superminisan

[superminisan]

“1. Thanks to God, whose word was spoken in the deed that made the earth; his the voice that called a nation, his the fires that tried her worth. God has spoken: praise him for his open word!

2. Thanks to God, whose Word incarnate glorified the flesh of man; deeds and words and death and rising tell the grace in heaven’s plan. God has spoken: praise him for his open word!

3. Thanks to God, whose word was written in the Bible’s sacred page, record of the revelation showing God to every age. God has spoken: praise him for his open word!

4. Thanks to God, whose word is published in the tongues of every race; see its glory undiminished by the change of time or place. God has spoken: praise him for his open word!

5. Thanks to God, whose word is answered by the Spirit’s voice within; here we drink of joy unmeasured, life redeemed from death and sin. God is speaking: praise him for his open word!”

-R T Brooks (1954)

#Hymn #lyrics #R T Brooks #The Bible

[superminisan]

“We are slow learners in the school for sinners. Most of us are in remedial class.”

-Revd Moses, 7.30am service St Andrew’s Cathedral 8/10/23

#quote

[superminisan]

1 Go forth and tell! O Church of God, awake!

God's saving news to all the nations take:

proclaim Christ Jesus, Saviour, Lord and King,

that all the world his glorious praise may sing.

2 Go forth and tell! God's love embraces all,

he will in grace respond to all who call:

how shall they call if they have never heard

the gracious invitation of his word?

3 Go forth and tell! The doors are open wide:

share God's good gifts — let no one be denied;

live out your life as Christ your Lord shall choose,

your ransomed powers for his sole glory use.

4 Go forth and tell! O Church of God, arise!

Go in the strength which Christ your Lord supplies;

go till all nations his great name adore

and serve him, Lord and King for evermore.

- J. E. Seddon, who apparently also wrote hymns in Arabic :-o (sung today, in tandem with the reading from Romans 10).

#hymn #lyrics #romans 10 #j e seddon #go forth and tell

[superminisan]

"We need to build our immunity to taking offence, so that we can deal with the issues that perfectly justified criticism can raise."

-Rowan Atkinson, about 10 years ago, in the course of the Reform Section 5 campaign to get the word ‘insulting’ removed from Section 5 of the Public Order Act in the UK (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUezfuy8Qpc&ab_channel=TheChristianInstitute). With all the best intentions in my heart, someone tell this to the decision-makers in the Singapore government, please. XD;

#free speech #rowan atkinson #law reform #quote

[superminisan]

If God be for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his only son, but gave him up for all, shall he not with him freely give us all things? 

Hail the day that sees him rise, Alleluia! To his throne beyond the skies, Alleluia! Christ, the Lamb, for sinners giv’n, Alleluia! Enters now the highest heav’n, Alleluia!

Circled round with angels’ pow’rs, Alleluia! Their triumphant Lord and ours, Alleluia! Christ has conquered death and sin, Alleluia! Take the king of glory in, Alleluia!

Hail the day that sees him rise, Alleluia! To his throne beyond the skies, Alleluia! Christ, the Lamb, for sinners giv’n, Alleluia! Enters now the highest heav’n Alleluia! Shall he not with him freely give us all things? Alleluia!

- Exquisite arrangement by Dan Forrest, combining scripture from Romans 8 with the original hymn by Charles Wesley (1739).  Sung during communion today.

#dan forrest #charles wesley #hymn #lyrics

[superminisan]

Join all the glorious names  Of wisdom, love, and pow’r,  That mortals ever knew,  That angels ever bore; All are too mean to speak His worth, Too mean to set my Savior forth.

But O what gentle terms, What condescending ways, Doth our Redeemer use To teach his heav’nly grace! Mine eyes with joy and wonder see What forms of love He bears for me.

Arrayed in mortal flesh, He like an angel stands, And holds the promises And pardons in His hands; Commissioned from His Father’s throne To make His grace to mortals known.

Great prophet of my God, My tongue would bless Thy name, By Thee the joyful news Of our salvation came, The joyful news of sin forgiv’n Of hell subdued, and peace with Heav’n.

Be Thou my counselor, My pattern, and my guide, And through this desert land Still keep me near thy side: Nor let my feet e’er run astray Nor rove nor seek the crooked way.

I love my Shepherd’s voice, His watchful eyes shall keep My wand’ring soul among The thousands of His sheep: He feeds His flock, He calls their names, His bosom bears the tender lambs.

To this dear surety’s hand Will I commit my cause; He answers and fulfills His Father’s broken laws: Behold my soul at freedom set! My surety paid the dreadful debt.

Jesus, my great high priest, Offered His blood, and died; My guilty conscience seeks No sacrifice beside: His powerful blood did once atone, And now it pleads before the throne.

My advocate appears For my defense on high; The Father bows His ears, And lays His thunder by: Not all that hell or sin can say Shall turn His heart, His love away.

My dear almighty Lord, My conqueror and my King, Thy scepter and Thy sword, Thy reigning grace I sing: Thine is the power; behold I sit In willing bonds beneath Thy feet.

Now let my soul arise, And tread the tempter down; My captain leads me forth To conquest and a crown: A feeble saint shall win the day, Though death and hell obstruct the way.

Should all the hosts of death, And powers of hell unknown, Put their most dreadful forms Of rage and mischief on, I shall be safe, for Christ displays Superior power, and guardian grace.

- Isaac Watts, 1709

#hymn #isaac watts #lyrics #easter

[superminisan]

"Isaac Watts originally wrote 12 stanzas for this hymn [Join all the glorious names] and included 17 different names for Christ. Watts wrote several hymns on the same theme, but his final analysis was, "Earth is too narrow to express His worth, His glory, or His grace."

One such hymn starts each stanza with a question: "Is He a Rose?" "Is He a Vine?" After 18 stanzas Watts concludes,

"His beauties we can never trace till we behold Him face to face."

- Steve Miller quoting Great Songs of Faith by Brown & Norton.

Not only Isaac Watts but dozens of hymn writers and millions of Christians since have praised (as far as humanly possible!) God's ineffable (undescribable) beauty in every language, time and place... If only the world could see it! No doubt we have done a very poor job of reflecting it! If I spent more time each day basking in his beauty and light, I could bring a little more of it out into the world.

#hymns #isaac watts #God #God's beauty #reflection

[superminisan]

1 O Jesus, I have promised

To serve thee to the end;

Be thou forever near me,

My Master and my friend;

I shall not fear the battle

If thou art by my side,

Nor wander from the pathway

If thou wilt be my guide.

2 O let me feel thee near me!

The world is ever near:

I see the sights that dazzle,

The tempting sounds I hear.

My foes are ever near me,

Around me and within;

But, Jesus, draw thou nearer,

And shield my soul from sin.

3 O let me hear thee speaking

In accents clear and still,

Above the storms of passion,

The murmurs of self-will.

O speak to reassure me,

To hasten or control;

O speak, and make me listen,

Thou guardian of my soul.

4 O Jesus, thou hast promised

To all who follow thee

That where thou art in glory

There shall thy servant be.

And, Jesus, I have promised

To serve thee to the end;

O give me grace to follow,

My Master and my friend.

- John Ernest Bode, 1869

Blessed Lent to all!

#hymn #johnernestbode #lent

[superminisan]

"There is no future for the church in opposing Jesus"

#charlieskrine #allsouls #church of england #Youtube

[superminisan]

1 I come with joy, a child of God, forgiven, loved and free, the life of Jesus to recall, in love laid down for me. 2 I come with Christians far and near to find, as all are fed, the new community of love in Christ’s communion bread. 3 As Christ breaks bread, and bids us share, each proud division ends. The love that made us, makes us one, and strangers now are friends.

I Come With Joy, Brian A. Wren (1970)

#hymn #hymnlyrics #brian a wren #unity

[superminisan]

1 O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee. I give thee back the life I owe, that in thine ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be. 2 O Light that follows all my way, I yield my flick’ring torch to thee. My heart restores its borrowed ray, that in thy sunshine’s blaze its day may brighter, fairer be. 3 O Joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to thee. I trace the rainbow through the rain, and feel the promise is not vain, that morn shall tearless be. 4 O Cross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from thee. I lay in dust, life’s glory dead, and from the ground there blossoms red, life that shall endless be.

George Matheson, born 1842, lost his eyesight in his youth, graduated from the University of Edinburgh and became a parish minister and later lecturer.  This hymn is poignant as I think of someone critically ill.

#georgematheson #hymn #dyingtoself #suffering

[superminisan]

I am a slave of Jesus. It is not the slave’s responsibility to be successful. The only responsibility of a slave is to do what the Master asks him to do. When you understand this, you also understand that a slave doesn’t have problems; a slave only has opportunities to see the Master work.

Bill Bright, founder of Cru, as quoted by his son (via the 40.day prayer guide for Singapore 2022).  The truth will set you free!

#billbright #quote #slaveofchrist #freedom

[superminisan]

"Hell may assail you,

it cannot move you;

sorrows may grieve you,

faith may be tried.

Though you have nothing,

he is your treasure:

who God possesses

needs nought beside."

- Teresa of Avila, from the hymn "Nothing distress you"

#hymn #teresaofavila #nothingdistressyou

[superminisan]

In every insult, rift and war where colour, scorn or wealth divide Christ suffers still, yet loves the more, and lives, where even hope has died.

From the hymn “Christ is Alive! Let Christians sing” by Brian A. Wren (written 1968 revised 1978)

#hymn #suffering

[superminisan]

"If they can induce fear in you, that's the easiest way to control you.  That's the cheapest way to control you, and the most effective way." - Jimmy Lai, 8:56-

#jimmylai #bbcnews #quote

[superminisan]

Pudding, the last Sunday before Advent

“What is Stir-up Sunday?

It is a tradition that harks back to Victorian times when the family would gather together to stir the Christmas pudding five weeks before Christmas. The opening words of the Book Of Common Prayer, used on the last Sunday before Advent, reads: "Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people," so the tradition stands that this is the day to get stirring!” 

... Christmas pudding would traditionally contain 13 ingredients to represent Jesus and his disciples. 

 It is traditionally stirred (while making a wish) by each member of the family from East to West, to remember the Wise Men that visited Jesus in the Nativity Story.”

(Source: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/christmas/christmas-countdown/a550045/ultimate-stir-up-sunday-when/)

#Christmaspudding #lastsundaybeforeadvent #anglicancalendar #commonprayer

[superminisan]

"Idolatry is an attempt to use God for man’s purposes, rather than to give oneself to God’s service.”

- C F D Moule

#cfd moule #idolatry