Has God Forgotten?

Our children and grandchildren represent the next two generations of the church and community. They are already leaders and are shaping the future of both church and community. The effects of their lives will be felt until Jesus returns. Pat and I are proud of each child, Candace, Jonathan and Joanna and their spouses as they imprint the future with their contributions today.

We are hopeful as we watch each grandchild grow and develop distinct talents and traits. Our oldest, Abigail, is competing in the Fine Arts Festival in Orlando next month. You can be sure that we will be there rooting her on! Alison and Isabella are memorizing Scripture and participate in Junior Bible Quiz competitions throughout the PennDel District. Each of the eight grandchildren is the brightest, most beautiful human beings God ever created! They will, under God, find their way into the right place for their contributions.

As I observe the next generations, I am reminded of my father’s insight into the changes he experienced in his life span of nearly 85 years. I find it mind-bending to remember that Dad plowed farm fields behind a horse and watched a man walk on the moon! Wages moved from $1.00 per day to more than $40,000 annually. And, cities of as few as 10,000 grew into population of more than 1,000,000. I remember Dad’s concern about the difficult days ahead for me as a fledgling pastor. Dad pointed out that in his youth people attended Sunday evening services because there were no other p/aces for wholesome fellowship. And, the church had gas lights, a piano, and preaching was an art the community appreciated. "But you," son, "Are competing for the attention of people who watch the Super Bowl, World Series, and Ed Sullivan in people’s living rooms." Dad wasn’t highly educated, but he learned to be an astute observer.

The announcements of the Supreme Court’s decisions yesterday reminded me of how much our world has changed in my lifetime. In less than 70 years we have moved from quietly whispering about secret sins to watching others boldly parading and celebrating what the Bible forbids. Our children do not remember when abortion was illegal. Their peers have never blushed, or know that there are times when that is the only appropriate thing to do.

For more than 45 years I navigated the spiritual-cultural mine fields. My peers and I have been stressed and stretched and yet, survived as rip currents of change threatened our ability to survive . . . theological excesses, legalization of Bible-proscribed behaviors, and the redefinition of morals. My e-mailbox will be jammed with angry accusations and calls to action. Some mail will be good, worthy of serious consideration, but few will reflect a broken and contrite heart, the very thing the God we say we worship always desires. I think that our leaders are more accustomed to evening the score than to reconcile others to Christ.

This morning many well-intentioned saints are teetering atop the precipice of despair with a morose sense of defeat. Like Al Capp’s Joe Bftsplk, it’s raining and my umbrella has holes in it! Others will angrily convene committee meetings to establish new battle plans for engaging the enemy. Is anyone considering that the present state of world affairs is all part of the Eternal God’s plan? Is a Holy God frustratingly wringing His hands in confusion this morning? Is the One who sent His "One and Only Son" into the world to save the world, not condemn it (John 3:16-17) is clueless and ill prepared for today’s events? Personally, I am encouraged every time I read about the mischief of 11 brothers who sold their sibling into slavery. Joseph’s line is priceless, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20)


Was Moses an afterthought, someone who the Almighty, all-Knowing One had forgotten for forty years, or was He quietly working out His plan for the ages? Did He, or didn’t He, remember His followers in a Jerusalem prison cell and release them for the best possible effect? (Acts 5)

I wonder, is His promise to come again sufficiently embedded into our faith to allow us to walk forward with confidence? If we walk with the Lord humbly and with a broken heart because of the lostness of masses of people He has created and for whom He died, we will find the delicate balance between lethargic indifference and irresponsible hyperactivity. We must be confident that the Almighty will lead us through, not around, the "valley of the shadow of death" and "beside the still waters."

With the next generations in view, we have an opportunity to walk wisely, act kindly, love deeply, abide patiently, suffer without complaint and speak joyously of our God’s Sovereignty! The Word of God remains eternal, powerful, unchangeable and all the promises remain. My friends, He has said, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) We’ve navigated many changes in our lifetimes. But the One who made us remains the same! May our children and grandchildren observe how we live, and learn from us as we experience still another season of chaotic change.

Fanny Crosby Week: Praise Him!

Progress is impossible to adequately define. The first question which comes to mind is, "Who is in charge of the evaluation?" Do you ever wonder, "Who serves on accrediting boards?" Are they people who share the same values and passions as those they assess? Are the academic accrediting panels committed to the same outcomes or do academic values stand alone and are they autonomously applied?

Do you ever wonder if big box stores really represents "progress?" I sincerely question "What measure will we use?" Or, maybe I am stretching out an inches yard stick in a world gone mad with metric measures? The corner Mom and Pop hardware couldn’t compete, but I still love the idea of being able to buy only the number of screws I need, not an odd number, overpriced and in vacuum sealed bags, perforated and hanging among at least 101 additional varieties. I just want one bolt, one nut and two washers! But, "progress" is defined by someone else using a different measurement!

Medical care is another area where "progress" is questionable. No doubt, the abilities of medical professionals are better than they have ever been, except when it comes to making me feel like someone is listening to the patient. My dear wife has seen no fewer than six different medical professionals this year. None of them knows the other. (They communicate with each other with a medical hybrid version of Twitter.) I am her advocate, sometimes having to push and shove verbally to get simple answers about conflicting counsel and contradictory treatment plans.

The church that formed me was primitive by today’s measurement. Our "worship set" consisted of three or four songs picked rather randomly from a gospel songbook. (To use "hymn book" would be a stretch!) An untrained layman would suggest, "Let’s sing hymn number 40." Pages would rustle, the organist played an introduction and we set off on a worship experience. Number 40 was a Fanny Crosby song named, "Praise the Lord" in Melodies of Praise. Our segues were similarly simple, something akin to, "Now, let’s turn to page two." Page two was, "Praise Him! Praise Him!," another joyous, theologically accurate, Fanny Crosby tune. Most of the time we worshiped without a microphone and overhead and digital projectors were still dreams in an inventor’s mind.

Should we rewind and pretend we are in the 1940's or 1950's. NO! We cannot and we will not. I thank God for the new inventions and enjoy much of the beautiful scenery over which song lyrics are superimposed. Lighting is far better today, just in time for my eyes which are forming cataracts! Today’s musicians are accomplished and sound systems add new dimensions to our gatherings. I assert, the measure is not in the production, but in the message. We must first measure our worship experiences by the message presented. Read carefully and sing deliberately, Fanny Crosby’s "Praise the Lord" lyrics.
To God be the glory great things He hath done;
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the Life-gate, that all may go in.
O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood!
To ev’ry believer, the promise of God;The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing thro’ Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport when Jesus we see!
Refrain:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!
Oh, come to the Father, thro’ Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.
Ah, the message is wonderful, a worthy foundation for faith and hope! The congregation Jesus used to form me in those primitive worship experiences often segued to verbal praises, an utterance of the Spirit, and a chorus of murmured "Amens!" I felt something then and sense the same Presence and life-giving power as I write now.

This is my personal Fanny Crosby week. I didn’t know that the dear saint also wrote the words of the song on page 40. Not many boys and girls pay attention to the details at the bottom of the hymn book pages. In the era of the Mom and Pop corner hardware and locally-owned pharmacy, complete with marble-topped lunch counter and five-cent ice cream cones, we sang "Praise Him! Praise Him!" and the Spirit moved our hearts. And, not just our few hearts, because the song has been published in more than 300 hymn books!
Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! Hail Him! highest archangels in glory,
Strength and honor give to His holy name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children;
In His arms He carries them all day long.
Chorus:
Praise Him! praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness!
Praise Him! praise Him! Ever in joyful song!
Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
For our sins He suffered, and bled and died;
He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! hail Him! Jesus the crucified.
Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,
Love unbounded, wonderful, deep, and strong!

Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Heavenly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever; Crown Him! crown Him! Prophet and Priest and King!
Christ is coming, over the world victorious;
Power and glory unto the Lord belong!
Now, that is a powerful message and great worship!

On occasion I must shop at one of the big-boxes. It is impersonal and difficult to navigate. (I missed the shuttle leaving "hardware" and had to walk to "lawn and garden" the other day. The walk left me so weary I couldn’t finish the project for which I was shopping!) But, I usually go home with what I went to buy. Sometimes I must buy eight screws and I only need three, but that’s "progress."

I am a worshiper. Today’s presentations are far more sophisticated and well-rehearsed. Our pastor is a young man, but he knows Fanny Crosby lyrics. Pastor Ross shares a taste of a by-gone, primitive era with an old tune bearing eternal truth and then segues into Matt Redman’s "10,000 Reasons" and old and new join in adoration of the One who gathers us into joyous assembly. Individuals measure progress differently. I am happy to be a product of a primitive worship experience and embrace progress by those who present the timeless message creatively and powerfully,. The message forms the worshiper.

　

Fanny Crosby Week: "Redeemed!"

"Testimony" was once a word more frequently used in church than it is today. In a more simple era of the Pentecostal church congregations looked forward to the "testimony services," usually on Sunday evenings. Members were invited to stand and testify, or relate how the Lord was at work in their lives. It was during testimony services that my interest was often alerted and my faith was reinforced as I heard how Jesus had healed people of a myriad of diseases, had delivered others from gross habits and had made provision for some in extraordinary need. The absence of enough testimonies was a cause for corporate prayer. The pastor would urge, "If we are praying and believing, God is working and we ought to be eager to testify!"

Our hymn books were full of songs of testimony. I remember that as a boy I learned to sing a Fanny Crosby song of testimony, "Redeemed." The congregation sang with enthusiasm. Ladies would often lift a hand holding a handkerchief with a colorfully crocheted border and gently reinforce their affirmation with a wave and a tear. All my senses are now employed as I recall the evenings when my church sang Ms. Crosby’s testimony and embraced it as my own.

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!
Redeemed through. His infinite mercy,
His child, and forever, I am.
Chorus
Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child, and forever, I am.
Redeemed, and so happy in Jesus,
No language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence
With me does continually dwell.

I think of my blessed Redeemer,
I worship Him all the day long;
I sing, for I cannot be silent!
His love is the theme of my song.

I know I shall see in His beauty
The King in whose law I delight;
Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps
And giveth me songs in the night.
The words of the Spirit cut streams of enduring truth into my soul. Reminiscent of Jesus’ words, "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water," (John 7:28) I now picture an inward-outward river of testimony carving boundaries for faith and practice. The testimonial stories, musical and spoken, endure. Faith grows stronger as the
church sings and says what she believes!

As a boy in elementary school I was not aware that Fanny Crosby had been blind. I really embraced as my own testimony, "I know I shall see in His beauty, the King in whose law I delight." A personal eschatology was forming. I was testifying that I was looking for Jesus to return. I had little appreciation for the fact that Ms. Crosby needed someone to guide her because of physical blindness, I sang, "Who lovingly guards all my footsteps, and gives to me songs in the night," as a statement of trust and dependence. "Redeemed," Fanny Crosby’s song of testimony is richer, fuller, and cutting deeper and more meaningful boundaries into my soul than ever before.

Saint John assures us that, "They overcame him (the accuser of the brethren, Revelation 12:10) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." (verse11) Gather around a piano, and sing "Redeemed, at least one more time!"

Fanny Crosby Week: Face to Face

Last week I read a good book by an often-published author. The ideas were stimulating, the progression was excellent, but I still have a nagging complaint. When I enter the book into my reading log, I will place "225" in the column for "pages read." But, over 50 pages were blank, except for an occasional illustration on a page preceding a new chapter. I only paid $1.00 for the tome at a yard sale, so it’s not the money, but the principle of counting pages that are blank. And, what about the wasted paper? (I never thought I would join forces with tree-hugging leftists.)

In contrast, one of my favorite Christian song writers is Fanny Crosby. I cut my teeth while learning her songs, "Rescue the Perishing" and "Pass Me Not," are etched forever in my soul. They are two of 16 published in the hymn book we used for over ten years at our last assignment.

Fanny Crosby lost her sight when only a few weeks old because of a doctor’s error and remained blind for the duration of her nearly 95 year-long lifetime. Apparently she had a thrifty sense of how to use time and paper! It is estimated that Fanny Crosby penned 8000 poems. On occasion she would hear a new tune and lyric and question, "Who wrote that?" and would learn that she had written the lyrics years before! How could one forget the fruit of their own creativity?

This week will be "Fanny Crosby Week" for "Renewed Cities." We will explore the impact of lyrical treasures often ignored today, but instrumental in shaping the spirits of millions for generations. (The first poem of Ms. Crosby’s was published before 1830!)

Can you remember singing the classic words of "Face to Face?" I can! And, its truth is all the move powerful when one remembers, Fanny Crosby’s blindness!

　
Face to face with Christ, my Savior,
Face to face—what will it be?
When with rapture I behold Him,
Jesus Christ who died for me.
Face to face I shall behold Him,
Far beyond the starry sky;
Face to face in all His glory,
I shall see Him by and by!
Only faintly now, I see Him,
With the darkling veil between,
But a blessed day is coming,
When His glory shall be seen.
What rejoicing in His presence,
When are banished grief and pain;
When the crooked ways are straightened,
And the dark things shall be plain.
Face to face! O blissful moment!
Face to face—to see and know;
Face to face with my Redeemer,
Jesus Christ who loves me so.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/963#ixzz2WTtkdYqm

Every time I hear this song I am reminded of St. John’s encouragement, "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2 (NIV) Thank you Ms. Crosby! You served us well in reminding us all of what is ahead!

Wesley Week: And Can It Be?

When the President of the Untied States is introduced no one brings out a dossier of family background, past achievements or awards. The one privileged to make tghe introduction simply states, "Ladies and gentlemen, The President of the United States." No more is expected, nothing is added.

This morning I offer the final installment of my personal "Wesley Week" featuring the contributions of John and Charles Wesley to church music literature . . . without comment, and with the hope that you sing along with others today.

Ladies and gentlemen, "And Can it Be?"

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?

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!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

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.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
　

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.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Amen!

Wesley Week: Rejoice, the Lord is King!

Remember? This is my "Wesley Week!" If John and Charles Wesley’s hymns were removed from hymn books, the books would be more like pamphlets. But, the Wesleyan contribution is more than bulk, like artistically-skilled jewelers set diamonds into settings of costly metals, the brothers set soaring doctrinal and theological themes into church worship and sacred music.

Consider the Chicago skyline without the Sears Tower! I heard that it was recently renamed "Willis Tower" (for Willis Group Holdings). Why can’t people leave things alone, the way they should be? Everyone knows "Sears!" Who in the world is "Willis?" Is "group holding" a youth camp bonfire event?

The Comcast Building soars over Philadelphia. In my opinion, the place is an architectural blob compared to Philadelphia’s City Hall with William Penn delicately perched atop. Beauty cannot be defined by "tall" or "big!" Style, balance, art, color, changing shadows from morning and afternoon sunlight flaunt city hall’s beauty.

Pat and I recently viewed the New York City skyline from New Jersey. Without the Trade Center Towers near the Battery one can see and feel emotional scar tissue. The battery is now incomplete. The South end of Manhattan looks like the space where a dentist extracted a tooth. Our lingering memories of evil acts caused us to turn away.

The church, in my opinion, cannot afford to excise Wesleyan hymns without leaving an empty spot on the landscape. I for one have warm memories and indelibly etched doctrines in my soul because of the spires of Wesleyan song and Biblical truth which poked holes into the dark clouds of doubt and looming fears of failure. On occasion I may have been near the brink of a sarcastic spiral of suspicion, slithering snakelike into my own egoism, too smart for my own good. At the right moment, an untrained "song leader" said, "Let’s sing page number 228! (Do you remember when leading worship wasn’t much more than announcing the next page number?) At that moment an old Hammond Organ sounded out the introduction and the pianist added fulness and people sang, I sang, and I still sing!
Rejoice, the Lord is King!
Your Lord and King adore;
Rejoice, give thanks and sing,
and triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart,
lift up your voice; rejoice;
again I say, rejoice.
The Lord the Savior reigns,
The God of truth and love;
When he had purged our stains,
He took his seat above.
Lift up your heart,
lift up your voice; rejoice,
again I say, rejoice.
His kingdom cannot fail;
He rules o'er earth and heaven;
The keys of earth and hell
are to our Jesus given.
Lift up your heart,
lift up your voice; rejoice,
again I say, rejoice.
Rejoice in glorious hope!
Our Lord the Judge shall come,
and take his servants up
to their eternal home.
Lift up your heart,
lift up your voice; rejoice,
again I say, rejoice.


Oh, yes! The tune and truth soar! Most everything else musically and worshipfully may be comparable to a squat two story, stucco and concrete strip mall. That’s my opinion during "Wesley Week." I do pray that my grandchildren will learn to sing, will have their faith reinforced and join in joyful praise with thousands of saints and declare, "Rejoice the Lord is King!"

　

　

Wesley Week: Waking Up!

In our neighborhood they begin just before dawn, about 10,000 of them . . . "tweeoou, tweeou, tweeou . . . cheep, tweet, cheep, tweet . . . boooy, boooy, boooy, boooy . . . caw, caw, caw . . . an assortment of world-class sounds only an Eternal God could create. To be awakened by a choir of birds, each a unique creation of God, is a phenomenon rather new to us. Most of my life I have lived in crowded places. City noises drowned out the gentle glory of aviary audio. Now I love to awaken on mornings when our windows are open. The wake-up chorus provided by a feathered glee club is a sampler of heaven-created wonder.

In contrast to the glory of early morning symphonies of sound, a neighbor 100 yards away screams curses at children. "Get moving . . . you’re gonna be late . . . what’s wrong with you?" Pat and I cringe as we hear the damage being inflicted on little children’s pliable spirits, and we pray. "Lord, please give us an opportunity to approach and confront a frustrated mother. Help us abort the systemic ruin and deliver the Message which restores the glory of your presence. May curses be reversed and songs of praise and prayers of trust be offered from this family."

The human voice is also the Lord’s creation, uniquely designed for His joy. With my voice I may call out and delight the One who made it, "God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer." (Psalm 66:19) Since He neither slumbers nor sleeps, my voice cannot awaken Him, but I know He listens with pleasure. He made the human voice so that creation could converse with the Creator!

And our voices were created to present intelligible offerings of praise, awe-filled expressions of wonder and thanksgiving. John, the political prisoner on the Isle of Patmos heard the chorus, "I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God . . . Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns."
(Psalm 19:1,6) I believe one of the wonders of heaven will be the chorus, the God-made, God-redeemed choir of voices . . . no amplifiers, organs, keyboards, nothing man-made . . . just His creation fulfilling His design and desire!

This is "Wesley Week" for me. Charles Wesley penned the warm-up music of heaven. He arranged for us to begin peeking into the place John described in detail . . . gates of precious metals and gems, sunless light, endless glory, incomparable sound . . . and we sing! I share only the first six of 19 verses. When we have more time, we will sing them all!
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad, the honors of Thy name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’Tis life, and health, and peace.

He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.

He speaks, and, listening to His voice,
New life the dead receive,
The mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
The humble poor believe.

Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb,
Your loosened tongues employ;
Ye blind, behold your Savior come,
And leap, ye lame, for joy.

Some act as if waking up is for the birds! Ah, the birds think they are for waking me up! I’d love you to enjoy the same wake-up call as I! Is it too far-fetched to think that the birds are off in a remote place rehearsing with a Wesleyan hymn, warming up for the morning concert? Waking up with the birds is so much fun, builds so much faith!

Wesley Week: Thank God for the Wesleys

Life is full of the endless rotation of politicos, Republicans, Democrats and Independents. Flurries of scandals seep from the crevices of human fallibility filling headline news outlets. One disease is under control and another sneaks in like Carl Sandburg’s fog, on "little cats feet." And, the joys and frustrations of a favorite sports team winning and losing may cause one to feel as a bobbing cork on ocean swells. Restlessness is a too frequent companion.

Last night I was traveling home from a speaking engagement in heavy weekend traffic. (Don’t go anywhere near the Dover Racetrack during race week or navigate US Route One when beach weekenders head North!) Two preaching assignments and more than 200 miles in the car left me exhausted. The joy and energy with God’s people and sharing the passion of my life slipped away as the miles piled up.

Then I tuned the radio to an all-Gospel satellite station and heard a wonderful presentation of a Wesleyan Hymn. At first the familiar tune and lyrics seemed out of place. Resurrection Sunday has passed (Alas, the congregation we worshiped with didn’t sing it!) and "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" is a morning song! As the tune and lyrics unfolded, like pleats spreading as draperies are drawn, the Holy Spirit lifted, strengthened, encouraged and renewed my spirit so affected by feelings, fatigue, faults and feeble faith. As the three century-old poem was sung the message quieted the spirit of a weary preacher prone to bobbing in futility when faced with roiling uncertainties, chronic diseases, lingering disappointments. Faith began to move in, at first with "little cats feet," and then roared with leonine boldness! The hymn was sung in less than five minutes but swept up on the shores of my soul with tidal force.

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!
Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!
Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!
King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!

Since I was alone in the car, with the exception of the Holy, I dared to sing with the recording artists . . . a capella . . . with enough off-key sharps and flats to fill an orchestra’s library. The Almighty visited and accepted my worship. It was Easter, Christmas, Ascension Day, Passover and Pentecost rolled into one! "King of Glory" made "soul of bliss" cruising South on Route 1 on a rainy night!