"Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!"

This was the processional hymn at church today. The words were a comfort to me, as today was the one year anniversary of our last worship service at our old church. We mourn the loss of that unique community of believers, our gifted pastor's teaching, and the service that was full of theological meaning, reverence, and the presence of the Lord.

But, time goes on, and we are trying to discern God's will for us concerning settling into a new church home. As the hymn says, He has redeemed us by His blood! We are not left as orphans in sorrow!


(ornate throne at St. Peter's in Rome)

"Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!"

Alleluia! sing to Jesus! His the scepter, His the throne.
Alleluia! His the triumph, His the victory alone.
Hark! the songs of peaceful Zion thunder like a mighty flood.
Jesus out of every nation has redeemed us by His blood.

Alleluia! not as orphans are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia! He is near us, faith believes, nor questions how;
Though the cloud from sight received Him when the forty days were o’er
Shall our hearts forget His promise, “I am with you evermore”?

Alleluia! bread of angels, Thou on earth our food, our stay;
Alleluia! here the sinful flee to Thee from day to day:
Intercessor, Friend of sinners, Earth’s Redeemer, plead for me,
Where the songs of all the sinless sweep across the crystal sea.

Alleluia! King eternal, Thee the Lord of lords we own;
Alleluia! born of Mary, Earth Thy footstool, Heav’n Thy throne:
Thou within the veil hast entered, robed in flesh our great High Priest;
Thou on earth both priest and victim in the Eucharistic feast.

book bog backhoe Ireland

Through the marvels of computers, I typed these four words into a search engine after reading a brief article in today's Rocky Mountain News. I came up with a newspaper article from the Hindustan Times (of all places) about a manuscript discovered by a backhoe operator in Ireland. Manuscript experts at Trinity College in Dublin date the medieval manuscript to 800-1000 A.D., and will be spending years researching this new discovery.

The Times article states,

The book was found open to a page describing, in black Latin script, Psalm 83, in which God hears complaints of other nations' attempts to wipe out the name of Israel.

This is either an elaborate hoax on the part of the bog's owner (or the backhoe operator), or another glimpse of the hand of God. I'd like to root for the latter.

Oh, and just in case you were looking for a used backhoe, try machinerytrader.com.

Overheard at the Ballgame

We took my mother to a Rockies baseball game last night, her first major league game in over 50 years. She liked it so much she wants to go again this season! The Rockies beat St. Louis, 7-0, in a near perfect game, but that isn't what I want to write about.

We were seated in front of a group of five twenty-something kids (two girls and three guys), all Cardinal fans with ties to St. Louis. Their loud conversations volleyed back and forth between their narcissistic prattlings and the superiority of the Cardinals.

One of the two girls is engaged to be married this fall. (I can tell you all about their first date, how he proposed, where they're having their wedding photos taken, and the reception...she never stopped talking). But, before her monologue, one of the guys asked, "Why do people ever bother to get married anyway?" Another guy sagely replied, "In my tax bracket, you can save money if you're married!"

My husband and I both remarked on the drive home what a sad commentary on our society that marriage would be so trivialized and degraded. Given the state of American culture today, it's not surprising, but it's troubling nonetheless. Troubling, too, was that in Miss Bride-to-Be's conversation, nary a word was spoken about how much she loved her intended. In fact, the only opinions she expressed of the guy were how she thought it was past time they have a joint bank account, and how she was disappointed by his uninspired marriage proposal. The rest of the one-sided conversation between her and the other female companion consisted primarily of particulars surrounding the wedding day.

I think back to my grandparents and their very simple wedding, or to the simple wedding of Laura Ingalls and Almanzo Wilder written about in her Little House books, and of the lifelong devotion of each of these couples to one another. Many of the weddings of today (mostly in non-Christian circles) seem to be spectacles of opulence, without enough thought given to the vows or the days and years that follow the ceremony. Oh, that our culture would recapture the awe, reverence, and sacredness towards marriage.

Psalm 23

We had another rehearsal this morning and had to miss church, which always makes for an unsettled feeling for the day and even the week ahead. Some churches read Psalm 23 today in their scripture readings. What better hymn to post today than this familiar psalm? And if you're feeling especially adventuresome, try chanting it!



Psalm 23 (King James Version)

1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

"O Day of Rest and Gladness"

We sang a version of this as the processional hymn this morning, using the traditional German melody found at the Cyberhymnal website. The text is especially uplifting in verse three where God is pictured as a cooling fountain. It's been so hot here that our two children were awakened last night by the oppressive heat. I was able to soothe their discomfort by gently applying a cool, wet washcloth to their foreheads, necks, arms, and legs. They each transformed from an agitated state to one of complete joy, gratitude, and rest. Very much the model of how we should behave towards our heavenly Father when He offers us His rest!

O Day of Rest and Gladness

O day of rest and gladness, O day of joy and light,
O balm of care and sadness, most beautiful, most bright:
On Thee, the high and lowly, through ages joined in tune,
Sing holy, holy, holy, to the great God Triune.

On Thee, at the creation, the light first had its birth;
On Thee, for our salvation, Christ rose from depths of earth;
On Thee, our Lord, victorious, the Spirit sent from heaven,
And thus on Thee, most glorious, a triple light was given.

Thou art a port, protected from storms that round us rise;
A garden, intersected with streams of paradise;
Thou art a cooling fountain in life’s dry, dreary sand;
From thee, like Pisgah’s mountain, we view our promised land.

Thou art a holy ladder, where angels go and come;
Each Sunday finds us gladder, nearer to heaven, our home;
A day of sweet refection, thou art a day of love,
A day of resurrection from earth to things above.

Today on weary nations the heavenly manna falls;
To holy convocations the silver trumpet calls,
Where Gospel light is glowing with pure and radiant beams,
And living water flowing, with soul refreshing streams.

New graces ever gaining from this our day of rest,
We reach the rest remaining to spirits of the blessed.
To Holy Ghost be praises, to Father, and to Son;
The church her voice upraises to Thee, blessed Three in One.

"To Thee, O Lord, I Lift Mine Eyes"

My husband and I had a rehearsal this morning, so we didn't make it to church. We always feel out of sorts when we can't worship on Sunday morning, so thankfully it doesn't happen too often. We miss the singing, the confession, the teaching, the communion, the quiet, the fellowship...

Some churches used Psalm 123 as one of their scripture readings this morning, so I thought I'd post a hymn that's new to me, based upon this Psalm.

The hymn was written by American preacher, Robert Lowry (1826-1899). There are two different melodies commonly used with these words. I am using the lesser known of the two.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY (12 years old today) TO MY PRECIOUS SON!!!!! May you always lift up your eyes to the Lord.

"To Thee, O Lord, I Lift Mine Eyes"

To thee, O Lord, I lift mine eyes,
O thou enthroned above the skies;
As servants watch their master's hand,
Or maidens by their mistress stand,
So to the Lord our eyes we raise,
Until his mercy he displays.

O Lord, our God, thy mercy show,
For man's contempt and scorn we know;
Reproach and shame thy saints endure
From wicked men who dwell secure;
Man's proud contempt and scorn we know;
O Lord, our God, Thy mercy show.

Huh???

Rocky Mountain News, July 6, 2006
"State ed board member Polis announces he's gay"

"Jared Polis, the state board of education member whose wealth helped Democrats take control of both houses of the state legislature for the first time in decades, told the Daily Camera this weekend that he is gay."

"I think sexual orientation, like religion or race, has nothing to do with one's values, and to most people it's not important one way or the other," [said Polis.]

Huh? Sexual orientation, religion, and race have nothing to do with one's values? They aren't important one way or another???? Those three things define all of us in very substantial ways!

Building Meaningful Family Worship

Home School Conference--Part 3

Kevin Swanson, executive director of Christian Home Educators of Colorado and pastor of an OPC church, spoke on the importance of family worship. His thoughts dovetailed quite nicely with those of Doug Phillips and R.C. Sproul, Jr.

Swanson began by sharing an interview he heard with a Catholic college provost on the Hugh Hewitt radio show. The provost said, "Western civilization is falling apart," citing the low birth rate in Europe and the fading importance of the Christian church. But, the guest added that there is some hope left in the US because of the home school movement. He called these homes the "monasteries of the New Dark Age." What an important task we face if we look at our responsibilities in that light!

Swanson then proceeded to make many compelling points urging us to spend time, DAILY, in family worship. He talked about the importance of integrating our faith into our daily lives. This integration is difficult if we don't have habitual practice. We need to have family worship EVERY day; it is too easy to get our priorities jumbled very quickly. If we don't do it every day, we send the message to our children that it's not important.

Swanson also praised his parents for the Godly upbringing he received. He listed the reasons he and his five siblings are strong in their faith:
1. they were home schooled and protected from negative outside influences
2. they had daily 40 minute family worship
3. their mother prayed diligently for them
4. God's grace
5. singing--it brings God word into the heart

Independence Day

My husband and I played a Fourth of July concert this evening. After being rained out 20 minutes into the concert, and packing up our instruments, we slogged through the pouring rain with our two children in tow. As I became soaked to the skin, I thought of the brave men (and women) who have protected and served our country in the military. They have walked, slept, and fought in weather so much worse than I experienced this evening. God bless each and every one of them!

In commemoration of this historic day, I share the last sentence of the Declaration of Independence, which I find quite powerful. It reads:

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Go to U.S.History.org to see more than you ever wanted to know about the Declaration of Independence.

(The above photo comes from this website with free computer wallpapers.)

Building Covenant Communities

Colorado Home School Conference--Part 2

R.C. Sproul, Jr. was the second person we heard speak at the home school conference. Now, I know he's said and done some controversial things recently. I was a bit skeptical myself after reading various internet blogs and sites. But, I listened to him with an open mind, and was pleasantly surprised with both his message and demeanor.

He based his talk upon I Peter 2, and I'm sorry to say that I didn't write down the specific verses to which he referred, but these two seem to relate to his message.

Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.
1 Peter 2: 17, 21

Sproul preached that a covenant community needs both the love of family and the law of authority. Problems occur when things become too lop-sided on either the covenant side or the community side.

A recurring theme that permeated all of his talks was introduced in this first one. He stressed that we need to love our neighbor and walk humbly with God. We have to guard against thinking we have all the answers, that our church is the only church that is true to the faith. (He was NOT advocating embracing churches that don't adhere to the fundamentals of the faith.) His stress on being humble seemed, to me, to be heartfelt and serious. I have never heard him speak in person before, but I get the sense that he has been humbled by the firestorm he's been through, and that he's learned valuable lessons as a result.

I would also like to take this opportunity to say that R.C. has been diagnosed with cancer. He began chemotherapy just days after he returned to Virginia from Colorado, and thankfully the type he's got is highly treatable. He did not, in any of the talks I heard, mention anything about it. I just learned of it while reading the Highlands Study Center website.

(The above photo comes from this website of family photographs taken in the early 1900s in Texas.)

"The Church's One Foundation"

As we sang this in church today, I thought how appropriate the words were, given the current firestorm in the Episcopal church. (The rector and vestry of the church we are currently attending are in agreement with the Anglican Communion, NOT the recent decisions made at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church.) I was intrigued to read this evening that the hymn was written at a time similar to this. Here is what the author of a book about hymns has written about this hymn:

"During an especially heated period of theological controversy in England in 1866 when liberalism threatened to destroy the great cardinal doctrines of the Anglican church, this hymn was written by Pastor Samuel Stone. He was a strong supporter of the conservative faith and refused to compromise in any way the critical attacks on doctrinal orthodoxy."

The photo above seems appropriate. Some people within the Episcopal church are trying to "improve/enlighten" the church (in their opinions) by making changes that are not supported by scripture. Their version of the church will not survive off the foundation of scripture. The True Foundation is unchangable.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 13:8

If you want to sing along to these words, go to Cyberhymnal for the music.

"The Church's One Foundation"

The Church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.
From heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her
And for her life He died.

She is from every nation,
Yet one o’er all the earth;
Her charter of salvation,
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy Name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With every grace endued.

The Church shall never perish!
Her dear Lord to defend,
To guide, sustain, and cherish,
Is with her to the end:
Though there be those who hate her,
And false sons in her pale,
Against or foe or traitor
She ever shall prevail.

Though with a scornful wonder
Men see her sore oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder,
By heresies distressed:
Yet saints their watch are keeping,
Their cry goes up, “How long?”
And soon the night of weeping
Shall be the morn of song!

’Mid toil and tribulation,
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore;
Till, with the vision glorious,
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious
Shall be the Church at rest.

Yet she on earth hath union
With God the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion
With those whose rest is won,
With all her sons and daughters
Who, by the Master’s hand
Led through the deathly waters,
Repose in Eden land.

O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we
Like them, the meek and lowly,
On high may dwell with Thee:
There, past the border mountains,
Where in sweet vales the Bride
With Thee by living fountains
Forever shall abide!