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If I Were a Butterfly

Verse 1
If I were a butterfly,
I’d thank you Lord for giving me wings.
If I were a robin in a tree,
I’d thank you Lord that I could sing.
If I were a fish in the sea,
I’d wiggle my tail and I’d giggle with glee.
But I just thank you Father for making me, me.

Chorus
For you gave me a heart and you gave me a smile.
You gave me Jesus and you made me your child.
And I just thank you Father for making me, me.

I always loved albums like Psalty or GT and the Halo Express. When I was a kid, I nearly wore out my cassette tapes likening to them, learning the songs, and enjoying the silly little stories that tired the music together. Now, more than twenty years later, I have a one-year-old daughter and one of my favorite things for us to do, whether we are sitting around on the floor playing with her toys or having a snack at the table, is turn on those same old songs and sing along, hoping that her smile means she will one day love these songs too.

I’m sure at some point I’ll bring up a song or two that I skip for one reason or another, but as an introduction to late 80’s/early 90’s children’s worship music, I picked one of my old favorites.

If I Were a Butterfly is a simple melody with fun, engaging lyrics. With the verses detailing various animals, it is easy to see a room full of kids moving around, physically engaging and more deeply ingraining the song into their minds and hearts. This being said, is there really enough content here, aside from a few silly truisms, to warrant an entire blog post? Absolutely!

And remember, this is a song for children. Sure, you could get deeply theological and argue that the lyrics invoke God’s placing humanity above the animals, giving them only the most simplistic things but making people His children. The statement is true, but the song doesn’t say that. In scripture reading terms, we call that eisegesis or reading your own theology into the text. Plus, it isn’t necessarily a prudent message for pre-teens, at least not in that format.

No, the meaning is much simpler, and it is something that many Christian adults still haven’t figured out to this day. God loves all of His creatures, and all of creation echoes to us God’s glory. And as much as we see beauty in everything around us, as much as we might wish we could fly like the butterflies or sing like the birds, or maybe have some of the skills that other people around us have, God still made each of us who we are for a reason. He gave us life and a reason to have joy. He sought after us when we had turned away and welcomed us back with opened arms. We were all individually crafted by Him for His glory, and there is no greater purpose in heaven or on earth than that.

So, when you are feeling discouraged about who you are, or who you are not, stop yourself and thank your heavenly father for making you, you.

SDG,

Paul Hart Cochran

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Oh, the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

Verse 1

Oh, the deep, deep love of Jesus,
vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean
in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me,
is the current of thy love –
leading onward, leading homeward,
to that glorious rest above!

Verse 2

Oh, the deep, deep love of Jesus –
spread his praise from shore to shore!
How he loves us, ever loves us,
changes never, nevermore!
How he watches o’er his loved ones,
died to call them all his own;
how for them he’s interceding,
watching o’er them from the throne!

I love this hymn for a lot of reasons. When I was first introduced to it at a VBS I wouldn’t have believed it was in any hymnal. This was mostly because it was sung very intentionally in a sea shanty style. I’ve since come to find out that the song, as written in the hymnal, is very much in that style. At my house we jokingly call it the pirate hymn. I suppose it is for good reason. The song uses ocean imagery and so making the singer feel as if they are at sea is a great immersion into the text. I don’t mind it; I just find it amusing.

The text is pretty great, too. It compares the depths of the sea to God’s love. It contrasts the tumultuous waters with Christ’s steadfastness. And the Spirit’s omnipresence is likened to the overwhelming vastness of the ocean. The imagery, especially to those who have spent much time out on the water, even if only on a lake, carries a lot of weight. Paired with the music, it can bring you back to that freedom of being on the water. And with the freedom comes a cautious, fearful respect of the potential for danger at the windblown swell of the waves or the sudden onset of a storm.

S. Trevor Francis did well in balancing these things, such as the more minor key carrying a hefty weight alongside the hopeful poetry. The contrast fits the theme, and the theme is quite excellently executed, something that I’ve seen in very few hymns.

All that said, I can’t help but feeling like raising a mug of ale every time the organ kicks in with this gem.

SDG,

-Paul Hart Cochran

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Pros & Cons – The Doxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

Pros & Cons: The Doxology

I’m going to jump right in and hope my reasons for selecting something so widespread and potentially controversial is apparent.

Pro: The Text

What a glorious, simple text. It fits well into our services as a reminder of our purpose in that place. I’ve even heard it used as a blessing before meals. The text carries with it the truth of God’s worthiness, not just of our praise, but of all praise.

Pro: Brevity

This is a short song, containing the one verse and, regardless of the tune, lasts only around a minute. It is easy to memorize, no matter the age, and pull out as a go to when instruments or even good singers are unavailable. Everyone knows what it should sound like, so who cares if it is perfect? Its not like it will go on long enough for the neighbors to complain.

Con: Presentation

Yes, I only have one con on this list, but it is a doozy as far as I am concerned. The Doxology is typically presented as part of a regular liturgy with its own set place in a service. It is sung week after week, year after year. On the whole, I don’t have any issues with the idea of repetitious liturgy because I think, if done correctly it can bring a sense of stability and help set people’s focus on God. The problem is that it is much easier to let it become a mindless pattern instead of a meaningful one. It becomes a thing you sing because it is after the confession and we need something to do. We stop listening to the words and they just sort of flow out of us and land on the floor, not carrying any heart or joy, but rather a sense of obligation. I’m not saying that this cannot be combatted, but because the art of liturgy has been lost in most places, there are few willing to do the work to revive this type of hymn.

Verdict: Use Wisely

If you can sing this song daily or weekly and have it mean as much each time you do, then by all means do it. The message is great and it is incredibly easy to teach to kids or new believers. If you find that it has become more of a drone than worship, step away for a while. Tradition shouldn’t mean beating a dead horse, it should bring meaning through continued practices. If those practices lose meaning, step away and come back when the fog has cleared. You might just find a renewed heart for something as simple as this little Doxology.

SDG,

-Paul Hart Cochran

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All In All

You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
I’m seeking You like a precious jewel
Lord, to give up I’d be a fool
You are my all in all

Refrain:

Jesus, Lamb of God
Holy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God
Holy is Your name

In writing on my journey through Hymns and looking for the amazing truths found within Christian music, it would be neglectful at best for me to ignore the whole of modern worship music. This genre is fairly dominant in the Church today, and it is just as important to delve into them, perhaps more so, because of the number of worshippers they reach. Here is the thing: I’m a bit of a music snob. My training is in classical music, singing in church choirs and pulling out the hymnal every chance I get. Modern worship music is not something I relate to well. So, as I endeavor to broaden my own horizons, bear with my fumblings and call me out if I am unfair to these works written with love, by God’s children, for His glory.

All In All is a song I can’t remember hearing for the first time, it just seems to have always been there. That could be because it was published when I was three, but that goes to show how quickly it spread, being adopted by churches as an anthem for adults and children alike. The song is fairly straight forward with a refrain that is a tad generic and repetitive (sorry, but it is), however, there is an incredible message here which may slip by unnoticed.

The phrase “all in all” is one that we might use on occasion, but with such flippancy that it may have lost much of its meaning in our minds. It is very similar to the emphatic Hebrew paradigm. Think of the praises “king of kings,” “holy of holies,” or “song of songs.” The doubling of the word adds a great amount of emphasis: it isn’t just any song; it is the greatest song among all songs. The Holy place isn’t just kind of holy; it is the holiest place on earth, filled with the very presence of God.

When we read “all in all,” we ought to hear more than just “God is pretty much everything we need. “All in all” is everything, literally every single thing you could ever possibly need. The verses of the song illustrate this well. God is a jewel we would be foolish to stop seeking. He quenches us when we are in need. He takes away our sin and shameful lives. What more could we possibly require?

Maybe that is why I struggle with the refrain. The verses are jam packed with glorious metaphors, but often they are rushed through to get to the refrain which seems to have nothing to do with the rest of the song. Perhaps if it read, “Jesus, lamb of God, name above all names,” or “provider of all things,” or even more simply, “you’re my everything.” Then we could see more clearly the glorious message of the verses pour over into the refrain which would then sink deeper into the hearts of the singers.

Nevertheless, the message of this song is true and can benefit the Church at all ages. God provides us with everything we will ever need. We would be complete fools to think we could do better for ourselves. He is the great and steadfast provider, our all in all.

SDG,

-Paul Hart Cochran

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Jesus, Lover of My Soul

Verse 1

Jesus, lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high:
Hide me, O my Savior, hide,
Till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide;
O receive my soul at last.

Verse 3*

Thou, O Christ, art all I want;
More than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
Heal the sick and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy name,
I am all unrighteousness;
Vile and full of sin I am,
Thou art full of truth and grace.

*From my research I cannot see that this verse is originally by Charles Wesley. When included, it is usually the third verse being sung. I have chosen to include it because, having sung it recently, I wanted to address it specifically.

I usually try to be very positive on this blog. Even when there are hymns or worship music I don’t agree with, I try to look for positive and be constructive. I love music and I especially love hymns, thus I see this as looking for the amazing message of this music and its poetry in an attempt to help others see why they are so important.

Bringing up Jesus, Lover of My Soul requires such an introduction because I have some less than positive words to say. But let me start with the positives before we dig into the heavy discussion. As Wesley wrote it, Jesus, Lover of My Soul is a beautiful melody with a strong message of relying on God’s power to bring us through the trials of life, bringing us through into His fold. The sentiment is well needed, especially so explicitly stated.

Let’s get to the nitty-gritty. I have some pretty major issues with some of the theological implications. First, let’s look at some of Wesley’s lines. “Hide me… Till the storm of life is past; Safe into the haven guide.” What a good bit of the text is addressing is the desire to be protected. However, these lines seem to imply wanting to be removed completely from all strife. As a result, the poet askes to bypass life to get to Heaven.

This is not what we are called to do as Christians! We are meant to live here, in God’s world, loving the people God made, serving Him with the gifts He has given. It will be hard, painful, and even setting aside the things the world says are good in exchange for the things God says are good, typically a very unpopular choice. We were never meant to have an unhealthy obsession with life after death; rather, the promise of eternal life is meant to encourage us now to push onward, with the help of the spirit, to accomplish God’s work.

Next, the added verse presents a fallacy that is incredibly prevalent in the American church, and with it comes an awful mentality which is leading many Christians astray. See, the verse labels Christians as the embodiment of unrighteousness. Note, the subject of that is a Christian, not just a person. Paul states quite definitively in Romans 6 that we are dead to sin. Because of the presence of Christ in our lives, we have the ability through the salvific act of Christ and the indwelling of the spirit to choose something other than sin. We can, in fact, live a life nearly devoid of sin. This is sanctification.

To combat the idea that humans are basically good, we have over emphasized the doctrine of the depravity of humanity. It is true that apart from Christ humanity is totally and completely depraved. However, that status is wiped from us when we are saved, meaning that we are not to be defined by our old sin nature. A focus on that ongoing nature is either (a) a dualistic notion that flesh is bad and spirit is good or (b) underestimating the power of Christ’s salvific work. Dualism calls God’s very image and creative efforts wrong even though God Himself called them good. The underestimating is either misunderstanding or lack of trust regarded God’s love for His people. Either way, we must not be defined by sin, but rather by God’s love and glory shining through us, not by our efforts, but by God’s grace.

SDG,

-Paul Hart Cochran

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My Hope is Built on Nothing Less

Verse 1

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

Verse 3

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

What more can I say about a hymn that has the word “whelming” in it?

Alright, seriously though, My Hope is Built on Nothing Less is another one of those classic pieces that most people just know. It has a great refrain, easy to sing verses, and the message is certainly powerful. I wonder, though, what messages we are getting and which ones we might be missing.

I think the one most people walk away with would be the Idea of Christ as the only sturdy foundation. This is as true as it is Biblical. And if that were the only lesson learned from this song, I still think it would be worth singing. I submit, however, that there is another potent lesson to be learned hiding in the title of this hymn: hope.

Maybe it isn’t fair to separate the two because what is remarkable about this hymn is the way it binds together hope with Christ as foundation. The lyrics paint a picture of hope in several ways, from times of distress to looking forward and even the origin of our hope, God. It manages to reinforce the truth that this hope is not only from God, but is only made perfect when built upon the foundation of Christ. When hope is dealt with in this way, it leads not only to salvation from darkness, but a permanent source of hope and rest.

When we can go no further, Christ is all of our hope and stay.

SDG,

Paul Hart Cochran

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Blessed Assurance

Verse 1

Blessed assurance; Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

Refrain

This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

Verse 2

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Blessed assurance is one of those precious hymns that can pop into mind at any time. It makes a great lullaby and sounds just as glorious with the swell of a pipe organ. It holds a special place in the hearts of many, yet is another one of those hymns where certain lines and verse are less memorable than the tune and refrain. Yet Blessed Assurance has a lot to offer the attentive congregant.

The text of this hymn is often seen as a wonderful reminder of how amazing it is that we are saved. For the most part, I don’t disagree as I’m sure this is much of what Fanny Crosby had in mind. For me, however, there are three lines that stick out in this hymn, especially when set against what most see as the central point. Those lines are, “Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine,” “praising my savior all the day long,” and “perfect submission, perfect delight.”

“Why these three lines?” you ask. It is because they point at the fuller picture of what our story is in Christ, and it is something often ignored. First, the concept of foretaste indicates the acknowledgement that what we have here, even the assurance itself, is but a glimpse of eternity. We ought not rest in the here and now because we have not finished the race.

Second, the refrain claims that the singer is praising all day long. How often could any of us say we do this? Now, understand that I don’t think praising here refers to merely singing or the like, rather it is the sense that through our thoughts and actions we are striving to do God’s will.

Finally, I’ll bet most people have completely forgotten the phrase, “perfect submission, perfect delight.” I think that mostly because these days we don’t care for the word submission and the baggage it has in tow. In fact, we like to think of our relationship with God as more of a partnership. Jesus is our friend, the Holy Spirit is a constant companion, and someday we will get to throw the pigskin around with our heavenly Father. But scripture paints a different picture, one in which God is set apart, Christ is a perfect example and sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit is a guide and counselor. Our role in relationship to Him is complete obedience, or submission. It is only through that stance that we can be granted perfect delight.

How, then, does it all work together? Well, for starters, we have assurance of God’s love for us through the atoning death of Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. However, assurance is not the same as resting on one’s laurels. The assurance we are given, if truly imprinted on our heart, ought to make us desire to be submissive, obedient servants. It is the natural outflowing of our love for God and His love filling us.

Let a servant’s heart be your story and your song.

SDG,

Paul Hart Cochran

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Onward, Christian Soldier!

 

Verse 1

Onward, Christian soldiers,
marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
going on before!
Christ, the royal Master,
leads again the foe;
Forward into battle,
see his banner go!

Refrain

Onward, Christian soldiers,
marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
going on before!

Verse 2

At the sign of triumph
Satan’s host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
at the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
loud your anthems raise!

If you pay attention at all to the categories I assign these entries, you’ll note that this one is listed as a forgotten gem. To clarify that decision, I would like to say that I think this hymn is still widely known and I’m sure in many circles still sung with great vigor and joy. That being said I think that the true meaning behind the song is what has been forgotten.

At some point in the 1990’s the militant image of the Church started being swept under the rug. In the 2000’s it was considered tacky or possibly even extremist. Now, speaking of the Church as an army brings to mind holy war, extremist fundamentalism and terrorism. It is sad really. The image of the Church as God’s army is one given to us by scriptures and it carries with it some important messages for us.

No song I know better captures that meaning than Onward, Christian Soldiers. The marching beat and triumphant melody pair perfectly with the lyrics describing the fear of our enemies, our weapon of choice, and our goal for becoming victorious. If you can’t name what each of those are without reading back through the lyrics, then you’ve proven my point about this being lost to the ravages of time and memory. Let’s break down each piece:

Enemy: As the Church, who should our enemy be? “Satan’s hosts” and even Hell itself. The modern take on Christian evangelicalism is that our enemies are people or institutions that don’t agree with us. That is not what God has commanded us to fight against. We fight against something more powerful than any government or people group. In fact, even governments we don’t agree with ought to be respected in so far as they don’t force us to blaspheme God. Remember, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s.”

Weapon: Guess what? This song about a marching army following our master into battle is not violent in the least. No swords, no guns, not even angry looks. Instead, we as soldiers are given a very specific tool: “Brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise!” “Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.” We are to sing praises. Just think about that. What if on Sunday every Christian left church singing God’s praises, not getting angry and yelling at other cars? Or how about praising god by helping another? Could we even praise God by giving Him our loyalty first instead of a politician or sports team?

Victory: While ultimate victory is in God’s hand, this song does give us an idea about what results, mini-victories if you will, we ought to be looking for. First, we can look forward to unity within the Church. Not buddy-buddy kind of stuff, but true community with one another. The other result is others wanting to join us and sing. The song recognizes that it is our joy, our togetherness, and our praise that draws people in.

We have to love others to be God’s soldier.

We have to praise unceasingly to be in God’s army.

SDG,

Paul Hart Cochran

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Pros & Cons: More Precious Than Silver

Verse 1

Lord, You are more precious than silver;
Lord, You are more costly than gold;
Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds;
And nothing I desire compares with You.

Preface

I’d like to start a new occasional look at some shorter hymns and choruses which I don’t feel have enough to fully take on as a blog. Instead, I’d like to look at them through a Pros and Cons list to try and determine if they are worth bringing to the service or if they ought to hang out in hymnals.

Pros & Cons: More Precious Than Silver

Pro: The melody of this hymn is sweet and short, lilting gently but meaningfully for only about sixteen measures. For quick incidental music to emphasize a point in the service, it works well.

Con: In doing a little research into the hymn, I only just discovered that there are more words than just the first verse. I’ve known the hymn for almost twenty years, but never in a printed hymnal have I seen more than the first verse. That being said, a single verse in such a short chorus could get old really fast.

Pro: The theology of the song is good enough. The idea that God is greater than even the most valuable possessions we could have on earth is well established with the examples used. I struggle a little more with the ambiguity of the final stanza, but I believe the heart is there, even if the words are a bit shaky.

Con: The words, though true, just seem dated and schmaltzy. Calling God precious and beautiful is not saying a whole lot and it feels like fluff. Then you repeat the words because the worship pastor wants to sing this chorus three or four times, and each go around it just loses meaning.

Verdict: Use Sparingly
While fairly harmless, this chorus lacks any kind of teeth. It says very little and tires quickly. I think it could be very poignant in certain situations, such as a response to teaching on stewardship. Overall, though, I think I’ll stick to singing it as a lullaby and hope that I don’t have to be exhausted by it in the pews any time soon.

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When Peace, Like A River

Verse 1

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Verse 2

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Not only is this hymn a classic, beloved by millions, but it is one of my personal favorites to sing. The verses flow smoothly, building to a tremendous climax and followed by a majestic, confident refrain. It sends chills up and down my spine just thinking about it.

I’ve had time to really think about this phrase, “It is well with my soul.” The hymn says that it is a phrase taught to us by God (note the capitol T in Thou) which we ought to say in every situation, whether that is Satan himself trying to pull us off the path, or in the times of great peace.

I don’t know about you, but I do not say this phrase in my daily life. In times of restful peace, I merely relax, occasionally thanking God for providing. In times of distress, I call on God, full of deeply rooted anxiety. In either case, it is not well with my soul. How do I know? Because the great sacrificial love of Christ is not in control. I am spoiled in my comfort and I am fearful in my despair. Yes, I have experienced God’s love, protection, and providence, but I rarely let it take full control of my own soul.

Maybe that is the issue in a nutshell. Maybe believing that my soul somehow exists as my property, a notion I feel that society supports, holds me back from realizing a glorious truth: I am my soul. Of course I am also a mind and a body, but I don’t own my soul, I exist as my soul. Christ didn’t come to save something we possess; He came to save us. God doesn’t speak peace to some part of our gut that needs calming; He speaks to our very being. And the Holy Spirt doesn’t enter into just our emotional states, He in our counselor, for the entirety of our beings.

How can it be well with our souls? Surrendering our possession of self for a realization of wholeness. Allowing our guiding thoughts to start and end with God’s love. And whatever situations we face, remembering the assuring words given to us: It is well with my soul!

SDG,

Paul Hart Cochran