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June 2002 Table of Contents
Off The Top Of My Head
Holding On To Hope
By Jerry Evans
 I think I am safe in saying that almost everyone who has anything to do with Christian Music has over the past two years lived through an incredible journey with David and Nancy Guthrie. Most of you know the story or have read the articles or heard David share it at music conferences or spoken with some of us about it. First having one child born with a rare metabolic disorder called Zellweger Syndrome and caring for this beautiful little girl (Hope) knowing that she would live only a short time, then after taking surgical precautions, becoming pregnant again his time with a little boy (Gabriel) with the same disorder. Most of us could only pray for them and try to have some concept of understanding. I think we probably never had a clue.
All of the above is an introduction to make you aware of two wonderful resources that have come about through all this suffering. First, the title of this article is not original. (Not that many of my ideas are) This is the title of a new book written by Nancy, for those who hurt, looking at the experiences of Job and how a person of faith responds when his world falls apart. I was struck by the fact that she points out that one of Job’s first reactions after learning of his loss and shedding his tears, was to worship the Lord. She then shows us that the next reaction of Job was gratitude, which somehow I had failed to notice all these years. She ask a burning question as to whether the reader “would be willing to thank God for a gift which he a given and now has taken away? Maybe it was your spouse, your reputation, your financial security, your health, your home….. Thank you.”
Nancy takes us through all the emotions and reactions she went through and almost all people go through after hurt and ends with intimacy with our Father. Folks this is a book worth reading (Not long, about 130 pages) but more importantly it is a book worth giving to those in your congregation who are hurting. It looks at Job through the eyes of one who has experienced hurt and answers questions. The release date is mid June. We have made arrangements to have it at all of the summer conferences.
Which leads me to the next resource, Lift Up Your Eyes, A Musical of Hope. Created by Gary Rhodes and Claire Cloninger, (Let’s see we’ve heard of them before, haven’t we?) this work was brought into existence through the experiences of David and Nancy over the past couple of years. Yes their testimonies are included in the musical but it’s not about them. It is designed to minister to those in the church who are hurting. There is no greater need in the church than to reach out and touch the person in the pew who is going
through, has gone through, or is going to go through problems and pain. This is the right musical at the right time. I realize that right now most of you are thinking about either what’s about to happen for Independence Day or you are trying to determine what you need to do at Christmas. Stop everything!! Take time to sit and listen to this work. It will minister to you right where you are.
I was asked to listen to this musical to see if we wanted to premier it at the conferences this summer. As Jackie and I were flying somewhere, I pulled out a portable CD player and put on my headphones. After a couple of songs I leaned over and told her that she might want to put hers on. She did and I started it over. For the next 45 minutes to an hour we sat, listened, and cried. I’m sure the people around us on the plane thought we were nuts. I tend to be somewhat emotional (I asked God about it and He said He made me that way and it might be in my best interest to leave what He makes alone) and get excited about things that minister to me. I was raising my hands, directing the choir, playing drums for the orchestra and oh yeah, crying all at the same time. It will minister to you. If it does then your people need to experience it.
One last item. In the last issue of the Communicator I wrote an article about using more media in our music ministry. I admitted that there were very few resources available. God burdened me about that and we are now starting to make available video projects to accompany octavos, anthems or whatever you want to call them. Our first project is now ready. It is the song His Truth Still Marches On from the Integrity book We Win recorded by Alicia Williamson. The same team that produced the Experiencing God Video produced it. We have purchased the master and acquired the copyrights. It is now available for purchase. You do not have to rent it. You may use it as many times as you like. Folks, I know I am very close to this project but I’m telling you this is a song that needs to be heard by your people and the video will make it come alive. There is an ad elsewhere in the magazine for the video. Integrity has helped us by releasing the arrangement in an octavo format. I think you ought to consider the book but it you think that is too much for you at least look at the octavo and check out the video.
Jerry
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