Wednesday, March 27, 2024
A new understanding of violence
The voice of God is calling
1 The voice of God is calling
It summons unto men;
as once he spake in Zion,
so now he speaks again:
whom shall I send to succor
my people in their need?
Whom shall I send to loosen
the bonds of shame and greed?
2 I hear my people crying
in cot and mine and slum;
no field or mart is silent,
no city street is dumb.
I see my people falling
in darkness and despair.
Whom shall I send to shatter
the fetters which they bear?
3 We heed, O Lord, thy summons,
and answer: Here are we!
Send us upon thine errand,
let us thy servants be.
Our strength is dust and ashes,
our years a passing hour,
But thou canst use our weakness
to magnify thy power.
4 From ease and plenty save us;
from pride of place absolve;
purge us of low desire;
lift us to high resolve;
take us, and make us holy;
teach us thy will and way.
Speak, and behold! we answer;
command, and we obey!
John Haynes Holmes
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
Not a terribly popular hymn, only occurring in 65 hymnals! But it is a good hymn in the finest social gospel way. Indeed, its author was a Unitarian, which is reflected in its general call as opposed to a specifically Jesus-centered call. Nonetheless, a solid hymn.
</idle musing>
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Absorbing the violence
Tozer for Tuesday
<idle musing>
Boy, does he ever describe the state of the US church! The word came without power and the "converts" are without power...
</idle musing>
Hushed was the evening hymn (Samuel)
1. Hushed was the evening hymn,
The temple courts were dark;
The lamp was burning dim
Before the sacred ark;
When suddenly a voice divine
Rang thro' the silence of the shrine.
2. The old man, meek and mild,
The priest of Israel, slept;
His watch the temple-child,
The little Levite, kept;
And what from Eli's sense was sealed
The Lord to Hannah's son revealed.
3. O give me Samuel's ear,
The open ear, O Lord,
Alive and quick to hear
Each whisper of Thy word,
Like him to answer at Thy call,
And to obey Thee first of all.
4. O give me Samuel's heart,
A lowly heart, that waits
Where in Thy house Thou art,
Or watches at Thy gates;
By day and night, a heart that still
Moves at the breathing of Thy will.
5. O give me Samuel's mind,
A sweet unmurm'ring faith,
Obedient and resigned
To Thee in life and death;
That I may read with child-like eyes
Truths that are hidden from the wise.
James D. Burns
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
Monday, March 25, 2024
Christoformity
Savior, teach me day by day
1 Savior, teach me day by day
Love's sweet lesson to obey;
Sweeter lessons cannot be,
Loving Him who first loved me.
2 With a childlike heart of love,
At Thy bidding may I move:
Prompt to serve and follow Thee,
Loving Him who first loved me.
3 Teach me all Thy steps to trace,
Strong to follow in Thy grace;
Learning how to love from Thee;
Loving Him who first loved me.
4 Thus may I rejoice to show
That I feel the love I owe;
Singing, till Thy face I see,
Of His love who first loved me.
Lane E. Leeson
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
I don't recall ever singing this hymn, but that could be said for almost all the children's hymns in this hymnal. At least it isn't moralistic, instead encouranging a following of Jesus versus obey the authorities because God said so. It is fairly popular, occurring in a little over 450 hymnals. Hymnary.org inserts a verse after verse 3:
4 Love in loving finds employ,
In obedience all her joy;
Ever new that joy will be,
Loving Him who first loved me.
Sunday, March 24, 2024
All things bright and beautiful
Refrain (also sung as verse 1)
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.
2. Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings. [Refrain]
3. The purple headed mountains,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning
That brightens up the sky. [Refrain]
4. The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one. [Refrain]
5. He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well. [Refrain]
Cecil F. Alexander
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
I was very surprised to see that this hymn, made famous by the James Herriot books, is only in 330 or so hymnals. I knew it long before the books came out, so I assumed that it was far more popular. I guess not! Hymnary.org adds another verse:
The tall trees in the greenwood, The meadows where we play, The rushes by the water, To gather every day. [Refrain]</idle musing>
Saturday, March 23, 2024
Tell me the stories of Jesus
1 Tell me the stories of Jesus
I love to hear;
Things I would ask Him to tell me
If He were here:
Scenes by the wayside,
Tales of the sea,
Stories of Jesus,
Tell them to me.
2 First let me hear how the children
Stood 'round His knee,
And I shall fancy His blessing
Resting on me;
Words full of kindness,
Deeds full of grace,
All in the love-light
Of Jesus' face.
3 Into the city I'd follow
The children's band,
Waving a branch of the palm tree
High in my hand;
One of His heralds,
Yes, I would sing
Loudest hosannas,
"Jesus is King!"
William H. Parker
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
We're still working through the children's hymn section. Most of them are pretty moralistic and, frankly, boring. No wonder they didn't stick in my mind. This one, however, was always a favorite of mine. I loved to hear the gospel stories read, and I loved to read them. I'd like to think that some of them stuck...
I was surprised to see that this hymn only occurs in about 150 hymnals. I had assumed it was far more popular!
According to cyberhymnal, there are two more verses (and note that they break up the lines a bit differently):
3. Tell me, in accents of wonder, how rolled the sea,</idle musing>
Tossing the boat in a tempest on Galilee;
And how the Maker, ready and kind,
Chided the billows, and hushed the wind.5. Show me that scene in the garden, of bitter pain.
Show me the cross where my Savior for me was slain.
Sad ones or bright ones, so that they be
Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.
Friday, March 22, 2024
A consistent pacifistic christoform hermeneutic
Bonhoeffer was against rule-making. Discernment — rather than law-making or undeviating principle-formation — was his method of knowing what to do in a concrete situation.—Scot McKnight, The Audacity of Peace, 66–67
I am so glad that our Father in Heaven
1. I am so glad that our Father in Heaven
Tells of His love in the Book He has given;
Wonderful things in the Bible I see,
This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.
Refrain
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me.
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves even me.
2. Though I forget Him, and wander away,
Still He doth love me wherever I stray;
Back to His dear loving arms I do flee,
When I remember that Jesus loves me. [Refrain]
3. Oh, if there’s only one song I can sing,
When in His beauty I see the great King,
This shall my song through eternity be,
Oh, what a wonder that Jesus loves me! [Refrain]
Emily S. Oakey
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
I didn't realize it until yesterday, but this hymnal has a section entitled "Hymns for Children." When I was growing up, I don't recall singing hardly any of them. Of course, we had a separate songbook for Sunday School, but I don't recall ever being terribly fond of any of those either. I preferred the "big people" hymnal and the hymns in it, but of the hymns in this section, I recall precious few. This one is an exception, and not because it's terribly impressive theology wise, but because the Philip P. Bliss tune is catchy.
Cyberhymnal has a few more verse, none of which I had ever seen before:
4. Jesus loves me, and I know I love Him;</idle musing>
Love brought Him down my poor soul to redeem;
Yes, it was love made Him die on the tree;
Oh, I am certain that Jesus loves me! [Refrain]5. If one should ask of me, how can I tell?
Glory to Jesus, I know very well!
God’s Holy Spirit with mine doth agree,
Constantly witnessing Jesus loves me. [Refrain]6. In this assurance I find sweetest rest,
Trusting in Jesus, I know I am blessed;
Satan, dismayed, from my soul now doth flee,
When I just tell him that Jesus loves me. [Refrain]
Thursday, March 21, 2024
But how?
Shepherd of tender youth (Clement of Alexandria)
1 Shepherd of tender youth,
guiding in love and truth
through devious ways,
Christ, our triumphant King,
we come your name to sing
and here our children bring
to join your praise.
2 You are our holy Lord,
Christ, the incarnate Word,
healer of strife.
You did yourself abase
that from sin's deep disgrace
you might now save our race,
and give us life.
3 You are the great High Priest,
you have prepared the feast
of holy love;
and in our mortal pain
none calls on you in vain;
our plea do not disdain;
help from above.
4 O ever be our guide,
our shepherd and our pride,
our staff and song.
Jesus, O Christ of God,
by your enduring Word
lead us where you have trod;
make our faith strong.
5 So now and till we die
sound we your praises high
and joyful sing:
infants and all the throng
who to your Church belong,
unite to swell the song
to Christ, our King!
Clement of Alexandria
Tr. by Henry M. Dexter
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
According to the note below the hymn, this is the oldest extant Christian hymn!
</idle musing>