Hello There,

If you would judge the value of this letter by volume of return thoughts I 
receive, this segment on music would be the entire writing. From the 
sarcastic, "We stand for forty-five minutes and sing ditties," to decisions 
on leaving long time church homes. I will make an open and obvious 
opinion-The controversy over music choices seems to be a very divisive matter 
in the church world today.

One of the more scholarly comments was given after an observation that a 
congregation of 4,000 mixed the old with the new very effectively. This 
pastor saw the problem as a product of departure from the faith. i.e. If you 
no longer preach the rapture of the church, you must eliminate all Fanny 
Crosby hymns. Ease up on sanctification and separation and out goes Wesley. 
You may pursue that line of thinking and find some food for thought. Is what 
we are experiencing a reflection of a church world that has as our message, 
"Is everybody happy?"? We need to speak of original sin, new birth, Judgment 
Day, heaven, hell and such matters without regard to song lyrics. Of course 
I'm old-fashioned.

The hymn for today was written in Swedish. Karolina W. Sandell-Berg is often 
called the Fanny Crosby of Sweden because of the volumes of songs she 
composed after watching her pastor father drown in a boating accident. "DAY 
BY DAY" in English form.

DAY BY DAY

DAY BY DAY, AND WITH EACH PASSING MOMENT,
STRENGTH I FIND, TO MEET MY TRIALS HERE;
TRUSTING IN MY FATHER'S WISE BESTOWMENT,
I'VE NO CAUSE FOR WORRY OR FOR FEAR.
HE WHOSE HEART IS KIND ABOVE ALL MEASURE
GIVES UNTO EACH DAY WHAT HE DEEMS BEST-
LOVINGLY, ITS PART OF PAIN OR PLEASURE,
MINGLING TOIL WITH PEACE AND REST.

EVERY DAY, THE LORD HIMSELF IS NEAR ME
WITH A SPECIAL MERCY FOR EACH HOUR;
ALL MY CARES HE FAIN WOULD BEAR, AND CHEER ME,
HE WHOSE NAME IS COUNSELOR AND POWER,
THE PROTECTION OF HIS CHILD AND TREASURE
IS A CHARGE THAT ON HIMSELF HE LAID;
"AS THY DAYS, THY STRENGTH SHALL BE IN MEASURE",
THIS THE PLEDGE TO ME HE MADE.

HELP ME THEN IN EVERY TRIBULATION
SO TO TRUST THY PROMISES, O LORD,
THAT I LOSE NOT FAITH'S SWEET CONSOLATION
OFFERED ME WITHIN THY HOLY WORD.
HELP ME LORD, WHEN TOIL AND TROUBLE MEETING,
EVER TO TAKE, AS FROM A FATHER'S HAND,
ONE BY ONE, THE DAYS, THE MOMENTS FLEETING,
TILL I REACH THE PROMISED LAND.

Jeanene has been playing this old hymn a great deal lately. We have a 
bedroom large enough for an Allen Theatrical organ and a Yamaha keyboard 
piano. Oh! By the way, we also sleep there.

My writing today covers many areas, as usual. I realize that each segment 
does not carry the same importance for each reader; but let's go.

INSTE UPDATE-A note from directors Nick and Leona Venditti. They are on a 
month-long trip to Central America. Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa 
Rica and Nicaragua are the leading nations in the world for INSTE students. 
Remember, that the program was written first in Spanish and tailored for such 
nations. Many students have completed advanced studies and special 
graduation ceremonies are planned. Please pray.

SAD NEWS-I have asked you before about how sad does the death of an aged 
saint make us. Nina Storer fits in this category. Above eighty years old, 
and yet she always seemed to be one of those we would always have with us.

JOE FRENCH UPDATE-I promised to report on his campaigns in the West Indies. 
He, and his wife, have just returned from 76 meetings in 85 days. He reports 
good results in salvation efforts and many testifying to physical victories. 
He mentioned as a hymn a favorite rich in theology, "And Can It Be That I 
Should Gain."

GOOD IN ANY DIRECTION-I must not have had enough to do the day I noted that 
the promise in Hebrews 13:5 was precious forward or backward. "I will never 
leave thee, nor forsake thee." See?

HELD HOSTAGE-We are being moved away from our normal daily pursuits by 
madmen. Snipers, rulers and religious zealots have America as their hostage. 
Those who watch such matters, are now expressing concern over the upcoming 
elections. Although a large percentage of states are electing governors and 
key legislators, it appears that the turnout of voters will be light. Too 
many distractions. One state is studying a plan to have National Guard 
presence at polling places. Are we too well informed by an aggressive media? 
Are we just plain scared? Whatever! I want to shout, "For crying out 
loud, this is America!".

PRAY WITH CARING-I learned this week of a suicide. The 27 year-old man came 
from a strong church background. Life became overwhelming.

THE ISRAEL PUZZLE-The complex world situation and the war cloud seems to 
point up the perplexity over Israel more each day. A reader has asked me to 
reconcile Psalms 122:6 where a prayer request to pray for Jerusalem is 
enjoined and the fact in Zechariah 12:3 that this "burdensome stone" will 
prove an overwhelming load around the world. Well, there is your assignment 
for the rest of your life and my gift to you today.

Pastors Mike and Pam Lumbard of Des Moines, Iowa are journeying with you each 
week.

I led a group in 1976 on a short term missions trip to Puerto Rico and 
Jamaica. Mike was in that group of young people from all over the land.

He and I soon learned of God's wise provision. The first night in old San 
Juan, I was preaching in the main square-through an interpreter for the first 
time. Mike was lamenting the fact that he knew no Spanish, but was fluent in 
French. As he made his way through the crowd, it was hard for this 
basketball player to go unseen. Mike spied a couple on the fringe of the 
crowd who seemed totally disconnected. Approaching them, he soon discovered 
why. Visitors from Haiti, they needed somebody to interpret for them. You 
guessed it-they spoke only French.

'TIS THE SEASON-To get older. It is birthday season in our family. Jeanine 
(our older daughter is Tuesday) Janet(our younger is Wednesday), mine is the 
following week. Need things-no. Presents-yes. Do you know how old we are? 
One year older than last year. If the girls are worried about age, they 
should have told their too big kids to not call them "mom" in public. I am 
thinking about a service called "Rent-A-Tot". Want to buy a franchise? 

AS IT UNFOLDS-Thank God that the sniper story seems to be ending. As it 
plays out we will await the developments and repercussions.

LIFE SO FULL-And yet, so empty. A national magazine (Newsweek) has a cover 
story on the tragic life of rock idol Kurt Cobain. Remember, his suicide in 
1994? Drugs, fame, money and all that goes with it left him with a barren 
life and a hopeless future. There is no substitute for the "abundant life" 
of John 10:10.

DID YOU REMEMBER TO SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK? 

His,
Ron Krantz