And Can it Be?

1) And can it be that I should gain
an interest in the Savior's blood!
Died he for me? Who caused His pain!
For me? Who him death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

2) 'Tis mystery all: th' Immortal dies!
Who can explore his strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
to sound the depths of love divine.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
let angel minds inquire no more.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
let angel minds inquire no more.

3) He left his Father's throne above
(so free, so infinite his grace!),
emptied himself of all but love,
and bled for Adam's helpless race.
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
for o My God, it found out me!
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
for O my God, it found out me!

4) Long my imprison spirit lay,
fast bound in sin and nature's night;
thine eye diffused a quickening ray;
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
my chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, wen forth, and followed thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

5) No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in him, is mine;
alive in him, my living Head,
and clothed in righteousness divine,
bold I approach th' eternal throne,
and claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I apporach th' eternal throne.
and claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Today, I'm listening to "And Can It Be?" by Charles Wesley. The story goes that Wesley wrote this immediately after his conversion. This, according to John Lawson, is the best known/loved Methodist hymn of conversion. Looking through the stanzas, one can trace Wesley's amazement. First in Christ's sacrifice for the believer, second in the mystery of such love, third the magnitude of God's love, fourth our own bondage in sin, and finally fifth, the merciful work of the Savior.

This is a great hymn that shows just how staggering conversion can be. It truly is a great love that saves sinners such as us. Sometimes conversion happens because that love hits us all at once. Other times, and possibly more often, its gradual, with belief just sort of creeping into the heart. Either way, the love we receive is truly amazing.

Wayfaring Stranger

1) I'm just a poor wayfarin' stranger,
While travelin' through this world below.
Yet there's no sickness, no toil, nor danger,
In that bright land to which I go.
I'm goin' there to see my Father.
And all my loved ones who've gone on.
I'm just goin' over Jordan.
I'm just goin' over home.

2) I know dark clouds will gather 'round me,
I know my way is hard and steep.
But beauteous fields arise before me,
Where God's redeemed, their vigils keep.
I'm goin' there to see my Mother.
She said she'd meet me when I come.
So, I'm just goin' over Jordan
I'm just goin' over home.

3) I'll soon be free from every trial
This form shall rest beneath the sod.
I'll drop the cross of self-denial,
And enter in that home with God
I'm going home to see my Savior
Who spilled his precious blood for me.
I'm just goin' over Jordan
I'm just goin' over home.

This is a folk song from the 19th century. Many folks have recorded it and is probably most associated with Burl Ive's. I used Jack White's cover because it is the one that I'm most familiar with and I think he does an excellent job of capturing the tone of the lyrics. One of the many reasons I enjoy folk songs and bluegrass type music is that they tell stories. Most current pop and much of the current worship music is designed around a hook. It's catchy in order to be catchy. A lot of today's music miss that story telling aspect which, from reading his interviews and listening to his music, Jack White embraces.

There is a stanza missing from White's version that reads, "I want to wear a crown of glory/ when I get home to that good land / I want to shout salvation's story / In concert with the blood-washed band." There are many times in which we simply trudge through life. Trials and suffering seem without end. We become stranger not only to those around us, but to ourselves as well. It is tough. But the Lord never forgets who we are and He welcomes us with open arms when our journey comes to an end. That, is a glorious day.

Cleft For Me

1) Rock of ages, cleft for me
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.

2) Not the labors of my hands 
can fulfill thy law's commands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save and thou alone.

3) Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.

4) While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.

This hymn was written by Augustus Montague Toplady (1740-1778). Toplady was raised by his mother, with his father passing away at a young age. While sickly and neurotic, Toplady was extremely intelligent, beginning to preach at the age of 12. Though his demeanor turned away other clergymen (he was perceived as arrogant ... you know the young Calvinist stereotype) his writings indicated a humble heart. Sharefaith.com posted this as a journal excerpt when Toplady was 27, "O my Lord let not my ministry be approved only, or tend to be no more than conciliating the esteem and affections of my people to thy unworthy messenger; but to do the work of thy grace upon their hearts: call in thy chosen; seal and edify thy regenerate; and command thy everlasting blessing upon their souls! Save me from self-opinion, and from self-seeking; and may they cease from man, and look solely upon thee.

As I read through this hymn today, I realize that Toplady wants nothing of himself in the picture of the Gospel. He wrote this hymn in a letter on forgiveness in a rebuttal of John Wesley. Topladywas all about the Gospel and what Christ did for people. Look at the third stanza. Toplady describes himself as owning nothing, naked, helpless, and foul. At first glance, one would think the writer could teach Eeyore a thing or two about self pity. Toplady realizes how much we need Christ and how little we bring to our own salvation. Dig past the surface, this is a hymn of joy.

Here's Johnny Cash singing this wonderful hymn.

Help Lord

There is no music with today's hymn. It's written by Isaac Watts and published in The Psalms of David (1719). Dad and I were discussing a Psalm the other week in which David prays that his enemies be conquered. We pondered that for a bit before I realized that assaults on David were assaults against the Lord. David was king, the Lord's appointed and ancestor to the Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus occupies three offices, prophet, priests, and king. So rebellion or an attack against David (in that particular case: Absalom) was an attack on God.

Still, it seems odd to sing at a temple, which is probably why I'm posting this hymn by Isaac Watts. It's a bit counter-culture to us to sing that God vanquish His enemies and that deceivers fail. It didn't bother Watts in updating the Psalm to English poetry. It's good to remember that our God is a victorious conqueror. Now this isn't license to beat up on whatever political party we happen to disagree with. It is acknowledgment that we should ask the Lord to restrain and conquer those who oppose Him.

1) Help, Lord, for men of virtue fail,
Religion loses ground,
The sons of violence prevail,
And treacheries abound.

2) Their oaths and promises they break,
Yet act the flatterer's part;
With fair, deceitful lips they speak,
And with a double heart.

3) If we reprove some hateful lie,
How is their fury stirred!
"Are not our lips our own?" they cry;
"And who shall be our Lord?"

4) Scoffers appear on every side,
Where a vile race of men
Is raised to seats of power and pride,
And bears the sword in vain.

5) Lord, when iniquities abound,
And blasphemy grows bold;
When faith is hardly to be found,
And love is waxing cold;

6) Is not Thy chariot hastening on?
Hast Thou not giv'n this sign?
May we not trust and live upon 
A promise so divine?

7) "Yes," saith the Lord, "now will I rise,
And make oppressors flee;
I shall appear to their surprise,
And set My servants free."

8) Thy Word, like silver sev'n times tried,
Through ages shall endure;
The men that in Thy truth confide
Shall find the promise sure.

My Father's World

1) This is my Father's world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world: I rest me in the thought
Of rock and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.

2) This is my Father's world, the birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker's praise.
This is my Father's world: He shines in all that's fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.

3) This is my Father's world, O let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world; the battle is not done:
Jesus Who died shall be satisfied, 
And earth and Heav'n be one.

4) This is my Father's world, dreaming I see His face.
I ope my eyes, and in glad surprise cry, "The Lord is in this place."
This is my Father's world, from the shining courts above,
The Beloved One,His onlynSon,
Came - a pledge of deathless love.

5) This is my Father's world, should my heart be ever sad?
The lord is King - let the heavens ring. God reigns - let the earth be glad.
This is my Father's world. Now closer to Heaven bound,
For dear to God is the earth Christ tro.
No place but is holy ground.

6) This is my Father's world. I walk a desert lone.
In a blush ablaze to my wondering gaze God makes His glory known.
This is my Father's world, a wanderer I may roam.
Whate'er my lot, it matters not,
My heart is still at home.

This hymn was written by Matlbie Babcock (1858-1901). Babcock was a Presbyterian pastor who was renowned for his metaphors and overall oratory skills. From what I've read about him, he was pretty Renaissance man who probably could have done anything artistic, yet the Lord called him to shepherd His people and write gorgeous hymns. I needed a hymn of comfort today and this one came to mind. I'm not sure there is a greater comfort than proudly proclaiming that God is in control. This is His world.

On Stormy Banks

1) On Jordan's stormy banks I stand, and cast a wishful eye,
To Canaan's fair and happy land, where my possessions lie.

2) O'er all those wide, extended plains shines one eternal day;
There God, the Son, forever reigns, and scatters nights away.

Refrain: I am bound for the promised land, I am bound for the promised land;
O who will come and go with me? I am bound for the promised land.

3) No chilling winds nor pois'nous breath, can reach that healthful shore;
Sickness and sorrow; pain and death, are felt and feared no more.

Refrain:

4) When Shall I reach that happy place, and be forever blest? 
When shall I see my Father's face, and in His bosom rest?

This hymn was written by Samuel Stennet (1727-1795), who had never seen the Jordan. Apparently folks who had seen the Jordan wanted to change the name to "muddy banks" or "rugged banks." I suppose all of those work, but Stennet wasn't exactly going for geographical accuracy. Instead, he is referring to what the Jordan represents, which is the boundary of the promised land. For us, the promised land is God's eternal rest. Our life is in the wilderness, to extend the metaphor, and when God calls us home, we have a seat with Christ who "scatters night away."

I know I haven't been exactly doing a hymn a day. Lately it has been a few hymns a week. This week has been a difficult one, as the Lord called home a close friend of the family. I love and miss Uncle Al. It is comforting to know that he is with the Lord and the rest of the saints looking down, but comfort doesn't mean there is no sorrow. In the last stanza, Stennet asks, "When shall I see my Father's face, and in His bosom rest?" We never know when the Lord will call our journey to an end, but when we finish, He is there to greet us. That is our hope, that is our joy.

Before the Awful Throne

1) Before Jehovah's awful throne,
Ye nations, bow with sacred joy:
Know that the Lord is God alone,
He can create and he destroy.

2) His sovereign pow'r, without our aid,
Made us of dust, and formed us men;
And when like wandering sheep we strayed,
He brought us to his fold again.

3) We are his people, we his care,
Our souls, and all our mortal frame;
What lasting honors shall we rear,
Almighty Maker, to my name?

4) Wide as the world is thy command,
Vast as eternity thy love;
Firm as rock thy truth must stand,
When rolling years shall cease to move.

I'm not sure what drew me to this hymn today (sorry, for the delay between posts, I have some excuses, but none for not doing one yesterday, other than it was Sunday and I was tired and didn't think about doing one.) I think it has to do with the archaic use of "awful." As opposed to "fearful" or "terrifying," the hymn writer is using it to mean "full of awe." I say hymn writer, because John Wesley updated Isaac Watts' poem, so I don't know who wrote what.

This is a good hymn that celebrates God's complete sovereignty over all. It's hard for us to relinquish control of our lives. Especially to an all powerful being that we've never seen face to face. But as we come to know the Lord more and more, as the Spirit indwelling fills the crevices of our soul, we realize that we have never had any control. Without God, we are, at best, slaves to our passions and desires. Passions and desires can be topsy-turvy things, shifting back and forth. Going through life, we are untrained sea captains dropped into the middle of the ocean. How do we find the shore? Our Savior takes care of us. He takes the wheel. He created us, He created life. He is in control, always has, and always will be. So, as we sing "We are his people, we his care," we may take great comfort knowing that the God who Loves Us will lead us and keep us.

I'll Fly Away

1) Some glad morning when this life is o'er, I'll fly away;
To a home on God's celestial shore, I'll fly away.

Refrain: I'll fly away, O glory, I'll fly away;
When I die hallelujah, by and by, I'll fly away.

2) When the shadows of this life have gone, I'll fly away;
Like a bird from prison bars has flown, I'll fly away.

3) Oh how glad and happy when we meet, I'll fly away
No more cold iron shackles on my feet, I'll fly away.

4) Just a few more weary days and then, I'll fly away;
To a land where joys shall never end, I'll fly away.

So this isn't necessarily a hymn, not in the classic since. It is a Christian folk song, and since it's my blog, I'm counting it. This song was written by a high school drop out. Albert Brumley (1905-1977), after quitting the tenth grade, soon discovered he could sing better than most people. He found a music school that he didn't want to quit and learned how to write music. Eventually, he would become the world's most recorded songwriter, but nothing that mirrored the popularity of this song.

When I attended App State, bluegrass was fairly common. Occasionally, some friends and I would head to a little town called "Todd" to listen to some ol'-timey music played in a general store. It was the kind of store you could get a moonpie and RC Cola, which is a southern delicacy. I don't listen to this style of music as much anymore, but it's always comforting when I do. Especially songs like this, where you can sing sitting on the porch watching the world go bye or working, trying to get done what needs doing. "I'll Fly Away" is just a lovely song. And of course, here is a link to Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch singing it.

Gentle Jesus

1) Gentle Jesus, meek and mild,
Look upon a little child;
Pity my simplicity,
Suffer me to come to Thee.

2) Lamb of God, I look to Thee;
Thou shalt my example be:
Thou art gentle, meek and mild;
Thou wast once a little child.

3) Fain I would be as Thou art;
Give me Thine obedient heart:
Thou art pitiful and kind;
Let me have Thy loving mind.

4) Loving Jesus, gentle Lamb,
In Thy gracious hands I am;
Make me, Savior, what Thou art,
Live Thyself within my heart.

This is another hymn by Charles Wesley. I seem to be loading up on Wesleyian hymns. Again, I'm covering a children's hymn. If hymns are good and aide in worship, then children's worship is equally, if not important. Hymns help guide our affections. How should we feel when we consider Christ's divinity? His Lordship? His humanity? This hymn focuses on the latter without forsaking the former. Think about most Christmas hymns. There is a gravitas to them. How does one balance the sweetness of God coming to Earth while knowing that the Lamb will die on the Cross to redeem His people? It's tough, but I think you have to focus on one aspect of Jesus at a time. There are so many, which is why we have so much variation in hymns. To try and include everything would be overwhelming. Wesley strikes a good balance here.

All Creatures

1) All creatures of our God and King,
Lift up you voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam!

Refrain: O praise Him, O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

2) Thou rushing wind that art so strong,
Ye clouds that sail in heaven along,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!

3) Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
Make music for thy Lord to hear,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright,
Thou givest man both warmth and light!

4) And thou, most kind and gentle death,
Waiting to hush our latest breath,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou leadest home the child of God,
And Christ our Lord the way hath trod.

5) Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him! Alleluia
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!

This is an old hymn. It was written by Francis of Assisi (1182-1226). Francis of Assisi is fairly well known in Christian circles. He spent a lot of time in isolation seeking enlightenment. He also founded the Franciscan Order. (Fun Fact #1: He was never an ordained priest.) Those who were in his order were called Friars. (Think Friar Tuck). There was one rule in the Franciscan Order, to follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in His footsteps. The order grew and expanded really at an extraordinary rate. People were moved by the preaching, felt a calling, and joined. Francis of Assisi upheld poverty as something admirable for clergy. In fact, he believed it to be essential for members of his order.

Francis of Assisi also had great love for creation. (Fun Fact #2: Pope John Paul II declared St. Francis to be the Patron of Ecology.) Francis of Assisi preached to the birds, called the son "Brother" and the moon "Sister," and referred to all creatures as "brother and sister."  He is often portrayed as having a bird in his hand. One particular legend involves him chastising a wolf for eating people and animals of a certain town. Assisi was able to calm the wolf and broker a deal between the animal and the townspeople so that they could live in peace. So it's no surprise that he would write a hymn that calls upon nature to proclaim Christ. It isn't unbiblical. Psalm 19:1 reads, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork."

While I'm not completely behind Francis of Assisi on the welcoming of animals as brethren, I do believe that nature proclaims God's glory. I think of hymns like this, and "For the Beauty of the Earth" are dead on the money. What is amazing is that Francis of Assisi wrote this during the last months of his life, which were painful. He was blind those last few months. Yet Francis of Assisi found comfort in both the Creator and the creation that testifies to His glory.

Come, Christians

1) Come, Christians join to sing, Alleluia! Amen!
Loud praise to Christ our King; Alleluia, Amen!
Let, all with heart and voice,
Before His throne rejoice;
Praise is His gracious choice: Alleluia! Amen!

This hymn, written by Christian H. Batemen (1813-1889), was originally intended to be a children's song. The first line read, "Come, Children join to sing, Alleluia! Amen!" Not very different, but it is a significant change. What happened? Adults loved to sing this song, so a slight change was made. I don't know if it was necessary, all Christians are children of God. The hymn works both ways.

2) Come, lift your hearts on high, Alleluia! Amen!
Let praises fill the sky; Alleluia! Amen!
He is our Guide and Friend;
To us He'll condescend;
His love shall never end: Alleluia! Amen!

I really love the celebration of this song. In this stanza, the line, "To us He'll condescend;" is an excellent reminder that God comes to us. If He does not condescend, then we would never know Him. He would remain aloof above His creation and we would be deprived of His grace. Fortunately, God's never ending love means that we get to know Him both as Lord and Friend.

3) Praise yet our Christ again, Alleluia! Amen!
Life shall not end the strain; Alleluia! Amen!
On heaven's blissful shore
His goodness we'll adore,
Singing forevermore, Alleluia! Amen!

The third stanza reflects the first. It circles back to Christ. I'm fairly certain the second stanza is also focused on Christ, but it's the first and third that mention our Savior explicitly. That's the thing. As believers, we need to always come back to Christ. We point others to the Gospel. It is His work that redeems us. We receive Jesus' righteousness in order to be saved. It is a beautiful story that causes us to sing, Alleluia, Amen!

The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

                          O The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus ~ Indelible Grace

1) O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Vast, unmeasured, boundless free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me,
Underneath me, all around me,
Is the current of Thy love;
Leading onward, leading homeward
To my glorious rest above.

2) O the deep, deep love of Jesus, 
Spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth,
Changeth never, nevermore;
How He watches o'er His loved ones,
Died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth,
Watcheth o'er them from the throne.

3) O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Love of every love the best;
'Tis an ocean vast of blessing,
'Tis a haven sweet of rest,
O the deep, deep love Jesus,
'Tis a heav'n of heav'ns to me;
And it lifts me up to glory,
For it lifts me up to Thee.

This hymn was written by Samuel Trevor Francis (1834-1925). Francis was a business man who went back and forth across the Atlantic. Apparently, he came to love the ocean. He certainly found an excellent metaphor to make the vastness of Christ's love a little bit more understandable. It surrounds us, it encompasses us, it carries us as a current carries a ship. Francis understood this and put it in a hymn.

The tune itself is called, "Ton-Y-Botel." This Welsh music was composed by Thomas J. Williams. Or, if you prefer the legend, it was found in a bottle that washed up on the ocean. Either way, the tune blends perfectly with the words. The rises and falls of the music compliments the oceanic imagery of Samuel Francis' words. When "updating" this hymn, Indelible Grace didn't change all that much. It's pretty much the same tune. I'm certain a lot of hard work went into the production, but the fit is so snug, there wasn't any need to mix things up.

This hymn is especially helpful in reminding us that we cannot exhaust God's love. At times, we think we try God's patience with us in manner that might cost us His love. But that simply is not true. Yes, God will be displeased with us in our sins, but He will never not love us. We can't burn His love up anymore than we could drink the ocean. He will always love His people.

Come Ye Sinners

                         Come, Ye Sinners ~ Fernando Ortega and Amy Grant

1) Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love, and power;
He is able, He is able, 
He is willing doubt no more.

2) Now, ye needy, come and welcome;
God's free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings you nigh:
Without money, without money,
Come to Jesus Christ and buy.

3) Let not conscience make you linger,
Nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him:
This He gives you, this He give you;
Tis the Spirit's glimmering beam.

4) Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Bruised and mangled by the Fall;
If you tarry till you're better,
You will never come at all;
Not the righteous, not the righteous;
Sinner Jesus came to call.

This hymn is by Joseph Hart (1712-1768). Looking this up, I found around three or four different versions. That's why what you're listening to is different from what I typed out. I thought about going with the same, then decided against it. I don't know when the refrain was added, it may have been apart of the original work. I just do not know. I'm ok with different versions. Some folks update hymn lyrics as well as the music to reflect their situation, their time. It isn't wrong, although I imagine some people would take offense. These are hymns though, not Scripture. They reflect how the writer feels and prays to God, and we often pray about similar things in different ways. Sometimes we use words others wrote to give life to our own words. It's like a springboard. Hymns are meant to help worship, not be worshiped.

And speaking of worship, Joseph Hart was not a fan. He heard John Wesley preach, went home, and wrote "The Unreasonableness of Religion." Eh, we've all been there. Hart was a language teacher who was afraid of eternal damnation. He went to church for peace and found judgment. It wasn't until he, at forty-five years of age, attended a Moravian church that words of hope changed his heart. It changed so much that he himself became a minister, which is why we have wonderful hymns such as this one.

As you can imagine, there are many schools of thought on preaching. Some do so by telling a story to give a deeper perspective on a narrative in the Bible. Others will preach on a certain topic, flitting around passages deemed appropriate. Yet others still are much more expository, sticking directly to a passage and try to unfold God's will with relevance to the Church. I prefer the latter, but there are times when other approaches are better suited to sanctify one's congregation. We know this because the Apostles used different styles of preaching. No matter the approach, the (overall) message should be the same. Preaching should be about the Gospel, Christ's redeeming love. The Bible is about the Triune God, with an emphasis on Jesus Christ. It is a story of redemption, a story of love. Throughout we see faith and hope and love being given to the sinner in desperate need of such grace. We, as a catholic Church, are given to Christ out of love. And I just think that a struggling man should hear and feel that love when he attends church.

Snow Storm

So the ice storm in South Carolina knocked out the power of my house for a couple of days. I know I'm way behind. So this week, I'm doing two hymns each day, Monday through Friday. That's the goal anyway.

1) Light of those whose dreary dwelling
Borders on the shades of death,
Come, and by Thy love's revealing
Dissipate the clouds beneath.

2)The new heaven and earth's Creator,
In our deepest darkness rise,
Scattering all the night of nature,
Pouring eyesight on our eyes.

3) Still we wait for Thine appearing;
Life and joy Thy beams impart,
Chasing all our fears, and cheering
Every poor benighted heart.

4) Come, and manifest the favor 
God hath for our ransomed race;
Come, Thou universal Savior,
Come, and bring the Gospel grace.

5) Save us in Thy great compassion,
O Thou mild, pacific Prince;
Give the knowledge of savlation,
Give the pardon of our sins.

6) By thine all-redeeming merit
Every burdened soul release;
Every weary, wandering spirit
Guide into Thy perfect peace.

You can listen to the hymn here. This was written by Charles Wesley. I've never heard the hymn before, but I chose it because of the opening line, "Light of those whose dreary dwelling." I thought it might be appropriate since my family and I were without power for a couple of days. It's a funny thing though, we were never dreary. We have gas logs, so hot tea and instant coffee was covered. Our local church did an amazing job opening its doors to those without power. I stayed with friends one night. Those same friends also let us use their place to cook food and shower. We even had a neighbor open up his home so people on the street can get coffee and hot chocolate. In the mean time we played games, especially Ticket to Ride (great game.) If anything, the Lord used the power outage to reiterate how much we are surrounded by loving people.

There are dark days. Days in which the world seems to be collapsing. The Lord uses our brokenness to show His perfect light. He opens our hearts and minds to His love and draws us out of the darkness into His wonderful light. I think this hymn captures the relief that comes with grace. The burden is lifted, the night is gone, we finally receive sight to see.

Nothing but ...

1) What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain: Oh! precious is the flow that makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

2) For my pardon this I see --
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing, this my plea --
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain

3) Nothing can for sin atone --
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done --
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain

4) This is all my hope and peace --
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness --
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain

This hymn was written by Robert Lowry (1826-1899). Lowry was a pastor in the Mid-Atlantic region of the US. He also was a professor of literature. Wrote hymns, some alongside Fanny Crosby. He did many things. For this hymn, he wrote the words and the music. Apparently, he kept things simple (I'm not musically inclined enough to comment, but William Peterson is, and that's who I'm getting this from.) This hymn has a five note range, with two notes for the base singers. Guitar players work with just two chords. Perhaps he is indicating the simplicity of salvation. There can be no other outside the blood of Jesus.

Generally, I'm hesitant to embrace simplistic hymns. There are some more contemporary hymns that are nothing but a chorus. "Praise teams" just play it straight for ten minutes in a bid for an emotional reaction. It's kind of like how pop-songs just repeat the same thing over and over again so it will get stuck in your head and you can never, EVER get it out. Does it make a great song? No, it's just a money-making song that fills the empty space in the short car trip to the store. Some contemporary worship songs are kind of like that. Repeating "Hallelujah" for six minutes and forty three seconds can be great while waiting to get to the pastoral prayer, but why are you singing "hallelujah"? If you're singing just the chorus of a Christianized Jeff Buckley cover of a Leonard Cohen song, you have no idea. You'll feel great about it, but no idea why you are feeling great. That's just an emotional high, it isn't really worship.

This song, even though simple, actually progresses. The first stanza asks how we are saved. Nothing but the blood of Jesus. The second stanza asks where we turn to be saved. Nothing but the blood of Jesus. The third stanza, what do I contribute to my own salvation? Nothing! but the blood of Jesus. The fourth, by what is that salvation secured. Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Simple? Yes. Vapid? No. This is a great teaching hymn. We are saved by Christ alone. It's one of the five "Solae." Scripture Alone, Faith Alone, Christ Alone, Grace Alone, Glory to God Alone. This hymn is looking directly at what Christ did for His people and is returning thanks. All of salvation is gained by Christ alone in the gospel.

Lord of Heaven and Earth And Sea

Today's hymn was written by Christopher Wordsworth (1807-1885). Christopher was the nephew of another famous Wordsworth, William. Both Wordsworth loved creation. They marveled at the beauty and the glory that is found in nature. It is an easy thing to do. Everyone has a favorite place to go when they want to get away for a while. I myself prefer the mountains, especially during the fall. Looking at the leaves as they are changing color has a very calming effect on me. There isn't a prettier place to take a drive. With the Wordsworths, they looked at nature and where inspired to write poetry. William loved nature for nature's sake. He worshiped the beauty of the mountain and the bubbling sound of the rivers. Christopher looked at the same things and saw the hand of the Creator at work. For him, nature pointed to something greater than itself. Thus, he wrote the hymn "O Lord of Heaven and Earth and Sea."

This hymn has excellent progression. The first stanza asks how we may worship. The second points to the praise that creation heaps upon the Creator. The third focuses on humanity and why it should give thanks. The fourth gives praise for the redeeming love of Jesus. And the last acknowledges that, apart from God, we have nothing. The Lord provides so that we all may live. There is nothing we have that has not been given to us by Him. This is beautiful hymn that gives thanks that we are in His hands.

1) O Lord o heaven and earth and sea,
To Thee all praise and glory be!
How shall we show our love to Thee,
Who givest all?

2) The golden sunshine, vernal air,
Sweet flowers, and fruit Thy love declare;
When harvests ripen, Thou art there,
Who givest all.

3) For peaceful homes and healthful days,
For all the blessings earth displays,
We owe Thee thankfulness and praise,
Who givest all.

4) For souls redeemed, for sins forgiven,
For means o grace and hopes of heaven:
What can to Thee, O Lord, be given,
Who givest all?

5)To Thee, from whom we all derive 
Our life, our gifts, our power to give:
O may we ever with Thee live,
Who givest all!

Unfortunately, I could not find a good recording of it. Here is a congregation singing just a couple of the stanzas.  If/when I find something better, I will post it.

Mystery of God

So, I'm Presbyterian, which is really more of a statement on church government than it is on theological beliefs.  It got it's start in Scotland where John Knox fueled a reformation. There are many things that Presbyterians do well. They're known for teaching, church discipline, and no one runs a committee system like Presbyterians do. There are some things that Presbyterians are less known for; for instance, talking about the Holy Spirit. Of course, all generalities have their exception. I've known some Presbyterians to speak very eloquently about the nature of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is often referred to by the church fathers as the Mystery of God. This is due mainly to the fact that the Holy Spirit shines the light on the other two persons of the Trinity. His purpose is to illuminate and reveal and apply grace to us. That's a brief summation, I don't think I could accomplish in a blog illuminating the role of the Holy Spirit. He is equally magnificent and powerful as the Father and the Son.

If you haven't guessed by now, I'm listening to a hymn which focuses on the third person of the Trinity. The hymn is called "Come, Gracious Spirit, Heavenly Dove," written by Simon Browne. Browne wrote because that helped him learn better than experiential methods. Possibly Browne's biggest trial is when he defended himself against a highwayman. In self-defense, Simon Browne killed his attacker. This weighed heavily on his soul as he was convinced he was guilty of murder. Yet he still wrote hymns and prayers to the Lord. Here are the lyrics to this one concerning the Holy Spirit.

1) Come, gracious Spirit, heav'nly Dove,
With light and comfort from above;
Be Thou our Guardian, Thou are Guide;
O'er ev'ry thought and step preside.

2) To us the light of truth display,
And make us know and choose Thy way;
Plant holy fear in ev'ry heart,
That we from God may ne'er depart.

3) Lead us to holiness, the road 
Which we must take to dwell with God;
Lead us to Christ, the living way;
Nor let us from His pastures stray.

4) Lead us to God, our final rest,
To be with Him forever blest;
Lead us to heav'n, its bliss to share,
Fullness of joy forever there.

A bit behind

Alright, so I went to North Carolina this weekend and visited my Aunt. I didn't do any hymns, so I need to catch up.  I'm okay with that because it means more music. To begin with, we have Charles Wesley.  I've gone to him before which is fine because he wrote a lot of hymns. Sixteen of which come from Leviticus.  Now, Leviticus is one of those books in the Bible. It's a book people try to avoid, or if they are planning to read through the whole Bible, they quit at Leviticus. Not a lot of stories in Leviticus and a whole bunch of rules that seem a little pointless at this point (they're not, they just seem that way at first glance). Wesley, while reading through Leviticus, was inspired by Matthew Henry's commentary.  Leviticus 8:35 states, "Keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not," of which Matthew Henry writes, "We have every one of us a charge to keep, an eternal God to glorify, an immortal soul to provide for, a needful duty to be done, our generation to serve, and it must be our daily care to keep this charge, for it is the charge of the Lord our Master, who will shortly call us to an account about it, and it is our utmost peril if we neglect it." With that, Charles Wesley wrote, "A Charge To Keep I Have."

1) A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify,
A never-dying soul to save,
And fir it for the sky.

2) To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill;
O may it all my powers engage 
To do my Master's will!

3) Arm me with jealous care,
As in Thy sight to live,
And O, Thy servant, Lord, prepare
A strict account to give!

4) Help me to watch and pray,
And on Thyself rely,
Assured if I my trust betray,
I shall forever die.

Here's a moving Gospel rendition of the hymn.

Or if you are into '80s rock praise music

If you are interested in Leviticus, I highly recommend listening to Jeff's Ferguson sermon series.  It gives wonderful insight into an often misunderstood book of the Bible. Here is the first of five parts he did at a conference. Check it out.

An Oldie but a Goodie

Tonight I'm listening to Shepherd of Eager (Tender) Youth.

1) Shepherd of eager youth, Guiding in love and truth
Through devious ways - Christ, our triumphant King,
We come Thy name to sing; Hither Thy children bring
Tributes of praise.

2) Thou art our Holy Lord, The all-subduing Word,
Healer of strife; Thou didst Thyself abase
That from sin's deep disgrace Thou mightest save our race
And give us life.

3) Ever be near our side, Our shepherd and our guide,
Our staff and song; Jesus, Thou Christ of God,
By Thy enduring Word Lead us where Thou has trod, 
Make our faith strong.

4) So now, and till we die, sound we Thy praises high
And joyful sing; infants and the glad throng
Who to Thy church belong, unite to swell the song
To Christ, our King.

This hymn was written by Clement of Alexandria (ca. 170 - ca. 220). It is the oldest hymn we have in which we know who the author is. Clement of Alexandria wrote this hymn to instruct new believers.  This idea would be precious to Clement of Alexandria, as he was a philosopher and ran a school to teach philosophies, both Christian and other kinds.  Notice he covers the three offices of Christ (prophet [stanza three], priest [stanza 2], and king [ stanza 1]). He also places high emphasis on God's Word, which instructs believers what exactly they are to believe concerning God and their duties that God requires of His flock.  This is an excellent hymn to help children learn about the God who love them.  All of this points to Clement of Alexandria's desire to educate. Besides, look at this guy! Who wouldn't want to learn from him?

Clement of Alexandria

Dost Thou See Them?

Tonight, I'm listening to Saint Andrew of Crete's hymn, "Christian, Doth Thou See Them?" Andrew of Crete lived in the 8th century.  Legend has it that the saint was mute until the age of 7, when he partook of communion and was cured. Andrew of Crete is known as a hymnist.  His longest, actually called a canon, is 250 stanzas long.  It's a first person account going through the entire Bible called "The Great Canon." And no, I'm not planning on doing it for this blog, mainly because of my penchant for typing out all the stanzas.

                                                                   St. Andrew of Crete
We have the hymn I'm listening to today because of John Mason Neale (1818-1866). Neale was an excellent scholar who knew twenty languages.  (We will come to Neale again, as he is responsible for Christmas hymns such as "O Come, O Come Emanuel," "Good King Wenceslas," and "Good Christian Men Rejoice.") As with people who speak twenty languages often do, John Mason Neale made himself a nuisance to the leaders of his church. Neale championed higher liturgy and worship, which bothered the local Anglican clergy. Thus, Neale was "relegated" to the almshouse for old men.  Not that he minded too much, it gave him more time to translate hymns.

John Mason Neale

Listening and reading through "Christian, Doth Thou See Them?" reminds me of the book Kris Lungard's Enemy Within, which is pretty much a translation of John Owens Mortification of Sin. Lundgard translates the book from Puritan English into Readable English.  In it, Lundgard stresses the need for constant awareness of sin.  We always need to be on the look out. This hymn deals with similar vigilance.  The first stanza refers to visible temptation.  St. Andrew of Crete calls for the believer to "up and smite them."  Fight back against sin!  The second stanza certainly covers the more spiritual temptations.  The temptations that gnaw on our wants and desires.  Again, there is a call for the believer to fight back, including spiritual strengthening such as prayer and fasting.  The third stanza covers all the influences we hear.  Hear, St. Andrew of Crete reminds the singer to answer all those voices boldly! We should have confidence in our beliefs. We should be encouraged. In fact, that's how the hymn ends, with words of encouragement spoken from the Lord's perspective.  One of the things that I learned early at Penn State, and has stuck with me, is the need to encourage one another.  Sometimes we are called to rebuke our brethren, other times we are called to comfort, but we should always encourage one another no matter the situation.  The Lord is always at work and His salvation is guaranteed, no matter how great our sin.

1) Christian, dost thou see them on the holy ground,
How the powers of darkness compass thee around?
Christian, up and smite them, counting gain but loss
In the strength that cometh by the holy cross.

2) Christian, dost thou feel them, how they work within,
Striving, tempting, luring, goading into sin?
Christian, never tremble, never be downcast;
Gird thee for the battle watch and pray and fast.

3) Christian, dost thou hear them, how they speak thee fair,
"Always fast and vigil, always watch and prayer?"
Christian, answer boldly, "While I breathe I pray."
Peace shall follow battle, night shall end in day.

4)"Well I know thy trouble, O my servant true.
Thou art very weary; I was weary too.
But that toil shall make thee some day all mine own,
And the end of sorrow shall be near my throne."

I couldn't get the video to work, here is a link to the music.