Join All the Glorious Names

232 Join All the Glorious Names

1. Join all the glorious names
   Of wisdom, love, and power,
   That ever mortals knew,
   That angels ever bore:
   All are too mean to speak His worth,
   To poor to set my Savior forth.

2. Great prophet of my God,
   My tongue would bless Thy name,
   By Thee the joyful news
   Of our salvation came,
   The joyful news of sin forgiv’n
   Of hell subdued, and peace with Heav’n.

3. Divine, almighty Lord,
   My conqueror and my King,
   Thy scepter and Thy sword,
   Thy reigning grace I sing:
   Thine is the power; behold I sit
   In willing bonds beneath Thy feet.

4. Now let my soul arise,
   And tread the tempter down;
   My captain leads me forth
   To conquest and a crown:
   A feeble saint shall win the day,
   Though death and hell obstruct the way.
                         Isaac Watts
                         Hymns for the Family of God

<idle musing>
This one has a lot more verses! Hymnary.org has them:

2. But O what gentle terms,
   What condescending ways,
   Doth our Redeemer use
   To teach his heav’nly grace!
   Mine eyes with joy and wonder see
   What forms of love He bears for me.

3. Arrayed in mortal flesh,
   He like an angel stands,
   And holds the promises
   And pardons in His hands;
   Commissioned from His Father’s throne
   To make His grace to mortals known.

5. Be Thou my counselor,
   My pattern, and my guide,
   And through this desert land
   Still keep me near thy side:
   Nor let my feet e’er run astray
   Nor rove nor seek the crooked way.

6. I love my Shepherd’s voice,
   His watchful eyes shall keep
   My wand’ring soul among
   The thousands of His sheep:
   He feeds His flock, He calls their names,
   His bosom bears the tender lambs.

7. To this dear surety’s hand
   Will I commit my cause;
   He answers and fulfils
   His Father’s broken laws:
   Behold my soul at freedom set!
   My surety paid the dreadful debt.

8. Jesus, my great high priest,
   Offered His blood, and died;
   My guilty conscience seeks
   No sacrifice beside:
   His powerful blood did once atone,
   And now it pleads before the throne.

9. My advocate appears
   For my defense on high;
   The Father bows His ears,
   And lays His thunder by:
   Not all that hell or sin can say
   Shall turn His heart, His love away.

12. Should all the hosts of death,
   And powers of hell unknown,
   Put their most dreadful forms
   Of rage and mischief on,
   I shall be safe, for Christ displays
   Superior power, and guardian grace.

</idle musing>

How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds

229 How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds

1 How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
   In a believer's ear!
   It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
   And drives away his fear.

2 It makes the wounded spirit whole,
   And calms the troubled breast;
   'Tis manna to the hungry soul,
   And to the weary, rest.

3 By him, my pray'rs acceptance gain,
   Although with sin defil'd;
   Satan accuses me in vain,
   And I am own'd a child.

4 Weak is the effort of my heart,
   And cold my warmest thought;
   But when I see thee as thou art,
   I'll praise thee as I ought.
                         John Newton
                         Hymns for the Family of God

<idle musing>
Although this hymn occurs in more than 1600 hymnals, I don't recall singing it growing up. Hymnary.org adds a fifth verse:

5 Till then, I would thy love proclaim,
   With every fleeting breath;
   And may the music of thy name
   Refresh my soul in death.

</idle musing>

I Will Sing of My Redeemer

228 I Will Sing of My Redeemer

1. I will sing of my Redeemer
   And His wondrous love to me;
   On the cruel cross He suffered
   From the curse to set me free.

Refrain:
   Sing, oh, sing of my Redeemer,
   With His blood He purchased me;
   On the cross He sealed my pardon,
   Paid the debt and made me free.

2. I will tell the wondrous story,
   How my lost estate to save,
   In His boundless love and mercy,
   He the ransom freely gave. [Refrain]

3. I will praise my dear Redeemer,
   His triumphant pow'r I'll tell,
   How the victory He giveth
   Over sin and death and hell. [Refrain]

4. I will sing of my Redeemer,
   And His heav'nly love to me;
   He from death to life hath brought me,
   Son of God, with Him to be. [Refrain]
                         Philip P. Bliss
                         Hymns for the Family of God

Jesus Loves Me, This I Know

226 Jesus Loves Me, This I Know

1 Jesus loves me! this I know,
   For the Bible tells me so;
   Little ones to Him belong;
   They are weak, but He is strong.

Refrain:
   Yes, Jesus loves me.
   Yes, Jesus loves me.
   Yes, Jesus loves me,
   for the Bible tells me so.

2 Jesus loves me! He who died
   Heaven's gates to open wide!
   He will wash away my sin,
   Let His little child come in. [Refrain]

3 Jesus take this heart of mine,
   Make it pure and wholly thine;
   Thou hast bled and died for me;
   I will henceforth live for Thee. [Refrain]
                         Anna Bartlett Warner
                         Hymns for the Family of God

<idle musing>
I didn't realize there are so many variations on this hymn. Hymnary.org lists the following, plus more:

3 Jesus loves me! loves me still,
   Tho' I'm very weak and ill;
   From His shining throne on high,
   Comes to watch me where I lie. [Refrain]

4 Jesus loves me! He will stay
   Close beside me all the way;
   If I love Him when I die
   He will take me home on high. [Refrain]

2 Jesus loves me! This I know,
   as he loved so long ago,
   Taking children on his knee,
   saying, "Let them come to me." [Refrain]

3 Jesus loves me! Still today,
   walking with me on my way,
   Wanting as a friend to give
   light and love to all who live. [Refrain]

2 Jesus loves the children dear,
   Children far away or near;
   They are safe when in His care,
   Every day and everywhere. [Chorus]

I'm fairly sure those who read this blog are familiar with the story that Karl Barth was once asked what the greatest truth in scripture was. He famously answered, "Jesus loves me, this I know." I first heard the story in an introduction to New Testament survey course.

The historicity of that report has been questioned more than once. There seem to be two versions of it, one taking place at the University of Chicago, and the other one at an eastern seminary. A while back, Roger Olson declared what he knows and why he thinks it really happened at least once. Chase the link for the story. It's kind of a fun one.
</idle musing>

Thought for the day

The twelfth revelation is that the Lord our God is supreme Being.

And after this our Lord showed himself in even greater glory, it seemed to me, than when I saw him before, and from this revelation I learned that our soul will never rest until it comes to him knowing that he is the fullness of joy, of everyday and princely blessedness and the only true life. Our Lord Jesus said repeatedly, ‘It is I, it is I; it is I who am highest; it is I you love; it is I who delight you; it is I you serve; it is I you long for; it is I you desire; it is I who am your purpose; it is I who am all; it is I that Holy Church preaches and teaches you; it is I who showed myself to you here.’ The number of these utterances went beyond my wit and all my understanding and all my powers, and it is supreme, it seems to me, for there is included within it—I cannot tell how much; but the joy that I perceived as they were revealed surpasses all that the heart may wish and the soul may desire; and therefore the utterances are not fully explained here, but, according to the powers of understanding and loving which are given by the grace of God, may everyone receive them as our Lord intended.—Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love, 78

I Stand Amazed

223 I Stand Amazed

1. I stand amazed in the presence
   Of Jesus the Nazarene,
   And wonder how He could love me,
   A sinner, condemned, unclean.

Refrain:
   How marvelous! how wonderful!
   And my song shall ever be;
   How marvelous! how wonderful!
   Is my Savior's love for me!

2. For me it was in the garden
   He prayed, "Not my will, but Thine;"
   He had no tears for His own griefs,
   But sweat drops of blood for mine. [Refrain]

3. In pity, angels beheld him,
   And came from the world of light
   To comfort him in the sorrows
   He bore for my soul that night. [Refrain]

4. He took my sins and my sorrows,
   He made them his very own;
   He bore the burden to Calv’ry,
   And suffered, and died alone. [Refrain]

5. When with the ransomed in glory
   His face I at last shall see,
   'Twill be my joy thro' the ages
   To sing of His love for me. [Refrain]
                         Charles H. Gabriel
                         Hymns for the Family of God

Tozer for Tuesday

Looking back over the past, beginning all the way back to the Garden of Eden, we will discover that God spared no pains in laying out for us this pathway. The purpose of God from the very beginning of creation is fulfilled in the regenerated heart of every believer who now can enjoy the manifest, conscious presence of the living God. The way into God’s presence is the delight of the redeemed. It is where he belongs, naturally.—A.W. Tozer, Experiencing the Presence of God, 121

No, Not One!

221 No, Not One!

1 There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
   No, not one! no, not one!
   None else could heal all our soul's diseases,
   No, not one! no, not one!

Chorus:
   Jesus knows all about our struggles,
   He will guide till the day is done,
   There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
   No, not one! no, not one!

2 No friend like Him is so high and holy,
   No, not one! no, not one! And yet no friend is so meek and lowly,
   No, not one! no, not one! [Chorus]

3 There's not an hour that He is not near us,
   No, not one! no, not one!
   No night so dark but His love can cheer us,
   No, not one! no, not one! [Chorus]

4 Did ever saint find this friend forsake him?
   No, not one! no, not one!
   Or sinner find that He would not take him?
   No, not one! no, not one! [Chorus]

5 Was ere a gift like the Saviour given?
   No, not one! no, not one!
   Will He refuse us a home in heaven?
   No, not one! no, not one! [Chorus]
                         Johnson Oatman Jr.
                         Hymns for the Family of God

<idle musing>
The hymn only occurs in about 425 hymnals and most of them omit either verse 4 or verse 5. According to the bibliography at the link, he wrote over 3000 hymns and was quite popular in his day. Despite his being a Methodist, neither of my Methodist hymnals have a hymn by him!
</idle musing>

Are you just dunked?

What I often ponder is how many Christians are there who are Christians only by instruction, religious education or having somebody manipulate them by dunking them in a baptismal pool or sprinkling water on them?

How many of these people come to church every Sunday, take part in the services on Sunday and yet are not known for being Christians, because away from the church they do not act like a Christian? They are Christians by assumption, by manipulation or instruction, rather than by regeneration.—A.W. Tozer, Experiencing the Presence of God, 120

Strong, Righteous Man of Galilee

Strong, Righteous Man of Galilee

1. Strong, righteous Man of Galilee,
   With borrowed peace we follow Thee:
   In temple court, Thy cleansing rod;
   On Pharisees, the scorn of God.
   With borrowed peace we follow Thee,
   Strong, righteous Man of Galilee.

2. Firm, peaceful Man of Galilee,
   With borrowed strength we follow Thee:
   Not to revenge, but heal and pray,
   To turn the cheek and tribute pay:
   With borrowed strength we follow Thee,
   Firm, peaceful Man of Galilee.

3. Calm, suffering Man of Galilee,
   With borrowed grace we follow Thee:
   Love at the well, share Martha’s loss,
   Forgive the nails, and take the cross.
   With borrowed grace we follow Thee,
   Calm, suffering Man of Galilee.

4. God’s peaceful Man of Galilee,
   Love’s triumph, we shall follow Thee:
   To crumble every boundary wall,
   Build highways to the hearts of all.
   Love’s triumph, we shall follow Thee,
   God’s peaceful Man of Galilee.
                         Harry Webb Farrington
                         Hymns for the Family of God

<idle musing>
Well, I haven't run acrosss one as rare as this one in a long time. It occurs in about twelve hymnals. I don't recall ever hearing it sung or singing it. I do like the second verse:

With borrowed strength we follow Thee:
Not to revenge, but heal and pray,
To turn the cheek and tribute pay:

Not the version of strength that most today think of when the say "Christianity"! More's the pity. Theirs is a caricature of true Christianity. True Christianity features a self-emptying God, not a wrathful "kill the enemies" kind of god.

Note that most versions say, "Girt with Thy..." instead of "with borrowed," but the substance is the same—it's not ours, but his.
</idle musing>

Tell Me the Story of Jesus

215 Tell Me the Story of Jesus

1 Tell me the story of Jesus,
   write on my heart every word;
   tell me the story most precious,
   sweetest that ever was heard.
   Tell how the angels, in chorus
   sang as they welcomed his birth,
   "Glory to God in the highest!
   Peace and good tidings to earth."

Refrain:
   Tell me the story of Jesus,
   write on my heart every word;
   tell me the story most precious,
   sweetest that ever was heard.

2 Fasting alone in the desert,
   tell of the days that he passed,
   how for our sins he was tempted,
   yet was triumphant at last.
   Tell of the years of his labor,
   tell of the sorrow he bore;
   he was despised and afflicted,
   homeless, rejected, and poor. [Refrain]

3 Tell of the cross where they nailed him,
   writhing in anguish and pain;
   tell of the grave where they laid him;
   tell how he liveth again.
   Love in that story so tender,
   clearer than ever I see:
   stay, let me weep while you whisper,
   Love paid the ransom for me. [Refrain]
                         Fanny J. Crosby
                         Hymns for the Family of God

I Think When I Read That Sweet Story

213 I Think When I Read That Sweet Story

1 I think when I read that sweet story of old,
   When Jesus was here among men,
   How He called little children as lambs to His fold,
   I should like to have been with them then.

Refrain:
   I should like to have been with them then,
   I should like to have been with them then;
   How He called little children as lambs to His fold,
   I should like to have been with them then.

2 I wish that His hands had been placed on my head,
   That His arm had been thrown around me;
   And that I might have seen His kind look when He said,
   "Let the little ones come unto Me."

3 Yet still to His footstool in prayer I may go,
   And ask for a share in His love;
   And if I now earnestly seek Him below,
   I shall see Him and hear Him above.
                         Jemima T. Luke
                         Hymns for the Family of God

<idle musing>
A fairly popular hymn, occurring in more than 750 hymnals. I don't recall ever singing it. Hymnary.org adds a fourth verse:

4 In that beautiful place He has gone to prepare,
   For all who are washed and forgiven;
   And many dear children are gathering there,
   For "Of such is the kingdom of heaven."

</idle musing>

Can salvation be taught?

But the serious error facing the church today is its belief that salvation can be taught. Set a person down or a group of people and teach them what the Bible says and ask them if they believe it and if they accept it and so forth. When everybody nods their head in the affirmative, we lead them into believing that they have now been born again.—A.W. Tozer, Experiencing the Presence of God, 119

O Sing a Song of Bethlehem

208 O Sing a Song

1. O sing a song of Bethlehem,
   Of shepherds watching there,
   And of the news that came to them
   From angels in the air.
   The light that shone on Bethlehem
   Fills all the world today;
   Of Jesus' birth and peace on earth
   The angels sing alway.

2. O sing a song of Nazareth,
   Of sunny days of joy,
   O sing of fragrant flowers' breath,
   And of the sinless Boy;
   For now the flow'rs of Nazareth
   In ev'ry heart may grow;
   Now spreads the fame of His dear name
   On all the winds that blow.

3. O sing a song of Galilee,
   Of lake and woods and hil,
   Of Him who walked upon the sea
   And bade its waves be still;
   For tho' like waves on Galilee,
   Dark seas of trouble roll,
   When faith has heard the Master's word,
   Falls peace upon the soul.

4. O sing a song of Calvary,
   Its glory and dismay;
   Of Him who hung upon the tree
   And took our sins away.
   For He who died on Calvary
   Is risen from the grave,
   And Christ, our Lord, by heav'n adored,
   Is mighty now to save.
                         Louis F. Benson
                         Hymns for the Family of God

Citing the NRSV updated edition

Now that the updated edition of the NRSV has been out for a while, I'm starting to see it cited. But, How do you cite it? I've seen NRSVUE (all caps) and NRSV^ue. But the real question, for me anyway, because I mainly edit for publishers who use as their foundation style sheet SBLHS2, is: What does SBL recommend?

I emailed them and they responded that they were following the National Council of Churches (the body that owns the translation) recommendation: NRSVue (no superscript).

Ironic, isn't it, that the recommended way is the one I have hardly ever seen.

Go here for a complete list of copyediting-related posts.

His love is reaching

200 His Love … Reaching

Right from the beginning God’s love has reached, and from the beginning man has refused to understand. But love went on reaching, offering itself. Love offered the eternal … we wanted the immediate. Love offered deep joy … we wanted thrills. Love offered freedom … we wanted license. Love offered communion with God Himself … we wanted wanted to worship at the shrine of our own minds. Love offered peace … we wanted approval for our wars. Even yet, love went on reaching. And still today, after two two thousand years, patiently, lovingly, Christ is reaching out to us today. Right through the chaos of our world, through the confusion of our minds. He is reaching … longing share with us … the very being of God.

His love still is longing. His love is still reaching, right past the shackles of my mind. And the Word of the Father became Mary’s little Son. And His love reached all the way to where I was.
—Gloria Gaither
Hymns for the Family of God

What are you chasing after?

It is this presence of God that is the “other” each generation seeks and longs for, if only they knew it.—A.W. Tozer, Experiencing the Presence of God, 107

An advent meditation (yes, I know it's Lent!)

189 How Proper It Is

How proper it is that Christmas should follow Advent.
-For him who looks toward the future, the Manger is situated on Golgotha, and the Cross has already been raised in Bethlehem.—Dag Hammarskjöld Hymns for the Family of God

Trust? Or obey? Which is it?

An old saint was once asked, “Which is more important: prayer or the reading of the Word?” He thought for a moment and then responded, “Which is more important to the bird, the right wing or the left?” That is a question I want to pose: Which is more important to a Christian, believing or obeying? For the sparrow flying through the air, both wings are equally important. With only one it is almost impossible to fly. So, we must believe God’s Word and we must obey it. By these two wings, a man will rise to God in faith and humble obedience to the Lord Himself.—A.W. Tozer, Experiencing the Presence of God, 106

I Wonder as I Wander

183 I Wonder as I Wander

1 I wonder as I wander, out under the sky,
   how Jesus the Savior did come for to die
   for poor ordinary people like you and like I;
   I wonder as I wander, out under the sky.

2 When Mary birthed Jesus, 'twas in a cow's stall
   with wise men and farmers and shepherd and all.
   but high from God's heaven a star's light did fall,
   and the promise of ages it did then recall.

3 If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
   a star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
   or all of God's angels in heaven for to sing,
   he surely could have it, 'cause he was the King.

4 I wonder as I wander, out under the sky,
   how Jesus the Savior did come for to die
   for poor ordinary people like you and like I;
   I wonder as I wander, out under the sky.
                         Appalachian carol
                         Collected by John Jacob Niles
                         Hymns for the Family of God