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"No Tramp of Soldiers' Marching Feet"
There is a cancer update at the end of this message. CHIP STAM STEM CELL DRIVE: BE THE MATCH www.carlstam.org/stemcelldrive ===================================== HAITI RELIEF: Please send a generous contribution for Haiti's earthquake relief. If your trusted friends, church, or denomination can't help you with the choice of an agency, I would be happy to make a suggestion. There are lots of good options. carlstam@aol.com ====================================== Those of you who have been reading the WORSHIP QUOTE for any length of time know that I am a friend and fan of British hymn writer, Bishop Timothy Dudley-Smith. Today’s quotation is a hymn text that points to the “kingly” irony of Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. What kind of king is this Jesus? Notice the varied meanings of the phrase "Behold, your King!" as the poem progresses. We read this out loud on Palm Sunday? I wept. Give it a try. NO TRAMP OF SOLDIERS’ MARCHING FEET No tramp of soldiers’ marching feet with banners and with drums, no sound of music’s martial beat— “The King of glory comes!” To greet what pomp of kingly pride no bells in triumph ring, no city gates swing open wide: “Behold, behold your King!” And yet he comes. The children cheer; with palms his path is strown. With every step the cross draws near— the King of glory’s throne. Astride a colt he passes by as loud hosannas ring, or else the very stones would cry “Behold, behold your King!” What fading flowers his road adorn; the palms, how soon laid down! No bloom or leaf but only thorn the King of glory’s crown. The soldiers mock, the rabble cries, the streets with tumult ring, as Pilate to the mob replies, “Behold, behold your King!” Now he who bore for mortals’ sake the cross and all its pains and chose a servant’s form to take, the King of glory reigns. Hosanna to the Savior’s Name till heaven’s rafters ring, and all the ransomed host proclaim “Behold, behold your King!” —Timothy Dudley-Smith, from A HOUSE OF PRAISE: COLLECTED HYMNS 1961-2001, Carol Stream: Hope Publishing Co., p. 49. ISBN 0-916642-74-7 © 2003 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission. [This book is highly recommended.] For permission to copy or use this hymn, please contact: Hope Publishing Company, 380 S. Main Place, Carol Stream, IL 60188 1-800-323-1049, Fax: (630) 665-3200 Email: permission@hopepublishing.com www.hopepublishing.com [My yearly discomfort with Palm Sunday lies in the realization that I, too, would have gladly waved my palm branches and shouted my “HOSANNAS” to the “King of glory”; but, most likely, I would have been in the crowd that traded those cheers for the jeers and curses of “Crucify him!” and "Give us Barabbas!"—or even “I never knew the man.” This is sobering, yes? And yet it makes God’s amazing grace even that much more amazing.] ==================== THE PLACE OF THE CHOIR IN WORSHIP: PART 1 (Ed Willmington): http://www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=2010-01-05 THE PLACE OF THE CHOIR IN WORSHIP: PART 2 (Carl Stam): http://www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=2010-01-12 THE PLACE OF THE CHOIR IN WORSHIP: PART 3 (Donald Hustad): http://www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=2010-01-19 THE PLACE OF THE CHOIR IN WORSHIP: PART 4 (Ron Man): http://www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=2010-01-26 ==================== Blessings to all! Chip Stam Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Ministries The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky www.wqotw.org www.sbts.edu/icw ===================================== HEALTH UPDATE & PRAYER REQUEST FOR CHIP STAM, CANCER PATIENT www.carlstam.org/stemcelldrive ===================================== Dear Praying Friends, Here is the best place for information about the stem cell drive: www.carlstam.org/stemcelldrive. To date we have gathered over 1,450 new DNA samples for the national registry and over $24,487 towards our goal of $45,000 to cover the processing of the samples. Maybe some people in your circle of acquaintances would be willing to "get a kit" or "give a kit." Longer journal entries and some new photos about my cancer treatment are available at www.caringbridge.org/visit/carlstam (click on "journal" or "photos"). HARD NEWS TO SHARE The PET scan on March 24 revealed a serious recurrence of the lymphoma in many areas of body with "new tumors too numerous to count." I was admitted to the hospital on Monday for four days of intense chemotherapy, all medication that is new to my system. Our hope and prayer is that this rigorous treatment will beat the cancer into submission so that we can proceed with the needed stem cell transplant. We are still fighting. Please keep praying with us; pray for success of this current treatment; pray for a very wise decision about the donor and for protection from Graft vs. Host Disease. Don't forget to care for the cancer patients in your families, churches, neighborhoods, and places of employment. Pray that our stem cell drive will provide many, many cancer patients with life-saving options for their treatment. In Christ's perfect love, Chip Stam =========================== WORSHIP QUOTE OF THE WEEK: To subscribe, unsubscribe, or view a complete index of worship quotes, please visit http://www.wqotw.org. =========================== |