January 2014

Our hymn of the month, #520 in the Trinity Hymnal, is “Jesus Thy Blood and Righteousness.” It was written by Count Nicolas Ludwig Von Zinzendorf in 1739. A German from noble stock, he was born Lutheran but was disappointed in the dry and sterile state of the German Lutheran Church at that time. With other likeminded men he tried to promote a revival of true religion focusing on the work of Christ. He was a landowner and part of the nobility and gave land to a number of refugees fleeing religious persecution. He created a religious community based on equality and unity which was notRead More →

“…These people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men (Isa 29:13 NKJ).” While a great many today downplay the importance of the corporate body of God’s people and make salvation an entirely individualistic affair, the opposite danger is very real and perhaps even worse- the idea that I am saved simply because of an identity or membership in a particular group. The fact that I show up to church, assent to certain doctrinal propositions and perform various rituals, and don’t doRead More →

How Lovely Shines the Morning Star 1 How lovely shines the Morning Star! The nations see and hail afar The light in Judah shining. Thou David’s Son of Jacob’s race, My Bridegroom and my King of Grace, For thee my heart is pining. Lowly, holy, Great and glorious, Thou victorious Prince of graces, Filling all the heav’nly places. 2 Now richly to my waiting heart, O thou, my God, deign to impart The grace of love undying. In thy blest body let me be, E’en as the branch is in the tree, Thy life my life supplying. Sighing, crying, For the savor Of thy favorRead More →