aldersgate sunday

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.    - charles wesley

bulky unwieldy hymn this, i think when first i sing it.

these days the tears flow freely and i gladly embrace it.

meet E

here is E, 2 weeks with HOM and me.

S got the kodak prints Dog had the digital camera and E gets the cellphone cam.

a dog-shaped void slowly refills.

excuse me while we go toilet train some more.

bangkok escapade

HOM and i

browse-shop-massage-eat

rinse and repeat

maundy thursday - the death of the cross

who, being in the form of God, did not consider it something to be held onto to be equal to God, but made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

- phil. 2:6-8

this is my God, who says to me, take, eat, this is my body, and, this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. 

i bring my broken life, mended

my fissured spirit, made whole

i bring the scarlet stains made clean

i bring my alabaster jar.

refine me , lord

so let me give praise upon praise

e'en if praise be tears

let me learn that 'yond the pain

you allow the sweetness in

... that which you would take away 

you replace with yourself, lord

we sing this in church today, this hymn from another generation and another language. it reminds me that peace comes in submission, and with peace comes joy.

o God our help

our God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home. under the shadow of thy throne thy saints have dwelt secure; sufficient is thine arm alone, and our defense is sure. before the hills in order stood, or earth received her frame, from everlasting thou art God, to endless years the same. our God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, be thou our guard while troubles last, and our eternal home.  - isaac watts

sometimes, quite often, as a reaction to the hearty choruses that are in favor these days, but also as the cry of a broken unworthy soul, i would like to sing one of these grand old hymns again, with the focus less on that holy undeserved intimacy between my Lord and me, and more on the almighty all merciful God of us all, lest we unwittingly bestow grace too cheaply upon ourselves.

sunday thought

nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

e'en though it be a cross that raiseth me,

still all my song shall be, nearer, my God to thee,

nearer, my God to thee, nearer to thee!

...then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise

out of my stony griefs Bethel i'll raise;

so by my woes to be nearer, my God, to thee

nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

- sarah f. adams

some songs tap our feet, some songs we weep out. there is a place for both, and the second do not belong only to memorial services.