Song – Faith Like a Child

Songs can move and motivate you. My 1-year old son loves music and does his little dance (mostly swaying) when he hears kids music or during praise songs at church. He really likes to dance at church.

Today, I listen to Christian radio on a daily basis. My wife was diagnosed with cancer last year during the final stage of pregnancy with our first child. Everything’s fine now. Healthy son. Clean bill of health for my wife. With cancer treatment and caring for a newborn (and mommy), I didn’t have time for bible study, Sunday School, and a lot of other stuff. I started listening to Christian radio station to feed the need. A year later, I listen to all 3 Christian stations in my area on a regular basis. It helps center me as I go to work (and when I come home). It invigorates me as I drive to church for worship or group meeting.

I first heard Jars of Clay in the early/mid 90’s. They had a cross-over song on popular secular radio, Flood. As I listened to the words, it sounded Contemporary Christian. I didn’t think much of it at the time and just enjoyed the song. A few months later, Jars of Clay was the opening act for a group I followed (BNL). I enjoyed the Jars of Clay set and bought the album. Yep, they were Contemporary Christian. A cross-over hit was able to reach out beyond boundaries and tell the message of Christ.

I hold one song close to heart, Faith like a Child (lyrics). Here’s a verse/stanza/whatever you call it.

They say that love can heal the broken

They say that hope can make you see

They say that faith can find a Savior

If you would follow and believe

With faith like a child

As adults we can over-think things. Sometimes, we need the simplicity of a child’s outlook to see what’s in front of us. With a faith like a child, we can move beyond our boundaries. Beyond our hesitations. Closer to what Christ wants us to be.

Lord's Prayer

At my church, I have been involved in the confirmation program several times. We pair a confirmand with a mentor. A confirmand is an 8^th grader or higher who wants to publicly profess their faith and be a church member.

During my last confirmation pairing, I noticed something that I never noticed before. As we studied the Apostle’s Creed, I noticed that Pontius Pilate was specifically mentioned, “suffered by Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried.” How many times have I said and read that prayer? I’m just now noticing this.

Psalms and prayers were first oral, shared from person to person until a time when they could be written down. We know that there were other crucifixions at the time; Jesus was not alone on crosses that day. Were there other’s claiming to the Messiah who were also crucified? Was this saying to forget about the rest … the one crucified by Pontius Pilate was the true Messiah?

I don’t know if there is a reason for this. In the generations since that worded and rewords prayers, I don’t know why Pontius Pilate continues to get this attention. It was just sometime interesting I noticed.