An Irish Tune in an African-American Culture

You will find this one-line hymn in most African-American hymnals.

Probably the tune is a little more familiar. It comes from the Irish folk tradition.

I shall forever lift mine eyes to Calvary
To view the cross where Jesus died for me

St. Patrick's Breastplate

I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same
The Three in One and One in Three.



I bind this today to me forever
By power of faith, Christs incarnation;
His baptism in Jordan river,
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb,
His riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom
I bind unto myself today.



I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of cherubim;
The sweet Well done in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors faith, Apostles word,
The Patriarchs prayers, the prophets scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord
And purity of virgin souls.



I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the star lit heaven,
The glorious suns life giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling winds tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eternal rocks.



I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.



Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility
I bind to me these holy powers.



Against all Satans spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the hearts idolatry,
Against the wizards evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave, the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.



Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.



I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Signing Jesus Loves Me

Here's a few clips to help you learn Jesus Loves Me using American Sign Language (ASL). The music is found in Lutheran Service Book, page 588.

Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so,
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.



Jesus loves me! He who died
Heaven's gates to open wide.
He has wash away my sin,
Lets His little child come in.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Just for Fun: Take on Me, the Literal Version

Ever notice how music videos show things that have nothing to do with the song?

Youtuber Dustin McNeato takes the video and the tune and adds his own words, which describe the scenes in the video.

Here's the original "Take on Me" followed by Dustin's version.

Note: this video is still groundbreaking, if you ask me. The mix of live-action and animation still awes me, not to mention the vocal range of lead singer Morten Harket.

~~~~~

a-ha, Take on Me



Dustin McNeato, Take on Me (literal)

HT: Gregory on facebook

March Focus: Lutherans in India, Part II

I am looking into the history of Lutheranism in India. It is going to take some more digging.  So far, I have only found the history of American Lutheran missionary work there.  One would think that earlier Lutherans also did work in India.

For now, here are the Youth Boys of Adaikalanathar Lutheran Church with a medley Tamil carols.

A Lesson in Latin: Ubi and Ibi

Over at Mercy Journeys, you will find this post with some Latin in it.

The clues are "ubi" means "where" and "ibi" means "there."

I am going to do my best to translate over here, because the teaching is that good!

III. De fructu verae et seriae poenitentiae,
Johann Gerhard, Meditationes Sacrae

Fundamentum et principum sanctae vitae est salutaris poenitentia.
Ubi enim vera poenitentia, ibi remissio peccatorum;
ubi peccatorum remission, ibi gratia Dei;
ubi gratia Dei, ibi Christus;
ubi Christus, ibi ipsius meritum;
ubi Christus meritum, ibi satisfactio pro peccatis;
ubi satisfactio pro peccatis, ibi justitia;
ubi justitia, ibi laeta et tranquilla conscientia;
ubi tranquillitas conscientiae, ibi spiritus sanctus;
ubi spiritus sanctus, ibi tota sacrosancta trinitas;
ubi sancta trinitas, ibi vita aetern

Part 3: The Fruits of True and Sincere Repentence.
Johann Gerhard, Sacred Meditations

The fundamental principle of the holy life is healthy repentance.
Where there is true repentance, there is forgiveness of sins.
Where there is forgiveness of sins, there is the grace of God.
Where there is the grace of God, there is Christ.
Where there is Christ, there is His merit.
Where there is His merit, there is satisfaction for sin.
Where there is satisfaction for sin, there is justification.
Where there is justification, there is a joyful and tranquil conscience.
Where there is tranquility of conscience, there is the Holy Spirit.
Where there is the Holy Spirit, there is the entire divine Holy Trinity.
Where there is the Holy Trinity, there is eternal life.



When in the hour of deepest need
We know not where to look for aid;
When days and nights of anxious thought
No help or counsel yet have brought,

Then is our comfort this alone
That we may meet before Your throne;
To You, O faithful God, we cry
For rescue in our misery.

For You have promised, Lord, to heed
Your children's cries in time of need
Through Him whose name alone is great,
Our Savior and our advocate.

And so we come, O God, today
And all our woes before You lay;
For sorely tried, cast down, we stand,
Perplexed by fears on ev'ry hand.

O from our sins, Lord, turn Your face;
Absolve us through Your boundless grace.
Be with us in our anguish still;
Free us at last from ev'ry ill.

So we with all our hearts each day
To You our glad thanksgiving pay,
Then walk obedient to Your Word,
And now and ever praise You, Lord.

LSB 615
Text: Paul Eber
Translation: Catherine Winkworth, alt.


Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein
JS Bach, BWV 641

March Focus: Lutherans in India

Here's the Adaikalanathar Lutheran Church Choir of India. Pardon me, as I take a temporary from Lent and feature "Glory to God in the Highest."