Pastor’s Garage July 18th, 2019
July 18, 2019
I’m back in the saddle for a few days in between SABC and a short trip we are taking to Drumheller from Fri to Tues to visit some friends and take in the Passion Play they do there every summer. You may not know this but Adam and Rachel Erickson’s oldest daughter is one of the actors this year! Somebody was teasing me at camp about “Holding down the fort” this summer while Pastor Dave was away. I responded that the “fort” looks pretty empty sometimes in summer, possibly the troops are on furlough? Whatever you find yourself doing or wherever you find yourself traveling this summer know that you are missed and we care about you!
Over the last few days the line “Your loosened tongues employ” from verse 5 of the hymn O for a Thousand Tongues keeps running through my head. To tell you the truth I’m not 100% sure what God is trying to teach me yet but as I was researching the hymn that Charles Wesley wrote I was surprised to learn that there were actually originally 18 verses! Some of them pretty inspirational, some challenging, some thought provoking. I thought I would pass it on to you in its entirety.
O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing
1. Glory to God, and praise and love,
Be ever, ever given;
By saints below and saints above,
The Church in earth and heaven.
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2. On this glad day the glorious Sun
Of righteousness arose,
On my benighted soul he shone,
And filled it with repose.
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3. Sudden expired the legal strife;
‘Twas then I ceased to grieve.
My second, real, living life,
I then began to live.
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4. Then with my heart I first believed,
Believed with faith divine;
Power with the Holy Ghost received
To call the Saviour mine.
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5. I felt my Lord’s atoning blood
Close to my soul applied;
*Me*, *me* he loved – the Son of God
For *me*, for *me* he died!
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6. I found and owned his promise true,
Ascertained of my part,
My pardon passed in heaven I know,
When written on my heart.
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7. O for a thousand tongues to sing,
My great redeemers praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace.
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8. My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread thro’ all the earth abroad,
The honors of Thy name.
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9. Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease,
‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
‘Tis life, and health, and peace.
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10. He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free,
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.
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11. He speaks, – and, listening to his voice,
New life the dead receive;
The mournful, broken hearts rejoice;
The humble poor believe.
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12. Hear him, ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb,
Your loosen’d tongues employ;
Ye blind, behold your Saviour come,
And leap, ye lame, for joy.
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13. Look unto him, ye nations; own
Your God, ye fallen race;
Look, and be saved through faith alone,
Be justified by grace.
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14. See all your sins on Jesus laid;
The Lamb of God was slain;
His soul was once an offering made
For every soul of man.
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15. Harlots, and publicans, and thieves,
In holy triumph join!
Saved is the sinner that believes,
From crimes as great as mine.
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16. Murderers, and all ye hellish crew,
Ye sons of lust and pride,
Believe the Savior died for you;
For me the Saviour died.
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17. Awake from guilty nature’s sleep,
And Christ shall give you light,
Cast all your sins into the deep,
And wash the AEthiop white.
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18. With me, your chief, ye then shall know,
Shall feel your sins forgiven;
Anticipate your heaven below,
And own that love is heaven.
This Sunday we are honored to have Dave Wicks Sr. with us once again sharing his heart. Please pray for him, Rachel K as she leads in worship, and all of those who are on the road this summer, Pastor Dave’s family and ours as well!
Keep up the good work troops!
Pastor Mike