"The Lord Will Provide" -- Mike's Hymn o' the Week for Friday, July 27, 2007

This week's hymn is "The Lord Will Provide," by John Newton. It must be one of Newton's lesser-known (certainly lesser-known than "Amazing Grace"). A cursory Google search did not yield the full set of lyrics. I should say, I have usually been getting them from CyberHymnal.org, and there is a hymn there entitled, "The Lord Will Provide," but it is not this one. Instead, it comes to me via Matthew Smith's CD, "All I Owe" (and its liner notes).

The song as whole is a great testament to the Christian's life, lived dependent wholly on God. The most beautiful part of the song for me is the very last line: "We hope to die shouting the Lord will provide". It puts a tear in my eye as I pray that it will be true of me. A man whose life ends shouting, "the Lord will provide" is a man whose life was lived by that philosophy, who has no fears, doubts, or regrets, but instead knows that his Lord will welcome him with open arms into Paradise. May it be true of each of us, that we die shouting, "the Lord will provide!"

The Lord Will Provide
by John Newton

Though troubles assail and dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail and foes all unite;
Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide,
The scripture assures us, the Lord will provide

The birds without barn or storehouse are fed,
From them let us learn to trust for our bread:
His saints, what is fitting, shall ne'er be denied,
So long as it's written, the Lord will provide

We may, like the ships, by the tempest be tossed
On perilous deeps, but cannot be lost.
Though Satan enrages the wind and the tide,
The promise engages, the Lord will provide.

His call we obey, like Abram of old,
Not knowing our way, but faith makes us bold;
For though we are strangers we have a good Guide,
And trust in all dangers, the Lord will provide

When Satan appears to stop up our path,
And fill us with fears, we triumph by faith;
He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried,
This heart-cheering promise, the Lord will provide

He tells us we're weak, our hope is in vain,
The good that we seek we ne'er shall obtain,
But when such suggestions our spirits have plied,
This answers all questions, the Lord will provide

No strength of our own, or goodness we claim,
Yet since we have known the Savior's great name;
In this our strong tower for safety we hide,
The Lord is our power, the Lord will provide

When life sinks apace and death is in view,
This word of his grace shall comfort us through:
No fearing or doubting with Christ on our side,
We hope to die shouting the Lord will provide

"The Church's One Foundation" -- Mike's Hymn o' the Week, Friday, July 20, 2007

This week's hymn for contemplation is "The Church's One Foundation," words by Samuel A. Stone. If ever there is a good old Reformed hymn, this is it (actually, there may be others that are better, but there are great examples of Reformed theology in here). Aside from that, it is a wonderful song of the Church and her relationship to the Godhead.

But hey, I'll stop blabbing and let the hymn speak for itself.

The Church's One Foundation
By: Samuel A. Stone

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.

Elect 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 both 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!

Hope from History (via the Trinity Law School blog)

Just thought I'd share a very cool post by Donald McConnell over at the Trinity Law School blog (Dean McConnell is also writing for the Christian Theology team blog). He opens with

Do not be discouraged.

In the fight to reform America and her laws, it could be easy to become discouraged. More and more people seem to be rejecting the very idea that moral truth exists, can be known, and should be the spirit behind all human laws.

But things have been as bad or worse at other times in history.

and then continues to lay out a few examples. It's a great reminder to not get too caught up in the moment but to instead understand that God can work even through times such as these that we find ourselves in now.

From the Confessions of Augustine:

Book I, [IV] 4. What art Thou then, my God? What, but the Lord God? For who is Lord but the Lord? or who is God save our God? Most highest, most good, most potent, most omnipotent; most merciful, yet most just; most hidden, yet most present; most beautiful, yet most strong; stable, yet incomprehensible; unchanging, yet all-changing; never new, never old; all-renewing, and bringing age upon the proud, and they know it not; ever working, ever at rest; still gathering, yet nothing lacking; supporting, filling, and overspreading; creating, nourishing, and maturing; seeking, yet having all things. Thou lovest, without passion; art jealous, without anxiety; repentest, yet grievest not; art angry, yet serene; changest Thy works, Thy purpose unchanged; receivest again what Thou findest, yet didst never lose; never in need, yet rejoicing in gains; never covetous, yet exacting usury. Thou receivest over and above, that Thou mayest owe; and owing nothing; remittest debts, losing nothing. And what have I now said, my God, my life my holy joy? or what saith an man when he speaks of Thee? Yet woe to him that speaketh not, since mute are even the most eloquent.

I really enjoy the last two sentences the most. Also, does anyone know if Augustine was Roman or African? I know he was born in Numidia, but that area was controlled or was previously controlled by Rome, correct? And, was he originally writing in Greek or Latin? Becasue he said he enjoyed learning Latin and not Greek. Anyway, it really doesn't matter at all; I was just wondering.

"For all the Saints" -- Mike's Hymn o' the Week (Friday, July 13, 2007)

In an effort to encourage my small sphere of influence on the Interweb to sing more hymns, I am going to begin posting a favorite hymn of the week on Fridays-ish every week. Many will likely have come to me via the Indelible Grace project, which I encourage all of you to check out. They release CDs full of hymns set to modern music (though generally very strongly influenced by the familiar tune known to people familiar with the literature of hymns). This week's hymn is the title track off their third CD, "For All the Saints," as performed by Dan Haseltine of Jars of Clay. I include all the verses of the original hymn, a subset of which are sung on the album. They are denoted by an asterisk (*), in case you are interested.

The verse beginning with "But lo there breaks..." does not fail to put a smile on my face and a tear in my eye as I think toward the glorious future hope that the saints of God hold. Enjoy, and may your spirit be renewed by How's lovely words.

For all the Saints
By: William W. How

*For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

*Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the Apostles’ glorious company,
Who bearing forth the Cross o’er land and sea,
Shook all the mighty world, we sing to Thee:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the Evangelists, by whose blest word,
Like fourfold streams, the garden of the Lord,
Is fair and fruitful, be Thy Name adored.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For Martyrs, who with rapture kindled eye,
Saw the bright crown descending from the sky,
And seeing, grasped it, Thee we glorify.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
All are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

*O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

*The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

*But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
And singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Thoughts on a conversation with secular humanists (A first post of many)

A friend of mine and I were in downtown Lincoln, NE, last Friday night (as been our pseudo-ritual this summer), where there is a particular street preacher who we occasionally have discussions with. Evidently, over the course of the past year, the Lincoln Secular Humanists have taken it upon themselves to stand on the opposite street corner with signs that say things like "Good Morals Don't Come from the Bible," "Humanists Don't Blow Up Buildings," and my personal favorite, "Honk for Tolerance." Words and their actual meanings aside, the most interesting part of the night was a conversation James and I had with two humanists on the nature and existence of morals.

At one point, we wondered where they thought their morals came from, to which they replied, "our parents," who got them from their parents, etc. They insisted that they were not relativists, yet some form of moral relativism, while not guaranteed in such a system, is eminently possible (and, I would argue, probable). Eventually, they shifted their position slightly and said we should refrain from doing certain things (like random killings, torturing babies for fun, etc.) because they either are illegal or, more generally, they would prevent the continuation of the species. These are generally true descriptions of the way the world is. If I abide by the law, I will refrain from committing all sorts of heinous acts and I will help to continue the existence of the human race (if only by refraining from taking members out of it). These are true facts, though they say nothing as to whether or not I am a "good" person, because they do not define goodness, only legally acceptable things. Further, they offer no account of the value, or oughtness, implicit in the statement "murder is wrong," for instance. Why is murder wrong, and not simply illegal? Why is the continuation of the human race considered a "good" thing? Invariably, it seems to me that this eventually, in one form or another, regresses to a statement of "because I/we said so," without ever addressing the real question of moral content. If a society exists in which murder is not necessarily wrong, but allowed in certain circumstances, we begin to tread relativistic waters. And yet the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), among others, endorses a universal morality.

In his book, "A Christan Manifesto," Francis Schaeffer points out that "Humanism, with its lack of any final base for values or law, always leads to chaos. It then naturally leads to some form of authoritarianism to control the chaos." I do not think it's difficult to see why this would be true, if man is indeed the measure of all things. How dangerous is that idea! One sometimes hates always bagging on Nazi Germany, but it's just such a good example of what can go wrong when we take our prescriptives for morality and behavior from societal codes: chaos and authoritarianism.

Note that, regardless of what they thought we were saying, we never once accused them of being immoral people. No properly functioning Christian would accuse a humanist of being completely amoral. Of course, everyone is capable of immoral behavior; that's not the issue. We merely pointed out that they cannot account for a moral order in the world. They may certainly point to laws and parental directives, but that is to simply skirt the issue of the existence of a universal moral order.

As I continue to pursue a career in academia, I am constantly reminded (and disheartened) at the pervasiveness of secular humanism in the academy, both among my fellow graduate students as well as my professors. As such, I am anticipating an ongoing series of thoughts on conversations I have with my fellow students and others on this subject. I'll doubtless post on other topics, as well, but this is a theme (along with the more general theme of the intersection of Christianity and the academy) that I will continue to explore, especially as I have a chance to attend the C.S. Lewis Foundation's National Faculty Forum, entitled "The Crisis of the University: Religion and the Future of the Academy," this fall.

Quick shout out

Just wanted to let everyone know about a team blog (it is on our favorite's list) called Christian Theology. Check it out.

P.S. Mike is on there...he'll probably be mad that I told you, so don't let him know it was me :)

Examine yourself by Paul Washer

Hopefully soon I will be making posts other than these links, but I find that they should be listened to. Take what is said and hold it in the light of Scripture to see if it is true or not, but listen to it and read Scripture without trying to fit what you believe to it, but conform yourself to Him and His will nonetheless.


http://www.evangelismteam.com/sermons/mp3/examine.mp3


Take care all,
Jordan

I've been thinking that I need to apologize for some of the off-handed, arrogant comments that I've made. I would like to apologize specifically to James. Sometimes for me to learn (and ironically to be humbled) I shoot off at the mouth (or keyboard) so I can be corrected and see if what I believe are legitimate or not. I am a young believer and need to be reminded of it often. Mike made a comment once that he was contemplating "purpose". I'm trying to do that now also.

If you haven't noticed, I have horrible organizational skills. So, from all that, I'm going to jump into some other ideas. My brother posted this link on his blog and I wanted to share it with you all.

http://wayofthemasterradio.com/listenwatch/ToddFriel_Sermon-Bethel_TX.mp3

P.S. Mike and I joke (well, sort of) about eachother being heretics...well, from doing some reading lately God has shown me that I tread off the narrow path of Truth. I suggest...though some of you probably already do...to read up on the nature of God, because if we don't believe in the God of the Bible then we don't believe in the one true God who is justified in crushing all sinners and mighty to save.

Jordan

A hymn: "Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken"

I think I'm just going to continue to post hymns as they strike a chord in me. This is the latest culprit. I may come back and edit this post later to include some of my reasoning, but for now I leave you with "Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken", by Henry F. Lyte.

Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken
By Henry Lyte

Jesus, I my cross have taken,
All to leave and follow Thee.
Destitute, despised, forsaken,
Thou from hence my all shall be.
Perish every fond ambition,
All I’ve sought or hoped or known.
Yet how rich is my condition!
God and Heaven are still mine own.

Let the world despise and leave me,
They have left my Savior, too.
Human hearts and looks deceive me;
Thou art not, like them, untrue.
And while Thou shalt smile upon me,
God of wisdom, love and might,
Foes may hate and friends disown me,
Show Thy face and all is bright.

Go, then, earthly fame and treasure!
Come, disaster, scorn and pain!
In Thy service, pain is pleasure;
With Thy favor, loss is gain.
I have called Thee, “Abba, Father”;
I have set my heart on Thee:
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather,
All must work for good to me.

Man may trouble and distress me,
’Twill but drive me to Thy breast.
Life with trials hard may press me;
Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
Oh, ’tis not in grief to harm me
While Thy love is left to me;
Oh, ’twere not in joy to charm me,
Were that joy unmixed with Thee.

Take, my soul, thy full salvation;
Rise o’er sin, and fear, and care;
Joy to find in every station
Something still to do or bear:
Think what Spirit dwells within thee;
What a Father’s smile is thine;
What a Savior died to win thee,
Child of heaven, shouldst thou repine?

Haste then on from grace to glory,
Armed by faith, and winged by prayer,
Heaven’s eternal day’s before thee,
God’s own hand shall guide thee there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission,
Swift shall pass thy pilgrim days;
Hope soon change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

Wrath of God

Just wanted to share this with you all. It is a sermon by Pastor Jim Tieszen in Vermillion, SD.

http://www.mkjanssen.com/mp3/PT-Wrath_of_God.mp3

From Charles Spurgeon

Just Damnation

I know that you have attended this Tabernacle ever since it was built, and listened to our ministry for years; but boast not of that; away with that as a ground of trust; pull off that garment. You have never failed in business; you have brought up your children well; you never swear; you were never a drunkard; midnight orgies never saw you mixed up in them; this is well, but I pray you, put not on this as your proper dress: the proper dress for a sinner to go to Christ in, is sackcloth and the rope. “Well,” says one, “I never will acknowledge that I deserve to be damned!” Then you never will be saved. “Well,” says another, “I never will take the language of a great sinner upon my lips.” Then you shall never be saved; for unless you are willing to confess that God may justly damn you, God will never save you; but if you feel in your heart to-night, that if He sends your soul to Hell, His righteous Law approves it well ; if you wonder how it is that you are not in the pit, and marvel why such mercy should have been shown to you, come, brother, come; come as you are, for you wear the true court-dress of a sinner. When a beggar goes out to beg at the door, should he put on a new black coat, and a clean white cravat, and kid gloves. Nay, verily, let him clothe himself in tatters — the more rents he has the better — for tatters are the livery of a beggar, and rags are the court-dress of a mendicant. So, come in your sins; come in your doubts; come in your hardness of heart; come in your impenitence; come in your deadness; come in your lethargy; come as you are — foul, vile, filthy, waiting for no amendment, but with a rope upon your neck, and a garment of sackcloth about your loins; come now, come now; God help you to come.

I just read this on the front page of wayofthemasterradio.com and it corresponded with some things I have been thinking about. I find that when the battle of my flesh and the Holy Spirit is the greatest is when I do not have either a correct view of God, or I forget what an undeserving wretch I am and that, as Spurgeon put more eloquently than I can,

"God may justly damn [me]" and "if He sends [my] soul to Hell, His righteous Law approves it well".

_______________________________________________________

I'm going to copy Mike and share a hymn that was sung last Sunday night at a Community Bible Church:

GRACE GREATER THAN OUR SIN

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt, Yonder on Calvary's mount out-poured, There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Refrain:
Grace, grace, God's grace (split part: Marvelous grace, infinite grace) Grace that will pardon and cleanse within! [repeat]

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Refrain

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide-
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! there is flowing a crimson tide;
Whiter than snow you may be today.

Refrain

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

Refrain