In Psalm 96, King David affirms some really helpful values. Very specifically, he tells us that the only supernatural power which has any credence is God. The other gods are actually idols, objects that have less life than we do. We are given a special role to tell the world about God’s deeds and these are of such magnificence that we can’t but praise God while we list them. In fact, so overwhelming is God that that every part of the natural world resounds in praise to Him; the one who is qualified to be the only true judge of the earth and everything that is in it. What is remarkable is how prophetic this psalm is. It speaks of God giving salvation and the need for God’s nation to tell the world, a millennia before Jesus will die on the cross and apostles and deacons will be given the task of taking this message to the gentiles (and we in turn take it to the rest of the school – or the world.)
This is why a Christian school has a morning devotion: so all staff have a time—even if just a few moments—to reorient their values with God’s values and God’s ways, so that in the day to come they can respond in God’s way to all that happens—all the thousand little crises that occur. A reorientation sees all students as still being a child of God’s image, despite their flaws and their strengths, and allows us to realise that good humour and friendliness may take precedence at times over the need to get through the content; that compassion and love allow us to see the value of fair and consistent discipline structures (which they really do want even if they kick against the traces); and that above all, that building a trusting relationship lays a platform for them to see that we are declaring God’s ways day to day as the Psalmist call us to.
More About Jon Seccombe:
Jon grew up in his family’s Baptist Church but received a musical scholarship to St Andrew’s Cathedral School after his family moved to Sydney. Eventually he became Head Chorister in the cathedral choir. Around this time, his uncle started Koorong Books, the largest Christian retailer in the Southern hemisphere. He remembers well Sunday afternoons, which often meant visits between his father and uncle and which involved lengthy theological discussions—not always to the joy of younger children who made themselves scarce!
Jon has released numerous studio albums of Christian Music produced by Peter Stevenson of Turn Around Music Studios:
• All My Desire
• Songs for Occasions
• Wind of God
• Voices Rising
Christmas carols also feature regularly in his writing.
Jon’s Christmas carol, ‘Christmas is Here Again’ a contemporary re-working of Bishop Heber’s ‘Brightest and Best’ was recorded by the international soloist Mirusia (who performs with Andre Rieu) and is designed especially for secular audiences, to explain the Christian view of Christmas. It was a finalist in the SongDoor competition in 2022 in the Christian Music category. Jon’s carol, Bells Are Ringing was a finalist in the United Kingdom Song Competition in 2021 and his carol, Merry Be You All was a finalist in the same competition in 2017. Jon’s song Everliving Rock was a finalist in the Great American Song Competition in 2021.
Listen to Jon Seccombe’s another single, ‘How Sweet the Name’
For a limited time, readers can freely download sheet music and stems for your church.
Go to Jonseccombemusic.com Code: RADIOLA or
email to info@jonseccombemusic.com
