Things do not always appear as they are, or what we think they are.
Quarter pounders are before cooking, less than half after, and order a large
pizza, and you get what used to be a small. Same with soft drinks, large is the
new small, and you can see the confusion. Even the other day I boughtsome ice
cream, which used to be a half gallon in size, only to find the price the same,
but the quantity much smaller, even the container had a lip under it raising the
bottom, leaving a pint out, or half a quart, or 1/4 of a gallon. So in an ever
increasing world, things are actually getting smaller, and like we were once
told by a cigarette ad “it’s what’s up front that counts.” And I wish someone
would be up front with me.
My time in the boy Scouts was one of camping trips, wild times, failed
merit badges, and being a perpetual tenderfoot. I could do lots of the tests,
just never get the badge. Second class was unattainable to me, so I gave up,
and concentrated on having fun on camping trips. No badge in it, just a strip
fro the sleeve showing I had attended, or at least had been there, but I was
having fun while some other very serious scout types weren’t. Isn’t a scout
supposed to be cheerful? But one trip we all won our cheerful badges, a trip I
never forgot to FT. Dix. Not for Army induction as many would during the Viet
Nam era, but as Boy Scouts, emphasis on boys. After sleeping out in barracks,
which we thought were cool, eating at the mess, and discovering why it is called
such, we toured the grounds, which were partially closed due to the facility
being abandoned. What a great theme park we thought, all his cool stuff to play
Army with, without ever going to war. Such was the mind of a 13 year old when
not focusing on Betty and Veronica. Or bothering Mom for where did she hide
your Clearasil. But our minds were active as we played Army, on a real base,
but no guns. By Saturday night we were tired, and with no campfire were in bed
at dark. But not looking forward to Chapel the next day. Religion was not cool
to us, and the idea of getting up and going to church on our vacation was
unthinkable. But at o’dark thirty we were up, cleaning up in the latrine area,
sinks not stools, and off to chapel by 9. In uniform we usually stood out, but
among all the Army khaki we fit in, and were given the front rows as guests of
honor. Not sure if the inductees in boot camp were required to attend, but the
place was full. And greeted by a rather large officer, a big, black man who
looked like King Kong in stature, we were polite, and secretly afraid of him-he
was that big. But wearing a big grin, we relaxed, the service began, and he
then stepped up to the mike to sing. And the service was about to take on a new
note, sort of speak.
When this King Kong sized man opened his mouth to sing, his voice was
lovely. But instead of a bass, he was a soprano. He voice was high, very high
and lilting, and almost piercing. And funny, so we did what cheerful scouts do,
we started to giggle. Then poking each other in the ribs we tired not to, until
one Bruce Thiel, the jester of our troop, broke out in a huge laugh, and we
couldn’t contain ourselves anymore, and we all started laughing. Even the staid
old scout masters who couldn’t hold it in any more joined in. And soon we were
all laughing, while Sgt. Kong continued in song, never stopping or pausing to
look at us, he was focused on God, he was worshipping, we were almost in tears.
And no one said a word to us, and we sat without making a sound throughout the
rest of the service. But for the rest of the campout, and for weeks after we
would greet each other singing in a falsetto voice imitating the good and
faithful Sgt. Probably the most fun, definitely the most memorable time ever
spent in church up to that point, too bad we couldn’t get a merit badge for
music for our ordeal. And to this day when a large black man steps to the mike
to sing, and I wait for Barry White to come out, I hold my breath just in case
Sgt. King Kong’s voice comes out. Trying not to start to laugh while I do in
remembrance of the morning at Ft. Dix in the chapel. Long before the series The
Sopranos, we had met the original Soprano. And another Jersey legend is
revealed.
Scripture tells us to make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Yet many of us
have bouts of whining and complaining, anything but joyful. And many can share
Jesus effortlessly, but ask them to sing and they clam up. We all get self
conscious of our singing voices, and many in church are inaudible, who turn out
to have pretty voices. They just will not join in making a joyful noise. While
others who cannot carry a tune sing out loud with all their heart. Pride is
what it is, and Sgt. Kong loved the Lord, and had a voice for it, even if we
thought it was funny. His laughable voice to God was joyful, worshipping God,
while the rest of us....well we made joyful noises. But why does God call our
singing joyful, and noises? Again picture heaven before the fall, Satan leading
the worship, he was the musical director in heaven, and then got proud. And
when sin entered the world, it also entered music, and it never sounded the same
to God ever again. It was a noise to him even if we think it sounds good, but
someday we will all sing in perfect harmony in heaven. For God has given us a
new song in Jesus to sing to him, one of forgiveness, compassion, joy, and
love. And some day our voices that sound like noise to him will be in perfect
harmony with him. Imagine perfect harmony with God in song...singing not caring
who hears us like the Sgt. did that morning. What a way to express love and to
live a Christian life. And we can do it right now.
Being in the spirit gives us perfect tune with God. If we listen first,
then follow, we have the perfect conductor, who knows all the words and all the
instruments to lead us in harmony. Better than the Beach Boys, CSN, or even the
BeeGees, whose harmonies no one else could ever duplicate, we will sound perfect
to God, and to ourselves. Perfect without sin, and in tune, a by-product of
forgiveness. All from Jesus, and all we have to do is ask for it.
Today you can sing like a soprano, or sing like Tony Soprano, one giving
glory to God, the other to himself. God has given us a voice, and a song named
Jesus to sing. Sing him out daily and loudly, using words when needed. Let the
song of Jesus sing in your actins and attitudes, and when in words they will
sound melodious. Walk in perfect tune with God in the spirit, and watch as you
not onlyhear his voice clearer, but your words bring him glory in worship. To
the unsaved still a noise, but to God a beautiful sound. And it starts with the
beauty of forgiveness and following the spirit.
Ft. Dix closed years ago, and of all the men and boys who went through in
scout uniforms or in boot camp, we heard the Sgt. sing that morning. He earned
his stripes that day, we almost lost ours, but fortunately by Jesus stripes we
are saved. To sing and laugh another day, enjoying life in Christ. God gave us
a song to sing named Jesus, let your life be an album of his greatest hits, and
listen to them often. Sharing, caring, and if at Ft. Dix bewaring of King Kong
sized singers. The words he sang that day gave glory to God, what do our words
say about him to others?
Be up front with Jesus and find out what really counts. Inside of us is a
loving message about Jesus just waiting to be set free. Some come in large like
the Sgt., some in small like our faith. But to God each one sounds beautiful,
remember that next time you tell someone about Jesus. And how you suddenly just
want to sing....a song from heaven that we can sing today. Merit badges
optional.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com