Menu

P8. Reflections: Apr.18

Sometimes a Light Surprises

Graphic Bob New Glasses 2015HOW TO USE THIS BLOG
1) The Almanac. Click on the month you want in the side-bar, then the specific date. The blog will tell you what happened in hymn history on that day.
2) Reflections. There is always a current article on a hymn. But you can find many others by clicking on the Index tab. (More being added all the time.)
3) Topical Articles are opinion pieces on many aspects sacred music.
4) To Donate. If you can help with the cost of developing and maintaining this site, click on the “Support” tab above and the page will show you how.

Also see 30+ Ideas for Promoting Hymn Singing in your church. As others have contributed ideas, this wonderful resource has grown to over 80 items now. And, for more than three dozen reasons why congregations should still use hymn books rather than merely projecting words on the wall, see The Value of Hymn Books.

Words: William Cowper (b. Nov. 15, 1731; d. Apr. 25, 1800)
Music: Bentley, by John Pyke Hullah (b. June 27, 1812; d. Feb. 21, 1884)

Links:
Wordwise Hymns (William Cooper)
The Cyber Hymnal
Hymnary.org

Note: Mr. Cowper (pronounced Cooper) is considered one of England’s greatest poets, but for years he struggled with emotional depression. Later he was kindly helped by his pastor, none other than John Newton, author of the hymn Amazing Grace. In 1779, the two of them together published a famous hymn book, Olney Hymns, for which they wrote all the hymns.

The Cyber Hymnal has a note on composer John Hullah, which says in part: “[He studied] at the Royal Academy of Music (1833-35). One of his fellow students was Fanny Dickens, eldest sister of Charles Dickens. Hullah met Charles through her, and in 1836, he wrote the music for Dickens’ comic opera The Village Coquettes. Hullah taught vocal music at Kings College in the Strand, Queen’s College, and Bedford College. Starting in 1841, he conducted vocal music classes for day and Sunday school teachers.” (That latter point interests me greatly. Do we think enough of music in our church programs to train workers to teach it well? Something to think about!)

A surprise is something that happens suddenly and unexpectedly. Centuries ago the word was used mainly in a military sense, of an unexpected attack or capture. But currently, though we can occasionally have unpleasant surprises, the word more often is used in a positive way.

There are surprise packages, gifts that arrive unexpectedly, and surprise parties–perhaps for the birthday of a family member, and surprise recipes too. Scanning the Net you’ll learn how to make Chicken Surprise, Chocolate Surprise, and more. One wonders what the “surprise” is. That it’s easier to prepare than you thought? Or contains ingredients that are unusual? Or maybe it tastes better than it looks?

The word surprise is not one found frequently in the Bible, but its use does represent both kinds of unexpected happenings. There is a frightening surprise by Joseph’s brothers of something that may incriminate them (Gen. 42:35), and the wonderful surprise of some men who find Israel’s enemies fled, with all their supplies abandoned (II Kgs. 7:1-11).

In his 1955 book Surprised by Joy, C. S. Lewis describes his journey, a quarter century earlier, from barren atheism to a living faith in Christ. From his perspective, finding the Saviour was a kind of accidental or unexpected discovery, a surprise. And Lewis says joy is like a signpost, pointing the way for those lost in the woods. It’s a marker, one of a series, showing we’re on the right path at last.

There are surprises in our spiritual lives too, unexpected blessings from the Lord. The gospel itself is one of these. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way.” That’s not surprising. We know how wayward we can be. But the next words are astonishing: “And the Lord has laid on Him [Christ] the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6). Those deserving of punishment became the objects of God’s grace. “When we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son” (Rom. 5:10). Amazing!

As Christians, we’re sometimes surprised by what we discover in Scripture day by day. The aptness of the passage in our morning devotions to our current needs. The practical answers to life’s problems that strike us at just the right time. In a sudden crisis, or a time of deep distress, even the simple assurances of Psalm 23 can strengthen our hearts in a surprising way.

There can be similar encouragements in our great hymns. I can remember my return to church after two surgeries and nearly a month in the hospital. How I enjoyed the congregation singing Katharina von Schlegel’s beautiful hymn, Be Still, My Soul. The words, “Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know / His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below” greatly blessed me. They meant something special to me that day.

That brings to mind the hymn by William Cowper–one of many he wrote. It begins:

Sometimes a light surprises
The Christian while he sings.

Think about that for a moment. It implies the singer is in some kind of darkness, but he or she is “surprised by joy,” to use Lewis’s phrase. When we are down and discouraged, we can be unexpectedly uplifted by the words of a hymn. So, the lesson is this:

Even when you don’t necessarily feel like singing, sing anyway!

Sing anyway! Sing because the Lord commands it. “Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!” (Ps. 47:6). Or sing as a tonic–because maybe it will help. Or sing because you want to believe, even when you’re not feeling it’s so. And when you do, God will bless your soul with new light.

CH-1) Sometimes a light surprises
The Christian while he sings;
It is the Lord, who rises
With healing in His wings:
When comforts are declining,
He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining,
To cheer it after rain.

I encourage you to check out the two middle stanzas on the Cyber Hymnal. They’re wonderful too. The final stanza alludes to the great statement of faith by the prophet Habakkuk which concludes his book (Hab. 3:17-18). (Note: the word “confiding” is used in the sense of trusting.)

CH-4) Though vine nor fig tree neither
Their wonted fruit should bear,
Though all the field should wither,
Nor flocks nor herds be there;
Yet God the same abiding,
His praise shall tune my voice,
For while in Him confiding,
I cannot but rejoice.

Questions:
1) Why do you think it is that singing hymns can restore peace and joy to a troubled heart?

2) What particular hymns have been most encouraging to you?

Links:
Wordwise Hymns (William Cooper)
The Cyber Hymnal
Hymnary.org

Nothing Between

Graphic Bob New Glasses 2015HOW TO USE THIS BLOG
1) The Almanac. Click on the month you want in the side-bar, then the specific date. The blog will tell you what happened in hymn history on that day.
2) Reflections. There is always a current article on a hymn. But you can find many others by clicking on the Index tab. (More being added all the time.)
3) Topical Articles are opinion pieces on many aspects sacred music.
4) To Donate. If you can help with the cost of developing and maintaining this site, click on the “Support” tab above and the page will show you how.

Also see 30+ Ideas for Promoting Hymn Singing in your church. As others have contributed ideas, this wonderful resource has grown to over 80 items now. And, for more than three dozen reasons why congregations should still use hymn books rather than merely projecting words on the wall, see The Value of Hymn Books.

Words: Charles Albert Tindley (b. July 7, 1851; d. July 26, 1933)
Music: Charles Albert Tindley

Links:
Wordwise Hymns (for another article see here)
The Cyber Hymnal
Hymnary.org

Note: For the story of how this song came to be written, and more information about this truly remarkable man, see the first of the Wordwise Hymns links above.

This article has to do with the space between things or people. There are times when it’s helpful to check the distance between two places. Perhaps as we plan a trip, we wonder how much time it will take to get there.

The distance between Vancouver and Toronto is 3,364 km by plane, and about a thousand kilometres more if you go by car. The distance between Halifax, Nova Scotia and London, England is 4,621 km. The choice there is between a sea voyage and a plane flight. The distance from earth to the moon is 384,400 km, and traveling there requires specialized equipment propelled by rockets.

These are longer distances. But American anthropologist Edward T. Hall developed the concept of what he called Proxemics, to describe how we define our personal distance from other people.

Have you ever felt uncomfortable when someone you didn’t know seemed to want to crowd too close? Likely we all have. There are many factors involved, but Hall believed it was possible to give approximations of comfortable distances.

¤ Hall claimed an intimate distance (as for a spouse) is about 60 cm (2 feet) down to physical contact.
¤ Personal distance (for family and friends) is roughly 1.5 m down to 60 cm.
¤ According to Hall, a comfortable social distance from strangers is 3 m down to 1.5 m.

But there’s another kind of distance that can’t be calculated with a tape measure. It’s the distance between the souls of two people. In the classic 1941 film Citizen Kane, Orson Welles brilliantly illustrates this with a montage of scenes in which Charles Foster Kane sits at breakfast with his wife, over many years. They’re both at the same table, but we witness the growing distance between them emotionally in how they look at one another–or don’t, the way they talk to one another–or don’t, and other more subtle things.

What divides people in this sense are things like anger, hatred, prejudice, pride, deceit, and selfishness. What can bridge the space between are qualities such as humility, mercy, love, grace, kindness, and forgiveness.

The Bible teaches important keys to personal relationships. We’re not to lie, but speak the truth to others (Eph. 4:25). Not steal from others, but be ready to give generously to them (vs. 28). Not tear down others with “corrupt [unwholesome] communication,” but try to encourage and build them up by what we say (vs. 29). We’re to avoid such things as “bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour [angry shouting], and evil speaking [slander],” instead seeking to be “kind to one another, tenderhearted, [and] forgiving” (vs. 31-32).

And what of our relationship with God? What is it that can divide us? Here are several things.

¤ Pride: the foolish notion that we don’t need God.
¤ Unbelief: a failure to trust in the promises of God.
¤ Disobedience: a failure to do the will of God.
¤ Worldliness: living by the values of a godless world (cf. I Jn. 2:15-17)

The Bible’s summary word for the things that separate us from the Lord is sin. “Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Isa. 59:2).

Pastor Tindley wrote a song in 1905 that is a warning to Christians not to allow anything to create a space between them and God that would hinder fellowship with Him, and rob the believer of spiritual joy and blessing.

CH-1) Nothing between my soul and my Saviour,
Naught of this world’s delusive dream;
I have renounced all sinful pleasure;
Jesus is mine, there’s nothing between.

Nothing between my soul and the Saviour,
So that His blessed face may be seen;
Nothing preventing the least of His favour–
Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.

CH-2) Nothing between, like worldly pleasure;
Habits of life, though harmless they seem;
Must not my heart from Him ever sever;
He is my all, there’s nothing between.

CH-4) Nothing between, e’en many hard trials,
Though the whole world against me convene;
Watching with prayer and much self denial,
I’ll triumph at last, there’s nothing between.

Questions:
1) Is there something in your own life that tends to come between you and the Lord?

2) What are you doing, or what will you do, to deal with this problem?

Links:
Wordwise Hymns (for another article see here)
The Cyber Hymnal
Hymnary.org

In the Service of the King

Graphic Bob New Glasses 2015HOW TO USE THIS BLOG
1) The Almanac. Click on the month you want in the side-bar, then the specific date. The blog will tell you what happened in hymn history on that day.
2) Reflections. There is always a current article on a hymn. But you can find many others by clicking on the Index tab. (More being added all the time.)
3) Topical Articles are opinion pieces on many aspects sacred music.
4) To Donate. If you can help with the cost of developing and maintaining this site, click on the “Support” tab above and the page will show you how.

Also see 30+ Ideas for Promoting Hymn Singing in your church. As others have contributed ideas, this wonderful resource has grown to over 80 items now. And, for more than three dozen reasons why congregations should still use hymn books rather than merely projecting words on the wall, see The Value of Hymn Books.

Words: Alfred Henry Ackley (b. Jan. 21, 1887; d. July 3, 1960)
Music: Bentley DeForest Ackley (b. Sept. 27, 1872; d. Sept. 3, 1958)

Links:
Wordwise Hymns (Alfred Ackley)
The Cyber Hymnal
Hymnary.org

Note: In 1912 two brothers created a simple gospel song about the joy of serving God. Alfred Ackley wrote hundreds of song lyrics, but only a few tunes. (Over 300 of his lyrics are listed in the Cyber Hymnal, including the popular He Lives.) Bentley Ackley focused on writing melodies. He also served as pianist in the meetings of evangelist Billy Sunday.

Words such as serve, serving and service have a surprising variety of uses. It could be said the words serve us in many ways. The word in its various forms has been a part of the English language for centuries. To serve another person could mean rendering obedience, or seeking, by your own choice, to be useful and be a benefit to another. It could involve doing one’s duty, or perhaps involve showing willing devotion.

To be “in service” is what might be said when a computer system or a telephone is programed or hooked up, ready to use. But being in service also refers to anyone who is employed as a servant. On the other hand, if someone says he is “in the service,” he could mean he’s a member of the armed forces. For a store clerk to say he or she is “at your service” means they’re ready to serve you. But if an individual is “serving time,” he’s in prison.

A service is work someone does for you. Or, it could be a church service. Or the act of putting the ball in play in a game of tennis. If the garage down the street services your car, it likely means a tune-up, and making necessary repairs. On the other hand, a table service is cups and plates and utensils set up for a meal.

In the Bible, words such as “serve” and “service” are used over four hundred times. And if we include the word servant, it mounts to some twelve hundred times. Averaged out, that means the concept of serving could be found in every chapter of the Bible. It is, in truth a book about serving. The question is, whom do we serve?

There are different chains of command on the human level. A person is called to serve the one ranked above him, whether its an army general or a boss in a factory. But in the ultimate and spiritual sense the choices are limited. We are either a part of Satan’s kingdom or of God’s kingdom. We’re either a slave to the devil (perhaps unknowingly) or we choose to be a servant of God.

As for Satan, for the present time he’s the master of the unbelieving world. Jesus calls him, “the ruler of this world” (Jn. 12:31). The Bible says, “The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (I Jn. 5:19). Whether people realize it or not, he is “the god of this age” (II Cor. 4:4) who “deceives the whole world” (Rev. 12:9).

But when an individual trusts Christ as Saviour, he or she is delivered from the devil’s hateful bondage into the glorious liberty of the kingdom of God. As the Lord said to Paul:

“I now send you to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:17-18).

Christians can say:

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed [transferred] us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Col. 1:13).

As believers, we’re called to “serve the Lord Christ” (Col. 3:24), “ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake” (II Cor. 4:5). Our calling is “through love [to] serve one another” (Gal. 5:13). And what a joy it is to serve the Lord! (cf. Ps. 100:2), using the gifts and opportunities He gives us.

“If anyone ministers [serves], let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (I Pet. 4:10).

The Ackleys’ song doesn’t say a lot. No deep biblical theology here. But it’s joyful melody is certainly expressive of the happy duty that is ours of serving God.

CH-1) I am happy in the service of the King.
I am happy, O so happy!
I have peace and joy that nothing else can bring,
In the service of the King.

In the service of the King
Every talent I will bring.
I have peace and joy and blessing
In the service of the King.

CH-3) I am happy in the service of the King.
I am happy, O so happy!
To His guiding hand forever I will cling,
In the service of the King.

CH-4) I am happy in the service of the King.
I am happy, O so happy!
All that I possess to Him I gladly bring,
In the service of the King.

Questions:
1) What is it about serving the Lord that brings us joy?

2) How will our service bring glory and honour to God?

Links:
Wordwise Hymns (Alfred Ackley)
The Cyber Hymnal
Hymnary.org

It Is No Secret

Graphic Bob New Glasses 2015HOW TO USE THIS BLOG
1) The Almanac. Click on the month you want in the side-bar, then the specific date. The blog will tell you what happened in hymn history on that day.
2) Reflections. There is always a current article on a hymn. But you can find many others by clicking on the Index tab. (More being added all the time.)
3) Topical Articles are opinion pieces on many aspects sacred music.
4) To Donate. If you can help with the cost of developing and maintaining this site, click on the “Support” tab above and the page will show you how.

Also see 30+ Ideas for Promoting Hymn Singing in your church. As others have contributed ideas, this wonderful resource has grown to over 80 items now. And, for more than three dozen reasons why congregations should still use hymn books rather than merely projecting words on the wall, see The Value of Hymn Books.

Words: Carl Stuart Hamblen (b. Oct. 20, 1908; d. Mar. 8, 1989)
Music: Carl Stuart Hamblen

Links:
Wordwise Hymns (for another article see here)
The Cyber Hymnal (Stuart Hamblen)
Hymnary.org

Note: Stuart Hamblen was a profane, hard-drinking cowboy actor. But in 1949, through the ministry of Billy Graham, he trusted Christ as his Saviour and his life was transformed. He later wrote a song called It Is No Secret–surprisingly, created at the suggestion of actor John Wayne, after hearing Hamblen’s testimony. A more detailed story of the writing of the song, as well as a video of Mr. Hamblen singing it, are found on the first Wordwise Hymns link.

Do you have any secrets? Some reasons for secrecy are fine–such as those about gifts to be given for birthdays or Christmas. There are also necessary secrets in war. On being asked by a soldier what his plans for an upcoming battle were, George Washington replied, “Can you keep a secret?” When the man responded that he could, Washington said, “So can I.”

But there are bad uses of secrecy. Marital unfaithfulness often involves lying to keep an intimate relationship hidden. Crime involves attempted concealment too.

On the other hand, sometimes great harm can be done by breaking a promise of secrecy. A talebearer reveals secrets” (Prov. 11:13). Italian scholar Fausto Cercignani said, “A secret remains a secret until you make someone promise never to reveal it.” The gossiper may tell of hidden things to gain a personal advantage, or for revenge, or out of pride, simply showing off how he was trusted with inside information. Benjamin Franklin was not confident of our ability to keep secrets. He wrote, “Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.”

Some form of the word “secret” (meaning hidden, concealed, covered) is used nearly a hundred times in Scripture. The Bible says of God, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever” (Deut. 29:29). We’ll never know everything about God, but He has revealed many things about Himself that bless us (Ps. 25:14).

The Lord is present everywhere, and we cannot hide from Him (Jer. 23:24). He knows the secrets of our hearts (Ps. 44:21), and they tell a lot about us. French novelist, André Malraux, said, “Man is not what he thinks he is; he is what he hides.” There’s some truth in that. And it’s wise to ask the Lord to reveal to us our secret sins, so we can confess and forsake them (Ps. 19:21). God will, in the end, judge the secret things in our lives (Ecc. 12:14; Mk. 4:22). Better to deal with them now.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I Jn. 1:9).

But there’s one particular thing the Lord does not want kept hidden–the Christian gospel that “Christ died for our sins” (I Cor. 15:3). We are called to put our faith in Him for eternal salvation (Jn. 3:16), “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7). That’s good news to be shared far and wide.

¤ “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations” (Matt. 28:19).
¤ “Go into all the world and preach the gospel” (Mk. 16:15).
¤ “You shall be witnesses to Me [Christ]…to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

And when a jailer in Philippi asked missionaries Paul and Silas, “What must I do to be saved,” they replied promptly, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts. 16:30-31).

What the Lord has done for needy sinners should never be kept secret. It’s the greatest possible news, as it concerns our eternal destiny. “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” Jesus said. “No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jn. 14:6; cf. Acts 4:12).

Stuart Hamblen’s song says, in part:

1) The chimes of time ring out the news,
Another day is through;
Someone slipped and fell–
Was that someone you?
You may have longed for added strength,
Your courage to renew,
Do not be disheartened,
For I bring hope to you.

It is no secret what God can do;
What He’s done for others, He’ll do for you;
With arms wide open He’ll pardon you.
It is no secret what God can do.

Questions:
1) Why is it some do all they can to suppress (or keep secret) the message of the gospel?

2) What changes have come into your life since you became a Christian? (If you’re not yet a Christian, I encourage you to read the article God’s Plan of Salvation.)

Links:
Wordwise Hymns (for another article see here)
The Cyber Hymnal (Stuart Hamblen)
Hymnary.org

I Love Thee, Lord Jesus

Graphic Bob New Glasses 2015HOW TO USE THIS BLOG
1) The Almanac. Click on the month you want in the side-bar, then the specific date. The blog will tell you what happened in hymn history on that day.
2) Reflections. There is always a current article on a hymn. But you can find many others by clicking on the Index tab. (More being added all the time.)
3) Topical Articles are opinion pieces on many aspects sacred music.
4) To Donate. If you can help with the cost of developing and maintaining this site, click on the “Support” tab above and the page will show you how.

Also see 30+ Ideas for Promoting Hymn Singing in your church. As others have contributed ideas, this wonderful resource has grown to over 80 items now. And, for more than three dozen reasons why congregations should still use hymn books rather than merely projecting words on the wall, see The Value of Hymn Books.

Words: author unknown (see note below regarding Florie Evans)
Music: Alfred Barney Smith (b. Nov. 8, 1916; d. Nov. 9, 2001)

Links:
Wordwise Hymns (Al Smith)
The Cyber Hymnal (none)
Hymnary.org (Al Smith)

Note: Annie Florence (“Florie”) Evans, whose heart-felt testimony is said to have marked the beginning of the Welsh Revival, is sometimes described in stories as a little girl. However, this does not seem to be accurate. She was born in 1886, so was in her teens at the beginning of the revival in 1904. She enlisted to go to India as a missionary in 1908, but was forced to return due to ill health. She died on December 13th, 1967.

As for Al Smith, he was an outstanding gospel song writer and publisher for decades. The present song is found in the hymnal he edited, Living Hymns. For a fuller biography of Smith see Mr. Singspiration.

Get a fellow talking about his favourite sports team and you’ll notice it. Words tumble over one another as he tells you about them, on and on. His boundless enthusiasm reveals an interest in everything that happens to them. Even how he dresses–perhaps in a shirt displaying the team logo–proclaims a close emotional tie.

Another example. I was with friends one time, when a woman’s phone rang. The moment she answered, a significant change took place. A smile lit up her face, and her voice instantly became more intimate and affectionate. Her husband was on the line, and we all could see there was a bond between them, a relationship that was unique and personal.

This also applies to what it means to be a Christian. It’s more than a label, more than a religion, more than membership in a particular church, more than performing certain rituals. Through faith in Christ, the individual has entered into a personal and life-changing relationship with the Lord. As the Bible puts it, “To you who believe, He is precious” (I Pet. 2:7). And Paul’s testimony was, “To me, to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21).

But some have lost their way on that score. Their local church has become a kind of social club, where they meet once a week to chat about one another’s jobs, business interests, how the kids are doing, and so on. The spiritual part of things has become more of a dead formality.

That’s how it was in the latter part of the nineteenth century in many mainline churches. There was an atmosphere of dead formalism, and a rejection of the truths of Scripture and its divine inspiration. As it was in the church at Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-19) the Lord was virtually shut out. But then God intervened in a special way.

In Wales, a pastor stood before a group of young people and asked, “What does Jesus Christ mean to you?” “He’s the hope of the world,” one responded. “But that’s not what I’m asking,” said the pastor. “What does he mean to you?” Finally a girl named Florie Evans spoke up. She’d only been a Christian for three weeks. But with deep fervour and sincerity she said, “I love the Lord Jesus with all of my heart.”

Those simple words stirred the hearts of those present, and God used Florie’s testimony to begin a great spiritual awakening called the Welsh Revival (1904-1905). More than one hundred thousand men and women put their faith in Christ–especially remarkable, as this was a tenth of the population of Wales at the time. And meanwhile an equal number of lukewarm church members were spiritually renewed.

So, was this simply emotionalism or extremism gone wild? Or was it a genuine work of God? It’s possible both were involved. But even if there were excesses, many experienced a genuine ministry of God’s Spirit. Churches were packed for years to come, and whole communities were transformed.

In many towns, there was no longer any crime to deal with. Judges were given white gloves as a symbol they had no cases to try. Police forces, with little to do, formed men’s quartets to minister in church meetings. Many taverns went bankrupt. And down in the coal mines, there was a slow-down. The animals being used to carry out the coal stopped working because the men were no longer lacing their commands with profanity, and the beasts took awhile to understand them.

In 1971 a song was published, by gospel song writer Al Smith. It describes that warm heart relationship with Christ, using the inspiring words of Florie Evans as a refrain.

1) Peace like a river is flooding my soul,
Since Christ, the Saviour, has made my life whole;
Sweet peace abiding my portion shall be–
Jesus, my Saviour, is precious to me.

I love Thee, Lord Jesus, with all of my heart;
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, with all of my heart;
For dying on Calv’ry, for giving me vict’ry,
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, with all of my heart.

If we find ourselves merely going through the motions, with no spiritual vitality and warmth of God’s Spirit, may our prayer be, “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” (Ps. 85:6).

Questions:
1) What will be the evidence in a person’s life that he/she thinks of Christianity merely as religious duties, as church traditions, or as accepting a church creed?

2) What will be the evidence in a person’s life that he/she realizes the Christian faith involves an ongoing personal and loving relationship with the Lord?

Links:
Wordwise Hymns (Al Smith)
The Cyber Hymnal (none)
Hymnary.org (Al Smith)

Break Thou the Bread of Life

Graphic Bob New Glasses 2015HOW TO USE THIS BLOG
1) The Almanac. Click on the month you want in the side-bar, then the specific date. The blog will tell you what happened in hymn history on that day.
2) Reflections. There is always a current article on a hymn. But you can find many others by clicking on the Index tab. (More being added all the time.)
3) Topical Articles are opinion pieces on many aspects sacred music.
4) To Donate. If you can help with the cost of developing and maintaining this site, click on the “Support” tab above and the page will show you how.

Also see 30+ Ideas for Promoting Hymn Singing in your church. As others have contributed ideas, this wonderful resource has grown to over 80 items now. And, for more than three dozen reasons why congregations should still use hymn books rather than merely projecting words on the wall, see The Value of Hymn Books.

Words: Mary Artemisia Lathbury (b. Aug. 10, 1841; d. Oct. 20, 1913)
Music: William Fiske Sherwin (b. Mar. 14, 1826; d. Apr. 14, 1888)

Links:
Wordwise Hymns (for another article see here)
The Cyber Hymnal
Hymnary.org

Note: Miss Lathbury, the daughter of a pastor and sister to two more, was also a professional artist and a poet. One said of her, “She lived in the spiritual world, was in constant communion with heaven [and] had looked into the very face of the invisible God.” She also gave us the hymn Day Is Dying in the West. Mary Lathbury suffered from very poor eyesight, which makes the line in stanza four especially interesting and poignant: “touch my eyes, and make me see.”

Bread is the most widely consumed prepared food in the world, and has been for millennia. It’s portable, practical, and versatile. If made into a sandwich, it can contain meat, cheese, and vegetables, as well as various spreads and condiments.

Regarding the history of the sandwich, British statesman John Montague, the Earl of Sandwich (1718-1792), is credited with the invention. He loved to play cards–particularly cribbage–and during games he wanted to have something to eat that didn’t require a fork, or get his hands messy. So he asked his valet to bring him some meat between two pieces of bread. Others thought this was a great idea, and began ordering “the same as Sandwich.”

In the Bible, the word “bread” is used over three hundred times. Sometimes it is a general term for food, but there are also many references to actual bread. The Egyptians ate bread with every meal, and the baker’s dream in Genesis 40:17 suggests they had “all kinds of baked goods.” A royal document from ancient Egypt describes thirty-eight kinds of cake, and fifty-seven kinds of bread made in Pharaoh’s kitchens.

Mainly wheat and barley were used in Bible times, though sometimes spelt or corn. Ground grain was mixed with water or olive oil. People did not always have fresh yeast (leaven), but a piece of fermented dough from a previous baking could be mixed in if the baker wanted loaves to rise. Loaves of bread have been discovered that are over five thousand years old. (A little stale now, no doubt!)

In the Mosaic Law, leaven was treated as a symbol for sin. Because it involves fermentation (corruption), and because of the way its influence spreads as evil does (cf. Gal. 5:9), the Israelites were commanded to use unleavened bread in almost all ceremonies (e.g. Lev. 6:14-17).

One of the greatest miracles of the Lord Jesus involved fish and bread–the latter being unleavened barley loaves, about the size of small pancakes (Jn. 6:1-13). The Lord also made a personal application of bread, symbolically, applying it to Himself:

“I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (vs. 35).

An important ceremony of the church is likely what Acts refers to when it speaks of the early Christians participating in “the breaking of bread” (Acts 2:42). It’s called variously: the Lord’s Table (I Cor. 10:21); the Communion (fellowship) Service (I Cor. 10:16); the Lord’s Supper (I Cor. 11:20); or the Eucharist, an English form of the Greek word eucharisteo, which means giving thanks (I Cor. 11:24).

So there’s literal bread, and symbolic bread both connected with Christ. He Himself is our source of spiritual food, needed to nurture our souls. And we remember His death with broken bread, which speaks of His bodily suffering on the cross, and wine which symbolizes His shed blood (I Cor. 11:23-26).

Sadly, some in the pagan culture of the early church were either ignorant of the meaning of this ceremony, or purposely spread false rumours. Roman senator Tacitus (AD 54-120) described “sordid and shameful rites,” claiming Christians were actually eating babies at the Lord’s Table!

How different, and how meaningful is the lovely hymn by Mary Lathbury.

CH-1) Break Thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
As Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea;
Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord;
My spirit pants for Thee, O living Word!

CH-2) Thou art the bread of life, O Lord, to me,
Thy holy Word the truth that saveth me;
Give me to eat and live with Thee above;
Teach me to love Thy truth, for Thou art love.

CH-4) O send Thy Spirit, Lord, now unto me,
That He may touch my eyes, and make me see:
Show me the truth concealed within Thy Word,
And in Thy Book revealed I see the Lord.

Questions:
1) What other symbols for the Lord come to mind, in addition to the Bread?

2) What does the line “Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord” mean in terms of our personal Bible study?

Links:
Wordwise Hymns (for another article see here)
The Cyber Hymnal
Hymnary.org

Following Jesus

Graphic Bob New Glasses 2015HOW TO USE THIS BLOG
1) The Almanac. Click on the month you want in the side-bar, then the specific date. The blog will tell you what happened in hymn history on that day.
2) Reflections. There is always a current article on a hymn. But you can find many others by clicking on the Index tab. (More being added all the time.)
3) Topical Articles are opinion pieces on many aspects sacred music.
4) To Donate. If you can help with the cost of developing and maintaining this site, click on the “Support” tab above and the page will show you how.

Also see 30+ Ideas for Promoting Hymn Singing in your church. As others have contributed ideas, this wonderful resource has grown to over 80 items now. And, for more than three dozen reasons why congregations should still use hymn books rather than merely projecting words on the wall, see The Value of Hymn Books.

Words: Leonard W. Weaver (late 19th century)
Music: Mary E. Upham Currier (b. _____; d. Nov. 8, 1909)

Links:
Wordwise Hymn (none)
The Cyber Hymnal
Hymnary.org

Note: In 1904, Englishman Leonard Weaver and an American, Mary (Upham) Currier, combined their gifts to write a gospel song called Following Jesus. Some hymn books have the title as “The Lord Is My Shepherd,” but this would seem too easily confused with other hymns. Nevertheless, it will be seen that this is another of many hymns with allusions to Psalm 23.

Weaver, born in England in the late nineteenth century, provided the words. He became a pastor and evangelist, eventually moving to Grimsby, in southern Ontario (a few miles from where I was born, and lived many years). Mary Currier, composer of the tune, lived in Massachusetts. She was a friend and distant cousin of Fanny Crosby.

The Flat Earth Society was founded on the theories of English writer Samuel Rowbotham (1816–1884). Their idea is that the earth is not a sphere, but a flat disk, with the North Pole at the centre, and the South Pole forming a one hundred and fifty foot wall of ice all around the outside–apparently to keep us from falling off!

The notion defies logic. If this were so, we would all have daylight at the same time, and night at the same time–which we don’t. Further, the flat earthers must reject scientific discovery. Mr. Rowbotham lived in a time before space travel. We now have the ability to view the world from space, and see that it’s round, not flat.

Even so, there are still those who cling to the idea. Adherents are planning a conference in Edmonton, Alberta, not far from us, featuring speakers from “all over the Flat Earth,” and expecting hundreds of people to attend. Quipped someone on their Facebook page, “Will there be a meet and greet? I’d love to get my globe signed.”

Followers of this theory are either deceived by others, or self-deceived. But it’s amazing what some will believe–at times with tragic results. Consider the Peoples Temple, a cult led by Jim Jones (1931-1978). Following him led to death. In their colony in Guyana, South America, on an order from Jones, over nine hundred of them committed suicide (a third of these children), by drinking Kool-Aid laced with cyanide. Jim Jones was later found dead of a gunshot wound, another apparent suicide. Following a leader requires a decision that may be life-changing, or even deadly.

In the Bible, all the way from Genesis (Gen. 24:5, 61) to Revelation (Rev. 14:13; 19:14), some form of the word “follow” is used nearly three hundred times. In the Gospels alone it’s found more than eighty times, sometimes as direct command from the Lord Jesus Christ.

“He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ They immediately left their nets and followed Him” (Matt. 4:19-20).

In fact, “Great multitudes followed Him” (Matt. 4:25), but not always for the right reasons. Some did so because they were amazed and entertained by His miracles. Others because they were hoping Jesus would become a revolutionary leader to free them from Roman tyranny. Christ recognized that not all had put their faith in Him (Jn. 6:64). And following Him was going to be costly.

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matt. 16:24).

Perhaps at that challenge to self sacrifice, there came a day when, “many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (Jn. 6:66). Would the twelve do the same, He asked.

“Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’” (Jn. 6:68-69).

The Lord Jesus compared true discipleship to sheep following a shepherd. The animals were dependent on him for their food, and their protection. They needed to stay close to the shepherd. And Jesus said the shepherd “goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice” (Jn. 10:4). And He declared, “I am the Good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own (vs. 14).

CH-1) I have a Shepherd, one I love so well;
How He has blessed me tongue can never tell;
On the cross He suffered, shed His blood, and died,
That I might ever in His love confide.

Following Jesus ever day by day,
Nothing can harm me when He leads the way;
Sunshine or shadow, whate’er befall,
Jesus my Shepherd is my All in All.

CH-2) Pastures abundant doth His hand provide,
Still waters flowing ever at my side;
Goodness and mercy follow on my track;
With such a Shepherd nothing can I lack.

CH-4) When the work is over and the journey done,
Then He will lead me safely to my home;
There I shall dwell in rapture pure and sweet,
And with the loved ones gather at His feet.

Questions:
1) What are the different aspects of the Lord’s shepherd care that particularly bless and encourage you?

2) What other hymns do you know that take up this theme?

Links:
Wordwise Hymn (none)
The Cyber Hymnal
Hymnary.org

And Can It Be?

Graphic Bob New Glasses 2015HOW TO USE THIS BLOG
1) The Almanac. Click on the month you want in the side-bar, then the specific date. The blog will tell you what happened in hymn history on that day.
2) Reflections. There is always a current article on a hymn. But you can find many others by clicking on the Index tab. (More being added all the time.)
3) Topical Articles are opinion pieces on many aspects sacred music.
4) To Donate. If you can help with the cost of developing and maintaining this site, click on the “Support” tab above and the page will show you how.

Also see 30+ Ideas for Promoting Hymn Singing in your church. As others have contributed ideas, this wonderful resource has grown to over 80 items now. And, for more than three dozen reasons why congregations should still use hymn books rather than merely projecting words on the wall, see The Value of Hymn Books.

Words: Charles Wesley (b. Dec. 18, 1707; d. Mar. 29, 1788)
Music: Sagina, by Thomas Campbell (b. July 27, 1777; d. June 15, 1844)

Links:
Wordwise Hymns (for another article see here)
The Cyber Hymnal
Hymnary.org

Note: Silas H. Paine, in his 1926 book Stories of the Great Hymns of the Church, says, “The conversion of Charles Wesley marks an epoch in the religious history of the world as remarkable as that which dates from the conversion of Saul of Tarsus [i.e. the Apostle Paul].”

I would not go nearly that far. Paul was not only a great theologian and missionary, but God revealed through him much of the New Testament Scriptures. However, in terms of their work in Britain, John and his brother Charles were used of God to transform eighteenth century society in a significant way. They also founded the Methodist denomination, that has since ministered worldwide. In no small way, their impact is due to the many fine hymns Charles has given us.

There are many wonderful things to be seen in the world of nature, from the jagged arrow of a lightning bolt, to the tiny twinkling light of a firefly, and from the mysterious grandeur of the northern lights, to the intricate marvel of a spider’s web.

When we lived in Ontario, years ago, my wife and I visited Niagara Falls many times. On a couple of occasions we took the opportunity to climb down under the falls–slickers and rubber boots provided for everyone by the park authority. There you can stand with your back to the rocky cliff and experience the thundering, earthshaking power of tons of water cascading a few feet in front of you. It’s an unforgettable reminder of the awesome power of God.

The Bible says God “does…wonders without number” (Job 9:10). And surpassing all natural wonders is His great salvation, rescuing us from eternal condemnation, through the Calvary work of Christ. It gave us a magnificent hymn by Charles Wesley. He trusted Christ as his Saviour on May 21st, 1728, and right after wrote two hymns of personal testimony.

One of these says, “Where shall my wondering soul begin?” The other song, more widely known, is And Can It Be? Yet, though he rejoiced in what God had done for him, Wesley began to worry whether writing about it involved sinful boasting on his part. He wrote in his journal:

“At nine I began a hymn on my conversion, but was persuaded to break off for fear of pride. Mr. Bray coming, encouraged me to proceed in spite of Satan. I prayed Christ to stand by me and finished the hymn….I clearly discerned that it was a device of the enemy to keep back glory from God. And it is not unusual with him [i.e. the devil] to preach humility, when [our] speaking will endanger his kingdom, or do honour to Christ.”

The hymn shows the author’s wonderment at what the Lord had done, expressed by several questions in the opening stanza.

CH-1) And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Saviour’s blood?

And why this is such a puzzle to the author comes out in other questions:

Died He for me, who caused His pain–
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Wesley had grasped a couple of essential facts.

1) First, that Christ died to take upon Himself the punishment for human sin, including that of the author. That’s the repeated testimony of the Scriptures. Isaiah prophesied of Him, seven centuries before His coming: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6).

The New Testament takes up the theme. The Lord Jesus Himself said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28). And in the epistles we have, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (I Cor. 15:3). “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree….For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, (I Pet. 2:24; 3:18).

2) The second fact realized by Charles Wesley was that, in a very real sense, it was he who drove the nails into the Saviour’s hands and feet. It was he (along with others) who were responsible. Isaiah hints at the paradox when he says, “He was wounded [by us sinners] for our transgressions, He was bruised [by us] for our iniquities” (Isa. 53:5, added phrases mine). God turned our rejection of Christ into the means of saving us! Amazing! “Surely the wrath of men shall praise You” (Ps. 76:10).

One commentator calls this hymn “an extraordinary and daring tour-de-force, both poetically and theologically.” The life-changing power of Wesley’s wondering faith is seen in the final stanzas. (Note: There is a fifth stanza–which you can see on the Cyber Hymnal link–not commonly used today.)

CH-4) Long my imprisoned 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, went forth, and followed Thee.

CH-6) 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.

Questions:
1) Is it true that sometimes personal testimonies about what God has done for us can become self-glorifying?

2) How can this be avoided?

Links:
Wordwise Hymns (for another article see here)
The Cyber Hymnal
Hymnary.org

Come, Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs

Graphic Bob New Glasses 2015HOW TO USE THIS BLOG
1) The Almanac. Click on the month you want in the side-bar, then the specific date. The blog will tell you what happened in hymn history on that day.
2) Reflections. There is always a current article on a hymn. But you can find many others by clicking on the Index tab. (More being added all the time.)
3) Topical Articles are opinion pieces on many aspects sacred music.
4) To Donate. If you can help with the cost of developing and maintaining this site, click on the “Support” tab above and the page will show you how.

Also see 30+ Ideas for Promoting Hymn Singing in your church. As others have contributed ideas, this wonderful resource has grown to over 80 items now. And, for more than three dozen reasons why congregations should still use hymn books rather than merely projecting words on the wall, see The Value of Hymn Books.

Words: Isaac Watts (b. July 17, 1674; d. Nov. 25, 1748)
Music: Gräfenberg, by Johann Crüger (b. Apr. 9, 1598; d. Feb. 23, 1662)

Links:
Wordwise Hymns (Isaac Watts)
The Cyber Hymnal
Hymnary.org

Note: Isaac Watts has been justly called the Father of English Hymnody. In a day when the church he attended sang only the Psalms, he argued that they were missing a great deal of important New Testament truth. When the church agreed to try some new songs, he proceeded to write them, around six hundred of them, before he was done. Some we still sing, centuries later.

There are things we choose to do for fun, and others we do because they’re necessary. We may listen to music because we enjoy it. But when it comes to eating our food, we need to do that to live. Whether it’s enjoyable or not is another matter.

There are certainly exceptions, but to some extent we have a responsibility for our attitudes–enjoyment, or otherwise. We can respond to the challenges of life with misery or mirth, grumbling or gratitude. Many times when something is painful or difficult, we may be able to look beyond it and find pleasure in the end result. Surgery provides an example. Not pleasant in itself, but with the potential of benefits up ahead.

The early Christians looked at persecution in a positive way. When they were arrested and beaten for preaching the gospel (Acts 5:40), “they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His [Jesus’] name” (vs. 41). And when the Apostle Paul was put in prison, he saw a opportunity to tell his guards about Christ, and realized his courage in prison  spurred other believers to new boldness in their witness (Phil. 1:12-14).

The Lord Jesus Himself provides a profound example. He was arrested, and falsely charged, beaten, and finally crucified–a horrific form of punishment. But the Bible says, He “for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising [scorning] the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2). He had joy in paying our debt of sin, and “in bringing many sons to glory” (Heb. 2:10).

The Bible speaks of cheerfulness, and it’s an interesting word. Centuries ago, it came from a word for the human face. Then it grew to mean the emotions and inner attitudes that often show themselves in our faces. “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance” (Prov. 15:13).

We commonly think of a cheerful person as one who is happy or joyful. But there’s another element to it. The word can also carry the sense of ungrudging, enthusiastic, and prompt. For instance, when the Bible says, “God loves a cheerful giver” (II Cor. 9:7), it means we support the Lord’s work with our gifts, not only joyfully, but promptly, and without grudging.

This is surely to be our attitude when we sing songs of praise to God. It’s a cheerful task we ought to do joyfully, and promptly, without grudging.

David wrote, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him” (Ps. 28:7).

And Puritan Thomas Watson (1620-1686) said, “Cheerfulness…puts the heart in tune to praise God, and so honours religion by proclaiming to the world that we serve a good Master.”

Pastor and hymn writer Isaac Watts would certainly agree. His song, Come, Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs, published in 1707, captures something of the atmosphere of joyful praise that surrounds the throne of God, as described in Revelation.

“You [Christ] were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation….Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honour and glory and blessing!” (Rev. 5:9, 12).

Watts’ hymn says:

CH-1) Come, let us join our cheerful songs
With angels round the throne.
Ten thousand thousand are their tongues,
But all their joys are one.

CH-2) “Worthy the Lamb that died,” they cry,
“To be exalted thus!”
“Worthy the Lamb,” our hearts reply,
“For He was slain for us!”

CH-3) Jesus is worthy to receive
Honour and power divine;
And blessings more than we can give,
Be, Lord, forever Thine.

CH-5) The whole creation join in one,
To bless the sacred name
Of Him who sits upon the throne,
And to adore the Lamb.

Questions:
1) Can you list three wonderfully “cheerful” (joyful) hymns?

2) Can a believer be cheerful, yet sensitive to, and in tune with, those going through trials? (How can these be expressed together?)

Links:
Wordwise Hymns (Isaac Watts)
The Cyber Hymnal
Hymnary.org