On Thursdays in December, I will be featuring a hymn from the season and its story. I love hearing the roots of these songs as music adds so much to the holidays and to our worship. Those who sing, pray twice – St Augustine.“O Holy Night” is one of the most beautiful hymns ever written. Its haunting music and uplifting lyrics draw us into the story of our Saviors birth in a special way. Listen here to Celine Dion sing this Christmas classic.Did you know this hymn was at one time banned and controversial?The LyristPlacide Cappeau (1808-1877) wrote the lyrics. Known more for his love of wine and poetry than his love for Christ, the local parish priest asked him to write a poem for the Christmas mass. Not sure where to start, Cappeau imagined what it would have been like to witness the story found in Luke. The ComposerCappeau asked his friend Adolphe Charles Adams to put the words to music. The words were difficult to place in a tune, even for this well-known composer of over 80 operas. … [Read more...]
Auld Lang Syne
“It’s a Wonderful Life” – my absolutely favorite movie! I broke away from Christmas busyness and escaped for a few hours the other day – indulging myself in my annual treat of watching Jimmy Stewart in this great movie. The closing scene still gives me goose bumps – surrounded by what really matters in life – friends and family – knowing Clarence got his wings and all singing the classic "bring in the new year" song – Auld Lang Syne.Since I have writing about the stories behind difference Advent and Christmas hymns this month, I wondered about this song. I sing it with gusto each year and don’t even know what the title means. Here is what I learned:· Auld Lang Syne literally translates to "Old Long Since," and more roughly it means "long, long ago" or "days gone by."· Auld Lang Syne is a Scottish poem, thought to be composed or at least compiled by Scottish poet and lyricist Robert Burns in 1788. · The tune is the traditional folk melody though was played faster for … [Read more...]
The Christmas Star – Lectio Divina
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. Matthew 2:10 The starLord, I awoke early this week to watch the Geminid Meteors streak across the sky. I sat in my dark warm office by the window and waited and waited and waited. Nothing.SighWas I just fool to believe I would see a shooting star? Maybe I missed them. Perhaps I was looking in the wrong places. This is ridiculous, I thought, I should be in bed.But in the silence and stillness of the dark house, You quietly entered my heart. So we talked. Just you and me, Lord, staring at your creation that twinkled and sparkled above me. I placed in Your hands my worries and concerns. I lifted up my friends who are hurting. I whined a little and then remembered to thank you for all things.Thank you Lord for the stars and this quiet time together. My heart felt warm in the embrace of Your love and joy. The very act of lifting my eyes upward to watch for You, open the curtain of … [Read more...]
Fourth Sunday in Advent Quote – John Brokhoff
"What has happened to the old-fashioned, spiritual Christmas? The cause is our disregard of Advent. The church set aside this four-week pre-Christmas season as a time of spiritual preparation for Christ’s coming. It is a time of quiet anticipation. If Christ is going to come again into our hearts, there must be repentance. Without repentance, our hearts will be so full of worldly things that there will be ‘no room in the inn’ for Christ to be born again.We have the joy not of celebration, which is the joy of Christmas, but the joy of anticipation.” ~ John R. Brokhoff … [Read more...]
Oh Lord, How Shall I Meet Thee – Advent Hymn Story
On Thursdays in December, I will be featuring a hymn from the season and its story. I love hearing the roots of these songs as music adds so much to the holidays and to our worship. Those who sing, pray twice – St Augustine. This Advent hymn - O Lord, How Shall I Meet Thee - was a new one for me, though I recognized the tune when I heard it (hear it here). The title alone though spoke to my soul and felt very fitting for Advent.How do we meet the Lord? In this crazy busy time of year, do I rush into your presence or do I stop everything and fully focus on You, Lord? How do I meet You?Love the last phrase of the first verse: To do in spirit lowly all that may please you best. – What a prayer for the season!Written by Paul Gerhardt, who was born in 1607 near Wittenberg in Germany, and studied theology at the University of Wittenberg from 1628 to 1642. In 1651 he was ordained and made pastor of a church in Brandenburg, near Berlin. Despite personal suffering (four of his children died … [Read more...]
CHAZOWN – Finding Your Vision – Book Review
Do you have a vision? Can you state your purpose in life? Are you aware of your core values that drive your behavior?Chazown by Craig Groeschel is a book what could help guide you in answering these questions. Chazown in Hebrew means “vision.”Chazown directs us to find our core values and spiritual gifts, and identify our past experiences. Ideally when we analyze these three areas of our life we should be able to zero in on our life purpose. What I liked about this book is its brief easy to read format with many practical tools ad motivating and often humorous stories. You feel like you are talking with a friend.This is the type of book I will pull off my shelf once a year or so when I am thinking of next year’s goals. Its words of wisdom will help me sort through the noise and get to my key foundational values quickly and clearly. He asks thought provoking questions we all should consider frequently in life: 1. If money was no object and you could do anything your wanted for … [Read more...]
Our Advent Hope – Lectio Divina
And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him." May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 15:12-13)You may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit God of Hope ~ – Lord, Oh, how I cling to the sound of that phrase.You are my hope, my lifeline, my only salvation.Yet why do I not live in that hope each day?Why do I let the darkness of the world take over and cloud my sight?Why do I think my own ego can handle my life?Elusive joy withers in my hands as I struggle in a desolated desert. Your rich soil waits to nourish my roots if only I would trust You.Come Holy Spirit ~Pour your life-giving hope into my parched heart.Your strength buoys my weak knees and cheerless heart.Come Holy Spirit ~Fill me with your joy and peace – the only thing you ask in return is my trust.Lord … [Read more...]
THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT QUOTE OF THE WEEK – Mark Zimmermann
This Advent we look to the wise men to teach us where to focus our attention. We set our sights on things above, where God is. We draw closer to Jesus... When our Advent journey ends, and we reach the place where Jesus resides in Bethlehem, may we, like the Wise Men, fall on our knees and adore him as our true and only King - Mark Zimmermann … [Read more...]