New Melody Church

But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid. Ezra 3:4-6 King James Version (KJV) 4  They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required; 5  And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the Lord that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the Lord . 6  From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the Lord . But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid. The building of the second temple was long in coming, delayed by the scattering abroad of God's chosen among the heathen nations, impeded by fear of tyranny of those governing them, impeded by a lack of faith and trust in God Himself in the face of the strength of the many factions that separated them as they accepted

admin · 1 year, 3 months ago Will the Circle be Unbroken Luke 14:25-27 King James Version (KJV) 25  And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. One of the most popular songs in the lexicon of gospel, bluegrass, country, and other styles of music, truly a “crossover” that defies classification, sung in churches, performed in concerts throughout the years of my life, and continues In popularity with many despite the changes to all those musical venues is the song used as a title for today’s dissertation. It is both sad, and comforting; wistful, and wish fulfilling; to the minds of those who have experienced loss of loved ones, those expecting the coming loss of th

Give a Man a Fish Luke 11:11-13 King James Version (KJV) 11  If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12  Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? " Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime." Faith and works go hand in hand, works illuminating that faith, and giving credence to its veracity, though in no way eliminating the requirement of that faith's existence if the works are effective and acceptable rather than dead in themselves as they enable that which is unacceptable promoting the continuance of unacceptability rather than acceptability to the Father. The man given a fish, when truly in need, thankfully accepts that fish in full

Carousels, Roller Coasters and Ferris Wheels Hebrews 9:27 KJV 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Calliope music fills the air as the smell of delicious treats wafts on a gentle breeze enticing those in attendance toward the many structures devoted to providing each delicacy available along the midway as crowds gather and children ooh and ah at the sights and sounds that draw their attention, directing it to the colors and movements that entice them to exchange their precious tickets, or allowances for the pleasures being offered. Lines form for each of the rides, growing longer by the minute as impatience is overcome by the view of the painted beauty and the movement and cries of those already on the rides while they wait their turn to exchange what they have for what they see before them. The horses go round and round, up  and down in a seemingly unending circle, each one a parody of the real thing, beautifully painted,

For what if some did not believe? Romans 3:11 KJV 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. An old hymn, used as a topic some time ago begins with the words, " Oh well I'm tired and so weary but I must go along Till my Lord comes and calls me calls me away." That tiredness is eventually felt by all, begging the question ever more often of why the need to toil in a field that stubbornly produces more weeds that require ever more work if the young plants being  cultivated are to survive. The title of this day's dissertation is a question, asked by Paul, a hearty laborer, and answered by him as well in the same chapter of his epistle to the Romans. It was, is, and must be the question that drives the lives of those seeking to lighten burdens and light a path for those falling victim to the statement made in the opening verse used today. The "what if" becomes paramount to those who DO believe as th

admin · 1 year, 4 months ago      “Let’s Make our Country Great Again” Proverbs 16:18 King James Version (KJV) 18  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Once more the mottos and soundbites dominate the airwaves as a nation prepares to select a new leader, choose between philosophies and methods of achieving perceived greatness on the world stage. Both philosophies tout a pride of greatness, both tout achievements and accomplishments both past and present. Both look at the current place and position vying for change of that position to what each perceives as better for a proud people who have differences of opinion wherein that pride should lie. “Look how far we’ve come”, and, “Look how far we’ve fallen” both echo from the lips of both those philosophies, guided by men, without regard to true position and place of the people they would lead in the most important aspect possible, the opinion of God himself. Both a

But the Unjust knoweth no Shame "The just Lord is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame." (Zephaniah 3:5) Justice! Continually the cry goes out for justice. All too often that cry is not for justice at all, but for recompense and vengeance that falls far from the mark of justice as seen by the only Just being in the universe. Many get deeply involved in the cry for "social justice." Many more cry out for equality that is already extant and manifests itself in ways that are unacceptable to that society. Among those crying out for justice, there are always  those, and will always be, those who have no concept of God's delivery of what is being called for. There are always, and will always be, those self seeking, self aggrandizing who stir discontent, all the while doing so in false calls for that justice that would justify that whi

admin · 1 year, 3 months ago Amazing Grace Ephesians 2:8-10King James Version (KJV) 8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9  Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Grace: God’s love and mercy for us that is unmerited, undeserved, unearned, given freely despite all unworthiness when asked for in the Spirit and Truth of unconditional surrender and acknowledgement of Him. Today’s title, taken from a favorite hymn of my own, a hymn of praise for that grace given, is well known in any circle that worships, without regard to denomination, sung regularly in those circles, universally accepted as a truth of the Gospel of Christ Jesus. “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see. ‘T