The Music & the Spoken Word broadcast airs live via TV, radio, and internet stream on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. mountain time. For information on other airtimes, visit “Airing Schedules” at musicandthespokenword.org.

Music

Conductor: Mack Wilberg
Organist: Richard Elliott
Announcer: Lloyd Newell

“With Songs of Praise”
Music: Newel Kay Brown
Lyrics: Penelope Moody Allen
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

“Hallelujah Chorus” from Christ on the Mount of Olives¹
Music and Lyrics: Ludwig van Beethoven

“Norwegian Rustic March” from Lyric Pieces, op. 54
Music: Evard Grieg
Arrangement: Richard Elliott

“I Know That My Redeemer Lives”
Music: Lewis D. Edwards
Lyrics: Samuel Medley
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

“Peace Be Mine”
Music: Mack Wilberg
Lyrics: David Warner

“Praise the Lord! His Glories Show”
Music: Robert Williams
Lyrics: Henry Francis Lyte
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg 

1.  From the album America’s Choir.

The Spoken Word

Repairing What Is Broken

Many years ago, a family experienced a little annoyance (like the kind we all face)—they had a leaky pipe in the bathroom ceiling. Drip, drip, drip, until a plumber was called and the leak repaired. To access the broken pipe, the plumber had to cut a hole in the ceiling. As he finished his work, he instructed the family to wait several days for everything to dry before patching the hole.

But several days turned into several weeks, then months, then more than a year. Over time, the family didn’t really see the hole in the ceiling anymore. One day, a young daughter’s friend came to play, and when she went into the bathroom, she exclaimed, “Why do you have a hole in your ceiling?” As the family gathered and recounted the story, it was as if they saw the hole again for the first time.

It’s easy to grow accustomed to the way things are, and in time, problems that were once so obvious—even urgent—become invisible to us. It often takes someone else to lovingly point out the gaping holes in our lives. A trusted friend or family member, a person who truly wants the best for us, can offer a fresh perspective, can see things we can’t, and can even help us make those needed repairs. But that takes sincerity and humility from both those who give and those who receive the feedback.

The truth is we can all benefit from some repairs in our lives. Perhaps our hearts have been damaged by harsh feelings or the slow drip of unnoticed patterns of anger, impatience, or cynicism. Maybe we need to patch some holes in our relationships with forgiveness and compassion. Whatever the needed repairs, we don’t have to make them alone. We have each other, and above all, we have the Lord Jesus Christ, who said, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Ultimately, the Lord gives us power to heal, to turn our weaknesses into strengths, and to repair what is broken.