By James Lamkin

Lower Lights 'R Us

       I grew-up singing gospel songs written by Phillip Bliss. He was one of the most prolific hymnists of the 19th century.

       Sunday evening worship would have died sooner had it not been for Phillip Bliss.

       Almost Persuaded, The Light of the World is Jesus, Whosoever Will, and Wonderful Words of Life are some of his songs.

       His repertoire was expansive and would have been even larger, had it not been for the train wreck.

       Bliss and his wife were travelling by rail; and beneath them a bridge collapsed. He survived the initial impact, but went back into the wrecked passenger car to rescue his wife. He was unsuccessful; both died. Phillip Bliss was 38 years old.

       One of his lesser known songs is, Let the Lower Lights Be Burning. The refrain goes like this:

Let the lower lights be burning!
Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.

       Strange lyrics, right? But, here is the rest of the story....

       Bliss was one of the musicians who travelled with the famous evangelist, D.L. Moody. At one revival meeting, Moody told the true story of a "dark and stormy night," when a large ship approached the harbor in Cleveland, OH, on the shore of Lake Erie.

       The ship's captain could see the lighthouse shining high above; but he could not see the entrance to the port which was boundaried by a treacherous coastline. Knowing there were houses on either side of the harbor, the captain asked, "Where are the lower lights, the houselights?"

       "Gone out, sir," replied the pilot.

       "Can you make the harbor," asked the captain?

       "We must," said the pilot, "or perish."

       Turns out, he was right about the perishing part. The ship missed the channel, ran aground, was torn apart by the storm, and many died.

        The lighthouse from above had not been enough.

        After telling this tale, Rev. Moody made his appeal: "Brothers and Sisters, the Master will take care of the Great Lighthouse; but it is up to us to keep the lower lights burning!"

       That line enchanted Phillip Bliss. He pulled a pencil from his pocket and made a note. Later, the simple, declarative sentence became a lyric, then a stanza, and eventually a song.

       I told some of that story in worship on the day we dedicated our new hymnal. I told it because it was the "class hymn" of Claire Turner's Sunday School Class which she taught at Druid Hills Baptist Church for years.

       The new hymnals we have today are because of a gift left in the estate of Claire and Cecil Turner for Northside Drive Baptist Church. I'd say, Claire and Cecil did their jobs. As one of Bliss's stanzas says: God's mercy brightly beams from the Lighthouse of Grace forevermore...

...but to us God gives the keeping

Of the lights along the shore.

       I am grateful to God that the light of Claire and Cecil shines on...and will do so every time we open a hymnbook.

Ramsey, Nancy and Dee Davis

 Invite All Northside Drivers

 to

The Georgia Boy Choir Concert and Festival

Saturday, February 18, 2012

7-9:30 PM

at

Peachtree Road United Methodist Church

Ramsey Davis will be one of the,

"hundreds and hundreds of boys singing."

More information can be found on FaceBook and http://www.gaboychoirfestival.com

Tickets are $15

Sunday, February 19, 2012

       There will be a parent, child, and church dedication for Jordan Michael (Jay) Mudd and his parents, Joshua & Graham Mudd, during the 11 AM worship service.

on

Lenten Wednesdays

February 22-March 28

6:45-7:30 PM, in the Chapel

Tune My Heart to Sing...

February 22, Ash Wednesday - Songs of Confession (Psalm 51)

     Homily by James Lamkin; Jeff Harbin, piano

February 29 - Songs of Grace (Psalm 25)

     Homily by James Lamkin; Kurt Thomas, guitar & Jeff Harbin, piano

March 7 - Songs of Lament (Psalm 22)

     Homily by James Lamkin; Greg Colsen, piano

March 14 - Songs of Praise (Psalm 8)

     Homily by Zach Bay; Julian Turner, piano

March 21 - Songs of God's Strength in Times of Trouble (Psalm 121)

     Homily by James Lamkin; Kurt Thomas, guitar & Jeff Harbin, piano

March 28 - Songs of God's Sovereignty (Psalm 99)

     Homily by Zach Bay; Greg Colsen, piano

Palestine and the Legacy of

Dr. King and Mandela

February 23, 2012

12 Noon lunch & 12:30 PM presentation

at

The Ellis Room of Richard's Center Refectory

Columbia Theological Seminary

(701 S. Columbia Drive, Decatur, GA  30030)

RSVP to fabu-akel@peachtreepres.org by February 20.

Cost: $6.50 for lunch

Speaker: Omar Barghouti

"An independent Palestinian commentator and

human rights advocate." -- Jim Barksdale

Rev. Fabu-Akel of Peachtree Presbyterian Church

and Friends of Sabeel, the North American Voice

of Palestinian Christians

February 26, 2012

At 3 PM in the Chapel

NDBC will ordain Zachary Bay to the Gospel Ministry on Sunday, February 26, at 3 PM in the Chapel. There will be a reception in the Fellowship Hall following the ordination. All are welcome!

       As of Sunday, February 5, the congregation has pledged a total of $184,027. That leaves us $15,973 short of our goal of $200,000. We thank you so much for your generosity! If you have already pledged, we ask that you please consider an additional amount. If you have not yet pledged, please call the church office and give Rose, our business manager, your pledge. You may also drop by the church with your completed pledge card or pledge online at www.northsidedrive.org. You will have until the end of 2012 to fulfill your commitment. We are hoping that the project will commence early in the summer.

       If you have questions regarding this project, please contact Jeff Harbin, Hartwell Dew or any member of the committee. Thank you again for your generous support of this project to restore our beloved pipe organ.

March 4

Music on the Hill ....................................... @ 3 PM

Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 65 - Chopin

Polonaise Brillante - Chopin

7 Variations on "Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen"

from Mozart's Die Zauberflote - Beethoven

with Charae Krueger, cello & Robert Henry, piano

The Choral Guild of Atlanta ........................ @ 4 PM

"In Paradisum"

Requiem in C minor - Cherubini

Requiem - Faure

March 24

Collegium Vocale Spring Concert ............... @ 8 PM

pre-concert lecture @ 7:30 PM

Mass in E flat Major - Amy Beach

Saturday (3/10), 11:30 AM

Religious Liberty and the Practice of Law
   Luncheon followed by an educational presentation by Brent Walker. The luncheon will focus on First Amendment legal issues and will be directed to attorneys or others who work closely with the law or politics. A light lunch will be provided for a small fee or included in the price.

Saturday (3/10), 5-7 PM
   Gathering at the home of Northside Drive members, Jo & Hal Meeks, with hors d'oeuvres and a short presentation by Brent Walker.

Sunday (3/11) Religious Liberty Emphasis Sunday

Church School at 9:30 AM, Worship at 11 AM
   Brent Walker will be presenting Religious Liberty and the Separation of Church and State to the combined Church School classes and will be the guest preacher in morning worship. 

June 17-22, 2012

       It's time to sign up for our summer mission trip! Since 2007, Northside Drive has led a week of Vacation Bible School/summer camp in Taliaferro County, one of the poorest and most neglected areas of Georgia. Supported through individual churches and the Georgia Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, TTWL provides summer camp activities for children in first through fifth grades.

       If you can tell a Bible story, teach a craft, provide a recreational activity, or guide a group of lively children from one activity room to another, then there is a place for you to share your talents and love with the children in Taliaferro County. While it's great to have volunteers for the entire week, you are welcome for any number of days that fit your work schedule. For more information contact Susan Harlan, Rhonda Harris, or Barbara Atchley.