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I grew up attending two different Baptist churches. One was Primitive Baptist, and the other
was Missionary Baptist. I can honestly say the ol' school hymns are burned into my memory,
so the song Revive Us Again immediately popped into my mind after hearing the theme for
the spring edition-"Renewal and Revival: The Path of Praise." Although I am traditionally old
school in most areas of my life, I am no longer into traditional gospel music. Christian Hip-Hop
and Rap are more my thing. However, the old hymns I learned in my formative years are
relevant today and come to me when I need a lift.

What is the first image that comes to mind when someone says revival? Is it a fired-up preacher
waiting at the front of a long line leading to the altar? That is what I imagine. A man or
woman with their hands on a parishioner's head telling them, "Thus says the Lord," and two
deacons waiting on either side to catch the person as they fall out from the message. I also
picture older mothers in white hats, standing over souls on their knees at the altar,
admonishing them to call on Jesus until the Holy Ghost comes. When I was younger, I had
no clue what that meant.

According to Google, "revive" means to return or restore to consciousness. Revive is the root
word of revival. Bishop has been teaching a lot lately that revival is coming, or we are in a
revival season, which might mean we are returning to consciousness since I believe we have
been unconscious in several ways. Some of us have been roaming around this life thinking
only of ourselves, what "we" want to do, how "we" don't want to feel, and not caring about
others. Yet, we are the first to shake our fingers at those in the world as if we have never
sinned. We act like what people are doing is foreign to us.

The Apostle Paul knew better than that and reminded the church at Ephesus in the second
chapter of Ephesians to not be so haughty in pride as if their righteousness saved them. He
reminded them that Jesus had to change them, and at one time, they did act as non-believers.
Scripture states, "And you hath, he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Wherein
in time past ye walked according to the course of this world" (Ephesians 2:1-2). Paul brings
them back to consciousness in that one statement and revives them. I always thought Paul
was a little harsh when he spoke, but I understand his stance. He took preaching the gospel
as seriously as he took to persecuting the saints.

Many times, after a revival, there is a renewal. What does it mean to renew? Google gives
many definitions, but "to restore to freshness" jumped out at me. There are so many ways to

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