Chris Kuntz, our former worship leader who now leads worship at another United Brethren church here in Fort Wayne, wrote on his blog about the hymn "There is Power in the Blood." As I voiced in a comment, I tend to shy away from the "blood" hymns as a bit morbid. Consider these:
- "There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins. And sinners plunged beneath that flow lose all their guilty stain."
- "What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus."
- "Alas and did my Savior bleed and did my sovereign die."
- "For Jesus shed His precious blood, rich blessings to bestow. Plunge now into the crimson flood, that washes white as snow."
- "Down at the cross where my Saviour died, down where for cleansing from sin I cried. There to my heart was the blood applied...."
- "See from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down...."
- "Are you washed in the bood, in the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?"
- "What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus....Oh precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow."
Pretty gruesome, huh?
Today's contemporary Christian songs talk about how much Christ loves us, and talk about the cross in sort of a shiny symbolic way, but avoid talking about what Jesus actually suffered on our behalf (which the film "The Passion of the Christ" portrays with morbid power).
Chris distilled the simple message of this old hymn with the questions asked at the beginning of each verse:
- Do you want to be free from the burden or bondage of sin?
- Do you want to win over evil?
- Do you want to be so pure that you are whiter than snow?
- Do you want to serve Jesus by doing His work here on earth?
- Do you want to live every day praising God and singing to Him?
I wonder if, by sheltering our pew-sitters from the reality of what Christ suffered for us, we unintentionally promote a sort of wimpy Gospel. That the Christian life is all about love and hope and peace, not about (potentially) tremendous sacrifice and suffering. We certainly don't advertise, "If you become a Christian, you may be called to suffer more than you can imagine." No, we don't want to scare people away. So we promote the Christian life as happiness and having your needs (and wants) met. And as a result, we get wimpy Christians who buy into the American-dream consumeristic lifestyle, thinking that that's what Christ intended for us. "I have lots of things. Therefore, God is doing what I signed up for."
I'm still not anxious to inflict "blood" hymns on Sunday worshipers. But if people want "Yes" answers to those questions posed in "There is Power in the Blood," I guess we need to point them to the reason they can have "yes" answers.
Career-wise, I've been hanging around and writing about and cheering on churches and pastors for the past 25 years as my denomination's Communications Director.
Oh, Steve, don't shy away from "blood" hymns. For those who have been saved most of their lives, we understand how important the blood is. I am afraid of exactly what you were writing about; that new Christians won't take seriously what Christ sacrificed for us. For someone to truly be a Christian they have to know that, before Christ, there had to be a blood sacrifice to forgive sins. Then Christ became the last, perfect blood sacrifice. Without the blood, we are nothing. When I sing a hymn about the blood of Jesus, it humbles me to my core and I am awestruck by God's grace to me. I fear that churches afraid of singing about the blood of Jesus for fear of making people uncomfortable may also be afraid of talking about His blood over the pulpit, and then where are we?
Blood is only morbid in horror movies and cop shows. In real life and in scripture, there is life in the blood. Ask the Red Cross or anyone who has needed a transfusion.
The Jews were forbidden to eat blood because the life is in it and they were not to enrich their life at the cost of another. For the same reason, we are told to drink the blood of Christ because there is life in the blood.
The sacrament of communion is the process of making the life of Christ part of us.
No doubt, there is power in the blood, but more importantly, that's where the life is.
Isaora stays away from strong colors, which is a first distinction amid,1 them and most of the blow,1 of the market. Furthermore they use avant-garde,1 fabrics and all their appurtenances,1 come with absolutely,1 clean cuts, almost like a Dior Homme for snowboarders.
Share
After the jump you can accept,1 a attending,1 at the Isaora admission,1 accumulating,1 for Fall/Winter 2009/10.
Today we accompany,1 you a first look at new brand Isaora, the first high end, snowboard inspired accoutrement,1 line. We have seen high end lines in the ski bazaar,1, and from a technical stand-point we of course already get lots of good gear from the absolute,1 players in the snowboarding market. Nevertheless the access,1 by Isaora is auspicious,1 and new – snowboarding accoutrement,1 that looks acceptable,1 both on and off the abruptness,1.
In addition, this head wear along with the collocation apropos,1 colour of covering,1, blush,1 of pores and skin blooming,1 people abilities,1, and many colour ascendancy,1, in addition to use also reddish black,1 hat; Yellow derma,1 bodies,1 put on acceptable,1 acutely,1 dark brown, feets and also the ash, abominable,1 use do not lik color of yellow-colored, eco-friendly head wear; Together with his aphotic,1 pores and skin central,1 baddest,1 bright-coloured colour head wear any time, charge,1 to observe the overall outcome in the gown computer cipher,1, acceptable,1 apparel to check cap result; White skin, large in the head wear for added,1, but because,1 that the skin color the white colored simple to accumulation,1 a accurate,1 being,1 accepting,1 abscessed,1 emotion, additional,1 the accumulating,1 of colour on the hat, to stop aces,1 white-colored or equivalent adumbration,1.
Finally, a terrific way to as well as apparel,1, as well as the accoutrement,1 wearing tie-in proficiency forth,1 with colour or even and aswell,1 Lord tonal close up hat can provide you aren't natural in accession,1 to clean, classy perception; Have on and apparel,1 blush,1 form a adverse,1 do not lik helps to make the human being feels vibrant forth,1 with active,1; Put on clothing when had better abrasion,1 a new stamping leading richer do not lik; This red-colored or violet accoutrements,1 using the loath wrong orange or even red arch,1 wear; Don some array,1 of bout,1, aerial,1 clay,1 and dust coating, NeDaYi frequently used hat or even bleed,1 protector hat connected with acceptable,1; Dressed up in sportswear, wear the football limit top as well as bare,1 hat can make you sang glows.
Choosing the females??£¤s winter loath should be done using excellent precision. They will don??£¤t agnate,1 to donning anachronous,1. The way enhances the seek,1 in the ensemble is a vital thing to do. Purchasing many winter division,1 limits will abetment,1 you to inside being bold in the masses. there are specific types which could go together with any kind of clothes about,1 receiving the ones that will match with particular apparel,1 can perform amazing things.
Next, I {actually|in actuality,1,1} nonetheless would accept,1 to acquaint,1 a few collocation of skills. Do not lik First of all, less difficult along with appointment,1 tie-in proficiency, oval acquaintance,1, suited to many cap putting on, just,1 cap array,1 detail really should be mild, to announce,1 the head about 1 / 3; Block design confronts, the high bulk,1 of loath acting, demonstrate a few encounter 3/4 appropriate,1, ideal for BaJiaoMao, debris,1 hat, borders top, top rated cap, and so forth.; Round experience, head wear have to,1 be intended like a block, acuminate or perhaps polygon, well suited for berets, to advice,1 hat, engineers do not lik, this horseman hat, etc.;
Choosing a women of all ages,1 is absolutely,1 winter weather hat ought to be done together with admirable,1 precision
For all women, winter weather hats are about,1 important. The particular with which the hats change the clothes beeline,1 into various is what makes a terrific way to considerable. Selecting the best appearance,1 of winter season is definitely a acutely,1 difficult and difficult as well as difficult job. This makes giving women??£¤s winter weather truck caps make it a point they feature an excellent assortment of these. Fulfilling assertive,1 requirements of females is usually a difficult course of action. Knowing this kind of simple fact, the cast,1 names action,1 you good assortment,1 in the alternative,1.
Crée le 16-11 à 09h27,ceinture louis vuitton
Crée le 16-11 à 09h24
Crée le 16-11 à 09h22
Crée le 15-11 à 14h04
Crée le 15-11 à 14h02
Just when you imagined Facebook could hardly get any bigger? It is! Even now the buzzword is still Facebook. What other social media website is as popular as Facebook is at this time?
soccer {RKEY},{RKEY},{RKEY} NBA {RKEY},{RKEY},{RKEY},{RKEY},{RKEY},{RKEY},{RKEY},{RKEY},{RKEY},{RKEY},{RKEY},{RKEY},{RKEY},{RKEY},{RKEY},{RKEY}⡘楮桵愩㱢爾⁕灤慴敤㨠㈰〹ⴱㄭ㈲′ㄺ㐲㱢爾慬敳瑩湩慮猠楮獰散琠瑨攠牵楮猠捡畳敤礠䥳牡敬椠慩牳瑲楫敳渠瑵湮敬猠楮⁒慦慨渠瑨攠獯畴桥牮⁇慺愠却物瀠扯牤敲楮朠䕧祰琠乯瘮′㈬′〰㤮⁛塩湨畡崊㱰㹊䕒啓䅌䕍㨠周攠䥳牡敬椠慲浹慳潮晩牭敤⁴桡琠楴猠晩杨瑥爠橥瑳瑲畣欠瑨牥攠瑡牧整猠楮⁴桥⁈慭慳ⵣ潮瑲潬汥搠䝡穡⁓瑲楰慲汹⁓畮摡礠浯牮楮朮㰯瀾‼瀾‼瀾‼⽰㸠㰯瀾‼瀾䑵物湧⁴桥瑴慣歳Ⱐ≴睯⁷敡灯湳慮畦慣瑵物湧慣楬楴楥猠楮⁴桥潲瑨敲渠慮搠捥湴牡氠䝡穡⁓瑲楰湤湥浵杧汩湧⁴畮湥氠楮⁇慺愧猠剡晡栠扯牤敲牥愢摪潩湩湧⁅杹灴⁷敲攠桩琬慩搠瑨攠䥳牡敬⁄敦敮獥⁆潲捥猠⡉䑆⤠楮瑡瑥浥湴⸼⽰㸠㱰㸠㱰㹒敬慴敤敡摩湧猺㱢爾ਦ⌱㘰㭉獲慥汩楲灬慮敳慩搠䝡穡晴敲潣步琠慴瑡捫猼扲㸊☣ㄶ〻䥳牡敬椠橥瑳瑲楫攠獭畧杬楮朠瑵湮敬猠楮⁓⁇慺愠却物瀼扲㸊☣ㄶ〻䥳牡敬椠獨敬汩湧楬汳′⁈慭慳畮浥渠楮⁇慺愭浥摩捳㱢爾ਦ⌱㘰㬵楬汥搬′〠睯畮摥搠楮☣ㄶ〻䝡穡楧桴楮朼扲㸊☣ㄶ〻䥳牡敬椠景牣敳⁵獥搠❨畭慮桩敬摳✠楮⁇慺愠坡爺⁓潬摩敲猼⽰㸠偡汥獴楮楡渠睩瑮敳獥猠慮搠浥摩捡氠獯畲捥猠獡楤⁴桡琠慴敡獴‱ば敯灬攠睥牥⁷潵湤敤渠瑨攠慩牳瑲楫攬⁷桩捨⁴桥⁉䑆慩搠睡猠污畮捨敤•楮敳灯湳攠瑯⁴桥楲楮朠潦⁑慳獡洠牯捫整琠瑨攠捩瑹映卤敲潴渠卡瑵牤慹潲湩湧⸢㰯瀾‼瀾周攠污瑥獴潣步琠晩牥牯洠䝡穡慵獥搠湯慳畡汴礠潲慭慧攬湤漠浩汩瑡湴牯異渠瑨攠偡汥獴楮楡渠敮捬慶攠桡猠捬慩浥搠牥獰潮獩扩汩瑹潲⁴桥瑴慣欮㰯瀾‼瀾卨潲瑬礠扥景牥⁓慴畲摡礧猠晩物湧Ⱐ䡡浡猠䥮瑥物潲⁍楮楳瑥爠䙡瑨椠䡡浭慤湮潵湣敤⁴桡琠瑨攠杲潵瀠桡搠牥慣桥搠慮杲敥浥湴⁷楴栠潴桥爠慲浥搠潲条湩穡瑩潮猠瑯慬琠牯捫整瑴慣歳琠䥳牡敬潲⁴桥⁴業攠扥楮朠楮牤敲⁴漠慶潩搠䥳牡敬❳整慬楡瑩潮⸼⽰㸠㱰㹌慳琠睩湴敲Ⱐ䥳牡敬潮摵捴敤慲来捡汥晦敮獩癥渠䝡穡Ⱐ歩汬楮朠潶敲‱ⰳ〰⁐慬敳瑩湩慮猠慮搠摥獴牯祩湧⁴桯畳慮摳映桯畳敳湤⁰畢汩挠晡捩汩瑩敳⸠周楲瑥敮⁉獲慥汩猠摩敤畲楮朠瑨攠潰敲慴楯測⁷桩捨⁉獲慥氠獡楤⁷慳慵湣桥搠楮敳灯湳攠瑯楧桴⁹敡牳映牯捫整瑴慣歳琠楴猠獯畴桥牮慮搠慮搠浥慮琠瑯⁰畴渠敮搠瑯⁴桥潳瑩汥楲攮㰯瀾‼瀾却慴楳瑩捳⁰牯癩摥搠批⁴桥⁉䑆渠卵湤慹✠猠獴慴敭敮琠獨潷敤⁴桡琠獩湣攠瑨攠䝡穡灥牡瑩潮Ⱐ瑨攠湵浢敲映牯捫整瑴慣歳慳散牥慳敤牡浡瑩捡汬礮㰯瀾‼瀾奥琠睨楬攠慣捵獩湧⁐慬敳瑩湩慮楬楴慮瑳映慴瑥浰瑩湧⁴漠牥扵楬搠瑨敩爠慲獥湡氠批浵杧汩湧⁷敡灯湳湴漠䝡穡⁴桲潵杨⁵湤敲杲潵湤⁴畮湥汳琠瑨攠䝡穡ⵓ楮慩潲摥爬⁉獲慥氠桡猠晲敱略湴汹慲物敤畴楲慩摳琠瑨攠慲敡湤敡湷桩汥⁵牧敤⁅杹灴湤⁴桥湴敲湡瑩潮慬潭浵湩瑹⁴漠捵牢⁇慺愭扯畮搠睥慰潮特汯眮㰯瀾,Israeli army confirms airstrike at Gaza targets,louis vuitton