"O let me hear thee speaking in accents clear and still, above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self-will."

“O let me hear thee speaking in accents clear and still,

above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self-will.”

Hymn: “O Jesus, I Have Promised” – John E. Bode (1816-1874)

Common Tunes: ANGEL’S STORY, THORNBURY, WOLVERCOTE

Here we go again, asking for clarity and quiet! It must be a major need of mine since I seem to revert to this kind of hymn-line! Perhaps that is true of most of you in my ‘audience,’ so I will soldier on.

None of us wants to be spoken to in muffled tones. I’m reminded of the Seinfeld episode where he dealt with the “low talker” – remember her? Every time she said something to Jerry, she would lower her head and speak as though her mouth were filled with marbles. His frustration was one that we have all experienced. Now that I have a hearing aid in one ear and am stone deaf in the other, I am even more sensitive to low talkers!

This prayer-line asks for clarity from the mouth of God. While I’m sure HE never mumbles, we may often wear ear muffs, or ear plugs… or stick our fingers in our ears! So beginning now, when we ask God for the clarity of his still, small voice, we need to listen with all our powers because we know he wants us to hear and understand.

We also need to be constantly aware that he speaks in so very many ways: audibly to some (although that’s never been my experience), by gentle inner nudgings, through sermons and Bible studies, via other believers (or even non-believers and donkeys for that matter), and of course in Scripture. And do not for a moment forget that he speaks through hymns; otherwise, these writings are a major waste!

When our storms of passion are raging and our self-will is tugging at us to pull us away from our Center, then we must listen more intently – more intentionally. We are caught up in lots of passions (not all of them carnal!), and we’re constantly being pulled upon from every side until our self-will is hard pressed to maintain. Then… THEN we are forced to listen more closely to re-aright ourselves with the One who never mumbles.

Amidst the passions and the murmurs, the grumblings and the mumblings, the noise and the silence – listen.

The Angel’s Story Tune Played on a Parlor Organ

"Mine to tell me whence I came; mine to tell me what I am."

Hymn: “Holy Bible, Book Divine” – John Burton, Sr. (1773-1822)

Typical Tune: ALETTA

Keeping balance in my life is always a challenge. How about you? Staying grounded, keeping a proper perspective, finding my ‘true north’ – these are the things I contend with on a daily basis.

Most of the hymn “Holy Bible, Book Divine” is about how the Word of God is there for me to help me with these kinds of decisions, and each of these ideas is introduced by the two-word phrase “mine to.” In other words, the Bible is:

• ·         Mine to tell me whence I came
• ·         Mine to tell me what I am
• ·         Mine to chide me when I rove
• ·         Mine to show a Savior’s love
• ·         Mine to guide and guard
• ·         Mine to punish or reward
• ·         Mine to comfort in distress
• ·         Mine to show how to triumph over death
• ·         Mine to tell of joys to come.

Those first two are the grounding ones for me. My reading of, studying of, and meditating upon Scripture phrases (Bible-lines, if you please!) can often bring me back to my roots – all my beginnings.

This remembering where I came from and whose I am can simply keep me steady-headed throughout the days which are smooth-sailing… not a worry or a care. At times when I’m headed toward pride or self-inflation, recalling my origins and my ownership can give me a reality check and a good dose of humility. On those occasions when I feel un-necessary or worthless, those same recollections can restore my belief in myself and my gifts.

All of you know by now that I have a pretty modest genesis in east Tennessee. I tell my fine arts classes all the time that for someone who had never heard the “Hallelujah Chorus” sung live until I went away to college, it’s amazing how much I love great music; and for a kid who had never visited a real museum until I was an adult, I sure do enjoy seeing great art when I get the opportunity. Any time I feel the snobbery coming on, I have to remember whence I came, and be grateful for the appreciation of all things bright and beautiful that was instilled in me from my inaugural years.

When I was a kid, I belonged to Hedy and Raymond Huff; it wasn’t exactly slavery, but I probably thought it was at the time! The fact that I knew who was taking care of me gave me a positive hope that all would eventually be well, even when I may have thought there was no way my earliest ordeals could turn out for the good. Now, as a semi-retiree, I am still comforted by my Christ-owned situation… that I am his, and he is mine… that now I belong to Jesus.

Having more trouble than usual staying grounded? Remember where you came from and whose you are. If you need a little help with that, turn to the Holy Bible, Book Divine.

A guy singing this hymn in his apartment!

(There’s a brief ‘talk’ at the end, sorry.)

This hymn at the piano

"When at last I stand with the heav'nly choir... I shall never tire."

Hymn: “There’s a Glad New Song” – Words & Music by Albert C. Fisher (1886-1946)

Tune: REDEEMING LOVE

For the first time in over forty years, I am singing in a church choir! I’m experiencing the music ministry from the other side of the rail! I consider myself fortunate indeed to attend an evangelical church that still has a choir; the truth is that we’ve had several people join our church in recent months because they want to attend a service in which the music is choir-driven.

It’s a very good choir: they sing well, read music better than most volunteer groups, and they are engaged in their leadership of worship. Another way in which I am fortunate is that my minister of music is a great person, wonderful minister and a good friend. In other words, I’m enjoying the weekly rehearsals and the Sunday morning anthem-singing.

But one of these days, I plan to stand with a massive number of singers who gather near the throne of God to offer up continual praise of the One who sits there! I have the feeling the music never ends – that it’ll be like an incessant medley, won’t it? When we finish one great hymn or anthem, we’ll modulate into the next. For us musicians, THAT would be heavenly!

Although it sounds like an old gospel song, the third stanza of this fairly new hymn (first published in 1956, ten years after the death of its writer) speaks to me with today’s hymn-line and following:

            When at last I stand with the heav’nly choir in the light of the throne above,

            On the golden strand I shall never tire of the song of redeeming love!

            Of his love I shall ever sing

            Till above I behold the King.

            Through eternity my glad song shall be of the Savior’s redeeming love.

Sometimes I fly into the choir room after Sunday School and throw on my robe, make certain I have the correct stole turned to the right side, grab my folder and race to my chair, trying my best to be situated before the pre-service rehearsal begins. I often audibly say “Whew” as my backside hits the chair. But once the singing begins, I am renewed. I hope I shall never tire of singing the praises of God… in this life or the next.

[I couldn’t find a recording of this hymn. I hate that, because I’d love for you to hear it! Sometimes those hymns whose phrases speak to us are not as popular with everyone else as they were with us. Take my word for it: it’s worth hearing… and singing.]

"Dark is the stain that we cannot hide."

"Dark is the stain that we cannot hide."

Hymn: “Grace Greater Than Our Sin” – Julia H. Johnston (1849-1919)

Tune: MOODY

I got into trouble with this hymn one Sunday morning when I was serving First Baptist Church in Kingston, Tennessee. It was the day after the Tennessee Volunteers lost to Alabama in nearby Knoxville. Much to my embarrassment, we stood and sang, “Look, there is flowing a crimson tide.” Yes, there was an audible response from the congregation!

Today’s hymn-line points out a truth about ourselves that we don’t necessarily want to face up to: we are sinful people by nature. We may be able to hide/cover-up that embedded nature to our fellow humans, but we cannot hide it from our all-knowing, all-seeing Maker.

I read Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic novel The Scarlet Letter years ago and have seen a couple of movies and stage plays based on the story. It would have been a popular read during Julia Johnston’s life, so it may have played into her writing of this hymn-line. That emblazoned “A” certainly comes to my mind every time I sing this hymn.

After hearing a church-lady go on and on. complaining about a street person who had attended a worship service in a downtown city church – how he reeked of alcohol and tobacco – a very wise gentleman said to her, “I thank God my sin doesn’t smell.”

All of us have sinned and continue to miss the mark; some of us miss it less frequently than perhaps we used to! I am indeed glad that I am not forced to have my shame embroidered on my clothing; I am equally glad that my iniquity is not odorous. I am allowed to work out my sinfulness privately before God.

Amazingly, there is a grace that flows like a crimson tide, cleansing even the darkest stain left behind by our most grievous indiscretions. This marvelous, infinite, matchless grace is pouring forth freely from yonder on Calvary’s mount. We need to be reminded of this.

So, walk past the cosmetics counter; stop trying to cover up your sin blemishes. Head instead toward that Old Rugged Cross and allow yourself to be covered once again by the outpoured grace that is greater than all our sin.

Men’s Group Singing This Hymn

"He taught me how to watch and pray, and live rejoicing ev'ry day."

Hymn: “O Happy Day That Fixed My Choice” – Phillip Doddridge (1702-1751)

Tune: HAPPY DAY

Let’s take on a Sacred Harp tune today, why don’t we? Get your fasola in gear, and start singing this text and tune familiar to most every evangelical denomination. For today, I’m using a line from the refrain… from the part we all know by heart:

          

           He taught me how to watch and pray,

            And live rejoicing ev’ry day.

            Happy day! Happy day

            When Jesus washed my sins away!

When I’m posting a birthday greeting on Facebook, I often simply put “Happy Day,” because the greater percentage of my Facebook friends are also believers… and would likely get the crossover meaning of my post… giving a nod to their second birth as well as their initial one. Okay, so nobody gets it, but it is after all the thought that counts!

In our pilgrimage of faith, we have each learned to be alert (to watch) and to speak with God on a regular basis (pray). He… and many humans along the way… have drilled those into us. However, we stumble a bit when it comes to the live rejoicing ev’ry day part. Not because we don’t want to, but because we just don’t do it!

The rejoicing life – the life lived in a state of joy – is one of our goals AND one of the promises of scripture. It’s an easy face to put on, but not a simple process to carry out.

Recently from the choir loft of my church, I looked out over the congregation as we sang, “There are sweet expressions on each face,” and realized we just sang a lie! Fortunately, I don’t have a mirror in my choir folder; perhaps I should!

People outside the faith will not be attracted to grumpy, negative, frowning, cranky people inside the faith. You may be sharing your faith with everyone you meet, but your attitude may be decrying every word that comes with your well-rehearsed witness.

I’m pretty convinced after sixty-plus years of observation that our joy is our most-attractive tool for witnessing. I’ve been forced to go through too many church-in-a-box programs from which I have emerged full of the right Bible verses, yet possibly devoid of the joy to back them up.

In a contemporary African American spiritual, we sing, “This joy that I have the world didn’t give it to me… and the world can’t take it away.” In other words, we may conjure up a positive attitude and smile-crossed face, but it is the deeper, sincere joy for which we long. That authenticated-by-the-Spirit great delight is what we are after – and too often, it is what we will not allow to happen. It is yet another way we have fallen short of the glory of God!

I have a few heroes for whom this is truly their operating system – for whom the joy of the Lord is the strength of their lives. A hero is one after whom I would like to model my own existence, and in this case, that definition applies.

Let’s stop grinning our way through life. Let’s instead live rejoicing ev’ry day - not as a trick we pull off to appear happy, but as an act of plumbing the depths of the Spirit of Christ.

Wouldn’t this be a good day to start?

A Joyful Band Setting

 

The Cathedrals (fasola-version at the end!)

Note: For you hymn purists (It takes one to know one, by the way!), the refrain was added to the Doddridge hymn-text; therefore, today’s hymn-line is actually from an anonymous source.