I heard recently (recently, as of this writing, at least) that there was an effort under way to organize a worship service for Star Wars Celebration IV. A fine plan! At such affairs, however, singing generally takes place; and, as far as I know, there are no hymns that include a celebration of Star Wars.
Until such is composed, perhaps this text, which translates some basic doctrinal concepts into terms familiar to Star Wars fans, might help. If you would like to sing it, as part of your Star Wars Day celebration ("May the Fourth Be With You"), the text lays well with the hymn tune "St. Anne," but sounds best with "Ellacombe."
We praise the Maker of All Things --
No Dark Side dims His Light–
That He would give His image wings:
Imagination's flight
His word made matter, worlds that hold
Together by His will.
He gives us our own worlds to mold
Through words that matter still.
All living things make energy,
But, through Him, true Life came;
And power, not slaves, but sons to be,
To all that trust His name.
Unless our actions He controls
Our "Do" is merely "Try."
There is no luck: we reach the goals
His loving plans supply!
We praise Him for the destinies
On different paths He led,
Away from unfulfilling peace,
To happy Wars instead!
Let all hearts thank the Maker, then –
Be they of flesh or steel –
Who, through the dreams of mortal men
Made Worlds in Pictures real!
Suggested tunes:
St. Anne: http://openhymnal.org/Lyrics/Our_God_Our_Help_In_Ages_Past-St_Anne.html
Ellacombe: http://openhymnal.org/Lyrics/Hosanna_Loud_Hosanna-Ellacombe.html
Worlds in Pictures is not only a pretty way to describe the sketches and paintings that directed the designers of Star Wars, but the title of a musical tribute to the art of Ralph McQuarrie, composed by Kevin Kral. It is the best Star Wars-related song ever written. As of this writing, it may be heard here: http://www.myspace.com/kenkrahl/music/songs/worlds-in-pictures-10974185 .For myself, I also thank the Maker for McQuarrie's glorious pictures, and Kral's memorable Worlds!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Soar We NOW – Not Later – Where Christ Hath Lead
Whether you call it Easter or Resurrection Sunday, it's still the commemoration of that glorious proof that the unjust death of a perfect man was a satisfactory substitute for what should have been the eternal death of defiant, self-pleasing humanity.* But God's Holy One did not see corruption¶, and God's raising Him from the dead is what we celebrate, particularly with music. On that Sunday, we get our annual opportunity to sing all those great Resurrection hymns, including one of Charles Wesley's greatest lyrics, "Chris the Lord is Risen Today**." To whatever tune they are set, they remain a beautiful assurance of the blessings of redemption.
You may know the verse normally sung last:
It sums up the fulfillment of the hope described in the previous verses: that we will follow our Redeemer beyond the grip of death, to Heaven. No one would debate that conclusion. However, I have been made to realize that it means so much more than that.
At the end of 2011, I noticed a Twitter post from someone traveling in India, describing smoke rising from funeral pyres along the Ganges. That grim scene was followed by another post about toy kites local children were playing with. The dancing of the kites in the sky, for a moment at least, released the children who held them from the dust and dung around them. Those soaring kites, for whatever reason, had made me think of soaring where Christ had led. Then it hit me: Wesley had written, "Soar we NOW," not "Soar we soon." I had always associated that verse with following Him to heaven, but the redemption Christ bought is not merely about getting to Heaven> It includes how we live on Earth. We don't have to wait until we get to Heaven to live heaven-like lives. Christ enables us to live like someone from Heaven right now even in the spiritual, moral (yes, and sometimes physical) dung and dust of a bitter world of change and decay. After all, eternal life isn't about mere perpetual existence, but about life as God had intended it to be lived.
And His ways are not the ways we choose on our own. Look at the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7). What a radical approach to life – and what an impossibility to live out! Yet, through Christ's resurrection spirit, now living in those who trust Him, we children of dust are able to do it, because He lives through us. Only through him can we truly set our minds on things above, and not on the vanishing things of this earth.§
Because Christ has risen, we may live among the dust and dung, but we are no longer part of it. Like those children watching the kites, our minds are now set on things above, not merely for a moment, but forever! By faith, we are made like Him, and like Him, we do rise; above our daily crosses, beyond the grave and the smoky funeral pyre, and, always, to the skies.
Hie is Risen! And, therefore, We arr Risen, Indeed! Alleluia!
Notes:
*Romans 4:23-25: Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
¶ Psalm 16:10: For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
"Christ the Lord is Risen Today" http://hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh302.sht
§ Colossians 3:1-2: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
(The posts referred to above require, not merely a HT (Hat Tip), but a star-sweeping flourish of a salute to @ADaniels3PO, who posted them. I don' know where he might stand in relation to my reflection on them, but no one posts thought-provoking observations to Twitter more gracefully than he does.)
You may know the verse normally sung last:
Soar we now where Christ hath led,
Following our Exalted Head. \
Made like Him, like Him we rise!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies!
Following our Exalted Head. \
Made like Him, like Him we rise!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies!
It sums up the fulfillment of the hope described in the previous verses: that we will follow our Redeemer beyond the grip of death, to Heaven. No one would debate that conclusion. However, I have been made to realize that it means so much more than that.
At the end of 2011, I noticed a Twitter post from someone traveling in India, describing smoke rising from funeral pyres along the Ganges. That grim scene was followed by another post about toy kites local children were playing with. The dancing of the kites in the sky, for a moment at least, released the children who held them from the dust and dung around them. Those soaring kites, for whatever reason, had made me think of soaring where Christ had led. Then it hit me: Wesley had written, "Soar we NOW," not "Soar we soon." I had always associated that verse with following Him to heaven, but the redemption Christ bought is not merely about getting to Heaven> It includes how we live on Earth. We don't have to wait until we get to Heaven to live heaven-like lives. Christ enables us to live like someone from Heaven right now even in the spiritual, moral (yes, and sometimes physical) dung and dust of a bitter world of change and decay. After all, eternal life isn't about mere perpetual existence, but about life as God had intended it to be lived.
And His ways are not the ways we choose on our own. Look at the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7). What a radical approach to life – and what an impossibility to live out! Yet, through Christ's resurrection spirit, now living in those who trust Him, we children of dust are able to do it, because He lives through us. Only through him can we truly set our minds on things above, and not on the vanishing things of this earth.§
Because Christ has risen, we may live among the dust and dung, but we are no longer part of it. Like those children watching the kites, our minds are now set on things above, not merely for a moment, but forever! By faith, we are made like Him, and like Him, we do rise; above our daily crosses, beyond the grave and the smoky funeral pyre, and, always, to the skies.
Hie is Risen! And, therefore, We arr Risen, Indeed! Alleluia!
Notes:
*Romans 4:23-25: Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
¶ Psalm 16:10: For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
"Christ the Lord is Risen Today" http://hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh302.sht
§ Colossians 3:1-2: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
(The posts referred to above require, not merely a HT (Hat Tip), but a star-sweeping flourish of a salute to @ADaniels3PO, who posted them. I don' know where he might stand in relation to my reflection on them, but no one posts thought-provoking observations to Twitter more gracefully than he does.)
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Thoughts on Spring and Easter
The Spring reminds a bitter land
Of Eden's long-lost glade:
Of where the Lord walked close at hand
With those whom He had made.
But Adam doubted God's kind care
And chose defiant pride.
By light exposed and truth made bare,
In darkness, friendship died.
Again, Earth saw God's Truth and Light
His Life became the Way,
His death replaced doubt's endless night
With Resurrection's day.
So Spring reminds a joyous land,
Freed from grim snow and ice,
In trust, we'll walk as God first planned:
Christ restored Paradise.
(Well, at least I didn't fall asleep during the sermon!)
Of Eden's long-lost glade:
Of where the Lord walked close at hand
With those whom He had made.
But Adam doubted God's kind care
And chose defiant pride.
By light exposed and truth made bare,
In darkness, friendship died.
Again, Earth saw God's Truth and Light
His Life became the Way,
His death replaced doubt's endless night
With Resurrection's day.
So Spring reminds a joyous land,
Freed from grim snow and ice,
In trust, we'll walk as God first planned:
Christ restored Paradise.
(Well, at least I didn't fall asleep during the sermon!)
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