Generations

The Bible speaks extensively about generations. We see, over and over again, the generations (descendants) of both the godly and the ungodly enumerated. The family is continually portrayed and established as God's basic form of government, and as the a child's first church and school.

Re-generation is also an essential doctrine of Scripture whereby those who are already born physically become born-again into a greater family -- the Family of God -- that transcends the biological family in which they were born.

So, when one gets to witness the double blessing of seeing a biological family that also is a family of covenant believers working together to build God's Kingdom, it is both encouraging and inspiring. Such was my reaction to listening to a CD entitled From Generation to Generation -- Psalms in Song. The patriarch of this family, the Rev. Nick Kozel, produced and performed (alongside fifteen other family members) a collection of psalms which can be obtained by visiting www.psalms4singing.com. Their mission statement reads:

Our mission is to spread the Word of God through song, enabling God's people to meditate on Scripture when they rise up, when they lie down, and as they walk along the way.

I must admit that my first interest in listening to this CD resulted from the fact that I know five members of the extended Kozel family who participated in this project quite well, and have had the pleasure of meeting three out of the remaining eight who recorded the 21 song selections. Like all new CDs I acquire, I find that the songs need to grow on me. And, these most certainly have. So much so that I find myself humming and singing psalms throughout the day. Just today as I was doing my laundry, I was singing "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him." Talk about hiding the Word in my heart! Here I was spontaneously praising God with the inspired Word of God and the easily learned melodies composed by Rev. Kozel. [Note: The CD also includes piano instrumentals of all the selections, enabling listeners the option to sing without the recorded vocals.]

I think what I appreciate the most is seeing seven of his seventeen grandchildren pictured on the front cover gathered all around him and hearing their clear voices proclaiming the truth of Scripture through song. I guess it will come as no surprise that all of them are being educated with a thoroughly Christian education (Christian day schools and homeschooling) and that the extended Kozel family is actively involved in running Christian schools on both the east and west coasts. And the family's reach even extends to South America, as one of Rev. Kozel's seven children and his family are currently living and serving in a Christian orphanage in Bolivia.

From Generation to Generation -- Psalms in Song is a work that will inspire you as you listen and as you teach and disciple your children to magnify the Lord with you and taste and see that the Lord is good! May it be the impetus for you and your clan to work together to take more ground for the Kingdom of God in the name of Jesus Christ, from generation to generation.