Nephos 9

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blogging, Christmas, classic hymn, disabilities, doctrine, Jonathan Leeman, Josh Harris, Paul Gerhardt, spiritual gifts, Tim Hawkins

1. The perfect Christmas gift for men. If it moves and shouldn’t – duct tape. If it should move and doesn’t – WD-40.

2. Is God Logical? Barnabassays no. What do you think?

3. A tongue-in-cheek (yet insightful) post about 5 Ways to Get Attention in the Christian Blogosphere.

4. Josh Harris is a young pastor who believes We Need Doctrine.

5. That post reminded me of this:

6. I recently came across this poem while researching for a sermon. Ray Van Neste has shared it in its entirety. It’s a classic hymn by Pastor Paul Gerhardt, “Give to the Winds Thy Fears.”

7. Jonathan Leeman offers sound advice on discovering and using spiritual gifts.

8. A dad seeks to offer a biblical response to his son’s question about disabilities.

I’m not sure if Joe understands any of what I told him or even if it was the right response in the moment, but he’s asking God-centered questions and as his dad that warms my sin-stained soul. And hopefully, through the gift of a brother with various disabilities, he is learning that “good” is not necessarily synonymous with “easy”.

9. For those who are already in the Christmas spirit, here’s Tim Hawkin’s take on a Christmas classic:

The Heart Healed and Changed by Mercy

Tags

classic hymn, Olney Hymns, William Cowper

William Cowper (pronounced Cooper) is probably best known for his hymn, “There is a Fountain Filled With Blood.” He co-wrote the “Olney Hymns” with John Newton, author of “Amazing Grace.” Here is one of those hymns, which shows the depth of spiritual understanding these men of God possessed.

Sin enslaved my many years,
And led me bound and blind;
Till at length a thousand fears
Came swarming o’er my mind.

“Where,” said I, in deep distress,
“Will these sinful pleasures end?
How shall I secure my peace,
And make the Lord my friend?”

Friends and ministers said much
The gospel to enforce;
But my blindness still was such,
I chose a legal course:

Much I fasted, watch’d and strove,
Scarce would shew my face abroad,
Fear’d almost to speak or move,
A stranger still to God.

Thus afraid to trust His grace,
Long time did I rebel;
Till despairing of my case,
Down at His feet I fell:

Then my stubborn heart He broke,
And subdued me to His sway;
By a simple word He spoke,
“Thy sins are done away.”

Begin, My Tongue, Some Heavenly Theme

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Begin My Tongue Some Heavenly Theme, classic hymn, Isaac Watts, Monday, Poetry

Love this hymn by Isaac Watts. It’s a great reminder to begin a new week to:

Begin, my tongue, some heavenly theme
And speak some boundless thing;
The mighty works, or mightier Name
Of our eternal King.

Tell of His wonderful faithfulness
And sound His power abroad;
Sing the sweet promise of His grace,
The love and truth of God.

Proclaim “salvation from the Lord
For wretched, dying men”;
His hand has writ the sacred Word
With an immortal pen.

Engraved as in eternal brass
The mighty promise shines;
Nor can the powers of darkness ‘rase
Those everlasting lines.

He that can dash whole worlds to death,
And make them when He please,
He speaks, and that almighty breath
Fulfils His great decrees.

His every word of grace is strong
As that which built the skies;
The voice that rolls the stars along
Speaks all the promises.

He said, “Let the wide heav’n be spread,”
And heav’n was stretched abroad:
“Abram, I’ll be thy God,” He said,
And He was Abram’s God.

O might I hear Thy heavenly tongue
But whisper, “Thou art Mine!”
Those gentle words shall raise my song
To notes almost divine.

How would my leaping heart rejoice,
And think my heav’n secure!
I trust the all creating voice,
And faith desires no more.

Top 5: September, 2011

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Andrew Murray, classic hymn, Reformation Day, self-worship, sense of belonging, worship

September has seen a sharp increase in visits to my humble blog, with the highest number of visitors in a long time. Thank you for your visits, comments, subscriptions and encouragement. Here are the top 5 visited posts for September:

1) Created to Worship

This quote on worship from Andrew Murray continues to be popular.

2) Wrath in a Classic Hymn Poll

Every once in a while another crossword puzzle drives a bit of traffic to this post from four years ago!

3) Un-Reformed Baptists and Reformation Day (Part 2)

With Reformation Day only a few weeks away, this post (and its prequel) seems to be of increased interest.

4) Wrong Worship

A humorous video about mis-directed worship seemed to strike a chord!

5) Who do you belong to?

Quite a few people seem to be searching for a “sense of belonging.”

Weekends are for Worship: Confession of Sin

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classic hymn, John Donne, Theology, worship

If you have read very much on this blog you know I have an affinity for the writings from the past. Nothing against contemporary authors, (I read them too) it’s just the depth of the older writers that grabs me.

Some time ago, I read this poem by John Donne. Donne (pronounced “dun”) was an Anglican minister during the reign of King James I of England. He was born, raised, and educated as a Catholic, but after a thorough study of theology, he renounced the Catholic faith of his childhood and joined the Anglican church. He was certainly one of the most gifted wordsmiths of his time, as this poem shows. This piece really touched me. Hope it blesses you as well.

A Hymn to God the Father

Wilt Thou forgive that sin where I begun,
Which is my sin, though it were done before?
Wilt Thou forgive that sin through which I run,
And do run still, though still I do deplore?
When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done,
For I have more.

Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I have won
Others to sin? and made my sin their door?
Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I did shun
A year or two, but wallowed in a score?
When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done,
For I have more.

I have a sin of fear, that when I have spun
My last thread, I shall perish on the shore;
Swear by Thy self, that at my death Thy Son
Shall shine as he shines now and heretofore;
And, having done that, Thou hast done,
I fear no more.

- John Donne, 1623

Amazing Love

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And Can It Be?, Charles Wesley, classic hymn

My favorite verse from one of my favorite hymns . . .

Long my imprisoned spirit lay

Fast bound in sin and nature’s night

Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light.

My chains fell off; my heart was free.

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Amazing love! how can it be

That Thou my God, shouldst die for me?

Charles Wesley, And Can It Be?

Other classic hymns:
Believe and Live
Monday Morning Milton
In Evil Long I Took Delight
Jesus Whose Blood So Freely Streamed
The Heart Healed and Changed by Mercy

“He Rules the World”

Tags

Christmas, classic hymn, hymn, Isaac Watts

If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that I have an affinity for classic hymnody. One of my favorite, and one of the most prolific hymn writers is Isaac Watts. Ironically, one of his most familiar songs is known for something he didn’t intend.

“Our Christmas season would hardly seem complete without the singing of Joy to the World, the most joyous of the carols. Yet Isaac Watts, its author, never intended it to be a Christmas carol at all. Rather, it was a part of his Psalms of David Imitated, published in 1719, which contained paraphrases of many of the Psalms in New Testament language.”

Read the rest of the article here.

My favorite verse:

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.