Nolan's Blog & More New Music

Unfortunately, this is going to be a short post...and it may be my last post until the new year. I'm leaving for Illinois tomorrow and won't return home from Kentucky until December 30th. One of the things I'll be working on from now until then is my new top hymns list, anchored by the fact that I received the newest Red Mountain Music CD on Friday. It's another great CD that I would highly recommend. The songs I like the best so far are "This Breaks My Heart Of Stone," "Come Heavy Laden," and "Windows Of Thy Grace." The top hymns list will be at least 50 songs long, and I am even going to use a spreadsheet. I'll be ranking the songs on various criteria, which I will share shortly.

Also, my son Nolan has started his own blog to put up pictures for anyone interested. As he gets older, perhaps he'll share some cool stories about his days. For now, his days are pretty simple: eat, sleep, lay dung, cry, and repeat.

Indelible Grace V Arrives!

Monday through Thursday, all the same. Fatiguing nights, long days at work, a tired wife, and a crying baby...and no new Indelible Grace CD. I preordered a copy of their newest work of art as soon as I could and have been eagerly been anticipating its arrival since. Finally, today, Friday, my mailbox was blessed with the sight of a brown padded envelope that contained my long awaited compact disc of grace. Indelible Grace V, Wake Thy Slumbering Children has arrived!

So while I stay up late listening to the songs and reading the lyrics when my body is screaming for sleep, I couldn't help myself but to share a song that could very well bust into my top 10 when I redo my top hymn list early next year.

Hymn Spotlight - "Abide With Me"

Song Title: Abide With Me
Artist: Matthew Perryman Jones
Album: IG5 - Wake Thy Slumbering Children
Writers: Henry Lyte, Justin Smith

Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens, Lord with me abide
When other helpers, fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, abide with me

Thou on my head, in early youth didst smile
And though rebellious, and perverse meanwhile
Thou has not left me, though I oft left thee
On to the close Lord, abide with me

I need Thy presence, every passing hour
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness
Where is thy sting death? Where grave thy victory?
I triumph still, abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross, before my closing eyes
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

What's interesting to me right away is that this song underwent a small rewrite when it joined the Indelible Grace CD. I believe the second verse has been totally rewritten by Justin Smith with the rest of the song (for the most part) being written by Henry Lyte in 1847.

Why this hymn: While I totally expected the three Sandra McCracken songs to catch my ear at first, it wasn't those songs (though they sound pretty good too) that caused me to break out the lyrics for the first time. I've probably never been so excited to receive a CD in the mail as I was today. Wake Thy Slumbering Children is a clever title, and as my own small child makes little noises in his slumber as I write this, I am reminded of what a wretch I've been spiritually since joining the ranks of fatherhood. Abide With Me is a great hymn, and while I can't say for sure due to the fact I haven't listened to the CD 30 times yet, it might be the best song on this new CD. After only two listens, I felt a tear or two stream down my face. Matthew Perryman Jones is easily one of my favorite singers (and one I've actually met). His vocals, deep lyrics, and excellent music set this hymn apart.

Why I like it: This hymn does my soul well (to steal a line from beloved writer J.C. Ryle). What it cries out to me is of course something I already know. But God invented music for a reason didn't he? The beautiful things in this world were created for us to know God more. What this hymn communicates to me is that abiding with Christ is my lifeline. I must do it. I can't survive in this world by myself. Though there are many great things to help us along the way...I'm thinking music, books, friends, spouses, parents, movies, sermons, etc....nothing can compare to abiding with our Lord. Christ is light in the darkness. Christ is there when the helpers fail. Though I have oft left him, he has never left me. Only his grace can free me from sin and fight Satan, for I am powerless to fight on my own. Regardless of my circumstances, I will always triumph, for nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. Any song that puts these thoughts in my head is worthing of a spotlight. Plus, it sounds great.

Related Scripture: John 15:1-17, 1 John 2:23-29, 1 Corinthians 15:54-58

Favorite Line: "Thou has not left me, though I oft left thee; On to the close Lord, abide with me." Alright, so I feel sort of dirty picking a line from the hymn written in 2007, but hey, I really liked it. The whole song is packed with great lyrics. But lines like these always get to me. For I know that my soul wanders all the time. I know I have hours and days in which I don't abide with Christ at all. While my soul hates those times, they happen, and it's a great comfort to know that Christ does not leave me. A truth like this can be repeated to me over and over, and it's sweet every time. What joy there is in knowing that my redeemer sustains and keeps me as his own! And he will until the book of my life closes. Amen.

The Life Of Paul -- Through Song and Scripture

So it's quite obvious - I like hymns a lot. I'm sure if a statistical analysis was done of this blog, the topic of "hymns" would rise to the top of the list of my most blogged about topics. What isn't so well known is that Paul of Tarsus liked some of these very same songs. In this very different post, I will attempt to write a fictional account of the life of Paul using hymns and songs.

Here's the scene...Saul, a persecutor of The Way, is on a road leading to a place called Damascus, is suddenly interrupted by a unique visitor...

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.

"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

Whoa..wait a minute. Paul was blind for three days and did eat or drink anything? Are you kidding me? That's a long time to go without water. What on earth was on his mind? Well, considering Jesus and all that he had done to the followers of The Way, Paul was reminded of a song he heard, but was it the Sandra McCracken version or the Caedmon's Call version of the hymn that he had in his mind? So he sang "Laden With Guilt" to describe how he was feeling...and how suddenly all of the Scriptures that he had memorized began to make sense. Saul could finally see how he had fallen short his whole life that he thought he had lived so well - alas, the guilt and fear and hopelessness of a life in the grip of sin raced through his mind, and he starts to see the hope that is in Christ.

Laden with guilt and full of fears
I fly to Thee my Lord
And not a glimpse of hope appears
But in Thy written word
The volumes of my Father's grace
Does all my griefs assuage
Here I behold my Savior's face
In every page

This is the field where hidden lies
The pearl of price unknown
That merchant is divinely wise
Who makes the pearl his own
Here consecrated water flows
To quench my thirst of sin
Here the fair tree of knowledge grows
No danger dwells within

This is the judge that ends the strife
Where wit and reason fail
My guide to everlasting life
Throughout this gloomy vale
O may Thy counsels, mighty God
My roving feet command
Nor I forsake the happy road
That leads to Thy right hand

But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Wow! What a transformation. Three days without food or water or sight and now this! How could a mere man have such resilience and determination to get right with God? Sometime after this awakening, Paul realizes a great truth - he was God's chosen instrument to carry the name of Christ to the Gentiles. After all he had done, God has chosen to use him. What a debt he owed God that he could not repay. But he would certainly do his best to live his life for the one who died...and he could be seen skipping along the roads singing this song about how God opened his eyes (Who Made Me to Know You - Sovereign Grace Music)...

Who made me to know You, but You
When dead in sin You gave me new life
Now my heart is filled with love for You, Jesus

Father, thank You for Your Spirit’s work in me
For opening my eyes to the Christ of Calvary
Jesus, You gave Your life in exchange for mine
Now I will live for You who died, Jesus

You placed a crown of grace on my head
You covered me in robes of righteousness
Forever I will always be Yours, Jesus

And he definitely followed through on his promise -- Paul certainly lived his life for the one who died for him. All along, God didn't forget his promise to Ananias, "I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." And suffer for his name he did...

"Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

"Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers."

Is it any wonder that Paul once even wrote this...?

"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!"

What isn't all that well known is what song Paul was often heard singing when he wrote the book of Philippians (Weary of Earth, Myself, and Sin - Red Mountain Music)...

Weary of earth, myself and sin,
Dear Jesus set me free,
And to Thy glory take me in,
For there I long to be.

Let a poor laborer here below,
When from his toil set free;
To rest and peace eternal go;
For there I long to be.

Burdened, dejected and oppressed,
Ah! Whither shall I flee,
But to Thy arms for peace and rest?
For there I long to be.

Empty, polluted, dark and vain,
Is all this world to me;
May I the better world obtain;
For there I long to be.

But of course this story has a happy ending. Several people claim that the song Paul sung as he was dying was none other than "Pearly Gates" by Red Mountain Music...

Love divine, so great and wondrous,
Deep and mighty, pure, sublime!
Coming from the heart of Jesus,
Just the same through tests of time.

He the pearly gates will open,
So that I may enter in;
For He purchased my redemption,
And forgave me all my sin.

Like a dove when hunted, frightened,
As a wounded fawn was I;
Brokenhearted, yet He healed me,
He will heed the sinner's cry.

Love divine, so great and wondrous,
All my sins He then forgave!
I will sing His praise forever,
For His blood, His power to save.

In life's eventide, at twilight,
At His door I'll knock and wait;
By the precious love of Jesus,
I shall enter Heaven's gate.

Sorry, but I never did find out what the thorn in his side was :(