Don’t Forget
that you need to get your list of ten favorite hymns to Sherry by Sunday to be included in her Top 100 Hymns Survey. I’ll be very disappointed if you don’t send her your list. And you don’t have to be a blogger to do this, you know.
Speaking of Hymns
In a breakout session at the Basics Conference 2009, Keith Getty (In Christ Alone, The Power of the Cross, etc.) explained what he’s trying to accomplish with the hymns he writes. You can hear the audio here (mp3). Here are a couple of things I learned:
- How he feels about people changing the words to his songs: It’s rude and wrong, illegal, and it’s often theological heresy. In other words, he’s not a big fan of it. The biggest reason people want to change the words to his hymns is to remove mention of the wrath of God. If you want to change the words to his songs, he’d rather you not use the songs.
- On giving new tunes to old hymns: He grew up loving hymns, so for him, it’s a little like putting a mustache on the Mona Lisa.
And while we’re on the subject of tunes and hymns, Brandon Watson has an interesting post on hymnic meter.
Once upon a time hymns did not come prepackaged the way they do now; lyrics and tunes were detachable. The tune for “Amazing Grace” originally was called “New Britain”; it was a separate thing, and many different songs were sung to it.
Arcing the Text
Biblical arcing is a tool to help you work through the flow of thought in the Biblical text. I’m currently working my way through the Gospel of John in my daily reading, and I’ve been arcing some passages at BibleArc.com. I’m finding the exercise both very fun and very useful. If you’re not sure what I’m going on about, take the Bible Arcing Tutoral.
Resistance is Futile
Yes, God mapped out your entire life before you even existed, but since he’s completely trustworthy, why would that disturb you?
Many professing believers can’t stand the idea that God has a blueprint for your life and mine. And they don’t understand how believers like me could abide such a God.
Well, my attitude is just the opposite: I don’t understand how they can sing and pray to a God whom they would never trust with their own lives, or the lives of their loved ones. They have less faith in God than they abode in their doctor or babysitter.
A God you can’t bring yourself to trust with your life is not a God you should bring into your life. What kind of God do you really believe in?
[Steves Hayes at Triablogue]
Preventing Boredom
Should you forget your book, here’s a convenient origami project.
My Favorite Fruit is a Vegetable
Two recipes for using your rhubarb:
- Rhubarb Compote (HT to TTT)
- Rhubarb Soda (HT to LP, who would use less sugar next time.)
On the Ropes
Only one looks truly dangerous, but they all look a little scary.