Hello my dear friends! I pray that your heart is full of the Lord's love for you. I find it fascinating that as great as God is, and how small we are, His love for us is overwhelming. I am often reminded of the great truth from Romans 5:8 that says, "God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Once again, we are reminded that we are the undeserving recipients of grace.
In my journey I have come to discover that the bigger God is in my life, the smaller I become. Conversely, the bigger I become (in my own eyes), the smaller He becomes. Today's Psalms of Discipleship is a wonderful reminder of God's greatness. May we all be humbled by His great love for us.
In awe of Him,
Denny
A special note: I am pleased to share with you a spiritual growth resource I have been writing for several months entitled Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace. In it are 13 devotions as well as a five day journal entry for each devotion. Also included is a 21 point Bible study and personal assessment on grace. The book is designed for individual study as well as a small group resource. Final proofs are being made. We hope to have a release date by September 7. Information on how to purchase the book and its pricing will be available soon. A couple of prayer requests for you to consider:
1. My heart is for this resource to be a tool that will encourage those who read it. Pray that many hearts will be changed.
2. My goal is that this resource will provide a catalyst for the building up of a community of friends who will grow in grace together. Pray for an outcome where there will be measurable spiritual growth.
3. My desire is for God's glory: the Shepherd of the Psalms. May He receive all glory as we follow Him.
For more details, check out this link: http://bit.ly/c59DX7
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #34
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1
Core Value: Worship
Disciples of Jesus Christ are given a privileged “front row seat” as we gaze at the nighttime sky. We’ve all done it: on a cloudless night where there is little man-made light that distracts from the glow of heaven’s lights consisting of the moon and countless stars that make up our cosmic neighborhood called the Milky Way, we look; we stare; we are overcome by our smallness and His greatness. We are in awe of God’s glory.
How can it be that the same God who created all of this heavenly landscape by the work of His hands can also have an intimate love-relationship with us? If we are not careful, we can begin to over analyze this question and fail to do what is necessary, which is to worship God. In the book, Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster reminds us that,
“Worship is something we do. Studying the theology of worship and debating the forms of worship are all good, but by themselves they are inadequate. In the final analysis we learn to worship by worshiping.” Pg. 170
May the Lord grant us the grace to look beyond our inward self and to set our gaze on His majestic glory and worship Him.
Principle #34 & Personal Application: The quality disciple is struck by the wonder of God’s marvelous creation.
• It is a wonder to know that God has put in place, in the heavens, a creation that knows its place: to tell of the glory of God.
• It is a wonder to know that God has placed His fingerprints on His creation.
• It is a wonder to know that God receives all glory from His creation.
O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! Psalm 8:1 (NASB95)
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; 4 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! Psalm 8:3-5 (NASB95)
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
When is the last time I was really struck by and in awe of God’s creation?
What kinds of steps can I begin to take that will give me a better appreciation of God’s creation?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, the heavens do tell of the glory of God. As I gaze at Your creation, I worship You. May I never take for granted the wonder of what You have made. May I always be struck by the wonder of God’s marvelous creation.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Psalms of Discipleship--Principle # 33--August 21, 2010--Worship
Hello my friends....we are blessed. We really are blessed in so many ways. We have been given the gift of Jesus and the precious community called the Body of Christ.
I was blessed this morning when I had the opportunity to visit with friends I had not seen in over 30+ years. Carolanne and I were a part of the same ministry during our teenage years. Her future husband Billie Hanks came to my church during my college days and was the first person who introduced me to the terms "discipleship" and "making disciples." We have come a long way since then. Many stories of challenge and victory were shared over the breakfast table. We talked shop and we shared the concerns of our heart. Now, more than ever before, we are committed to the task Jesus has given us: to go and make disciples. We cannot do it alone. Being a disciple is not enough: it is only the beginning. It is our hope and prayer that as a disciple of Jesus Christ, you will make a fresh commitment to become a disciple maker for Jesus.
Making disciples with you,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #33
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of my salvation, Psalm 18:46
Core Value: Worship
Do you have a contagious worship of God that leads others into His presence too? If we are ever going to make a difference in making disciples who become disciple makers for Jesus, we must all become “worship leaders.” We are not saying anything about singing on a stage in a church building. We are saying our worship of God must be authentic, real and meaningful to us first before we can lead anyone else into a deeper relationship with Jesus. Henry and Richard Blackaby remind us of this truth:
“One of the issues regarding spiritual leadership is whether spiritual leaders can take people to places they themselves have never been. That depends on one’s definition of spiritual leadership. If spiritual leadership is understood as taking people to a location or completing a task, then leaders can lead people to places they have never been. But if the goal of leadership is a relationship, then leaders will never move their people beyond where they have gone themselves. Leaders can lead people to relocate their organization or to build a building or to grow in size without prior experience in these areas. But leaders cannot take their people into a relationship with Christ that goes any deeper than they have gone themselves. Followers may grow deeper spiritually in spite of their spiritually immature leaders, but they will not grow deeper because of such people. Thus, spiritual leaders must continually be growing themselves if they are to lead their people into a mature, intimate relationship with Christ. Leaders will not lead their people to higher levels of prayer unless they have already ascended to those heights themselves. Leaders will not lead others to deeper levels of trust in God unless they have a mature faith themselves.” Spiritual Leadership. Pg. 128
Who are you leading, where are you taking them, and what are they experiencing along the way?
Principle #33 & Personal Application: The quality disciple has a keen awareness of the greatness of God.
• We know our God is great because He lives!
• We know our God is great because He is our Rock!
• We know our God is great because He is the God of our salvation!
• We know our God is great because He is the Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, the sovereign King and Sustainer of the Universe!
• We know our God is great because He really does care for us!
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. 29 He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. 30 Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, 31 Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:28-31 (NASB95)
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
How will my worship of God be enhanced if I begin to focus upon the Living Savior?
When I begin to meditate upon the greatness of God, what kinds of thoughts fill my mind?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help me live in the reality that I am loving and serving a Living Savior. I bless You, for You are my Rock. I exalt You, for You are the God of my salvation. May I become a contagious worship leader so that others may desire to worship You too.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
I was blessed this morning when I had the opportunity to visit with friends I had not seen in over 30+ years. Carolanne and I were a part of the same ministry during our teenage years. Her future husband Billie Hanks came to my church during my college days and was the first person who introduced me to the terms "discipleship" and "making disciples." We have come a long way since then. Many stories of challenge and victory were shared over the breakfast table. We talked shop and we shared the concerns of our heart. Now, more than ever before, we are committed to the task Jesus has given us: to go and make disciples. We cannot do it alone. Being a disciple is not enough: it is only the beginning. It is our hope and prayer that as a disciple of Jesus Christ, you will make a fresh commitment to become a disciple maker for Jesus.
Making disciples with you,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #33
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of my salvation, Psalm 18:46
Core Value: Worship
Do you have a contagious worship of God that leads others into His presence too? If we are ever going to make a difference in making disciples who become disciple makers for Jesus, we must all become “worship leaders.” We are not saying anything about singing on a stage in a church building. We are saying our worship of God must be authentic, real and meaningful to us first before we can lead anyone else into a deeper relationship with Jesus. Henry and Richard Blackaby remind us of this truth:
“One of the issues regarding spiritual leadership is whether spiritual leaders can take people to places they themselves have never been. That depends on one’s definition of spiritual leadership. If spiritual leadership is understood as taking people to a location or completing a task, then leaders can lead people to places they have never been. But if the goal of leadership is a relationship, then leaders will never move their people beyond where they have gone themselves. Leaders can lead people to relocate their organization or to build a building or to grow in size without prior experience in these areas. But leaders cannot take their people into a relationship with Christ that goes any deeper than they have gone themselves. Followers may grow deeper spiritually in spite of their spiritually immature leaders, but they will not grow deeper because of such people. Thus, spiritual leaders must continually be growing themselves if they are to lead their people into a mature, intimate relationship with Christ. Leaders will not lead their people to higher levels of prayer unless they have already ascended to those heights themselves. Leaders will not lead others to deeper levels of trust in God unless they have a mature faith themselves.” Spiritual Leadership. Pg. 128
Who are you leading, where are you taking them, and what are they experiencing along the way?
Principle #33 & Personal Application: The quality disciple has a keen awareness of the greatness of God.
• We know our God is great because He lives!
• We know our God is great because He is our Rock!
• We know our God is great because He is the God of our salvation!
• We know our God is great because He is the Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, the sovereign King and Sustainer of the Universe!
• We know our God is great because He really does care for us!
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. 29 He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. 30 Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, 31 Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:28-31 (NASB95)
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
How will my worship of God be enhanced if I begin to focus upon the Living Savior?
When I begin to meditate upon the greatness of God, what kinds of thoughts fill my mind?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help me live in the reality that I am loving and serving a Living Savior. I bless You, for You are my Rock. I exalt You, for You are the God of my salvation. May I become a contagious worship leader so that others may desire to worship You too.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Psalms of Discipleship--Principle # 32--August 14, 2010--Grace
Hello my dear friends. It is a wonderful thing to be in the constant care of the Good Shepherd. All of us can testify about the blessings we experience even when life becomes overwhelming. Many, without the Lord's grace, simply melt away in discouragement and defeat. But we, disciples of the Lord Jesus, can experience the full measure of His abundant grace.
In this week's Psalms of Discipleship we are going to be reminded of the great impact that grace has upon our lives, beyond our conversion. May we experience in a fresh way God's keeping power as we live for Him.
By His grace, I am going from good to great,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #32
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your right hand upholds me; And Your gentleness makes me great. 36 You enlarge my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped. Psalm 18:35-36
Core Value: Grace
God does not give grace to us so we may rest on our own spiritual laurels and coast into a heavenly bliss after this life. God, by His grace, has called us to respond to grace by doing great things for God. In his book, “Good to Great in God’s Eyes,” Chip Ingram makes this excellent point:
“Good Christians live the Christian life. They love God, walk in integrity, demonstrate faithfulness to their mates, spend time in the Bible because they want to hear from God, make the effort to discover their spiritual gifts, use those gifts in their local church, give their tithes and offerings, go on missions trips, and help their kids grow up to be godly men and women. They do what God calls them to do, and they serve him well. Great Christians, on the other hand, do all that and then pass it on. You can be a good Christian by obeying God and loving people, but if you haven’t poured your life into others, your life ends with a period. Great Christians end with a comma. They live the life of faith in a way that takes God’s grace to them and imparts it into the lives of others. They multiply themselves again and again. Good Christians ‘live the life’; great Christians ‘leave a legacy.’” Pg. 189
What kind of legacy are you leaving behind: a period, or a comma?
Principle #32 & Personal Application: The quality disciple of Jesus Christ is sobered by God’s all-consuming grace.
It is the all-consuming grace of God that
• gives us the shield, the protection, of His salvation.
• upholds us with His right hand of strength and provision.
• makes us great through His gentleness towards us.
• makes our steps of faith sure and firm in Him.
For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 (NIV)
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
When I reflect upon God’s all-consuming grace in my life, what kinds of images come to mind?
In what areas of my life—today—do I need to apply God’s all-consuming grace?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, now, more than ever before, I need to be a person of grace: living by it, experiencing it, sharing it, being consumed by it.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
In this week's Psalms of Discipleship we are going to be reminded of the great impact that grace has upon our lives, beyond our conversion. May we experience in a fresh way God's keeping power as we live for Him.
By His grace, I am going from good to great,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #32
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your right hand upholds me; And Your gentleness makes me great. 36 You enlarge my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped. Psalm 18:35-36
Core Value: Grace
God does not give grace to us so we may rest on our own spiritual laurels and coast into a heavenly bliss after this life. God, by His grace, has called us to respond to grace by doing great things for God. In his book, “Good to Great in God’s Eyes,” Chip Ingram makes this excellent point:
“Good Christians live the Christian life. They love God, walk in integrity, demonstrate faithfulness to their mates, spend time in the Bible because they want to hear from God, make the effort to discover their spiritual gifts, use those gifts in their local church, give their tithes and offerings, go on missions trips, and help their kids grow up to be godly men and women. They do what God calls them to do, and they serve him well. Great Christians, on the other hand, do all that and then pass it on. You can be a good Christian by obeying God and loving people, but if you haven’t poured your life into others, your life ends with a period. Great Christians end with a comma. They live the life of faith in a way that takes God’s grace to them and imparts it into the lives of others. They multiply themselves again and again. Good Christians ‘live the life’; great Christians ‘leave a legacy.’” Pg. 189
What kind of legacy are you leaving behind: a period, or a comma?
Principle #32 & Personal Application: The quality disciple of Jesus Christ is sobered by God’s all-consuming grace.
It is the all-consuming grace of God that
• gives us the shield, the protection, of His salvation.
• upholds us with His right hand of strength and provision.
• makes us great through His gentleness towards us.
• makes our steps of faith sure and firm in Him.
For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 (NIV)
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
When I reflect upon God’s all-consuming grace in my life, what kinds of images come to mind?
In what areas of my life—today—do I need to apply God’s all-consuming grace?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, now, more than ever before, I need to be a person of grace: living by it, experiencing it, sharing it, being consumed by it.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Psalms of Discipleship--Principle # 31--August 7, 2010--Bible Study
Hello again my dear friends. As Christians we are so blessed to have God's Word in our own language. There are many around the world that do not have a Bible, much less, in their own "heart language." To further complicate their lives, many have never learned how to read. We are blessed.
But the blessing goes far beyond having a Bible on our bookshelf. We also have a relationship with the God of the Bible. In today's Psalms of Discipleship, we are going to see what God has to say about our relationship with His Word and with Him.
May we all be challenged to grow more today in our love for Him.
Learning with you,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #31
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the LORD is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. Psalm 18:30
Core Value: Bible Study
We live in a day and time where there seems to be no “absolutes” but a whole lot of suggestions to choose whatever seems to feel right. It is an age of uncertainty. It is a culture in which we live that has lost its moral anchor. As disciples of Jesus, we believe that there are absolutes that govern how we should live and how we are to treat others and how we are to love God. We believe that the Scriptures clearly address everything the believer needs to know in order to live out the Christian life. But unless we miss the most important point, we need to make certain that we are growing in our relationship with the God of the Bible. In The Blue Parakeet, Scot McKnight offers these helpful thoughts:
“Believing in inspiration, revelation, infallibility or inerrancy, and authority describes one’s view of the Bible. Fine. We need to talk about our view of the Bible. But that isn’t enough. We have too many today who say, ‘Now that you’ve got the right view of the Bible, you’re on the right side of the angels.’ Having the right view of the Bible isn’t the point of the Bible. We need to have not only a ‘view’ of the Bible but also a ‘relationship’ to the God of the Bible.” Pg. 95
Principle #31 & Personal Application: The quality disciple of Jesus Christ finds great comfort and joy in the Word of God.
• We find great comfort and joy knowing that our God is perfect and His promises are true.
• We find great comfort and joy knowing that our God is our perfect guide, showing us the way to safety in Him.
• We find great comfort and joy knowing that our God has provided for us a perfect book, a perfect living Word that we can rest our lives upon with great abandon.
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (NASB95)
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
When I read from God’s Word, do I just look for the things that I like, or do I carefully read and listen to what God is saying to me?
When and where was the last time God has spoken to me from His Word, giving me great comfort and joy?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I celebrate the fact that You are my God and that Your way is always perfect and blameless. I celebrate that Your Word is always true, never misleading me, always helping me to find my way to a safe refuge in You. I celebrate the comfort and joy I receive as I read your Word and apply it to my life.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
But the blessing goes far beyond having a Bible on our bookshelf. We also have a relationship with the God of the Bible. In today's Psalms of Discipleship, we are going to see what God has to say about our relationship with His Word and with Him.
May we all be challenged to grow more today in our love for Him.
Learning with you,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #31
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the LORD is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. Psalm 18:30
Core Value: Bible Study
We live in a day and time where there seems to be no “absolutes” but a whole lot of suggestions to choose whatever seems to feel right. It is an age of uncertainty. It is a culture in which we live that has lost its moral anchor. As disciples of Jesus, we believe that there are absolutes that govern how we should live and how we are to treat others and how we are to love God. We believe that the Scriptures clearly address everything the believer needs to know in order to live out the Christian life. But unless we miss the most important point, we need to make certain that we are growing in our relationship with the God of the Bible. In The Blue Parakeet, Scot McKnight offers these helpful thoughts:
“Believing in inspiration, revelation, infallibility or inerrancy, and authority describes one’s view of the Bible. Fine. We need to talk about our view of the Bible. But that isn’t enough. We have too many today who say, ‘Now that you’ve got the right view of the Bible, you’re on the right side of the angels.’ Having the right view of the Bible isn’t the point of the Bible. We need to have not only a ‘view’ of the Bible but also a ‘relationship’ to the God of the Bible.” Pg. 95
Principle #31 & Personal Application: The quality disciple of Jesus Christ finds great comfort and joy in the Word of God.
• We find great comfort and joy knowing that our God is perfect and His promises are true.
• We find great comfort and joy knowing that our God is our perfect guide, showing us the way to safety in Him.
• We find great comfort and joy knowing that our God has provided for us a perfect book, a perfect living Word that we can rest our lives upon with great abandon.
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (NASB95)
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
When I read from God’s Word, do I just look for the things that I like, or do I carefully read and listen to what God is saying to me?
When and where was the last time God has spoken to me from His Word, giving me great comfort and joy?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I celebrate the fact that You are my God and that Your way is always perfect and blameless. I celebrate that Your Word is always true, never misleading me, always helping me to find my way to a safe refuge in You. I celebrate the comfort and joy I receive as I read your Word and apply it to my life.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
My Tribute To Jamie Grimsley: To God Be The Glory For The Things He Has Done
On Saturday, July 31, my dear friend Jamie Grimsley made it to heaven before I did. This is my tribute to him.
I suppose that for every beginning of something very special, there must be an end as well. This is especially true with a deep and abiding friendship. They begin, and then one day, they end. My friendship with Jamie began in 1972. I was 16 years old, new to the almost brand new West Florence high school, and working on collecting a brand new set of friends. It was my good fortune that in the early stages of my important task, my friend collection had Jamie in it.
In keeping with our common love for music, Jamie and I first met when I was directing the school’s pep band. He wanted to play his bass guitar. We never had a bass guitar, but it sure would have been cool to have one (a personal disclaimer here: I was known by many of my peers as “Doc” as in “Doc Severinsen” of the Tonight Show fame. My life goals were high: either to replace Doc when he retired or to join Lawrence Welk’s Champagne Orchestra. I am happy to report that none of those dreams came true). So I told Jamie, “Welcome aboard!” Little did I realize that our lives from that time forward would be joined at the hip in music, in friendship, in ministry, and in our mutual love for the Lord Jesus.
The formative years of our relationship were forged in a ministry called Reach Out Incorporated in Florence South Carolina. Through the kindness and generosity of Drs. NB Baroody, Meyers Hicks and market place businessman Knox Sherer, a Christian coffee house was opened. Young people caught in the wave of a spiritual revival flooded “The Door.” During the decade of the 1970s, we and a host of other young adults were given a place to learn more about the love of Jesus. We built a community of friends, many of whom remain so to this day. We were afforded an awesome place to use our gifts and serve people in places that we could have hardly imagined. For Jamie and I, it was a group called the Reach Out Singers. We were given a wonderful forum in which to use our love for music. Over the years, we sang in churches, conferences, coffee houses, concert halls, television studios, and parks. We sang in the city, the country, in front of a few and in front of thousands. We traveled a few miles across town and caravanned over the entire southeastern United States. And along the way, memories of our friendship were layered upon one great experience after another. Some of my favorite concerts were when Jamie and I were in the same equipment van on the way to the next destination. In would go the eight-track tape, and then Jamie would sing over it and sound a whole lot better than the guy on the tape! Yes, I had a front row seat to enjoy his amazing gift of song (please bear with me on this: some would even call these “car tunes”). I was his captive audience for the ride that always seemed to end too quickly.
I suppose one of my fondest memories of Jamie was when The Reach Out Singers sang at the Presbyterian Family Life Conference every year during the week of July 4th in the mountain community of Montreat North Carolina (I really cannot prove this, but my hunch is this is God’s summer home). Without fail, the Lord saw fit to anoint our music in Anderson Auditorium during the conference. The only time He did not bless our music was when we were singing in a coffee house on the campus of Montreat, and we forgot to include the Lord in our singing. This is the truth: we were flat in our music but even worse, we were flat in our humility. Our mentor, Knox, gave us a loving rebuke that challenged us to keep our eyes on the Lord and not on ourselves. We got the message, and the next night at the conference, the glory of the Lord fell down upon everyone in the auditorium.
Other significant life experiences that Jamie and I shared were the many lay witness missions we attended with our dear friend Dr. Morris Anderson. Both Jamie and I matured in our gifts because, to a large degree, Morris trusted us to follow the Lord. Morris trusted Jamie to pick the right songs and to sing them at the right time and in the right way. God was worshiped and all the people went home knowing that the Lord was in that place. Morris trusted me to invite the youth team members who would come and share what Jesus had done in their lives. Trust is a big deal in ministry. It’s a big deal in relationships. It was a big deal between Morris, Jamie and me. Because we trusted the Lord and we trusted each other, only heaven knows how many lives were touched by His Spirit. When I reflect back over those times, my heart is warmed thinking about how the Lord used imperfect men and women to bring others closer to Jesus.
A blessing that grew out of Morris’ lay renewal team was the time that Cliff Camak, Betsy Covington, Tim McAneney, Jamie, and I spent the entire day in the Arthur Smith Studios in Charlotte North Carolina recording the album “Count It Joy.” It never made the Billboard Charts, but we believe that because of its eternal message and its beautiful music, many were drawn closer to Jesus.
Our many trips together consisted of everything from carpooling to college to heading to the next coffee house or church for either a concert with the Reach Out Singers or a solo gig Jamie had scheduled. On occasion, I confess that Jamie and I would play a game of chance as we carpooled to Francis Marion University: if the traffic light at the school was red, we would turn right and head on to class; however, if the light was green . . . need I say more? We cut class and headed to the beach in either his old white cargo van or in my red Chevrolet cargo van, lovingly nicknamed the “Holy Ghost Traveling Salvation Van.” As the years went by, we did find enough red lights in order to graduate!
Family was important to Jamie, and Jamie’s family was important to me. Mr. and Mrs. Grimsley became like a second set of parents to me. They loved me like one of their own, because in their mind and in mine, I was. Countless meals were served in their home that I was invited to sample. My given nickname, “Skinny Denny,” was given to me by Jamie and Earle Sims (who were known in our group of three as “The Chump” and “Earle the Pearl” respectively. If you did not know us, you might misunderstand that the nicknames were terms of endearment and were treasured by each man—even today). But how I stayed “Skinny Denny” for many years was no fault of Mrs. Grimsley. She did the best she could to fatten me up.
Please understand that I did not have a flesh and blood brother. The Lord provided that in Jamie. Over the course of our friendship we laughed together, learned together, cried together (especially when after experiencing a concert where it seemed that heaven itself came down and gave us a preview of what heaven will be like), played together, and yes we prayed together too. You see, Jamie was not just another brother in Christ. He was a man who walked with me as we approached the Throne of Grace. When you pray with a person, you really gain a window into the person’s soul. For me, Jamie was my soul brother.
I count it as a personal blessing to have attended Trinity Presbyterian Church when Perry Mobley was the pastor. On the staff was our youth director, Don Stephens, Jamie as our minister of worship, and yours truly as the pastoral assistant to Perry. Some of the sweetest worship services I can recall were on Sunday nights as Jamie would lead us in song, Don would accompany him with a piano that was not only in tune with the musical notes, but even more in tune with the Holy Spirit, and I had the opportunity to play my trumpet. As I look back now, I really did not fully appreciate what was taking place. I was experiencing worship; a quality of worship that I miss.
As the years passed by, our lives went in different directions. We went to different churches. We began our families. Life got busier with our jobs, but whenever we would see each other, he would give me the “Grimsley Hug,” a bear of a hug that not only left an impression on you, but had you desiring another one just as soon as you caught your breath. I vividly remember a visit Jamie made to see me. The circumstances were difficult. In the summer of 1998 I had a massive heart attack and bypass surgery at the age of 41. To this day, I remember the warm smile (we all remember his smile) that stood at the end of my bed in the intensive care unit. I’m not fully sure how the Lord worked to restore my broken body, but I suspect smiles like Jamie’s went a long way to promote my eventual healing.
The last time I saw Jamie was at a benefit concert for the earthquake victims of Haiti earlier this year. He was doing what he loved so much: hanging around those who loved music and with those who loved the Lord. Standing behind the soundboard stood a man who had been in the fight of his life. I gazed at my weathered friend who had been waging a courageous battle against an enemy I hate even more today than I did before. I was hoping, praying, believing that the Lord would give Jamie the weapon that would slay the cancer in his life and extend his life for many years to come. I took note of this mental snap shot of Jamie and compared it to the robust and energetic man that I had loved for years. Then I walked over to him and gave him a hug. My regret is that I did not hug him more and tell him how much he meant to me. I commit to do this: when the Lord calls me home, I’m going to look up my friend and give him a hug. Then we will find a place to sit and reminisce about our friendship and retell our stories for eternity.
A Postscript: I am sure that Andrae Crouch did not have Jamie Grimsley and the Reach Out Singers in mind when he wrote the inspired song that has found its way into many Christian hymnals today. Andrae did not have us in mind, but the Lord Jesus sure did. This song became the signature song of Jamie and the Reach Out Singers. The words are inspired. The musical notes are tremendous. But more often than not, when we sang this song a supernatural anointing of worship came upon not only us, but also fell upon those who heard it with us. Our gaze was set upon the Savior who changed all of us and gave us this fresh perspective: To God be the glory; for the things he has done, is doing and will do. This is my tribute to my friend. To God be the glory, Jamie. Lets’ sing it again brother. Lets’ sing it again.
My Tribute (To God Be The Glory) Words and Music by Andrae Crouch
How can I say thanks for the things
You have done for me?
Things so undeserved yet You gave
To prove Your love for me
The voices of a million angels
Could not express my gratitude
All that I am, and ever hope to be
I owe it all to Thee
To God be the glory, to God be the glory
To God be the glory for the things He has done
With His blood He has saved me
With His power He has raised me
To God be the glory for the things He has done
Just let me live my life and
Let it be pleasing Lord to Thee
And if I gain any praise, let it go to Calvary
With His blood He has saved me
With His power He has raised me
To God be the glory for the things He has done
for the things He has done.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/celebrating-jamie
(Note: Permission is granted to distribute this Tribute to Jamie by both electronic and printed means)
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 / www.dennybates.com
I suppose that for every beginning of something very special, there must be an end as well. This is especially true with a deep and abiding friendship. They begin, and then one day, they end. My friendship with Jamie began in 1972. I was 16 years old, new to the almost brand new West Florence high school, and working on collecting a brand new set of friends. It was my good fortune that in the early stages of my important task, my friend collection had Jamie in it.
In keeping with our common love for music, Jamie and I first met when I was directing the school’s pep band. He wanted to play his bass guitar. We never had a bass guitar, but it sure would have been cool to have one (a personal disclaimer here: I was known by many of my peers as “Doc” as in “Doc Severinsen” of the Tonight Show fame. My life goals were high: either to replace Doc when he retired or to join Lawrence Welk’s Champagne Orchestra. I am happy to report that none of those dreams came true). So I told Jamie, “Welcome aboard!” Little did I realize that our lives from that time forward would be joined at the hip in music, in friendship, in ministry, and in our mutual love for the Lord Jesus.
The formative years of our relationship were forged in a ministry called Reach Out Incorporated in Florence South Carolina. Through the kindness and generosity of Drs. NB Baroody, Meyers Hicks and market place businessman Knox Sherer, a Christian coffee house was opened. Young people caught in the wave of a spiritual revival flooded “The Door.” During the decade of the 1970s, we and a host of other young adults were given a place to learn more about the love of Jesus. We built a community of friends, many of whom remain so to this day. We were afforded an awesome place to use our gifts and serve people in places that we could have hardly imagined. For Jamie and I, it was a group called the Reach Out Singers. We were given a wonderful forum in which to use our love for music. Over the years, we sang in churches, conferences, coffee houses, concert halls, television studios, and parks. We sang in the city, the country, in front of a few and in front of thousands. We traveled a few miles across town and caravanned over the entire southeastern United States. And along the way, memories of our friendship were layered upon one great experience after another. Some of my favorite concerts were when Jamie and I were in the same equipment van on the way to the next destination. In would go the eight-track tape, and then Jamie would sing over it and sound a whole lot better than the guy on the tape! Yes, I had a front row seat to enjoy his amazing gift of song (please bear with me on this: some would even call these “car tunes”). I was his captive audience for the ride that always seemed to end too quickly.
I suppose one of my fondest memories of Jamie was when The Reach Out Singers sang at the Presbyterian Family Life Conference every year during the week of July 4th in the mountain community of Montreat North Carolina (I really cannot prove this, but my hunch is this is God’s summer home). Without fail, the Lord saw fit to anoint our music in Anderson Auditorium during the conference. The only time He did not bless our music was when we were singing in a coffee house on the campus of Montreat, and we forgot to include the Lord in our singing. This is the truth: we were flat in our music but even worse, we were flat in our humility. Our mentor, Knox, gave us a loving rebuke that challenged us to keep our eyes on the Lord and not on ourselves. We got the message, and the next night at the conference, the glory of the Lord fell down upon everyone in the auditorium.
Other significant life experiences that Jamie and I shared were the many lay witness missions we attended with our dear friend Dr. Morris Anderson. Both Jamie and I matured in our gifts because, to a large degree, Morris trusted us to follow the Lord. Morris trusted Jamie to pick the right songs and to sing them at the right time and in the right way. God was worshiped and all the people went home knowing that the Lord was in that place. Morris trusted me to invite the youth team members who would come and share what Jesus had done in their lives. Trust is a big deal in ministry. It’s a big deal in relationships. It was a big deal between Morris, Jamie and me. Because we trusted the Lord and we trusted each other, only heaven knows how many lives were touched by His Spirit. When I reflect back over those times, my heart is warmed thinking about how the Lord used imperfect men and women to bring others closer to Jesus.
A blessing that grew out of Morris’ lay renewal team was the time that Cliff Camak, Betsy Covington, Tim McAneney, Jamie, and I spent the entire day in the Arthur Smith Studios in Charlotte North Carolina recording the album “Count It Joy.” It never made the Billboard Charts, but we believe that because of its eternal message and its beautiful music, many were drawn closer to Jesus.
Our many trips together consisted of everything from carpooling to college to heading to the next coffee house or church for either a concert with the Reach Out Singers or a solo gig Jamie had scheduled. On occasion, I confess that Jamie and I would play a game of chance as we carpooled to Francis Marion University: if the traffic light at the school was red, we would turn right and head on to class; however, if the light was green . . . need I say more? We cut class and headed to the beach in either his old white cargo van or in my red Chevrolet cargo van, lovingly nicknamed the “Holy Ghost Traveling Salvation Van.” As the years went by, we did find enough red lights in order to graduate!
Family was important to Jamie, and Jamie’s family was important to me. Mr. and Mrs. Grimsley became like a second set of parents to me. They loved me like one of their own, because in their mind and in mine, I was. Countless meals were served in their home that I was invited to sample. My given nickname, “Skinny Denny,” was given to me by Jamie and Earle Sims (who were known in our group of three as “The Chump” and “Earle the Pearl” respectively. If you did not know us, you might misunderstand that the nicknames were terms of endearment and were treasured by each man—even today). But how I stayed “Skinny Denny” for many years was no fault of Mrs. Grimsley. She did the best she could to fatten me up.
Please understand that I did not have a flesh and blood brother. The Lord provided that in Jamie. Over the course of our friendship we laughed together, learned together, cried together (especially when after experiencing a concert where it seemed that heaven itself came down and gave us a preview of what heaven will be like), played together, and yes we prayed together too. You see, Jamie was not just another brother in Christ. He was a man who walked with me as we approached the Throne of Grace. When you pray with a person, you really gain a window into the person’s soul. For me, Jamie was my soul brother.
I count it as a personal blessing to have attended Trinity Presbyterian Church when Perry Mobley was the pastor. On the staff was our youth director, Don Stephens, Jamie as our minister of worship, and yours truly as the pastoral assistant to Perry. Some of the sweetest worship services I can recall were on Sunday nights as Jamie would lead us in song, Don would accompany him with a piano that was not only in tune with the musical notes, but even more in tune with the Holy Spirit, and I had the opportunity to play my trumpet. As I look back now, I really did not fully appreciate what was taking place. I was experiencing worship; a quality of worship that I miss.
As the years passed by, our lives went in different directions. We went to different churches. We began our families. Life got busier with our jobs, but whenever we would see each other, he would give me the “Grimsley Hug,” a bear of a hug that not only left an impression on you, but had you desiring another one just as soon as you caught your breath. I vividly remember a visit Jamie made to see me. The circumstances were difficult. In the summer of 1998 I had a massive heart attack and bypass surgery at the age of 41. To this day, I remember the warm smile (we all remember his smile) that stood at the end of my bed in the intensive care unit. I’m not fully sure how the Lord worked to restore my broken body, but I suspect smiles like Jamie’s went a long way to promote my eventual healing.
The last time I saw Jamie was at a benefit concert for the earthquake victims of Haiti earlier this year. He was doing what he loved so much: hanging around those who loved music and with those who loved the Lord. Standing behind the soundboard stood a man who had been in the fight of his life. I gazed at my weathered friend who had been waging a courageous battle against an enemy I hate even more today than I did before. I was hoping, praying, believing that the Lord would give Jamie the weapon that would slay the cancer in his life and extend his life for many years to come. I took note of this mental snap shot of Jamie and compared it to the robust and energetic man that I had loved for years. Then I walked over to him and gave him a hug. My regret is that I did not hug him more and tell him how much he meant to me. I commit to do this: when the Lord calls me home, I’m going to look up my friend and give him a hug. Then we will find a place to sit and reminisce about our friendship and retell our stories for eternity.
A Postscript: I am sure that Andrae Crouch did not have Jamie Grimsley and the Reach Out Singers in mind when he wrote the inspired song that has found its way into many Christian hymnals today. Andrae did not have us in mind, but the Lord Jesus sure did. This song became the signature song of Jamie and the Reach Out Singers. The words are inspired. The musical notes are tremendous. But more often than not, when we sang this song a supernatural anointing of worship came upon not only us, but also fell upon those who heard it with us. Our gaze was set upon the Savior who changed all of us and gave us this fresh perspective: To God be the glory; for the things he has done, is doing and will do. This is my tribute to my friend. To God be the glory, Jamie. Lets’ sing it again brother. Lets’ sing it again.
My Tribute (To God Be The Glory) Words and Music by Andrae Crouch
How can I say thanks for the things
You have done for me?
Things so undeserved yet You gave
To prove Your love for me
The voices of a million angels
Could not express my gratitude
All that I am, and ever hope to be
I owe it all to Thee
To God be the glory, to God be the glory
To God be the glory for the things He has done
With His blood He has saved me
With His power He has raised me
To God be the glory for the things He has done
Just let me live my life and
Let it be pleasing Lord to Thee
And if I gain any praise, let it go to Calvary
With His blood He has saved me
With His power He has raised me
To God be the glory for the things He has done
for the things He has done.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/celebrating-jamie
(Note: Permission is granted to distribute this Tribute to Jamie by both electronic and printed means)
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 / www.dennybates.com
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