Paul and Lifesong from India

I’m sitting in India for the first time in my life. Home to 1 billion people. We are on the outskirts of Bangalore in a small, local hotel. Looking out my window, India looks like Nigeria. Building construction is very similar. Walls around property. People walking everywhere. Cars and buses on the roads. It smells the same – kind of smoky from burning trash and auto fumes. It sounds the same – cars honking as they drive, kind of like saying “I’m here. Don’t
move over into my space.”

The sun comes up very early. I woke up at 5:18 to a bright sky and thought it was 8 am. Of course, it is 8 am in Bangkok where I woke up yesterday morning! India is 2 ½ hours different in time zones. It’s one of those countries that does a half-hour adjustment so the entire country can be on the same time zone.

I’m sitting here in the cool of the morning reading Paul’s loving letter to the Philippians and listening to Casting Crowns sing Lifesong. What a powerful combination!

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. [1:19-20]

May the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to you

For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know. I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. [1:21-23]</font

Let my lifesong sing to you.
Let my lifesong sing to you.
I want to sign your name
to the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to you.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. … For it has been granted to you on behalf o Christ no only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him … [1:27-29]

Lord I give my life
a living sacrifice
To reach a world in need
To be your hands and feet.
So May the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to you.

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead. [3:10-11]

Let my lifesong sing to you.
Let my lifesong sing to you.
I want to sign your name
to the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to you.

Amen! So be it!