Someone told me that South Carolina was hot during July and August.  Well, they were right!  The forecast today is 101.  Let’s make sure that we take care of ourselves if we work outside.  Try to work early or late; and, of course, drink plenty of fluids. The highlight of the week is our All-Night Singing on Friday beginning at 7:30 p.m.  Cindi and I have been looking forward to this since our move to South Carolina.  We really love to sing.  That is as it should  be  since  God has  directed  His  church  to sing.   Did you know that when we sing, we are teaching and helping each other to come closer to God? “But above all things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,  to which also you  were called into one body; and be thankful.   Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:14-16). We sing when we’re happy (James 5:13).  Paul instructs the church to sing with the spirit and the understanding (1 Corinthians 14:15).  Did you know that Jesus also sang a hymn   (Matthew 26:30)?   Have you ever wondered just how beautiful Jesus’ voice was and is?  We often sing number 102 in our songbooks, “In the Garden.”  Verse 2 of this song says:  “He speaks and the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing…”  Imagine a voice so sweet, so wonderful, so majestic, and so pure that the birds are silent. Take  a look  at Paul  and  Silas in Acts 16.    They had just  taught  and  baptized  Lydia and her household (15).   On a day when Paul and Silas were going to prayer, they  healed a slave girl who was possessed by an ungodly spirit (16-18).  The masters of this girl were using her to make money (19).  These men, along with a mob and the rulers of Philippi, tore off the disciples’ clothes, beat them with rods, and threw them into the inner prison fastening their feet in stocks (22-24).  What would you expect Paul and Silas to be doing at  midnight after such an ordeal?   Take a look at the Scriptures in verse 25:   “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God…”   You’ll need to read further  to  see what an impact this had on the jailor and his family.   To make a long story short, the  jailor  asked the  disciples,   “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”    The  Bible teaches  us that the disciples “spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house” (32).  The jailor and his entire family believed in  the Lord Jesus Christ.   That  “same hour of the night”   the jailor showed his penitent heart as he washed the beaten backs of the disciples.  Then the jailor and all his family were baptized “immediately” (33).   What a lesson!   May we follow the example of our brothers,   Paul and Silas!  When we are treated unjustly, when we are hurt, when we are accused, criticized, or abused by those of the world, may we pray and sing hymns to God.  We, too, could experience a similar result of a faith in God that is demonstrated and defended.  To God be the glory in all these things!