The sound of music that struck the collective ears of the world arose from a surprising source.  It came from the orchestra composed of children playing instruments recycled from trash at a dump in Cateura, Paraguay.  The Landfill Harmonic came into being when an environmental engineer with a musical background saw a need to help the children playing in the landfill while their parents worked at gathering salable scraps of trash.  Some of the children worked with their parents searching through the piles of garbage.  Others were simply there, abandoned to their own devices.

Mr. Chavez began to teach them music lessons.  One of the garbage pickers, Nicolas, joined him in making instruments out of materials from the landfill - tin oil cans, forks, bottle caps, hair brushes, anything that could be found. For seven years the experiment was unheard of.  Then social media brought the harmony to the Internet. The children proclaimed, “The world sends us garbage.  We send back music.”

More than trash was recycled; the children of the dump were too.  Here again I am drawn to Wes Stafford’s book, Too Small to Ignore.  Wes contends that children are too important and too intensely loved by God to be left behind.  He details his childhood spent in two places: the West African village where his parents served as missionaries and the boarding school where he faced years of silently borne abuse.  About the first place he noted, “In Nielle, poor as it was, the little village banded together to keep poverty out of the spirits of its children.”  About the other early life experience he stated, “I simply chose to turn it for good.”

Throughout God’s Word there are more than two thousand passages that declare His love for the impoverished and He requires His followers to defend their cause.

“And whosoever shall receive one such little child in My name receiveth Me. But whosoever shall offend one of these little ones who believe in Me, it were
better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were
drowned in the depth of the sea.”   Matthew 18:5-6  KJV

Back in the days when 'Rinso White' was a commonplace ditty around the house, the art of hanging out the clothes on the backyard clothesline became an exact science. The influence of the depression was apparent in the skills my mother taught me. The sheets were to be hung carefully by the corners, never looped over the line, as that would place stress on the middle of a sheet. Shirts were hung by the side seams upside down to prevent undue wear as well as mis-shapened shoulders.

How clothes were laundered in Moses' day we can't be sure, but from the very many references in Exodus to such washing, we can safely conclude that it was a commandment of the Lord. When the children of Israel came to the Wilderness of Sinai, we read: "So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes." (Exodus 19:14) Clean clothes were a required part of consecration toward a holy God.

The New Testament writer of Hebrews urges us to "draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of faith . . . and our bodies washed with pure water." (10:22) When Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, more transpired than the removal of road dust. His example of humility showed the way of putting love into action, a willingness to help others.

The scene shifts into heaven where the Apostle John is shown a great multitude of people from all nations, tribes and tongues. They are arrayed in white robes. One of the elders who stand before God's throne identifies them, saying: "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Revelation 7:14 NKJV


Cleanliness may not actually be next to godliness, but it pictures a greater cleansing, one of which John testifies in Revelation 1:5:  "To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood . . . be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

The folks in the church at Corinth had problems.  Paul, their founding father who had led them into the new birth in Christ, wrote as a father would.  In his letter he admonished, exhorted, instructed and encouraged.  He addressed such issues as factions, morality, stewardship, litigation, marriage, and meats offered to idols.

Well into the letter, Paul approached the serious matter of communion, the attitude and order of its observance.  To get a good running start, he traced examples laid down in the history of the Israelites under the guidance of Moses.  All of the children of Israel had experienced God’s provision.  God had fed them heavenly food and had given them drink by His power and mercy.  Paul stated, “For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock  was Christ.”  ( 1 Corinthians 10:4b)  Paul went ahead and named the One that Moses and David knew as the Rock.  After great deliverance, David had acknowledged Him as his fortress who was “Higher than I.”  He exclaimed, “The Lord lives!  Blessed be my Rock! ” (Psalms 61:46)

Also, it was a time of deliverance for Israel at the edge of the wilderness when their thirst would have soon brought death without water.  God told Moses to speak to the rock and life-giving water would flow. Instead, Moses struck the rock, claiming credit for himself for God’s work of grace. He did not sanctify the Lord before the whole congregation and therefore could not bring the assembly into the land God promised them.  (Numbers 20:12)

Likewise the Corinthians of Paul’s day, and we also generations later, must approach what God has established with reverence and obedience, examining our hearts, spiritually coming into His presence in a worthy manner.

Both the deliverance in the wilderness and the symbols of Christ’s broken body and shed blood are pictures of redemption - life from death.  Communion pictures both Christ’s atoning sacrifice and His coming again, proclaiming “the Lord’s death till He comes.”  (1 Corinthians 11:26)

In WordSing, George comments in verse on Psalm 61:

                    “Unto the Rock steadfast and sure,
                    O Lord, lead me!  I’m insecure!
                    The Rock is Christ, always the same,
                    Reward of those who fear His Name.”

We saw an editorial page cartoon focusing on the familiar form of the four-funneled RMS Titanic. The image of the fateful ship symbolized the disaster that can be brought on by over-confidence and neglect of warnings.
Many have penned histories, novels, songs, films and other retellings of the tragedy of April 15, 1912.

Considered unsinkable, the passenger liner was called the largest ship afloat at the time. Her sinking after striking an iceberg was shocking. But perhaps more alarming was the recognition that many of the more than 1500 persons lost need not have died in the icy waters of the North Atlantic. Safety precautions and regulations had not been followed, the wireless communications had been inadequate and warnings had been unheeded.

Through the years preachers have admonished their congregations of the necessity of staying alert in a dangerous world. They have seen the pursuit of pleasure lull first-class passengers into a false sense of security.

However, a bigger lesson to be gleaned from the disaster is that of incompletely filled lifeboats failing to turn and rescue those calling out for help. Only six survivors were pulled from the frigid waters although the lifeboats could have held 500 more.

One of the six rescued related an outstanding story from that dark night. The young man told about a Scotsman, John Harper, who was on his way to fulfill an engagement to preach for three months at the Moody Church in Chicago. In the short time he had in the water, Harper swam to the later-rescued man who had climbed up on a piece of debris. Harper called out, "Are you saved?" When the trembled answer was, "No", Harper yelled the words of Scripture, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."
In desperation, the young man called upon Christ for salvation. Harper sank down into a watery grave even as his soul rose upward.

No matter where a person may be, God hears that earnest cry for salvation through Christ.
"...whosoever believes in Him should not perish..." John 3:16b

A teapot is a container for service. Actually, any old cup or bowl is also, but teapots are especially romantic. It could be because they provide warmth and therapy for the soul.

There are people who are containers for service. They uplift the hearts and lives of others. We meet some of them as we journey through life. They may be beautiful outside or quite plain, but their usefulness comes from within.

We had moved into the mountains of Virginia when George became pastor of a rural church near the town where his father had ministered for many years. In seeking to visit those named on the church roll, George asked for directions to the home of one so enrolled. The would-be helper looked way up the hollow to the mountain behind him and answered, "He lives so far up the mountain that no one ever goes up there except Dr. Brush and Brother Lauderdale." George's father was indeed one of those vessels for service. And so was Dr. Brush.

Not all those who serve the Lord in serving others are among the clergy. While living in the manse of that same mountain church, we had a bachelor neighbor who once crossed the highway to visit us. After putting away a bit of refreshment, he declared, "If more men had to cook for themselves they would appreciate their wives more." Could it be that kitchen duties can be a means of divine service? Even in the clatter of dishes and the aroma from the oven, the gift of helps is exercised and others are blessed as housewives, like their Lord, go about doing good.

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us." --- 2 Corinthians 4:7 NJKV

"Huh-wee, huh-wee, huh-wee", sang daughter Lois as she toddled through the house many years ago. Her daddy's reply: "I can't say much for the tune, but you have the lyrics right."

It's woefully true that 'hurry' has been a family theme for decades. That might be all right except for the accompanying anxiety. At times, mounting stress levels have pushed aside the peace bequeathed to us by our loving Lord. Brethren, these things ought not to be.

Stress has become so much a part of life that it's almost acceptable. A four-year old great-nephew was quoted not long ago saying, "Just come down and bewax." This, being interpreted, is: "calm down and relax".

To follow that advice,  it helps greatly to open-heartedly check in with the Psalmist or with the Lord Jesus Himself. In Psalms 119:65 we are pointed to a solution for anxiety: "Great peace have those who love Thy law and nothing shall cause them to stumble."

The One whom Isaiah foresaw as Prince of Peace, said to His followers, "My peace I leave with you." The Apostle Paul spoke peace to all those reading or hearing his letters read. He reminded his friends in Corinth that "God has called us to peace", and wrote the Ephesians that "He Himself is our peace."

When God spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, He instructed him to tell Aaron and his sons the way to bless the children of Israel. Say to them:

"The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace."-- Numbers 6:24-26 NJKV

The fourth grade at Good News Christian School was acting out the illustration Jesus gave in answer to a lawyer’s question.  Parts were assigned and Billy Brinson was to be the victim waylaid by robbers on the road to Jericho.

As the classroom drama unfolded, Billy lay stretched out on the floor with distorted face and appropriate moans.  The priest had inspected the scene and had shuffled by.  The Levite had stepped aside and hastened on his way toward some unnamed appointment.  Billy was still groaning when he reached into his pocket.  His demeanor changed from pain to alarm as he sat bolt upright and cried out, “Hey, I HAVE been robbed!”

That skit took place long ago.  But there is yet a lesson to be learned from Billy Brinson’s situation.  What we persist in acting like we will wind up being. Our mothers told us that.  Remember the facial expressions she said would freeze if we kept it up?  Or the actions that would become a habit and the habit that would become a destiny?

However, the real message of Jesus’s story lies in the realization that our neighbor is whoever needs our help.  We have been introduced to the gift of helps in the twelfth chapter of 1 Corinthians.  In thinking it through, I wince to recall the times I have driven by the house of my neighbor, a widow.  In my haste to get somewhere on time, I have rushed to drop off my garbage at the dumpster as I pass by, but never thought of stopping to ask whether I could carry the neighbor’s trash as well.  Alas and alack.

Jesus said, “So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”  And he (the lawyer) said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”       Luke 10:36-37  NKJV

Loving their church and wanting to help meet its needs in the days called The Depression, the ladies of the Lexington church devised a way to put their sewing abilities to good use. They sought out congregants who would sign their names on white squares of material for twenty-five cents per name.  Then the signature-filled squares were embroidered with the then popular red thread and were pieced together to form memory quilts.  Many of the signatures were those of VMI cadets who all too soon would be called upon to enter WWII.  We have one of those quilts.  When I look at it I wonder what became of those fine young men of military bearing.  I am thankful that they came to church and that they heard of God’s redemption through Jesus Christ.

Other quilts traced the pattern of my life: the one made of woolen suit samples from the country general store where Daddy worked before I was born; the one Mother had pieced from scraps of dresses (with matching bloomers) she had made for us; the wonderful many-colored one the ladies at George’s first church gave us when we moved into the manse fresh out of the seminary.

More than fifty years later I marveled at the beauty of the red, white and blue quilts crafted by loving hands and presented to grandson Peter and other patients at a military hospital.

My dear Aunt Minnie’s dedicated lifetime was reflected in her quilting.  For years she had put together the pieces to form quilts for each beloved granddaughter.  They were stored neatly on a closet shelf, each labor of love bearing a slip of paper with the recipient’s name penned to it.  The gifts were to be given only after Aunt Minnie’s death - a love-sewn legacy.

It is God’s desire that good things, along with truth, be passed on to future generations:
   “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.”  Proverbs 13:22

One family reunion has passed with the wind up of the gathering of my mother's nieces and nephews and their families. When Granny died in 1954, her children planned to get together every fourth of July. They knew that they might not often see each other if they did not have a set time to meet. As often as they were able, they assembled each Independence Day as long as they lived. Now that generation have all passed away and their children and grandchildren meet at the church where our grandparents were faithful members. It was there, during the first week in August of 1893, that they both had professed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and were baptized the same day at the close of that 'Protracted Meeting'. They were married four years later.

Grandpa's great-niece, Julie, wrote this telling comment when we were pursuing our mutual genealogical efforts: "One thing I'd like to say about our quest for family roots, is that I am thrilled how our family has passed on Christian teachings to their children through the years. It remains a very important part of our lives, thanks be to God."

"Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life; but teach them to thy sons, and thy son's sons."-- Deuteronomy 4:9 KJV