My poem of the week this week comes from Edgar Guest, a favorite of mine. I had my sons memorize this one last week and recite it this morning. There is much helpful here. Courage This is courage: to remain Brave and patient under pain; Cool and calm and firm to stay In the presence [...]
Archive of posts tagged poetry
Poetry and Beauty as Apologetics
I have already listed Peter Hitchens’ book, The Rage Against God, as one of the best books I read last year. I had meant to comment much more on the books contents which are rich on a variety of topics and levels. One point made often in the book is the power of poetry and [...]
Give to the Winds Thy Fears
My poem of the week this week is this wonderful hymn on perseverance rooted in knowledge of God’s sovereign love and care. May it be as encouraging to you as it is to me. Give to the Winds Thy Fears by Paul Gerhardt (translated from German to English by John Wesley in his Collection, 1737) [...]
Make Me Thy Fuel, Amy Carmichael
Each Monday I try to post a new “Poem of the Week†on my office door and for some time I have thought I should post that poem here as well. So finally, I am doing so! This is a poem of Amy Carmichael’s which I first encountered through the writings of Elisabeth Elliot. I [...]
A COUNTRY PHILOSOPHER
Having commended the poetry of Frank Stanton, here is one of my favorites from him which might be useful for a Monday and comes to my mind since my travel plans this weekend were interrupted by a snow storm. “A Country Philosopher” The cold has killed the corn off an’ blighted all the wheat; The [...]
Poet, Frank L. Stanton
I have commented several times here on the value of poetry. One poet I particularly appreciate is Frank L. Stanton (1857-1927), who was the first poet laureate of Georgia. His poems are primarily a celebration of the simple pleasures of life rooted in the rural South. I recently acquired a book of his poems which [...]
“All My Heart This Night Rejoicesâ€
Here is wonderful 17th century Christmas hymn by Paul Gerhardt which expounds the meaning of the Incarnation. This is hymnic gospel proclamation! Let us take great comfort in the work of Christ, God come to get us. All my heart this night rejoices, As I hear, far and near, sweetest angel voices; “Christ is born,†[...]
Isaac Watts’ Pastoral Poetry
I have been reading recently on Isaac Watts who has blessed the church so richly with his hymns. Below is a good, though lesser known, example of Watts poetry (originally published in Hymns and SpirÂitÂuÂal Songs, 1707-1709). Many of Watt’s hymns were composed to accompany his sermons and you can see him as a pastor [...]
Martin Luther, Let us Rejoice
I just came across this hymn by Martin Luther. From what I could uncover the translator (into English) is unknown. This is a good word in preparation for corporate worship in the morning. 1. Dear Christians, let us now rejoice, And dance in joyous measure; That, of good cheer, and with one voice, We sing [...]
Why Johnny Can’t Sing Hymns
Justin Wainscott has a fascinating, provocative interview at his site with Dr. T. David Gordon, author of Why Johnny Can’t Preach: The Media Have Shaped the Messengers. The interview is about Gordon’s sequel, Why Johnny Can’t Sing Hymns: How Pop Culture Re-Wrote the Hymnal (to be published by P&R early this summer). Wainscott’s questions and [...]
