A healthy church has a pervasive concern with church growth – not simply growing numbers but growing members. A church full of growing Christians is the kind of church growth I want as a pastor. Some today seem to think that one can be a “baby Christian” for a whole lifetime. Growth is seen to be an optional extra for particularly zealous disciples. But be very careful about taking that line of thought. Growth is a sign of life. Growing trees are living trees, and growing animals are living animals. When something stops growing, it dies.
Mark Dever

The Touch Of The Masters Hand

The Touch Of The Masters Hand

The Touch of the Master’s Hand

It was battered and scarred, and the auctioneer

Thought it sacrcely worth his while To waste much time on the old violin,

But he held it up with a smile.
“What am I bidden, good folk?” he cried,

“Who’ll start the bidding for me?
“A dollar – a dollar – then two, only two –

“Two dollars, and who’ll make it three? “Going for Three” – but no –

From the room far back, a gray-haired man Came forward and picked up the bow,

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin, And tightening the loosened strings, He played a melody pure and sweet As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,

With a voice that was quiet and low, Said, “NOW what am I bid for the old violin?”

And he held it up with the bow.
“A thousand dollars – and who’ll make it two?

“Two thousand – and who’ll make it three? “Three thousand once – three thousand twice –

“And going – and gone,” cried he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,

“We do not understand.
“What changed its worth?” Quick came the reply,

“The touch of the Master’s hand.”

And many a man with life out of tune,

And battered and scarred with sin, Is auctioned cheap, to a thoughtless crowd,

Much like the old violin.
A “mess of pottage” – a glass of wine,

A game – and he travels on:
He is going once – and going twice –

He’s going – and almost gone!
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd

Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought

BY THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER’S HAND.

By Myra Brooks

Computers for Christ – Chicago