“O how could I this friend deny when he’s so true to me.”

Hymn: "Jesus Is All the World to Me" - Will L. Thompson (1847-1909)

Tune: ELIZABETH (also by Will L. Thompson)

My friendships are of great value to me. I have garnered a throng of friends all the way from elementary school, college and seminary days to all the congregations I served during my forty-plus years in the music ministry around the country. Like you, I have groups into which I assign people as acquaintances... then buddies... then friends... then dear friends. It's not actually a ranking system: it's just the way relationships develop.

In the hymn-line we're considering, THIS friend is Jesus; it is to him we hymn* these words!

The dependability of God in Christ Jesus is another one of those attributes I like best. The earthly friends I cherish most are those who have been true to me - consistent in their love and support of the real me... 'warts and all.'

With Christ, I feel that I've never been depreciated. Seriously: how could I deny one who has never denied me? I know, I know: I deny him way too often -- it's the REAL "Peter Principle!" Hymn-texts and creeds are designed for us to voice our honest intentions, whether or not we are as true to our commitments as God is. And here, I think we are actually saying, "How is it that I can so often deny the one who is so true to me? I don't want to do that anymore.  So help me, God."

I like Robert Ray's get-down anthem "He Never Failed Me Yet" and have used it over the years with choirs. But the word "yet" really doesn't belong in that phrase; I don't anticipate that Christ will ever fail me because he has become a true friend -- I can at all points depend on him to be my ally.

Jesus Christ: undeniably my truest friend.

Listen to This Hymn

* - "Hymn" is also a transitive verb, so don't think I made that up!!!

“God, who touches earth with beauty, make me lovely, too.”

Hymn: “God, Who Touches Earth with Beauty” – Mary S. Edgar (1890 – 1973)

Common Tunes: GENEVA, BUTLER

This prayer hymn has some powerful phrases, and this opening line (repeated later) is simply meaningful, referring to our nature… not to our appearance.

My mother taught a Sunday School class of young women. Unlike some classes, she named hers “The Lovely Ladies Class.” The others had biblical connections or spiritual implications; but Mama called them her lovely ladies! They were involved in serious study of the Bible every Sunday morning, but the fellowship deepened throughout the years as they cared deeply about one another… and especially about their teacher.

When my parents celebrated their 40^th wedding anniversary, the Lovely Ladies hosted the special reception in their honor. I was living in Denver at the time, and those women covered all the details so that when I flew home, everything was ready. When my mother passed away, they were the ones who provided the after-burial luncheon for all our family members.

Over the years, I had kidded my mother about what she had named her class. But when they stepped in and filled the gaps needed to be sure she was highly honored in every way, I realized she had used the term ‘lovely’ because they truly had been touched by the beauty of Christ in their lives and were deep-down wonderful. As the hymn indicates, the Spirit had a re-creative effect on them, and their hearts had been renewed; they were glad and free, strong and sure… and they conducted a ministry of love for one another, especially for their devoted Sunday School teacher.

I’m not interested in being good-looking; that’s not the kind of loveliness I seek. I sincerely want the beauty of Christ to be realized by those to whom and with whom I minister.

This text sung by Houston Children’s Choir

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tAS6hppiNkY

"All my fears release. Let them on wings take flight, never more to cloud my sight."

 Hymn: "Come, Holy Spirit, Come" - Marian Wood Chaplin (1914-     )

Tune: CHAPLIN (also by Marian Wood Chaplin)

You can ask anyone who knows me well: I am a person of great faith and of great fear! That may seem like an oxymoron, but my guess is that is true of more of us than we may want to admit. We believe that God watches over us, we trust him implicitly, we have great confidence in his workings in our lives; BUT we are still people bound by fear.

For those of us who will admit that we are fearful types, this hymn-line may well serve as our prayer for today. Have you ever noticed the way a falconer holds the bird of prey in his/her hands and then releases it into the air, almost as if tossing it? I wish I could do that with my fears. I wish I could step out into my back yard and perform that kind of circus act. Off those fears would fly; but unlike the circus act, I would not hold out my gloved arm onto which the fear could return.

My vision has been too often blurred by my fears -- how about yours? How many things might we have achieved in our careers or for the kingdom if we had simply tossed our fears into the air and watched them take flight -- not to someone else down the street, but into the ever-collecting nail-scarred hands of the One who commands us over and over in scripture, "Do not be afraid." "Do not fear."

I don't even want to think about it. I don't want to face those facts. I'm even afraid of that!

Another great hymn text says, "Give to the winds your fears." Is the hymnal trying to tell us something?

Pardon me for a few minutes. I need to go out in the back yard and release a bird that's been preying on me long enough now!

[Appears in BAPTIST HYMNAL 1991 and CELEBRATING GRACE - no recording found]

"What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul?"

Hymn: “What Wondrous Love Is This?”
American Folk Hymn
Tune: WONDROUS LOVE

This mournful Appalachian-sounding tune carries its text so perfectly. There are few hymn text/tune marriages that are more in line than this one. From its opening question to its final song of freedom, this hymn speaks so many moods with so much depth of expression.

The question is simple: What kind of love pulls the Lord of all happiness and joy from THAT kind of seemingly perfect state to shoulder the curse of death? That’s pretty profound in itself; but you tag on the last three words, “for MY soul,” and it takes an inward turn.

We realize it was not just a general act designed to scoop up all of humankind into some unified net and redeem them as a group. It’s the realization that while it was accomplished for any who would respond, it was also finished for ME.

I believe Christ died for sinners… I believe Christ died for the church… I believe Christ died for all the saints who’ve gone before us… I believe Christ died for many who will come after us. But for it to take on the enormous significance it deserves in MY life, I have to come to terms with the fact, and say without a doubt… I believe Christ died for ME.

What kind of love is this? It is the love that only God can fully display, and we can only emulate.

St. Olaf Choir Sings This Hymn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsVnvN3EVxY

"On the cross he sealed my pardon, paid the debt and made me free."

Hymn: “I Will Sing of My Redeemer” – Phillip P. Bliss (1838-1876

Tune: MY REDEEMER

This is one of those songs which is often sung too trippingly to catch all the words. It certainly is cause for joy, but if we are not careful, its poignancy may be missed. I’m not sure we should ever approach the cross-event lightly… even in our singing!

Our pardon has been written up and the seal has been applied, making it official. We are no longer held accountable for that for which we have been charged – our sin. Though guilty as charged, the Great Governor - he who governs all – has responded to our plea for leniency. Clemency is ours. The paperwork is completed; our pardon is secured… sealed by the blood of the Lamb. Thanks be to God!

We, who were once owned by the purveyors of sin, have been bought back by our Maker. The enormous debt we owe has been paid in full; that rubber stamp has been inked and applied to our documentation, and we go throughout the rest of our earthly existence, paperwork in hand, as freedmen… and freedwomen. To quote a spiritual from the black American tradition: “Free at last, free at last. I thank God, I’m free at last!”

In one of this hymn’s stanzas, Bliss says: “In his boundless love and mercy, he the ransom freely gave.” Ransomed, pardoned, debt-paid, freed. And all this was done “at the cross where I first saw the light” 

Slow the song down a bit and take in the words. Find new richness in the text of this old gospel song.

Fernando Ortega

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU5hhE9cN6A