When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we’ll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.


Text: John H. Sammis, 1846-1919
Music: Daniel B. Towner, 1850-1919

Notes from Dave Dunn’s Sermon 10/9/05
Facing Transition and Change

Chuck always liked to joke about life and death. Death is our greatest transition…one that Chuck looked forward to. We too can either look forward to death or fear it.

What does the Bible say about death? It is appointed unto man to die once, and and then comes judgment. All have sinned. We are born into a sin filled world and we are sinners. Each one of us has a choice to make about the gospel message. What will we do with the gospel message? Where will we spend eternity?

Kindred Community Church…has always been committed to preaching the gospel message. Chuck’s death will not change that commitment. God is in control and he is sovereign.

Change upsets our little apple cart. Transition and uncertainty are kind of like jogging partners. “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” – Robert Burns. Instead we need to approach it like James did, “If the Lord wills, then…”. We are all creatures of habit. Ruts become like second nature. But in reality, we live in a state of flux, transition and change. We may not realize it until it effects our lives.

Ecclesiastes 3 – A Time for Everything
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Transition can bring stress and anxiety into our lives. We all get into those ruts…those areas of comfort. God brings us change and transition to help us realize that we need him and help us to turn to him.

We have two perspectives on change. Sometimes we like it…when we feel like we are in control. Sometimes we don’t like it…when we are not in control. Change seems to come in waves in our life. We face change in all areas of our lives. It’s important that as we face change that we turn to God’s word.

Deuteronomy 34:1-10 – The Death of Moses – Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the LORD showed him the whole land from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. Then the LORD said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.”

And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.

Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses. Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.

Because Moses had not followed God’s instructions…and hit the rock twice instead of speaking to it, to call forth water…he was disqualified from entering into the promised land. (Note…the rock symbolized Jesus. Moses had been instructed to hit the rock once and then speak to bring forth water. This symbolized that we can go to God and speak to him. Instead…Moses hit the rock twice.)

Moses was a man picked by God. He was chosen by God. In Numbers 12:3 we learn that Moses was the most humble man ever. He understood that God was in control and in charge. Moses was the only leader Israel had ever know. The Jews had been in captivity for 400 years in Egypt as slaves. Moses was to move them from a state, an attitude of slavery to freedom. They left Egypt and were then faced with a wall of water.

Moses life was consumed with caring for the Israelis…millions of people. He was respected deeply, dearly loved …a great man of God. With all his heart and soul he always stood in the gap between God and the Jews. But Moses was the leader for only one leg of the race. After that then came Joshua…later David and then the Judges.

When Moses died…the Jews mourned him…they wept and remembered him for 30 days. All great leaders will die. It surprises us…but not God. When a man of God fades…nothing of God fades away. God is never caught off guard or surprised. He always knows what will take place.

God always has a Joshua read to step into place. Joshua 1:1-9 – The LORD Commands Joshua: After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates all the Hittite country to the Great Sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua was picked by God. God picks the leaders and places them in leadership and authority. God already knows the next man who will lead our congregation. “After the death of Moses”, God waited until after Moses had died and was mourned. The people had to come to grips with the fact that Moses was dead. There was a new leg of the race to be run. God gave Joshua guidelines. Love the Word of God…and love the people. A man who will stand in the gap.

We are to meditate on the Word of God day and night. God will be with you…right by your side, day and night. Vs 5…”As I was with Moses, so too will I be with you.”. Moses had been a peacemaker and stood between God and man. Now God needed a warrior to go to battle as they entered the promised land. Joshua was the next person to lead the next leg of the race.

Men many years before had prayed that God would use Kindred to take the gospel message to the world in a greater way. God stated working in a reluctant leader who acquiesced. God placed us as the Elk’s lodge to give us time to grow and transition. There we became a church body. The potential that God has give us a group believers is incredible. Just as with Moses and the Jews…God took Chuck.

We all need time to grieve. We need time to reflect on past well well as the task at hand. The Jews took time to remember what God had done through this great man Moses. So too we need time to remember our own great leader. The next man who takes this pulpit will be a great man of God.

Will he be like David…who was unimpressive looking…but had a heart for God? Remember…we are not to consider the outside of a man…but his heart. We need to face the transition process as God leads the way. But keep in mind there are pitfalls. One pitfall is to act too quickly. Right now we are vulnerable. But we need to be careful that we don’t pick the wrong person. We need to know that we will never find another man just like Chuck…and we shouldn’t be looking for that either. Chuck was unique…when we look for someone like him…that will only set him up for comparison.

Moses and Joshua were entirely different. Joshua was equipped for the next leg of the race.

What do we need to do? We need to stay the course. Don’t change and don’t step back. Nothing has changed…God is still in control. He is still on the thrown. We need to ask ourselves do we really believe that God is absolutely sovereign? God will not abandon us.

We need to follow God’s word. Meditate on God’s word. Communicate with God…be in prayer. We need to be obedient. Be strong. Don’t be discouraged. God says, “Trust me, I know what I’m doing.”

If we do what God asks he tells us, “You will be successful in many eyes and I will be with you where ever you go.”

Stay the Course!

Kudos to the Los Angeles Times…for their courage in writing an article critical of the media…including themselves over extreme exaggerations that abounded in the media in the days following hurricane Katrina.

When you start learning about what actually went on at the Superdome compared to what was portrayed in the media…you must ask why and how it got so blown out of proportion.

First and foremost…let me unequivocally state that the suffering and slow response to get the aid the the victims of Katrina…was heartrending and deeply troubling. No excuses on that…and I do want to get to the bottom line and find out why things went wrong.

But in looking at what actually happened compared to the news stories…you have to wonder why we were so willing to believe such horrific stories. The article below is excellent… and hits on a number of issues.

Some of the questions that come to my mind are as follows: Did we find it more easy to believe that New Orleans was out of control because a large portion of the people were black? Did we want to give people a pass on alleged horrific behavior because they were poor?

How much of what the media showed on TV and reported or commented about in print was driven by a deep seated hatred of President George Bush and the Republican administration? How much was because they wanted to make the administration look bad? I think it’s very revealing the fact there aren’t too many reports correcting the facts about what actually happened in New Orleans.

One of the sad consequences from the media’s hyped reports is that those reports probably further delayed getting aid to the people in desperate need…the people that the media purportedly wanted to help.

The lack of coordination, communication and execution by Governor Kathleen Blanco, Mayor Ray Nagin and the federal government brought much needless suffering upon the citizens of New Orleans.

There was lot that went wrong in New Orleans following the aftermath of Katrina. But thank you Lord…it wasn’t anything near what was being reported. Please read the article below to find out what actually happened in New Orleans.

Katrina Takes a Toll on Truth, News Accuracy

Rumors supplanted accurate information and media magnified the problem. Rapes, violence and estimates of the dead were wrong. By Susannah Rosenblatt and James Rainey, Times Staff Writers

BATON ROUGE, La. — Maj. Ed Bush recalled how he stood in the bed of a pickup truck in the days after Hurricane Katrina, struggling to help the crowd outside the Louisiana Superdome separate fact from fiction. Armed only with a megaphone and scant information, he might have been shouting into, well, a hurricane. The National Guard spokesman’s accounts about rescue efforts, water supplies and first aid all but disappeared amid the roar of a 24-hour rumor mill at New Orleans’ main evacuation shelter. Then a frenzied media recycled and amplified many of the unverified reports.

“It just morphed into this mythical place where the most unthinkable deeds were being done,” Bush said Monday of the Superdome. His assessment is one of several in recent days to conclude that newspapers and television exaggerated criminal behavior in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, particularly at the overcrowded Superdome and Convention Center.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune on Monday described inflated body counts, unverified “rapes,” and unconfirmed sniper attacks as among examples of “scores of myths about the dome and Convention Center treated as fact by evacuees, the media and even some of New Orleans’ top officials.”

Indeed, Mayor C. Ray Nagin told a national television audience on “Oprah” three weeks ago of people “in that frickin’ Superdome for five days watching dead bodies, watching hooligans killing people, raping people.”

Journalists and officials who have reviewed the Katrina disaster blamed the inaccurate reporting in large measure on the breakdown of telephone service, which prevented dissemination of accurate reports to those most in need of the information. Race may have also played a factor.

The wild rumors filled the vacuum and seemed to gain credence with each retelling — that an infant’s body had been found in a trash can, that sharks from Lake Pontchartrain were swimming through the business district, that hundreds of bodies had been stacked in the Superdome basement.

“It doesn’t take anything to start a rumor around here,” Louisiana National Guard 2nd Lt. Lance Cagnolatti said at the height of the Superdome relief effort. “There’s 20,000 people in here. Think when you were in high school. You whisper something in someone’s ear. By the end of the day, everyone in school knows the rumor — and the rumor isn’t the same thing it was when you started it.”

Follow-up reporting has discredited reports of a 7-year-old being raped and murdered at the Superdome, roving bands of armed gang members attacking the helpless, and dozens of bodies being shoved into a freezer at the Convention Center. Hyperbolic reporting spread through much of the media.

Fox News, a day before the major evacuation of the Superdome began, issued an “alert” as talk show host Alan Colmes reiterated reports of “robberies, rapes, carjackings, riots and murder. Violent gangs are roaming the streets at night, hidden by the cover of darkness.”

The Los Angeles Times adopted a breathless tone the next day in its lead news story, reporting that National Guard troops “took positions on rooftops, scanning for snipers and armed mobs as seething crowds of refugees milled below, desperate to flee. Gunfire crackled in the distance.”

The New York Times repeated some of the reports of violence and unrest, but the newspaper usually was more careful to note that the information could not be verified.

The tabloid Ottawa Sun reported unverified accounts of “a man seeking help gunned down by a National Guard soldier” and “a young man run down and then shot by a New Orleans police officer.”

London’s Evening Standard invoked the future-world fantasy film “Mad Max” to describe the scene and threw in a “Lord of the Flies” allusion for good measure. Televised images and photographs affirmed the widespread devastation in one of America’s most celebrated cities.

“I don’t think you can overstate how big of a disaster New Orleans is,” said Kelly McBride, ethics group leader at the Poynter Institute, a Florida school for professional journalists. “But you can imprecisely state the nature of the disaster. … Then you draw attention away from the real story, the magnitude of the destruction, and you kind of undermine the media’s credibility.”

Times-Picayune Editor Jim Amoss cited telephone breakdowns as a primary cause of reporting errors, but said the fact that most evacuees were poor African Americans also played a part. “If the dome and Convention Center had harbored large numbers of middle class white people,” Amoss said, “it would not have been a fertile ground for this kind of rumor-mongering.”

Some of the hesitation that journalists might have had about using the more sordid reports from the evacuation centers probably fell away when New Orleans’ top officials seemed to confirm the accounts. Nagin and Police Chief Eddie Compass appeared on “Oprah” a few days after trouble at the Superdome had peaked. Compass told of “the little babies getting raped” at the Superdome. And Nagin made his claim about hooligans raping and killing.

State officials this week said their counts of the dead at the city’s two largest evacuation points fell far short of early rumors and news reports. Ten bodies were recovered from the Superdome and four from the Convention Center, said Bob Johannessen, spokesman for the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. (National Guard officials put the body count at the Superdome at six, saying the other four bodies came from the area around the stadium.)

Of the 841 recorded hurricane-related deaths in Louisiana, four are identified as gunshot victims, Johannessen said. One victim was found in the Superdome but was believed to have been brought there, and one was found at the Convention Center, he added.

Relief workers said that while the media hyped criminal activity, plenty of real suffering did occur at the Katrina relief centers. “The hurricane had just passed, you had massive trauma to the city,” said Lt. Col. Pete Schneider of the Louisiana National Guard. “No air conditioning, no sewage … it was not a nice place to be. All those people just in there, they were frustrated, they were hot. Out of all that chaos, all of these rumors start flying.”

Louisiana National Guard Col. Thomas Beron, who headed security at the Superdome, said that for every complaint, “49 other people said, ‘Thank you, God bless you.’ ” The media inaccuracies had consequences in the disaster zone. Bush, of the National Guard, said that reports of corpses at the Superdome filtered back to the facility via AM radio, undermining his struggle to keep morale up and maintain order. “We had to convince people this was still the best place to be,” Bush said. “What I saw in the Superdome was just tremendous amounts of people helping people.” But, Bush said, those stories received scant attention in newspapers or on television.

Times staff writer Scott Gold contributed to this report.

My girl kitty Daisy

Following the death of my most beloved Pastor, Chuck Obremski…I feel like the wind went out of my sails. Obviously a very sad time for the Obremski family, his friends…and for the many people who loved and treasured this man, whom God bless us with.

I’ve been in the grip of a profound sadness…yet experiencing a peace that overrides it. A peace that truly comes from God.

This has been one heck of a hard year…with many losses. In addition to Chuck’s illness and death…with all the highs and lows…I’ve also lost others this year. First and foremost my friend Hugo comes to mind. This dear man…was essentially give a death sentence by way of a lung disease. He too was on a health roller coaster. When the promising news of approval for a lung transplant came, Hugo’s health took a sharp decline…and he died within a few short weeks.

While deeply saddened by Hugo’s death…the comfort of knowing that he was a believer in Jesus Christ, had been redeemed from his sins…and that I will one day see him again in heaven, can not be overstated.

Not too long after that news came word that a friend from my past, Neil Parker had died…following a heroic battle with cancer. Just the thought that this man was gone from this world…and knowing that I wouldn’t be talking to him again or seeing him this side of heaven caused me much grief. But like Hugo…I took great joy in the fact that I will be greeted by Neil one day in heaven…since he too is a Christian and saved from his sins.

A couple of other losses bring me much sadness…at a more personal level…the losses of two of my kitties, Kate and Daisy. Earlier in the year…I made the difficult decision to give Kate away. Kate had been my mom’s kitty…and I had taken her in to my home when my mom moved into an assisted living facility. In many ways Kate was so different from my other kitties…very personable and friendly. But there was constant conflict between Kate and my other kitties. It resulted in behavior problems…that I couldn’t tolerate any longer. I had my other kitties for over 14 years…so I made the tough decision to give her away.

For weeks I felts sick to my stomach at the thought of Kate…and in a lot of ways regretted the decision…but the peace in my home for Daisy, Nathan and Moss helped me to know it was an okay decision.

This last September…I had to have my kitty Daisy put to sleep. She got sick with no notice and within two days I had to take her to the vet. As it turned out…she had a tumor and was at the end of her life. I was with her when they gave her the shot. When had I adopted Daisy from the pound, she was pregnant unbeknownst to me. I ended up keeping two of her boy kitties, Nathan and Moss. She gave me one of the best gifts of my life…and I miss her greatly.

So as you can see…from the above personal events this year has been tough. There are other things…on a different more intimate level which have been challenging and have tested my faith. In some instances…I’ve kept my focus and remained steadfast and at other times I’ve despaired of even life. But even in those times that the hurt has been great…and seemingly overwhelming…it doesn’t hold a candle to those times of similar despair when I was not a Christian.

I remember that feeling all too well. I thank God and praise God that now even in the midst of pain and despair…I have a hope that will never die. Does that mean I don’t have those moments that when I feel my boat is about to be swamped…and go down for the last time? No…of course I do. But the difference is…they are moments, not seasons or years of despair…and there is hope even in the midst.

So I write all this to give you fair warning…that while the wind has recently gone out of my sails…I can feel a breeze blowing. So watch out…I’ll be doing some more writing than I have in the last couple of weeks.

In past few weeks…there have been a number of big stories that I have wanted to comment on…but my mind was focused elsewhere. But now…I’m going to dive back in. So…be forewarned…there are a number issues in the media that I’m going to tackle. Important issues that I want to better understand, if for nothing else than to know what I feel about them.

So thank you God…for carrying me through this time. It’s been rather hard…and I still feel bruised and battered…but I’m still here. I still have many hopes, dreams and prayers that I want to see realized…but I’m going to keep going and pray that you will make a way God.

The Influence of the Genuine Servant
Matthew 5:13-16
Message by Chuck Obremski…Delivered by Jack Grogger
Notes from sermon on 10/2/05

Matthew: 5:13-16 – 13″You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14″You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Biblical Depiction of our world:

Difficult – 2 Timothy 3:1-7 – 1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
6They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.

Depraved – 2 Timothy 3:8-9 8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

Deceived – 2 Timothy 3:13 – 13while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

2. A Biblical description of the genuine servant’s influence:

A. The Salt of the Earth (Matthew 5:13)
* Shaken, Sprinkled, not Poured
* Adds flavor, but it’s obscure
* Unlike any other seasoning

B. The Light of the Word (Matthew 5:14-16)
* Silent
* Give Direction
* Attracts Attention

We live in a difficult time, a difficult world…and things are not getting any better. Today we live in difficult times, a terrible time…people who are depraved…and dead towards God. Men think we don’t need God. A depraved and deceived world. In such a world how can one person make a difference? Do you feel defeated? How can we as Christians make a difference? Are you looking at things from a horizontal perspective or a vertical perspective?

Jack then shared the story about the “Keeper of the Spring”:

The late Peter Marshall, an eloquent speaker and for several years the chaplain of the United States Senate, used to love to tell the story of “The keeper of the spring,” a quiet forest dweller who lived high above an Austrian village along the eastern slopes of the Alps.
The old gentleman had been hired many years ago by a young town council to clear away the debris from the pools of water up in the mountain crevices that fed the lovely spring flowing through their town. With faithful, silent regularity, he patrolled the hills, removed the leaves and branches, and wiped away the silt that would otherwise choke and contaminate the fresh flow of water.

By and by, the village became a popular attraction for vacationers. Graceful swans floated along the crystal clear spring, the millwheels of various businesses located near the water turned day and night, farmlands were naturally irrigated, in the view from restaurants was picturesque beyond description.

Years passed. One evening the town council met for its semi-annual meeting. As they reviewed the budget, one man’s eye caught the salary figure being paid to the obscure keeper of the spring. Said the keeper of the purse, “Who is the old man? Why do we keep him on year after year? No one ever sees him. For all we know the strange ranger of the hills is doing us no good. He isn’t necessary any longer!” By a unanimous vote, they dispensed with the old man’s services.

For several weeks nothing changed. By early autumn the trees began to shed their leaves. Small branches snapped off and fell into the pools, hindering the rushing flow of sparkling water. One afternoon someone noticed a slight yellowish-brown tint in the spring. A couple days later that water was much darker. Within another week, a slimy film covered sections of the water along the banks and a foul odor was soon detected. The mill wheels moved more slowly, some finally ground to a halt. Swans left as did the tourists. Clammy fingers of disease and sickness reached deeply into the village.

Quickly, the embarrassed council called a special meeting. Realizing their gross error in judgment, they hired back the old keeper of the spring…and within a few weeks the veritable river of life began to clear up. The wheels started to turn, and new life returned to the hamlet in the Alps once again.

The world may think they don’t need Christians…but they are wrong. Christians can be an indispensable influence for God.

We are to be the Salt of the Earth. The world that we live in is rotting. Just as salt can be used as a preservative for meat…so too can a Christian act as a preservative in the world. The world is kind of like a five star restaurant. It looks good from the front…but when you go behind the scenes…things are looking pretty disgusting. The world is perishing…but God have us His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ so that we would not perish. Christians are to be the moral disinfectant in a world of changing values.

Salt – Preservative…slows down decay. Healing agent…a healing agent the world. Salt also creates thirst. Question is…do we live Christian lives that make other’s thirst? Do we make people desire more of God?

John 4:14 – 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

The world is thirsty…but have they found anything to quench their thirst?

Salt also melts snow and ice….cold, hard hearts. But when we have a bad attitude…we are good for nothing. We are not to be conformed to this world.

Romans 12:2 – 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Salt is to be shaken…and spread around. Christians are like a football team…to be effective and do any good we’ve got to get into the game…not stay in a huddle. Sundays are our day to gather in the huddle…but then we are to go out in to the world.

Hebrews 10:24 – 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Jack shared that while the family was with Chuck as he was dying…they were comforted to know that they will be together for eternity. Until then…we are to come together and spur one another on…encourage one another…then get out into the world. Jesus wants us to go out into the world.

Salt adds flavor but it is obscure. J. Vernon McGee cautioned Christians, “Salt has lost it’s flavor and the pepper it’s pep.” Salt contributes to the meal. It’s unlike any other seasoning.

Christians are to be a light in the world. Jesus compared us to himself…and we are to be like Jesus.

Light…exposes darkness and evil. Light is silent…faithful and consistent. We should be like a lighthouse to the world…nothing that shades a person.

Ask yourself…are you as a Christian attractive to people? A lighthouse gives direction. Are you like a little tiny bulb…or like a big bright shining bulb? “Light it up!”

Light attracts attention. It draws you in…kind of like the sunrise or sunset. Are people attracted to you? We are called to be the light of the world…and attract people. We are to stand as a light before the world and people. When the light is flipped on in a dark room…the bugs scatter. Does your light shine before men? Does it encourage men to come to know the glory of God?

And the story was told,
of a man who lived his life well.

Started out life,
on the tough streets of Pittsburgh, PA.

School of hard knocks,
a reality, not just a phrase.

Then the real education began,
at an eternal and holy school.

Humbled before a Holy, Righteous God,
acknowledged his own sinful soul.

Received forgiveness,
Jesus Christ, the atonement for sin.

Learning life’s lessons,
from the very Word of God.

Changed, transformed,
reflecting the light of our Lord.

Always found time,
to counsel a hurting, needful soul.

Wisdom, not his own,
but from the Holy Father above.

Direct from the pulpit,
a steady and penetrating gaze.

Proclaiming the gospel,
always, only, continually his aim.

Suffering and death,
a tool of salvation in the hands of a loving Father.

God, whose desire, His will,
that none should perish, but all come to repentance.

And the story was told,
of a man who live his life well.

Loved the Lord with all his heart, mind, soul and strength,
like unto it, he loved his fellow man.

by Susan Bunts 9/27/05

This weekend I had the privilege of attending two services that celebrated the life of my beloved Pastor, Chuck Obremski.

One was the memorial service for Chuck held at Anaheim Stadium. David Fisher at Pilgrim Scribblings posted the recap of the services from the Kindred Prayer Team “You Finished Strong”. It fully captures the services…and I encourage you to click on the above link. It will give you a picture of the man that so many people loved, mourn at his passing…and celebrate that he is home with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Today at Kindred we had a service as a church family to remember and celebrate our very own dear Pastor. We had the opportunity to have fellow members of Kindred get up and share how Chuck had touched theirs lives and what they remembered about him. It was very touching…and amidst tears…I jotted down some notes as people spoke. My apologies to fellow Kindred members…but I didn’t get each person’s name. So…instead on some I’ll record their words, sans name. Words paying tribute and respect our our Pastor in a life lived to bring glory to God.

On the Tuesday before Chuck died, he said, “I feel like I’m being crushed”.

When selecting our sound technician Mike Farrel, he commented to him, “It’s not about me, it’s about the Word.” That was always Chuck’s primary focus.

Chuck had a great and sometimes irreverent sense of humor. So while some of these notes on the more humorous references may make you pause…trust me, his jokes and daily comments were great…and helped bring some humor and perspective to life. Mike had long hair for many years…always pulled back in a pony tail. When Chuck was loosing his hair due to chemo…many of the Kindred guys stood in unity with him and shaved their heads. Mike too shaved his head. When Mike visited Chuck towards the end…Chuck comment, “Mike, I love you. I love you so much more, since you’ve cut your hair.” You’ve got to love it…it’s totally Chuck.

Lloyd Cotton shared a funny story. Chuck was always pretty well composed…but Lloyd liked to sneak up and get him. While over at the Elk’s Club in Santa Ana, after service Chuck and Linda would greet people as they left. Lloyd loved to sneak up behind Chuck and tickle his butt. One day he told Chuck, I just love sneaking up on you and tickling your butt and giving Linda a big hug. Chuck commented, “Lloyd, I’m counting on you keep those two things straight.”

Les Nesbitt shared that he had known Chuck for 18 years. As a doctor he was able to be with Chuck during some of his surgeries. When awakening from surgery one time, true to the Chuck we know and love he said to Les, “I know it’s not heaven, because Les is here.”

“You see God shining through Chuck. He was God’s tool.” When Chuck was preaching he had a way about him of looking out at you and catching your eye during key points of his sermon. It was always very convicting. When bringing a friend to church to hear Chuck preach…the friend commented afterwards, he didn’t keep with the customary 5 second rule of looking at you…but it seemed more like 15 seconds.

Chuck and the Kindred family have always been there behind me and my family.

Chuck always shared the plan of salvation. Hebrews 12:2 – “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” This person when on to say that Chuck endured the “cancer coaster” in his desire to share the gospel message to the very end.

One of the Ram’s wives commented that the football players would hear Chuck’s stories and sermons. That he really came across to the players…and brought many players to the Word of God.

A gentleman shared the scripture, Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” He further stated that following a difficult situation he felt he was at the end, but he knew who he could call for help and direction. Chuck challenged us to live a life worthy of the calling. Each of us is challenged each day and we have a choice. We can walk a life worthy of our calling…we can make right choices. We can go with our heart or go with the Word of God.

Ruth Stingley from Kindred’s Prayer Team shared that Chuck opened up the Word of God for her. He ministered through his entire family with love and care for all. She encouraged the Obremski family that God would continue to use them greatly.

A gentleman commented that he was looking for a Pastor that didn’t put him to sleep when preaching. The first time he heard Chuck…he knew he had found the right place. He further shared that he was motivated by what Chuck taught.

One Kindred member commented that when listening to Chuck preach she didn’t look at her watch.

Victoria said that she called Chuck many times a week. He always made time to talk to her…that he always had the time for everyone of us.

David Garrett from Kindred’s Praise Team shared that he visited Chuck during his last week…and Chuck finished strong. He liked people. Chuck studied the Bible for hours each day and practiced it. It was never about what Chuck thought, it was always about what the Bible said. David had the chance to bring his guitar and sing songs with Chuck on his last visit. Even while in such a weakened condition, Chuck still tried to sing along and was taping his foot under the sheet.

A young lady at Kindred said that she had been hearing Chuck preach for about a year and a half. That she wanted very much to attend “big church” and would ask her parents to attend this service and not the services for younger members. She also said that she was really nervous about getting up to speak but she recalled Chuck’s admonition, “Don’t just keep talking, do it!”.

One member shared that she had called Chuck when she needed advise about spending the holidays with family and wanting to share the Word of God. Chuck guided her to book that would help her and during the holidays, she was able to share the Bible with her family.

A young gentleman shared that when he first heard Chuck…he just loved the jokes. But before long…what brought him back time and time again was hearing the Word of God. He also said that Chuck treated him like an adult, not a child. He also shared that at one of the prayer meetings for Chuck, Chuck in turned prayed for him and the rest of Kindred members.

One young lady shared that she had grown up with Chuck and the Obremski family. How much can you do when you really love well? Because of Chuck’s influence, when she talks to people now, it’s about what really matters. Chuck was the one person who was able to make fun of her…but she still felt loved. Some of the things she learned from Chuck: Don’t loose heart, look at the difference that one person can make when they live a life sold out to Jesus Christ. Make people feel important…even if it’s something simple like a smile or a hello. Love deeply and make people feel like they are important and matter. You can only feel a great loss when you have a great love for someone.

Charlotte said that Chuck was faithful to his promise. She was thankful to God for a Pastor who taught us the Word of God and lived it. He lived victorious life and shared the way to make victorious choices. He always made her feel that he had the whole day to talk to her. She encouraged us that we too need to finish strong.

Bob shared that Chuck lived the Word of God. That he brought life and meaning to the Word of God.

A young lady shared that she too had grown up with Chuck and the Obremski family. Chuck’s greatest gift was that he was encourager. Even in his last week, he encouraged those that came to the hospital to visit him. She then share the following scripture – Psalm 73:23-28

23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.

Jack Grogger, Chuck’s son-in-law, encouraged us that after Jesus death and resurrection, the disciples went on to teach the Good Word. We are not to quit…but finish strong.

Dave Dunn finished up with some final observations. Chuck was a true example…faith in action. He got the Word of God out…and never lost an opportunity to share the gospel. He loved people and wanted everyone to hear the gospel. He focus was always with the gospel…he never lost his focus. As Chuck finished his leg of the race, he encouraged us, “Don’t drop the baton!”. We have tears of a temporary parting. Chuck was an ambassador of the gospel called home.

2 Timothy 4:6 – For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.

In some respects I feel like I’m emerging from a fog that I’ve been in for some time. For over two years…we as a church were focused in prayer for our Pastor, Chuck Obremski. We prayed that if it be the Lord’s will, he might be healed. With his recent passing…I want to make sure that we as a church and as individuals…keep our focus.

Mike and Jo Paddison at Kindred shared a perspective that they had. It comes from 2 Samuel 12:15-23. It’s the story about David and Bathsheba’s baby…who after birth became very sick and eventually died. While the child was deathly ill, David fasted and prayed that his child would be healed. When the child died, servants were fearful of telling David the news since he was so desperate. When David was told the news of the child’s death he got up, washed, put on new clothes and went into the House of the Lord to worship. When asked why, this was his reply:

2 Samuel 12:22-23 – He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Like David…we need to keep our focus on the Lord and worship and praise Him for who He is. We need to remember our aim and focus as a church. What is that aim, what is that focus? That focus is “Reaching the World with the Word”. The Word of God, Jesus Christ and the gospel message. There is a world of people who are lost and dying in their sins. We need to keep our focus on getting the Word of God to the people who are perishing.

One of Chuck’s admonitions…was to not drop the baton as we take the next leg of the race. We have been handed that baton…and must keep our focus…so that one day, when we are called home, our Savior Jesus Christ will welcome us with the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

And joining us will be the many who received that gospel message, salvation and forgiveness from their sins.

“Don’t drop the baton.” Let run our leg of the race well!

I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim,
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

And now complete in Him
My robe His righteousness,
Close sheltered ’neath His side,
I am divinely blest.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

When from my dying bed
My ransomed soul shall rise,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
Shall rend the vaulted skies.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down
All down at Jesus’ feet.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

Words by Elvina M. Hall – Music by John T. Grape – 1865

At Kindred’s Wednesday night study…last week we started in the book of Romans. Tonight Elder, Dave Dunn continued on with his Introduction.

Below are some key verses that give a chapter by chapter overview of this book known as the Magna Carta of the Bible:

Romans 1:18 – The Immoral Man
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

Romans 2:1 – The Self-Righteous Man
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

Romans 3:20 – The Religious Man
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

Romans 4:3 – Old Testament
What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Romans 5:8 – New Testament
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:6 – The Godly Process
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.

Romans 7:19 – The Inner Struggle
For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing.

The Hinge Verse…Romans 8:1 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:5 – TheBelieverss Walk
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

Romans 9:8 – The Flaw
In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.

Romans 10:3 – The Failure
Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

Romans 11:11 – The Solution
Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.

Romans 12:2 – The Benchmark
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 13:14 – ThBelievers’s Responsibility
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Romans 14:19 – Legalism and Grace
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

Romans 15:13 – Maturity
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 16:25 – Faithfulness
Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past.

Ever hear of “The Roman Road”?

The Roman Road is various scriptures within the book of Romans that spell out the gospel message, from the need of salvation because of our sinful state to the way to salvation through Jesus Christ.

It’s a wonderful tool when you want to share the gospel message. So write it in your Bible or keep it available on a note card.

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9
That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:13
For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

David over a Pilgrim Scribblings posted the following about his daughter Tracy. Please lift up Tracy and her parents Carol and David in prayer…during this very difficult and trying time.

“On Monday Carol and I learned that our daughter Tracy Gregoire (37) has uterine cancer. Tracy already has cerebral palsy and this added burden for her has been frightening to say the least. She will undergo a complete hysterectomy on Monday, October 3rd in Toronto. Following that she will find out if the cancer has spread and whether chemotherapy will be necessary. Tracy’s dream has always been to marry and have children but this will not be possible now and she is devastated. We will keep you posted as we learn more.”

“Please pray for Tracy and please keep Carol in your prayers as well. She has enough on her plate without this latest bombshell but we know that “as for God, His way is perfect”. Thank you so much for standing with us.”

Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 27:13 – I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Okay…so I’m going to have re-evaluate whether or not I should defend Duane Patterson anymore.

Duane…is also known as Generalissimo …the producer of the Hugh Hewitt show. Hugh frequently rags on this poor boy…eliciting a maternal reaction from me…wanting to make Hugh to knock it off and stop being a bully.

Now I’ve got to rethink my stand. You see…I’ve seen a whole new side of Duane. In exchanging a couple e-mails back and forth…now the truth can be told. Our very own Generalissimo is positively incorrigible.

Not sure if Duane’s reply reflects the “ugly American” or the “ugly baseball fan”. In response to mentioning David Fisher at Pilgrim Scribbling and him being Chaplain for the Toronto Blue Jays…here’s Duane’s first response:

the blue jays??? boy, he’s into serious ministry. do they still play baseball in canada???…dp

Of course I had to come to the defense of one of my favorite bloggers…and here an unrepentant Duane’s response.

I’m glad to hear that there is a conservative in canada who likes baseball. I just pray he gets a chance at the major leagues someday…dp

So okay…I don’t think it’s an ugly American thing…I think it’s more baseball related. Bottom line…Duane is one cocky son of a gun.

And Hugh, Hugh…he’s just as incorrigible and cocky as Duane.

So where does this leave me? Should I defend Duane anymore when Hugh is picking on him? Or should I cheer Hugh on?

Better yet…I’m turning on Prager instead and be done with it!

While on vacation this week I’m engaging in all manner of evil…among which is listening to the Hugh Hewitt show. Hugh’s show can be very educational…and even a wee bit entertaining, on occasion. I’m in need of a good laugh this week…and stumbled across one.

Now for those of you not in the know…September 19th was International Talk Like a Pirate Day. About the only pirate word I know is “Arrrggg”. Now that’s a darn good word. And I’m most likely to utter that word in on Monday…as the week quickly spirals out of control by 9 AM.

But to celebrate the day…I just had to find out my pirate name…Susan Bunts translates into Wench Grainne O’Malley in Piratease. Not only am I ready for next year’s celebration…but I am well equipped to ride Pirates of the Caribbean.

So watch out…next time I utter the word “Arrrggg”…you don’t know what other ill mannered pirate behavior I might have adopted.

Be sure to click on the link for FroggyNet…to find our your true pirate name. Get to know the real you.

Arrrggg!

On Hugh Hewitt’s show…they played a clip from a press conference today in which Lt. General Russel Honore was responding to reporters rather inane questions. That in itself is not unusual…but what was unusual was Honore’s response. It was on of those lines…that you wish you had uttered…and will be sure to keep handy for future use.

Some callers contributed additional lines…that were pretty darn good too. “Life is hard, it’s harder when you’re stupid.” “Ain’t no fixin stupid.”

Below is the posting from Radio Blogger…that has the transcript from the Lt. General’s exchange with a not so bright reporter. Right on Lt. General Honore…you are my hero!

Don’t Get Stuck on Stupid

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin held a press conference a little bit ago, and started losing control to a media pool assembled that was showing signs of panic, due to the previous incompetence in the region by the local and state government. Lt. Gen. Russel Honore stepped in and literally took over. Here’s what he had to say:

Honore: And Mr. Mayor, let’s go back, because I can see right now, we’re setting this up as he said, he said, we said. All right? We are not going to go, by order of the mayor and the governor, and open the convention center for people to come in. There are buses there. Is that clear to you? Buses parked. There are 4,000 troops there. People come, they get on a bus, they get on a truck, they move on. Is that clear? Is that clear to the public?

Female reporter: Where do they move on…

Honore: That’s not your business.

Male reporter: But General, that didn’t work the first time…

Honore: Wait a minute. It didn’t work the first time. This ain’t the first time. Okay? If…we don’t control Rita, you understand? So there are a lot of pieces of it that’s going to be worked out. You got good public servants working through it. Let’s get a little trust here, because you’re starting to act like this is your problem. You are carrying the message, okay? What we’re going to do is have the buses staged. The initial place is at the convention center. We’re not going to announce other places at this time, until we get a plan set, and we’ll let people know where those locations are, through the government, and through public announcements. Right now, to handle the number of people that want to leave, we’ve got the capacity. You will come to the convention center. There are soldiers there from the 82nd Airborne, and from the Louisiana National Guard. People will be told to get on the bus, and we will take care of them. And where they go will be dependent on the capacity in this state. We’ve got our communications up. And we’ll tell them where to go. And when they get there, they’ll be able to get a chance, an opportunity to get registered, and so they can let their families know where they are. But don’t start panic here. Okay? We’ve got a location. It is in the front of the convention center, and that’s where we will use to migrate people from it, into the system.

Male reporter: General Honore, we were told that Berman Stadium on the west bank would be another staging area…

Honore: Not to my knowledge. Again, the current place, I just told you one time, is the convention center. Once we complete the plan with the mayor, and is approved by the governor, then we’ll start that in the next 12-24 hours. And we understand that there’s a problem in getting communications out. That’s where we need your help. But let’s not confuse the questions with the answers. Buses at the convention center will move our citizens, for whom we have sworn that we will support and defend…and we’ll move them on. Let’s not get stuck on the last storm. You’re asking last storm questions for people who are concerned about the future storm. Don’t get stuck on stupid, reporters. We are moving forward. And don’t confuse the people please. You are part of the public message. So help us get the message straight. And if you don’t understand, maybe you’ll confuse it to the people. That’s why we like follow-up questions. But right now, it’s the convention center, and move on.

Male reporter: General, a little bit more about why that’s happening this time, though, and did not have that last time…

Honore: You are stuck on stupid. I’m not going to answer that question. We are going to deal with Rita. This is public information that people are depending on the government to put out. This is the way we’ve got to do it. So please. I apologize to you, but let’s talk about the future. Rita is happening. And right now, we need to get good, clean information out to the people that they can use. And we can have a conversation on the side about the past, in a couple of months.
I think the General just started a movement, and he may not even realize it. Every time a reporter, in any situation, starts spinning, or completely misses the point, they need to be peppered with, “Don’t get stuck on stupid.”

I’d pay money to see David Gregory in the White House Press Corps foaming at the mouth over something trivial Scott McClellan said, and have McClellan say, “David, you’re stuck on stupid. I’m not going to answer that.”

I’d have fallen out of my chair if John Roberts would have listened to Joe Biden ramble on, and said, “Don’t get stuck on stupid, Senator.”

I can see the bumper stickers now. I can even see those stupid rubber wristbands with DGSOS etched in them.

I love General Honore.

Photo from the Orange County Register by Daniel Anderson

Last night…Orange County, California had tremendous thunder storm. The lightning and thunder were simply awe inspiring. To make the moment even more dramatic…while in class at Bible Study Fellowship…just as we started to sing the hymn “How Great Thou Art”…the lighting was flashing and the thunder rolling. It was a great picture of our Awesome God and the universe that he made.

Romans 1:20
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”

HOW GREAT THOU ART

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!”

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

words & music by Carl G. Boberg and R.J. Hughes