{"id":3407,"date":"2014-09-01T16:40:45","date_gmt":"2014-09-01T20:40:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=3407"},"modified":"2014-09-12T23:00:13","modified_gmt":"2014-09-13T03:00:13","slug":"celebrating-the-life-music-of-fanny-crosby-83114","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=3407","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating the Life & Music of Fanny Crosby (8\/31\/14)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\u00a0Pastor Jim’s sermon on August 31 took on a bit of a different format.\u00a0 This week, we \"Rev<\/span><\/a>looked not only at God’s Word as text in the Bible, but also as the expression of God’s word in the music and lyrics of Fanny Crosby.<\/span><\/address>\n
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Click on the “Play” button below to listen to the sermon (this is from the 9:30 AM service).\u00a0 Scroll down,\u00a0 open the scripture readings, and follow along.<\/span><\/address>\n

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 <\/p>\nhttps:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Sermon-2014-08-31a-Celebrating-the-Life-and-Music-of-Fanny-J-Crosby.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

\u00a0Click on the “down arrow” to open up the Scripture Readings…<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Scripture Readings<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Job 38:1-7 (King James Version)<\/span><\/h4>\n

1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,<\/p>\n

2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?<\/p>\n

3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.<\/p>\n

4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.<\/p>\n

5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?<\/p>\n

6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;<\/p>\n

7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?<\/p>\n

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Ephesians 5:15-20 (New International Version)<\/span><\/h4>\n

15 Be very careful, then, how you live \u2014 not as unwise but as wise,<\/p>\n

16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.<\/p>\n

17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.<\/p>\n

18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.<\/p>\n

19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,<\/p>\n

20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\"Fanny<\/a>

Fanny Crosby<\/p><\/div>\n

Blindness!<\/span><\/h3>\n

When Fanny Crosby was an infant, she developed an eye infection.\u00a0 The wrong “doctor” applied the wrong treatment and she lost her sight completely.\u00a0 She was blind for the rest of her life.\u00a0 But how did that affect her?\u00a0 Anger? Fear? “Woe is me” self pity?\u00a0 Reclusion?<\/p>\n

No!\u00a0 Listen to this quote:<\/p>\n

“It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blinded for the rest of my life, and I thank Him for it!\u00a0 If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow, I would not accept it.\u00a0 I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.<\/span><\/p>\n

If I had a choice, I would choose to remain blind.\u00a0 For when I die, the first face I see will be the face of my blessed Savior”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Do we have that kind of faith???<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n

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Sight!<\/span><\/h3>\n

Fanny Crosby’s “unfortunate” circumstance and God given music inspired many to make a commitment to Christ. She was a friend to all who love Jesus and accept the scriptures.<\/p>\n

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“Where selfishness is, there, happiness cannot be.”<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n

She never complained, but instead sought to bring cheer to others.\u00a0 Days before she passed away, lying on her own death bed,\u00a0 a friend was overcome with grief.\u00a0 She was the one who was dying, but she gave comfort to her friend.\u00a0 She wrote him a note saying, “May our blessed Savior give you the assurance to know that everything is going to work out for your good.” Fanny Crosby lived out the promise of\u00a0 Romans 8:28<\/span>!<\/a><\/p>\n

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Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross…<\/span><\/h3>\n

When you take the cross and Jesus Christ out of the mix, you’re left with nothing.\u00a0 You’re just like any other man-made religion of the world.\u00a0 The cross is the portal from a sinful life into a life of forgiveness and relationship with God.<\/p>\n

—> Click Here<\/a><\/span> to see the words to this hymn <—<\/p>\n

Many of the critics of Christianity try to discredit the cross and the brutality to Jesus. But Paul said that the cross is the Power of God…<\/p>\n

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1 Cor 1:18-19<\/span><\/p>\n

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.\u00a0 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”<\/span><\/p>\n

NIV<\/div><\/div>\n

When you realize how much God loves us and how much He did to save us, doesn’t that make you want to cling to the cross?<\/p>\n

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Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior…<\/span><\/h3>\n

Consider these people who persisted against opposition to reach the Savior…<\/p>\n