STANDING FOR GOD

Lee University, our Church of God college in Cleveland, Tennessee has a Bell Tower that rings out like the sound of the Westminster Chimes every 15 minutes across the campus. The chimes were written in 1793 for the University Church in Cambridge, England. Historians believe that the melody and lyrics were from Handel's masterpiece, "Messiah" and one of the songs is the Hallelujah Chorus.

Handel personally conducted 30 performances of the masterpiece. One performance occurred in a concert hall in London, England and was attended by the King of England. When the "Hallelujah Chorus" was played the King of England rose to his feet and the whole audience followed his example. Since that first Hallelujah Chorus audiences everywhere now stand to worship God while it is being played.

When the bells chime every 15 minutes at Lee, they are sounding more than a beautiful melody and prayer, they are also reminding the students they are more than a number, a degree program, or a "job waiting to happen." They are children of God made in His image, called for His purpose to make a difference in the world.

In the Old Testament, when the Levites led the newly-returned Jews in a prayer of confession, they commanded the people to "Stand up and bless the Lord your God forever and ever!" Numerous examples of standing in the presence of authorities or rulers can be noted throughout history, so standing to worship our God certainly qualifies in that regard. Standing or sitting, worship is an appropriate response to the forgiveness that follows the confession of sin.

Nehemiah 9:5
Stand up and bless the Lord your God forever and ever! "Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise!"

PRAYER REQUESTS

Donna Scott, Jackie Freeman, Len Hayles, Ruby Messer, Cephas & Billie Ann Goodman, and Larry Campbell. Remember also to pray for our Pastor and wife, our teachers, the West Oaks School and the Peace of Jerusalem.

DID YOU KNOW?

• --Larry Campbell went to Duke University Hospital for his operation. He is home now recuperating. He is still in shock after losing his wife, Linda, to cancer and needs our prayers.
• -Tomorrow, Teresa turns ? Happy Birthday, Teresa! Enjoy your special day.
• --So good to see Rebeccah Williams with us last Sunday after her bout of pneumonia.
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QUIPS AND QUOTES

• **Are you making God your first priority or your last resort?
• **The Great Physician is always on call.
• **It's hard to make a comeback when you haven't been anywhere.
• **Heaven's riches are tax free!
• **Reading while sunbathing makes you well red.
• **Without Jesus there would be hell to pay.
• **A church sign read, "Whoever stole our AC units, keep one...it is hot where you're going.
• **Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil: No POINT.
• **I want to be so full of Christ that if a mosquito bites me it flies away singing there is 'power in the blood!'
• **A sleepwalker is the only person who gets his rest and exercise at the same time.
• **Do something every day to make others happy and you will forget your own problems.
• **If you know the Lord, the day you die will be the best day you ever had.
• **It would be nice if we could forget our troubles like we forget our blessings.
• **A judge is a man of great trials and many convictions