Hymns and Honor For All Generations

I'm on day 10 of a 16 day road trip - the longest I have ever been away from my wife and kids. The only thing holding me together this morning is having the privilege to meet with a couple hundred music ministers in Dallas, Texas at the Metro Music Conference. Sitting in the hotel lobby this morning, I met Gary Morton - a long time music minister in at Second Baptist Church in Southern Georgia.

We connected on many levels, not the least of which was being a Dad. His expressed such pride in his son, who pastors a contemporary church in a neighbouring city. Gary's eyes lit up in our conversation as he pulled out his iPad and showed me an email he just received from his son. I thought to myself - I have to share this with others. Such a great reminder that God loves all the generations. More than any music style, what he loves most of all is to see one generation honouring the next.

Dad,

Just wanted to say, quite randomly, thanks for singing/teaching me hymns when I was a child. I often, at least a few times a month, walk around my block or go into my office and just sing or hum hymns. Without fail, God uses those experiences to draw me closer to him and strengthen my faith. In my mind, I hear you and Mom singing them, or I hear them being sung while standing down close to the front at SBC. These are glorious, treasured memories. And I praise God for his grace in my life and ministry. Hymns just call to something deep within my heart, and I'm forced to surrender more to Christ. I know if it weren't for your influence in my life, I wouldn't be where I am, so thank y'all for investing hymns in us. God has used them.

When you pastor a church that isn't exactly like the one you grew up in -- it has significant advantages and disadvantages. I totally love newer worship songs, and God really uses them to refresh me and bless me. Hillsong, Chris Tomlin, Crowder, Keith Getty, etc, have been greatly used in my life and ministry. But as long as I live, so will Fanny Crosby, William Cowper, Isaac Watts, Philip Bliss and Charles Wesley. And truthfully, I feel like I have the best of both worlds when I worship -- kind of like the Gospel -- it's ancient and new everyday.

I love y'all,

Jeremy Morton
Cross Point Baptist Church