“Some of the early missionaries, on returning home, were reproved by the Lord in section 84 of the Doctrine and Covenants because they had treated lightly the Book of Mormon. As a result, their minds had been darkened. The Lord said that this kind of treatment of the Book of Mormon brought the whole Church under condemnation, even all of the children of Zion. And then the Lord said, ‘And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon.’ (See D&C 84:54–57.) Are we still under that condemnation?”Reading the Book of Mormon is one of the greatest persuaders to get men on missions. We need more missionaries. But we also need better-prepared missionaries coming out of the wards and branches and homes where they know and love the Book of Mormon. A great challenge and day of preparation is at hand for missionaries to meet and teach with the Book of Mormon. We need missionaries to match our message.”

Ezra Taft Benson, “The Book of Mormon Is the Word of God,” Ensign, May 1975, 65

As my education has exposed me to more of the older traditions of Christianity, I’ve become more sensitive to seeing them show up in the world around me.  I now read books, articles, and blogs more critically, taking into account where the worldview of the author actually originated from.  This has even spilled over into song lyrics.  Today, I heard something interesting.

Christmas it getting closer, and the radio has begun playing everyone’s favorite music.  In the car, Relient K’s version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” came on.  Here are some lyrics that caught my attention:

Whats a partridge?
And whats a pear tree?
I don’t know so please don’t ask me,
But I can bet those are terrible gifts to get. (source)

When I heard this, I recalled a class period when my English teacher had told us what the meanings were behind the items in “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”  Obviously Relient K didn’t quite understand what they were saying:

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

Two turtle doves were the Old and NewTestaments.

Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit-Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.  (source)

As you go about your daily lives this Christmas season, don’t be so quick to turn off the old Christmas carols.  Their meanings may be much deeper than you previously thought.

Happy New Year!  As far as the church calendar goes, that is.  By the way, what a way to end the year.  Starting with a celebration of Christ’s coming, life, death, and resurrection and ending with Thanksgiving for how God has been at work just makes sense.

Anyway.  Last year for advent I went through the candles, looking at the different characters in the Christmas story.  This year I want to zoom out a little bit and see the Christmas story within the framework of the larger story of the Bible.  To start that, we look at the Old Testament and how, after the Fall, Christ is promised and anticipated.  From types and shadows such as Joseph and David to the efficacy of blood in the Passover and sacrificial system, all of the Old Testament points to Christ.  Even though Jesus wasn’t the particular type of Messiah Israel was looking for, the Incarnation was not unexpected.

Come Thou long-expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the saints Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

I am exited to explore in depth the doctrine of Charity, which is the pure love of Christ or the way Christ loves us.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Verses 1-3 tell me how important Charity (Love) is. If we spoke with the tongue of angels or had the gift of prophecy or understood all mysteries, if we don’t have charity then we are as nothing. We need to have charity more than all knowledge or all faith. We can give away everything we have to feed the poor or sacrifice our bodies to be burned but if we don’t live with charity then it is for nothing. If we have all kinds of great gifts bestowed upon us or do any number of great things we are “nothing without charity”. We can’t base our salvation on just one or two things we have to include Charity or it is all in vain.

What is charity? Charity in verse four is broken down in specific attributes so that we may fully understand what charity is.4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Verses 8-13 further illustrate how important Charity is in our lives by comparing it to other important aspects of the gospel of Jesus Christ8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Moroni 10:46-47

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail — 47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. 48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.This additional Christian Scripture passage adds to the importance of charity and teaches us more about Charity. All things must fail but Charity will never fail. This would indicate to me that we should invest much effort and prayer into obtaining the gift of charity so that it fills our sould and heart to overflowing. Verse 47 tells us that we must pray with all the energy of hear to be filled with this love.

This passage also teaches us that Charity is the pure love of Christ and when He comes again the second time if we are filled with Charity we shall be like Him. Charity is a purifying force as well.

So what exactly is Charity that it is so important? Charity is the “Pure Love Of Christ”. So when you read the word “Charity” substitute the phrase “pure love of Christ”.

Suffereth Long
The “pure love of Christ” suffereth long.

What does “Suffereth long” mean? In short “suffereth long” means patience. Consider the verse 1 Peter 3:20 In part that verse says “when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah…” We also know that mankind was extraordinarily wicked in the days of Noah. God was very patient having Noah call them to repentance before the destruction of the flood. One of the online dictionaries defines “long-suffering” as: “patiently enduring lasting offense or hardship”. There again is the word “patience”. Part of the pure love of Christ (Charity) is patience.

This means that we need to have patience. Patience toward who? We are told to have Charity like Christ does and Christ is patient towards all mankind so that implies that we should also have patience towards all mankind and especially those close to us in our own life like our spouse and children and those people we interact with on a daily basis but not to exclude all others.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) The Lord exerts all the patience He can toward us so that we may have as much time possible to repent and turn to Him.

Is Kind

“The pure love of Christ” is kind.

The one of the online dictionaries suggest that “Kind” means: Affectionate, loving. Of a sympathetic or helpful nature. Of a forbearing nature. Gentle. Arising from or characterized by sympathy or forbearance (a kind act). To give pleasure or relief.

A good or benevolent nature or disposition. A loving person. Having, showing or proceeding from benevolence. Considerate, helpful, humane, mild, gentle, loving or affectionate.

Forbearance means “To be tolerant or patient in the face of provocation.” An abstaining from the enforcement of a right. “A creditor’s giving of indulgence after the day originally fixed for payment.” This descriptions of the word “Kind” certainly sound Christ-like. This kind of kindess is what we should be striving for, even praying for.

Envieth Not

“The pure love of Christ” envieth not.

Envy means a painful or resentful awareness of something enjoyed by someone else as well as a desire to possess the same thing the other person has. So if Charity Envieth not then we should not be resentful toward others but rather we should be happy for the things others possess and share their joy. We cannot envy someone if we have the pure love of Christ in our hearts. We need to have joy in others successes and achievements. If everyone “envieth not” think of the drop in the crime rates.

Vaunteth Not Itself

“The pure love of Christ” vaunteth not itself.

“Vaunt” means to brag or to make a vain display of one self? We should not draw undue attention to ourselves. When we brag about ourselves we are setting ourselves up to appear to be better than others. God loves us all the same. He doesn’t love whatever sin or misdeed we may be involved in but He loves us all the same. We should not seek to make ourselves appear to be better than each other.

Is Not Puffed Up

“The pure love of Christ” is not puffed up.

Puffed up means to speak or act in a scornful, conceited, or exaggerated manner. We should just be ourselves or we should be the person we are trying to be as we seek for Charity in our lives. We need to be humble (teachable) and sincere. If we are locked into Charity as a way of life then we would have no insecurities and have no need to be conceited.

Doth Not Behave Itself Unseemly

“The pure love of Christ” doth not behave itself unseemly.

Unseemly means not according with established standards of good form or taste. In other words we should be vulgar or crude.

Seeketh Not Her Own

“The pure love of Christ” seeketh not her own.
To “seek not her own” means being selfish. Anyone who has Charity or seeking Charity is not selfish. We should repent for any selfish behavior and strive to not be selfish.

Is Not Easily Provoked

“The pure love of Christ” is not easily provoked.

Is not easily made mad or one who is slow to anger. Not resentful. If we considered the life of Christ he was very slow to wrath. The only time he showed wrath was when the money changers we disrespecting the Temple. Even when Christ was be unjustly tried for made up crimes he was not provoked. When He hung from the cross, rather than be mad he ask Heavenly Father to forgive the soldiers who were torturing Him.

Thinketh No Evil

“The pure love of Christ” thinketh no evil.

Evil is the opposite of righteousness. Charity does not think of things contrary to righteousness. Ask yourself what is evil and think the opposite. Think of virtuous thoughts. Ask yourself what would Jesus think about and think likewise.

Rejoiceth Not In Iniquity But Rejoiceth In The Truth

“The pure love of Christ” rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth.

Iniquity is both sin and behavior directly in opposition to righteousness. Charity finds happiness in the truth or rejoices in the truth. Thinketh no evil and Rejoiceth Not in iniquity go hand in hand or are companion virtues. Don’t think evil thoughts and do not rejoice in inquity. Do we watch movies or read books where we find ourselves rooting for the bad guy? Is that Charity?

Beareth All Things

“The pure love of Christ” beareth all things.

What does it mean to “Bear”? Looking up the word “bear” on several online dictionaries came to the following conclusions:

To make one’s way steadily especially against resistance. Continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

To put up with something trying or painful.

The terms Suffereth (Suffer) and Beareth (Bear) are synonyms in parts of their meanings but they also have some differences in their definitions. From what I can ascertain The phrase “Suffereth Long” is more to do with patience. The phrase “Beareth All Things” deals mainly with faithfully overcoming trials and adversity.

Believeth All Things

“The pure love of Christ” believeth all things

This phrase “believeth all things” has to do with faith. Charity, the pure love of Christ wouldn’t teach to believe all things regardless. For instance. Do we believe the God created the earth or do we believe in junk science that the earth was created from a big bang?

Do we believe God created Man in His own image or than man evolved from apes? We don’t believe all things spiritual and worldly but rather “believeth all things” is to have firm religious faith. To accept the gospel as true, genuine or real. Furthermore it means to have assurance or faith in righteousness. Trust in God. To have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something. If that thing doesn’t have goodness of efficacy then it is evil and not to be trifled with.

Other definitions of “Believeth all things”: To have confidence in the truth,

Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

2 Corinthians 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

Hopeth All Things

“The pure love of Christ” hopeth all things.

To look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence. For instance, to look to Christ for ones salvation. To place trust in or rely in. We need to trust in Christ that He will do what He says he will do. To look to the Gospel of Jesus Christ with confidence.

Endureth All Things

“The pure love of Christ” endureth all things. Here is what some online dictionaries defined Endure as.

To undergo a hardship without giving in. To suffer or endure a great pain. To remain firm under suffering or misfortune without yielding. To bear without resistance or with patience.

To support adverse force or influence of any kind; suffer without yielding; suffer patiently. The life of Christ is a perfect example of enduring all things.

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

God, yu tekem laef blong mi,
mi mi givim nao long yu.
back mi givim evride
blong leftemap nem blong yu.
(God, You take my life.
Me, I give it to you now.
I will give it to you everyday
To raise up your Name.)

God, yu tekem han blong mi
Blong givhan long nara man,
Mo yu tekem leg blong mi
Blong mi karem tok blong yu.

God, yu tekem voes blong mi
Blong mi presem yu oltaem,
Mo yu tekem maot blong mi
Blong mi talem tok blong yu.

God, ol mane tu blong mi,
Plis, yu tekemi mi blong yu
Mo yu tekem hed blong mi
Blong mi waes long wok blong yu.

Yu mekem tingting blong mi
I stap strong long yu oltaem.
Yu nomo yu king blong mi
Plis yu rul long laef blong yu.

God, mi laekem yu tumas,
Mbae yu king blong mi oltaem.
Evri samting ya blong mi
Mi mi givim nao long yu.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM7gt_cSxjw

After I finished off the last of a book, read my bible, and helped Mom pull some stuff out of the junk room, I laid back down on my bed wondering what I should try to do today. There in the corner of my room a top my wardrobe sat my violin. I pulled it down and literally blew off the dust that had collected there. Amazingly it was still in tune. I began to play, scarring the cat down stairs! I did much better once  I started to play a song. Bob didn’t come back up and join me though but that was okay, he has no idea what good music is anyway! lol

After I began to play, I decided that I wasn’t going to quit until my arms started to burn or I was called away. Then I did a few excercises and turned back to my music. To be honest, I don’t really know a whole lot about reading music. Like most other things that I learn, I catch a little here and a little there, always with a lot of practice and hard work. So I played hymn after hymn. Some from sheet music, most by ear and memory. I had a blast! I started ‘The First Noel’ and pushed myself to the end as my arms began to burn.

I wasn’t ready to be done yet, so I started tutting on my recorder. Have you heard ‘Amazing Grace’ on a recorder? I love the sound of the recorder and the violin! With that thought, I like that sound of just about every instrument! After that I came downstairs and started on the piano. (I’m just starting the piano so I’m not very good at all.) Rebecca, my sister, has taught me how to play ‘The Drummer Boy.’ I have been playing it over and over trying to work out all the kinks.

Now I forced myself to sit down and get to writing. I’ve written a good sum so far today and rewarded myself with writing a blog post! Soooo… Here it is! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving! I did, got beat at Risk (again) but, hay, it was fun!

Even though I’m no longer a Christian, I grew up in that tradition, and I’m still a be prickly when it comes to things Christian and dissing of Christianity. There are a couple varieties of songs played at Christmas. There are Christmas songs and Christmas carols. They are not interchangeable. Only Christmas songs are appropriate for radio commercials.

Examples of Christmas songs: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Jingle Bells, Deck the Halls, Jolly Old St. Nick.

Examples of Christmas carols: O Little Town of Bethlehem, Silent Night, Away in a Manger, Joy to the World, We Three Kings, It Came Upon A Midnight Clear.

Christmas carols refer to Jesus. Jesus, like Mohammed or Abraham, is not appropriate for pitching mattress sales. Christmas songs refer to the season, the cold, home and family, or to fictitious characters such as Santa Claus.

If you know any broadcasters please help spread the word about what is appropriate for use in commercial backdrops and what isn’t.

Hymn to Astarte

Mother inexhaustible and incorruptible, creatures, born the first, engendered by thyself and by thyself conceived, issue of thyself alone and seeking joy within thyself, Astarte!

Oh! perpetually fertilized, virgin and nurse of all that is, chaste and lascivious, pure and revelling, ineffable, nocturnal, sweet, breather of fire, foam of the sea!

Thou who accordest grace in secret, thou who unitest, thou who lovest, thou who seizest with furious desire the multiplied races of savage beasts and couplest the sexes in the wood.

Oh, irresistible Astarte! hear me, take me, possess me, oh, Moon! and thirteen times each year draw from my womb the sweet libation of my blood!

The Sea of Kypris

I had crouched on the edge of the highest promontory. The sea was black as a field of violets. And the Milky Way was gushing from the great supernal breast.

About me a thousand Maenads slept in the torn-up flowers. Long grasses mingled with their flowing hair. And now the sun was born from the eastern waters.

These the same waves and these the self-same shores that saw one day the white body of Aphrodite rising. . . I suddenly hid my eyes in my hands.

For I had seen the water trembling with a thousand little lips of light: the pure sex, or it may have been the smile of Kypris Philommeïdes.

The Priestesses of Astarte

Astarte’s priestesses engage in love at the rising of the moon; then they arise and bathe themselves in a great basin with a silver rim.

With crook’d fingers they comb their tangled locks, and their purple-tinted hands twined in their jet-black curls are like so many coral-branches in a dark and running sea.

They never pluck their deltas, for the goddess’s triangle marks their bellies as a temple; but they tint themselves with paint-brush, and heavily scent themselves.

Astarte’s priestesses engage in love at the setting of the moon, then in a tent where bums a high gold lamp they stretch themselves at random.

The Mysteries

In the thrice mysterious hall where men have never entered, we have fêted you, Astarte of the Night. Mother of the World, Well-Spring of the life of all the Gods!

I shall reveal a portion of the rite, but no more of it than is permissible. About a crowned Phallos, a hundred-twenty women swayed and cried. The initiates were dressed as men, the others in the split tunic.

The fumes of perfumes and the smoke of torches floated fog-like in and out among us all. I wept my scorching tears. All, at the feet of Berbeia, we threw ourselves, extended on our backs.

Then, when the Religious Act was consummated, and when into the Holy Triangle the purpled phallos had been plunged anew, the mysteries began; but I shall say no more.

To Thee, O Lord, our hearts we raise
In hymns of adoration,
To Thee bring sacrifice of praise
With shouts of exultation.
Bright robes of gold the fields adorn,
The hills with joy are ringing,
The valleys stand so thick with corn
That even they are singing.

And now, on this our festal day,
Thy bounteous hand confessing,
Upon Thine altar, Lord, we lay
The first fruits of Thy blessing.
By Thee the souls of men are fed
With gifts of grace supernal;
Thou who dost give us earthly bread,
Give us the Bread eternal.

We bear the burden of the day,
And often toil seems dreary;
But labor ends with sunset ray,
And rest comes for the weary.
May we, the angels reaping o’er,
Stand at the last accepted,
Christ’s golden sheaves forevermore,
To garners bright elected.

Oh, blessed is that land of God
Where saints abide forever,
Where golden fields spread fair and broad,
Where flows the crystal river.
The strains of all its holy throng
With ours today are blending;
Thrice blessed is that harvest song
Which never hath an ending.

-The Lutheran Hymnal, “To Thee, O Lord, Our Hearts We Raise,” 573.

“The Lord said, ‘I will hasten my work in its time’ (D&C 88:73). Surely anyone observing the recent growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is keenly aware of that hastening process. This should make us humbly grateful for the Lord’s omnipotent hand. Obstacles that seemed insurmountable have proven to be merely challenges for the faithful, for ‘with God nothing shall be impossible’ (Luke 1:37). “Inspiration has prepared the way from the beginning, when the Lord impressed the Prophet Joseph Smith to compose the twelfth article of faith: ‘We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.’ This inspired statement was surely written for our day. The Prophet knew that the gospel was ultimately to be taken to all nations regardless of their governmental differences. He knew that the ordinances of salvation and exaltation could bless the lives of people regardless of their politics. And he knew that people who were taught correct principles and who were loyal to their civil leaders and observing of their local laws would be most able to enjoy the blessings of the gospel.”

Elder Russell M. Nelson

Source: Red Mountain Music      Words: Depth of Mercy

Written by: Charles Wesley, 1740

Tomorrow, 25 November, is the feast of St Catherine the Great Martyr of Alexandria (ἡ Ἁγία Αἰκατερίνη ἡ Μεγαλομάρτυς της Ἀλεξάνδρειας, hē Hagia Aikaterinē hē Megalomartys tēs Alexandreias). It is also the commemoration of Isaac Watts, famous hymnwriter, in the Church of England calendar (and surely those of other churches too).

13th-century icon of St Catherine from Mt Sinai

Popularly, Catherine is associated with her eponymous wheel that makes it gyratory appearance at fireworks displays, symbolising the first attempted means of her martyrdom. Her legend tells of a young virgin woman who contended in dialogue with the pagan Emperor Maximinus Daia (308–13), successfully converting to Christianity his wife and courtiers, countering their philosophical arguments. The frustrated emperor ordered her tortured to death on the breaking wheel, which broke when she touched it, and so she was beheaded. Angels carried her body to Mt Sinai, where her tomb now lies.

The Catherine legend is problematic for a number of reasons. Although that does not mean that there is no real woman behind the legend, almost none of legend seems to be substantial. Maximinus is a hate figure in Christian history, being ruler of Syria and Egypt and accused of restarting the persecutions against Christians after Galerius, his adoptive uncle, had put an end to Diocletian’s persecutions. Maximinus was also part of the post-Diocletianic struggle for power opposing the party of Constantine (considered the victor of Christendom). It makes sense to see the Catherine legend in this political atmosphere. Surely, there must have been martyrdoms in Alexandria in this period.

Poster for Alejandro Amenábar's 'Agora'

However, the legend seems to have accreted another similar, yet quite opposite, legend: the legend of Hypatia (Ὑπατία). Hypatia lived in Alexandria from the late fourth century, dying in 415. She was a brilliant philosopher of the Neoplatonic tradition, skilled in logic, maths and astronomy. She taught in Alexandria, numbering a future bishop as one of her students. Problematically for the Christian community of the city, she was a pagan. A power struggle for the city was taking place between its bishop Cyril and its prefect Orestes. A mob of monks from the Nitrian Desert had previously attacked Orestes, injuring him. Hypatia was believed to be using her influence as a highly respected professor in favour of Orestes. Believing this, the Nitrian monks, led by Peter the Reader, surrounded Hypatia’s carriage, pulled her out, stripped her and dragged her through the streets. Accounts of her death at the hands of the monks have been variously dramatised in disturbingly sadistic detail. Socrates Scholasticus, a Christian historian of the fifth century, has a sympathetic account of her brutal murder, clearly dismayed by the action of his coreligionists. The legend of Hypatia, however, became powerful anti-Christian propaganda in the hands of the dwindling old Graeco-Roman aristocracy and educated elite. She has remained an icon of reason against the assaults of intolerance and religious extremism. The end of the GW Bush regime in the United States was perhaps as good a time as any to revisit Hypatia, as done in film Ágora by Alejandro Amenábar, with Rachel Weisz as our 21st-century Hypatia.

I can understand the Catherine legend having much to do with guilt-fuelled counter-propaganda against the embarrassing Hypatia legend. It is certainly a disgusting blot on the church if we are guilty of rewriting history to turn our shame into a symbol of our suffering under persecution. Perhaps more sad is the daily severe discrimination met by today’s Christian community in Egypt, the Copts.

I don’t know if it counts for anything, but 25 November is also 29 Hathor in the Coptic calendar, and the height of the month named for the goddess Hathor.

Isaac Watts

The story of Isaac Watts is over a millennium away from the stories of Catherine and Hypatia. Born in another great port city, Southampton, in 1674, his father was twice imprisoned for holding to nonconformist religious practices: he was not a member of the state church, the Church of England. The Act of Uniformity of 1662 had put severe constraints on those who chose to worship in manner not in accordance with that of the state church. Although showing great academic promise, Watts was unable to study at Oxbridge due to his refusal to accept the rules of the state church. Instead he went to an academy in Stoke Newington, that was set up for the benefit of nonconformists. Many others would have submitted in name alone to the state religion in order to progress in life, but Isaac Watts was steadfast in the independence of his belief.

Watts became a dissenting minister in Stoke Newington. While there he wrote a hugely influential work on logic, which became the official text on the matter in the Oxbridge universities that had denied him on religious grounds. He opposed the imposition of trinitarian doctrine on dissenting ministers by the movement’s conservative wing, upholding their right of each to formulate their doctrine in accord with their reason. This has lead to thoughts that he was a unitarian, something that is not apparent from his writings. Shunned and opposed in life, Isaac Watts is the Father of English Hymnody. The hundreds of hymns he wrote are a unity of passionate faith commingled with doctrinal clarity, unsurprising for a great logician perhaps. However, few in the Church of England who gladly sing When I survey the wondrous Cross or Jesus shall reign where’er the sun realise the radical man behind those words and the intolerant hatred of him and those like him by our church.

So, tomorrow, let’s celebrate Catherine and Isaac, for there is plenty to celebrate. But let us also contemplate Hypatia and Watts the rejected dissenter, better to understand our place in the history of religious intolerance.

So often I (and others I know) struggle with unbelief.  Does this make me a bad Christian?  A fickle follower of Christ?  Maybe, but I’m okay with being a bad Christian.  Don’t get me wrong, I want to be a better Christian.  I want to be able to look back over my life and see how God has worked in my heart to draw me more and more toward Him and rely more and more on Christ.  But the reason I have a measure of peace about being a potentially lukewarm/fickle Christian is that my status before God doesn’t rest on my feelings.  I am justified by Christ.  That’s it.  That, is work thanksgiving.

How sad our state by nature is!
Our sin, how deep it stains!
And Satan binds our captive minds
Fast in his slavish chains
But there’s a voice of sov’reign grace,
Sounds from the sacred word:
“O, ye despairing sinners come,
And trust upon the Lord.”

My soul obeys th’ almighty call,
And runs to this relief
I would believe thy promise, Lord;
O help my unbelief!
To the dear fountain of thy blood,
Incarnate God, I fly;
Here let me wash my spotted soul,
From crimes of deepest dye.

Stretch out Thine arm, victorious King,
My reigning sins subdue;
Drive the old dragon from his seat,
With all his hellish crew.
A guilty, weak, and helpless worm,
On thy kind arms I fall;
Be thou my strength and righteousness,
My Jesus, and my all.

“The Holidays” are approaching…

Or, does it feel more like they are looming?! Yeah, we can relate! Well, surprise, surprise: we have a different perspective to suggest

Over the next few weeks we’re gonna look above, beyond, around…or even under! everything that looks huge or hard or sad or impossible during this next 5 or 6 weeks. If ignorance is bliss, perhaps ignoring is blissful?? Let’s look at what’s real here; strip off the trappings, the years of confusing commercialized camouflage and a lifetime of built-up pressure to perform or attain to some market-driving benchmark.

As we are generally taught, Thanksgiving has a pretty humble origin (setting aside the historical issues about white settlers conquering and plundering an already-inhabited region.) A bunch of strangers in a new-to-them land survived a difficult first year and actually had a harvest with a polite abundance to place on the plank. Enough to share, even. So, probably fairly spontaneously, invitations went out to those neighbors who had been helpful and a part of the survival. Maybe next week you can reach out to someone who has been part of YOUR survival–share your gratitude during your meal time. Let’s get full on a heaping serving of thankfulness (yes, you can add whipped cream!). 

WOW! We have soooooooooo much for which to be thankful!!

Here’s this week’s song titles, the artist/group who sang or played the song, and the CD from which I played it:

• Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
  CD: Our Daily Bread * Hymns of the Morning 
• Clumsy – Chris Rice
  CD: Deep Enough To Dream
• That’s What Love Is – David Phelps
  CD: Life is a Church
• He Believes in You – Point of Grace
  CD: How You Live 
• I will Sing / Hope to Carry On – Caedmon’s Call
  CD: Chronicles * 1992-2004
• In The Palm of Your Hand – Alison Kraus
  CD: Alison Krauss & The Cox Family
• Jesus, I Lift my Eyes – Jars of Clay
  CD: Redemption Songs
• Your Name – The Swift
  CD: Singing Back To You
• Trust And Obey – Big Daddy Weave
  and
  There is a Fountain – Selah
  CD: WOW Hymns
• Always – Alathea
  CD: What Light is All About
• We Bow Down – Twila Paris
  CD: House of Worship
• I Still Believe – Jeremy Camp
  CD: DOVE Hits 2004
• Angels Wish – Steven Curtis Chapman
  CD: All Things New
• Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) – Chris Tomlin
  CD: See The Morning 

I hope and pray that each week’s selections, and this blog, are even a small part of the encouragement you receive each week. You are really precious–REALLY–and in spite of whatever surrounds you right here, right now, the mystery of God’s grace and provision remains unchanging and ever-offered. This is your invitation.

I’ll close the week with a new hymn on the priesthood of Christ, written earlier this year by my friend Justin Wainscott. You can find more original and historic hymns, as well as many other thought-provoking quotes and thoughts at his blog, Theology in Verse.

Jesus Christ, Our Priestly Savior

M. Justin Wainscott, © 2009

Jesus Christ, our priestly Savior,

Melchizedek’s true line;

Though on us God looks with favor,

The work was wholly Thine.

The debt of sin required a price

Your blood has fully paid;

In your great priestly sacrifice,

Atonement has been made.

With voices strong we sing these notes,

Of mercy’s cleansing flood;

No more the need for bulls and goats,

Sufficient is your blood!

Your sacrifice was once for all,

Yet lasts forevermore;

Our risen Lamb reversed the fall,

And opened heaven’s door.

And now for us you intercede,

Our great high priest on high;

For ransomed sinners you do plead,

And offer up your cry.

With full assurance we can trust

Your ev’ry plea is heard;

The Father shall, indeed, he must

Accept your ev’ry word.

So give us confidence to know,

Our hope’s secure in Thee;

And let your priestly blessings flow,

Through all eternity.

It’s a great hymn.

Enjoy.  though I’d add a little music to the day.
(note:takes like 10 seconds to load the player)

#198 in the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal.

And can it be that I should gain
an interest in the Savior’s blood!
Died he for me? who caused his pain!
For me? who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Refrain
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

2
He left his Father’s throne above
so free, so infinite his grace!;
emptied himself of all but love,
and bled for Adam’s helpless race.
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free,
for O my God, it found out me!

3
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
thine eye diffused a quickening ray;
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
my chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

4
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in him, is mine;
alive in him, my living Head,
and clothed in righteousness divine,
bold I approach th’ eternal throne,
and claim the crown, through Christ my own.

“Christ Jesus…is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”  -Romans 8:34

Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears:
Before the throne my surety stands,
Before the throne my surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.

He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead:
His blood atoned for all our race,
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.

Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”

The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away, the presence of His Son;
His Spirit answers to the blood,
His Spirit answers to the blood,
And tells me I am born of God.

My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.

[Words by Charles Wes­ley; Music by Lew­is Ed­son]