Jesus, What a Friend

1) Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!

Jesus! Lover of my soul;

Friends may fail me, foes assail me,

He, my Savior, makes me whole

Refrain: Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Hallelujah! what a Friend!

Saving, helping, keeping, loving,

He is with me to the end.

2) Jesus! what a Strength in weakness!

Let me hide myself in Him.

Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,

He, my Strength, my victory wins.

Refrain

3) Jesus! what a Help in sorrow!

While the billows over me roll,

Even when my heart is breaking,

He, my Comfort, helps my soul.

Refrain

4) Jesus what a Guide and Keeper!

While the tempest still is high,

Storms about me, night overtakes me,

He, my Pilot, hears my cry.

 

Refrain

5) Jesus! I do now adore Him,

More than all in Him I find.

He hath granted me forgiveness,

I am His, and He is mine. 

So, a couple of things: I figured out how to embed videos (go me!) and I decided to move the hymns from outside my church tradition to Saturday.  This allows me a little more time to research.  As executive producer of this blog, I'm going to go ahead and say that's okay.  

 "Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners" was written by John Wilbur Chapman.  Chapman converted to Christianity at the age of 17 and joined the Presbyterian Church (w00t!).  In 1893, Chapman actually preached the evangelistic circuit with DL Moody.  Eventually, Chapman's ministry took him all over the world from Vancouver to Ipswich to Seoul to Tokyo.  Chapman really developed "mass evangelism" techniques and Pittsburgh provided the testing grounds for his ministry ideas.  Chapman was popular enough that one philanthropic Presbyterian funded all of Wilbur Chapman's crusades, even setting up a trust fund for his evangelism.  Unfortunately, after being elected Moderator of the General Assembly in 1918, Chapman passed away due to to gall stones aggravated by the stress of the position.  

This is a hymn I always turn to when I need encouragement.  Names used for Jesus: Friend, Savior, Strength, Help, Comfort, Guide, Keeper, and Pilot.  Jesus is our elder brother.  Not the kind that beats you up after giving you the first three shots, but the kind that watches over you and protects you (My older brother is both kinds, though we haven't wrestled a while).  Yes, Jesus is the King of Kings and we exalt His name when we sing and worship.  We see how much He loves His family when He died on the cross for them.  Yet, as royal as Jesus is, He is fully empathetic to our struggles.  He's not a stranger to the woes we experience.  He's our family! We can go to Him and say, "Life right now, it's the worst."  And Jesus listens, because all good big brothers listen.  

Idumea

1) And am I born to die?

To lay this body down?

And must my trembling spirit fly

Into a world unknown,

2) A land of deepest shade,

Unpierced by human thought,

The dreary regions of the dead,

Where all things are forgot?

3) Soon as from earth I go,

What will become of me?

Eternal happiness or woe

Must then my portion be:

4) Waked by the trumpet's sound, 

I from my grave shall rise,

And see the Judge, with glory crowned,

And see the flaming skies!

5) How shall I leave my tomb?

With triumph or regret?

A fearful or a joyful doom

A curse or blessing meet?

6) Will angel bands convey

Their brother to the bar?

Or devils drag my soul away,

To meet its sentence there?

7)Who can resolve the doubt

That tears my anxious breast?

Shall I be with the damned cast out,

Or numbered with the blest?

8) I must from God be driven,

Or with my Savior dwell;

Must come at his command to heaven,

Or else - depart to hell!

This hymn was written by Charles Wesley and is widely known to our generation through the Cold Mountain soundtrack.  This style of singing is called "shape-note singing" because they use 4 distinct musical notes in the sight reading (fa, sol, la, and mi).  This is why the first thing you hear in listening isn't the verse but those four notes sung in their stead.  Everyone sits in a square with the conductor at the center and belts out the tune.  Apparently, it's loud even with just a few people.  While originally prominent in the American country side, this style is kept alive in the cities (hipsters like the lack of commercialism associated with it).  And since shape-note singing was designed for hymns, people sing the hymns.

I'm not entirely sure what Wesley was going for in the hymn.  I can't decide if he is trying to convict the congregant into making a choice, or, my original thought, Wesley is struggling with his own doubts and fears.  I've always viewed this struggle as a positive thing because it shows a fear of the Lord.  Fear of God is always a healthy thing, yet we can't let doubt completely consume us.  Then we become like the sea, tossed back and forth, inhibited from going anywhere.  But questioning where we stand in our faith? We should all do that occasionally.  If I'm avoiding it, then I'm probably trying to avoid the Holy Spirit.  No good can come from that decision.  

May The Mind

Today I'm listening to "May the Mind of Christ my Savior."  One of the wonderful ladies at Westminster suggested it, noting that this hymn was her favorite.  Since I just did my favorite, it's time to do someone else's favorite.  This hymn was written by Kate Wilkinson sometime prior to 1912 (It was first published, hymn and tune, in 1928).  Wilkinson had a passion for doing girls ministry and was also involved in the Keswick Deeper Life movement.  This movement, with it's annual conventions at Keswick, England, promoted the idea that Christians should lead a victorious life by consecration followed by Spirit-filling.  Essentially, not only should the Christian have conversion (true, need to believe in Christ as Savior to be a Christian), one needs to be sanctified growing in the Holy Spirit (true, we need to grow in Christ and the Spirit as we progress through life) until we experience complete sanctification on Earth (untrue, I would argue that our final sanctification is simultaneous with our glorification).  For a better understanding of the Keswick Movement, you should read Let Go and Let God by Andrew Naselli.  

Wilkinson's hymn is a good one.  It is inspired by Paul's letter to the Philippians, "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5).  If you would like to listen, Here is the classic version.  If you're looking for something a little different, this link is a recording of a former RUF Penn State student (W00T!).  The tune is composed by an acquaintance I knew while I was up there.  I remember he had a keyboard that was tuned with a soldering iron.  (I'm 99.2% sure I'm right about this.)  They have two other recordings and I am absolutely return to his channel.  Here are the lyrics:

1) May the mind of Christ, my Savior,

Live in me from day to day,

By His love and power controlling

All I do and say.

2) May the Word of God dwell richly

In my heart from hour to hour,

So that all may see I triumph

Only through His power.

3)May the peace of God my Father

Rule my life in everything,

That I may be calm to comfort 

Sick and sorrowing.

4) May I run the race before me,

Strong and brave to face the foe,

Looking only unto Jesus

As I onward go.

5) May His beauty rest upon me,

As i seek the lost to win,

And may they forget the channel,

Seeing only Him.

As I sing this hymn, it seems like five straight benedictions.  With Kate Wilkinson's focus on sanctification and missions, this is fitting.  It's a good word, it's how grace should work throughout our weeks.  It is a part of who we are.  Faith comes out in the things we do and the stuff we say.  That's the good and bad.  People know whether or not you're a Christian.  At some point, it just comes out despite the taboo of talking about religion, politics, and barbque.  Thus, we are always representing Christ to the world.  Our minds should dwell on Christ, our hearts need to tabernacle with the Holy Spirit.  Earlier, I mentioned Philippians 2:5.  To provide context, here are verses 3-4, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interest of others."  Christ came humiliated and redeemed His bride, the Church.  And the Father gave Christ the name above all names.  When we turn our thoughts to Him, we should be humbled and confess His glory.  The world hears us profess His name, do they see us act accordingly?  Wilkinson, humbled by God's love, reached out to the girls in her community to spread that same love to others.  We are ambassadors, representatives ... however you want to put it.  We need to be mindful of this and tune our hearts with the Lord's grace and love.  

Guide Me

1) Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, [or Redeemer, depending on the translation]
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.

2) Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield;
Be Thou still my Strength and Shied.

3) Lord, I trust Thy mighty power,
Wondrous are Thy works of old;
Thou deliver'st Thine from Thralldom,
Who for naught themselves had sold:
Thou didst conquer, Thou didst conquer,
Sin, and Satan and the grave,
Sin, and Satan and the grave,

4) When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell's destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan's side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee;
I will ever give to Thee. 

5) Musing on my habitation,
Musing on my heav'nly home,
Fills my soul with holy longings:
Come, my Jesus, quickly come;
Vanity is all I see;
Lord, I long to be with Thee!
Lord I long to be with Thee!

So I waited awhile before coming to my favorite hymn.  Obviously, I haven't waited that long; it's still January and I intend to do this all year.  "Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah" was written by a Welsh hymnist by the name of William Williams.  I suppose calling him a hymnist is a little inaccurate.  Technically, he was a bard with the bardic name "Pantycelyn," meaning "Holly Hollow." (Admit it, you want a bardic name.)   Along with Howell Harris and Daniel Rowland, Pantycelyn was the leader of the Methodist Revival in Wales during the 18th century.  Interestingly enough, these Welsh Calvinistic Methodist eventually became the Presbyterian Church of Wales.  Pantycelyn wasn't just a song writer, he also wrote two long Christian poems "Golwg ar deymas Crist" (A view of Christ's Kingdom) and "Bywyd a marwolaeth Theomemphus" (Life and death of Theomempuhus).  Still, it was William Williams hymns that earned him the title of "Y per ganiedydd" (The Sweet Songster).  The most well known of his works is "Arglwydd, arwain trwy'r anialwch." That's hymn we're listening to today.  (If you think I'm typing all these Welsh names simply for fun, then you would be correct.)  Here is the classical version of the song with the tune by John Hughes.  Here is the Indelible Grace updated version.  Here is a great movie clip from the 40's of coal miners singing it in Welsh as they walk through a town.  ... Fine, here is a clip of the rendition at the Royal Wedding.

Pantycelyn uses this hymn to compare the Christian walk with the Israelites journey through the wilderness.  During that time, Israel had to completely rely on God's mercy and loving hand.  They couldn't farm, so they couldn't grow their own food.  It isn't like they were in any place to have steady labor.  The Israelites very sustenance came down from heaven on a daily basis (thus, "bread of heaven.").  {On a side note: the nation of Israel still complained about not having water (Ex. 17).  How strange is it that people became so used to manna from heaven that they doubt the Lord would provide water?  But that is how we all get occasionally, right?  We focus on the things we haven't received that we forget the overwhelming love that the Lord has shown and continues to show us.}  The Lord provides for His people.  He provides for us each and every day.  The Christian life is one that relies on Him.  Not out of any sense of laziness or lack of ambition, but we rely on Him because without Him we are lost.  We are not saved, we are not redeemed, we do not grow without the mercy and grace of Christ.

I want to look at the last verse real quick. "Musing on my habitation / Musing on my heav'nly home, / Fills my soul with holy longings; / Come, my Jesus, quickly come; / Vanity is all I see / Lord, I long to be with Thee! / Lord I long to be with Thee!"  Right now, even the most blessing filled days we have are but a sample of the marvelous things to come.  "Musing" on the full glory that is to come, praying for Jesus to return quickly ... these things enable us to have a proper perspective of the world.  It makes the rough patches seem less dark, knowing that there will be a day in which darkness no longer exist.  It makes the joyous occasions even more joyful as they remind us of the eternal love that the Lord has for His children.  So in that sense, it is okay to be an optimist.  In fact, all believers should be, because our journey has a glorious end.  Yes, there are parts in life that are disparaging, but eventually we come to the Celestial City and receive unceasing joy.

My Froward Heart

Tonight I had no idea what hymn I wanted to do.  As I sit here, I keep thinking about a quote Reggie Kidd, the speaker at my church's Bible conference used (By the way, if you're in or around Sumter, Westminster is having a Bible conference on worship.  Tomorrow is the last night, but you should come if you can. Begins at 6, lasts about an hour and a half.)  Kidd remarked that C.S. Lewis, before he was a believer, thought that Christians sang "5th rate poetry to 6th rate music."  Kidd went on to discuss how Lewis noted the  difference of character believers had, even though they sang, essentially, bad lyrics with worse tunes.  So, I sit here tonight pondering lyrics of hymns in general.  And I have come to a conclusion.  I don't know if Lewis changed his mind later (probably did) but I'm just going to disagree with him.  I have disagreed with him before, I'm sure I will at some point again, with full knowledge that Lewis is a much wiser man than I am.  Hymn writers deal with the heaviest topic possible.  In their writings, they bare their soul and their interactions with the Triune God.  The best do so with extreme beauty in humble attempts of honoring and worshiping their Redeemer.

Unfortunately, in while pursuing these thoughts, I had no idea what hymn to which to listen.  So, with Kid A in my headphones, I went to the cyberhymnal.org.  At first I looked at topics.  They have: 1) God 2) Jesus Christ 3) Other Topics.  I thought that was humorous, but a bit unhelpful. Thus, I went to the alphabet section and clicked on "Q."  Had I started at the opposite end, I probably would have clicked "Z," but since I was uncharacteristically reading left to right, I went with "Q."  The Cyber Hymnal, boasting of over 10,000 hymns, only has two "Q" hymns.  One was the "Quiet Hour, The" and the other was "Quiet, Lord, My Froward Heart."  I had no idea what "froward" meant (It means "contrary," but you probably already knew that) and that is how it came to be our hymn tonight.  Lyrics were written by John Newton.  Unfortunately, I cannot find a performance of it.  So it's karaoke time.   This is good hymn about having child-like faith in the Lord.  That's a hard thing to do, but even in our stubbornness, the Lord holds us up.

1) Quiet, Lord, my froward heart,
Make me teachable and mild,
Upright, simple, free from art,
Make me as a weaned child:
From distrust and envy free,
Pleased with all that pleases Thee.

2) What Thou shalt today provide,
Let me as a child receive;
What tomorrow may betide,
Calmly to Thy wisdom leave:
'Tis enough that Thou wilt care,
Why should I the burden bear?

3)As a little child relies
On a care beyond his own;
Knows he's neither strong nor wise,
Fears to stir a step alone:
Let me thus with Thee abide,
As my Father, Guard, and Guide.

4) Thus preserve from Satan's wiles,
Safe from dangers, free from fears;
May I live upon Thy smiles,
Till the promised hour appears;
When the sons of God shall prove
All their Father's boundless love.

A quick final note.  Those first two verses are the most convicting stanzas I've read/sung this year.  This hymn is my prayer tonight, to be in a place where I am "distrust and envy free" and "What thou shalt today provide, / Let me as a child receive."

Day is Dying

1) Day is dying in the west;
Heav'n is touching earth with rest;
Wait and worship while the night
Sets the evening lamps alight
Through all the sky.

Refrain: Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Hosts!
Heav'n and earth are full of Thee!
Heav'n and earth are praising Thee,
O Lord most high!

2) Lord of life, beneath the dome
Of the universe, Thy home,
Gather us who seek They face
To the fold of Thy embrace,
For Thou art nigh.

Refrain

3) While the deepening shadows fall,
Heart of love enfolding all,
Through the glory and the grace
Of the stars that veil Thy face,
Our hearts ascend.

Refrain

4) When forever from out sight
Pass the stars, the day, the night,
Lord of angels, on our eyes
Let eternal morning rise
And shadows end.

Refrain

This is a hymn by Mary A. Lathbury. She wrote the first two verses in 1877, took a two year break, and finished the hymn in 1879.Here is a congregation singing it at their worship service.  I don't have any history to go along with this hymn.  I don't ever remember singing it before.  But as I read through the lyrics and hum along with a the congregation, I appreciate the call to worship.  This hymn has a very specific roll; it is a gathering hymn for a night service.

In truth, it makes me ponder.  When do I give the Sabbath a full day's rest?  Usually after the evening service or when the sun sets, I begin thinking about the week and what needs to be accomplished.  It is almost as if, "I have the church thing done, what's next?"  It's good to be reminded that we should take the grace of rest and worship into the night.  Fortunately for us, the Lord never needs reminding to love us.