Hymn #55: My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less

Jul23

Lyrics: Edward Mote, 1834.
Alternate Title: On Christ the Solid Rock

Music: SOLID ROCK by William Bradbury, 1863. the vocalists are a group of homeschooled sisters called The Cadet Sisters:

Or MELITA by John Dykes. Here it is sung by Deborah Liv Johnson:

Theme: For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
I Corinthians 3:11

Read here for the story of Edward Mote’s writing the hymn’s lyrics.

LifeSpring Hymn Stories: The Solid Rock.

1. My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

2. When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

3. His oath, His covenant, and blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When every earthly prop gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

The Snow Goose by Paul Gallico

Jul21

I’ve seen two movies based on books written by Paul Gallico: Mrs ‘Arris Goes to Paris starring Angela Lansbury, Omar Sharif and Diana Rigg and the blockbuster 1972 movie The Poseidon Adventure starring Shelley Winters, Gene Hackman, Red Buttons, Stella Stevens, Carol Lynley, Ernest Borgnine, and Jack Albertson. However, I’ve never read anything by Mr. Gallico until now.

Paul Gallico was a movie critic, then a very successful sports writer, but he wanted to write fiction. He wrote short stories for various magazines, got a $5000 check for one story, and promptly retired from sports-writing to write fiction. His first and most successful novel(?) was The Snow Goose. Not really a novel or even a novella, the book clocks in at 58 small, widely spaced pages, and I would call it a short story. It was first published in The Saturday Evening Post in 1940, and The Snow Goose was one of the O. Henry prize winners in 1941.

The story itself is set on the Essex coast of England, beginning in “the late spring of 1930” and ending approximately ten years later. The main action of the story takes place in and around the evacuation of Dunkirk by the British near the beginning of World War II. It’s a romantic, and sad story about an artist, his young friend and protege, and a Canada snow goose that makes its way somehow to the Essex coast and becomes a symbol of hope for survivors of the debacle and rescue that was Dunkirk.

I would think that as a gentle introduction to World War II literature, The Snow Goose would be a winner among high school students. Other books and movies featuring the evacuation of Dunkirk:

Books:
The Miracle of Dunkirk by Walter Lord. Nonfiction.

Dunkirk: The Complete Story of the First Step in the Defeat of Hitler by Norman Gelb. More nonfiction.

Dunkirk: The Men They Left Behind by Sean Longden. Times Online review/

On Rough Seas by Nancy L. Hull. Young adult fiction. Fourteen year old Alex lives in Dover, England in 1939, and he is eventually a hero as he participates in the rescue of the British soldiers at Dunkirk.

The Little Ships: the heroic rescue at Dunkirk in World War II by Louise Borden. Picture book. “A young English girl and her father take their sturdy fishing boat and join the scores of other civilian vessels crossing the English Channel in a daring attempt to rescue Allied and British troops trapped by Nazi soldiers at Dunkirk.”

Dunkirk Crescendo by Brock and Bodie Thoene. Rather melodramatic, fast-paced Christian fiction by a pair of prolific writers in the genre of historical fiction. This book is Book #9 of the Zion Covenant series published by Tyndale House.

Atonement by Ian McEwan features Dunkirk in the second half of the story. Semicolon review here.

Movies:
Dunkirk (1958) “Documentary-style film which tells two sides of the evacuation of more than 350,000 troops from Dunkirk beaches in 1940. A British corporal (John Mills) finds himself responsible for getting his men back to Britain from the Dunkirk beaches, after their officer is killed and they are separated from the main allied forces. Meanwhile, a civilian reporter (Bernard Lee) follows the build-up to the eventual evacuation of British and French troops from the beaches of Dunkirk.”

Mrs. Miniver (1942) “Mrs. Miniver nobly tends her rose garden while her stalwart husband participates in the evacuation at Dunkirk. She personifies grace under pressure as the Miniver family huddles in their bomb shelter during a Luftwaffe attack, while she is forced to confront a downed Nazi paratrooper in her kitchen, and while she is preparing for her annual flower show despite the exigencies of bombing raids.” I saw Mrs. Miniver about a year ago, and I thought it was delightful. If you like The Snow Goose and its somewhat sentimental picture of a world at war, you’ll enjoy Mrs. Miniver, too.

The Snow Goose itself was made into a 1971 film starring Richard Harris and Jenny Agutter. I’ve not seen the movie; have any of you?

Nicely maintained website for fans of Paul Gallico and his books.

Hymn #56: Praise, My Soul, The King of Heaven

Jul20

Lyrics: Henry Francis Lyte, 1834.

Music: LAUDA ANIMA by John Goss, 1869. Eric Wyse, editor of the Christian Life Hymnal, specified this tune when he included Praise My Soul in his list of ten favorite hymns.
Hymntime has several alternate tunes.
Christopher Miner also has a tune for this hymn, but I don’t like it as much as I do some of his other compositions.
In fact, despite this plethora of tunes and the preference among most sites and individuals for LAUDA ANIMA, I have only one tune in my head for this hymn. It’s the only tune I know for it: LAUDA ANIMA (ANDREWS) by Mark Andrews. It took me forever to find the “right” tune, probably because it’s called by almost the same name as the older, more familiar (to some) one.

Theme:

Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.
Psalm 103:21-22
Robert Cottrill: “Two or three of his hymns are found in many hymn books: Abide with Me; Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken; and Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven. The latter, published in 1834, is based on Psalm 103.”

Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven;
To His feet thy tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore His praises sing:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King.

Praise Him for His grace and favor
To our fathers in distress.
Praise Him still the same as ever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Glorious in His faithfulness.

Fatherlike He tends and spares us;
Well our feeble frame He knows.
In His hands He gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Widely yet His mercy flows.

Frail as summer’s flower we flourish,
Blows the wind and it is gone;
But while mortals rise and perish
Our God lives unchanging on,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise the High Eternal One!

Angels in the heights adore Him;
Ye behold Him face to face;
Sun and moon, bow down before Him,
Dwellers all in time and space.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace.

Queen Elizabeth II chose this hymn to be sung as the processional at her wedding. Interestingly, the wedding took place on November 20, 1947, exactly one hundred years after the death of Henry Francis Lyte.

I like this artwork by Diana Wolverton based on this hymn.

Sources:
Center for Church Music: Songs and Hymns.
Hymn Studies: Praise My Soul the King of Heaven.

Public School Hoops

Jul20

I’m talking about the hoops you have to jump through. The public high school that Brown Bear Daughter will be attending in the fall just called, and they want only four things:

1. A copy of her birth certificate.
2. A copy of her Social Security card.
3. Her immunization record.
4. Proof of residency.

Bad, disorganized mother that I am, can you guess which of those things I can actually produce on demand? Well, I do have two of them and half of another. I hope I don’t have as much trouble getting her a Social Security card as I did my oldest son. We practically had to pass an act through Congress to get him a Social Security card a few years ago, soon after 9/11.

Anybody know what hoops I have to jump through to get a Social Security card these days? We’ve always homeschooled, and now I feel as if I’m committing Brown Bear Daughter to an institution; wait, I guess I am.

Hymn #57: Jesus Lover of My Soul

Jul19

Lyrics: Charles Wesley

Music: ABERYSTWITH by Joseph Parry.
MARTYN by Simeon Butler Marsh.
HOLLINGSIDE
by John Bacchus Dykes.
Greg Thompson at Indelible Grace/RUF has a new tune setting.

Theme: The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him. Nahum 1:7

Henry Ward Beecher: “I would rather have written that hymn of Wesley’s than to have the fame of all kings that ever sat on earth; it is more glorious, it has more power in it. I would rather be the author of that hymn than to hold the wealth of the richest man in New York. He will die after a little while, pass out of men’s thoughts, what will there be to speak of him? But people will go on singing that hymn until the last trump brings forth the angel band; and then I think it will mount upon some lips to the very presence of God.”

1. Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to thy bosom fly,
while the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;
safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last.

2. Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on thee;
leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed, all my help from thee I bring;
cover my defenseless head with the shadow of thy wing.

3. Wilt Thou not regard my call? Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall! Lo! on Thee I cast my care!
Reach me out Thy gracious hand while I of Thy strength receive;
Hoping against hope I stand, dying, and behold I live!

4. Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in thee I find;
raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is thy name, I am all unrighteousness;
false and full of sin I am; thou art full of truth and grace.

5. Plenteous grace with thee is found, grace to cover all my sin;
let the healing streams abound, make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of thee;
spring thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity.

When Charles first presented the lyrics of Jesus, Lover of My Soul to his brother, John Wesley rejected it as being too sentimental. I’ve heard this hymn ridiculed as a sort of Jesus-is-my-boyfriend, hiding from the world, pietist ode to complete withdrawal from the all things earthly. However, it doesn’t really read that way, does it? It’s more an acknowledgment of my complete dependence on the grace and mercy of Jesus. And what is sentimental about the words “I am all unrighteousness/False and full of sin I am”? I rather like the frank and unsentimental estimate of my unworthiness and Christ’s sufficiency.

Sources:
Hymntime: Jesus Lover of My Soul.
Suite 101: Jesus Lover of My Soul.
Hymnary: Jesus Lover of My Soul.

Hymn #58: Alas and Did My Saviour Bleed

Jul18

Lyrics: Isaac Watts, 1707. (b.1674. Yesterday, July 17th, was Isaac Watts’s birthday.)

Music: MARTYRDOM attributed to Hugh Wilson, 1827.
Also sung as “At the Cross” with a chorus and tune (HUDSON) by Ralph E. Hudson.
Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed – Sovereign Grace Music

Theme: “Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
Luke 7:41-43

Isaac Watts: “I have made no pretence to be a poet. But to the Lamb that was slain, and now lives, I have addressed many a song, to be sung by the penitent and believing heart.”

Fanny Crosby, about yielding to the call of Jesus upon her life while hearing this hymn: “I surrendered myself to the Savior, and my very soul flooded with celestial light. I sprang to my feet, shouting ‘Hallelujah.'”

1. Alas! and did my Savior bleed,
and did my Sovereign die!
Would he devote that sacred head
for such a worm as I?

2. Was it for crimes that I have done,
he groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! Grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

3. Well might the sun in darkness hide,
and shut its glories in,
when Christ, the mighty maker, died
for man the creature’s sin.

4. Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thine
and bathed in its own blood
While the firm mark of Wrath Divine
His soul in anguish stood.

5. Thus might I hide my blushing face
while his dear cross appears;
dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
and melt mine eyes to tears.

6. But drops of grief can ne’er repay
the debt of love I owe.
Here, Lord, I give myself away;
’tis all that I can do.

At the Cross refrain:
At the cross, at the cross,
where I first saw the light,
and the burden of my heart rolled away;
it was there by faith I received my sight,
and now I am happy all the day.

Even though I have reservations about the “happy all the day” line, we used to sing this song every Sunday morning in the car on the way to church. Z-baby always requested it, and we belted it out. “AT the cross, AT the cross, where I first saw the LIGHT . . .” I never heard the fourth and fifth verses (above), but our family knows all of the others by heart. It’s a good hymn.

Sources:
Hymn Stories and Gospel Hymn Stories: Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed.

Red Skelton and the Pledge of Allegiance

Jul18

I see that today is comedian Red Skelton’s birthday. Red Skelton aka Cauliflower McPugg aka Clem Kaddiddlehopper aka Sheriff Deadeye aka San Fernando Red, (not to mention his many other aliases: Freddy the Freeloader, Willy Lump Lump, The Mean Widdle Kid) was a clown, a composer, a painter, a short story writer, and a poet. And a patriot. His monologue explication of the Pledge of Allegiance has become a classic. And his sign-off phrase for his TV show was the first and best of the “good wishes” signatures: he said simply and sincerely, “Good night, and God bless.”

When asked about the character of Freddy the Freeloader, Red Skelton said:

“I get asked all the time; Where did you get the idea for Freddie the Freeloader, and who is Freddie really?
Well, I guess you might say that Freddie the Freeloader is a little bit of you, and a little bit of me, a little bit of all of us, you know.
He has found out what love means. He knows the value of time. He knows that time is a glutton. We say we don’t have time to do this or do that. There’s plenty of time. The trick is to apply it. The greatest disease in the world today is procrastination.
And Freddie knows about all these things. And so do you.
He doesn’t ask anybody to provide for him, because it would be taken away from you. He doesn’t ask for equal rights if it’s going to give up some of yours.
And he knows one thing … that patriotism is more powerful than guns.
He ís nice to everybody because he was taught that man is made in Godís image. He’s never met God in person and the next fella just might be him.

I would say that Freddie is a little bit of all of us.”

I have fond memories of watching Red Skelton on television back the olden days (the 70’s). If you’ve never seen him perform, head over to you tube and look him up. He’ll make you smile, and maybe, probably, that’s what you need today.

Good night, and God bless.

Hymn #59: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

Jul16

Lyrics: Elisha Hoffman, 1887.

Music: Anthony Showalter, 1887.

Theme: The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms. Deuteronomy 33:27

This Gaither Vocal Band performance is classic, especially with the harmonica:

Or if you prefer, here’s Chet Atkins on guitar and Carman doing the singing.

Or the blogger at Subversive Influence has Mahalia Jackson.

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain:
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

The story is that Mr. Showalter wrote the chorus to this hymn after an appeal for comfort from two separate friends whose wives (or perhaps close friends?) had died. He then sent his lyrics to Elisha Hoffman who penned the verses.

Sources:
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms by Deborah Macomber.

Hymn #60: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Jul14

Lyrics: Charles Wesley

Music: BEECHER by John Zundel. This tune is the only one I’ve ever heard for this hymn, but as I began to explore I found it set to all sorts of tunes: HYFRYDOL, BLAENWERN (said to be a popular choice for British weddings?), LOVE DIVINE (STAINER) by John Stainer. And finally, there’s this modern composition by British composer Howard Goodall, which I’m not sure would work at all for a normal congregation, but it’s a beautiful choral piece:

Theme: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.
I Corinthians 5:17-19.

Conjubilant With Song: “He sometimes wrote hymn texts that would suggest other works familiar to his followers. One of his best-known hymns was intended to evoke memories of the poet John Dryden’s ode to England, Fairest isle, all isles excelling. Wesley’s text has now far outlived Dryden’s, being sung across many denominations around the world and to many different tunes. Though I would not go so far as to call this my favorite hymn, I do think that it is one of the most perfect hymns ever written.”

Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven, to earth come down;
fix in us thy humble dwelling; all thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation; enter every trembling heart.

2.
Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit into every troubled breast!
Let us all in thee inherit; let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning; Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty.

3.
Come, Almighty to deliver, let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return and never, nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love.

4.
Finish, then, thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee;
changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise.

Read The Journal of Charles Wesley.

Hymn #61: Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting

Jul13

Lyrics: Jean Sophia Pigott, 1845-1882.

Music: TRANQUILITY by James Mountain.
This tune by Matthew Smith is the one we sing at my church, and I’m rather fond of it.

Jesus, I Am Resting – Matthew Smith

Theme:

My Two Cents: “Concentrate on the rich text that urges you to gaze on Christ, to find delight in Him, to rest in Him, to be satisfied in Him alone.”

Rebecca Writes: “This hymn points to the beauty of Christ and his work and reminds us that trust in him is resting in what he is done and is doing for us. Buddy Greene is my go-to artist for this one.”

Jesus, I am resting, resting, in the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee, and Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power, thou hast made me whole.

O, how great Thy loving kindness, vaster, broader than the sea!
O, how marvelous Thy goodness, lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved, know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise, and have made it mine.

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless, satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings, meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings: thine is love indeed!

Ever lift Thy face upon me as I work and wait for Thee;
Resting ’neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus, earth’s dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father’s glory, sunshine of my Father’s face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting, fill me with Thy grace.

James Mountain was an English revivalist and musician, influenced by the ministry and example of Americans Dwight Moody and Ira Sankey. He also wrote the tunes EVERLASTING LOVE (I Am His and He Is Mine) and WYE VALLEY (Like a River Glorious).

This hymn was said to be China missionary Hudson Taylor’s favorite, and it gave him comfort in troubled times.

“Having returned to England in ill health, he was brought to the very doors of death by the terrible news of the disruption of the work and the murder of hundreds of missionaries, as well as hundreds of native Christians, in connection with the Boxer uprising of 1900. Anguish of heart was killing him. Yet he believed that this baptism of blood would, under God, work out to the furtherance of the gospel.”

As J. Hudson Taylor was taking comfort in the words of Ms. Pigott’s hymn, Jean Sophia Pigott’s brother, Thomas Wellesley Pigott, a missionary in China, was martyred during the Boxer Rebellion.

Sources:
Our Home With God: Hymn Devotionals.
Wholesome Words: J. Hudson Taylor, God’s Mighty Man of Prayer by Eugene Myers Harrison.
HymnTIme: Jean Sophia Pigott.