The Music & the Spoken Word broadcast airs live via TV, radio, and internet stream on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. mountain daylight time. For information on other airtimes, visit “Airing Schedules” at musicandthespokenword.org.
Music
Conductor: Mack Wilberg
Organist: Richard Elliott
Announcer: Lloyd Newell
With special guest: Tyler Nelson, soloist
“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”1
Music: Stralsund Gesangbuch, 1665
Lyrics: Joachim Neander; translated by Catherine Winkworth
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg
“Be Thou My Vision”2
Irish melody
Lyrics: Ancient Irish hymn; translated by Mary E. Byrne; versed by Eleanor H. Hull
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg
“Prelude on ‘Brother James’s Air’” (Organ solo)
Music: Searle Wright
“Look to the Rainbow” from Finian’s Rainbow – cut due to licensing
Music: Burton Lane
Lyrics: E. Y. Harburg
Arrangement: Arthur Harris
Featuring Tyler Nelson
“Worthy Is the Lamb That Was Slain”3 from Messiah
Music: George Frideric Handel
- On the CD America's Choir and in the CD set Anniversary Collection.
- On the CD Heavensong and in the CD set Bravo! The #1 Albums.
- On the CDs Messiah—Complete Oratorio and Messiah—Highlights.
The Spoken Word
"Creating a Good Life"
Everyone wants to be successful, and everyone wants to have a good life. These may sound like the same goal, but depending on your definition of success, they might be quite different. A person can be “successful” in certain areas of life and yet feel miserable and lonely. On the other hand, a truly happy life, a good life, is a successful life in the most meaningful sense.
Although everyone walks a different path in life, we all share some common pursuits that bring happiness. Perhaps the most universal of these is love. Most people find happiness in showing love to others: family, friends, anyone who needs love—and that includes just about everyone.
One man found that climbing the corporate ladder was not as fulfilling as he thought it would be. He craved more meaning and connection, more purpose in his life. He found it by building relationships with loved ones and serving in his community. A young woman said that she found her good life as she stopped being jealous of others and just loved and enjoyed the people around her.
Attaining a good life certainly doesn’t just happen to us—we have to create it. A popular singer shared this memorable formula: To succeed, you need “a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.”1 In other words, have a wish, a goal, something to look forward to. And show some backbone by working hard, staying strong, holding on to principles, and persevering in the face of setbacks. But don’t forget your funny bone—try to smile, even laugh if you can, when times get tough.
If our wish, our deepest desire, is to live with greater love toward the people who mean the most to us; if we are willing to put our back into this goal, to give it a sincere and steadfast effort; and if we can do it all with a sense of humor, then we can have both a successful and a good life.
- Reba McEntire, in Alexandra Wolfe, “Reba McEntire’s Spiritual Turn,” Wall Street Journal, Jan. 19, 2018, wsj.com/articles/reba-mcentires-spiritual-turn-1516383829