Month: December 2005

OK, R’Cat’s got my crank turnin’ with her Daily Advent Meditations over at Cathouse Chat. Another good’un today riffing off the Mark Lowry song, “Mary Did You Know?” (A song that, by now, has been recorded by nearly everyone and his dog, but well worth a listen, IMO. I happen to like the Kenny Rogers/Wynonna Judd version.) I recieved a rather lengthy email yesterday, one of those multi-forwarded things with an article supposedly (probably true, just haven’t bothered to check) reproduced from a newspaper article going slightly “mad dog” all over the hyper-secularization of Christmas. This comment set me back on my heels:

“We’ve allowed the Baby Jesus to be kicked out of His lowly manger, and those offended by Christmas are still not happy.”

Well, d’oh. What did The Man Himself have to say about such things?

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.'(_a_) John 15:18-27 NJKV

And some of the foundational teachings of the Christian church include multiple reminders of Christ’s humility and of Christians’ call to emulate it.

For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake… Phil. 1:29 NKJV

And

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Phil. 2:5-8 NKJV

So, an ACLU mentality wants to “kick the baby Jesus out of his lowly manger”? If Philippians 2:5-8 is a true witness, then He’d just sleep on the floor.

Consider the old Christmas song:

1. Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown when Thou camest to earth for me,
But in Bethlehem’s home there was found no room for Thy holy nativity.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for Thee!

2. Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang, proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But in lowly birth didst Thou come to earth, and in great humility,
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for Thee!

3. The foxes found rest and birds their nest in the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God, in the desert of Galilee,
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for Thee!

4. Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word that should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn, they bore Thee to Calvary.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for Thee!

5. When the heavens shall ring, and her choirs shall sing at Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me on, saying, “Yet there is room, there is room at My side for thee.”
And my heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus, when Thou comest and callest for me.

So, the secular world finds less and less room for Christ in Christmas, in public displays, in store greetings and product labels, etc.? There’s always room to keep Christ in Christmas where it counts.

Update: No music at Cathouse Chat for “Mary Did You Know?”—do go buy your own copy—so here’s an mp3 INSTRUMENTAL-ONLY accompaniment that incorporates/”covers” several different artist’s sounds (Michael English, most). If you have any familiarity at all with the song and a singing voice, you might be able to sing along with the words on Romeocat’s post. A guitar doubling the melody much of the way through may help a bit.

OK, R’Cat’s got my crank turnin’ with her Daily Advent Meditations over at Cathouse Chat. Another good’un today riffing off the Mark Lowry song, “Mary Did You Know?” (A song that, by now, has been recorded by nearly everyone and his dog, but well worth a listen, IMO. I happen to like the Kenny Rogers/Wynonna Judd version.) I recieved a rather lengthy email yesterday, one of those multi-forwarded things with an article supposedly (probably true, just haven’t bothered to check) reproduced from a newspaper article going slightly “mad dog” all over the hyper-secularization of Christmas. This comment set me back on my heels:

“We’ve allowed the Baby Jesus to be kicked out of His lowly manger, and those offended by Christmas are still not happy.”

Well, d’oh. What did The Man Himself have to say about such things?

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.'(_a_) John 15:18-27 NJKV

And some of the foundational teachings of the Christian church include multiple reminders of Christ’s humility and of Christians’ call to emulate it.

For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake… Phil. 1:29 NKJV

And

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Phil. 2:5-8 NKJV

So, an ACLU mentality wants to “kick the baby Jesus out of his lowly manger”? If Philippians 2:5-8 is a true witness, then He’d just sleep on the floor.

Consider the old Christmas song:

1. Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown when Thou camest to earth for me,
But in Bethlehem’s home there was found no room for Thy holy nativity.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for Thee!

2. Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang, proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But in lowly birth didst Thou come to earth, and in great humility,
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for Thee!

3. The foxes found rest and birds their nest in the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God, in the desert of Galilee,
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for Thee!

4. Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word that should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn, they bore Thee to Calvary.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for Thee!

5. When the heavens shall ring, and her choirs shall sing at Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me on, saying, “Yet there is room, there is room at My side for thee.”
And my heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus, when Thou comest and callest for me.

So, the secular world finds less and less room for Christ in Christmas, in public displays, in store greetings and product labels, etc.? There’s always room to keep Christ in Christmas where it counts.

Update: No music at Cathouse Chat for “Mary Did You Know?”—do go buy your own copy—so here’s an mp3 INSTRUMENTAL-ONLY accompaniment that incorporates/”covers” several different artist’s sounds (Michael English, most). If you have any familiarity at all with the song and a singing voice, you might be able to sing along with the words on Romeocat’s post. A guitar doubling the melody much of the way through may help a bit.

OK, R’Cat’s got my crank turnin’ with her Daily Advent Meditations over at Cathouse Chat. Another good’un today riffing off the Mark Lowry song, “Mary Did You Know?” (A song that, by now, has been recorded by nearly everyone and his dog, but well worth a listen, IMO. I happen to like the Kenny Rogers/Wynonna Judd version.) I recieved a rather lengthy email yesterday, one of those multi-forwarded things with an article supposedly (probably true, just haven’t bothered to check) reproduced from a newspaper article going slightly “mad dog” all over the hyper-secularization of Christmas. This comment set me back on my heels:

“We’ve allowed the Baby Jesus to be kicked out of His lowly manger, and those offended by Christmas are still not happy.”

Well, d’oh. What did The Man Himself have to say about such things?

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.'(_a_) John 15:18-27 NJKV

And some of the foundational teachings of the Christian church include multiple reminders of Christ’s humility and of Christians’ call to emulate it.

For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake… Phil. 1:29 NKJV

And

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Phil. 2:5-8 NKJV

So, an ACLU mentality wants to “kick the baby Jesus out of his lowly manger”? If Philippians 2:5-8 is a true witness, then He’d just sleep on the floor.

Consider the old Christmas song:

1. Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown when Thou camest to earth for me,
But in Bethlehem’s home there was found no room for Thy holy nativity.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for Thee!

2. Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang, proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But in lowly birth didst Thou come to earth, and in great humility,
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for Thee!

3. The foxes found rest and birds their nest in the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God, in the desert of Galilee,
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for Thee!

4. Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word that should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn, they bore Thee to Calvary.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for Thee!

5. When the heavens shall ring, and her choirs shall sing at Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me on, saying, “Yet there is room, there is room at My side for thee.”
And my heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus, when Thou comest and callest for me.

So, the secular world finds less and less room for Christ in Christmas, in public displays, in store greetings and product labels, etc.? There’s always room to keep Christ in Christmas where it counts.

Update: No music at Cathouse Chat for “Mary Did You Know?”—do go buy your own copy—so here’s an mp3 INSTRUMENTAL-ONLY accompaniment that incorporates/”covers” several different artist’s sounds (Michael English, most). If you have any familiarity at all with the song and a singing voice, you might be able to sing along with the words on Romeocat’s post. A guitar doubling the melody much of the way through may help a bit.

Well, besides rat brains piloting jet simulators, seven league boots and kimchi to kill asian bird flu, there have also been some interesting things going on in the world.

Hugh (you’ve met him in comments, I’m sure 🙂 sent me some info that is absolutely indispinsible to folks who sit around blogging all day long: NEW! Anti-Monkey Butt Powder! Better get some while your butt’s still de-monkeyed.

What? Me worry? Nah. (But my kids might consider being a bit concerned.) It’s called Apophis. It’s 390m wide. And it could hit Earth in 31 years time. Lucifer’s Hammer?

Then there are the folks out there blogging up a storm.

The Uncooperative Blogger comments on Remarks of Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment Forum on Next The title of this program is “How to Win in Iraq.” That was the title of Andy’s seminal article in the journal Foreign Affairs earlier this fall, and it seems to me that is ought to be the focus of Congressional discussions about the war from now until…

[Who’da thunk it? Of course, the mass Media Podpeople’s Army is besotted with “Cut and Run Murtha” so Joe’s comments get little air time.]

NIF has another massive roundup: Christmas -16 days, and counting Today’s dose of NIF – News, Interesting & Funny … Sick Friday (+ Open Trackbacks)

[DO trot on over. The collection of graphics alone is worth the trip. And drop some “feel good” pills in NIF’s comments, eh?]

TMH’s Bacon Bits plays no favorites: The Israeli Euthanasia Program Dr. Death Kevorkian must feel greatly justified having one of the world’s great religions sanctify his evil.

The Florida Masochist must have read my “I’m not your typical football fan” comments: Unhappiness in Tampa If a team has played in say the Holiday Bowl three of the last four years, how many fans really come every year? After all how many times can you see San Diego?(or anywhere else. No offense meant San Diego)

[“No offense” means San Diego? 😉 ]

The Florida Masochist channels Jerry Pournelle’s thoughts today (well, close): The Sky is falling or The sky isn’t falling? To me science is looking more and more like guess work and less about science. This isn’t the only recent case of conflicting stories. Click here for a climate debate. My friend Kobayashi Maru is correct, what they really mean is we are 100% certain …

[See also comments by a correspondent at Jerry Pournelle’s Chaos Manorfor an expansion of the kind of thinking in the post linked above-and Dr. Pournelle’s response.]

Also from The Florida Masochist, more football talk: Get lost Should be the response of Miami-Dade county residents to the latest attempts by county commissioner to come to an agreement with the MLB Florida Marlins over building a stadium. Team owner Jeffrey Loria has shown himself to be a spoiled brat…

[OK, I am lost…]

Some of Diane’s Stuff: Peace On Earth, Good Will Toward Men We finally got some winter weather. Mother Nature must read Diane’s Stuff and made note of my complaints about 80 degree and higher temps in December. This morning it was a few degrees below freezing if you factor in the wind chill and I had to …

[I think Diane means “Good Chill Toward Men” heh]

And then Diane brings us Dear Folly’s Friday advice column: Advice on Advice I was reading a post at The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns and she says that she doesn’t think anyone should give advice to anyone, mainly because it’s seldom used. As you’re the reigning advice maven I thought I’d ask you what you th…

And Diane finishes off with the “steal” of a a good one from Random Rambling: Make Mine Ala Barf! Is there anyone that went to a public school that doesn’t remember all the joking that was done about the food in the cafateria? If so! Here is a list stolen shamelessly from Random Rambling that may help to remind you! It not only reminds us ..

The Real Ugly American could be a little uglier. The Left Tries To Tell Us Again No Ties Between Iraq and Al Qaeda! The left leaning blogs and moonbats are again clamoring with glee offering this as proof that “there were no links between Iraq and Al Qaeda”. Of course Daily Kos leads the way. What I do not understand is what these people can’t seem to understand.

Customerservant.com gives us a day in the life of Dilbert lovers everywhere: Another Day At The Races I woke up this morning with a raging headache.
Not good. I haven’t even gotten to work yet, and as of yesterday afternoon, still no solution. I talked to Cary last night, and he says he’s taking calls, but he’s asking the callers t…

[S’all for now. The rack monster calls… need to totter off to joust with it.]

Well, besides rat brains piloting jet simulators, seven league boots and kimchi to kill asian bird flu, there have also been some interesting things going on in the world.

Hugh (you’ve met him in comments, I’m sure 🙂 sent me some info that is absolutely indispinsible to folks who sit around blogging all day long: NEW! Anti-Monkey Butt Powder! Better get some while your butt’s still de-monkeyed.

What? Me worry? Nah. (But my kids might consider being a bit concerned.) It’s called Apophis. It’s 390m wide. And it could hit Earth in 31 years time. Lucifer’s Hammer?

Then there are the folks out there blogging up a storm.

The Uncooperative Blogger comments on Remarks of Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment Forum on Next The title of this program is “How to Win in Iraq.” That was the title of Andy’s seminal article in the journal Foreign Affairs earlier this fall, and it seems to me that is ought to be the focus of Congressional discussions about the war from now until…

[Who’da thunk it? Of course, the mass Media Podpeople’s Army is besotted with “Cut and Run Murtha” so Joe’s comments get little air time.]

NIF has another massive roundup: Christmas -16 days, and counting Today’s dose of NIF – News, Interesting & Funny … Sick Friday (+ Open Trackbacks)

[DO trot on over. The collection of graphics alone is worth the trip. And drop some “feel good” pills in NIF’s comments, eh?]

TMH’s Bacon Bits plays no favorites: The Israeli Euthanasia Program Dr. Death Kevorkian must feel greatly justified having one of the world’s great religions sanctify his evil.

The Florida Masochist must have read my “I’m not your typical football fan” comments: Unhappiness in Tampa If a team has played in say the Holiday Bowl three of the last four years, how many fans really come every year? After all how many times can you see San Diego?(or anywhere else. No offense meant San Diego)

[“No offense” means San Diego? 😉 ]

The Florida Masochist channels Jerry Pournelle’s thoughts today (well, close): The Sky is falling or The sky isn’t falling? To me science is looking more and more like guess work and less about science. This isn’t the only recent case of conflicting stories. Click here for a climate debate. My friend Kobayashi Maru is correct, what they really mean is we are 100% certain …

[See also comments by a correspondent at Jerry Pournelle’s Chaos Manorfor an expansion of the kind of thinking in the post linked above-and Dr. Pournelle’s response.]

Also from The Florida Masochist, more football talk: Get lost Should be the response of Miami-Dade county residents to the latest attempts by county commissioner to come to an agreement with the MLB Florida Marlins over building a stadium. Team owner Jeffrey Loria has shown himself to be a spoiled brat…

[OK, I am lost…]

Some of Diane’s Stuff: Peace On Earth, Good Will Toward Men We finally got some winter weather. Mother Nature must read Diane’s Stuff and made note of my complaints about 80 degree and higher temps in December. This morning it was a few degrees below freezing if you factor in the wind chill and I had to …

[I think Diane means “Good Chill Toward Men” heh]

And then Diane brings us Dear Folly’s Friday advice column: Advice on Advice I was reading a post at The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns and she says that she doesn’t think anyone should give advice to anyone, mainly because it’s seldom used. As you’re the reigning advice maven I thought I’d ask you what you th…

And Diane finishes off with the “steal” of a a good one from Random Rambling: Make Mine Ala Barf! Is there anyone that went to a public school that doesn’t remember all the joking that was done about the food in the cafateria? If so! Here is a list stolen shamelessly from Random Rambling that may help to remind you! It not only reminds us ..

The Real Ugly American could be a little uglier. The Left Tries To Tell Us Again No Ties Between Iraq and Al Qaeda! The left leaning blogs and moonbats are again clamoring with glee offering this as proof that “there were no links between Iraq and Al Qaeda”. Of course Daily Kos leads the way. What I do not understand is what these people can’t seem to understand.

Customerservant.com gives us a day in the life of Dilbert lovers everywhere: Another Day At The Races I woke up this morning with a raging headache.
Not good. I haven’t even gotten to work yet, and as of yesterday afternoon, still no solution. I talked to Cary last night, and he says he’s taking calls, but he’s asking the callers t…

[S’all for now. The rack monster calls… need to totter off to joust with it.]

Well, besides rat brains piloting jet simulators, seven league boots and kimchi to kill asian bird flu, there have also been some interesting things going on in the world.

Hugh (you’ve met him in comments, I’m sure 🙂 sent me some info that is absolutely indispinsible to folks who sit around blogging all day long: NEW! Anti-Monkey Butt Powder! Better get some while your butt’s still de-monkeyed.

What? Me worry? Nah. (But my kids might consider being a bit concerned.) It’s called Apophis. It’s 390m wide. And it could hit Earth in 31 years time. Lucifer’s Hammer?

Then there are the folks out there blogging up a storm.

The Uncooperative Blogger comments on Remarks of Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment Forum on Next The title of this program is “How to Win in Iraq.” That was the title of Andy’s seminal article in the journal Foreign Affairs earlier this fall, and it seems to me that is ought to be the focus of Congressional discussions about the war from now until…

[Who’da thunk it? Of course, the mass Media Podpeople’s Army is besotted with “Cut and Run Murtha” so Joe’s comments get little air time.]

NIF has another massive roundup: Christmas -16 days, and counting Today’s dose of NIF – News, Interesting & Funny … Sick Friday (+ Open Trackbacks)

[DO trot on over. The collection of graphics alone is worth the trip. And drop some “feel good” pills in NIF’s comments, eh?]

TMH’s Bacon Bits plays no favorites: The Israeli Euthanasia Program Dr. Death Kevorkian must feel greatly justified having one of the world’s great religions sanctify his evil.

The Florida Masochist must have read my “I’m not your typical football fan” comments: Unhappiness in Tampa If a team has played in say the Holiday Bowl three of the last four years, how many fans really come every year? After all how many times can you see San Diego?(or anywhere else. No offense meant San Diego)

[“No offense” means San Diego? 😉 ]

The Florida Masochist channels Jerry Pournelle’s thoughts today (well, close): The Sky is falling or The sky isn’t falling? To me science is looking more and more like guess work and less about science. This isn’t the only recent case of conflicting stories. Click here for a climate debate. My friend Kobayashi Maru is correct, what they really mean is we are 100% certain …

[See also comments by a correspondent at Jerry Pournelle’s Chaos Manorfor an expansion of the kind of thinking in the post linked above-and Dr. Pournelle’s response.]

Also from The Florida Masochist, more football talk: Get lost Should be the response of Miami-Dade county residents to the latest attempts by county commissioner to come to an agreement with the MLB Florida Marlins over building a stadium. Team owner Jeffrey Loria has shown himself to be a spoiled brat…

[OK, I am lost…]

Some of Diane’s Stuff: Peace On Earth, Good Will Toward Men We finally got some winter weather. Mother Nature must read Diane’s Stuff and made note of my complaints about 80 degree and higher temps in December. This morning it was a few degrees below freezing if you factor in the wind chill and I had to …

[I think Diane means “Good Chill Toward Men” heh]

And then Diane brings us Dear Folly’s Friday advice column: Advice on Advice I was reading a post at The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns and she says that she doesn’t think anyone should give advice to anyone, mainly because it’s seldom used. As you’re the reigning advice maven I thought I’d ask you what you th…

And Diane finishes off with the “steal” of a a good one from Random Rambling: Make Mine Ala Barf! Is there anyone that went to a public school that doesn’t remember all the joking that was done about the food in the cafateria? If so! Here is a list stolen shamelessly from Random Rambling that may help to remind you! It not only reminds us ..

The Real Ugly American could be a little uglier. The Left Tries To Tell Us Again No Ties Between Iraq and Al Qaeda! The left leaning blogs and moonbats are again clamoring with glee offering this as proof that “there were no links between Iraq and Al Qaeda”. Of course Daily Kos leads the way. What I do not understand is what these people can’t seem to understand.

Customerservant.com gives us a day in the life of Dilbert lovers everywhere: Another Day At The Races I woke up this morning with a raging headache.
Not good. I haven’t even gotten to work yet, and as of yesterday afternoon, still no solution. I talked to Cary last night, and he says he’s taking calls, but he’s asking the callers t…

[S’all for now. The rack monster calls… need to totter off to joust with it.]

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, Whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, Whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

I’ve never liked any of the tunes I’ve heard the Christina Rossetti poem set to and sung in churches. OK, one I’ve NOT heard it sung to is KING’S WESTON (link is a midi file—the Ralph Vaughan-Williams adaptation of the old tune). Its minor key sound fits nicely with the “bleak midwinter” imagry, I think. With minor vocal and rhythmic elisions (made for other texts it is often mated to, as well), it can be made to fit the natural rhythms of the words nicely enough… except for that last verse, which has a very different feel… and focus, changing from third person observer to participant.

So, several years ago, I wrote the little tune below as a standalone, one-verse song, using only the last verse of “In the Bleak Midwinter”.

Linked at Jo’s Cafe’s “TGIF Specials” and Bloggin’ Outloud’s “Search String OP”

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, Whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, Whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

I’ve never liked any of the tunes I’ve heard the Christina Rossetti poem set to and sung in churches. OK, one I’ve NOT heard it sung to is KING’S WESTON (link is a midi file—the Ralph Vaughan-Williams adaptation of the old tune). Its minor key sound fits nicely with the “bleak midwinter” imagry, I think. With minor vocal and rhythmic elisions (made for other texts it is often mated to, as well), it can be made to fit the natural rhythms of the words nicely enough… except for that last verse, which has a very different feel… and focus, changing from third person observer to participant.

So, several years ago, I wrote the little tune below as a standalone, one-verse song, using only the last verse of “In the Bleak Midwinter”.

Linked at Jo’s Cafe’s “TGIF Specials” and Bloggin’ Outloud’s “Search String OP”

Romeocat has her Daily Advent Meditation up, based on the lyrics of the carol below. She links to a beautiful and powerful Michael W. Smith musical interpretation of the lyrics, but I still “hear’ in my mind’s ear the old Gaelic tune BUNESSAN (which you may think of as “Morning Has Broken”). Be sure to read the neditation at Cathouse Chat and listen to the Michael W. Smith interpretation. below are the lyrics and a midi file of the gaelic tune I associate with them.

Child in the Manger

Child in the manger, infant of Mary,
Outcast and Stranger, Lord of us all,
Child Who inherits all our transgressions,
All our demerits upon Him fall.

Once the most holy Child of salvation
Gently and lowly lived here below.
Now as our glorious mighty Redeemer,
See Him victorious over each foe.

Prophets foretold Him, Infant of wonder;
Angels behold Him, King on His throne.
Worthy our Savior of all our praises;
Happy forever are all His own.

Here’s a snippet of BUNESSAN in a semi-familiar form:

Romeocat has her Daily Advent Meditation up, based on the lyrics of the carol below. She links to a beautiful and powerful Michael W. Smith musical interpretation of the lyrics, but I still “hear’ in my mind’s ear the old Gaelic tune BUNESSAN (which you may think of as “Morning Has Broken”). Be sure to read the neditation at Cathouse Chat and listen to the Michael W. Smith interpretation. below are the lyrics and a midi file of the gaelic tune I associate with them.

Child in the Manger

Child in the manger, infant of Mary,
Outcast and Stranger, Lord of us all,
Child Who inherits all our transgressions,
All our demerits upon Him fall.

Once the most holy Child of salvation
Gently and lowly lived here below.
Now as our glorious mighty Redeemer,
See Him victorious over each foe.

Prophets foretold Him, Infant of wonder;
Angels behold Him, King on His throne.
Worthy our Savior of all our praises;
Happy forever are all His own.

Here’s a snippet of BUNESSAN in a semi-familiar form: