half-hours that were filled with much joy and Lord-glorifying music.
Hope … Love … Joy … all in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!!!
Marlin
