Believing Shows

I was talking to a neighbor the other day.  We talk every now and then.  We have a few things in common besides the fact that we live in the same neighborhood.  Among the things that we have in common is that he is former church organist.  Though he is Catholic, my neighbor knows well the work that is behind those worship services that many take for granted.  He spoke a little about some of the worship services he had played for especially funerals of priests.   As we talked,  I asked him,  “Where do you and your family attend church now?”   There was a long silence.   As I waited patiently for his response,  I wondered if I had brought up a subject that is taboo for him.  Finally, he responded,  “I don’t go to church anywhere now.”   After a few moments, he added, “But that does not mean I do not believe.”

That same day, I was listening to WSM 650 radio out of Nashville with the help of the internet.  That is the radio station that is the home for the Grand Ole Opry.    I heard for the first time in some time a song written by Ronnie Dunn and performed several years ago by country music duo Brooks and Dunn.  Here are some of the words of the song:

Old man Wrigley lived in that white house
Down the street where I grew up
Momma used to send me over with things
We struck a friendship up
I spent a few long summers out on his old porch swing

Says he was in the war when in the navy
Lost his wife, lost his baby
Broke down and asked him one time
How ya keep from going crazy
He said I'll see my wife and son in just a little while
I asked him what he meant
He looked at me and smiled, said

I raise my hands, bow my head
I'm finding more and more truth in the words written in red
They tell me that there's more to life than just what I can see
Oh I believe

What does it mean for us to believe, really believe?  I believe that when it comes to faith in God and being followers of Jesus Christ is more than what is inside us;  no, I believe belief shows.  The writer of the book of James says this about faith (or believing):  “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”   Does your believing show in your life?   Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall  

Prayer:   O God, grant that what we believe in our heart may be known not just through our lips but also what we do and who we are daily; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.