From Glory Unto Glory

 

"To Him be ascribed all the glory through all the ages
of the ages and the eternities of the eternities! Amen."
Galatians 1:5

Dove From Above
George Dyachenko

From glory unto glory!

Be this our joyous song;

As in the King's own highway

We bravely march along.

From glory unto glory!

O words of stirring cheer,

As dawns the solemn brightness of

Another glad new year.

From glory unto glory!

What great things He hath done,

What wonders He hath shown us,

What triumphs He hath won!

From glory unto glory!

What mighty blessings crown

The lives for which our Lord hath laid

His own so freely down.

O let our adoration

For all that He hath done,

Peal out beyond the stars of God,

While voice and life are one;

And let our consecration

Be real, deep, and true,

O even now our hearts shall bow

And joyful vows renew.

Amen.

"From Glory To Glory"
Frances Ridley Havergal
(1836-1879)
English religious poetess
and hymn writer

Remembering Dawn Wells

 

I was truly shocked and saddened today to learn of the death of
actress Dawn Wells, apparently due to complications
 from the COVID-19 virus.  Ms. Wells was best known for her 
role as the pert and pretty Kansas farm girl Mary Ann Summers
 on the classic 1960's television sitcom, "Gilligan's Island".

Dawn Wells as  Mary Ann on "Gilligan's Island."

Dawn Elberta Wells was born on October 18, 1938 in Reno, Nevada.
A former Miss Nevada, Dawn represented her state at the Miss America 
pageant in Atlantic City in 1960.

She made her debut in Hollywood in the early 1960's 
 on the ABC television program, "The Roaring Twenties".
  Before landing her role on "Gilligan's Island" in 1964, the lovely
   brunette actress appeared in the episodes of many television series,
    including westerns like "Wagon Train" "Cheyenne", "Maverick" and
  "Bonanza"; the detective shows, "77 Sunset Strip" and "Hawaiian Eye";
and on the sitcom, "The Joey Bishop Show".

In one of my favorite television western
 series, "Maverick"  Dawn played a young woman 
named Caprice smitten with an outlaw who bears
a striking resemblance to Bart Maverick (actor 
Jack Kelly above, in a dual role) in the episode,
 "The Deadly Image".
(1961)

After Gilligan's Island ended, Dawn continued to act in movies and
on television.  She returned as Mary Ann in three post-"Gilligan"
    movies: "Rescue From Gilligan's Island" (1978); 
"The Castaways On Gilligan's Island" (1979); and "The Harlem
Globetrotters On Gilligan's Island" (1981).

 One of the more unusual roles Dawn played was the mother
 of three children who becomes lost in a swamp during a
 hurricane. She and the kids are later rescued by a mysterious 
creature in the 1977 movie thriller, "Return To Boggy Creek".

 In the 1980's she was a contestant on celebrity episodes of
the game show, "Family Feud" and guest starred on hit television
series like "Alf"  and "Growing Pains". She also did the voices of both 
Mary Ann and Ginger in the short-lived cartoon, "Gilligan's Planet".

In the 1990's she appeared in episodes of "Baywatch" and "Roseanne"
plus, she revealed the secret ingredients for her famous, "Coconut Cream Pie"
as well as many other delicious recipes when she wrote,
"Mary Ann's Gilligan's Island Cook Book" in 1993.

In 2001, she joined fellow "Gilligan's Island" cast members Bob Denver
and Russell Johnson  ("The Professor") in the made-for-television docudrama, 
"Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story Of
 The Longest Three Hour Tour In History".  

In this presentation, Dawn shared her memories of being one of
the castaways and also discussed how "Gilligan's Island" became
one of the most popular television shows in the history of
American pop culture.

    Mid-1960's headlines with focus on the ongoing space race and 
the burgeoning counter culture were clearly reflected in the
the episodes, "Nyet, Nyet, Not Yet" which featured a pair of
lost Russian cosmonauts landing in the lagoon, and later,
"Don't Bug The Mosquitos" when a foursome of hip, mop-topped
rockers, a la "The Beatles" came ashore to escape their screaming 
hordes of fans. They end up leaving the castaways behind  
 after being "bugged out" by a little female competition!

"You Need Us"
The Honey Bees
(By the way, "The Mosquitos" were played by the real life
band, "The Wellingtons" who sang the theme song
of "Gilligan's Island".)

More recently, Dawn was tapped to promote "Gilligan's Island"
on the popular nostalgia network, MeTV.  Although the series ran for
only three seasons, the hilarious mishaps of the seven stranded
castaways has never gone off the air and is broadcast
 in over 30 languages worldwide.

In one of her last interviews, Ms. Wells declared that she was,
"Grateful and proud to be an American."

"When I see Americans go into action to heal, serve, and protect,
or lend a hand to a neighborhood or community, it makes me proud to
be living in America," she said.  I don't want people to be disillusioned
by the petty infighting that seems to dominate news cycles."

Wise and beautiful words from a beautiful and talented lady.
May she rest in peace.

Biblical Treasures: Eye For An Eye

 

 Messianic Rabbi Zev Porat explains the meaning behind
 some of the most familiar, yet often misunderstood
 passages from the Holy Scriptures.

Biblical Treasures: Eye For An Eye

Rabbi Zev Porat

Messiah of Israel Ministries

December 30, 2020

Bless, O Lord, The Opening Year

 

Bless, O Lord, the opening year,

To each soul assembled here:

Clothe Thy Word with power divine,

Make us willing to be Thine.

"The Shepherd's Care"
Yongsung Kim
Korean artist

Shepherd of Thy blood-bought sheep!

Teach the stony heart to weep;

Let the blind have eyes to see,

See themselves, and look on Thee!

Let the minds of all our youth

Feel the force of sacred truth;

While the Gospel call they hear,

May they learn to love and fear.

Show them what their ways have been,

Show the desert of their sin;

Then Thy dying love reveal,

This shall melt a heart of steel.

Where Thou hast Thy work begun,

Give new strength the race to run;

Scatter darkness, doubts, and fears,

Wipe away the mourners' tears.

Bless us all both old and young;

Call forth praise from every tongue:

Let the whole assembly prove

All Thy power, and all Thy love.

"Bless, O Lord, The Opening Year"
(1789)
John Newton
(1725-1807)
English Anglican Clergyman
and abolitionist

Music arrangement by
Felix Mendelssohn
(1807-1847)
German composer

Wednesday's Word

 

"For skillful and godly Wisdom is better than
rubies or pearls, and all the things that may be desired
are not to be compared to it."
Proverbs 8:11

Laura Ingalls Wilder

"The real things haven't changed.

It is still best to be honest and truthful;

to make the most of what we have;

to be happy with simple pleasures;

and have courage when things go wrong."

Laura Ingalls Wilder
(1967-1957)
Author of the "Little House" books

Suggested reading: Psalm 91

Full Cold Moon Tonight

 

Brightly the moon like a jewel is beaming

White in the east o'er a lone landscape gleaming

Over the meadows and over the snow

Glimmering, shimmering silvery glow.

-Charles Never Holmes

The last full moon of 2020 will reach peak
 illumination tonight at 10:30 pm (EST).

According to the folks at The Old Farmer's Almanac.com
 start looking for the Full Cold Moon to rise just before sunset.

A special feature of tonight's moon is it's high trajectory
across the sky, which will keep lovely Luna sitting above  
 the horizon for a longer period of time.

I just hope the skies are clear tonight!

"Forward" Be Our Watchword

 

"Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you."
-Leroy Satchell Paige

"Like A Mighty Army Moves The Church Of God"

Cecily Mary Barker

(1895-1973)

English illustrator

"Forward!" be our watch word,

Steps and voices joined;

Seek the things before us

Not a look behind:

Burn the fiery pillar

At our army's head;

Who shall dream of shrinking,

By Jehovah lead?

Forward through the desert,

Through the toil and fight;

Jordan flows before us,

Zion beams with light.

Glories upon glories

Hath our God prepared,

By the souls that love Him

One day to be shared;

Eye hath not beheld them,

Ear hath never heard:

Nor of these hath uttered

Thought or speech or word.

Forward, marching eastward

Where heaven is bright,

Till the veil be lifted,

Till our faith be sight.

Far o'er yon horizon

Rise the city towers,

Where our God abideth;

That fair home is ours:

Flash the streets with jasper,

Shine the gates with gold;

Flows the gladdening river,

Shedding joys untold.

Thither onward, thither,

In Jehovah's might;

Pilgrims to your country,

Forward into light!

To the Father's glory

Loudest anthems raise,

To the Son, and Spirit,

Echo songs of praise,

To the Lord Jehovah,

Blessed Three in One,

Be by men and angels

Endless honor done.

Weak are earthly praises,

Dull the songs of night:

Forward into triumph,

Forward into light!

Amen.

"Forward" Be Our Watchword"
(1871)
Reverend Henry Alford
(1810-1871)
English theologian and hymn writer

As Thy Days Thy Strength Shall Be

 

"Your castles and strongholds shall have bars of iron
and bronze, and as your day, so shall your strength, 
your rest and security, be."
Deuteronomy 33:25

"As thy days thy strength shall be!"

This should be enough for thee,

He who knows thy frame will spare

Burdens more than thou canst bear.

When thy days are veiled in night,

Christ shall give thee heavenly light;

Seem they wearisome and long,

Yet in Him thou shalt be strong

Cold and wintry though they prove,

Thine, the sunshine of His love;

Or, with fervid heat oppressed,

In His shadow thou shalt rest.

When thy days on earth are past,

Christ shall call thee home at last,

His redeeming love to praise,

Who hath strengthened all thy days.

"As Thy Days Thy Strength Shall Be"
(1859)
Frances Ridley Havergal
(1836-1879)
English hymn writer

"Winter Sunrise"

(1949)

Maxfield Parrish

(1870-1966)

American painter

The Blessings That Remain

 

"And let the peace which comes from Christ rule in your hearts,
deciding and settling with finality all the questions that arise in your minds,
in that peaceful state to which as members of Christ's one body you were
called to live. And be thankful, giving praise to God always."
Colossians 3:15

Winter Cardinals On Goldenrod

Larry Zach

(2001)

There are loved ones who are missing

From the fireside and the feast;

There are faces that have vanished,

There are voices that have ceased;

But we know they passed forever

From our mortal grief and pain,

And we thank Thee, O our Father,

For the blessings that remain.

Thanksgiving, oh, Thanksgiving,

That their love once blessed us here,

That so long they walked beside us,

Sharing every smile and tear;

For the joy that past has brought us,

But can never take away,

For the sweet and gracious memories

Growing dearer every day,

For the faith that keeps us patient

Looking at the things unseen,

Knowing Spring shall follow Winter

And the earth again be green,

For the hope of that glad meeting

Far from mortal grief and pain-

We thank Thee, Oh our Father,

For the blessings that remain.

For the love that still is left us,

For the friends who hold us dear,

For the lives that yet may need us

For their guidance and their cheer,

For the work that waits are doing

For the help we can bestow,

For the care that watches o'er us

Wheresoe'er our steps may go.

For the simple joys of living,

For the sunshine and the breeze,

For the beauty of the flowers

And the laden orchard trees

For the night and for the starlight,

For the rainbow and the rain-

Thanksgiving, O, our Father,

For the blessings that remain.

"The Blessings That Remain"
Annie Johnson Flint
(1866-1932)
Prolific American hymn writer
and Christian poetess.

Stars Of Ice

 

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David
a Savior which is Christ the Lord."
Luke 2:11

Seeing Shepherds

Daniel Bonnell

(2011)

Stars of ice, wheel of moonlight bright,

Shine on sheep with silvery light;

Humble shepherds chatting circled round,

Sit contently on grassy heights;

Sudden light!

Hark, the angels sing!

Shepherds crouch in awe.

Mid the clouds the angels proclaim:

God's Son is born in Bethlehem.

Dies the song, stars and moon gently fade,

Shepherds leap for very joy;

Leave their quiet flocks homeward quickly fly,

Worship then the Holy Boy,

Wondrous news thru streets resounds,

Glad praises fill every home.

Poor man's Savior, peasant's friend

Comes today in Bethlehem.

Learned men from far eastern lands

Kneel before the Holy Child,

Bring abundant gifts, rare, luxuriant,

Crowd the age-worn village inn.

Miles on miles had they come to adore,

No distance seemed too far.

Boundless, saving, peaceful love

Now has come to Bethlehem.

"Stars Of Ice"
A Chinese Christmas Carol
Jingfu Tian
(1911-2002)
Translated into English by
Pastor Bliss Mitchell Wiant
(1895-1974)
Missionary to China

This post is dedicated to my brothers and sisters in Christ in China.

On Christmas Eve

 

We trim the fragrant balsam tree

Until the branches glow

With glints of shining ornaments

And wisps of sparkling snow.

We space the lights and silver strands

Of tinsel carefully

And climb to place the star which crowns

The tiptop of the tree.

We burn the yule log on the hearth

And gather round its cheer

To sing the carols long beloved

When Christmastide is here.

And our window brightly shines

A gleaming candle's light,

Whose golden beams will shine afar

To welcome Him tonight.

"On Christmas Eve"

Gail Brook Burket

The President and First Lady's 2020 Christmas Message

 

God Bless Our President, the First Lady,
and their Family!

President Trump and First Lady Melania's
Christmas Eve Message

The White House

December 24, 2020

Come Holy Ghost Our Souls Inspire

 

Come Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,

And lighten with celestial fire;

Thou the anointing Spirit art,

Who dost Thy seven-fold gifts, impart.

All praise to Thy eternal merit,

O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

Holy Spirit Appearing As A Dove

Kip Decker
(2009)

Thy blessed unction from above

Is comfort, life, and fire of love;

Enable with perpetual light

The dullness of our blinded sight.

All praise to Thy eternal merit,

O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

Anoint and cheer our soiled face

With the abundance of Thy grace;

Keep far our foes; give peace at home;

Where Thou art Guide no ill can come.

All praise to Thy eternal merit,

O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

Teach us to know the Father, Son,

And Thee, of both, to be but One;

That thro' the ages all along

This, this may be our endless song.

All praise to Thy eternal merit,

O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

"Come Holy Ghost Our Souls Inspire"
(9th or 10th century hymn)
Original author unknown
Translation by John Cosin
(1594-1672)
English clergyman

Fear Not! Remembering A Charlie Brown Christmas

 

I was sorely disappointed when I found out that for the first
 time in 55 years, the holiday classic, "A Charlie Brown Christmas"
would not be aired on primetime television. 
The scene where Linus explains to  Charlie Brown
about the real meaning of Christmas
 always makes me tear up.

 However, I am amazed by the fact that over the many years
that I have watched this wonderful program,
I never saw, until it was recently pointed out to me,
 the most significant moment of Linus' re-telling of the Nativity story.

Linus Christmas Speech

"A Charlie Brown Christmas"

(1965)

At the moment he repeats the heralding angel's message to the shepherds:

 "Fear not!" 
Linus drops his ever present blanket!
  It falls to the floor and remains there until he is finished,
when he picks the blanket up again.

 The dropping of the blanket represents the hope of every
believer in the Lord Jesus Christ-we do not have anyone or anything
to fear!  Of course, in our weakness as human beings we do end up
feeling fearful or worried and try to find solace in earthly things-
just like Linus finding security in his blanket.

The allurement of this sinful world will never be able satisfy the
deepest longings of the human heart.  This is why God sent His
only begotten Son into this world, so that we who love and believe
in Him may have real and lasting security, and peace, even in the
midst of these present dark and uncertain times, of the sure and 
 certain hope that we will one day be with Him forever.

Little Feet Be Careful

 

"Therefore thus says the Lord,
Who redeemed Abraham out of Ur and idolatry,
concerning the house of Jacob: Jacob shall not then
be ashamed; not then shall his face become pale
with fear and disappointment because of his
children's degeneracy.

For when he sees his children walking in the way
of piety and virtue, the work of My hands in his midst,
they will revere My name; they will revere the Holy One
of Jacob and reverently fear the God of Israel."
Isaiah 29:22-23

Jesus Blessing The Children

Cecily Mary Barker

I washed my hands this morning,

O very clean and bright,

And lent them both to Jesus,

To work for Him till night.

Little feet be careful

Where you take me to;

Anything for Jesus,

Only let me do.

I told my ears to listen

Quite closely all day thro'

For any act of kindness

Such little hands can do.

Little feet be careful

Where you take me to;

Anything for Jesus,

Only let me do.

My eyes are set to watch them

About their work or play,

To keep them out of mischief,

For Jesus' sake all day.

Little feet be careful

Where you take me to;

Anything for Jesus,

Only let me do.

"Little Feet Be Careful"
(1886)
Lucinda M. Beal Bateman
(1843-1943)
American hymn writer

Angels Holy, High And Lowly

 

Angels holy, high and lowly,

Sing the praises of the Lord!

Earth and sky, all living nature,

Man the stamp of thy Creator,

Praise Ye, Praise Ye, God the Lord!

Sun and moon bright, night and moonlight,

Starry temples azure-floored,

Cloud and rain, and wild winds' madness,

Sons of God that shout for gladness,

Praise Ye, Praise Ye, God the Lord!

Ocean hoary, tell His glory,

Cliffs, where tumbling seas have roared,

Pulse of waters, blithely beating,

Wave advancing, wave retreating,

Praise Ye, Praise Ye, God the Lord!

Rock and highland, wood and island,

Crag where eagle's pride hath soared;

Mighty mountains, purple breasted,

Peaks cloud-cleaving, snowy crested,

Praise Ye, Praise Ye, God the Lord!

Rolling river, praise Him ever,

From the mountain's deep vein poured;

Silver fountain, clearly gushing,

Troubled torrent, madly rushing,

Praise Ye, Praise Ye, God the Lord!

Bond and free man, land and sea man,

Earth, with peoples widely stored;

Wanderer lone o'er prairies ample,

Full-voiced choir, in costly temple,

Praise Ye, Praise Ye, God the Lord!

Praise Him ever, Bounteous Giver!

Praise Him, Father, Friend, and Lord!

Each glad soul its free course winging,

Each blithe voice its free song singing,

Praise the Great and Mighty Lord!

"Angels Holy, High And Lowly

A hymn composed from the beautiful Burschen
melody "Altes Schweige" and translated by
 Professor John Stuart Blackie (1809-1845) 
 for theBible Hymn Book by Horatius Bonar
(1845)

Peter Marshall's Prayer to Congress

 

"The earnest prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
James 5:16

A moving clip from the movie, "A Man Called Peter" (1955) in which
the Reverend Peter Marshall Sr. (played by actor Richard Todd),
 having been appointed as Chaplain of the United States Senate,
prays over the members of the Congress.  

May this prayer serve as an inspiration to believers in America
 to pray for all those in authority over our people and nation.

Peter Marshall Prayers For US Congress

"A Man Called Peter"

(1955)

The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns

 

"And the Lord shall be King over all the earth;
in that day the Lord shall be one, in recognition
and worship of men, and His name shall be one."
Zechariah 14:9

Golden Gate Jerusalem, Israel

John Theodor/Getty Images/Stockphoto

The King shall come when morning dawns,

And light triumphant breaks;

When beauty gilds the eastern hills,

And life to joy awakes.

Not as of old, a little child

To bear, and fight, and die,

But crowned with glory like the sun,

That lights the morning sky.

O brighter than the rising morn

When He, victorious, rose,

And left the lonesome place of death,

Despite the rage of foes.

O brighter than that glorious morn

Shall this fair morning be,

When Christ, our king, in beauty comes,

And we His face shall see.

The King shall come when morning dawns.

And earth's dark night is past;

O, haste the rising of that morn,

The day that aye shall last.

And let the endless bliss begin,

By weary saints foretold,

When right shall triumph over wrong,

And truth shall be extolled.

The King shall come when morning dawns,

And light and beauty brings-

Hail! Christ the Lord; Thy people pray,

"Come quickly, King of kings."

"The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns"
Author Unknown

Translated from Greek to English in
"Hymns Of The Russian Church"
(1907)
Reverend John Brownlie
(1857-1925)
Scottish clergyman and hymn writer

The Root Of Jesse

 

"And there shall come forth a Shoot

 out of the stock of Jesse,

(David's father)

 and a Branch out of his roots 

shall grow and bear fruit.

Light Of The World

Harold Lyon

And the Spirit of the Lord

shall rest upon Him-

the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the Spirit of knowledge

and of the reverential and obedient

fear of the Lord.

Isaiah 11:1-2

Life Let Us Cherish

 

Life let us cherish while yet the taper glows,

And the fresh flower pluck ere it close;

Why are ye fond of toil and care,

Why choose the rankling thorn to wear,

And heedless by the lily stray

Which blossoms in our way.

 Wild Blue Water Flag
(Iris)

When clouds obscure the atmosphere

And fork'd lightning rend the air,

The sun resumes his silvery crest

And smiles adorn the west

The genial season soon is o'er,

Then let us quit the shore,

Contentment's cell it is life's rest

The sunshine of the breast

Away with every toil and care

And cease the rankling thorn to wear,

With manful heart the conflict meet,

Till death sounds his retreat.

Life Let Us Cherish/All The Blue Bonnets

Pa's Fiddle Band

(2010)

"Life Let Us Cherish"

Johann Martin Usteri

(1763-1827)

Swiss poet