Selah, "Be Still" & "I'd Rather Have Jesus", Proverbs 17:28 & Luke 6:20, 24, 27-29, 32-33, 35

Chuck Spangler

Grace Memorial Parishioner

"Noise"

The noise, both and pre- and post-election, has been deafening. And there are a multitude of contributors!  We have the news feeds, MSNBC v CNN v Fox v most of the printed press!  Who do we trust?  Who do we listen to?  Who is speaking truth and only truth?  And there’s the social media.  We have friends, family, casual acquaintances, self-adorned “experts”, who have unbridled (and in some cases uncensored) opinions that they seem to passionately believe we need to hear.  And there’s always someone that wants to engage the source in ugly, occasionally hateful, debate.
Thanks be to God for the answer to this craziness:  I hope you will read and contemplate on our latest Grace Memorial Newsletter where Mother Liz, Bishop Shannon, and Presiding Bishop Sean offer some inspiring words and prayer to deal with all of the rhetoric which seems to be drowning us.
And there’s always the solution to abandon all news media and social media that partakes in strictly partisan political diatribe.

With the above in mind, I offer you two (2) selections by Selah, “Be Still” and “I’d Rather Have Jesus”. Selah is an internationally acclaimed Christian music trio (Todd Smith, Allan Hall, & Amy Perry) formed in 1997.  Todd’s and Amy’s remarkable voices fills this music with emotion and depth.
     The group took their name from the ancient Hebrew word “selah”, the exact meaning of which has been lost in antiquity.  The word “selah” appears over 70 times in the Psalms…it is surmised by some theologians that its meaning is similar to “amen” in that no viable English synonym exists.
     Selah has sold more than 4 million albums resulting in 8 Gospel Music Association “Dove Awards”, and 8 #1 singles.

Even fools who keep silent are considered wise; when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.
​Proverbs 17:28

“Be Still”
Artist: Selah

"Be Still" Lyrics:

It's so loud…I just can't seem to slow this down
I need You more than ever now…Let the silence be the only sound

Your glory, Becomes the only thing I see…Your beauty brings me to my knees
The awe that You inspire in me

Makes me want to be still…So still You can hear me breathing in…So still You can hear me breathing out
Let Your calm descend upon me now

So now… I stand before You broken down…My feet upon this holy ground
I can feel Your presence all around

Makes me want to be still…So still You can hear me breathing in…So still You can hear me breathing out
Let Your calm descend upon me now

I hear You whisper softly…I hear You speaking to me…I hear You
In the silence You call my name.

I want to be still…So still You can hear me breathing in…So still You can hear me breathing out
Let Your calm descend upon me now
I want to be still…So still You can hear me breathing in…So still You can hear me breathing out
Let Your calm descend upon me now
I want to be still…So still You can hear me breathing in…So still You can hear me breathing out
Let Your calm descend upon me now

I want to be still…I want to be still…I want to be still
Be still

Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
‘Blessed are you who are poor,
   for yours is the kingdom of God.
‘But woe to you who are rich,
   for you have received your consolation.
​‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt.
‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Luke 6:20,24,27-29,32-33,35

“I’d Rather Have Jesus”
Album: You Amaze Us
Artist: Selah

"I'd Rather Have Jesus" Lyrics:
​
I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold, 
I'd rather be His than have riches untold 
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land, Yes, I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand. 

Than to be the king of a vast domain, And be held in sin's dread sway 
I'd rather have Jesus than anything This world affords today. 

I'd rather have Jesus than men’s applause, 
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause 
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame, I'd rather be true to His holy Name. 

Than to be the king of a vast domain, And be held in sin's dread sway 
I'd rather have Jesus than anything This world affords today 

He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom; 
He's sweeter than honey from out the comb; 
He's all that my hungering spirit needs; I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead 

Than to be the king of a vast domain, And be held in sin's dread sway 
I'd rather have Jesus than anything This world affords today 

Than to be the king of a vast domain, And be held in sin's dread sway 
I'd rather have Jesus than anything 
This world affords today

Scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), Copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.