OzThoughts Monday 24th August 2009

OzThoughts Monday 24th August 2009

Psalm 149 (The Message)

1 Hallelujah! Sing to GOD a brand-new song,
praise him in the company of all who love him.
2 Let all Israel celebrate their Sovereign Creator,
Zion's children exult in their King.
3 Let them praise his name in dance;
strike up the band and make great music!
4 And why? Because GOD delights in his people,
festoons plain folk with salvation garlands!

5 Let true lovers break out in praise,
sing out from wherever they're sitting,
6 Shout the high praises of God,
brandish their swords in the wild sword--dance--
7 A portent of vengeance on the God--defying nations,
a signal that punishment's coming,
8 Their kings chained and hauled off to jail,
their leaders behind bars for good,
9 The judgment on them carried out to the letter
-and all who love God in the seat of honor!
Hallelujah! Al

Sing to God a brand new song! I like the old songs from The Salvation Army Song Book. There is a depth about them that is wrung out of the experiences of many of the writers. Many of the writers in these experiences turn to God’s word and find an imagery there that suits their mood and expresses their heartfelt pleas for help and praise for a god who cares.

I remember one reader of OzThoughts who when he was a Cadet returned to the home Corps on leave and expressed his dislike of what he termed “7 – 11 choruses”. Seven words repeated 11 times. I guess we agreed many contemporary songs are like that.

I am not sure there is a fair comparison, the Song Books songs are the hymns and songs which have endured over time. Many are the songs our grandparents and our parents sang. Like them they have been the songs which have touched our life and are not only songs to sing but songs which have like mileposts or memorial stones marked the stages of our spiritual life.

The new songs can express our prayers and our praise they can be written by writers who also are wrestling out their faith. Many of them have still to be tested by time. Some will endure. Some may be 7- 11 songs. They may last 7 days or 11 months, others may endure for time.

Why will they endure? Can I suggest it will be because we find them useful in our worship of God. It will be because a tune or a phrase locks itself into our mind, our heart and our spiritual journey. It will be because God hears our song and blesses us with his love.
PRAYER:

Father, I pray that my life, my worship, my offerings of praise will be acceptable to you. Give me a new song. A song that is new every morning. May I experience a new depth of your love today. Amen.

MEDITATION:

(No recording of this song to the traditional tune -Tucker- could be found on line.
However, Kevin Norbury 's overture Truth takes themes from the traditional Edwardian and the modern musical settings of 'Thou Christ of burning cleansing flame, send the fire' in “Truth Aflame”: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_3301.mp3
The SA classic Cornet Solo “Tucker” is also based on this tune: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music2/mus_3572.mp3 )

Thou Christ of burning, cleansing flame,
Send the fire!
Thy blood-bought gift today we claim,
Send the fire!
Look down and see this waiting host,
Give us the promised Holy Ghost,
We want another Pentecost,
Send the fire!

God of Elijah, hear our cry:
Send the fire!
To make us fit to live or die,
Send the fire!
To burn up every trace of sin,
To bring the light and glory in,
The revolution now begin,
Send the fire!

'Tis fire we want, for fire we plead,
Send the fire!
The fire will meet our every need,
Send the fire!
For strength to ever do the right,
For grace to conquer in the fight.
For power to walk the world in white,
Send the fire!

To make our weak hearts strong and brave,
Send the fire!
To live a dying world to save,
Send the fire!
O see us on thy altar lay
Our lives, our all, this very day,
To crown the offering now we pray,
Send the fire!
Author: William Booth (1829-1912)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 203
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[Look and Listen (Contemporary version) :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgHKKLopKik ]

FROM Website: http://www.christiangoth.com/fire.html
Send the Fire!

At the end of the last century there was a man who looked upon the moral
and spiritual decay of the world and the church and realized that something
radical needed to happen to bring his world back to God. His name was
William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army. With this realization
came fervent prayer and through prayer the lyrics to this song.

"O God of burning,
cleansing flames, Send the Fire.
Your blood-bought gift today we claim.
Send the Fire, to burn up every trace of sin,
to bring the light and glory in,
the revolution now begin."

As we come to the end of this century these words
have as much meaning as they did when they where first written. People have
lost their sense of moral urgency and spiritual fervency and only the
fire of God can burn away deception and cause the true light
of Jesus to be seen. ~ Lindell Cooley (Brownsville Revival Worship Leader)


SEND THE FIRE
O God of burning, cleansing flame, Send the fire
Your blood - bought gift today we claim, Send the fire today
God of Elijah, hear our cry, Send the fire
And make us fit to live or die, send the fire today
To burn up every trace of sin, to bring the light and glory in
The revolution now begins, Send the fire today
It's fire we want, for fire we plead, Send the fire
The fire will meet our every need, Send the fire today
Give us strength to always do what's right,
And grace to conquer in the fight
for power to walk this world in white, Send the fire today
Look down and see this waiting host
And send the promised Holy Ghost
We need another Pentecost, Send the fire today
To make our weak hearts strong and brave, Send the fire
To live a dying world to save, Send the fire
Lord, we're here tonight and we're on Your alter, Send the fire
We give our lives to You today, Send the fire
Send the fire today!
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