Archive | October 2009

Hymn #2: Amazing Grace

Oct24

Lyrics: John Newton

Music: Unknown

Theme:

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. [Ephesians 2:4-9, NIV]

Everyone knows the story of John Newton, the slave trader who experienced God’s amazing grace, left his slaving and his own slavery to sin, and became a pastor and the author of this most amazing of hymns. However, this video featuring Wintley Phipps at Carnegie tells what is perhaps The Rest of the Story: (If not, it should be!)

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.

Most versions include an additional verse, not written by John Newton:
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

This verse probably became known with Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, in which Uncle Tom sings these lyrics.

This is the (Chris Tomlin) version we usually sing in my church these days:

And here’s ye olde bagpipe version:

AMAZING GRACE the song and the story of it…

John Newton’s Epitaph

The epitaph on John Newton’s gravestone says:

JOHN NEWTON, Clerk [preacher]
Once an infidel and libertine
A servant of slaves in Africa,
Was, by the rich mercy
of our Lord and Saviour
JESUS CHRIST,
restored, pardoned and
appointed to preach
the Gospel which he had
long laboured to destroy.
He ministered,
Near sixteen years in Olney, in Bucks,
And twenty eight years in this Church.

By the way, I fully expected this hymn to be number one on the list, but the point spread between this one and the one that did win the most points was significant. Anyone want to guess what the most loved hymn in my survey was before I reveal it tomorrow?

Poetry Friday: Casey at the Bat by Ernest Thayer

Oct23

Karate Kid (age 12) is a baseball fan, and this week he’s been reading one of the Cybils nominees in the Middle Grade Fiction category: The Brooklyn Nine: A Novel in Nine Innings by Alan Gratz. When he’s finished, we’ll attempt a joint review. In the meantime, he’s also memorizing the classic baseball poem, Casey at the Bat by Ernest Thayer. Again, when Karate Kid gets it memorized, maybe I’ll try to post a sound file of his rendition here. The ones below are from youtube, one a straight version and the second the Disney cartoon, with many additions and amendments.

Semicolon Review of Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

Oct21

Reprint from May, 2005:

Peace Like a River tells the story of the Land family, father Jeremiah, two sons, Davy and Reuben, and a daughter, Swede. The children’s mother walked out on them long before the time of the novel. Reuben, eleven years old, tells the story. Davy is sixteen when the story starts, and Reuben looks up to his older brother even though the two of them are very different. The central salient fact of Reuben’s life is his asthma; Davy is the epitome of the strong older brother.

“Davy wanted life to be something you did on your own; the whole idea of a protective, fatherly God annoyed him. I would understand this better in years to come, but never subscribe to it, for I was weak and knew it. I hadn’t the strength or the instincts of my immigrant forbears. The weak must bank on mercy–without which, after all, I wouldn’t have lasted fifteen minutes.”

Of course, this statement of Reuben’s is reminiscent of Jesus’ saying to the Pharisees: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17) Not that Davy is a Pharisee; he’s more like a lost sheep, an exile, by his own choice, from grace. Reuben, because of his asthma, knows that it is only by the grace of God, by a miracle, that he is able to breathe in and out. When crisis comes to the Land family, it is Reuben who survives and lives a healthy life, and Davy who is lost.

The language in this novel is beautiful. The author, Leif Enger, worked for many years as a reporter and a producer for Minnesota Public Radio, and the poetic, yet sparkling clear, language in this his first novel is obviously the work of a fine craftsman of words. Examples:

“No grudge ever had a better nurse.”

“Since that fearful night, Dad had responded with an almost impossible work of belief. . . . He had laid up prayer as with a trowel. You know this is true, and if you don’t it is I the witness who am to blame.”

“Listening to Dad’s guitar, halting yet lovely in the search for phrasing, I thought: Fair is whatever God wants to do.”

This last quote gives one of the central themes of the book. God is. He has compassion on the weak, on those who know their need of Him. But He doesn’t always work in the way we want, doesn’t make the story turn out the way we want it to end, doesn’t always give us the miracle. Toward the end of Peace Like a River there’s a wonderfully written chapter in which the narrator describes heaven. The chapter seems to owe something to C.S. Lewis, but it’s as good an imaginative description as Lewis ever wrote himself. Finally, at the very end of the novel, Rueben tells the reader:

“I breathe deeply, and certainty enters into me like light, like a piece of science, and curious music seems to hum inside my fingers.
Is there a single person on whom I can press belief?
No sir.
All I can do is say, Here’s how it went. Here’s what I saw.
I’ve been there and am going back.
Make of it what you will.”

Rueben is a witness as all Christians are. May I be as strong a witness in my weakness to God’s grace and mercy.

Hymn #3: It Is Well With My Soul

Oct21

Lyrics: Horatio Spafford, 1873.

Music: VILLE DU HAVRE by Philip Bliss, 1876.

Theme: And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we[b] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:2b-4.

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:17-18.

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:10-11.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. I Peter 4:12-13.

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Almost everyone knows the general outline of the story behind this well-loved hymn: In 1871, Horatio Spafford’s only son died. Also in October of that year The Great Chicago Fire ruined Spafford financially. In 1873, he sent his family, wife Anna and four daughters, on a ship to Europe; Spafford was to follow as soon as he had wound up some business affairs. The ship carrying Spafford’s family collided with another ship and sank. All four of the Spafford daughters drowned; only Anna survived. She sent a telegram to her husband with only two words: “Saved alone.” As Mr. Spafford passed over the Atlantic near the place where his daughters died, he was inspired to write the words of this hymn.

In 1881, the Spaffords, including two new baby girls, moved to Palestine and helped start a communal mission called The American Colony with the mission of serving the poor. The colony later became the subject of the Nobel prize winning Jerusalem, by Swedish novelist Selma Lagerlöf. Leif Enger also named his novel Peace Like a River from the lyrics to this hymn.

Wednesday’s Whatever: I Like Lists

Oct21

Especially book lists:
Time’s Top 10 Literary Hoaxes. This list is interesting, but it’s really the Top Ten Mostly Recent Literary Hoaxes. I’ve written about a couple of others that were perpetrated in the past:
Leonainie: The Poet Poe in Kokomo
Chatterton, the Wonderful Whelp.

C. Michael Patton’s Top Fifteen Must Have Books on Apologetics.

In light of today’s hymn (tba), Randy Alcorn’s bibliography of books about suffering and the Christian.

Also related to hymns, here’s a list of some of the hymnbooks that I have in my collection:

The Cokesbury Hymnal, For General Use in Religious Meetings, Printed in Round and Shaped Notes With Orchestration. Music Editor: Harold Hart Todd. Nashville, Tennessee: Cokesbury Press, 1923.

The Cokesbury Worship Hymnal. General Editor: C.A. Bowen. New York/Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1938.

All-American Church Hymnal. An inspiring Book of Hymns and contemporary Songs, practical and resourceful for use in all phases of religious services for Churches, Tabernacles, Sunday Schools, and Homes. Compiled by Earl Smith and John T. Benson. Nashville, Tennessee: John T. Benson Publishing, n.d.

Triumphant Service Songs. No publisher, no date. This one seems to have been published by the Homer Rodeheaver Company.

The Broadman Hymnal, Great Standard Hymns and Choice Gospel Songs New and Old, for Use in all Religious Services, such as the Worship Hour, Sunday School, Young People’s Meetings, Assemblies, and Evangelistic Services. Music Editor: B.B. McKinney. Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman Press, 1940. These were the “old hymnals” that we used at our church when I was growing up, banished to the Sunday School rooms upstairs, but not good (new) enough for the main worship auditorium.

Voices of Praise, A Collection of Standard Hymns and Gospel Songs Published for Use in the Worship Hour, Sunday Schools, Young People’s Meetings, Evangelistic Services, and all Christian Work and Worship. Editor and Compiler: BB. McKinney. Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman Press, 1947.

Worldwide Church Songs. Compiled by The Stamps Quartets. Dallas, Texas: Stamps Quartet Music Company, Inc., 1947.

Church Service Hymns, a superior collection of Hymns and Gospel Songs for every department of church work. Compiled by Homer Rodeheaver and George W. Sanville. Music Editor: B.D. Ackley. Winona Lake, Indiana: The Rodeheaver Hall-Mack Co., 1948.

Baptist Hymnal. Edited by Walter Hines Sims. Nashville, Tennessee: Convention Press, 1956. I was born in 1957 and grew up singing from this particular edition of the Baptist Hymnal.

Worship and Service Hymnal, For Church, School, and Home. Chicago: Hope Publishing Company, 1957.

Baptist Hymnal. Nashville, Tennessee: Convention Press, 1975. I remember when this Baptist Hymnal replaced the old 1956 edition. We thought we were really up to date, contemporary.

The Hymnal 1982, according to the use of the Episcopal Church. New York: Church Hymnal Corporation, 1982.

The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration. Senior Editor: Tom Fettke. Waco, Texas: Word Music, 1986.

The Baptist Hymnal. Nashville, Tennessee: Convention Press, 1991. I wonder if my old home church in West Texas uses this hymnal now or if they simply project the lyrics on a screen as we do in my current (not Baptist) church?

I really like hymnbooks.

Hymn #4: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

Oct20

Lyrics: Martin Luther, translated to English by Frederick H. Hedge.

Music: EIN FESTE BURG by Martin Luther.

Theme: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.
Psalm 46:1-3

Martin Luther: ‘If any man despises music, as all fanatics do, for him I have no liking; for music is a gift and grace of God, not an invention of men. Thus it drives out the devil and makes people cheerful. Then, one forgets all wrath, impurity, and other devices.”

This video features Mahalia Jackson singing this hymn as it should be sung: slow, stately, full-toned, and powerful.

Fun facts and links related to A MIghty Fortress is Our God:

Luther played the lute and paid his school fees through the money he earned singing in the streets of Eisenach. He later said, “The one who sings, prays double.”

When discouraged, Luther is said to have turned to his friend and co-worker Philip Melancthon and said, “Let us sing the 46th Psalm.” A Mighty Fortress is, of course, a paraphrase of Psalm 46.

Go here to read an alternate English translation of this hymn: A Safe Stronghold Our God Is Still by Thomas Carlyle.

And here’s yet another translation: God Is a Stronghold and a Tower by Elizabeth Wordsworth, 1891.

A Mighty Fortress was sung at the funeral of President Dwight D. Eisenhower at the National Cathedral in Washington DC, March, 1969. And it was also included in the National Service of Prayer and Remembrance, held shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks against America.

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

Sources:
Center for Church Music.
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God: Hymns as Poetry.

Texas Tuesday: Luke and the Van Zandt County War by Judith MacBain Alter

Oct20

From Canton, Texas: History:

According to the History of Van Zandt County by W.S. Mills, M.N. Crestman of Dallas claimed that in 1867, following the contest of ballots, which sent Texas back into the Union, a convention was held in Van Zandt County where it was declared by the citizens that their county be a free and independent state, free and independent of the State of Texas, Southern Confederacy and the United States of America, and put themselves in a position to fight for their liberty. General Sheridan heard of the “rebellion” and sent a troop of cavalry to quell the right. The men of the Free State used the woods in Van Zandt County to “pot-shot” on the Yankee soldiers to the extent they faded away. Following their victory, the men proceeded to celebrate. In the height of their celebration, Sheridan’s troops came riding from every point and captured the entire army of the Free State. Each prisoner received a pair of anklets safely locked on him. W.A. Allen and Hardy Allen, ex-confederate soldiers) were among the prisoners. W.A. Allen used a knife hidden in his boot to file down the anklets to a point where they could be broken. Once the rainy season came, the posts of the prison could be pushed upon and lifted out and the men escaped.

Luke and the Van Zandt County War tells the story of this historical incident through the eyes of fourteen year old Theo, the doctor’s daughter, and her foster brother of the same age, Luke. The story moves a little too slowly some of the time, and it leaves a few unanswered questions. Why is Theo’s father so uncomfortable relating to Theo and so readily available to Luke, a deserted child who talks his way into the doctor’s household? Why does Dr. Burford decide to become a pacifist? Why does he think the federal government will protect the citizens of Van Zandt County form the Ku Klux Klan when the governmnt does nothing about the lynching that takes place in the first half of the story?

Still, even with the sometimes slow pace and the questions, this novel is thought-provoking and worth reading, especially for Texas history students and fans. The author paints a portrait of one family and how and why they left their home in Mississippi to come to Texas after the CIvil War. the story includes appearances by the Klan, General Sheridan’s military government, and a few independent Texans trying to figure out how to live in changing times. Reconstruction was not an easy time to live, and the people of Van Zandt County deal with the difficulties in in different ways, according to their own philosophies and impulses. Over the course of the novel, Luke, in particular, sees some reason in the arguments of the secessionists as well as the the pacifist, law-abiding case that the doctor makes for staying out of the fray. This novel could be a springboard for discussion of secessionist movements in general and for examination of the independent tradition that is a part of Texan culture.

Theo is an interesting character in that although she hates housework and cooking, she accepts that since her mother is dead and there are no servants, she is the one who must do all the work of keeping house. Her father, who is not only disinclined to fight but also seems to be an indulgent father, still expects Theo to learn to cook and clean. He is patient with her fumbling attempts, but no one in the story even considers any other arrangement. Probably, this stereotypical female role is typical of the times, but it would be interesting to hear what young people nowadays have to say about this aspect of the novel.

Luke is the conflicted character. He admires the doctor, but he also remembers what his own father, who deserted him, taught him about standing up for his rights and fighting to protect himself and his neighbors. Luke’s decisions in the novel are influenced by the voice of his absent father, until he finally makes a decision that reflects the things that he has learned from the doctor since his father’s abandonment.

Again, this novel could provoke a great discussion in a middle school Texas history class, or even in American history when studying the Reconstruction era.

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Hymn #5: Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Oct19

Lyrics: Thomas Chisholm, 1923.

Music: William M. Runyan.

Theme: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23.

Thomas Obadiah Chisholm was an ordinary man; he sometimes described himself as “an old shoe.” He was, at various times in his life, a country schoolteacher, editor of a small newspaper, a pastor who had to leave the pastorate because of ill health, and a life insurance agent. He wrote over 1200 poems and sent some of the them to WIlliam Runyan, a musician associated with Moody Bible Institute. Runyan took the poem Great Is thy Faithfulness and set it to music that he thought would bring out its theme of the faithfulness of a God whose mercies are new every morning. At age 75, Mr. Chisholm wrote these words in a letter:

“My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now. Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness.”

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Sources:
Worship Matters: A Hymn for Ordinary Christians.
BIble.org Sermon on God’s Faithfulness
Suite 101: Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Middle School Sit-Com Novels

Oct19

When Engineer Husband lets them, my daughters like to watch Satuday morning sit-coms featuring Hannah Montana and other clones and sidekicks (Josh Drake?) getting themselves in and out of middle school/high school escapades and dramas. I can picture each of the following novels as a Saturday morning sit com with various ideas and characters to explore.

Models Don’t Eat Chocolate Cookies by Erin Dionne. Twelve year old Celeste Harris might be interested in becoming a model were it not for one BIG problem. Her body type and weight actually qualify her to try out for Miss Husky Peach, a job which would make her a model–for plus-sized clothing. When her aunt enters Celeste in the contest, thinking she’s doing her niece a great favor, Celeste is trapped. She doesn’t want to disappoint her mom or her aunt, but becoming Miss Husky Peach would make her life at school even more miserable than it already is. I can so see a made-for-TV movie or even a series built around the premise of the Miss Husky Peach Pageant. Celeste and her fellow plus-sized contestants would be great characters for a script-writer to explore and write about. In the book, Celeste ends up losing some weight and also becoming more comfortable with her body type. I thought the book’s treatment of girls with weight problems was balanced and realistic.

So Sit-Com #1: Miss Husky Peach.

The Kind of Friends We Used to Be by Frances O’Roark Dowell. Next on the Saturday morning line-up is Ms. Dowell’s books about surviving seventh grade. It has a sort of “make new friends, but keep the old” theme; in fact, that could be the theme song if someone would update it and put it to a rock beat. Kate and Marylin have been best friends practically all their lives, but now they’re moving in different directions. Marylin has joined the cheerleader squad, and Kate wants to wear black combat boots and become a girl guitar player on MTV2. Over the course of the novel, Kate and Marylin try to maintain their friendship, but they also make new friends, each of which could easily become a fully developed character inhis or her own right. That multiplicity of interesting characters makes The Kind of Friends We Used To Be intriguing as fodder for a TV series. Each week could feature a different character from Kate’s and Marylin’s school, such as:
Rhetta Mayes, the Goth artist preacher’s kid.
Flannery, the girl whose dad, Hawaii Bob, promised her a guitar but forgot to come home to give it to her.
Matthew Holler, the poet who likes arrowheads and bird feathers and interesting-shaped sticks.
Madison LaCarte, the novelist who needs to put a little more story in her stories.
Benjamin Huddle, the geeky but cute Student Government President.

I can see the episodes involving each of these minor characters being expanded into a thirty minute sit-com with interesting problems and a satisfying resolution at the end.

Sit-Com #2: Friends, or possibly Kate and Marylin (because the book tItle is too long).

My Life in Pink and Green by Lisa Greenwald. Twelve year old Lucy Desberg tries to save her family’s drugstore and pharmacy with a series of ideas and projects, some good, others not so inspired. Lucy’s mom is comic relief, a ditzy optimist who takes on a series of causes and is convinced that she can save the world, or at least save the local dog park from being turned into a parking lot. Lucy’s grandma is the more practical type, worried about their family’s financially struggling pharmacy business. Another recurring character in this one would be Lucy’s best friend, Sunita, and one episode could be about Lucy’s attempts to help Sunita “get her man” when Sunita develops her first crush on fellow seventh grader Evan Mass. Lucy’s also a budding make-up artist, and she has several opportunities to help older girls learn to apply the make-up that they buy from the family drugstore. Each chapter of the book begins with either a beauty tip or a business tip, and the TV series could follow suit and begin in the same way.

TV series #3: My Life in Pink and Green.

The best possibility of the three? The Kind of Friends We Used to Be. However, maybe you could take all three books, extract the best characters and scenes from each one, and sort of mish-mosh them all together. Lots of twelve and thirteen year olds with twelve and thirteen year old problems relate to one another and resolve their issues in a half an hour on Saturday morning. I like the title My LIfe in Pink and Green.

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