Friday was a difficult day at our house. But Saturday has arrived, and it offers a new perspective on everything. This message is sent with a prayer that God will sustain you wherever you are.

 

“In Times Like These….”

Tom Barnard

 

I rarely listen to rock music. Actually, I never listen to rock music—hard, punk, alternative, rap. None of them. The lyrics (if you can actually understand them) have nothing to contribute to my lifestyle and philosophy.

 

I was searching for the words of Ruth Caye Jones’ gospel song, “In Times Like These,” when my search engine led me to the lyrics of a song performed by the rock band, Foo Fighters. The title of their song is, “Times Like These.” The words of the refrain are surprisingly relevant this week:

 

“It’s time like these you learn to live again

It’s times like these you give and give again

It’s times like these you learn to love again

It’s times like these time and time again.”

 

The tragedy at Virginia Tech University reminds us that there is life, even after life’s most terrifying events. The campus will learn to live again, and give again, and love again. But the campus (and nation) will never forget what happened in that Virginia town on Monday.

 

But there is news even better than the message by the Foo Fighters. Here is a song to sing:

 

“In times like these you need a Savior, In times like these you need an anchor;

Be very sure, be very sure Your Anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these you need the Bible, In times like these O be not idle;

Be very sure, be very sure Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these I have a Savior, In times like these I have an anchor;

I’m very sure, I’m very sure My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!”

 

And I absolutely love the refrain following the third verse:

 

“This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He’s the One; This Rock is Jesus, The only One!

I’m very sure, I’m very sure My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!”

 

That’s the kind of “Rock Music” I can sing. And so can you.

 

 Heavenly Father, this has been a memorable but sad week for many of us. The world has asked many hard questions this week—questions about God, questions about the times in which we live, questions about the reality of evil in the world. But no one is asking the question that cries out for an answer: “On what rock can I anchor my soul?” There is an answer to that question, Father, and the answer is, “This rock is Jesus, Yes, He’s the One!” Thank you for answering that question for me this week. In your Son’s name I pray, Amen.