lyrics – Jerry Lout ⚬ Writer ⚬ Speaker ⚬ Mobilizer

February 26, 2026February 25, 2026

inconspicuous

My friend from Asia had come to faith while studying at an American university. I smiled as he later shared an account of bringing Jesus along to a game of poker.

The family member who invited him for the friendly match had grown indifferent to the faith and was considered a non-believer.

While my friend shuffled the cards his phone stayed busy looping a melodic playlist. As the song “In Christ alone” quietly sounded in the background, the relative was drawn to the tune and began softly whistling along. Soon, she was giving voice to the lyrics in sing-along style.

Reflecting on my friend’s happy retelling of the experience, I realized that he was then and there exercising a spiritual discipline – that of meditation or of contemplation. I was reminded just how the various disciplines or practices, when exercised in everyday life, serve as a powerful means of grace – forming the believer further into Christlikeness.

Jesus meditated. He practiced contemplation in inconspicuous ways – much as any of his fellow human beings might. Consider the 70-plus Old Testament quotes he offered up as he conversed with various individuals and gatherings of people over time. Jesus, the son of God, had purposefully given time down through his earthly years in committing to memory truths that carried real meaning. My Asian friend has, likewise, given himself to scripture memorization – as well as to contemplations on being an active witness to loved ones. He has been following the savior’s lead while aligning with God’s encouraging counsel, to “think on such things”.*

John Mark Comer makes a bold call to the person wishing to grow. “My thesis is simple. Transformation is possible if we are willing to arrange our lives around the practices, rhythms, and truths that Jesus himself did, which will open our lives to God’s power to change.”**

February 20, 2025

Alluring Lyrics

“So, Terry, I have a question.”

Giving his new student friend a short tour of the city, Terry had pulled into the parking lot of a place of worship. The sign out front read Believers Church.

“Sure, Ahmed, what’s your question”, Terry responded.

“Well, this is Believers Church”, Ahmed began. “So, is there also a ‘Non-believers’ church?”

Cross-cultural work often means coming upon unforeseen (and amusing at times) conversation starters. Smiling, Terry praised his friend’s deductive skills in Logic.

Once on a week-day, I invited a student who hailed from the Mediterranean region, to accompany me to a funeral service.

Muhammed and I had been meeting weekly for English conversation sessions. On this date the timing collided with my planned visit to the memorial service of a friend who had passed. Unacquainted with Christian funeral services Muhammed, readily accepted my invitation as a new cultural experience.

The service was simple yet moving with congregational singing included. The lyrics of one particular piece caught Muhammed’s attention.

Crossing the church parking lot afterwards, I asked his thoughts of the service. He replied in a sincere tone.

“I enjoyed it”, he said, adding, “I especially liked that one song.”

Noting the music piece, I told myself to get a digital copy off to him. He beat me to it!

Searching online, Muhammad was soon listening to renditions presented by a range of artists. Reflecting afresh on the themes highlighted in the song, I smiled a thank you to heaven. Through lines immersed in gentle rhythm, the gospel of Christ* was getting heralded.

“He came from heaven to earth to show the way; from the earth to the cross my debt to pay; from the cross to the grave; from the grave to the sky. Lord, I lift your name on high”.

July 20, 2023July 20, 2023

A Family Of Words

Closing my eyes, the simple, melodic sounds of kindergartener voices waft in from a season of long ago. I ponder particular bundle of lyrics we Sunday School kids belted out lots of times in those early years. Intuitively we somehow knew that the lines carried life-altering truth – “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so”.

A phrase or two follows the first. Today I realize that way back then I had started a lifelong journey affirming a profound truth drawn from those stanzas.

I am weak but he is strong.

Piano keys sounded in the modest sanctuary on Oklahoma Street. Vacation Bible School Week had arrived!

For the first time most kids in the room are catching glimpses into a brand new kind of worldview, Jesus loves (all) the little children of the world. They are – every one of them – precious in his sight.

Hans Christian Andersen treasured music’s power, “Where words fail, music speaks.”

Yet, one specially-compiled family of words does not fail. Not to the person whose mind and spirit are open to take them in. The words of scripture. Although ancient in origin, this unique collection of prophetic, historical, poetic works embody a power. A power which today and throughout history transforms people. . . and even times and cultures.

As I (among the millions of others) undertook memorizing Bible verses in my early years and following, I became struck by its life-changing power from the inside out. Not by any magical quality or spooky spell, but because its content is traced not to mere human origin.

I have always been an amateur memorizer at best. But scripture concepts like, I hide your words in my heart so that I may not be habitually given to wrongdoing, find a way of sticking. I find that such passages transport power straight into the soul that chooses to marinate within the ancient text. Inspiration bubbles up of the kind beyond the sheer rah-rahs of the athletic court or stadium. The ancients, I believe, had it profoundly right.

May I encourage the reader. Pursue the Bible. Seek out a community (if it is not currently your practice) that loves God. A gaggle of imperfect seekers, hungry and thirsty, strong after his Word.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thought and intentions of the heart.*