Hello There, Thanksgiving week!! How about a song that the Pilgrims sang? It was written in the Netherlands in 1597. You do remember enough American history to recall that these, on their quest for freedom, first visited Holland where the move toward civil and religious freedom was very much underway. Translations from Dutch to Latin, to German and finally to English in 1894 never seemed to dilute the joy and faith of this stirring anthem. WE GATHER TOGETHER WE GATHER TOGETHER TO ASK THE LORD'S BLESSING; HE CHASTENS AND HASTENS HIS WILL TO MAKE KNOWN. THE WICKED OPPRESSING NOW CEASE FROM DISTRESSING. SING PRAISES TO HIS NAME, HE FORGETS NOT HIS OWN. BESIDE US TO GUIDE US, OUR GOD WITH US JOINING, ORDAINING, MAINTAINING HIS KINGDOM DIVINE; SO FROM THE BEGINNING THE FIGHT WE WERE WINNING; THOU, LORD WERE AT OUR SIDE, ALL GLORY BE THINE! WE ALL DO EXTOL THEE, THOU LEADER TRIUMPHANT, AND PRAY THAT THOU STILL OUR DEFENDER WILL BE. LET THY CONGREGATION ESCAPE TRIBULATION; THY NAME BE EVER PRAISED! O LORD, MAKE US FREE! If you count the Psalms as chapter divisions, that makes Psalm 117 the center of the Bible, mathematically. It also is the shortest division. The contents are especially significant this week. "O PRAISE the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord." LET ME DO EXACLY THAT-The pastor with the back and leg problem reports victory. We asked you to pray two weeks ago. The pain subsided, hence medication ceased and many reactions to the steroids ceased. A small area of numbness in the foot has the doctor wanting more tests and an MRI. We are at the ???? point. Pray. ON THE JOURNEY-With Randall and Barbara Bach of Dayton, Ohio. Randall serves as Divisional leader for Open Bible Standard Churches. His area of service stretches from Michigan to Tennessee and from Indiana through Pennsylvania and New York. Faithful leaders in Bible College and youth offices on a national level, their son must be grown. PERSONAL PRAYER NOTE-My brother, Jack goes to Mayo Clinic this week. He has undergone maximum levels of treatment for cancer. A spot is suspected. Thanks. OLD TAPES-Jeanene has been playing tapes from our services of 25 plus years ago. Listening to yourself preach and lead worship is not a guarantee of a restful night. Last night she played a sermon from the very passage that I had been looking into for a study here. I will make no "spiritual" statement except to say that John 7:37-39 is really worthwhile. There was much perplexed indecision about Jesus. Family members and religious leaders each had real areas of concern. The words and actions of Jesus only tended to make attitudes worse (verse 43). It was holiday time in Israel. Three times each year, all males were to observe certain times and themes of God's presence. This one (Feast of Tabernacles) came in the Fall to celebrate God's faithfulness in the harvest and to show the bounty of God. This joyous (almost wild) celebration was fanned by the daily trip (eight days) of the priests to pour water on the altar of sacrifice. These were dreary days in Israel. Roman rule was onerous. Religion was a hollow keeping of long lists of rules. Redemptive hope was just a small glimmer of light held to by very few. This festive occasion was not very joyous. I am certain that there was a pained at- titude in His Divine heart as Jesus observed what was almost a mockery. To stand and cry out gave a person the ears of all present. Jesus is going to make a powerful pronouncement. Madman or Messiah? The visitors held further discussion and left with no verdict (40-53). Let us look and listen verse by verse. 1. Verse 37-I see an Inclusive Invitation. "If any man thirst". I am always amazed at the wideness of God's mercy. Please note the exclusion clause-there is none. Whomever and wherever--"come". The requirement is a basic need of all mankind----thirst. 2. Verse 38 -I see an Internal Involvement. "Out of his belly". This "believing" is much more than mental assent. This is life-changing to the core. Not only what I possess; but what I have to share------life. 3. Verse 39 -I see an Intimate Indwelling. "they that believe.......should receive". Acts, chapters 1&2 record this event as after Jesus was resurrected (glorified). Believers now possess the Spirit on a level never known before except by Jesus (John 3:34). 4. Entire Passage-I see Infinite Initiation. As in all matters that have to do with successful spread of the gospel, the positive power and passion of pentecost must be applied by the Holy Spirit. Psalm 118:23 is an example. "This is the Lord's doing: it bis marvellous in our eyes." Allow me to close this segment with the words of the chorus of tarrying from the tape. COME, LORD JESUS AND O'ERFLOW US WITH THY LOVE. COME, LORD JESUS AND O'ERFLOW US WITH THY LOVE. FOR WE BRING OUR HEARTS LIKE VESSELS TO THE EVERFLOWING STREAM. COME, LORD JESUS AND O'ERFLOW US WITH THY LOVE. COME, LORD JESUS AND BAPTIZE US WITH THY POW'R. COME, LORD JESUS AND BAPTIZE US WITH THY POW'R. FOR WE BRING OUR HEARTS LIKE VESSELS TO THE EVERFLOWING STREAM. COME, LORD JESUS AND BAPTIZE US WITH THY POW'R. I feel compelled by the Spirit to sing on. Please join me, if the melody is familiar. COME, HOLY SPIRIT, I NEED THEE, COME, SWEET SPIRIT, I PRAY. COME, IN THY STRENGTH AND THY POWER, COME, IN THINE OWN GENTLE WAY. THE HOUSE IS BEAUTIFUL-After the rain delays etc., the finished product is better than I had hoped for. Lest anybody believed my foolishness about colors, allow me a further statement. The front of the house is a stone veneer of native limestone. We matched an ivory tone for the major paint color. A terra cotta tone gave us a good trim choice. PASS IT ON-My short writing on "grace" seemed to strike a clear chord for several of you. You "forwarded" it to somebody you thought might appreciate and need the message. Always feel free to use any part of this letter. THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD-Is a noble theme. A few months ago, I shared with you a need physically for a retired missionary. My follow-up report to you was of an adequate recovery to allow them to return to church as the pianist. I heard this week that the condition is still improving (no report on the musical ability). His, Ron Krantz