Not interested!

But their patriotism has nothing whatever to do with power politics or “ideological” warfare. It is more akin to family loyalty, and actually it gives one a valuable clue to the attitude of ordinary people, especially the huge untouched block of the middle class and the better-off working class. These people are patriotic to the middle of their bones, but they do not feel that what happens in foreign countries is any of their business. When England is in danger they rally to its defense as a matter of course but in between times they are not interested.—George Orwell, A Collection of Essays, 294

<idle musing>
I know he's talking about the British of the 1930s–1940s, but I suspect it transfers to just about any country at anytime. I'm pretty sure it's true of the US right now—which explains why Dear Leader™ can get away with all this garbage right now...

Just an
</idle musing>

Victory in Jesus (hymn)

82 Victory in Jesus

I heard an old, old story how a Savior came from glory,
   How He gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me;
   I heard about His groaning, of His precious blood’s atoning,
   Then I repented of my sins and won the victory

Chorus
   O victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!
   He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood;
   He loved me ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him.
   He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood

2 I heard about His healing, of His cleansing pow’r revealing
   How He made the lame to walk again and caused the blind to see;
   And then I cried, “Dear Jesus, come and heal my broken spirit,”
   And some sweet day I’ll sing up there the song of victory.

3 I heard about a mansion He has built for me in glory,
   And I heard about the streets of gold beyond the crystal sea;
   About the angels singing and the old redemption story,
   And some sweet day I’ll sing up there the song of victory.
                         Eugene M. Barrett
                         Hymns for the Family of God

<idle musing>
This hymn, like so many gospel songs, never made it into the Methodist hymnal. But I grew up singing it. I probably learned it at vacation Bible school, which when I was a kid was a whole day affair for a week, later moving to mornings only for two weeks. By the time our kids were born, VBS had become an evening event that lasted for two weeks, but that's another story.

Anyway, with it's rousing melody and decent lyrics, it's been one of my favorites for a long time. Sure, I wish it went deeper, but that wasn't why it was written : )
</idle musing>

Is a half a loaf the same as no loaf? (and other fallacious arguments)

An illusion can become a half-truth, a mask can alter the expression of a face. The familiar arguments to the effect that democracy is “just the same as” or “just as bad as” totalitarianism never take account of this fact. All such arguments boil down to saying that half a loaf is the same as no bread. In England such concepts as justice, liberty, and objective truth are still believed in. They may be illusions, but they are very powerful illusions. The belief in them influences conduct, national life is different because of them. In proof of which,look about you. Where are the rubber truncheons, where is the castor oil? The sword is still in the scabbard, and while it stays there corruption cannot go beyond a certain point.—George Orwell, A Collection of Essays, 261

<idle musing>
Well, I would say that in the US, the "illusions" are losing their appeal to far too many and corruption will soon run (even more) rampant. I'm camping in Habakkuk these days—and not just in chapter 3!
</idle musing>

Trusting Jesus (hymn)

79 Trusting Jesus

1. Simply trusting every day,
   Trusting through a stormy way;
   Even when my faith is small,
   Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Refrain:
   Trusting as the moments fly,
   Trusting as the days go by;
   Trusting Him whate’er befall,
   Trusting Jesus, that is all.

2. Brightly doth His Spirit shine
   Into this poor heart of mine;
   While He leads I cannot fall;
   Trusting Jesus, that is all.

3. Singing if my way is clear,
   Praying if the path be drear;
   If in danger for Him call;
   Trusting Jesus, that is all.

4. Trusting Him while life shall last,
   Trusting Him till earth be past;
   Till within the jasper wall,
   Trusting Jesus, that is all.
                         Edgar P. Stites
                         Hymns for the Family of God

Power worship

Also, the common people are without definite religions belief, and have been so for centuries. The Anglican Church never had a real hold on them, it was simply the preserve of the landed gentry, and the Nonconforrnist sects only influenced minorities. And yet they have retained a deep tinge of Christian feeling, while almost forgetting the name of Christ. The power-worship which is the new religion of Europe, and which has infected the English intelligentsia, has never touched the common people. They have never caught up with power politics.—George Orwell, A Collection of Essays, 256–57

My Hope Is in the Lord

78 My Hope Is in the Lord

1 My Hope is in the Lord, who gave Himself for me
   And paid the price of all my sin at Calvary

Refrain
   For me He died; For me He lives,
   And everlasting life and light He freely gives.

2 No merit of my own His anger to suppress,
   My only hope is found in Jesus' righteousness

3 And now for me He stands Before the Father's throne;
   He shows His wounded hands and names me as His own.

4 His grace has planned it all, 'Tis mine but to believe
   And recognize His work of love and Christ receive.
                         Norman J. Clayton
                         Hymns for the Family of God

<idle musing>
I don't recall this hymn, but then, it only occurs in twenty-five hymnals. I feel a special connection to the hymnwriter, though, because when I was in elementary school, Wisconsin Public Radio had a weekly broadcast on Wednesday afternoons that was entitled "Let's Sing," which he hosted (it was part of the Wisconsin School of the Air and it ran from 1956–1974). Many of the songs were written by him, but it also included all kinds of Americana songs.

Every year, at the end of the year, we could purchase our copy of that year's songbook. One year, the teacher allowed us to have it for free if we agreed to sing a song from the book in front of the class. She allowed us to sing in duets, trios, and quartets so we wouldn't feel as embarassed. I always bought them (except for the year when we got it free!). One year, he even came to Menomonie and held a sing-along.
</idle musing>

The Power of Patriotism

One cannot see the modern world as it is unless one recognises the overwhelming strength of patriotism, national loyalty. In certain circumstances it can break down, at certain levels of civilisation it does not exist, but as a positive force there is nothing to set beside it. Christianity and international socialism are as weak as straw in comparison with it. Hitler and Mussolini rose to power in their own countries very largely because they could grasp this fact and their opponents could not.—George Orwell, A Collection of Essays, 252 (emphasis original)

Tozer for Tuesday

What we have in the Bible is true, but not everything that is true is in the Bible. You can learn everything from the Bible that the Bible teaches, but you cannot learn everything from the Bible, for the reason that the Bible does not teach everything. It does not pretend to. We must distinguish between revealed truth and truth. 45 (emphasis original)

My Faith Has Found a Resting Place

75 My Faith Has Found a Resting Place

1. My faith has found a resting place,
   Not in device nor creed.
   I trust the ever-living One;
   His wounds for me shall plead.

Refrain:
   I need no other argument,
   I need no other plea,
   It is enough that Jesus died,
   And that he died for me.

2. Enough for me that Jesus saves,
   This ends my fear and doubt;
   A sinful soul I come to Him,
   He’ll never cast me out. [Refrain]

3. My heart is leaning on the Word,
   The written Word of God,
   Salvation by my Savior’s name,
   Salvation thro' his blood. [Refrain]

4. My Great Physician heals the sick,
   The lost He came to save;
   For me his precious blood he shed,
   For me his life he gave. [Refrain]
                         Lidie H. Edmunds
                         Hymns for the Family of God

<idle musing>
Again, more of a gsopel song, in that it addresses sinners, not saints. Yes, those who have trusted Jesus for salvation are no long sinners, but saints. If you've followed this blog for very long, you'll know that's a favorite theme of mine...

By the way, take a few seconds to read the biography of the hymnwriter. Seems she didn't let debilitating health stand in her way, which gives the fourth verse extra punch.
</idle musing>

Change of heart, or change of economic system?

They are all people with something to lose, or people who long for a hierarchical society and dread the prospect of a world of free and equal human beings. Behind all the ballyhoo that is talked about “godless” Russia and the “materialism” of the working class lies the simple intention of those with money or privileges to cling to them. Ditto, though it contains a partial truth, with all the talk about the worthlessness of social reconstruction not accompanied by a “change of heart.” The pious ones, from the Pope to the yogis of California, are great on the “change of heart,” much more reassuring from their point of view than a change in the economic system.—George Orwell, A Collection of Essays, 207

<idle musing>
Not a whole lot has changed in eighty years, has it? Except maybe the grabbing has become more extreme and obvious as the ethos of the country has changed to greed and self-centeredness/narcissism.
</idle musing>

I Am Trusting Thee , Lord Jesus

73 I Am Trusting Thee , Lord Jesus

1 I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
   Trusting only Thee;
   Trusting Thee for full salvation,
   Great and free.

2 I am trusting Thee for pardon;
   At Thy feet I bow;
   For Thy grace and tender mercy,
   Trusting now.

3 I am trusting Thee to guide me;
   Thou alone shalt lead,
   Ev'ry day and hour supplying
   All my need.

4 I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus;
   Never let me fall;
   I am trusting Thee forever,
   And for all.
                         Frances Havergal
                         Hymns for the Family of God

Faith Is the Victory

71 Faith Is the Victory

1. Encamped along the hills of light,
   Ye Christian soldiers, rise.
   And press the battle ere the night
   Shall veil the glowing skies.
   Against the foe in vales below
   Let all our strength be hurled.
   Faith is the victory, we know,
   That overcomes the world.

Refrain
   Faith is the victory!Faith is the victory!
   O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.

2. His banner over us is love,
   Our sword the Word of God.
   We tread the road the saints above
   With shouts of triumph trod.
   By faith, they like a whirlwind’s breath,
   Swept on o’er every field.
   The faith by which they conquered death
   Is still our shining shield. [Refrain]

3. On every hand the foe we find
   Drawn up in dread array.
   Let tents of ease be left behind,
   And onward to the fray.
   Salvation’s helmet on each head,
   With truth all girt about,
   The earth shall tremble ’neath our tread,
   And echo with our shout. [Refrain]

4. To him that overcomes the foe,
   White raiment shall be giv’n.
   Before the angels he shall know
   His name confessed in Heav’n.
   Then onward from the hill of light,
   Our hearts with love aflame,
   We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night,
   In Jesus’ conqu’ring name. [Refrain]
                         John H. Yates
                         Hymns for the Family of God

<idle musing>
This section of the hymnal is loaded with what we used to call Gospel Hymns. They are generally theology-lite and have rousing tunes, designed to move the crowd. When you understand that, it's easier to just enjoy singing them and not get into the weeds of theology. Inevitably, I find singing them drives the blues away—and we could definitely use that in these days of topsy-turvy weather and news.

So, enjoy the tunes and sing them!
</idle musing>

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

66 My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

1 My Shepherd, you supply my need,
   most holy is your name;
   in pastures fresh you make me feed,
   beside the living stream.
   You bring my wand'ring spirit back.
   when I forsake your ways;
   you lead me, for your mercy's sake,
   in paths of truth and grace.

2 When through the shades of death I walk,
   your presence is my stay;
   one word of your supporting breath
   drives all my fears away.
   Your hand in sight of all my foes,
   does still my table spread;
   my cup with Blessings overflows,
   your oil anoints my head.

3 Your sure provisions gracious God
   attend me all my days;
   oh, may your house be my abode,
   and all my work be praise.
   Here would I find a settled rest,
   while others go and come;
   no more a stranger, nor a guest,
   but like a child at home.
                         Isaac Watts
                         Hymns for the Family of God

They swallow the lie—and get indigestion

With the working class it is the other way about. Too ignorant to see through the trick that is being played on them, they easily swallow the promises of fascism, yet sooner or later they always take up the struggle again. They must do so, because in their own bodies they always discover that the promises of fascism cannot be fulfilled. To win over the working class permanently, the fascists would have to raise the general standard of living, which they are unable and probably unwilling to do. The struggle of the working class is like the growth of a plant, the plant is blind and stupid, but it knows enough to keep pushing upwards towards the light, and it will do this in the face of endless discouragements.—George Orwell, A Collection of Essays, 202

<idle musing>
OK, I don't like his demeaning classist outlook, but he does shine the light on an important truth. The "lower class" may empower their overlords, but when the leaders fail—which they inevitably will, because their real goal is power and money—the "lower class" will rise up and rebel. It might take a generation or two, but they will. Cue reference to Hab 3.
</idle musing>

Moment by moment (Hymn)

65 Moment by Moment

1 Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine;
   Living with Jesus, a new life divine;
   Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine,
   Moment by moment, O Lord, I am thine.

Refrain:
   Moment by moment I’m kept in his love;
   Moment by moment I’ve life from above;
   Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;
   Moment by moment, O Lord, I am thine.

2 Never a trial that he is not there,
   Never a burden that he doth not bear,
   Never a sorrow that he doth not share,
   Moment by moment, I’m under his care. [Refrain]

3 Never a weakness that he doth not feel,
   Never a sickness that he cannot heal;
   Moment by moment, in woe or in weal,
   Jesus, my Savior, abides with me still. [Refrain]
                         Daniel W. Whittle
                         Hymns for the Family of God

<idle musing>
The words sound trite, but that doesn't detract from their truth. It's not a very popular hymn, only occurring in about 150 hymnals. I don't recall ever singing it. Seems the author also published under the pseudonym El Nathan. Not a whole lot more is known about him.
</idle musing>

In it for the long haul

In the long run—it is important to remember that it is only in the long run—the working class remains the most reliable enemy of fascism, simply because the working class stands to gain most by a decent reconstruction of society. Unlike other classes or categories, it can’t be permanently bribed.—George Orwell, A Collection of Essays, 201

Hope in a dark place

59 Plans While in Prison

“The most important part of our task will be to tell everyone who will listen that Jesus is the only answer to the problems that are disturbing the hearts of men and nations. We shall have the right to speak because we can tell from our experience that His light is more powerful than the deepest darkness. . . How wonderful that the reality of His presence is greater than the reality of the hell about us.”
—Betsie ten Boom, to her sister, Corrie
Hymns for the Family of God

The power of literature and stories

Nourished for hundreds of years in a literature in which Right invariably triumphs in the last chapter, we believe half-instinctively that evil always defeats itself in the long run. Pacifism, for instance, is founded largely on this belief. Don’t resist evil, and it will somehow destroy itself. But why should it? What evidence is there that it does? And what instance is there of a modern industrialised state collapsing unless conquered tram the outside by military force?—George Orwell, A Collection of Essays, 200

<idle musing>
Ah, but he is wrong about a state collapsing without being overrun. The most recent example is the Soviet Union. It dramatically collapsed in 1980. And, we are currently seeing the collapse of the US. So, military force isn't necessary. Economic collapse can happen from within.
</idle musing>

Prayer for Strength

55 Prayer for Strength

O God, You have given us life through Your Son, Jesus Christ. You have given us the security of faith in a world that longs for something on which to rely. We thank You for Your gifts to us.

Teach us to stand strong for Your Kingdom: to be free in this world in order to be Christ’s men and women.

Help us to know Your love and the love of each other. Set us free to become our true selves because we are loved, and to free others because we love.

Give us enough tests to make us strong;
enough vision and endurance to follow Your way;
enough patience to persist when the going is difficult;
enough of reality to know our weaknesses;
and enough humility to know these gifts come from You.

Go before us to prepare the way;
walk behind us to be our protection;
and walk beside us to be our companion,

through Christ our Lord, Amen.
—Richard Langfold
Hymns for the Family of God

<idle musing>
The portion of the hymnal I'm reading through right now is entitle Comfort. Seems appropriate in light of the wholesale destruction of everything that going on right now. Perhaps it's time to pull out Augustine's City of God to get a bit of perspective!
</idle musing>

A prayer for writing and checking footnotes!

There's remarkable post today at the Christian Scholar's Review on set liturgical prayers and their value. But the thing that jumped out at me is their prayer for writing footnotes:

A Liturgy for the Writing of Citations

O Lord, you have placed me
in a community of scholars,
working together to explore your world.

As I place commas, periods, and parentheses
Let me see that care and attentiveness
Are attributes of your creativity and grace.

As I take pains to attribute my work aright
Help me be grateful for the labor of others
And see the joy of communal discovery.

You are King of Details, O God.
You send planets swirling in a dangerous dance
Just as you choreograph the cells in my own body.

You have given me this small task to do.
Clear my heart of frustration and boredom.

For annoyance, bring gratitude
For impatience, bring absorbing care

Help me to neither take for granted the work of others
Nor the work of your Son
Nor the work you give me to do in your world.

On writing history

I know it is the fashion to say that most of recorded history is lies anyway. I am willing to believe that history is for the most part inaccurate and biased, but what is peculiar to our own age is the abandonment of the idea that history could be truthfully written. In the past people deliberately lied, or they unconsciously coloured what they wrote, or they struggled after the truth, well knowing that they must make many mistakes; but in each case they believed that “the facts” existed and were more or less discoverable. And in practice there was always a considerable body of fact which would have been agreed to by almost everyone.—George Orwell, A Collection of Essays, 199 (emphasis original)

Tozer for Tuesday

The difference between spiritual things and earthly things is that the things of the spirit are so modest; the things of the spirit are not pushing in on you; they are not singing commercials to you; they are not knocking on your door and urging you to buy; they are simply waiting for you to notice.—A.W. Tozer, Experiencing the Presence of God, 38

Joy vs. feeling happy

Joy at All Times 47

We must recognize that there is all the difference in the world between rejoicing and feeling happy. The Scripture tells us that we should always rejoice. Take the lyrical Epistle of Paul to the Philippians where he says: “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice”. He goes on saying it. To rejoice is a command, yes, but there is all the difference in the world between rejoicing and being happy. You cannot make yourself happy, but you can make yourself rejoice, in the sense that you will always rejoice in the Lord. Happiness is something within ourselves, rejoicing is “in the Lord”. How important it is then, to draw the distinction between rejoicing in the Lord and feeling happy. Take the fourth chapter of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians. There you will find that the great Apostle puts it all very plainly and clearly in that series of extraordinary contrasts which he makes: “We are troubled on every side (I don’t think he felt very happy at the moment) yet not distressed”, “we are perplexed (he wasn ’t feeling happy at all at that point) but not in despair”, “persecuted but not forsaken”, “cast down, but not destroyed ”—and so on. In other words the Apostle does not suggest a kind of happy person in a carnal sense, but he was still rejoicing. That is the difference between the two conditions.—Martin Lloyd-Jones ( Hymns for the Family of God)

Origen on taking sin lightly

Sheep and goats and cattle and birds were slain for those, of former times. With such things were they sprinkled. For you, however, the Son of God was slain: and it pleases you to sin again? (Homily on Leviticus 2, 4) Translation from William A. Jurgens, The Faith of the Early Fathers, 1:207

Love is hard work!

In this yogi-ridden age, it is too readily assumed that “non-attachment” is not only better than a full acceptance of earthly life, but that the ordinary man only rejects it because it is too difficult: in other words, that the average human being is a failed saint. It is doubtful whether this is true. Many people genuinely do not wish to be saints, and it is probable that some who achieve or aspire to sainthood have never felt much temptation to be human beings. if one could follow it to its psychological roots, one would, I believe, find that the main motive for “non-attachment” is a desire to escape from the pain of living, and above all from love, which, sexual or non-sexual, is hard work.—George Orwell, A Collection of Essays, 176–77

A prayer for those whose loved one has died

45 For Loneliness in Bereavement

Father, I am only human. I need the touch of human companionship. Sorely I miss those I love who are with Thee. I pray, O Jesus, that Thou wilt reveal to me unseen presences. Help me to know how close my loved ones are. For if they are with Thee, and Thou art with me, I know that they cannot be far away.

Make real for me that contact of spirit with spirit that will re-establish the lost fellowship for which my heart yearns. Give to me faith shining through my tears. Plant peace and hope within my heart. Point me with joy to the great reunion.

But until then, enable me to live happily and worthily of those who are with Thee. In the Name of Him who is the Lord of Life, I pray, Amen. —Peter Marshall ( Hymns for the Family of God)

No One Understands Like Jesus

36 No One Understands Like Jesus

1. No one understands like Jesus.
   He's a friend beyond compare;
   Meet Him at the throne of mercy;
   He is waiting for you there.
   No one understands like Jesus
   When the days are dark and grim;
   No one is so near, so dear as Jesus
   Cast your ev'ry care on Him!

2. No one understands like Jesus;
   Ev'ry woe He sees and feels;
   Tenderly He whispers comfort,
   And the broken heart He heals.
   No one understands like Jesus
   When the days are dark and grim;
   No one is so near, so dear as Jesus
   Cast your ev'ry care on Him!

3. No one understands like Jesus
   When the foes of life assail;
   You should never be discouraged;
   Jesus cares and will not fail!
   No one understands like Jesus
   When the days are dark and grim;
   No one is so near, so dear as Jesus
   Cast your ev'ry care on Him!

4. No one understands like Jesus
   When you falter on the way;
   Tho' you fail Him, sadly fail Him,
   He will pardon you today.
   No one understands like Jesus
   When the days are dark and grim;
   No one is so near, so dear as Jesus
   Cast your ev'ry care on Him!
                         John W. Peterson
                         Hymns for the Family of God

<idle musing>
I wasn't familiar with John W. Peterson until I moved to Madison. All of a sudden his hymns were everywhere—at least it seemed that way. The story behind this hymn is told here. Take the time to read it. I think you'll be glad you did.
</idle musing>

Near to the Heart of God

35 Near to the Heart of God

1 There is a place of quiet rest,
   near to the heart of God,
   a place where sin cannot molest,
   near to the heart of God.

Refrain:
   O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
   sent from the heart of God,
   hold us, who wait before thee,
   near to the heart of God.

2 There is a place of comfort sweet,
   near to the heart of God,
   a place where we our Savior meet,
   near to the heart of God. [Refrain]

3 There is a place of full release,
   near to the heart of God,
   a place where all is joy and peace,
   near to the heart of God. [Refrain]
                         Cleland B. McAfee
                         Hymns for the Family of God

On overlooking the wrongs of those "on our side" (Orwell)

I have little direct evidence about the atrocities in the Spanish civil war. I know that some were committed by the Republicans, and far more (they are still continuing) by the Fascists. But what impressed me then, and has impressed me ever since, is that atrocities are believed in or disbelieved in solely on grounds of political predilection. Everyone believes in the atrocities of the enemy and disbelieves in those of his own side, without ever bothering to examine the evidence. Recently I drew up a table of atrocities during the period between 1918 and the present; there was never a year when atrocities were not occurring somewhere or other, and there was hardly a single case when the Left and the Right believed in the same stories simultaneously. And stranger yet, at any moment the situation can suddenly reverse itself and yesterday’s proved-to-the-hilt atrocity story can become a ridiculous lie, merely because the political landscape has changed.—George Orwell, A Collection of Essays, 191

A Psalm for today

94:1 Lord, avenging God—
  avenging God, show yourself!
2 Rise up, judge of the earth!
  Pay back the arrogant exactly what they deserve!
3 How long will the wicked—oh, Lord!—
  how long will the wicked win?
4 They spew arrogant words;
  all the evildoers are bragging.
5 They crush your own people, Lord!
  They abuse your very own possession.
6 They kill widows and immigrants;
  they murder orphans,
7 saying all the while,
  “The Lord can’t see it;
    Jacob’s God doesn’t know
    what’s going on!”
8 You ignorant people better learn quickly.
  You fools—when will you get some sense?
9 The one who made the ear,
  can’t he hear?
The one who formed the eye,
  can’t he see?
10 The one who disciplines nations,
  can’t he punish?
The one who teaches humans,
  doesn’t he know?
11 The Lord does indeed know human thoughts,
  knows that they are nothing but a puff of air.
…
16 Who will stand up for me against the wicked?
  Who will help me against evildoers?
17 If the Lord hadn’t helped me,
  I would live instantly in total silence.
18 Whenever I feel my foot slipping,
  your faithful love steadies me, Lord.
19 When my anxieties multiply,
  your comforting calms me down.
20 Can a wicked ruler be your ally;
  one who wreaks havoc by means of the law?
21 The wicked gang up against the lives of the righteous.
  They condemn innocent blood.
22 But the Lord is my fortress;
  my God is my rock of refuge.
23 He will repay them for their wickedness,
  completely destroy them because of their evil.
  Yes, the Lord our God will completely destroy them. (CEB)

Snow!

Ok, we've been having a "snow drought" for the last two years. Last year I shoveled twice. This year, I've shoveled three times. Last night, we got a dusting. But, it made me realize it's been ten years(!) since I posted my favorite meditation on snow:

When rain turns to ice and snow I declare a holiday. I could as easily resist as stay at a desk with a parade going by in the street below. I cannot hide the delight that then possesses my heart. Only God could have surprised rain with such a change of dress as ice and cold...

Most people love rain, water. Snow charms all young hearts. Only when you get older and bones begin to feel dampnesss, when snow becomes a traffic problem and a burden in the driveway, when wet means dirt—then the poetry takes flight and God's love play is not noted.

But I am still a child and have no desire to take on the ways of death. I shall continue to heed water's invitation, the call of the rain. We are in love and lovers are a little mad. (Space for God, 64)

The snippet above is from the first edition. I just realized today that there is a second edition. I have no idea what they changed, as the page count is only different by three pages, which could just be a new preface…

Useful?

as Gandhi himself says, “in the end deceivers deceive only themselves”; but at any rate the gentleness with which he was nearly always handled was due partly to the feeling that he was useful. The British Conservatives only became really angry with him. when, as in 1942, he was in effect turning his non-violence against a different conqueror.—George Orwell, A Collection of Essays, 172

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

24 O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

1. O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
   Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
   Rolling as a mighty ocean
   In its fullness over me.
   Underneath me, all around me,
   Is the current of Thy love;
   Leading onward, leading home-ward,
   To my glorious rest above.

2. O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
   Spread His praise from shore to shore!
   How He loveth, ever loveth,
   Changeth never, nevermore.
   How He watches o'er His loved ones,
   Died to call them all His own;
   How for them He intercedeth,
   Watcheth o'er them from the throne!

3. O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
   Love of ev'ry love the best!
   'Tis an ocean vast of blessing,
   'Tis a haven sweet of rest.
   O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
   'Tis a heav'n of heav'ns to me;
   And it lifts me up to glory,
   For it lifts me up to Thee.
                         Samuel Trevor Francis
                         Hymns for the Family of God

<idle musing>
Surprisingly, this hymn only occurs in about 60 hymnals. I don't recall when I first heard and sang this. It wasn't in either Methodist hymnals I grew up with, so it wasn't there—unless it was a piece we sang in the church choir. But, more likely, it was when I moved to Madison, because the author was Plymouth Brethren. Either way, once I heard it I loved it. Maybe it's the tune that seems to fit the words so well.
</idle musing>

Worthless phrases

Political Ianguage—and with variations this is true of all political parties, from Conservatives to Anarchists—is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind. One cannot change this all in a moment, but one can at least change one’s own habits, and from time to time one can even, if one jeers loudly enough, send some worn-out and useless phrase-some jackboot, Achilles’ heel, hate bed, melting pot, acid test, veritable inferno or other lump of verbal refuse—into the dustbin where it belongs.—George Orwell, A Collection of Essays, 171

The Love of God Is Greater Far… (hymn)

18 The Love of God

1 The love of God is greater far
   than tongue or pen can ever tell;
   it goes beyond the highest star,
   and reaches to the lowest hell.
   The wand'ring child is reconciled
   by God's beloved Son.
   The aching soul again made whole,
   and priceless pardon won.

Refrain:
   O love of God, how rich and pure!
   How measureless and strong!
   It shall forevermore endure—
   the saints’ and angels’ song.

2 When ancient time shall pass away,
   and human thrones and kingdoms fall;
   when those who here refuse to pray
   on rocks and hills and mountains call;
   God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
   all measureless and strong;
   grace will resound the whole earth round—
   the saints’ and angels’ song. [Refrain]

3 Could we with ink the ocean fill,
   and were the skies of parchment made;
   were ev’ry stalk on earth a quill,
   and ev’ryone a scribe by trade;
   to write the love of God above
   would drain the ocean dry;
   nor could the scroll contain the whole,
   though stretched from sky to sky. [Refrain]
                         F. M. Lehman
                         Hymns for the Family of God

<idle musing>
I didn't know this hymn growing up, which is somewhat surprising because the author is Nazarene, a branch of Wesleyanism that still (at that time) had fairly close ties to the Methodist church. Anyway, it became one of my favorites, especially the last verse, which describes the vastness of God's love for us.
</idle musing>

Telling it like it is(n't)

When there is a gap between one’s real and one’s declared aims, one turns as it were instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish squirting out ink. In our age there is no such thing as “keeping out of politics.” All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia. When the general atmosphere is bad, language must suffer.—George Orwell, A Collection of Essays, 167

A generation of thumb-suckers (Tozer for Tuesday)

The whole human race has simply grown up seeking pleasure so that we are a race of grownup thumb-suckers. We give over our time to acquiring a pleasant sensation when we ought to give over our time to the advancing of our souls.—A.W. Tozer, Experiencing the Presence of God, 37

Morning Has Broken

5 Morning Has Broken

1 Morning has broken
   like the first morning,
   blackbird has spoken
   like the first bird.
   Praise for the singing!
   Praise for the morning!
   Praise for them, springing
   fresh from the Word!

2 Sweet the rain’s new fall
   sunlit from heaven,
   like the first dewfall
   on the first grass.
   Praise for the sweetness
   of the wet garden,
   sprung in completeness
   where God’s feet pass.

3 Mine is the sunlight!
   Mine is the morning
   born of the one light
   Eden saw play!
   Praise with elation,
   praise every morning,
   God’s recreation
   of the new day!
                         Eleanor Farjeon
                         Hymns for the Family of God

<idle musing>
Those of us of a certain age will automatically hear Cat Stevens singing this song. I didn't even realize it was a hymn until several years later…

You should take a few minutes to read the biography of the hymnwriter. Rather unconventional, to say the least.
</idle musing>

Orwell predicts the advent of AI—well, sort of…

As I have tried to show, modern writing at its worst does not consist in picking out words for the sake of their meaning and inventing images in order to make the meaning clearer. It consists in gumming together long strips of words which have already been set in order by someone else, and making the results presentable by sheer humbug. The attraction of this way of writing is that it is easy. It is easier—even quicker, once you have the habit—to say In my opinion it is not are unjustifiable assumption that than to say I think. if you use readymade phrases, you not only don’t have to hunt about for words; you also don’t have to bother with the rhythms of your sentences, since these phrases are generally so arranged as to be more or less euphonious.—George Orwell, A Collection of Essays, 165

A Fair and Glorious Gift (Luther)

I wish to see all arts, principally music, in the service of Him who gave and created them. Music is a fair and glorious gift of God. I would not for the world forego my humble share of music. Singers are never sorrowful, but are merry, and smile through their troubles in song. Music makes people kinder, gentler, more staid and reasonable. I am strongly persuaded that after theology there is no art than can be placed on a level with music; for besides theology, music is the only art capable of affording peace and joy of the heart . . . the devil flees before the sound of music almost as much as before the Word of God. —Martin Luther, Hymns for the Family of God

<idle musing>
Once I moved to Madison, WI in 1975, I joined a Plymouth Brethren-style house church. It was a bit of a culture shock in some ways. I was raised Wesleyan-Arminian and considered myself a charismatic (this is before the health and wealth people stole it), and here I was joining a Calvinist, cessationist church! But I loved it!

One of the things it did was broaden my knowledge of hymns. They were coming from a totally different hymnological heritage that was just as rich as the one I had been raised in. That's also where I met Debbie, my wife of 46.5 years. When we got married—actually even before—we purchased a hymnal that was nondenominational and quite popular at the time, although it's now out of print.

On our honeymoon, which was spent camping around Lake Superior, we would sit around the campfire and sing. Debbie played guitar, and we would figure out the chords to the hymns in that hymnal. We still own that battered copy. I'm not sure we ever got more than halfway through figuring out chords, but we had a grand time.

All that to say, I'm starting through that hymnal in a systematic way today. It intersperses readings with hymns, so that's why we start with a quotation from Martin Luther. Again, I won't be publishing duplicates from the other three hymnals (at least not intentionally!), so there will be days without a posting.

I hope you enjoy it!
</idle musing>

Rules for clear writing

A scrupulous writer, in every sentence that he writes, will ask himself at least four questions, thus: What am I trying to say? What words will express it? What image or idiom will make it clearer? Is this image fresh enough to have an effect? And he will probably ask himself two more: Could I put it more shortly? Have I said anything that is avoidably ugly? But you are not obliged to go to all this trouble. You can shirk it by simply throwing your mind open and letting the ready-made phrases come crowding in. They will construct your sentences for you-—even think your thoughts for you, to a certain extent-—-and at need they will perform the important service of partially concealing your meaning even from yourself. It is at this point that the special connection between politics and the debasement of language becomes clear.—George Orwell, A Collection of Essays, 165

Ecclesiastes—a modern version

I returned and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift , nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, not yet riches to men of understanding, not yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Here it is in modern English:

Objective consideration of contemporary phenomena compels the conclusion that success or failure in competitive activities exhibits no tendency to be commensurate with innate capacity, but that a considerable element of the unpredictable must invariably be taken into account.—George Orwell, A Collection of Essays, 163

Heaven forbid that you define it!

The word Fascism has now no meaning except in so far as it signifies “something not desirable.” The words democracy, socialism, freedom, patriotic, realistic, justice, have each of them several different meanings which cannot be reconciled with one another. In the case of a word like democracy, not only is there no agreed definition, but the attempt to make one is resisted from all sides. It is almost universally felt that when we call a country democratic we are praising it: consequently the defenders of every kind of regime claim that it is a democracy, and fear that they might have to stop using the word if it were tied down to any one meaning. Words of this kind are often used in a consciously dishonest way.—George Orwell, A Collection of Essays, 162

<idle musing>
Not a whole lot has changed in 80 years, has it? Take a look around you. Words are thrown around whose meanings are purposefully obscured. Nebulous things that can be used as weapons against whoever or whatever you deem to be the "enemy"—all the while, the real enemy laughs at the deceit you bought into. Wherever you fall in the political spectrum, if you consider someone an enemy, rethink your self-identification as a Christian!
</idle musing>

A prayer for today

744 For the President and Others in Authority

O Lord, our heavenly Father, whose glory is in all the world, and who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth: Most heartily we beseech thee, with thy favor to behold and bless thy servants, the President of the United States, the governor of this state, and all others who bear rule throughout the world. Grant them wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness. So rule their hearts and prosper their endeavors, that law and order, justice and peace may everywhere prevail, to the honor of thy holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Methodist Hymnal, 1964 edition

More on writing clearly (Orwell)

This mixture of vagueness and sheer incompetence is the most marked characteristic of modern English prose, and especially of any kind of political writing. As soon as certain topics are raised, the concrete melts into the abstract and no one seems able to think of turns of speech that are not hackneyed: prose consists less and less of words chosen for the sake of their meaning, and more and more of phrases tacked together like the sections of a prefabricated hen-house.—George Orwell, A Collection of Essays, 159

<idle musing>
Ain't that the truth!
</idle musing>

Tozer for Tuesday, with a quotation from Thomas à Kempis

Thomas a Kempis wisely observed, "We give all our attention to things that do us little good, or none at all; things that are vitally necessary we don’t bother about them, just give them the go-by. Yes, all that goes to make man drives him to meddle with outward things, and if he doesn’t soon recover his senses, is only too glad to wallow in material interests and pleasures.”—A.W. Tozer, Experiencing the Presence of God, 35

A prayer for the church

743 For the Church

O God our Father, we pray for thy Church, which is set today amid the perplexities of a changing order, and face to face with new tasks. Baptize her afresh in the life-giving spirit of Jesus! Bestow upon her a great responsiveness to duty, a swifter compassion with suffering, and an utter loyalty to the will of God. Help her to proclaim boldly the coming of the kingdom of God. Put upon her lips the ancient Gospel of her Lord. Fill her with the prophets’ scorn of tyranny, and with a Christlike tenderness for the heavy-laden and downtrodden. Bid her cease from seeking her own life, lest she lose it. Make her valiant to give up her life to humanity, that, like her crucified Lord, she may mount by the path of the cross to a higher glory; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Methodist Hymnal, 1964 edition

Think clearly. Write clearly

Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble. If one gets rid of these habits one can think more clearly, and to think clearly is a necessary first step towards political regeneration: so that the fight against bad English is not frivolous and is not the exclusive concern of professional writers.—George Orwell, A Collection of Essays, 157

A collect (prayer) for our times

694

Almighty God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us, both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Methodist Hymnal, 1964 edition