Author: thesingerschapel

We all know that there are times when that core thread of love is the only thing that keeps us out there when our question is, “Why am I doing this?”  Let us look at love.

Paul was writing to a carnal, sensual, flesh led people in the Greek region of Corinth right outside of Athens.  Their identity of love was of self fulfillment.  Their particular brand was ‘Eros’ love.  Paul was giving direction on how charity, Holy Ghost prompted love, should be the guiding force of the ministry of their church and how differently it was displayed and recognized.  Charity, Holy Ghost prompted love, is a love that causes us to love when our flesh normally would not love.  Our flesh loves attention, an audience, possessions… basically, it wants what it wants what it wants, when it wants it and how it wants it and will do whatever it takes to get it.  But, charity, Holy Ghost prompted love, as described in I Corinthians 13 is not interested in acclaim nor high education on display (v1).  Charity is greater than biblical knowledge and even faith (v2).  Charity is not about giving things away or wearing ourselves out for a cause (v3).  Charity, Holy Ghost prompted love, is patient and kind, not envious nor proud (v4), not unseemly but unselfish, thick-skinned and holy-minded (v5).  Charity, Holy Ghost prompted love, does not seek to see what it can get away with but enjoys whatsoever things that please the Lord (v6).  Charity, Holy Ghost prompted love, believes that what the Bible says is truth, hopes in its promises, and will stand for it in spite of ridicule or embarrassment (v7).  The greatest attribute of charity, Holy Ghost prompted love, is that it never, ever, ever, never fails (v8).

Years ago, two men imparted wise words about the love this passage is  speaking of, charity, that have stuck with me.  “Stay away from performance based relationships.  They will never last.”  Gerald Wolfe, June 2000, Ketchikan, Alaska.  “No one cares how much you know till they know how much you care.”  Pastor Rick Proffitt, August 2010, preaching at Middle Tennessee Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

My Daddy, Lloyd, gave me the greatest lessons on charity that I have ever learned as he has lived as a husband, father, deacon, teacher, salesman, and most of all a friend.  My Mama, Debra, has been the object of my daddy’s love for almost 50 years.  I watched her love her elementary students that did not receive love at home, give as the Lord directed her, and dutifully care for her mother as Alzheimer’s stole her away.  She also loved me when she would utter these words, “THIS HURTS ME MORE THAN IT HURTS YOU!”  My daddy had to show that kind of love a lot more often as I recall.  My Chikadee, Angel, my Snuggle Buggle, Abby, and my Sugar Booger, Addy, bring out love in me that I would never know without them in my life.

As we celebrate love this week I pray the Lord will bring to the forefront of our minds the love that He wants us to live, charity, Holy Ghost prompted love.

Long Live Old Time Religion,

BroAdamBorden

Good Sunday morning friends.  Praise the Lord who has given us life, and health, and strength and another day to live for Him.

We had the distinct pleasure of enjoying a singing with Greater Vision this past Friday night at Calvary Baptist in Statham, Georgia.  Matt Dibler, who is music minister there, and I agreed at the end of the evening that we did not realize how much we both needed such a wonderful service. Gerald, Rodney and Chris did their usual outstanding job as they sang through their library of favorite songs.  Rodney sang my very favorite song of his, “He’ll Carry Me” and Chris did my favorite song he has written, “For All He’s Done”. Then Chris sang a great song Rodney wrote years ago, “Like I Wish I’d Lived”.  This particular night they guys sang that song with just Gerald at the piano.  The lyrics took me back to a life changing memory I want to share with you.

In the fall of 1990 I was a freshman at Snead State Community College in Boaz, sweet home Alabama.  I was taking a night class on computer coding.  Picture 3 foot tall computer towers with a 10 inch black screen, green letters on the screen, a real floppy disk and not a cell phone in the room.   Sitting on my right was a young man whom I had graduated High School with named Chad Wilmore.  In fact, we had gone to school together since 7th grade.  After about 3 weeks of that night class Chad began to talk to me very curiously.  He said, “Adam, have you ever heard that Jesus Christ died for your sins?”  Of course.  “Do you know that Jesus loves you and if you believe on him…” Whoa, What?  That is when I interrupted Chad and said, “Chad, I know what you are talking about.  I’m a Christian.  I got saved when I was 6 years old.”  He looked at me with a puzzled look on his face and said, “Really?  Hmm.”  He turned back to his computer and I sat there the rest of the class bewildered and convicted.  As I tried to hide the tears that ran down my cheeks I thought about how Chad had watched my life since we were 13 years old and not one thing he saw indicated that I knew Christ or considered myself a Christian.  That night Chad Wilmore changed my life.  I knew that I could not go back and fix all my mistakes but I could begin to live like I wish I had lived through those school years.  I will answer before the Almighty for the works I did not do back then and I do not look forward to it.

I did what Abram did in Genesis 12 when he told Sarai his wife to hide their relationship in order to blend in and save his neck.  I just wanted to fit in and that decision cost me dear, precious time I cannot regain.

My mind went back 26 years and I wept bitter tears as Chris sang his song but they turned to tears of hope and dedication as I prayed the lyrics to the Lord.  My question is this; does anyone in your everyday life recognize that you believe in Jesus Christ.  It is a simple but sobering question.  Lord let us live today like we wish we had in the past.

Thank you Lord for Chad Willmore,

BroAdamB

evangelistadamborden.com

What a wonderful Sunday morning!  I’m at my desk reading the word and listening to The Taylors sing “We Are Not Ashamed of The Gospel.”  Hallelujah!!!  I love the Word of God and I love Southern Gospel music.  Let me take this blog-portunity (I made that up) to testify of how your songs had an impact this weekend.

Friday night and Saturday our church, Wahoo Baptist, hosted our 9th annual Winter Youth Meeting.  Youth groups from at least 5 states that I know of swelled a crowd of around 1,200.  ***HOLD ON:  “I Choose To Stand” from the Mylon Hayes Family just came on the Gospel Greats.  GLORY!!***  Anyway, Friday night by the third congregational song from the Red backed Church Hymnal, #346 “I Know My Name Is There”, a young teenage girl hastened to the altar and prayed to receive Christ as her Savior.  Thank you Gerald for keeping that collection of music going.

Then, our pastor, Mark Stroud, called up any youth who wanted to form a choir to sing.  500+ young people gathered and sang Southern Gospel music.  While the choir sang from memory the Nelons song “Jesus, What A Wonderful Name” a young man came to the altar and was gloriously saved.  THEN, they kicked into Chris Allman’s song “For All He’s Done” and we saw scores of those youth worship with hands upraised with many flooding the altar with their youth group to thank the Lord for all He has done for them.  AND THEN, Ms. Natalie Raynes led out the verses on the Kingsmen song “I’ve Never Seen The Righteous Forsaken” and by that time it was ON!  Keep in mind, all those young people and the musicians (especially the bass player) knew these songs by heart.  There was no rehearsal.  Let all that sink in.  Your music means more than you know to those kids.

On Friday night Pastor Tim Gammons from Winston-Salem, North Carolina preached an incredible message from Genesis, “What we need is a Phineas”.  At the end of that Friday night service another young man came to the altar under conviction to be saved.  I cannot even tell you all that went on in Saturday’s services but suffice it to say there was more good Southern Gospel music from the Victory Trio from Valdosta, GA and the Doug Raynes Family.  Brother John Dorsey’s message, “What Fire Are You Warming From” (Mark 14:53-62) and Dr. Tony Hutson’s preaching on the “The Mark” from Genesis 4 brought at least 10 more to salvation.

My testimony to you is that in these very last days that worldliness is not what we need to reach young people.  We need your music, we need the power of the Word of God, we need Pastors and Youth Pastors who hold the line, not blur the lines.  Keep bringing good Southern Gospel music to the table.  It reaches far beyond your concert stage.

GOD BLESS SOUTHERN GOSPEL MUSIC

BroAdamBorden

evangelistadamborden.com