Sunday's Hymn: How Can I Keep from Singing?

My life flows on in endless song;
Above earth’s lamentation
I hear the sweet though far off hymn
That hails a new creation:
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul—
How can I keep from singing?

What though my joys and comforts die?
The Lord my Savior liveth;
What though the darkness gather round!
Songs in the night He giveth:
No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that refuge clinging;
Since Christ is Lord of Heav’n and earth,
How can I keep from singing?

I lift mine eyes; the cloud grows thin;
I see the blue above it;
And day by day this pathway smoothes
Since first I learned to love it:
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
A fountain ever springing:
All things are mine since I am His—
How can I keep from singing?

—Robert Lowry

Other hymns of worship songs for this Sunday:

• We Pray for Those Who Do Not Pray at The Happy Wonderer 

Theological Term of the Week: Polycarp of Smyrna

Polycarp of Smyrna
“[B]ishop of the church of Smyrna in Asia Minor and one of the most famous martyrs of the 2nd Century.”1 He was also an apostolic father. He lived from 70 to 160 AD. 

• From 2000 Years of Christ’s Power by N. H. Needham, page 59: 

[Polycarp’s] Letter to the church in Philippi is, perhaps, the best document from the age of the apostolic fathers for giving us a feeling of what typical, mainstream Christianity was like in this period. Polycarp’s letter was mostly made up of quotations from the New Testament. He warned the Philippians against departing from apostolic doctrine, and especially against the heresy of Docetism. He also exhorted them to live upright Christian lives, admonishing them against the sin of greed and urged on them the duty of submitting to their presbyters.

Learn more:

1. Got Questions: Who was Polycarp?
2. EarlyChurch.org: Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna
3. Christian History: Polycarp
4. 5 Minutes in Church History: Two Disciples of John: Polycarp
5. Christian History Institute: Polycarp’s Martyrdom

Related terms:

• apostolic fathers
• Justin Martyr
• Clement of Rome
• Ignatius of Antioch

Filed under Christian History

1From 2000 Years of Christ’s Power by N. R. Needham.

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Sunday's Hymn: Here, O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face

Here, O my Lord, I see thee face to face;
Here would I touch and handle things unseen,
Here grasp with firmer hand th’eternal grace,
And all my weariness upon thee lean.

Here would I feed upon the bread of God,
Here drink with thee the royal wine of heav’n;
Here would I lay aside each earthly load,
Here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiven.

This is the hour of banquet and of song;
This is the heav’nly table spread for me:
Here let me feast, and, feasting, still prolong
The brief, bright hour of fellowship with thee.

I have no help but thine, nor do I need
Another arm save thine to lean upon:
It is enough, my Lord, enough indeed;
My strength is in thy might, thy might alone.

Mine is the sin, but thine the righteousness;
Mine is the guilt, but thine the cleansing blood;
Here is my robe, my refuge, and my peace,
Thy blood, thy righteousness, O Lord my God.

 —Ho­ra­ti­us Bo­nar

Other hymns of worship songs for this Sunday:

• Great God, With Wonder and With Praise at The Happy Wonderer