Sacred Celebrations

All scriptural references are from the King James Having grown up being steeped in this world''s culture, which to a greatextent revolves around this world''s holidays, I know full well the greatinfluence that celebrations involving music, art, and poetry can have onyoung minds. It is my hope that these poems and lyrics, based on God''sordained Holy Days and the inspired words of God, can help developthe kind of culture among God''s people that will influence the childrenof God''s...
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All scriptural references are from the King James Having grown up being steeped in this world''s culture, which to a greatextent revolves around this world''s holidays, I know full well the greatinfluence that celebrations involving music, art, and poetry can have onyoung minds. It is my hope that these poems and lyrics, based on God''sordained Holy Days and the inspired words of God, can help developthe kind of culture among God''s people that will influence the childrenof God''s church in the right way. Some of these poems have alreadybeen put to music, and hopefully others will lend themselves to thisvenue as well. When referring to child rearing, a wise man once stated that if youtake something away from a child, you should give them somethingelse to take its place. While he was referring to a child who wants toplay with something he should not, the same principle applies whenwe take away this world''s holidays that mean so much to children;especially those children coming into God''s church from the world. We need many more songs about the true Holy Days, the true church, and the good news of tomorrow''s world that our children can relate toand internalize. We need to develop a whole righteous culture basedon true knowledge--a culture that celebrates true values and virtueswith uplifting songs, jubilant dance, wonderful art, and positiveliterature with memorable poetry--to give to our children in place of the traditions and culture this present evil world offers. Some will argue that all these sacred Festivals and Holy Dayswere abolished with Christ on the cross, but careful examination ofall the scriptures reveal otherwise. Luke records that after Christ died, the women prepared spices and ointments to anoint the body, then"rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment." The gospelwriters all agree that Christ gathered with His disciples to celebrate the Passover on the very evening before His crucifixion. The book of Actsshows the faithful believers and followers of Christ gathering together"in one accord" more than 50 days after the crucifixion for the Feastof Pentecost, called "the Feast of Firstfruits" in the Old Testament. Concerning the Days of Unleavened Bread, Paul told believers in Corinth to "keep the Feast." Luke records that Paul, referring either to aspring or fall Festival, stated he "must by all means keep the feast thatcomes to Jerusalem." Luke mentions other Holy Days and Festivalsin the book of Acts. Jude, the brother of Christ, lamented that certainevil doers had crept into the church, and were "spots in your feasts ofcharity"--undoubtedly referring to those Feasts ordained of God. Onecannot clearly see the incredible step by step plan God has for all ofmankind without recognizing the outline for that plan as pictured to usby these sacred Holy Days: played out year by year in the very order bywhich God is carrying out His amazing plan of salvation. The poems in this collection have been written over a period ofabout 20 years. Several small booklets have been printed and handedout in a limited way to a number of members. Some have been sentto the elderly or infirm who were unable to attend the fall Feast of Tabernacles. Several requests have come from the brethren since, wanting copies of these earlier booklets which are currently out ofprint. More poems have been written and added to my collectionsince these were published; including a number of poems and lyricsfor younger children. I would have desired for all these poems to bemade available free of charge to all of God''s people, but being a man oflimited resources, I knew of no way to do so. While it has never beenmy desire to profit from the brethren with these poems, the brethrencould use second tithe funds during God''s annual Feast of Tabernaclesto purchase this collection and defray printing costs. Perhaps in thefuture they can be used as fund raisers by our youth. I can think of nobetter way for these poems to be distributed, or of a greater honor thanfor them to be used in some small way to help the young people of God''s church. It is my sincere desire that all of God''s people and their childrenenjoy these poems for years to come. It has been traditional for God''speople, in referring to the fall Feast of Tabernacles, to wish each other"the best feast ever." So at this time I wish all who read and enjoy thesepoems the best Feast ever.