When Pete Seeger reacted musically to Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, he created the song, "Turn Turn Turn (To Everything There Is a Season)". When Phil Keaggy took HIS turn at it, he added Matthew 6:26 and produced "A Time and a Place". There is a time and a place ...
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Truth is...

A Time and a Place

 

When Pete Seeger reacted musically to Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, he created the song, "Turn Turn Turn (To Everything There Is a Season)". When Phil Keaggy took HIS turn at it, he added Matthew 6:26 and produced "A Time and a Place".

Pocket Watch and Map


There is a time and a place for everything
This is the time, this is the place
And we can sing songs and play guitar
And shoot the breeze,
And we can talk about the human race
After all we are part of it all.

Have you considered the sparrows up above?
They do not sow, they do not reap.
And yet your Heavenly Father feeds them,
And His love for you is much more deep.
After all you are part of it all.

Said the robin to the sparrow
I would really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so
Said the sparrow to the robin
Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me

Have you considered the sparrows up above?
They do not sow, they do not reap
And yet your Heavenly Father feeds them
And His love for you is much more deep
After all you are part of it all

There is a time and a place for everything
This is the time, this is the place
This is the time and the place for Jesus
'Cause Jesus is everything to me

 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...We seem to rush through life. Hurrying to finish tasks, eat meals, go places, do things . . . And a lot of that hurrying is due to worrying. And a lot of that worrying is due to messed-up priorities and placing trust in our efforts instead of in our Lord.

Father, help us to slow down, make you our everything, and consider the sparrows.

*  *  *

P.S. I've got a book being released November 1, and you can win a copy. In fact, you can win THREE books. Watch the video at this link (which originally appeared on the "Truth Is..." Facebook page), share the links below to your friends on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and help me get the word out about "The Best of Truth Is..." (Please and thank you!)

Link to the FB event: https://www.facebook.com/share/17GDmA3Qi8/

Link to the Amazon Kindle pre-order: https://a.co/d/6UFy2Io


      

Gotcher Steps In?

 

Without a doubt, the Jesus Music of the early Seventies was definitely more oriented toward evangelism and what it's like to live as a Christian in the day-to-day than today's worship-centric Christian radio.

However, Phil Keaggy blended both concepts in "Walking With Our Lord."


Is the inventor of the ear unable to hear?
The creator of the eye unable to see?
Is His arm so short that it cannot save
In your time of need?

And at the moment you decide
You'll find He's your guide
Helping you along in times of distress
So just put your faith in Him
And give Him your heart
He will do the rest

Follow Me, He calls us
Come to Me, He wants us
Trust in Me, He tells us
Abide in Me, He loves us
When He calls, we'll follow
When He calls, we'll go
We can surely trust Him
His voice, we surely know

Walking with our Lord, talking to our God
He is compassionate
Giving you a peace
That you never can forget

Singing every heart, ringing every bell
Loving His tenderness
Giving Him the praise
And His holy name we'll bless. Oh yes!

As we experience the gift that God has to give
Holy Spirit in our lives we can love everyone
If we live our faith, we'll receive a crown
When our day is done

Follow Me, He calls us
Come to Me, He wants us
Trust in Me, He tells us
Abide in Me, He loves us
When He calls, we'll follow
When He calls, we'll go
We can surely trust Him
His voice, we surely know

Thank you, Lord.......

 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...Because of our bent toward living life our way instead of God's way, we need to be led by God's Spirit. If I walk the direction that makes the most sense to me ... the direction that looks like it's going to get me what I want and let me do what I want ... it won't be long before I'm not only off God's best path, but I'm completely lost in the woods.

Holy Spirit, I don't need you to walk with me. I need you to take me by the hand so I can walk with you.

*  *  *

P.S. I've got a book being released November 1, and you can win a copy. In fact, you can win THREE books. Watch the video at this link (which originally appeared on the "Truth Is..." Facebook page), share the links below to your friends on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and help me get the word out about "The Best of Truth Is..." (Please and thank you!)

Link to the FB event: https://www.facebook.com/share/17GDmA3Qi8/

Link to the Amazon Kindle pre-order: https://a.co/d/6UFy2Io


      

The Ever-Present King of the Jews

 

The second song on Phil Keaggy's debut solo album (What a Day) is titled "King of the Jews" and in just over two minutes points out some reasons why a person might want to do what the final line suggests: "Let Him in, don't depart."


He will never leave you
He will never leave you
He is by your side everyday
Every night.

He will never forsake you
He will never forsake you
He'll always abide everyday
Every night.

He is always near,
Call His name
He'll be there.

Jesus is faithful and true
Jesus is faithful and true
Show you right from wrong
Keep you wise, keep you strong.

Jesus, King of the Jews
Jesus, King of the Jews
Nailed to a cross
Where He died for the lost.

Knocking at your heart
Let Him in, don't depart.

 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...[Jesus is] with you always, remaining with you perpetually  —  regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion  -  even to the end of the age. -Matthew 28:20 (AMP)

      

From Rock Guitar Hero to Jesus Music Pioneer

 

Phil Keaggy had a decent following and an expanding reputation as an amazing guitarist as part of a late-60s / early 70s rock power trio, Glass Harp.

Then he met Jesus. And nothing has been the same since.

As a musician, Keaggy began expressing the joy of his newfound faith through the songs he wrote and performed. That didn't fit so well in the context of Glass Harp, so Phil went solo and ended up being part of the Mount Rushmore of Jesus Music/Contemporary Christian Music.

Mount Rushmore of Jesus Music: Larry Norman, Andrea Crouch, Honeytree, Phil Keaggy
Mount Rushmore of Jesus Music:
Larry Norman, Andrea Crouch, Honeytree, Phil Keaggy

Keaggy's first solo album was, as the album cover states, "written, arranged, produced, and performed by Phil Keaggy." Every note, every word, every percussive tap and melodic pluck was Phil Keaggy expressing his love, joy, and hope in the Lord.

Today, and for the next eight weeks, Truth Is... will meditate on the songs of that album, What a Day.

First up, "That Is What the Lord Will Do for You":

Winter's here, autumn's gone
Leaves have fallen
It's the season before the dawn
Spring is calling
And as winter comes to an end
Spring brings life again
Born again, given life anew
That is what the Lord will do for you

Just in case you haven't heard
In the beginning was the Word
And the Word was with God
And the Word was God
He gives life to all mankind
He gives sight to the blind
Able to see, able to start anew
Life and that is what He'll give to you

And it's free
All you have to do is believe
That He loves you
Died for you, is ever more alive for you

There is something about the wind
And how it blows
Where it's coming from and then where it goes
There's no doubt when you hear it
There's no doubt when you're born of the Spirit
Born again, given new life anew
That is what the Lord will do for you

 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...Having been "born again" for more than a few years, I must admit that this sense of resurrection and joy and being filled with the life of Christ is something that is not "one and done." Every day, Lord Jesus, keep me aware of how dead I was without you and how you conquered death...not just for yourself, but for me, too.


      

The Secret to a Clean Slate

 

Take a break.

Try to set aside all the things flying around in your head right now. I have something for you to focus on for a couple minutes.

Think of the things you've done that you know God's not happy with. The old-school term is sin. Think about that.

Think about how the things you have done or left undone are the reasons Jesus went to the cross. Think about all the things that give God every right to turn his back on you.

Seriously. Make a list if you have to.

And now...consider how the death of Jesus wipes that slate clean.

As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12 (CSB)


Now...take another break.

Think of the things people have done that you are not happy with...how people have disappointed you, disrespected you, and even betrayed you.

Seriously. Make a list if you have to.

Is there anything on this second list that is worse than what's on the first?

Be honest.

Is there anything on the second list that would send anybody to hell faster than what's on the first?

And now...consider what your attitude should be.

I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
Shouldn’t you also have had mercy
on your fellow servant,
as I had mercy on you?
Matthew 18:32-33 (CSB)

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...Forgiving others their wrongs against you is not only "fair play". It is absolutely necessary if you want Yahweh to forgive you. "For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses." (Matthew 6:14-15 CSB)


      


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