The new Hymnody section of InGodsImage.com is now available.  It includes:

• Sheet music and mp3 clips of Triumphal Entrance and Almighty God Beyond the Veil
• A wide variety of Scripture and Song Service arrangements for AM and PM assemblies

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:16-17).

The Son of God goes forth to war,
_____a kingly crown to gain;
His blood-red banner streams afar,
_____who follows in His train?
Who best can drink his cup of woe,
_____triumphant over pain?
Who patient bears his cross below?
_____He follows in His train.

That martyr first, whose eagle eye
_____could pierce beyond the grave,
Who saw his Master in the sky
_____and called on Him to save;
Like Him, with pardon on his tongue,
_____in midst of mortal pain,
He prayed for them that did the wrong.
_____Who follows in His train?

A glorious band, the chosen few
_____on whom the Spirit came,
Twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew,
_____and mocked the cross and flame;
They met the tyrant’s brandished steel,
_____the lion’s gory mane;
They bowed their heads the death to feel.
_____Who follows in their train?

A noble army—men and boys,
_____the matron and the maid—
Around the Savior’s throne rejoice,
_____in robes of light arrayed.
They climbed the steep ascent of Heav’n,
_____through peril, toil and pain;
O God, to us may grace be given
_____to follow in their train.

- Reginald Heber, 1812

Looking for something to listen to on the long Thanksgiving commute next week or a stocking stuffer for the holidays?

Four guys who crossed paths at Florida College in Temple Terrace, FL a few years ago have put out their first CD and it is fantastic.  With nineteen a capella hymns altogether, Narrow Way is a great blend of some classic favorites (Precious Lord, Take My Hand and Where No One Stands Alone), as well as a number of contemporary selections.  The recording even has a Narrow Way original, Teach Me to Know.  The renditions of Shine On Us and Just For Today are worth the price of the recording alone.  The full track list with audio samples is available here.  If you have enjoyed the One Voice recordings in recent years, you’ll enjoy this first offering from Narrow Way as well.

CDs are available directly from the group (252-222-3805) or through the Florida College Bookstore.  The full album or individual songs can be downloaded from CD Baby or iTunes.  More details are available via the Narrow Way Facebook page.

Dawn and sunset, fierce and joyful,
Each reflect His mighty ways.
With the sea and sky before me,
I will give Him all my praise.

Stars will joy in praises from me,
‘Lesser light’ will know my voice.
When I give my God His glory,
Night will hear me and rejoice.

Shout His glory, brothers, sisters;
Laud His name and do His will.
Like the sands upon the shoreline
Are the praises due Him still.

I will wake the dawn with praises!
I will speak His name abroad.
I will worship Him forever,
He, my Lord, my only God.

- Sarah J. Fuhrman
© 2001 Sarah J. Fuhrman & Glenda B. Schales

Happy 335th Birthday to Isaac Watts, the “Father of English Hymnody,” who was born on July 17, 1674.  He is credited with more than 750 hymns—When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Joy to the World, We’re Marching to Zion, O God Our Help in Ages Past, Alas and Did My Savior Bleed, and many more.

In addition to being a hymnist, Watts was also a theologian and a logician.  Check out the video below for an interesting overview of his life and the controversy surrounding his music:

(ht: Between Two Worlds)

Clicking the banner above will take you to a list of interactive outlines and mp3 audio files of sermons I’ve delivered.  The list is almost completely up-to-date, with a few holes to be filled shortly.  Look for the logo for the most recent material.

Thanks for your interest!

For all the blessings of the year,
For all the friends we hold so dear,
For peace on earth, both far and near,
We thank Thee, Lord.

For life and health, those common things,
Which every day and hour brings,
For home, where our affection clings,
We thank Thee, Lord.

For love of Thine which never tires,
Which all our better thought inspires,
And warms our lives with heavenly fires,
We thank Thee, Lord.

- Albert H. Hutchinson

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine,
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I love Thee, because Thou hast first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

- William R. Featherstone, 1862

When man’s natural musical ability is whetted and polished to the extent that it becomes an art, then do we note with great surprise the great and perfect wisdom of God in music, which is, after all, His product and His gift; we marvel when we hear music in which one voice sings a simple melody, while three, four, or five other voices play and trip lustily around the voice that sings its simple melody and adorn this simple melody wonderfully with artistic musical effects, thus reminding us of a heavenly dance, where all meet in a spirit of friendliness, caress and embrace.  A person who gives this some thought and yet does not regard music as a marvelous creation of God, must be a clodhopper indeed and does not deserve to be called a human being; he should be permitted to hear nothing but the braying of asses and the grunting of hogs.

- Martin Luther, 1538, in his foreword to a collection of chorale motets