My dear readers,

(Excerpt from Building Firm Foundations, Dr SH Tow / Daily Remembrancer)

1. MIND YOUR MUSIC!
One of the most effective ways of polluting the mind is through music and our adversary uses it to maximum advantage. Last generation it was through swing and jazz. Now, it is pop and rock. With the media explosion, cyber space is bombarded round the clock with a torrent of filth and mental garbage, available to anybody anywhere at the click of a mouse.

Believing parents and children, we go to great lengths to safeguard our physical well-being with every sort of health protective, inoculations, immunizations. Pause a moment and think: What protective measures have we taken to safeguard our mental and spiritual well-being? The famous Latin proverb says "Mens sana in corpore sano" meaning, "A sound mind in a sound body." This is so important for us to understand. An Olympic strong man or athlete can be reduced to a physical wreck by drug abuse in a matter of weeks. Similarly, sex abuse can destroy a morally healthy young person.

Music today has taken on sinister and subversive undertones. A multi-billion dollar industry is churning out red hot top tunes, charged with immoral, suggestive and seductive messages, souped-up with booming soul-stimulating decibels and big drum beats. The target: millions of unwary, pleasure-seeking young people ready for some excitement and kicks, drugs and sex. Exposed to the overwhelming barrage of sensuous sounds many a young person is hooked, and taken as lambs to the slaughter.

It is high time for Christian young people and parents to take stern action against the wiles of the devil. Let us employ the strictest censorship of all music to exclude doubtful or harmful materials. Those in our homes, personal libraries, and private collections should be destroyed, to put an end to Satanic mind-washing. Out with pop and rock! Let our homes be filled with God-honouring music and songs of the Heavenly Kingdom. A Christian’s music should bring glory to God’s name.
Sing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

2. "Songs in the night" (Job 35:10)
(Daily Remembrancer, September 1)
"THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION." So testifies David, the man after God’s own heart, and all who love the Lord. The presence of God and the light of His countenance make the Christian’s day. His absence becomes our night, a figure often employed to describe our afflictions: losses, sickness, poverty, old age, death: these constitute a very gloomy night. They are dark, cold, and trying. But in the gloomiest night the Lord makes us happy; His very presence makes us sing. "He giveth songs in the night." He cheers the heart by the light of His countenance. He excites our praise, causes us to sing to the wonder of many. So did Paul and Silas in the Philippian prison, and so did many martyrs in their dungeons. Many have sung for joy in poverty, in sickness, and in death. Christian, thy God can make thee joyful in the gloomiest of circumstances, and give thee songs to brighten the darkest night. Walk close to Him, sing to His praise; His presence will drive out every gloom, and usher in heavenly joy, peace, and good cheer. Our God loves to see His people happy and to hear them sing the songs of Zion. Be a singing, not a sinning, Christian.

Thou Giver of songs in the night,
Of joy to cheer the darkest day:
Cheer me with the joy of Thy light,
Thy smile along a dreary way.

3. "Be watchful" (Revelation 3:2)
(Daily Remembrancer, February 9)
CHRISTIANS IN TODAY’S WORLD NEED TO BE WATCHFUL. Careless slumber is perilous. Our adversary Satan is watching to ensnare us, the world is watching to exult over us. But our God is watching to protect us. Jesus, our best Friend, says, "Be watchful." Watch against the spirit of the world, against thy easily besetting sins, against seasons of temptation, and against Satan, the sworn enemy of thy soul. Watch for opportunities to do good, for answers to prayer, for the appearance of God as our God of providence. Unite in prayer to God, dependance on His holy word, and watchfulness together; pray to be kept from sin, from temptation, unspotted from the world; trust in God to answer, but do not leave the throne; and then watch as though all depended upon thy diligence and efforts. Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments spotless. "Watch ye therefore, and pray always." Trust not in thy watchfulness, but while watching trust in God. He who keepeth thee will not slumber. He is with thee when on guard, as well as when thou art feasting on His word and rejoicing at His table. He withdraweth not His eyes from the righteous. "The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry." Watch ye therefore, and pray always.

O gracious God in whom I live,
My feeble efforts aid;
Help me to watch, and pray, and strive,
Though trembling and afraid.

4. " Serve the Lord with gladness" Ps 100:2
(Daily Remembrancer, November 8)
"COME BEFORE HIS PRESENCE WITH SINGING." It is a joy to serve the Lord. Our God is infinitely happy, and He loves to see His creatures happy too. He provided every thing necessary to make them happy at first, but sin destroyed much of God’s fair creation. He would have us happy now, happy in His service. Therefore He has provided for our happiness in the everlasting gospel. He says, "Believe and I will give you a free pardon; I will confer on you a perfect righteousness. I will purify your hearts, supply all your wants, admit you into my presence for holy fellowship, keep you by my power, give you grace while you live and glory when you die." Is not this enough to make you glad and to induce you to "Serve the Lord with gladness?" Brethren, in God’s service we should be cheerful; we must realize our adoption, and serve Him as dear children fully persuaded of the Father’s love. Let us serve Him out of love. Let us serve Him in the world, in our homes, and in the church; and let our gladness be clearly seen in our conduct, even a message which reads, "I serve my Lord with gladness and I would not be otherwise employed."

Lord, disperse my sin and sadness,
Speak salvation to my heart ;
Then I’ll serve with joy and gladness,
Then I’ll show how good Thou art.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,
Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor