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March 2000 Table of Contents
HeartStrings
With Jesus In The Boat
By John Telman
Sheffield Family Life Center is a wonderful church in which to serve. As Music Minister at Sheffield for the past eight years, I have come to know the people as patient, accepting and forgiving of "less than perfect" presentations.
One Sunday evening is unforgettable in my mind. We began the evening services as usual with worship. I was at the piano playing as the worship leader, pastor Felicito Bagunu lead our church in a wonderful time of lifting praise to Jesus. Following this, our pastor, Dr. George Westlake, led in prayer, did announcements, and took the offering. The orchestra did an exciting offertory, and then it was time for the choir to sing.
Our choir uses no printed music, and many times does not know what songs they will sing until the introduction begins. On this particular evening, Nicole Hill, the choir director, whispered "Order My Steps" as she passed me at the piano on her way to direct the choir. I went into my memory to get the key and the introduction but NOTHING...I could not remember anything, nothing but the fact that the piano started the song.
Well I tried; then I began playing a beautiful introduction. After what felt like five minutes I looked up to see Nicole with her eyes closed and her head shaking gently "no". I looked at the other musicians. They all looked confused. The choir was looking nervous and there was a strange bewilderment in the air. Well, I couldn't keep playing no matter how wonderful it sounded. It was not the right rhythm, it wasn't in the right key, and it was not "Order My Steps."
Do you want to know how lonely a person can be in a room with more than a thousand people? I was! Boy oh boy! What to do, what to do? Well, I finally decided I had to stop this tremendous interlude. There was an eerie silence like I have never heard before at Sheffield. (At times like that, everything seems to go in slow motion.) The silence was deafening.
Suddenly, through the inspiration of a God who understands and cares, my voice broke the silence with these words: "Does anyone have the music for "Order My Steps"? The building erupted, not in worship, but in uncontrollable laughter. The laughter continued so intensely the choir could not sing and it took Pastor Westlake several minutes before he could gather himself.
Usually you don't expect ministry to happen this way, but God showed me that I was not alone, that He was there with me even when it all looked hopeless.
The Disciples felt all alone in the boat not recognizing who was with them. My wife and I put this into a poem. Let it encourage you the next time you feel like you are all alone.
WITH JESUS IN THE BOAT
By Carole and John Telman
It was Jesus' idea to go for a sail
Across the moody waters that day
So why did they think His purpose could fail
And fall into such total dismay?
Alarmed by the storm, they bailed for their lives
Convinced that they could not stay afloat.
But there was no danger; no need for despair,
With Jesus in the boat.
We still hear the call to step in His will
And ride the restless waters with Him
He'll conquer the waves or make it be still
Although it seems our chances look slim
At rest in the storm, secure by His side,
Convinced that God will keep us afloat.
For there is no danger; no need for despair,
With Jesus in the boat
Copyright 1998 J & C Telman
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