Sunday Hymns - Jesus I Come

    Out of my bondage, sorrow and night,
    Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
    Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
    Jesus, I come to Thee;
    Out of my sickness, into Thy health,
    Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
    Out of my sin and into Thyself,
    Jesus, I come to Thee.

    Out of my shameful failure and loss,
    Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
    Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
    Jesus, I come to Thee;
    Out of earth’s sorrows, into Thy balm,
    Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm,
    Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
    Jesus, I come to Thee.

    Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
    Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
    Into Thy blessed will to abide,
    Jesus, I come to Thee;
    Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,
    Out of despair, into raptures above,
    Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
    Jesus, I come to Thee.

    Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
    Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
    Into the joy and light of Thy home,
    Jesus, I come to Thee;
    Out of the depths of ruin untold,
    Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,
    Ever Thy glorious face to behold,
    Jesus, I come to Thee.

-William T Sleeper
-Public Domain
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O Holy Night

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Sunday Hymns - Rose of Bethlehem

There’s a Rose in Bethlehem
With a beauty quite divine
Perfect in this world of sin
On this silent holy night

There’s a fragrance much like hope
That it sends upon the wind
Reaching out to every soul
From a lowly manger’s crib

Oh, Rose of Bethlehem
How lovely, pure, and sweet
Born to glorify the Father
Born to wear the thorns for me

There’s a Rose in Bethlehem
Colored red like mercy’s blood
Tis the flower of our faith
Tis the blossom of God’s love

Though its bloom is fresh with youth
Surely what will be He knows
For a tear of morning dew
Is rolling down the Rose

Oh, Rose of Bethlehem
How lovely, pure, and sweet
Born to glorify the Father
Born to wear the thorns for me

There’s a Rose in Bethlehem
With a beauty quite divine
Perfect in this world of sin
On this silent holy night

Oh, Rose of Bethlehem
How lovely, pure, and sweet
Born to glorify the Father
Born to wear the thorns for me

• -Lowell Alexander

• © 1992,1994,1996 Birdwing Music

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Book Review: The War on Christmas

There was a time, not too long ago, that when someone said "The War on Christmas," I would have thought that they meant the worldly war - removing nativity scenes, replacing "Merry Christmas" with "Happy Holidays," etc. But the last few years it seems that social media explodes with posts for or against Christians celebrating Christmas, or decorating trees, or exchanging gifts. Sadly, true brothers and sisters in Christ are dividing over a non-essential.

When the opportunity arose to review this book, I was immediately interested. And, I was not disappointed. This book, which is a collection of essays covering the various questions often raised in the great Christmas debate, is a must-have guide to understanding the issues and the history behind them. 

The book covers a wide variety of issues and answers common questions such as:

-The true history of the holiday - is it a pagan holiday?

-Are Christmas trees pagan?

-When was Jesus born?

-What was the true timeline of events? 

-Who were the Magi (Wise Men) and how many were there?

-What was the Christmas star?

-What does the X in X-mas stand for?

I found the essays to be very informative and easy to read. There is a very interesting section on common misconceptions that may surprise you. Did you know that nowhere does the Bible say that the angels sang? Or that the Bible never says that Jesus was born in a stable? 

I appreciated that very near the beginning of the book there was an essay that covered the topic of Christian liberty and how it applies to holidays and how we celebrate them. 

"It would be wrong to condemn someone for celebrating Christmas or Easter (Resurrection Sunday). The "substance," the reason for these holidays, should come from Christ because they belong to Christ. The reason we celebrate these holidays is to remember Christ. However, if someone is fully convinced in their mind that they should not celebrate these holidays, that is fine as well (Romans 14:5) and they should not be criticized either." (Bodie Hodge, p. 14)

A common theme that runs throughout the book is the need to view Christmas through the lens of Genesis - the creation, the fall, and the need for a sinless Savior.

As for the book itself, it is a beautiful paperback. The pages are heavy and sturdy, and I loved that every page looks as though it was printed on nice Christmas stationary.

I enjoyed this book, and it is one that I would recommend.

*I must mention that I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Handlebar Marketing in exchange for an honest review.

Sunday Hymns - Across the Lands

You're the Word of God the Father
From before the world began.
Ev'ry star and ev'ry planet
Has been fashioned by Your hand.
All creation holds together
By the power of Your voice.
Let the skies declare Your glory;
Let the land and seas rejoice!

CHORUS
You're the Author of creation;
You're the Lord of ev'ry man;
And Your cry of love rings out across the lands.

Yet You left the gaze of angels,
Came to seek and save the lost,
And exchanged the joy of heaven
For the anguish of a cross.
With a prayer You fed the hungry;
With a word You calmed the sea;
Yet how silently You suffered
That the guilty may go free!

With a shout You rose victorious,
Wresting vict'ry from the grave,
And ascended into heaven,
Leading captives in Your way.
Now You stand before the Father,
Interceding for Your own;
From each tribe and tongue and nation,
You are leading sinners home!

"Across the Lands"
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2003 Thankyou Music

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Sunday Hymns - Light of the Stable

Hail, hail to the newborn King 
Let our voices sing Him our praises 
Hail, hail to the guiding Light 
That brought us tonight to our Savior 

Halle, hallelujah 
Halle, hallelujah 
Halle, hallelujah 
Halle, hallelujah 

Come now, let it shine so bright 
To the knowing Light of the stable 
Kneel close to the Child so dear 
Cast aside your fear and be thankful 

Hail, hail to the newborn King 
Let our voices sing Him our praises 
Hail, hail to the guiding Light 
That brought us tonight to our Savior 

chorus 

Hail, hail to the newborn King 
Let our voices sing Him our praises 
Hail, hail to the guiding Light 
That brought us tonight to our Savior 

chorus

• Elizabeth Rhymer | Steve Rhymer

• © 1975. Renewed 2003 Tessa Publishing Company