Download Walking Lent`s Road - Festival of Faith and the Arts

Stand By Me
Walking Lent’s Road
through
African-American
Spirituals
A Lenten Devotional for 2016
Prepared By
Forrest Guittar, Director
The Festival of Faith and the Arts
Bethany Lutheran Church, Cherry Hills Village, CO
INTRODUCTION
It is interesting, working on a Lenten devotional in the midst of Advent. On one hand you would think
Advent has nothing to do with Lent. Advent is a season of anticipation while Lent is a time of preparation.
From anticipating the birth of the Christ to a time of preparation for the Resurrection. We sometimes
completely separate these times, yet, they are inextricably linked. Without one, we would not, could not
have the other. Advent is the beginning, and the culmination builds throughout Lent until “that day”.
The inspiration for this devotional actually came a little over a year ago as I sat and listened to a choir
presenting a program of African-American spirituals. I knew them all, but one stood out that night and really
spoke to me – STAND BY ME. It begins with these words:
When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me.
As I heard those words again, I was drawn to the woman’s face who sang them – with eyes closed, and
with emotional and a personal plea in her expression, I was drawn back to my first encounter with Christ,
and encounters with these songs of a burdened people.
Before I left the sanctuary that night I knew that this would be the theme for this Lenten journey.
Throughout these forty days we’ll touch on numerous spirituals, bits of their backgrounds, stories
surrounding them, explorations of their callings for us as we journey and reflect upon a people’s heritage,
and the sacrifice of God’s Son for us.
Friends – be prepared.
Some of the things we will encounter are far beyond our “normal” frame of reference.
There will be challenges.
There will be difficult things to consider
in what God’s call puts before us.
But through it all,
through each day
remember
He stands by you, and by me.
Yours in Christ,
Forrest Guittar
12 December 2015
NOTE: recordings and videos of the spirituals you will encounter in this devotional are available to
listen/view via the internet and on You Tube.
CAIRNS
If you have hiked you will know what a cairn is. If not, it is a mound of stones (sometimes small, sometimes
larger) used as a landmark along skylines, hilltops, and in open areas where almost everything appears the
same, and where one could become disoriented or lost.
As we begin our walk, it would be helpful to have a few cairns to help us on the journey.
Cairn One: The music
- Call and response, where a leader a leader begins followed by responses (ex. Aina That Good
News; Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Go Down Moses).
- Melodic and slow, encompassing sustained expressive lines (ex. Calvary; Deep River; Balm in
Gilead)
- Rhythmic and fast, where stories are told in faster, rhythmic and syncopated (ex. Elijah Rock; E’vry
Time I Feel The Spirit; Joshua Fit The Battle of Jericho).
Cairn Two: The Stories
- Characters from the Old Testament such as Moses, David, Daniel and their stories are told as they
had overcome great tribulations, stories with which slaves could closely identify with.
- From the New Testament it was centrally Jesus, who would help them “Hold On”. Much of the
singing was about heaven and the river Jordan – and references regarding the Underground
Railroad and its destination (many times the Ohio River).
- Rhythm is a critical element. Singers would add or delete syllables in order for them to fit, and many
times fit the dialects and the manner in which slaves pronounced words. (ex. Heaven= heav’n,
heb’n; morning – mornin’; religion= ‘ligion)
Cairn Three: Expansion
- Gospel music in the life of African Americans began during the Civil War, with escape and migration
to the North, as well as new way of life in the South following the war. From these original
“folksongs”, which reminded a people of their past, a migration to a newer musical style. Some
molded into the more formal religious structures, and others along a second path into the
“pentacostal” framework, with profound expressions of “good news”.
Cairn Four: Other Insights
- Spirituals are generally “group” oriented and centered on biblical texts
- Most are a cappella
- Spirituals were mostly orally transmitted and only later transcribed.
- Both spirituals and gospel music retain a central elements – the story of a people, the telling of the
“gospel truth” and the search of tormented souls for relief in a risen Savior.
Here is a quote I came upon:
“What are these songs, and what do they mean? I know little of music and can say nothing in technical
phrase, but I know something of men, and knowing them, I know that these songs are the articulate
message of the slave to the world.”
William Edward Burghardt Dubois
The songs have messages for us, if we will but listen, with heart and mind.
ASH WEDNESDAY Feb. 10, 2016
I WANT JESUS – arr. Jester Hairston
One of the powerful spirituals that has meant so much to me is I WANT JESUS. Here is the text:
I want Jesus to walk with me All along my pilgrim journey In my trials, Lord, walk with me
When the shades of life are falling Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me
In my sorrow, Lord walk with me When my heart is aching Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me
In my troubles, Lord walk with me When my life becomes a burden,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me
I did not encounter spirituals until my college years. And that is also when I was twice given the opportunity to
“shepherd” one of the most well-known composers/arrangers of spirituals – Jester Hairston. He also has a bit of that
“Six Degrees from Kevin Bacon” associated to my family.
While caring for, shuttling and singing for him, I learned of how he and William Dawson would travel the back roads
and woods of the South and literally flip coins to see who would get to learn of and then use tunes and words they
discovered. (One of these was ELIJAH ROCK – but more on that later).
One evening while having dinner with him I learned how he had appeared in one of the Tarzan TV episodes with
Johnny Weissmuller, where, as the tribal chief, he ran down a trail and off a cliff in to a river. Family lore now comes
into play. For a period he apparently was in St. Louis, where he met my mother, and they would, according to her,
swim in the Mighty Mississippi together. One day they jumped off a cliff into the river in South St. Louis, and my
mother was caught in a whirl pool. Johnny rescued her from that whirl pool.
Rivers, running, jumping, swimming, whirl pools. That was literally part of Jester’s experience – and my mothers. And
then I “run” into Jester, and experience a whirlpool of stories, and among them how he, and others experienced life.
(I’ll add one more thing here – I grew up in Ferguson, MO., very close to the events that recently occurred. And
through that I experienced a whirlpool of emotions, memories, regrets, and yes, hope).
One of the things Jester shared with me was that these words, this music, is not just about those of a particular skin
color. It is about life in general, and faith in God in particular, because we all have moments where we are cast into a
whirlpool.
As we begin our Lenten journey, let us seek to allow Jesus to walk with us, beside us; to lead us on our pilgrim
journey, through trials and sorrows, aches and joys, losses and gains.
Sometimes Jesus asks us to even jump off a cliff – or, to not. After all, Jesus knows what that is like.
Remember this from Luke (4:9-12) And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple,
and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; for it is written, 'HE WILL COMMAND
HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU TO GUARD YOU, and, 'ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT
YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'"
But Jesus didn’t take the bait: And Jesus answered and said to him, "It is said, 'YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD
YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.'"
We do experience tests and trials, and sometimes we do have to jump – and we have to remember that Jesus does
indeed walk – and jump – with us. For that, today, Let this simply be our prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016
DEEP RIVER - arr. Robert Shaw / Alice Parker
Deep River, My home is over Jordan. Deep River, Lord. I want to cross over into campground.
Oh, don't you want to go, To the Gospel feast; That Promised Land, Where all is peace?
Oh, deep River, Lord, I want to cross over into campground.
This spiritual has an anonymous background, and has its first mention in 1876. There are numerous
arrangements of this spiritual, and one is an oratorio by Michael Tippett, entitled A CHILD OF OUR TIME.
Part of this spiritual, according to some, suggest that slaves run away; to escape, over a river to a new
home over Jordan- because the water will hide or wash away a scent.
Harriet Tubman was a bond woman, and was deeply involved with the Underground Railroad. I have heard
stories that, supposedly, she would stand on a rock in a river to guide the way, as Moses had done for the
Israelites. She would be called Grandma Moses.
While living in the South, I traveled to all the Civil War battlefields, stood in fields where farmers still
discover bones of those who perished. And, I have traveled far from metropolitan areas, and experienced a
sense where time reverted back over a hundred years. And, I have stood in some of those rivers and
wondered if some in that place had “crossed over into campground”.
At a workshop I attended many years ago, well known conductor, Anton Armstrong, lead us in a study of
African-American spirituals. The vast majority of those attending were white. I was in the third row. When
he came out he looked around – and he looked at me. He then said something I will never forget: “As I look
around I can see what many of you are thinking: What gives us the right to prepare or present these
spirituals. Well, let me tell you something – it has very little to do with this (as he pinched the skin of his
hand). It has EVERYTHING to do with this (and he patted his chest over his heart).
And with that there was an audible gasp – and a sense that we had been led, pointed to a path over a river
to engage with, become part of the experience of a people that head and heart would – could – reach
across Jordan.
Whenever I hear, perform or conduct this spiritual I think of that moment. I also think of another – when
Christ reached across an endlessly wide river to a very lost young man.
Today there will be moments when we will have opportunity to reach out across a wide, deep river to
someone. Maybe, it’s even to be still and allow Him to reach across to us, and to show us a path to a
promised land of service to those – even that one – who desperately need Jesus to walk with them.
Today, be quiet for a moment. Look around – maybe, just maybe, today we can be a Harriet Tubman to
help guide the way for someone to that Gospel feast.
Prayer: O, Lord, I know my home is over Jordan, but today I am here. Today let me, and help me stand on
the rock, and be your hand, your word. Amen.
Friday, Feb. 12, 2016
WADE IN THE WATER - arr. Moses Hogan
Wade in the water Wade in the water, children,
Wade in the water God's a-going to trouble the water
See that host all dressed in white God's a-going to trouble the water
The leader looks like the Israelite God's a-going to trouble the water
See that band all dressed in red God's a-going to trouble the water
Looks like the band that Moses led God's a-going to trouble the water
Look over yonder, what do you see? God's a-going to trouble the water
The Holy Ghost a-coming on me God's a-going to trouble the water
If you don't believe I've been redeemed God's a-going to trouble the water
Just follow me down to the Jordan's stream God's a-going to trouble the water
“Spirituals” are religious songs, a musical “voice” of those bound in slavery. You can probably name a number of
spirituals, some which we will explore later n this devotional. There is “Steal away to Jesus,” Swing Low, Sweet
Chariot” and many more.
WADE IN THE WATER was first published in 1901, and draws from both Old and New Testaments: Israelites
escaping from Egypt (Exodus) and healing (John 5:4) “At certain times an angel of the Lord would go down into the
pool and stir up the water, and whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease
he had.”
This spiritual is also among those which are said to contain communication for slaves on routes to take and ways to
avoid capture – literally, wade in the water so that search hounds could not follow. Harriet Tubman used this spiritual
to communicate to fleeing slaves. We will visit this spiritual; again later in this devotional.
The following comes from a sermon on this spiritual:
"Wade in the Water" comes from the passage in the Gospel of John that we read this morning (John 5:1-9). There
was a pool in Jerusalem that people believed had healing powers. Every so often God would send an angel to stir
up...or trouble...the waters. The first person in the pool after God troubled the waters would be healed. Whether you
want to call this superstition or miracle is up to you. Clearly something happened to somebody at some point or you
wouldn't have mobs of people waiting around the pool all the time. When Jesus sees the man who can't get into the
water because he is paralyzed, Jesus doesn't deride him for superstition. He doesn't send all the rest of the people
home or tell them they are wasting their time. Instead, Jesus has pity on the man and heals him where he is.
Later, we hear that this spiritual: “ . . . show us what wading in the water is about. When we actually get our feet wet
in the waters of Christian life, it could mean anything. It might be an exciting step into a miracle pool. It might be an
ordinary step into a stream we consider a bit polluted. It might be a spiritual step into the waters of Jesus himself. But
in all of it, we are called to wade in the water. To just do it. To get our feet wet in the service of God.”
W.E.B DuBois wrote the following prayer – and may it be ours today.
Give us grace, O God, to dare to do the deed which we well know cries to be done. Let us not hesitate because of
ease, or the words of men’s mouths, or our own lives. Mighty causes are calling us—the freeing of women, the
training of children, the putting down of hate and murder and poverty—all these and more. But they call with voices
that mean work and sacrifices and death. Mercifully grant us, O God, the spirit of Esther, that we say: I will go unto
the King and if I perish, I perish.
Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016
STEAL AWAY – arr. Moses Hogan
Steal away, steal away! Steal away to Jesus!
Steal away, steal away home! I ain't got long to stay here!
My Lord calls me! He calls me by the thunder!
The trumpet sounds it ina my soul! I ain't got long to stay here!
Slaves used songs as signals. Nat Turner, a Virginia slave, organized a revolt against slave owners and used
the song “Steal Away” as a signal to call people together to talk about their plans. “Steal away, steal away
home! I ain't got long to stay here!”
For me this spiritual speaks about hearing God’s call – and the question that follows: then what?. There are
various scriptures on this. Here are a few:
And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your
servant hears.” 1 Samuel 3:10
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a
horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.
Psalm 32:8-9
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or
when you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21
And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and
still more will be added to you. Mark 4:24
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. Hebrews 2:1
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” Revelation 3:22
Our responses to His callings can vary, from “Yes” to “What?” to “You have got to be kidding!” The call can
bring calm, or panic.
Now read this from Proverbs 19:21: Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that
prevails.
Part of our Lenten journey is to discover what we are being called to engage with, do – to steal away to Jesus
and to take a step of faith.
Maybe this could…should…be our prayer today: My Lord calls me! He calls me by the thunder!
The trumpet sounds it ina my soul! I ain't got long to stay here! Show me Lord, and give me strength to take
the steps that you are asking me to take. Amen.
Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016
THERE IS A BALM IN GILEAD– arr. William Dawson
There is a balm in Gilead To make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead To heal the sin-sick soul.
Sometimes I feel discouraged, And think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit Revives my soul again.
If you cannot sing like angels, If you can’t preach like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus, And say He died for all.
Balm: a fragrant ointment or preparation used to heal or soothe the skin.
Balm of Gilead: a rare perfume used medicinally, mentioned in the Bible, and named for the region of
Gilead where it was produced.
Jeremiah 8:22: Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my
poor people not been restored?”
There are multiple arrangements of this particular spiritual I have performed. Among the most memorable
is William Dawson’s. It opens quietly, moving forward, building, and then a soprano voice is heard, saying
what many of us feel at times: “Sometimes I feel discouraged, And think my work’s in vain, But then the
Holy Spirit Revives my soul again.”
We’ve all experienced them. Times in our lives when a myriad of “things” burden us physically, emotionally,
spiritually. Times when it seems “it” will not end.
We ask, we hope,
we pray,
and there is
silence.
Paul Laurence Dunbar wrote the following. In times such as those above, and others, it is one I try to
remember.
"A Prayer"
O LORD, the hard-won miles Have worn my stumbling feet:
Oh, soothe me with thy smiles, And make my life complete.
The thorns were thick and keen Where’er I trembling trod;
The way was long between My wounded feet and God.
Where healing waters flow Do thou my footsteps lead.
My heart is aching so; Thy gracious balm I need.
Feb. 15, 2016
SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT- William L. Dawson
Swing low, sweet chariot, Coming for to carry me home,
Swing low, sweet chariot, Coming for to carry me home.
I looked over Jordan and what did I see Coming for to carry me home,
A band of angels coming after me, Coming for to carry me home.
If you get there before I do, Coming for to carry me home,
Tell all my friends that I'm coming, too, Coming for to carry me home.
It has been said that "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" was written by a Choctaw freedman in the old Indian
Territory in what is now Choctaw County, near the County seat of Hugo, Oklahoma. His name was Wallis
Willis. It is also said to have been a coded song and favorite of Harriet Tubman’s.
There are various arrangements of this spiritual, and I have both sung and directed a variety of them. One
thing I have always stressed to those on the other side of my baton was to really think about the words –
because we sing to tell a story.
Read through those words again, and think for a moment what it meant to slaves when they heard it? What
about others who heard it? Who hear it now?
This spiritual always resonates for me with a funeral sermon written by James Weldon Johnson entitled
“GO DOWN, DEATH”. In it God sends his servant, death, to go and bring home one of His servants. I have
preached this sermon as part of dramatic programs and Lenten services through the years.
Here is part of the text:
And God said: Go down, Death, go down, Go down to Savannah, Georgia,
Down in Yamacraw, And find Sister Caroline.
She's borne the burden and heat of the day, She's labored long in my vineyard,
And she's tired-She's weary—
Go down, Death, and bring her to me.
What has always struck me is the imagery of the chariot and God’s servant, Death.
And Death took her up like a baby,
And she lay in his icy arms,
But she didn't feel no chill.
And death began to ride again-Up beyond the evening star,
Into the glittering light of glory,
On to the Great White Throne.
And there he laid Sister Caroline
On the loving breast of Jesus.
Someday God’s chariot will come to take us home – but today, He may be asking us to point the way, to be
the rock, cairn in the stream, for someone in need of true freedom, or even just a kind word or helping
hand. Let that be our prayer today.
Feb. 16, 2016
MY SOUL’S BEEN ANCHORED IN THE LORD – arr. Moses Hogan
In the Lord.
My soul’s been anchored, Hallelujah, my soul’s been anchored in the Lord.
Before I’d stay in hell one day I’d sing and pray myself away.
Gonna shout and pray and never stop until I reach the mountain top.
Do you love him? God Almighty?
Are you anchored? My soul’s been anchored in the Lord.
Will you serve him? God Almighty?
Hallelujah, will you praise him? God almighty?
Are you anchored? My soul’s been anchored in the Lord.
Lord I’m anchored, Lord I love you, yes I’ll serve you, Lord I praise you.
Hallelujah! My soul’s been anchored in the Lord.
This arrangement by Moses Hogan begins slowly, with a powerful statement of faith. It’s also a cry of
remembrance of what God has done for us through Christ’s sacrifice. The work then moves into a powerful
and quick tempo, and ends with an uplifting cry.
I have performed it with Hogan, and heard many performances of it. If you listen to it on YOU TUBE, go to
the Moses Hogan Chorale performance from 2008. It will really “bring you in”.
It’s message is one we need to remember. When (not “if”) trouble comes, stay “Anchored in the Lord”.
Remember this scripture: Job said: “Man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.”
The following comes from a sermon by Pastor Timothy W. Grant Sr:
“It does not matter if you are a faithful Christian or not, trouble is inevitable. It is not a matter of if, but when.
I am convinced that none of us are exempt from the storms of life. Job understood and believed the
doctrine of original sin and that our time in this world is in the hands of God.
We live in a world that suffers because of sin. However, God is still in control, and His purpose is stated in
Romans: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the
called according to his purpose.”
…. As Matthew Henry said, “No spiritually good thing dwells in us, or can proceed from us. We all must
humble ourselves to the mercies of God and recognize a need to be anchored in the Lord.”
Remember when Jesus said that He has overcome the world. This is the hope that we have in the midst of
our trials and difficulties. We live in a dangerous and unpredictable world, yet we can still have joy because
our souls are anchored in the Lord. Trouble will not always last.
He is the one who is able to keep us steadfast and unmovable in spite of the tides of life. Hebrews 6:19
declares: “Hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast…”
Today I need an anchor. That is my simple prayer for today.
What about you?
Feb. 17, 2016
EV’RY TIME I HEAR THE SPIRIT – arr. William Dawson
Every time I feel the spirit Movin’ in my heart I will pray
Every time I feel the spirit Movin’ in my heart I will pray
Up on the mountains my Lord spoke Out of His mouth came fire and smoke
Looked all around me, it looked so fine I asked the Lord could it be mine
The Jordan river is chilly and cold.It chills the body but not the soul.
There aint but one train upon this track. It runs to heaven and then right back.
Oh, I have sorrow and I have woe I have heartaches here below
But while God leads me I’ll never fear For I know that He is near
Every time I feel the spirit Movin’ in my heart I will pray
Every time I feel the spirit Movin’ in my heart I will pray
This spiritual, and this arrangement, are heard regularly. It is jubilant, beginning with the choir, and then we
hear the soloist – a “preacher” if you will. From fire and smoke, to all being fine, to chilly and cold – and
then reference to that train leading to heaven. Back and forth – things of this life and then “hearing the
spirit, and I will pray”.
I came upon the following not long ago:
“Do you ever feel like God just isn't there?
Although our feelings tell us that at times, we shouldn't be driven by our emotions when it comes to our
trust in God. Because Scripture says the "righteous shall live by faith" (Romans 1:17) and "without faith it
is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6), we shouldn't have to feel God to know He's there. But I know
how you feel if you find yourself discouraged at times, because it seems like God just isn't around.”
Been there. How about you?
There are various scriptures to help us in such times. This is among those
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways
acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
It’s hard though, in the midst of struggle, in the cone of silence. The following is an anonymous prayer. May
it be one to help us in such moments.
Lord, in every need let me come to You with humble trust saying, "Jesus, help me."
In all my doubts, perplexities, and temptations, Jesus, help me.
In hours of loneliness, weariness, and trials, Jesus, help me.
In the failure of my plans and hopes; in disappointments, troubles, and sorrows, Jesus, help me.
When others fail me and Your grace alone can assist me, help me.
When I throw myself on Your tender love as a father and savior, Jesus, help me.
When my heart is cast down by failure at seeing no good come from my efforts, Jesus, help me.
When I feel impatient and my cross irritates me, Jesus, help me.
When I am ill and my head and hands cannot work and I am lonely, Jesus, help me.
Always, always, in spite of weakness, falls, and shortcomings of every kind,
Jesus, help me and never forsake me. Amen.
Feb. 18, 2016
I’VE GOT A ROBE – arr. Moses Hogan
I've got a robe, you've got a robe, All of God's children got a robe;
When I get to Heaven, goin' to put on my robe, Goin' to shout all over God's Heav'n.
Heav'n, Heav'n, Ev'rybody talking 'bout heav'n ain't going there,
Heav'n, Heav'n, Goin' to shout all over God's Heav'n.
I've got a crown, you've got a crown, All of God's children got a crown'
When I get to Heaven, goin' to puton my crown. Goin' to shout all over God's Heav'n.
I've got a shoes, you've got a shoes, All of God's children got a shoes;
When I get to Heaven, goin' to put on my shoes, Goin' to walk all over God's Heav'n.
I've got a harp, you've got a harp, All of God's children got a harp;
When I get to Heaven, goin' to play on my harp, Goin' to play all over God's Heav'n.
I've got a song, you've got a song, All of God's children got a song;
When I get to Heaven, goin' to sing a new song,
Goin' to sing all over God's Heav'n. He brought this joy to my soul.
Many churches have choirs – traditional, contemporary, gospel, blended styles. Many wear robes that no matter
what the “daily” wardrobe might be, the robe brings them together as they make their musical offerings. Individuals
becoming one in effort and intent.
Whether you sing or have sung in a choir, with or without a cloth robe, you have one – heaven’s robe.
Revelation. 7:9 - After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from
all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with
palm branches in their hands…
Isaiah 61:10 - I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments
of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a
beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Sometimes we can get stuck on a hanger of “this way or the highway,” hung up on outward “gotta do it this way
only”. Sometimes, many times, He calls us to put all our “outward signs” away, and put on the robe he calls us to
wear that day, that moment. It can be the robe of a kind word. Choosing to put on the robe of forgiveness toward
others, toward some “one”. Sometimes it’s outside our “style of choice”.
I read it put this way once – that God washes our robes in forgiveness and mercy. They are washed in the blood of
the Lamb. But we have to be willing to put our robes in His “washing machine”. It reminds me of the following from
Psalm 51
(To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to
Bathsheba.) Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy
tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I
acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin [s] ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done
[this] evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, [and] be clear when thou judgest.
Maybe today will be a day, if we listen quietly, that He will ask as us to put on a robe, and be a member of His
“choir”. But be prepared – you don’t yet know which part you will be asked to sing. Let our prayer today be simple that we be in tune with his calling, no matter the part he asks us to sing.
Feb. 19, 2016
BLOW YOU TRUMPET, GABRIEL – Hall Johnson
De talles’ tree in Paradise De Christian call de tree of life
And I hope dat trump might blow me home To the new Jerusalem
Blow your trumpet, Gabriel Blow louder, louder
And I hope dat trump might blow me home To the new Jerusalem
Paul and Silas, bound in jail, Sing God’s praise both night and day
And I hope dat trump might blow me home To the new Jerusalemoin'
Have you ever heard a trumpet? I’m sure you have. But, have you ever sat close to one? Ever been
surprised by one? Ever anticipated hearing one?
The one that most easily comes to mind is THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND from Handel’s MESSIAH.
Audience and performers “lean in” as we hear the trumpet and the bass soloist proclaim “The trumpet shall
sound, and the dead shall be raised”. This comes from 1 Corinthians 15:51-55
Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the
last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable
body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable,
and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O
death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
Here are a few others.
Revelation 11:15-18
Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders who sit on their
thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who
was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead
to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great,
and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have
no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have
fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,
will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the
voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive,
who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the
Lord. ...
1 Corinthians 15:52
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable,
and we shall be changed.
This spiritual has a story centered on hope – hope in looking toward that day when he burdens of slavery
and this world will be taken away as we are called home. It is one of anticipation, expectation.
George Herbert wrote this: “None knows the weight of another’s burden”.
Trumpets can make no sound without breath. And there are times when God’s breath is needed in our
lives and in others. And sometimes, sometimes, He calls us to be a quiet trumpeter (and sometimes a loud
one!) that we can hear again His call. May our prayer be to have courage to answer that call.
Feb. 20, 2016
DO, LORD, REMEMBER ME – arr. Moses Hogan
Do Lord, do Lord Do remember me
When I’m in trouble Do remember me Do Lord, remember me
When I’m dying Do remember me Do Lord, remember me
When this world’s on fire Do remember me Do Lord, remember meI
In looking into this spiritual, I discovered the following in the Atlantic Monthly, June 1867. It was an
apparent favorite at Christmas time, with the following lyrics:
LORD, REMEMBER ME!
O do Lord, remember me! O, do remember me, until de year roll round! Do, Lord, remember me!
If you want to die like Jesus died, Lay in de grave, You would fold your arms and close your eyes
And die wid a free good will. For Death is a simple ting, And he go from door to door And he knock down
some, and he cripple up some, And he leave some here to pray. O do, Lord, remember me! My old fader 's
gone till de year roll round ; Do, Lord, remember me!
Among the numerous Moses Hogan works I have had opportunity to perform on both sides of the baton,
this spiritual is one of them. The text resonates with this text: Luke 23:42, spoken by one being crucified
with Jesus: Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
What has always caught my attention is the bookend nature of this text- crucifixion, asking for
remembrance/forgiveness – and the exultant joyfulness of this arrangement. There are other versionsJohnny Cash, Andre Thomas. All joyful.
Hmmm.
A psychologist once noted that “The desire to remember and be remembered is like a prayer”. Author
Annie Lamott says the two best prayers she knows are “Help me, help me, help me” and “Thank you, thank
you, thank you”. But if we think about what that man at Jesus’ side was asking, he wasn’t expressing
entitlement, no “give me”. Just a simple plea. An expression of hope.
There is One who remembers us always.
There is also another “side” of remembrance.
In difficult times we also need to remember Him and hat he has done for is.
Maybe this could be our prayer today:
Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Help me, help me, help me. Thank you, thank
you, thank you.
Amen.
Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016
I CAN TELL THE WORLD – arr. Moses Hogan
I can tell the world, yes, about this, I can tell the nations, yes, that I'm blessed.
Yes, I can tell the world, yes, about this,
I can tell the nations, yes, that I'm blessed. Tell 'em what my Lord has done,
Tell 'em that the conqueror has come, And he brought joy, joy, joy to my soul.
My Lord done just what he said. Yes He did, Oh Lord, yes He did.
He healed the sick and He raised the dead. Yes He did, Oh Lord, yes He did.
He lifted me when I was down. Yes He did, Oh Lord, yes He did.
He placed my feet on solid ground. Yes He did, Oh Lord, yes He did.
I can tell the nations, yes, that I'm blessed. Tell 'em what my Lord has done,
Tell 'em that the conqueror has come, And he brought joy, joy,
That mornin', Hallelujah! That mornin', Hallelujah!
Oh Lord, He brought joy that mornin', When He saved me.
Joy that mornin', When He blessed me.
I'll tell it, How He brought this joy to my soul.
This spiritual arrangement is joyous to listen to, and even more so when performing. But sometimes we
can listen to this, or perform it, and lose (or forget) the message – telling others about Jesus.
God calls us to be witnesses. There are many ways to share our Christ-walk, what He has done for us and
others we know. Sometimes it’s a straight forward conversation, how Christ came into our lives whether in
a dramatic encounter or growing up in a community of faith. It can be a helping hand- to one standing on a
corner asking for help, assisting at a food bank, hospital, so many others. In general, however, it means
being outside the church pew.
God calls us to be witnesses – but that doesn’t mean being perfect. Sometimes it’s our failures, our frailties
which bring the truth of what God has done into clarity for someone, and as a reminder to ourselves. We
can remember these when in the church pew.
I can’t help but remember the Prayer of St. Francis when I hear this spiritual.
Let it be our prayer today – to help tell the world – or that one.
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury,
pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where
there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to
understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are
pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.
Feb. 22, 2016
AIN’A THAT GOOD NEWS – arr. William L. Dawson
I ‘ve a crown in the Kingdom Ain’t that good news
I’ve a crown up in the Kingdom Ain’t that good news
I’m going to lay down this world Going to shoulder up my cross
Goin’ to take it home to Jesus Ain’t that good news
I ‘ve a harp in the Kingdom Ain’t that good news…
I ‘ve a robe in the Kingdom Ain’t that good news…
I ‘ve slippers in the Kingdom Ain’t that good news…
I ‘ve a Saviour in the Kingdom Ain’t that good news…
William Dawson was born in Alabama in 1899. In 1931 he would become Director of the School of Music at
Tuskegee. In 1990 the chariot would swing low to carry him home to receive his crown in the Kingdom.
What he left all of us is a tremendous musical testament to the story of a people and a musical heritage for
all of us to engage with, and through which we may draw closer to King Jesus.
In a recital / lecture given by Raynde Jones, she said had this to say:
My people told stories, from genesis to Revelation, with God’s faithful as the main characters. They knew
about Adam and Eve in the garden, about Moses and the Red Sea. They could tell you about Mary, Jesus,
God and the Devil. If you stood around long enough you would hear a song about the blind man seeing,
God troubling the water, Ezekiel seeing a wheel, Jesus being crucified and raised form the dead. If slaves
couldn’t read the bible, they would memorize bible verses they heard and translate them into songs.
I read the following not too long ago: During the season of Lent, Christians are reminded of their sin. That
makes it the most wonderful time of the year.
I also read this: "What's So Good about the Good News?"
What came next gave me something to think about. The good news is: of “Real Life, Real Freedom, Real
Help, Real Identity and Real Confidence”. Or, as someone else put it, “It’s not about you – Lent is FOR
YOU! It’s about Jesus – FOR YOU! It’s about what Jesus did – FOR YOU. Lent just means more Jesus.
You can never have enough of HIM because you’re always trying to have too much of YOU. Which is why
HE is for YOU!”
Today I will endeavor to take time to think about what He has done for me, given me, shown me, and the
path set before me
Here’s a scripture to think about. May it be a prayer for us this day as well.
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we
be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that ye have
need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you. (Matt 6:31-33)
Feb. 23, 2016
IN DAT GREAT GETTING’ UP MORNIN’ – arr. Jester Hairston
I’m-a goin’ to tell you ‘bout de comin’ of de Saviour Fare you well, fare you well
Dere’s a better day a-comin’ Fare you well, fare you well Oh preacher, fol’ yo’ bible Fare you well, fare you well
Prayer maker, pray no mo’ Fare you well, fare you well For de last soul’s converted Fare you well, fare you well
Dat de time shall be no longer Fare you well, fare you well For de judgment day is comin’ Fare you well, fare you well
Den you hear de sinner sayin’ Fare you well, fare you well Down I’m rollin’, down I’m rollin’ Fare you well, fare you well
In dat great gittin’ up mornin’ Fare you well, fare you well
De Lord spoke to Gabriel Fare you well, fare you well Go, look behin’ de altar
Take down de silvah trumpet Blow yo’ trumpet, Gabriel Lord, how loud shall I blow it Blow it right, calm an’ easy
Do not alarm my people Tell ’em to come to judgment Gabriel, blow yo’ trumpet Lord how loud shall I blow it
Loud as seven peals of thunder Wake de livin’ nations
Place one foot upon de dry land Place de ther on de sea Den you’ll see de coffin bustin’ See dedry bones come a-creepin’
In dat great gittin’ up mornin’ Den you’ll see po’ sinners Den you’ll see de worl’ in fiah See de moon a-bleedin’
See de stars a-fallin’ See de elements a-meltin’ See de forked Den you’ll cry out for cold water While de Christians shout in glory
Sayin’ Amen to yo’ damnation No mercy for po’ sinner
In dat great gittin’ up mornin’ In dat great gittin’ up mornin’ Hear de rumblin’ of de thunder Earth shall reel an’ totter
Den you’ll see de Christians risin’ Den you’ll see de righteous marchin’
See dem marchin’ home to heab’n Den you’ll see my home to glory
Wid all His holy angels Take de righteous home to glory Dere dey live wid God for ever On de right hand side of my Saviour
In dat great gittin’ up mornin’ In dat great gittin’ up mornin’.
As you can tell, the text of this spiritual is longer than the others we are exploring. Hairston’s arrangement
of this spiritual is a joyous. Beside some textual modifications, he included at the end of the reoccurring line
”In dat great gittin’ up mornin’” was ”Fare thee well, fare the well!”
This spiritual looks to tell a story – it looks beyond.
In Matthew 7:14 we hear the gate to heaven is narrow, and the road difficult. The road we are told to follow,
is found in Romans 10:9 "If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God
raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
This spiritual is about looking beyond. Here are some scriptures to consider along those lines:
Philippians 3:14 - I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 121:1 - I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?
Isaiah 40:26 - Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth
their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of
His power, Not one of them is missing.
John 11:40 - Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
There are several prayers I have encountered which resonate with this spiritual and these verses. May
they help in our walk today.
Fulfil in me, O God, those desires of goodness which Thou hast created in my heart, and perfect the work
of faith, that Jesus Christ may be glorified in me. AMEN.
We ask, O Lord, that we may be so filled with these thoughts throughout the day, that our earthly life may
be inspired with the spirit of Heaven. May we go to and fro about our business as those who have seen the
face of God, and with the light of the other world upon our faces. AMEN.
Lord, take my lips, and speak through them; take my mind, and think through it; take my heart, and set it on
fire. AMEN.
Feb. 24, 2016
GIVE ME JESUS – arr. L.L. Fleming
Oh when I come to die Oh when I come to die
Oh when I come to die Give me Jesus
You may have the world Give me Jesus
I heard my mother say Give me Jesus
You may have the world Give me Jesus
Dark midnight was my cry Give me Jesus
You may have the world Give me Jesus
In the morning when I rise Give me Jesus
You may have the world Give me Jesus
I heard the mourner say Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus You may have the world
Give me Jesus
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew
forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, Upon an instrument of ten strings,
and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound. For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through
thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. (Psalms 92:1-4).
This arrangement of GIVE ME JESUS is among my favorites. I have sung and conducted it many times,
and for me it is the personal communication with the words and the music, and communicating this, that
makes it so very special.
I came upon the following while reading through various encounters with this text and spiritual. It is a
personal encounter and response:
The message should be our heart’s desire yet I venture to say not so for most modern Christians. Whether
we be in tragedy or triumph, whether we are weathering storms or counting treasures do You want Jesus
more than all? Is it easier to want Jesus in despair or when we are haughty? I suppose the thought that
Give Me Jesus was written by people stripped of all dignity and every human possession says so much
about what Jesus is, what He can give and His very nature!
That’s being blunt. But, it does put a question out there – where is our focus?
These scriptures might help, for this day, and be our prayer.
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way
wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee (Ps 143:8). But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing
aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble (Ps
59:16).
Feb. 25, 2016
MY LORD, WHAT A MORNIN’ – arr. H.T. Burleigh
My Lord, what a morning / My Lord what a morning My Lord, what a morning When the stars begin to fall
You’ll hear the trumpet sound To wake the nations underground
Looking to my God’s right hand When the stars begin to fall
You’ll hear the sinner moan To wake the nations underground
Looking to my God’s right hand When the stars begin to fall
You’ll hear the Christian shout To wake the nations underground
Looking to my God’s right hand When the stars begin to fall
As with other spirituals, there are various arrangements. This arrangement by H.T. Burleigh, is among the
first spirituals I ever encountered, and remains among my favored. It begins quietly, in a slow tempo. Once
again we hear the trumpet in this spiritual.
Notice what line repeats: “Looking to my God’s right hand”.
There are various references to God’s right hand in scripture.
The one that seems to resonate strongly with this spiritual is from Isaiah 41:10:
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help
you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
I came upon this while thinking about this spiritual and that text:
This is one of my favorite promises from Scripture. God says that He will uphold us in times of trouble; but notice that we are not
just held by His hand, but by His righteous, right hand. What does that mean? The phrase “right hand” in Scripture is often used
metaphorically to symbolize power and authority. The “righteousness” of God is the same as His faithfulness and truthfulness,
everything that is consistent with His character and His promises. Therefore, God is telling us that we are upheld by the very
power and authority of His immutable nature. I’m so thankful that I am not “upheld” based on how well I am doing or how spiritual
I am—Isaiah 64:6 tells me that all my righteous acts are like “filthy rags”, anyway—but rather, I am upheld on the basis of His
righteousness.
I am reminded of the conductor of an orchestra, who holds a baton high in his right hand for all to see. That baton signifies his
leadership and authority. Wielding his baton, the conductor has the power to draw out beautiful harmonies and thundering
crescendos from the musicians. The baton has no power of its own, but when used by the conductor, it plays a key role in
influencing not only every member of the orchestra, but also everyone in the audience who is watching and listening, deeply
moved by the sound.
It is one of the great paradoxes of Scripture that it is only when we admit to being weak and powerless that God can accomplish
His purposes through us. We cannot hope to influence those around us through our own strength or self-induced righteousness.
Our only hope is to be completely yielded and surrendered to the Master, upheld by His righteous right hand so that all can see
His miraculous workings in our lives.
Now read this from Mark 16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven
and he sat at the right hand of God.
Another Psalm verse is a reminder of what else God is: Ps. 54:4 Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the
upholder of my life.
Let this be our prayer today. A prayer by someone who knew about needing help.
“I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.
My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day.”
Abraham Lincoln
Feb. 26, 2016
I’M A TRAVELIN’ TO THE GRAVE – Traditional
My missis died a-shouting, Singing glory hallelujah,
The last words she said to me, Was about Jerusalem.
My brother died a-shouting, Singing glory hallelujah,
The last words he said to me, Was about Jerusalem.
My sister died a-shouting, Singing glory hallelujah,
The last words she said to me, Was about Jerusalem.
I'm a-trav'ling to the grave, I'm a-trav'ling to the grave, my Lord,
I'm a-trav'ling to the grave, For to lay this body down.
Many friends of mine know that, in addition to all my other activities, I am also a genealogist. I love watching
television shows such as “Who Do You Think You Are” and “Finding Your Roots”. It’s not just about process, but
those “ah-ha” and “wow” and “you’ve got to be kidding” discoveries. I have spent countless hours in cemeteries –
much to the chagrin of my wife and children! But to me they are filled and crying out with stories.
I have spent years and years researching my wife’s and my family, finding trails leading back to the first settlers to
arrive here from England, early1700 arrivals from France and more. My father’s side is French and German. Then
there is my mother’s side – full on Bohemian.
All the records from Bohemia from the 1600’s on were not available to access, much less difficult to filter through due
to language (try Bohemian, German, Latin and more). All I had been able to discover was my great grandparents
had arrived on a ship to New York – before the Statue of Liberty, before Ellis Island.
Then a wall. A very BIG wall.
Suddenly, just a couple months before going on a performance tour to Europe, which included Prague, a break in
that wall. All records suddenly became available digitally – but only in country. I reached out to a relative and fellow
genealogist who knew a genealogist in Prague. Long story short, several days before we were to leave for the tour a
box arrived – full of digital documents, and a family tree that took my family back before 1600. And another gift – that
genealogist was going to meet me on our one “day off” and take me an hour and a half from Prague to where my
family had lived – under the monarchy, essentially as slaves.
We went, and I visited seven villages where my family came from – and actually met relatives who still have the
family name. I walked numerous cemeteries where my family lies in rest – in unmarked pauper graves. And I stood
in a church, built in the 1600’s, and at the exact spot by the altar, where my great grandfather and great
grandmother, grandfather and his sister and others were baptized, married, and from where they were taken to their
burial place. I stood in that spot for a long time, and then I heard a still, gentle voice whisper in my ear – it was the
genealogist. She said “You feel it, don’t you!”
My family came here in search of freedom and opportunity. Negro slaves brought here before, during and after the
Civil War where spirituals were an expression of a greater hope in a place where such opportunity was essentially
not possible. They held on – for there was the hope.
Frederick Douglass wrote in his book My Bondage and My Freedom of singing spirituals during his years in
bondage: "A keen observer might have detected in our repeated singing of 'O Canaan, sweet Canaan, I am bound
for the land of Canaan,' something more than a hope of reaching heaven. We meant to reach the North, and the
North was our Canaan”.
Today we face challenges, fight chains that hold us in captivity. Sometimes this is also true in our walk of faith, as we
just don’t understand. We’ve all heard that God answers prayer in three ways – with a “yes”, “no” or “wait and see”.
But sometimes that doesn’t even get through.
Here’s another way to look at how God responds to our prayers: "No, I love you too much." "Yes, but you'll have to
wait." "Yes, but not what you expected." Maybe today our prayer should be “Lord, help me to accept and trust in the
answers you give to me in my prayers. Even if that answer is silence as in a peaceful cemetery”.
Feb. 27, 2016
JOSHUA FIT DE BATTLE – arr. Moses Hogan
Joshua fit de battle ob Jerico, Jerico, Jerico Joshua fit de battle ob Jerico
An’ de walls come tumblin’ down.
You may talk about yo’ king ob Gideon You may talk about yo’ man ob Saul
Dere’s none like good ole Joshua At de battle ob Jerico
Up to de walls ob Jerico He marched with spear in han’
“Go blow dem ram horns”, Joshua cried, “Kase de battle am in my han’.”
Den de lam’ ram sheep begin to blow, Trumpets begin to soun’
Joshua commanded de children to shout An’ de walls come tumblin’ down Dat mornin’
Joshua fit the battle ob Jerico, Jerico, Jerico Joshua fit de battle ob Jerico
An’ de walls come tumblin’ down.
It is believed that this spiritual was born in the first half of the 19th century, and alludes to the story of the
Battle of Jericho, in which Joshua led the Israelites against Canaan (Joshua 6:15-21). The lyrics may also
allude to escape – “And the walls came tumblin’ down”. It is also said “The lively melody and rhythm also
provided energy and inspiration.”
Fighting the daily battle. Running the daily race. Being a winner. Being a finisher. Paul reminds us of
something else: “Fight the good fight of faith”. 1 Timothy 6:12
Here’s some background on that time.
“In the 1st century, the Romans celebrated both the Olympic Games and the Isthmian Games. Competitors would
spend up to ten months in arduous physical training. Because the Corinthians were very familiar with these events,
Paul used the games as an analogy for a believer’s life of faithfulness. He wrote the church in Corinth saying, “Do
you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it
to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25). Paul’s exhortation is that believers should be as focused
and dedicated as those ancient runners in the games. Our motivation in serving Christ is much higher; we “run” not
for a temporary crown, but for an eternal one.”
“Every believer runs his own race (1 Corinthians 9:24). Each of us is enabled to be a winner. Paul exhorts us to “run
in such a way as to get the prize,” and to do this we must set aside anything that might hinder us from living and
teaching the gospel of Christ. The writer of Hebrews echoes the words of Paul: “Lay aside every weight, and the sin
which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the
author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Here’s some more insight:
“Jesus not only starts us on our race of faith, but he runs right alongside us. He encourages us, refreshes and
recharges us when we grow weary. He not only reminds us of the ultimate prize awaiting us, but gives us the joy of
his companionship every step of the way.”
We need a prayer for battle today. Here’s one:
Lord I am facing such hard times – times that have become much more difficult with each passing day and
at times I get quite anxious and afraid, wondering how we are going to manage. Give me I pray Your
strength to face today’s hard and troubled times with the confidence of knowing that Your strength is made
perfect in my weakness. Thank YOU that my strength comes from You and that Your grace is sufficient for
all the tasks and duties that will cross my daily path – not only for today but for the rest of my journey
through life.
Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016
I WANT TO BE READY – arr. William L. Dawson
I want to be ready, I want to be ready
I want to be ready To walk in Jerusalem Just Like John
John said the city was just four-square Walk in Jerusalem just like John
And he declared he’d meet me there Walk in Jerusalem just like John
Oh, John, oh John, what do you say? Walk in Jerusalem just like John
That I’ll be there at the coming day Walk in Jerusalem just like John
When Peter was preaching at Pentecost Walk in Jerusalem just like John
He was endowed with the Holy Ghost Walk in Jerusalem just like John
If you get there before I do Walk in Jerusalem just like John
Tell all my friends I’m a-coming too Walk in Jerusalem just like John
I read this in a sermon – an Advent sermon:
“There is an old spiritual that speaks about one's willingness to be ready "to walk in Jerusalem, just like
John." The spiritual speaks to the importance of being prepared for the Day of Judgment John foresaw in
Revelation, with the New Jerusalem coming down from above, like a bride adorned for her husband (Rev.
21:1-9). But to walk in that New Jerusalem we have to come to terms with the old one, in particular the
many stories in the Bible about all that took place there in this holiest of cities.”
”We like to fancy ourselves able to walk with Jesus, but when the crowds get loud and the way gets hard
and the cross looms large, we have the tendency to be silent ourselves. Somehow we must find a way to
block out the crowds, trust ourselves to the grace that gave himself for us, and take up our cross to follow
and walk hard after Jesus. At times doing so will bring great sorrow, but if we stick with it as Jesus stuck
with it, it will also bring us Easter joy”.
Work, work, work, chores, chores, chores; run the kids here, there, everywhere; gotta do this, gotta get
that; get up, get going – it’s time for church!
Walking with God. How does it fit into an exhausting schedule? How can we be ready?
I was looking around for insights into this – being ready to walk with God. It’s amazing how many “quick
fixes” you can “discover” on the web. I don’t know about you, but they many times forget something, or at
least part of it. It’s not about “doing this, not doing that” necessarily. It’s about harmony. Sometimes it’s
“simple” and at other times complex and difficult, like an eight part chord of all half-steps. I then came upon
this” “When we walk with God every day, the world cannot help but recognize that, in spite of our
imperfections and lack of knowledge in some areas, we have been with Jesus”.
There is a psalm that is also a prayer we can use today to be ready for what this day, and God, has set
before us.
“Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God
my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.” Psalm 25:4 & 5
Feb. 29, 2016
I WANT JESUS TO WALK WITH ME – arr. Jester Hairston
I want Jesus to walk with me I want Jesus to walk with me
All along my pilgrim journey I want Jesus to walk with me
In my trial, Lord, walk with me In my trials, Lord, walk with me
When the shades of life are falling Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me
In my sorrow, Lord walk with me In my sorrows, Lord walk with me
When my heart is aching Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me
In my troubles, Lord walk with me In my troubles, Lord walk with me
When my life becomes a burden, Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me
As I mentioned previously, I grew up in Ferguson, MO. The things which occurred there over the past two
years are heartbreaking. I grew up, walked, played at and very near where those events occurred. But I
can honestly say I did not have a hint of the experience of the African-American people at that time. Their
history. My “cone of understanding” was very limited, no matter what we read about in school.
History has always been of great interest to me, particularly World War Two, and the Civil War. But the
realities can only “hit” you at times when you are actually where something occurred. Reading about it,
watching documentaries or movies just doesn’t really connect you to it.
When I moved to the Atlanta area (where we lived for almost eighteen years) I would have opportunity to
encounter and learn so much about the South, more about the Civil War, and of these people. It became
visceral. Over the years there I visited most of the battlefields, and where to this day bones of those who
fought in those battles are found. I walked Gettysburg, Arlington. And, I walked many cemeteries where the
fallen rest.
I also have had the experience to walk Dachau, to see its ovens, its unusually green grass, and more.
Many times tears filled my eyes as I stood in those places. Many times I asked “why did this happen?”
I sang this spiritual under Jester Hairston’s direction. I remember at one point he stopped us and told us we
weren’t singing it “with weight”. To fully grasp this spiritual, understand it, engage it and what the people
who sang it felt, we HAD to feel the weight – of walking with feet dragging in the dirt and mud; walk long
paths after a day of heavy labor from sun-up to sun-down; walking with the weight of knowing tomorrow
would be the same.
That was when we knew this was a prayer, a proclamation, a lamentation and cry for God’s strength and
help. To this day I remember the emotional “cry” of the opening as we performed. To this day, whenever I
direct it I try to get those who sing it to connect with what Jester taught us.
Today, on our Lenten journey, think about Jesus journey to the cross – the days leading to it; the night
before; carrying the bar across his shoulders – and the burden these people bore.
Jesus knew- knows that burden, and those we bear this day.
Today, let it be our prayer - In my trial, Lord, walk with me In my trials, Lord, walk with me.
When the shades of life are falling Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me
Mar. 1, 2016
MARY HAD A BABY – arr. William L. Dawson
Mary had a baby Yes Lord Mary had a baby Yes Lord
The people keep-a coming and the train done gone
What did she name him Yes Lord The people keep-a coming and the train done gone
She name him King Jesus Yes Lord The people keep-a coming and the train done gone
She name him Mighty Couns’lor Yes Lord The people keep-a coming and the train done gone
Oh, where was he born? Yes Lord The people keep-a coming and the train done gone
Oh born in a manger Yes Lord The people keep-a coming and the train done gone
In “Mary Had a Baby,” awe and wonder are side by side with reality. The same can be found in Luke 1:30-31: The
angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you. Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will
name him Jesus.
I came upon this recently:
“A scared, pregnant, and unmarried teen, Mary went off into the Judean highlands to visit her older cousin Elizabeth,
who was also expecting. When Mary entered the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth, Elizabeth’s baby jumped for joy
(Luke 1:44) inside her womb. Mary then began to praise God for her situation. Rather than being scared, she
celebrated a sacred trust; rather than being fearful, she accepted that she had been favored. She recognized God as
being one who can turn any situation around, raising up those of low estate, and humbling the proud. Rather than
feeling punished, she knew that her baby was one of promise. Mary had a baby, oh my Lord!”
Each verse of “Mary Had a Baby” continues the story.
Naming is important in the Bible as well as in African cultures, with naming rituals occurring on the eighth day after
birth. The name indicates the new person’s character and the expectations of the community. Both Mary and Joseph
were told to name the baby, Jesus (Luke 1:31; Matthew 1:21). Jesus is the Greek version of the Hebrew name
Yeshua or Joshua, meaning “YHWH (God) is salvation.” Jesus would grow up to save, to deliver, and to liberate
people from death-dealing circumstances”.
“The theology of spirituals speaks not only of God “who sits high and looks low” but one who profoundly and
unequivocally identifies with those experiencing a world of cruelty, injustice, poverty, racism, and oppression”.
We have been named:
• child of God.: But to all who have received him--those who believe in his name--he has given the right to become
God's children … (John 1:12).
• friend of Jesus:I no longer call you slaves, because the slave does not understand what his master is doing. But I
have called you friends, because I have revealed to you everything I heard from my Father (John 15:15).
• no longer a slave, but a child and an heir: So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you
are also an heir through God (Galatians 4:7).
But there is also that repetitive line - The people keep-a coming and the train done gone. Cheryl Kirk-Duggan wrote
this about those “trains”: Trains were a new reality in the newly emerging industrial age of the early nineteenth
century. They connected places that had been previously isolated. Trains represented a way out, whether physical
spiritual, or imaginative. Train imagery figures prominently in Africa American lore. In the spiritual 'Get on Board,
Little Children' 'the gospel train is coming, the cog wheel is a-moing' and rumblin' through the land." "Get on board" to
reach the land of spiritual freedom. There is also the historical image of the Underground Railroad, which took
passengers from station to station on its way to physical freedom...."The phrase may constitute a spiritual warning.
Mary's baby represents freedom, salvation and deliverance. "Oh my LOrs!" Do not miss your opportunity.
Lord – help us, this day, to not miss the train of love, encouragement and support to someone(s).
Mar. 2, 2016
EXEKIEL SAW DE WHEEL – arr. William L. Dawson
Ezekiel saw de wheel ‘Way up in de middle of the air
Ezekiel saw de wheel ‘Way in the middle of de air
De big wheel run by faith And de little wheel run by de grace o’ God.
A wheel in a wheel—‘Way in de middle of de air.
Better mind, my sister how you walk on de cross. ‘Way in de middle of de air.
Your foot might slip an’ you soul be lost. ‘Way in de middle of de air.
Let me tell you brother what a sinner will do. ‘Way in de middle of de air.
He’ll step on you, an’ he’ll step on me. ‘Way in de middle of de air.
Ezekiel was a captive in the land of Babylon. He had been carried away by Nebuchadnezzar when the
nation of Judah was taken captive.
One interpretation of what this spiritual means that I came upon describes it this way: This Spiritual
describes the enslaved African’s expectation of the coming of the Empire of God. The LORD’s thronechariot in Ezekiel’s vision was reminiscent of the storm images in the Exodus narrative. The message is
clear in this song: Jesus is King and reigns on the Cross, his humble “chariot.”
In looking through the various interpretations of the scriptures surrounding Ezekiel and the vision of the
wheels I can say this: I’m not smart enough! It’s amazing how many variations on a theme there are. But
there are several central elements we can connect to:
-
It is set in captivity
Everyone has a time in life, when we would like to fly away from troubles
Whether we see it or not, there are usually two sides to everything
I came upon this recently when looking deeper into this spiritual:
“Years ago, reading the arguments in the 1800s over the abolition of slavery, I was struck by how often the
debate turned to the religious beliefs of the slaves themselves. Pro-slavery types argued that slaves could
not possibly grasp the notion of God or appreciate the stories in the Bible — and so slavery was OK.
After a while, this concern sounded almost desperate and obsessive, growing from fear: If slaves know
who God is and God knows who slaves are, and if they pray to Him and He can hear them praying to Him,
and they know He can hear them and He knows that they know He can hear them ... well ... well, white
folks are going straight to Hell.
To make a long story short, God takes his reluctant prophet Ezekiel to a field of very dry human bones. He
tells Zeke to get those bones to get up take a little walk, and Zeke isn't sure he can get that done. So God
tells him "Look, I'm God, and I ain't kidding around":
My mind reels, imagining the impact such a story must have had for an African American slave. In
comparison, their white counterparts must have found the story rather, I don't know ... interesting.”
I recently came upon this – the suggestion that God’s wheel for us begins each day with a prayer.
Ps. 25:4-5 (NLT) Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.
Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.
Mar. 3, 2016
NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I’VE SEEN – arr. Harry T. Burleigh
Nobody knows de trouble I've had Nobody knows but Jesus
Nobody know de trouble I've had Glory, hallelu !
One morning I was a-walking down O yes, Lord
I saw some berries a-hanging down O yes, Lord
I pick de berry and I suck de juice O yes, Lord
Just as sweet as the honey in de comb O yes, Lord
Sometimes I'm up, sometimes I'm down O yes, Lord
Sometimes I'm almost o de groun' O yes, Lord
What make ole Satan hate me so O yes, Lord
Because he got me once and he let me go
O yes, Lord
Shakespeare wrote this: “When sorrows come, they come not single spies. But in battalions!'
In James 1:2 we find this: Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for
great joy.
I read once that “troubles are the speeds bumps on the road of life. They may slow us down, but shouldn’t prevent us
from going about our lives…. Anyone can claim faith long as life is easy, but the evidence of faith is when troubles
come”.
I don’t think many of us can truly grasp the troubles. We may get it intellectually, and a bit emotionally by what we
see on the news.
Pamela Crosby wrote the following: “African-American spirituals emerged from a mix of the brutal institution of
slavery, Christian influences and African culture. The songs expressed a yearning for a better life, claimed
identification with the children of Israel, named the slave owner's deceit and hypocrisy, underscored the need for a
closer walk with God, identified the reality of Satan and emphasized the slave's hope for freedom and the future.
Love, grace, mercy, judgment, death and eternal life are among the themes enfolded in these songs”.
Booker T. Washington said this: “I think I have learned that the best way to lift one's self up is to help someone else.
In any country, regardless of what its laws say, wherever people act upon the idea that the disadvantage of one man
is the good of another, there slavery exists. Wherever, in any country the whole people feel that the happiness of all
is dependent upon the happiness of the weakest, there freedom exists”.
Today, if we are willing to be tuned to His heart, we can be an instrument of God’s peace. St. Francis’ prayer is a
good one for today.
You've given me the words, Lord… and the music... A song of life that is new and unrehearsed; You have given me
the joy that makes my heart sing, Even though at times tears come first… You've taken all my yesterdays of discord,
A clash of cymbals, meaningless and vain, transposing all the noise into a love song That floods my very soul with its
refrain… You've taken all the gifts I once thought mine, Lord, And changed the composition of their worth,
Reclaiming what was Yours from the beginning, Returning them, transfigured by rebirth… You've given me the
theme for my existence, and I will sing Your glory all my days… For now Lord, and forever… be my music And make
my life a Symphony of praise. Amen.
Mar. 4 2016
RIDE ON, KING JESUS – arr. Moses Hogan
Ride on King Jesus ! No man can hinder him
Ride on King Jesus ! No man can hinder him
Jesus rides on a milk white horse No man can hinder him
The river Jordan he did cross No man can hinder him
If you want to find your way to God No man can hinder him
The gospel highway must be trod No man can hinder him
I was young when I begun No man can hinder him
But now my race is almost run
No man can hinder him
If you haven’t sung in a choir you may not fully what happens when you begin singing a piece for the first
time. Sometimes it is overwhelming to simply get notes and rhythms, text, much less move beyond the
“technical” elements to get “the picture”. Not with this piece. Moses Hogan’s arrangement is engaging,
filled with anticipation and, well, just darn fun to sing!
Here is something I read not to long ago:
“While these songs have strong connections to historical and personal experiences, the entire function of the
spirituals may not be obvious. Songs originating during the slavery years in the United States, 1600 through 1870,
are generally categorized as plantation, sorrow and jubilee songs; however, the use of these melodies goes beyond
those labels. . . . African-American spirituals emerged from a mix of the brutal institution of slavery, Christian
influences and African culture. The songs expressed a yearning for a better life, claimed identification with the
children of Israel, named the slave owner's deceit and hypocrisy, underscored the need for a closer walk with God,
identified the reality of Satan and emphasized the slave's hope for freedom and the future. Love, grace, mercy,
judgment, death and eternal life are among the themes enfolded in these songs.
The spirituals offer a historical record revealing the slave's struggle for freedom and survival, and yet reflect the
exciting worship experiences that expressed their hope for life's possibilities. The slave's acceptance of Christianity,
while experiencing the conflicting behavior of slave owners, is a testament to the power of the gospel. Often slaves
believed that the salvation and new life of which they learned when "worshipping" with their owners would happen
not on earth, but, rather, when they went to heaven. While many slaves understood God's promises were meant for
all people while on earth, they also knew they could not openly pray for deliverance and equality.
The lyrics of "Ride On, King Jesus" were an answer to the mistreatments by slave masters, who were no match for
the God who was on the slaves' side”.
Here is another version of this text.
RIDE IN, KIND SAVIOR.
"Ride in, kind Saviour! No man can hinder me. O, Jesus is a mighty ma! No man can hinder me.
We 're marching through Virginny fields. No man can hinder me.
O, Satan is a busy man, No man can hinder me.
And he has his sword and shield, No man can hinder me.
O, old Secesh done come and gone! No man can hinder me.
King Jesus will come, and one day “the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our Lord”.
May our prayer today be “Ride with me, Jesus, this day, down the trail you set before me”.
Mar. 5 2016
SOON A WILL BE DONE – arr. William L. Dawson
Soon-a will be done a-with the troubles of the world
Troubles of the world, troubles of the world
Soon-a will be done a-with the troubles of the world
Goin' home to live with God
No more weeping and a-wailing I'm goin' to live with God
I want t' to meet my mother I'm goin' to live with God
I want t' meet my Jesus I'm goin' to live with God
Frederick Douglass, a former slave wrote, "I did not, when a slave, fully understand the deep meaning of those rude
and apparently incoherent songs. I was, myself, within the circle, so that I could then neither hear nor see as those
without might see and hear. They breathed the prayer and complaint of souls overflowing with the bitterest anguish.
They depressed my spirits and filled my heart with ineffable sadness...The remark in the olden time was not
unfrequently made, that slaves were the most contented and happy laborers in the world, and their dancing and
singing were referred to in proof of this alleged fact; but it was a great mistake to suppose them happy because they
sometimes made those joyful noises. The songs of the slaves represented their sorrows, rather than their joys. Like
tears, they were a relief to aching hearts."
The Apostle Paul reminded us: “According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left
till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen. For the Lord himself will come down from
heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in
Christ will rise first”.
Stephen, as he was being stoned, “looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right
hand of God” to welcome him into Heaven”. (Acts 7:55, NIV).
Have any questions you would like to ask when you go “home”? Here are some I came upon:
• Ask Adam what he thought when he first laid eyes on Eve (Genesis 2).
• Ask Noah what it was like living in that floating zoo for a year with all those animals—and what it was like to turn
them loose and see them scamper away on the refreshed earth (Genesis 6 - 9).
• Ask David to demonstrate how he slung the rock that killed Goliath (1 Samuel 17).
• Ask Moses to show us again how he parted the Red Sea
• Ask Daniel about what the lion’s den smelled like, and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego what the fiery furnace
felt like.
• Have Jonah lecture to us about what his experience in the fish’s belly taught him, and Paul tell us about the stoning
at Lystra.
• Ask Mary what it was like to carry the Son of God in her womb for forty weeks, and then what went through her
mind as she saw Him hanging on the cross.
In James Weldon Johnson’s sermon, GO DOWN, DEATH, God sends death to get Sister Caroline, who has been
tossing on her bed of pain. She looks and sees Death and whispers “I’m goin’ home”. And he places her on the
bosom of Jesus, who says to her “take your rest”.
Maybe today would be a good day to pray this prayer.
Father God, I come into your presence so aware of my human frailty and yet overwhelmed by your love for me. I
thank you that there is no human experience that I might walk through where your love cannot reach me. If I climb
the highest mountain you are there and yet if I find myself in the darkest valley of my life, you are there. Teach me
today to love you more. Help me to rest in that love that asks nothing more than the simple trusting heart of a child.
In Jesus name, Amen
Sunday, Mar. 6, 2016
SOON ONE MORNIN’ – arr. Gail Kubik
Soon one morning Death comes a-creeping in the room
Soon one morning Death comes a-creeping in the room
Oh my Lord, oh my Lord what shall I do to be saved
Don’t move my pillow until my Jesus comes
You may call your father Your father will be no use
Oh my Lord, oh my Lord what shall I do to be saved
You had better hush, hush, hush
Somebody's calling by name
Hush
Oh my Lord, oh my Lord what shall I do to be saved
In my almost eighteen years performing and recording with Robert Shaw, there are many pieces which
stand out. This spiritual is one.
I had heard this spiritual before, and when I listened to a previous recording the tempo was quick, a
“performance” style. The first time I performed it with him it was still very much in that tempo and feeling.
Even when recording it. But another opportunity would later come. That time it was different. It had a
weightier beat, slower tempo, and the way he/we sought to communicate it was from a personal vantage
point. He asked us to “look through their eyes”. I still remember the goosebumps I felt as we sang it.
I saw another choir perform this spiritual once. It had that same tempo and weighty feel – but there was
more. The choir at points would stomp their feet as the baritone soloist sang. And, the soloist would move,
slowly, with a dragging foot motion, but with a passion that resonated with everyone.
Read this from 1 Cor 15:54: When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal
with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory.
Then there is this from Isaiah 28: 5: He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away
the tears from all faces; he will remove his people's disgrace from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.
I came upon this in a sermon: The writer of Hebrews said that “by his death he might destroy him who
holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their
fear of death.” (Hebrews 2:14-15) Do you realize that fear of death is slavery? Such fear is bondage and is
what Satan has held over us all these years.
Think about that – the fear of death is slavery. Now this: those in slavery looked forward to freedom on
multiple levels – here, and at God’s right hand.
Going to see the King; going to be with Jesus. When death comes creepin’ “those who are at death’s door
pray differently; they speak from the very depths of their hearts . . . “.
That day will come, as it did for those in slavery, when we steal away to Jesus. But until that day, let us
remember that our prayers are “like whispered prayers on earth, loud cries in heaven”.
Today our prayer resonates with that from Advent – Come, Lord Jesus! Amen, Ride On and Come!
Mar. 7, 2016
STEAL AWAY – arr. Michael Tippett
Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus
Steal away, steal away home
I ain't got long to stay here
My Lord, He calls me He calls me by the thunder
The trumpet sounds within-a my soul
I ain't got long to stay here
Green trees are bending Po' sinner stand a-trembling
The trumpet sounds within-a my soul
I ain't got long to stay here
This song is often singled out by historians of slavery as a signal song for slaves planning to attempt escape: "I ain't
got to stay here”.
Here’s a description by Robert Cummings:
This traditional American song is a by-product of the so-called Underground Railroad, the catchall term used to
describe means slaves used to escape their owners to go to the northern United States or on into Canada to live in
freedom. "Steal Away" is actually a black American spiritual, or Negro spiritual. Its words and those to other
Underground Railroad songs had a double meaning: "Steal away to Jesus, on the surface," meant dying and going
to heaven, but also symbolized escaping to freedom. Another song, "O Canaan," for instance, was sung to signal
preparation for an escape to Canada. The melody to "Steal Away" has a stately melancholy in its slow pacing and
glorious sense of resignation. It is somewhat dirge-like in its sweet gloom and innocent solemnity. While the song
symbolized optimism for a better life for slaves, it seems to convey only a spiritual hope, making the words "I ain't got
long to stay here" seem more a prayer about impending death than about escape to freedom. Although the melody
here is quite different from the famous one in "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," it is similar in both atmosphere and spirit.
Michael Tippett arranged this spiritual for his work A CHILD OF OUR TIME. I remember while performing this work,
and this spiritual under Robert Shaw, that the work premiered in 1944 – during another war. That this work included
this spiritual – from another war.
There’s another spiritual that resonates with this:
I’m going to lay down my sword and shield Down by the riverside Ain’t going to study war no more
I’m going to put on my long white robe Down by the riverside Ain’t going to study war no more
I’m going to talk with the Prince of Peace…
Today, let this text be our prayer.
O, steal away and pray
I’m looking for my Jesus Can’t stay away
Sinners, why don’t you pray? I can’t stay away
Seekers, why don’t you pray? I can’t stay away
Mourners, why don’t you pray? I can’t stay away
Brothers, why don’t you pray? I can’t stay away
Mar. 8, 2016
SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT – arr. Robert Shaw / Alice Parker
Swing low, sweet chariot Coming for to carry me home,
Swing low, sweet chariot, Coming for to carry me home.
I looked over Jordan, and what did I see Coming for to carry me home?
A band of angels coming after me, Coming for to carry me home.
Sometimes I'm up, and sometimes I'm down, (Coming for to carry me home)
But still my soul feels heavenly bound. (Coming for to carry me home)
The brightest day that I can say, (Coming for to carry me home)
When Jesus washed my sins away. (Coming for to carry me home)
If you get there before I do, (Coming for to carry me home)
Tell all my friends I'm coming there too. (Coming for to carry me home)
Here is some background on this spiritual.
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" may have been written by Wallis Willis, a Choctaw freedman in the old Indian
Territory in what is now Choctaw County, near the County seat of Hugo, Oklahoma sometime before 1862.
He was inspired[citation needed] by the Red River, which reminded him of the Jordan River and of the
Prophet Elijah's being taken to heaven by a chariot (2 Kings 2:11). Some sources[1][2] claim that this song
and "Steal Away"[3] (also sung by Willis) had lyrics that referred to the Underground Railroad, the freedom
movement that helped blacks escape from Southern slavery to the North and Canada.
Alexander Reid, a minister at the Old Spencer Academy, Choctaw boarding school, heard Willis singing
these two songs and transcribed the words and melodies. He sent the music to the Jubilee Singers of Fisk
University in Nashville, Tennessee. The Jubilee Singers popularized the songs during a tour of the United
States and Europe.
The song enjoyed a resurgence during the 1960s Civil Rights struggle and the folk revival; it was
performed by a number of artists. Perhaps the most famous performance during this period was that by
Joan Baez during the legendary 1969 Woodstock festival.
This spiritual “is among the most treasured and widely recognized African American spirituals. It was
placed in the National Archives by the Library of Congress and identified as one of the “Songs of the
Century” by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts. First
recorded by the Fisk Jubilee Singers in 1909, it has been covered in the century since by virtually
everyone: from Joan Baez to Roadkill; from Benny Goodman to B.B. King: from Jerry Garcia and the
Grateful Dead to Alvin and the Chipmunks’.
This spiritual expresses a hope that heavenly comfort would come, and may have been one of the songs
which, when it was sung, that Harriet Tubman or another “conductor” was arriving soon to take them to
freedom.
My dear Lord Jesus, I come to you now to be restored in you – to renew my place in you, my allegiance to
you, and to receive from you all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I honor you as my
sovereign Lord, and surrender every aspect of my life totally and completely to you. I give you my body as
a living sacrifice; I give you my heart, soul, mind, and strength; and I give you my spirit as well. I call forth
the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ this day throughout my home, my family, my life, and my domain. I
pray all of this in the name of Jesus Christ, with all glory and honor and thanks to him.
Mar. 9, 2016
THERE IS A BALM IN GILDED – arr. William L. Dawson
There is a balm in Gilead To make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in GileadTo heal the sin-sick soul.
Some times I feel discouraged, And think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit Revives my soul again.
If you cannot sing like angels,If you can’t preach like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus, And say He died for all.
Balm: a fragrant ointment or preparation used to heal or soothe the skin. It became symbolic for the power to soothe
and to heal.
Introduction: “This is a well-known traditional Black-American spiritual. The “balm in Gilead” is a reference from the
Old Testament, but the lyrics of this spiritual refer to the New Testament concept of salvation through Jesus Christ.
The Balm of Gilead is interpreted as a spiritual medicine that is able to heal Israel (and sinners in general). In the Old
Testament, the balm of Gilead is taken most directly from Jeremiah chapter 8 v. 22: "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is
there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wounds of my [God's] people?" (Another allusion can
also be found in Jeremiah chapter 46, v. 2 and 11: “This is the message (of the Lord) against the army of Pharaoh
Neco … Go up to Gilead and get balm, O Virgin Daughter of Egypt, but you multiply remedies in vain; here is no
healing for you” - see also Jeremiah chapter 22, v. 6.) The first appearance of the spiritual in something close to its
current form is uncertain. A version of the refrain can be found in Washington Glass's 1854 hymn "The Sinner's
Cure,"
I came upon a sermon entitled “Balm of Gilead”, which included the following: In ancient times there came from
Gilead, beyond the Jordan, an ointment made from the gum of a tree. It was a major commodity in trade. The
Ishmaelite traders who purchased Joseph from his brothers were carrying this balm of Gilead to Egypt (see Gen.
37:25).
Here is some balm for us today.
The Lord said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not
your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; “Even the
Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for
he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
That pastor closed his sermon with this- and a good way to end our prayers today, for today we CAN be balm for
those around us: I bear witness of Him who is that comfort, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Prayer in Times of Trouble (anonymous)
Lord, in every need let me come to You with humble trust saying, "Jesus, help me." In all my doubts, perplexities,
and temptations, Jesus, help me. In hours of loneliness, weariness, and trials, Jesus, help me. In the failure of my
plans and hopes; in disappointments, troubles, and sorrows, Jesus, help me.
When I throw myself on Your tender love as a father and savior, Jesus, help me.
When my heart is cast down by failure at seeing no good come from my efforts, Jesus, help me.
When I am ill and my head and hands cannot work and I am lonely, Jesus, help me. Always, always, in spite of
weakness, falls, and shortcomings of every kind, Jesus, help me and never forsake me. Amen.
Mar. 10, 2016
THE GOSPEL TRAIN – arr. Harry T. Burleigh
The Gospel train's comin' I hear it just at hand
I hear the car wheel rumblin' And rollin' thro' the land
Get on board little children There's room for many more
I hear the train a-comin' She's comin' round the curve
She's loosened all her steam and brakes And strainin' ev'ry nerve
The fare is cheap and all can go The rich and poor are there
No second class aboard this train No difference in the fare
The last verse from "Be in Time" is:
Now the Gospel train's at hand, be in time, be in time: Now the Gospel train's at hand, be in time; Crowds
at the station stand, with passport in their hand, To start for Zion's land, be in time, be in time. To start for
Zion's land, be in time.
The last verse of "The Warning" is:
The Gospel train's at hand, Be in time, be in time! The Gospel train's at hand, Be in time, Behold your
station there, JESUS has paid your fare; Let's all engage in prayer: Be in time, be in time! Let's all engage
in prayer: Be in time!
"The Gospel Railroad" is another one of the early "Gospel Train" songs from Britain. Written sometime
before 1867, its last verse is: Come, sinner! join the Gospel-train Would you the Holy City gain; That you
the journey may begin—The train is waiting—O step in!
"The Gospel Train" is a traditional African-American spiritual first published in 1872 as one of the songs of
the Fisk Jubilee Singers. A standard Gospel song, it is found in the hymnals of many Protestant
denominations.
“The source for the melody and lyrics is unknown but developed out of a tradition which resulted in a
number of similar songs about a "Gospel Train". One of the earliest known is not from the United States,
but from Scotland. In 1853, Scotsman John Lyon published a song in Liverpool titled "Be in Time", the last
verse of which mentions that the Gospel train is at hand. Lyon's book was written to raise funds for the
Mormon emigration of the 1840s and 50s. In 1857, an editor for Knickerbocker magazine wrote about
visiting a "Colored Camp-Meeting" in New York where a song called "The Warning" was sung which
featured an almost identical last verse. "The Warning" used the melody from an old dance song about
Captain Kidd.”
Here is a prayer by a Virginia slave. May it help us to keep our steam.
“O God Almighty! Keep the engine of the rebellion going till New Year’s! Good Lord! Pray, don’t let off the
steam; Lord, don’t reverse the engine; don’t back up; Lord, don’t put on the brakes! But pray, good Lord,
put on more steam! Make it go a mile a minute! Yes, Lord, pray make it go sixty miles an hour! (‘Amen!’
‘Do, good Lord!’ responded the brethren and sisters.) Lord, don’t let the express train of rebellion smash up
till the 1st of January! Don’t let the rebels back down, but harden their hearts as hard as Pharaoh’s, and
keep all hands going, till the train reaches the Depot of Emancipation!”
Mar. 11, 2016
WADE IN THE WATER – arr. Moses Hogan
Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children,
Wade in the water God's a-going to trouble the water
See that host all dressed in white God's a-going to trouble the water
The leader looks like the Israelite God's a-going to trouble the water
See that band all dressed in red God's a-going to trouble the water
Looks like the band that Moses led God's a-going to trouble the water
Look over yonder, what do you see? God's a-going to trouble the water
The Holy Ghost a-coming on me God's a-going to trouble the water
If you don't believe I've been redeemed God's a-going to trouble the water
Just follow me down to the Jordan's stream God's a-going to trouble the water
Today we visit this spiritual again. The song relates to both the Old and New Testaments. The verses
reflect the Israelites' escape out of Egypt as found in Exodus:14. The chorus refers to healing. (see John
5:4) "For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then
first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had."
Many Internet sources and books claim that songs such as "Wade in the Water" contained explicit
instructions to fugitive slaves on how to avoid capture and the route to take to successfully make their way
to freedom.
An example of this is cited in the book Pathways to Freedom: Maryland & the Underground Railroad. The
book explains how Harriet Tubman used the song “Wade in the Water” to tell escaping slaves to get off the
trail and into the water to make sure that the dogs employed by slavers lost their trail. People walking
through water did not leave a scent trail that dogs could follow. Read the words of "Wade in the Water
again.
Jesus calls us daily to “wade in the water” – and the water may be troubled - it could be in uncomfortable
situations with someone(s) who stand against our faith, or situations where our faith is weighed down. It
could be to be the hand of faith to someone in need, to encourage, and maybe even forgive.
I came upon this: Wade In The Water is one of the spirituals that has many secret codes embedded within
the song apart from the lyrics referencing the Christian tradition of baptism. For the slaves in addition to
their faith in God, secret codes were used in the spirituals to give guidance to the slave as he embarked on
his journey to freedom on the Underground Railroad. The secret code in ‘Wade in the water, God’s gonna
trouble the water’ for the slaves trying to escape from slavery on the Underground Railroad, meant to be
aware that one of the methods used by the slave masters to track runaway slaves down was to send their
bloodhounds out to track down the slave.
Today, let’s wade in, wade in deep. In the last verse of Wade in the Water the lyrics are: If you don’t
believe I’ve been redeemed, follow me down to Jordan’s stream. Wade in deep – and Jesus shine.
I think that is the prayer to take with us today – Lord, Jesus, help me wade in deep today! Amen.
Mar. 12, 2016
A LITTLE TALK WITH JESUS – arr.Uzee Brown
O a little talk with Jesus make it right, all right
Troubles of ev’ry kind Hank God I’ll always find
That little talk with Jesus make it right.
My brother, I remember when I was a sinner lost I cried, “Have mercy, Jesus”
But still my soul was tossed Till I heard King Jesus say,
“Come here, I’m on the way”
And little talk with Jesus make it right.
Sometimes the fork lightning and muttering thunder, too
Of trials and temptations Make it hard for me and you
But Jesus was a friend, He’ll keep us to the end
And little talk with Jesus make it right.
My brother and my sister, you have trials like me
When we are trying to serve the Lord And win the victory
Old Satan fight us hard Our journey to retard
But little talk with Jesus make it right.
Today we journey into this spiritual (resonating with other gospel songs) with some questions and some
thoughts to consider.
What it is that really makes you happy?
There are endless ways this question could be answered. We desire so many things: food, water, shelter,
clothing and creature comforts. We long for a sense of belonging, affection, & peace. Sometimes we hope
for stability and simplicity, at other times we yearn for change and variety. Our hearts are a sea of desires,
wishes and longings. Remember the woman who went to the well to draw water? She is each one of us
and her desire for water is a symbol of all our desires.
Scripture too speaks to us our desires. Of You my heart has spoken: “Seek His face.” It is your face O Lord
that I seek; hide not your face! (Psalm 27:8-9). Or again, Only in God will my soul be at rest, he is my hope,
my salvation (Psalm 62:1,5) St. Augustine wrote classic words to describe our hearts’ truest longing: Thou
hast made us for Thyself O Lord and our hearts are restless till the rest in Thee. (Confessions 1,1).
Prayer is talking to Jesus. When we are busy, we can over-occupy the heart and mind. When we are alone
and still, it is easier for us to hear the Lord when He is speaking. But the other side of that is being aware of
when He is “talking” to us through situations and through others. But here is something to keep in mind:
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. “For as the
heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your
thoughts.” Isa. 55:8-9 (NASB)
It would be so much easier if we heard God’s directions and answers like a cell phone ringtone. Maybe this
prayer by Peter Marshall will help us this day: Lord, forgive me that when life’s circumstances lift me to the
crest of the wave, I tend to forget Thee. Yet, like an errant child, I have blamed Thee with my every failure,
even as I credit myself with every success. When my fears evaporate like the morning mist, then vainly I
imagine that I am sufficient unto myself, that material resources and human resources are enough. I need
Thee when the sun shines, lest I forget the storm and the dark. I need Thee when I am popular, when my
friends and those who work beside me approve and compliment me. I need Thee more then, lest my head
begin to swell. O God, forgive me for my stupidity, my blindness in success, my lack of trust in Thee. Be
Thou now my Savior in success. Save me from conceit. Save me from pettiness. Save me from myself!
And take this success, I pray, and use it for Thy glory. In Thy strength, I pray. Amen .
Sunday, Mar. 13, 2016
AIN’T GOT TIME TO DIE – arr. René Clausen
Lord, I keep so busy praisin’ my Jesus Keep so busy praisin’ my Jesus Ain’t got time
‘Cause when I’m healin’ de sick When I’m healin’ de sick
‘Cause it takes all o’ ma time All o’ ma time To praise my Lord
If I don’t praise Him de rocks gonter cry out Glory an’ honor
Lord, I keep so busy workin’ fer de Kingdom Ain’t got time to die
‘Cause when I’m feedin de po’… I’m workin’ fer de Kingdom… Ain’t got time to die
Lord, I keep so busy servin’ my Master Ain’t got time to die
‘Cause when I’m givin’ my all… I’m servin’ my Master…
Ain’t got time to die
I came upon a homily entitled “I Keep So Busy Workin’ for the Kingdom, I Ain’t Got Time to Die”. In it was
a look at fishermen. Keep in mind whom Jesus chose among his first disciples – fisherman, and the
qualities of fisherman. In that sermon is this: “Here’s a song that speaks of the patient, purposeful, and
persistent action on behalf of God’s kingdom. It is a song that can only come from a heart that is undefiant,
unfettered, and untiring; from a heart that says, “I keep so busy workin’ for the Kingdom, I ain’t got time to
die!”
Let’s look at the qualities of fisherman. This also comes from that sermon:
- Patient – Fishermen often need to wait for many hours, even days, for a catch. Disciples need great
patience as do evangelizers.
- Professional – Fishermen need to spend time learning about the types and behaviors of fish, learning to
observe the water and navigate, learning the right time of day and the right season to fish. They need to
know the right bait, the proper use of the net. All of these traits are good for disciples and are especially
helpful in evangelization, which is “job one” for the disciple. Through growing in practical knowledge, we
come to know our faith and learn effective ways to be fishers of men.
- Purposeful – When fishermen are out fishing, they are entirely focused on their endeavor. That’s all they
do; everything is centered on the main task. They are single-minded. Disciples surely need more of this
attitude. The Book of James says, The double-minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8). St. Paul
says, But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things
which are before, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in
Christ Jesus (Phil 3:13-14). Every disciple needs to be more single-minded.
- Pursuing – Note that they simply go to the fish. Too many Catholic parishes merely open the doors and
hope that people will come to them; that is not evangelization. The key word for disciples and evangelizers
is “Go.”
- Partnered – Fishermen work in teams. Thus Jesus sends disciples out, two by two.
-.Persistent – If fishermen don’t make a catch today, they’re back out tomorrow. Disciples surely need to
persist, both in their own journey and in making disciples of others.
At the close of the sermon was the following, and after it some additional text associated with this spiritual.
For today maybe we could pray its message for us.
“Ultimately, a free heart is a joyful heart. It is a heart that is not easily tired, because it is not divided by
serving two masters. It is a heart that ungrudgingly serves the Kingdom”.
Now, won't you git out o' ma way, Lemme praise my Jesus?
Git out o' ma way, Lemme praise my Lord. If I don' praise Him The rocks gonter cry out,
"Glory an' honor, Glory an' honor!" Ain't got time to die.
Mar. 14, 2016
AMAZING GRACE – arr. Traditional
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed
Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come
‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home
The Lord has promised good to me; His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease
I shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun forbear to shine
But God, who called me here below, will be forever mine
When we’ve been there ten thousands years, bright shining as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun
Did you know that this hymn, first published in 1779, is estimated to now be “performed” some ten million times
annually? It was referenced in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s anti-slavery novel UNCLE TOM’S CABIN, and surged in
popularity during two wars – the Civil War and the Vietnam War.
This hymn/folk song also crosses the border into strong connections with the African American community. That
connection is the person who wrote the text – and his connection with slavery.
To tell it briefly, John Newton, who wrote the text, was born in 1725 in London to a Puritan mother and a “stern”
father, who was a sea captain, who took Newton to sea when he was but 11 years old. He would be impressed into
the British navy, attempt to desert and was hence lashed eight dozen times. He would serve thereafter on a slave
ship, the Pegasus, and was left in West Africa with a slave trader, as he did not get along with the ships crew. The
trader “gave” him to his wife, who treated Newton harshly.
On a voyage home they came into a horrendous storm and the ship nearly sank. It is said “Newton prayed to God
and the cargo miraculously shifted to fill a hole in the ship’s hull and the vessel drifted to safety. Newton took this as
a sign from the Almighty and marked it as his conversion to Christianity. He did not radically change his ways at
once, his total reformation was more gradual. "I cannot consider myself to have been a believer in the full sense of
the word, until a considerable time afterwards,” he later wrote. He did begin reading the Bible at this point and began
to view his captives with a more sympathetic view”.
Some 34 years later he would renounce his former slaving profession and publish a “blazing pamphlet” entitled
“THOUGHTS UPON THE SLAVE TRADE”. He would say “It will always be a subject of humiliating reflection to me,
that I was once an active instrument in a business at which my heart now shudders”. The English civil government
outlawed slavery in Great Britain in 1807 and Newton lived to see it, dying that December.
Interestingly, in writing this hymn, (which he did in his attic) most black spirituals are composed using only the black
notes of the piano. He observed the anniversary of May 10 for the rest of his life. The civil government outlawed
slavery in Great Britain in 1807 and Newton lived to see it, dying in December of that year. The original tune is
apparently unknown, but It would be 1835 when the tune we are familiar with (New Britain) would be utilized.
Read the text. What stands out to you personally? Read that opening line again - Newton discovered grace.
Let not any of us forget the grace shown to us – and to look around for those in need of our, and His grace.
AMAZING GRACE has a message - that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of sins committed and
that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God. Pray that today.
Mar. 15, 2016
DE ANGEL ROLL DE STONE AWAY – arr. Jester Hairston
De angel roll de stone away De angel roll de stone away
‘Twas on a bright an’ shiny morn When de trumpet begin to soun’
De angel roll de stone away
Sister Mary came a-running at de break o’ day Brought de news f’om heab’n
De stone done roll away
I’m a-lookin’ for my Saviour, tell me where He lay High up on de mountain
De stone done roll away
De soljahs dere a-plenty, standin’ by de do’ But dey could not hinder
De stone done roll away
Ol’ Pilate an’his wise men didn’t know what to say De miracle was on dem
De stone done roll away
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back
the stone and sat on it. Matt. 28:2
Matthew Henry has this to say about Jesus, angels and stones: The angels frequently attended our Lord Jesus: at
His birth, in His temptation, in His agony. But upon the cross we find no angel attending him. When His Father
forsook Him, the angels withdrew from Him, but now that He is resuming the glory he had before the foundation of
the world, the angels of God worship him.
The angel came, rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. Our Lord Jesus could have rolled back the
stone Himself by His own power, but He chose to have it done by an angel to signify that having undertaken to make
satisfaction for our sin, He did not break prison, but had a fair and legal discharge, obtained from heaven. He did not
break prison, but an officer was sent on purpose to roll away the stone and open the prison door, which would never
have been done if He had not made a full satisfaction.
But being delivered for our offences, He was raised again for our justification. He died to pay our debt, and rose
again to gain our acquittal. The stone of our sins was rolled to the door of the grave of our Lord Jesus (and we find
the rolling of a great stone to signify the contracting of guilt - 1 Samuel 14:33), but to demonstrate that divine justice
was satisfied, an angel was commissioned to roll back the stone. The enemies of Christ had sealed the stone, since
this was their hour, but all the powers of death and darkness are under the control of the God of light and life. An
angel from heaven has power to break the seal and roll away the stone, though ever so great. Thus, the captives of
the mighty are taken away.
We all have stones in front of the tombs of our hearts. Those things that weigh upon our hearts, that hold us back,
that keep us in the shadow of the cross.
We all know what those stone are: anger, hatred, selfishness, pride, arrogance, bigotry. And there is also fear, guilt,
anxiety, feeling inadequate, oppressed by our sinful natures, our brokenness. They weigh on our heart, our spirits
and keep us in tombs of sorrow, “trapped in our sepulchers of alienation from God and from one another”.
“There are times when we feel as unable to roll away those stones from the tombs of our hearts. What wondrous
love is this? That God should work within us, beyond our ability and beyond our understanding to reconcile us to God
and one another. That it has nothing to do with our merit or ability, only with God’s love for us. God calls us to come
to the tomb on Easter, in faith to God and out of our service to our master, to come to the tomb, and to look up: and
behold, the stone has already been rolled away”.
May this be our prayer today: Lord, roll back the stones of hindrance in our lives; the stones hindering our knowing
your will for this day; help us help others roll back their stones to find you and know what you have done for us and
for them. Amen.
Mar. 16, 2016
DEEP RIVER – arr. Harry T. Burleigh
Deep river, my home is over Jordan Deep river,
Lord, I want to cross over into campground
Oh, chillum Oh, don’t you want to go, to that gospel feast
That promised land, that land where all is peace?
Walk into heaven, and take a seat And cast my crown at Jesus feet
Lord, I want to cross over into campground
DEEP RIVER first appeared in print in 1876. I have mentioned A CHILD OF OUR TIME by Michael Tippett
previously, and this spiritual is one of five Tippett draws upon in that work.
Spirituals took on various forms throughout the years, and various modifications occurred when writing them out such as the various vocal “slides” that occurred which are not easily transcribed into traditional musical notation.
As mentioned in other areas of this devotional, spirituals in their original form were a cry of the human soul of the
unknown slave. Here is what one person wrote about this spiritual:
“Deep River is simply a cry to God from the inner soul of the slave to find comfort and acknowledgement that
someone was listening to their cry. It was a song to soothe a weary soul and to communicate with God the struggle
he/she was having staying focused on the path to God when so much of their daily experience as a slave was an
assault on human dignity.
Harry Burleigh was no stranger to the black spirituals and plantation songs, his grandfather was a former slave and
Burleigh sang them regularly. He was also instrumental in introducing the European composer Antonin Dvorak to the
black spirituals. Dvorak was profoundly moved by the spirituals. In fact it inspired Dvorak to compose “The New
World Symphony”, which paid homage to the black spirituals. Burleigh helped Dvorak with the copy work for that
symphony”.
I have directed and performed multiple arrangements of this spiritual. While the spiritual for African-American slaves
looked toward freedom from that slavery, it symbolizes life after death and freedom for the Israelites in the Promised
Land. Campground wasn’t literally the camping areas we think of, but of camp meetings, where gatherings could
occur, cooking and sleep and worship gatherings as well.
There is also that one word – peace. The word “peace” is left unresolved, leading into the tag ending – symbolizing
unrest and a sense of a greater reality.
In Philippians 4:7 we find these words: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. There also this from Proverbs 4:23–26: “above all else, guard your heart, for
everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes
look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast
in all your ways”.
Today there is a prayer that resonates with this – Gaelic Blessing:
Deep peace of the running wave to you. Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the gentle night to you.
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you. Deep peace of Christ,
of Christ the light of the world to you. Deep peace of Christ to you. Amen.
Mar. 17 , 2016
HOLD ON – arr. Moses Hogan
Hold on! Hold on! Just a’ hold on!
Nora, Nora let me come in; de door’s all fastened an’ de winders pinned!
Just keep yo’ hand on de plow, an’ you hold on,
yes, you just hold on!
Nora said, “You lost yo’ track, you can’t plow straight an’ keep a lookin’ back.”
Well, my brother hold on! Yes, you gotta hold on!
Yes, just keep yo’ hand on de plow, an’ you hold on,
yes, you gotta hold on!
If you wanna get to heaven, let me tell you how:
Jus’ a keep yo’ hand on de gospel plow.
If dat plow stay in yo’ hand / land you straight in de promised land.
Well, my sister, hold on! / Yes, you gotta hold on!
Just keep yo’ hand on de plow, / an’ you hold on,
yes, you just hold on!
Mary had a golden chain / an’ every link spelled my Jesus’ name
Keep on climbin’ an’ don’t you tire, / ‘cause ev’ry rung goes higher and higher!
Yes! Prayin’! / Singin’! Shoutin’ Lawd!
Just keep yo’ hand on de plow,
an’ just hold on!
The Bible tells us to hold fast, and not let go of the spiritual treasure God has given us—His truth. There are many
scriptures that urge us to hold fast, to hang on and to persevere.
Read these two scriptures:
Isaiah 41:13 says this: For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I
will help you.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
(Galatians 6:9 NIV)
My aunt and uncle owned a farm west of St. Louis, in Troy, Missouri. I remember visiting there at times before
harvest and afterwards. Essentially there is a law of the harvest – you have to sow in order to reap. And between
there is delay. Rick Warren put it this way: “You plant in one season, and you reap in another. God wants to see if
you’re going to keep cultivating, planting, and sowing. Those are the two options you have in life: Pray continually, or
lose heart. You will always be doing one or the other. If you pray continually, you will not be discouraged. If you don’t
pray continually, you will lose heart. You will get discouraged by the problems you’re facing in your life — whether it’s
at work or school or in your family. You’ve got to keep on praying!”
Had any rough days lately? I have. But God still calls us to still go out into the fields, to help sow, and to help reap.
We are laborers being called into God’s harvest – for this day. "Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send
out workers into His harvest." (NAS)
Let this prayer by Peter Marshall be ours today: Speak to me, that I may hear thee giving me courage for hard times
and strength for difficult places; giving me determination for challenging tasks. I ask of thee no easy way, but just thy
grace that is sufficient for every need, so that no matter how hard the way, how challenging the hour, how dark the
sky, I may be enabled to overcome. In thy strength, who hast overcome the world, I make this prayer. Amen.
Mar. 18, 2016
DIDN’T MY LORD DELIVER DANIEL – arr. Moses Hogan
Didn’t my Lord deliver Daniel Deliver Daniel, deliver Daniel
Didn’t my Lord deliver Daniel An’ why not-a every man.
He delivered Daniel from de lion’s den Jonah from de belly of de whale
An’ de Hebrew chillun from de fiery furnace An’ why not every man
De moon run down in a purple stream De sun forbear to shine
An’ every star disappear King Jesus shall-a be mine
De win’ blows eas’ an’ de win’ blows wes’ It blows like a judgement day
An’ every po’ sinner dat never did pray’ll Be glad o pray dat day
Deliver Daniel, deliver Daniel Didn’t my Lord deliver Daniel
An’ why not-a every man. I see my foot on de Gospel ship
An’ de ship begin to sail It landed me over on Canaan’s shore
An’ I’ll never come back no mo’
Can’t you see it’s coming Can’t you see it’s coming
Here is an introduction as we engage with this spiritual:
“One important purpose of many spirituals during the slave period was to provide motivation and inspiration for the
ongoing struggle for freedom, a struggle which included systematic efforts to escape from bondage as well as
numerous slave-led revolts and insurrections. In the African tradition, stories of ancestors bravery, victories in battle,
and success in overcoming past hardships were often marshaled as inspiration to face current life challenges. As
stories of specific African ancestors faded over time, enslaved people appropriated heroes from the Christian Bible
as ancestral equivalents.
The stories of Old Testament figures often perceived by enslaved Africans as freedom fighters held particular
significance as models of inspiration”.
This spiritual tells the story of Daniel in the lion den, and provided inspiration for freedom fighting efforts. It’s theme –
deliverance.
As I looked into this I found so much about being delivered from this or that, from doing this or that. You name it, it’s
there. That is when I turned to scripture:
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your
flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes,
and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. - Ezekiel 36:26-27
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. - John 8:36
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.- Romans 8:1-2
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become
new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17
Every day we have a lot to be “delivered” from- and to. A prayer by Rick Warren is relevant for today:
Lord, speak a Genesis moment into our hearts and into the circumstances of our lives. We acknowledge “everything
that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus
Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:30 MSG).
Renew in us a steadfast spirit (Psalm 51:10), no longer chaotic or controlled by events, circumstances, or feelings.
Give us lives shaped by you and by your Spirit flowing through us. Amen.
Mar. 19, 2016
ZIONS WALLS – arr. Moses Hpgan
Great day ! Great day, the righteous marching Great day God’s going to build up Zion’s walls
Chariot rode on the mountain top God’s going to build up Zion’s walls
My God spoke and the chariot stop God’s going to build up Zion’s walls
This is the day of jubilee God’s going to build up Zion’s walls
The Lord has set His people free God’s going to build up Zion’s walls
We want no cowards in our band God’s going to build up Zion’s walls
We call for valiant hearted men God’s going to build up Zion’s walls
Going to take my breast-plate, sword and shield God’s going to build up Zion’s walls
And march boldly in the field God’s going to build up Zion’s walls
Zion appears some 150 times in the bible. Here is what we find in Psalm 87:2–3: The Lord loves the gates
of Zion more than all the other dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are said of you, city of God.
Zion essentially means “fortification” and has the idea of being “raised up” as a “monument.” Zion is
described both as the city of David and the city of God. As the Bible progresses, the word Zion expands in
scope and takes on an additional, spiritual meaning.
Here is some more about Zion: The word Zion is also used in a theological or spiritual sense in Scripture.
In the Old Testament Zion refers figuratively to Israel as the people of God (Isaiah 60:14). In the New
Testament, Zion refers to God’s spiritual kingdom. We have not come to Mount Sinai, says the apostle, but
“to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Hebrews 12:22). Peter, quoting
Isaiah 28:16, refers to Christ as the Cornerstone of Zion: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious
cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame” (1 Peter 2:6).
I read this while “checking in” on this spiritual: “The Negro Spiritual, sometimes referred to as plantation
songs, sorrow songs or slave-songs, originated from the innermost being of enslaved Africans who were
captured from the West Coast of Africa and transported to the Americas. While in bondage they were
forbidden to talk or make musical instruments that they had used in Africa but could sing whatever they felt.
The gift of singing became an invaluable tool of expression and a relief from the cruel and brutal existence
of a slave-life. To the slave owner, it may have been entertaining to hear the slaves sing these "simple"
songs of faith, but for the enslaved person these songs were powerful messages of hope, a way of
assuaging their unfortunate plight in life and above all fighting to maintain the most basic form of human
dignity that would help them sustain and endure the arduous hardships of a slave existence. These
plantation songs united and strengthened the slaves and gave them an abiding faith and strong courage.”
This spiritual also resonates with a well-known hymn:
Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion city of our God; He whose word cannot be broken Formed thee for
His own abode. On the Rock of Ages founded, What can shake Thy sure repose? With salvation's walls
surrounded, Thou mayest smile at all Thy foes.
Today God calls us to go boldly, not where no one has gone before, but where many have and still need to
go – to those around us who need to see God working in our lives, that its real that it might speak
gloriously to them, and that we might then step into sometimes uncharted territory – to be part of God’s
great day and help build up Zion’s walls.
Got your boots and gloves on? Then let our prayer be “Make it so, with God’s help. Amen”.
Sunday, Mar. 20, 2016 – PALM SUNDAY
I GOT A HOME IN THAT ROCK – arr. Moses Hogan
I got a home in that rock, well, don't you see?
Way between the earth and sky I thought I heard my Savior cry
Well-a poor Lazarus poor as I When he died he had a home on high
He had a home in that rock don't you see?
The rich man died and lived so well When he died he had a home in Hell
He had no home in that rock, well, don't you see?
God gave Noah the rainbow sign No more water but the fire next time
He had a home in that rock, well, don't you see?
You better get a home in that rock, don't you see?
Whenever I have sung or hear this spiritual I am reminded of Psalm 18:2 - The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my
deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Do you camp? I have since I was a young Cub Scout. I have camped in the midst of heavy woods, along streams
and at a number of the Colorado Fourteeners .I have camped in sunshine and rain, in snow and when well below
zero. I have also camped in caves.
I remember once, as a Cub Scout, we went camping southwest of St. Louis in a beautiful wooded area. Well, it was
beautiful, but the weather became so questionable, and the temperature dropped unexpectedly that what we had
prepared for wasn’t adequate. But, never fear, our leader was prepared. He had searched for other “options” in the
area, and there were caves nearby in which we could gather for the night.
I don’t know about you, but my experience with caves runs into the bugs, ticks, snakes and assorted animal
categories. While it kept us from the weather outside, and while not warm the temperature was better than being
below freezing, it was always “them critters” that bothered me most, especially snakes.
Psalm 121:7 was unknown to me when growing up. I did not grow up in or with faith. It wasn’t until years later, in
college, when Christ had entered my life, and I encountered this psalm and verse: The LORD will protect you from all
evil; He will keep your soul.
There is also Matt 7:24-27 Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man
who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house,
but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does
not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the
winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
I have stood on the top of fourteen fourteeners, run the slopes of many ski areas, camped in all conditions, and one
thing keeps coming back – “be prepared”. Maybe a prayer along those lines would be good for today- cause you
never know what today may bring.
Lord, this day I need your strength to say no when I'm tempted to surrender to harmful things, or when selfishness
clings to my clothes and won't let go. I need your strength to say yes, when cowardice and fear nudge me to deny
the convictions of my heart. I need your strength to reach out in love to those both close to me and all around me.
Amen.
Mar. 21, 2016
KING JESUS IS A LISTENING – arr. William L. Dawson
King Jesus is a-listenin’ all day long To hear some sinner pray
Some say that John the Baptist as nothin’ but a Jew
But the Holy Bible tells us that John was a preacher too
That Gospel train is comin’ A-rumblin’ thorough the lan’
But I hear them wheels a-hummin’ Get ready to board that train !
I know I’ve been converted I ain’t gon’ make no alarm
For my soul is bound for glory And te devil can’t do me no harm
Whenever we pray, whenever we lift up a quick “thank you” or “dear Lord” He hears us.
Here is a story we can learn a few things from. Billy Graham was doing an interview on THE TODAY SHOW in 1982,
and an assistant had requested a room for him to be able to be alone before hand – to pray. When they arrived
another assistant told them it wouldn’t be necessary. He said “Mr. Graham started praying when he got up this
morning, he prayed while eating breakfast, he prayed on the way over in the car, and he’ll probably be praying all the
way through the interview.” That assistant later said “That was a great lesson for me to learn as a young man.”
There are many scriptures related to listening. Here are a few:
Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise
counsel…
Matthew 15:10 After Jesus called the crowd to Him, He said to them, "Hear and understand.
James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the
kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
Prayerfulness is not an event; it is a way of being in relationship with God. This kind of intimate relationship is
developed when God’s people view prayerfulness as a way of life. The Psalms encourage us to begin each day by
lifting our voice to the Lord (Ps. 5:3); to fill our day with conversations with God (55:17); and in the face of
accusations and slander, to give ourselves totally to prayer (109:4). We develop prayer as a way of life because we
desire to be with God (42:1-4; 84:1-2; 130:5-6).
In prayer, God hears more than words— He hears what’s in our hearts. The following prayer by Peter Marshall is a
good one for today.
Lord, teach us to pray. Some of us are not skilled in the art of prayer. As we draw near to you in thought, our spirits
long for your Spirit, and reach out for you, longing to feel you near. We know not how to express the deepest
emotions that lie hidden in our hearts.
In these moments, we have no polished phrases with which to impress one another, no finely molded, delicately
turned clauses to present to you. Nor would we be confined to conventional petitions and repeat our prayers like the
unwinding of a much-exposed film. We know, our Father, that we are closest to you when we have left behind the
things that have held us captive so long
We would not be ignorant in prayer and, like children, make want lists for you. Rather, we pray that you will give
unto us only what we really need. We would not make our prayers the importuning of you, an omnipotent God, to do
what we want you to do. Rather, give us the vision, the courage, that shall enlarge our horizons and stretch our faith
to the adventure of seeking your loving will for our lives
We thank you that you are hearing us even now. We thank you for the grace of prayer. We thank you for yourself.
Amen.
Mar. 22, 2016
HI GOT A HOME IN DAT ROCK – arr. Moses Hogan
You better get a home in that rock Don't you see
You better get a home in that rock Don't you see
Between the earth and sky I can hear my Savior cry
You better get a home in that rock Oh, don't you see
Rich man died he lived so well… When he died he got a home in hell…
Poor man Lazarus poor as I … When he died he got a home on high…
You better get a home in that rock Don't you see
2 Cor 5:1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house
in heaven, not built by human hands.
I wrote about camping a couple days ago. While many “camp” in trailers, or huts, real camping is in a “tent” of some
sort – one you buy (and of single to 8-10 people) to simply creating a frame to hang material over to protect you from
above, and laying material on the ground.
Psalm 15:1 says LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?
In the Old Testament, the tent was where God would meet his people.
I encountered this while musing about this spiritual: Interestingly, the word tent or tabernacle is also used in the New
Testament to draw profound spiritual conclusions about salvation. Both Paul and the writer of Hebrews make a
distinction between a heavenly tent and an earthly tent, between what was “built by human hands” and what is “not
part of this creation” (2 Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 9:11)
This spiritual also brings to mind about “crossing ore” the streams of life. One of the things you have to do when
hiking is cross over streams, some thin, some wide, some shallow, some deep. Part of what you do is look for rock
that can hold your footing while crossing. More than once I’ve slipped into the frigid water, and more than once
others have caught me before falling in, as I have caught them. It always brings to mind the crossings that the slaves
undertook.
I’ve been to some Camp Meetings while living in the South, and I have walked many of the streams where slaves
crossed seeking freedom. About 20 miles north of Savannah, GA is Ebenezer Creek, a tributary of the Savannah
River. In the winter of 1864 some 600 freed slaves drowned trying to “cross ore” the pontoon bridges that were there,
only to have them cut loose. Whether standing there or in the open fields of battle or at Gettysburg, I have always
been reminded of what freedoms cost for me was, both physically and spiritually.
One thing we always need to remember, no matter the liturgical season, is that Jesus paid the price – for me, for
you. “He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.” (1 Timothy 2:6a NLT)
Here is a prayer I found which goes well with being a rock in a stream for others.
Father, Allow me to serve others with a joyful heart; Never keeping score; Always giving; Never expecting to
receive. Allow me to give of myself, To give of my talents and of my goods, To give of my time and of my energy, To
give of my heart and of my soul. Help me understand the needs of others, Never criticizing, Never demeaning, Never
scolding, Never condemning. You have been so gracious to me, Always Loving, Always forgiving, Always restoring;
Never gloating over my defeats Even when I have been so wrong. Father, keep a condemning spirit Far from my
heart and further from my lips. Allow me to serve others as You serve, With gentleness, compassion, and
tenderness, Never diminishing the worth of another, Choosing to extend mercy to the brokenhearted, Like You have
repeatedly shown it to me, Amen.
Mar.23, 2016
STAND BY ME – arr. Moses Hogan
When the storm of life is raging, Stand by me
When the world is tossing me Like a ship upon the sea
Thou who rulest wind and water Stand by me
In the midst of tribulation Stand by me
When the hosts of hell assail And my strength begins to fail
Thou who never lost a battle Stand by me
This song has been considered a spiritual, but was copyrighted in 1905, and is a gospel song. This song
resonates powerfully with spirituals, their themes and cries, and for us today. That is why I chose it as the
theme for this devotional – it draws on what came before and looks toward.
There are other lyrics associated with song which extend its prayer:
In the midst of faults and failures Stand by me
When I do the best I can And my friends misunderstand
Thou who knowest all about me Stand by me
When I'm growing old and feeble Stand by me
When my life becomes a burden And I'm nearing chilly Jordan
O Thou "Lily of the Valley" Stand by me
There are days filled with joy, excitement, fulfillment. We are overwhelmed with happiness, and
somewhere along the way we might whisper a quick “thank you”. Poof, then off to something else.
Then there are those other days. Days, weeks and longer when the cairns along the path are gone and we
are lost. There are times when, figuratively or literally, we have lost that which is precious. Times when we
cannot stand. Times of utter silence and where hope is not on a map. Times when our prayers don’t seem
to reach beyond the ceiling.
Here is some help from Psalm 139:7-10:
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are
there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far
side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
I came upon this when thinking about STAND BY ME: Even in the storm be thankful to God. Paul thanked
God even in the storm. “And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in
presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. Then were they all of good cheer, and
they also took some meat. And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. And
when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.” (Acts 27:35-38)
Paul stood for Jesus as a light in a dark world. God gives us what we need in the midst of storms. God
does not forsake or abandon us; but journeys on with us.
Dear Lord, I am calling upon you today for your divine guidance and help. I am in crisis and need a
supporting hand to keep me on the right and just path. My heart is troubled but I will strive to keep it set on
you, as your infinite wisdom will show me the right way to a just and right resolution. Thank you for hearing
my prayer and for staying by my side. Amen!
Mar. 24, 2016 – MAUNDY THURSDAY
WERE YOU THERE – arr. Norman Luboff
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree…
Were you there when they pierced him in the side
Were you there when the sun refused to shine…
Were you there when they laid him i the tomb…
WERE YOU THERE was first printed in 1899 in OLD PLANTATIUON HYMNS”. No one knows who
created the text or the melody, but most likely came from Southern slaves, Interestingly, in 1940, it would
be the first spiritual to be included in a major American hymnal – the Episcopal Church Hymnal.
I am a very visual person, and words paint as strongly for me as if viewing a painting, a photograph, or
standing at the top of Parsean Bowl or Vazquez Ridge at Winter Park, looking out upon the snow covered
mountains, or from the top of those fourteeners in summer.
When I read or hear WERE YOU THERE I am overwhelmed by its depiction of what Jesus endured on our,
on my behalf. Was I there, seeing him nailed to the cross, piercing of his side, the clouds blocking the sun
and when he was laid in the tomb? No. But what he did is reflected in this line: being moved from disgrace
to amazing grace.
This prayer says all that we need to for this day:
God, like a shepherd traveling the hill tops checking behind every bush, you look. You seek. Your grace
goes before us. You are looking for us the lost sheep. God, like the woman searching the house – willing to
send the light of the world to light the room, willing to turn the house upside down to find what was lost.
Amazing grace, seeking us before we even realize we were lost. You seek us, the lost coin. Help us to
remember that we are what is lost and that it is you who seeks and finds. Help us to remember that these
stories involve repentance. But help us to remember that these stories also involve celebration. Thank you
for your grace that seeks and saves what is lost. Thank you that we can sing and say”we once were lost,
but now we are found.” Amen.
Mar. 25, 2016 – GOOD FRIDAY
DEY CRUCIFIED MY LORD (He Never Said A Mumblin’ Word)
– arr. Moses Hogan
Dey crucified my Lord An’ He never said a mumblin’ word
Not a word, not a word, not a word
Dey nailed Him to the tree An’ He never said a mumblin’ word
Dey nailed Him to the tree An’ He never said a mumblin’ word
An’ He never said a mumblin’ word Not a word, not a word, not a word
Dey pierced Him in the side An’ He never said a mumblin’ word
Dey pierced Him in the side Not a word, not a word, not a word
De blood came tricklin’ down An’ He never said a mumblin’ word
De blood came tricklin’ down Not a word, not a word, not a word
He bowed His head an’ died An’ He never said a mumblin’ word
He bowed His head an’ died An’ He never said a mumblin’ word
Not a word, not a word, not a word
Here is an introduction to this spiritual: The song narrates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, detailing how he
was nailed to the cross, "whopped up the hill", stabbed in the side, bowed his head and died, all the while
keeping a dignified silence. The song is known throughout Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Tennessee
and was titled "Never Said a Mumbalin' Word”.
There is a scripture related to this spiritual: Isaiah 53:7 "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not
open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he
did not open his mouth."
I came upon a sermon by a “pastor in training” who had this to say: “Critics might question Jesus’ prayer of
forgiveness from the cross, but how can we silence an entire life of forgiveness? To the paralytic Jesus
says, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” To a woman cowered and wounded, Jesus says, “Woman, your
sins are forgiven.” Turning to the disciples one day, Jesus gives them—and us—the model prayer that has
as its centerpiece these words, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Philip Yancy tells of a conversation that he once had with an immigrant rabbi. “Before coming to America,”
the rabbi said, “I had to forgive Adolf Hitler. “Why?” Yancy asked. “I did not want to bring Hitler inside me
to my new country. The rabbi got it right.”
This spiritual has two sides – one of Christ’s sacrifice. The second – about lifting souls to higher ground.
Part of that lifting is prayer.
“Forgive us for thinking that prayer is a waste of time and help us to see that without prayer our work is a
waste of time.”
"You are leaving port under sealed orders and in a troubled period. Let His almighty nail-pierced hands
hold the wheel, and you will be safe.
Here is another by Peter Marshall – let it be our prayer today:
“When we long for life without difficulty, remind us that oaks grow strong under contrary winds and
diamonds are made under pressure.” “Lord, where we are wrong, make us willing to change; where we
are right, make us easy to live with.”
Mar. 26, 2016
NOBODY KNOWS DE TROUBLE I’VE SEEN – arr. Harry T. Burleigh
Nobody knows de trouble I’ve seen Nobody knows de trouble but Jesus
Nobody knows de trouble I’ve seen Glory Hallelujah!
Sometimes I’m up, sometimes I’m down Oh, yes, Lord
Sometimes I’m almost to de groun’ Oh, yes, Lord
Although you see me goin’ ‘long so Oh, yes, Lord
I have my trials here below Oh, yes, Lord
If you get there before I do Oh, yes, Lord
Tell all-a my friends I’m coming too
Oh, yes, Lord
This spiritual was first published in 1867, but had a life well before that. It is also one of the five spirituals in
the work by Michael Tippett I have mentioned previously, A CHILD OF OUR TIME. Like other spirituals,
there are lyrical variations.
In this spiritual are the themes and feelings of loneliness in this life, of oppression and the blindness of the
oppressor. There is intense feelings of sorrow as well as a hope that connection with Jesus can help
lessen some of the pain of this world. But is also means we are not ever alone – someone knows our
troubles.
Below is something about these feelings.
Feelings of utter powerlessness could consume a person, "Nobody Knows. . . " provides support to make it
through the days. It is a way of empowering yourself through faith. In this analysis we see the lyrics as a
vital means of spiritual sustenance. According to the song, Jesus knows what we go through when it
seems that nobody does. "Sometimes I’m up sometimes I’m down. Oh yes, Lord! Sometimes I’m almos’ to
de groun’." This line states that life is constantly in flux and full of sorrow but the Lord is always there
watching. One has to be reminded that the Lord is with them in this life and waiting for them in the next, "If
you get there before I do, Oh yes, Lord! Tell all my friends I’m coming too.
Tomorrow is Easter. But today is still today. Today the sky can be dark as night.
Take your bible and turn to Psalm 31. Then, let this be our prayer for today.
Lord Jesus I come to You because when I look at the hard times that we are facing – my heart seems to
fail as I don’t know which way to turn – except to You. Thank You that You have always been there for me.
Thank YOU Lord, for Your Word which has so many beautiful truths and wonderful promises …that You
are always there to help when times are hard – and thank You for this scripture from the Bible, which
someone gave me today: do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will
strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Thank You for this lovely truth and for the many promises that You have given to all Your children. May my
heart rest in You Lord and keep me from fear in these difficult times, in Jesus name I pray,
Amen
Mar. 27, 2016 – EASTER SUNDAY
DOWN BY THE RIVER SIDE – arr. Moses Hogan
Oh, hallelujah to the lamb Down by the river
The Lord is on the giving hand Down by the riverside
Oh, we’ll wait ‘till Jesus comes Down by the river
Oh, we’ll wait ‘till Jesus comes Down by the riverside
Oh, we are pilgrims here below Down by the river
Oh, soon to glory we will go Down by the riverside
Oh, we’ll wait ‘till Jesus comes Down by the river
Oh, we’ll wait ‘till Jesus comes Down by the riverside
"Down by the Riverside" is also known as "Ain't Gonna Study War No More" and "Gonna lay down my burden".
Here’s what Wikipedia has to offer about this spiritual: The song's central image is of casting off negativity and
aggression, and putting on spiritual garb, at the side of a river before crossing it. The image has several meanings: it
refers to baptism, which in the Southern Baptist tradition usually involves wearing a white robe and being submerged
in a body of water. It also refers to ascending to heaven after death, using the metaphor of the River Jordan, which in
the Old Testament was the final passage before the Hebrews entered the Promised Land after their years in the
desert. As with many Negro spirituals, the biblical imagery can also be read as a hidden allusion to escaping slavery,
with the river representing the Ohio River, which was a border between states where slavery was allowed and
prohibited before the American Civil War. The refrain of "ain't gonna study war no more" is a reference to a quotation
found in the Old Testament: "nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore."
Today is Easter! Psalm 55:22 has this to say: Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let
the righteous be shaken. There is another verse sometimes use in this spiritual – Gonna lay down my burdens, down
by the riverside.
Some of us carry small, individual burdens that cause us to walk through life with some hindrance. There are some
of us who carry many small burdens. The collective weight of these burdens is beginning to be too much for us to
carry. And some of us carry much larger burdens that have simply become too much to bear.
God doesn’t want us to carry our burdens. He asks us to lay them down at the foot of the cross. He wants us to
surrender our heavy loads to him. It’s Easter!
Psalm 68v 19-20 says, “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God
who saves, from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death. It’s Easter!
“So why is it that Lydia and the Jews gathered by the riverside, other than the practical purpose of having fresh water
for ritual cleansing? Why are we so drawn to the pond and the river and the ocean? Because, down by the
riversides great and small, moving water is an allegory given by God to point us to the bottomless and endless flow
of God through all eternity. Just as one tiny raindrop falling from the sky filters down into a spring bubbling up from a
rock high in the Appalachians, trickles down in a stream to join another and another until it is a creek and then a river
that joins another river and becomes the James or the Rappahannock before it joins the Bay and then the ocean
before it evaporates into the sky and becomes a cloud that sends down another raindrop, so our lives are just drops
in a great ocean of God’s love that has no beginning and no end”.
Where is your riverside? Find your riverside. It’s Easter! Find a place where the green pastures grow beside the still
waters.
Like love, it’s yours, but not to keep to yourself. It’s Easter!
GOING TO SHOUT ALL OVER GOD’S HEAVEN (I’ve Got A Robe)
– arr. Harry T. Burleigh
I’ve got a robe, you’ve got a robe
All of God’s children got a robe
When I get to Heaven goin’ to put on my robe
Goin’ to shout all over God’s Heaven
Heav’n, Heav’n
Ev’rybody talkin’ ‘bout Heav’n ain’t goin’ there
Heav’n, Heav’n
Goin’ to shout all over God’s Heaven
I’ve got a crown, you’ve got a crown
All of God’s children got a crown
When I get to Heaven goin’ to put on my crown
Goin’ to shout over God’s Heaven
I’ve got shoes, you’ve got a shoes
All of God’s children got shoes
When I get to Heaven goin’ to put on my shoes
Goin’ to walk all over God’s Heaven
I’ve got a harp, you’ve got a harp
All of God’s children got a harp
When I get to Heaven goin’ to play on my harp
Goin’ to play all over God’s Heaven
I’ve got a song, you’ve got a song
All of God’s children got a song
When I get to Heaven goin’ to sing a new song
Goin’ to sing all over God’s Heaven Heav’n, Heav’n
Martin Luther wrote this: Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone but in every
leaf of springtime”.
Peter Marshall reminded us that the stone was rolled away, not for Christ to come out, but to enable His
disciples – then and now – to go in.
But there is always a question that remains – what next?
God is always calling us. It can be down the same paths we have gone before – or down new ones.
Tomorrow, look for the cairns. As John 10:3 says: "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his
voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out”.
Let this be our prayer:
Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast that which is good; render to no one evil for
evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honour everyone; love and serve the
Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.