LET FREEDOM RING
CALL TO WORSHIP --- BELL # 10
"O, My love, My darling,
I hunger
for your touch
Time goes by so slowly
and time can do
so much
Are you still Mine?
I need your love
I need your love . . ."
I did as GOD instructed
and selected a book of hymns from my shelf
He spoke a page number and I turned to it quickly,
believing that I would have
the song He wanted to be placed
in this Call to Worship, but the page was blank
Again, He spoke a page number
and I turned to the page and once again
the page was blank
I know that I know that I know that I know
that I hear GOD'S Voice clearly,
but could it be that I had the wrong book or ?????
When I had exhausted my reasons,
He spoke to me to write my own love song to Him
to fill in the empty pages
Solemnly, I replied that I don't write songs
He reminded me of all the times
that I told Him that "I don't "
when He told me to do something
It's countless and I won't try to list them here,
but know that He made His point
So, from deep within my spirit,
I will respond to His call from
"Unchained Melodies"
I look into Your eyes
and my heart resounds
with love
Love for a GOD
who chose my touch
over His pain
I cry out for You
in the night
and I long for Your Touch
for You
to make me whole
I can only touch You, my Friend
for You first touched me
You touched me to the core
You brought life and love
and now, I ask You
that I may return
all that I am to You
and may my touch bring You
LOVE
unending love . . .
Not so good, GOD . . .
SING IT
CHILD
I
WILL GIVE YOU
THE TUNE
SING, SING, SING
AND
KNOW THAT
I
WANT
MY BRIDE
TO CREATE NEW SONGS
TO BRING
ME
LOVE
I
WANT
MY BRIDE
TO LOVE
ME
IN THE
MORNING
AND
AT NIGHT
I
WANT
MY BRIDE
TO SEEK NEW WAYS
TO LOVE
ME
I
WANT
MY BRIDE
TO BRING FORTH
UNTO
THIS WORLD
PRAISE
FROM
BEGINNING TO END . . .
I
WILL BE
LOVED
BY THOSE
WHO TRULY
KNOW
ME
TRY THIS . . .
"Don't you know
so many things they come and go
Like your words that once rang true
Just like the love I thought I found in you
And I remember the thunder
talking about the fire in your eyes
but you walked away when I needed you most
Now Baby, baby, baby, baby
I found someone to take away the heartache
to take away the loneliness
I've been feeling since you've been gone
since you've been gone . . .
Even though you lose that thunder
Talking about the fire in your eyes
You're looking at me, but you still don't believe
That Baby, baby, baby, baby
I found someone to take away the heartache
to take away the loneliness
I've been feeling since you've been gone
since you've been gone . . .
Too long on the borderline
wondering if your love was really mine
but you left me . . . "
"I Found Someone" Cher
GOD
that's a "Cher" song!?!
I
LOOK AND LOOK
FOR
MY BRIDE
I
LOOK
FOR THE ONE
WHO WILL RETURN
MY LOVE
I
LOOK
BUT THOSE
WHO SAY
THAT THEY
ARE
MY BRIDE
ARE GONE
THEY
ARE BUSY
THEY
ARE NOWHERE
TO BE FOUND
THEY'VE
LOST THE THUNDER
THERE'S
NO LONGER
THE FIRE OF LOVE
IN THEIR EYES
FOR
ME
How about this one, Friend?
"Moon so bright
Night so fine
Keep Your Heart here with mine
Life's a dream - we are dreaming
Race the moon
Catch the wind
Ride the night to the end
Seize the day
Stand up for the light
I want to spend my lifetime loving You
If that is all in life I ever do
Heroes rise - heroes fall
Rise again with it all
In Your Heart,
can't You feel the GLORY
Through our joy, through our pain
We can move worlds again
Take my hand
Dance with me
I want to spend
my lifetime loving You
If that is all in life I ever do
I will want nothing else
to see me through
if I can spend my lifetime
loving You
Save the night
Save the day
Save the Love
Come what may
Love
is worth
everything
we pay!"
"I Want to Spend My Lifetime
Loving You" The Mask of Zorro
SERVANT
SERVE THIS NEXT GENERATION
THE THUNDER
OF YOUR LOVE
FOR
ME
And unto
this new generation,
I ask You, GOD,
to render their hearts supple
for Your perfect penetration
with Your Love
that You would
THUNDER
through them songs and poems
and words and books
of Your Love and Wisdom
as is written
in the Heavenlies
I ask You, GOD,
to bring forth a generation
that praises You from North to South
and East to West,
in a way,
that this earth will shudder
and rock and roll and rap and sing
from day to night,
from night to day
so that Your Heart
would constantly be filled
with LOVE
from those who You created
and gave
Your life for
May
our praise
THUNDER
Your soul and soothe Your heart
and bring unto You
a gift never ever given before
and may it become the gift
greater than all
that You have given
unto us
FIVE SHORT LESSONS
OF
FREEDOM
ONE
THE HORRORS
OF IMPRISONMENT
EVEN UNTO
THE IMPRISONMENT
OF CHILDREN
MALIKA OUFKIR'S STORY
TOLD IN
"STOLEN LIVES"
TELLS OF DESPERATION
OF THE HUMAN SOUL
THE FAMILY FIGHTS AND WINS
THEIR FREEDOM, IN TIME
WITH MUCH DIGGING
AND COURAGE
BUT
WHAT IS TO BE LEARNED
FROM THEIR PLIGHT?
FREEDOM
IS WORTH
THE FIGHT
FREEDOM
TO LIVE AND BREATHE
UNHINDERED
FREEDOM
TO BECOME ALL
THAT YOU CAN BE
ALL FREEDOM
WAS REMOVED
FROM THE OUFKIR FAMILY
"Towards the end, we were like caged beasts.
We were no longer even capable of feelings.
We were tired and enraged, aggressive and cruel.
None of us wanted to go on wearing a mask.
We no longer believed in anything."
"Stolen Lives" Malika Oufkir and Michele Fitoussi
AND YET
THEY SAW A WAY TO FREEDOM
BY DIGGING A TUNNEL
DAY AFTER DAY
". . . the first time we opened the hole,
the irregularity of the ground formed the shape
of a cross, the length of the stone slabs."
TRUE FREEDOM - LASTING FREEDOM
DOES COME
IN THE
"SHAPE" OF A CROSS
READ THIS
SHORT ILLUSTRATION
SENT BY MY SERVANT
IN YEARS PAST
TO URGE A YOUNG MAN
INTO THIS
FREEDOM
HE CHOSE
NOT
TO
WALK BESIDE
ME
ON
THE PATH
BUT
IT IS OPEN
FOR YOU
THIS DAY
PHASE I
I saw a small boy walking along a path
He was barefoot, plainly clothed
and carrying a small pack over his shoulder
a pack of dreams
He was going to follow
GOD
with all he had
As he walked,
he grew in stature
and many began to follow him
and walk along side him
He now wore shoes and his clothes
were quite formal
Those walking with him
pointed out different paths
and he would take them
Each time a different path was taken
off the main one
a dream was taken
from his pack
PHASE II
I saw a man, alone
with no pack
looking out a large picture window
wondering where
that small boy had gone
and why there was no longer
a pack to carry
Behind him loomed a large opening
in the wall in
the shape of a cross
No words
were spoken
No beckoning cry
from the other side
He just knew
that he had to walk through
There was no one
to stop him
There was no one
to point out a different way
He was alone
but
expectant
He was hopeful
He walked through the Cross
to the other side
He saw a path clear as day
He was once again a small boy
barefoot and plainly clothed
He had no pack
to carry this time
He had no load
no dreams
of his own to fulfill
As he began to walk
a Man clothed in White
walked alongside
holding his small hand tightly
Upon this Man's shoulder
was a small boy's pack
once again
full of dreams and promises
A small white book
was placed in his other hand
On each page
one item was written
and a Handprint was drawn
On the last page
a Tear appeared
There was a latch on the small book
It was easily opened
and rarely closed
for it held the secrets for staying
on the path
and holding onto
the Hand of the
ONE
who left
the Handprint and the Tear
***
Book contents
Page 1 --- "You are loved!"
Page 2 --- "He will show you the path."
Page 3 --- "GOD is Sovereign.
Do not question His ways."
***
THE JOURNEY
WILL BE LONG
BUT
I
WILL
NEVER
LET GO!
THE JOURNEY
WILL BE LONG
BUT
I
WILL FULFILL
ALL
MY PROMISES TO YOU!
THE JOURNEY
WILL BE LONG
BUT
I
WILL
ALWAYS
LOVE YOU
ALWAYS
LEAD YOU ON
MY PATH
ALWAYS
DO WHAT IS BEST
FOR
MY KINGDOM
I
LOVE YOU, SON
LET'S
START ANEW AND AFRESH
WHERE WE LEFT OFF
YEARS AGO
THIS TIME
I
WILL CARRY
THE LOAD
I
WILL FULFILL
THE DREAMS
MY WAY
I
WILL TAKE HOLD
OF YOUR HAND
AND
NEVER
LET YOU STRAY
I
WILL BE
YOUR FATHER
AND YOU
WILL BE MY SON
I
WILL BE
ALL
YOU NEED
***
MALIKA
TOLD HER YOUNGEST BROTHER
THAT HE MUST BE THE ONE TO LEAD
HE WAS THE YOUNGEST
AND THUS
THE PUREST
"'We are adults,' I said to him.
'We may have committed sins,
but not you, you are so pure . . .
if there is a God, he'll take pity on you.
You will lead us to freedom.'"
I
TELL
YOU
THE TRUTH
THE CHILDREN
OF THIS
LAST GENERATION
WILL HAVE
A
PURITY
THAT
FRIGHTENS
MAIN-STREAM AMERICA
FRIGHTENS
THEIR VERY EXISTENCE
AND
THESE CHILDREN
I
WILL FILL
WITH
MY PRESENCE AND MY POWER
TO LEAD THIS WORLD
TO
FREEDOM
IN
ME
YOU
WON'T
FIND
THE
TRUE PATH
TO
FREEDOM
WITHOUT
PURITY
COME
AND
BE MADE
PURE
AND
ASK
FOR
MY PATH
TO
ETERNAL
FREEDOM
TWO
A YOUNG GIRL
ROCKS A COUNTRY
SHE STANDS FOR FREEDOM
AND DIGNITY
AND EDUCATION
THERE WERE EIGHT YOUNG PEOPLE
WHO STOOD WITH HER
TO INTEGRATE
A SOUTHERN HIGH SCHOOL
AND YET
THEY ALL BEAR THE SCARS
FOR THEIR ACT
OF COURAGE
HATRED
IS A STRONG FORCE
HATRED
STANDS AND STANDS AND STANDS
BECAUSE IT STANDS
BEHIND
IGNORANCE
IGNORANCE BY THOSE
WHO REFUSE TO BE ENLIGHTENED
IT IS A CHOICE
TO BE FILLED
WITH HATRED
IT IS A CHOICE
TO ACT ON
THAT HATRED
BUT
IT IS ALSO A CHOICE
TO ACT AS IF
YOU ARE FREE
FROM
OTHERS' HATED
"' . . . what you really want is to be free,
and freedom is a state of mind.'"
"Warriors Don't Cry"(unabridged version)
Melba Pattillo Beals
HER GRANDMOTHER WISELY TOLD HER
MELBA PATTILLO
BEALS LEARNED MANY LESSONS THAT YEAR
"THE YEAR OF THE LOSSES,"
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED
FOR SHE LOST
HER FRIENDS, HER PEACE, HER HOPE
AND YET
IN THE LOSSES THERE CAME
A NEW STAMINA
AND FAITH
IN
ME
THAT
I
WOULD DELIVER HER
AND BRING HER
FREEDOM
FROM HER OPPRESSORS
I DID
"I became an instant adult,
forced to take stock of what I believed
and what I was willing to sacrifice
to back up my beliefs.
The experience endowed me
with an indestructible
faith in God."
BUT
SHE HAD TO
FIGHT AND FIGHT AND FIGHT
FIRST
SHE BLED
FROM
THEIR ASSAULTS
SHE REELED
FROM
THEIR PUNISHMENT
SHE SUFFERED
FROM
THEIR NAME-CALLING
BUT SHE ALSO
KNEW HER WORTH
IN
ME
SHE FOUGHT
AS A
GREAT WARRIOR
AND
EARNED A RANK
WHICH MANY
WILL NEVER ASPIRE TO
SHE CHOSE
TO
WALK
TO
STAND
TO
WORK
FOR
FREEDOM
AND
SHE WON
SHE WON
A
GREAT PRIZE
THAT YEAR
HONOR
SHE PRAYED OFTEN
"'God, give me strength and patience
to do Your will.'"
AND
I DID
AND
I
WILL
FOR ANYONE
WHO STILL STAND
FOR
TRUTH
AND
DEMAND FREEDOM
TO STAND
FOR
RIGHTEOUSNESS
YOUNG MELBA
WAS A WARRIOR
CAST UPON A BATTLEFIELD
"This school became . . . a furnace
that consumed our youth and forged us into
reluctant warriors."
SHE DIDN'T CHOOSE
TO BE HATED
BECAUSE
SHE WAS A DIFFERENT COLOR
SHE ONLY ASKED
TO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT
SO THAT SHE COULD
RECEIVE AN EDUCATION
HATRED
DENIES SO MANY RIGHTS
BUT THOSE
WHO ARE UNWILLING
TO STAND
AND
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
NEED TO ADDRESS
THEIR
COWARDICE
AND KNOW THAT
THEY STAND
BETWEEN
FREEDOM AND LOSS
BECAUSE
OF
THEIR OWN
INACTION
"'You stuck your necks out,
but we're not willing to die with you.'"
SHE WAS TOLD
BY HER CLOSE FRIEND
I
WILL HELP
YOU
IF
YOU WILL
STAND
MELBA'S GRANDMA, INDIA
"HIT IT ON THE MARK"
AGAIN AND AGAIN
"'If you
have to depend on yourself for strength,
you will not make it.
But if you depend on God's strength,
you can do anything.'"
"Even when the battle is long
and the path is steep,
a true warrior does not give up.
If each one of us does not step forward
to claim our rights,
we are doomed to an eternal wait
in hopes those
who would usurp them will become benevolent.
The Bible says,
WATCH, FIGHT, and PRAY."
COME
AND LET
ME
GIVE YOU A HEART
OF COURAGE
TO
FIGHT FOR FREEDOM
HER JOURNAL ENTRY
SUMMED UP HER MISSION
"'Okay, God, so Grandma is right
it's my turn to carry the banner.
Please help me to do thy will.'"
IT'S YOUR TURN, TOO
THREE
A YOUNG BOY STUDIES AS A MAN
TO ESCAPE LIFE AS A FARMER
IN THE FIELDS OF CHINA
HE STUDIES BECAUSE
HE HAS FELT THE PAIN
OF THE FARM TOOLS
HE HAS FELT THE HARSH SUN
AND KNOWN THE HUNGER OF ONE
WHO MUST LABOR WITH LITTLE TO EAT
"There had been years of no hope, no dreams,
only tears, hunger, shame and darkness."
"China's Son" Da Chen
AND YET
HE STRUGGLES
WITH THE DISCIPLINE
EVEN THOUGH HE HAS TASTED
OF THE SOLITUDE AND POVERTY OF THE DESTINY
OF HIS PEOPLE
"Why did I have to carry the burden
of my parent's generation?"
"The sun would never rise in their minds.
It was modern-day slavery on the farm,
with the promise of little in return."
"No improvement, and I would be condemned
to a life sentence on the Communist farm."
STUDY HARD, CHINA SON
STUDY HARD
TO FIND YOUR FREEDOM
TO BECOME A MAN OF EDUCATION
AND HE DID
HE WON HIS FREEDOM
OVER HIS DESTINY
BUT
HE HAD TO WORK HARD
"This was a new start
to my boring and hopeless life,
but it would be a long,
uphill ride from the very bottom."
HIS ENGLISH TEACHER SPOKE
OF HER PURPOSE
"'I am going to cram you
until you are full.'"
AND
HE COULD
ONLY REPLY
"'Cram me, please.
I never felt emptier.'"
THIS IS WHAT
I
LONG FOR
STUDENTS
WHO ARE WILLING
TO BE FILLED
WITH
MY PRESENCE
STUDENTS
WILLING TO GO TO BATTLE
A BATTLE WHICH
ONLY
I
HOLD THE WEAPONS
OF YOUR WARFARE
BUT
MANY SIMPLY CLUSTER
IN GROUPS
THROWING AWAY
YOUR CHANCE
TO BECOME A REAL
REVOLUTIONARY
YOUNG DA
SEQUESTERED HIMSELF
TO STUDY ALONE
FOR HE KNEW WHAT
HE HAD TO STUDY
AND OTHERS
WOULD ONLY
SLOW HIM DOWN
YOU PEOPLE
MEET IN GROUPS, IN BIBLE STUDIES
AND THINK THAT YOU ARE
PLEASING
TO
ME
AND YET
I
LONG TO TEACH YOU
ONE ON ONE
WITH
MY HOLY SPIRIT
AS THE
GREAT TEACHER
YOU
HAVE A CHOICE
TO PRETEND TO LEARN
IN YOUR GROUPS
OF
WISE SPEAKERS
OR
TO
COME
TO
ME
AND
TRULY LEARN
ALL
THAT YOU NEED
TO
BECOME FREE
TO
BECOME EMPOWERED
TO
BECOME SAFE
DA'S TEACHER
EXCLAIMED
WITH
GREAT EXCITEMENT
"'My students!' he called.
'This is a battle and I am here
to give you the weapons!'"
EXACTLY
IN THE END
AFTER YOUNG DA HAD PASSED HIS TESTS
HE PROCLAIMED
"I broke all the ropes
that were meant to tie me down . . . ”
WILL YOU DO THE SAME?
FOUR
JUST A WOMAN
OFTEN CALLED "GENERAL"
AND EVEN "MOSES"
SHE WAS A WOMAN OF FREEDOM
SHE FOUGHT FOR FREEDOM
EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS BORN
IN SLAVERY
SHE FOUGHT
NOT JUST FOR HERSELF
BUT FOR OTHERS
ALL THOSE
WILLING TO WALK
WITH HER
COULD FIND THEIR FREEDOM
BUT
THERE WAS
A PRICE TO PAY
SHE PAID
WITH
COURAGE AND LOSS
BUT
SHE WON FREEDOM
FOR HERSELF
HER FAMILY
AND
ALL THOSE
WILLING
TO WALK THE WALK
THEY CALLED IT
THE
"UNDERGROUND RAILROAD"
BUT
IT WAS SIMPLY
AN "AVENUE" TO TRAVEL
TO
FREEDOM
THERE WERE
"CONDUCTORS AND STATIONS AND PARCELS"
ALL PART
OF THE TALK
OF FINDING FREEDOM
UP NORTH
I
WILL BEGIN
AN
"UNDERGROUND HIGHWAY"
FOR
MY ANOINTED
TO TRAVEL
THERE WILL BE
SAFE HOUSES AND PLACES
OF
MY PRESENCE
THERE WILL BE
QUILTS HUNG
IN GREAT FASHION
TO WELCOME
THE WEARY AND THE WORN
THERE WILL BE
LOVE GIVEN AND RECEIVED
BUT
MOST OF ALL
FREEDOM
WILL BE FOUND
AND
LIVED
"In Boston, on January 1, 1831,
William Lloyd Garrison published the first issue
of his anti-slavery newspaper, The Liberator.
The following statement appeared
on the front page of the first issue:
‘I will be harsh as truth
and as uncompromising as justice,
on this subject (slavery).
I do not want to think or write
with moderation. No! No!'"
"Harriet Tubman" Ann Petry
IN THE BEGINNING
HARRIET
STRUGGLED
WITH FAMILY MEMBERS
WHO WOULD NOT PAY
THE PRICE FOR FREEDOM
EVEN HER OWN BROTHERS
"Not one of them was willing
to take a small risk in order to be free."
BUT
STILL WORSE
WAS HER HUSBAND WHO PROMISED
TO REPORT IMMEDIATELY
HER DEPARTURE TO THE MASTER
WHEN SHE LEFT
FOR FREEDOM
YOU
CAN'T ALWAYS
TAKE OTHERS WITH YOU
ON THIS PLIGHT
BUT YOU WILL KNOW
IF YOU MUST GO
YOU WILL
SURELY KNOW
YOUR LIFE WILL BE DRIVEN
TO FIND
THIS
FREEDOM
IN
ME
IF
YOU
ARE DRIVEN
IN THIS
DIRECTION
YOU
WILL KNOW
MY MARK
UPON YOUR SOUL
AND
I
PROMISE
TO LEAD YOU
SAFELY
TO
YOUR FREEDOM
JUST AS
HARRIET PRAYED
"'Lord, I'm going to hold steady on to You
and You've got to see me through.'"
WHEN
THOSE WITH HER
LOST FAITH SHE WOULD
SIMPLY SAY
"'We got to go free or die.
And freedom's not bought with dust.'"
THAT IS ALL
THAT SHE WOULD SAY
TO THOSE
ABOUT HER
BUT
SHE ALSO KNEW
THAT
FREEDOM WAS
"bought with all of oneself -- the bones,
the spirit and the flesh---and once obtained it had
to be cherished, no matter what the cost."
FIND
YOUR FREEDOM
IN
ME
CHERISH THIS FREEDOM
SHOW OTHERS
HOW TO FIND
FREEDOM
FOR
THEIR SOULS
"Go down, Moses
Way down in Egypt's land
Tell old Pharaoh
'Let My people go!'"
FIVE
AND WHAT
CAN
I
SAY
ABOUT THIS MAN
WHO FIGHTS
"LAW AND ORDER"
TO DELIVER
A
TRUE ACCOUNT
OF
MY SUFFERING?
THANK YOU!!!
THE RELIGIOUS
FIGHT YOU
THE PUBLIC
FIGHTS YOU
FRIENDS WILL
FIGHT YOU
AND YET
YOU ARE ON A MISSION
A MISSION
FROM ON HIGH
A MISSION
GIVEN DIRECTLY
TO YOU
A MISSION
THAT
ONLY YOU
CAN ACCOMPLISH
AND WITH
THAT MISSION
COMES
THE HATRED
AND
MISUNDERSTANDING
WHICH HUNG
ME
IN THE
FIRST PLACE
IT'S ALL THERE
IT'S STILL
WITHIN
THE HUMAN EMOTIONS
IT'S STILL
WITHIN
THE
HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE
TIME
DOES NOT
CHANGE THINGS
TRUTH
IS STILL
ABHORRED
HATED AND REJECTED
BUT
I
SALUTE YOU, YOUNG MAN
FOR STANDING
COMPLETING THE MISSION
AND
BRINGING FORTH
A FILM WHICH
HONORS MY NAME
AND SHOWS
THE TRUTH
IN
UNBROKEN FORM
"'The Holy Ghost
was working through me on this film,
and I was just directing traffic.'"
Mel Gibson, on his film "The Passion,"
which chronicles Jesus' final 12 hours
(see "A short word for My friend, Mel Gibson")
DON'T REST
TOO LONG, MEL
WE HAVE
MORE
WORK TO DO
. . . AND THE DREAMS
WILL TELL THE STORY . . .
BELL # 20 CONTINUED
