Christian Photographers Community

Good morning, and Happy Monday!
 I'm off to the races, so to speak, as have lots to do today, including getting more books into the mail!
Am washing our sheets, planning what to pack, as we are limiting ourselves to one carry-on each, which must have room for small gifts for the families we will be blessing with stoves.  Suggested are pens, small notepads, hotel size soaps, shampoos, lotions, chapsticks, washcloths, and several other items.  Should be a blessed trip!

John, like Larry, my first thought was that you were going to be teaching that course.     We know you're a very safe driver!

Judy, thanks again for the carols and history.  I'm enjoying that.  And happy for Heather's move.  I hope she will come in and take part here.  I assume that means a new job in the future for her, too?

Larry, so good to hear you're feeling stronger today.
That's always good news!

I'm off to get some more tasks done!  Be blessed, my friends!

Yes Larry and Janet, Cataract surgery. Keith is doing well the Nurse will be here soon then  he has the in fusion at 10"30.
I forgot about the time of his infusion and made an appointment for my nail to be  done at 10 so now I have to change that.

The caregiver was supposed to be here at 8, texted me that she had an emergency at her othner job and will meet us at the hospital. ot a good start to her new job.

John B:  I also want to add that I never thought you would have a misdemeanor for any driving issue.  That sounds interesting, and so beneficial to everyone driving.  We see a lot of tail-gating but the very terrible news is often of people on bicycles are in such danger from the car drivers.  Wishing you well with all the students.  Best of all, you will enjoy having Heather closer. 

Something isn't working on this computer as far as loading the music - Some songs come through and others do not.

I simmered a chicken carcass and made soup in the large crock pot'  We have an elderly (but fully functional and so bright) neighbor and she loves having a quart of soup.  Another neighbor had left cheese and ham slices for her. 

Reading the news, there are another 5,000 migrants heading for the border.  This is a disaster - prayers for the good people who are waiting for a better life and prayers for stopping the criminals involved. 

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Words: William Chatterton Dix (b. June 14, 1837; d. Sept. 9, 1898)
Music: Dix, by Conrad Kocher (b. Dec. 16, 1786; d. Mar. 12, 1872)

Links:
Wordwise Hymns
Discovering the Songs of Christmas
The Cyber Hymnal

Note: For articles on the history and meaning of 63 of our carols and Christmas hymns (including As with Gladness Men of Old), see my book, Discovering the Songs of Christmas, available from Amazon.

As...so... The words make a comparison for the purpose of giving insight and understanding. The Bible uses this method often. For example, here are three verses from Psalm 103:

¤ "As the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him" (Ps. 103:11-13).

The technique is also used frequently in the book of Proverbs:

¤ "As a ring of gold in a swine's snout, so is a lovely woman who lacks discretion" (Prov. 11:22).
¤ "As cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a far country" (Prov. 25:25).

In each case, our understanding of what is being taught is illuminated by the comparison. And that is the technique William Dix used in our hymn–actually, a Christmas carol that tells of the visit of the wise men to the Lord Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 2:1-12.

CH-1: As the wise men were led to the feet of Christ, so may we be led to Him. In their case, they followed a supernatural star. In our case, we are prompted by the Spirit of God. First of all convicted of our sin, and led to Christ for salvation. Then, as believers, we brought, led day by day, into fellowship with Him, by that same Holy Spirit.

CH-2 continues the theme by describing the joyful mood of the wise men, as they envisioned the fulfilment of their quest (Matt. 2:10), with Mr. Dix urging us to seek the place of prayer with the same enthusiasm.

CH-3 deals with the gifts of the wise men. "As...so..."

As they offered gifts most rare
At that manger rude and bare;
So may we with holy joy,
Pure and free from sin's alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King.

"Gifts most rare," brought to a "manger rude and bare." How ironic! The place did not at all reflect the worth of the One who was found there. But they weren't discouraged by the surroundings. They came seeking the King, and the "fell down and worshipped Him," presenting the gifts they had brought (Matt. 2:11). In a similar manner, we are exhorted to come with holy joy, and present our costliest treasures to Christ. First of all, to present ourselves as His willing servants (Rom. 12:1; II Cor. 8:5), and then to lay before Him our time, our talents and our treasures, putting them at His disposal.

The final two stanzas of the hymn point us forward to the day when we stand in the presence of Christ, worshiping and praising Him for all eternity. CH-5 is unfortunately omitted from many hymnals, but it provides a fitting conclusion to a wonderful hymn.

In the heavenly country bright,
Need they no created light;
Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown,
Thou its Sun which goes not down;
There forever may we sing
Alleluias to our King!

Dix is also the person who wrote the lyrics for the popular Christmas song "What Child is This?"

Oldiesman you are correct.   That happens to be my all time favourite carol!

Some people are having problems hearing the music. Have you any idea why?  Also I am not seeing the avatars.   I sure appreciate your input here.

Just been on our tv news, such an uplifting story...this should also put a warm smile on your face...Well at least the young man got his wife...Link to video clip...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-46350467/boy-10-meets-his-superman-life-saver

Jackie, thanks for sharing that!
 Sort of revives one's faith in human nature!  There are many caring, sharing folks around, unfortunately, the opposite types sometimes get all the press.  Good to have you posting again!

We went over to Liberal (70 miles or so) yesterday to get a few needed things for the Guatemala missions trip, also got to stop in Hugoton for a short visit with beloved daughter Diane.  Abby made it safely back to college in spite of a blizzard.  She said there were a lot of cars stranded on the highways, so glad God was watching over her!

Today I must pack!!  May God bless each of you in whatever you choose to do today!

Hi Everyone. We are in for a sunny but chilly day.  Right now it is 33 degrees in our area and will only get into the mid to upper 40's this afternoon. Pat has a dental cleaning at 10 am so we will have to leave shortly after 9:30.  From there we will head down to the Church for our Senior's Luncheon.  Today the program will be presented by our organist/pianist and I expect we will be singing some Christmas hymns and some Christmas secular music as well.  She did a similar program last year and she is a wonderful pianist.  I am really looking forward to it.

I prepared a posting and thought it had posted but now see it did not.  I don't think any of the comments I made were earth shattering and we have to leave in another five minutes.  So will just say I hope all have a good day and thanks for your posting yesterday and up to this message.  I will be back tomorrow and try to be more careful.

The beginnings of clam chowder is in the crock pot.  A new neighbor has asked for us to bring a used favorite book for his wife's birthday - writing on it what we liked.  She is not a church goer so I wouldn't want to rock the boat but I found a Jan Karon Mittford series book at the thrift store and I will have to think about what to write.  That is the series both religious and family oriented. 

Today is our oldest son's anniversary.  We did get a chance to chat a bit - he is feeling better and even on airplanes again (for meetings).  Don isn't up to par these days and I hope he will be alright for our trip home for Christmas.  The kids have his birthday party planned -

Janet:  Happy Landings and a safe stay.  Looking forward to your notes from this trip. 

Hi Everyone.  It is a beautiful and cold (for us) morning that started out at 28 degrees  this morning and will only get into the high 40's.  However, it is sunny or will be nice.  A friend will be here in an hour to work with me and then this evening we will go to our last Wednesday night dinner at Church until after the first of the year.  Our cook and her husband are going to be away for a month to New Zealand to visit his family.  We are looking forward to spending some time with Scott this evening.  Yesterday I took the old spare laptop down for our granddaughter to use until we can get her computer fixed.  Fortunately it was still under the 90 day warranty and I should hear from them this week.  We had a most enjoyable senior luncheon yesterday.  It was very well attended, the meal was good, and the program was excellent.  Our organist/pianist played a couple of classical pieces and two or three Christmas favorites and then asked for the group to call out what they would like to hear and did two hymn medleys from memory.  Word don't express what a great pianist this lady is. 

Carol, you mention of Clam Chowder reminds me it has been a long time since I have had any.  Do you make the white kind or the kind with tomato juice (which I think is called Manhattan Clam Chowder.)  Pat and I both loved the books by Jan Karon featuring Father Tim and that should make a nice gift for your new friend's birthday.  I think Pat has the whole Father Tim set of books upstairs in her sewing room as she didn't want to get rid of them when we moved.  Glad your son is feeling better and sure hope Don gets to feeling better before you leave to go back to Denver.

Larry, it makes me sad that so few are sticking with piano lessons long enough to become really good pianists any more.  I do love good piano music!  And appreciate those who can play well.  We currently have only guitar music for our singing at church.  It is good, but I miss piano and organ music!

A friend from church who is very instrumental in the planning and implementation of the changes being made to the sanctuary called to tell me that the stained glass for the focal point we have struggled to agree on is being cut by a firm in Wichita.  He and his wife are on our Guatemala team; we are to leave for Wichita (to catch our flight) at 2:00 Friday; anyway, he is going to drive up early to see the glass.  Of course, I said, "Take pictures!"     Our flight is in the wee hours of Saturday, so we're going to Wichita the day before.

The only time I ever ate clam chowder was on a trip to Cape Cod, and I really liked it!  Well, not entirely true, I had eaten some before, but I think it was canned. Not fresh, for sure!

Today is painting day, I'm excited to see my friends, especially the one who was in California near the awful Camp fire, all through that terrible time.  They were evacuated from Oroville,near Paradise, for a long time. And at lunchtime, the Mennonite Church is serving their annual Holiday meal (Thanksgiving and Christmas) at the Senior Center!  So we will have a great lunch!

I must get busy, see you later!

Good morning I am, having my first cataract surgery today.theother will be in Jan. Prayers welcome. I have to be there at 9 am but I am 7th out of the 8 scheduled so I will probably be gone all day Ihave to go to the dr's office after the surgery.

Marilyn, I will pray for you, but will say that cataract surgery takes only a few minutes.  Amazing, but true.  You will be glad you did this--anyway, I surely am glad I did!  Blessings!

Marilyn:  Cataract surgery goes so quickly - good wishes to your new and better sight.

Janet:  She must be on her way.  I was glad to read about Abby being safe on the highway with snow and traffic.  Too many fools out there who do not know how to drive slower under those conditions.

Larry:  White chowder is a must.

We need a plumber and one is hopefully going to stop in sometime today.  Last night, we took turns trying to fix the pipes under the kitchen sink.  There was a big leak.  We are not as flexible anymore and I made the decision to call a plumber this morning.  Also, I have a dental appointment today so Don has to stay available.    Don is still aching from trying to lie on the floor and fix the overhead plumbing.

The birthday party for our friend was cancelled (too many could not make it) but I am still going to bring the Jan Karon book over for her to read and keep. 

 

This will be a short note.  I will post more when I get home.  I am babysitting for Elizabeth.

OK we had a major dump of snow from Monday through to today (Wednesday)  Monday night we lost power and finally got it back late this Morning. The trees are loaded. If the wind starts, we will be in more trouble. Last night as we drove home there were branches laying on the power lines and we could see the power lines arcing..... Scary stuff.

I am looking forward to getting home, and having a long hot shower!  I will be back with a carol and the history of it..... so till later! 

Jacqueline, If you click on the title you will have a pop up at the bottom of your screen click on that and it may prompt you to open it.... it is safe to open.  That will give you the music for the carols and hymns.

Have a safe night and a safe day tomorrow. 

Judy...thank you...my pop - up is Windows Media Player...the player pops up top left corner and will usually play your carols and hymns..although can be a tad temperamental at times..

I too will say goodnight, just turned midnight here in UK...

Hi Everyone.  We have another cold, crisp and sunny late November morning.  It was 31 degrees this morning and we are to stay in the high 50's this afternoon.  My main activity for today will be to pick up my friend and we will go downtown to coffee.  After I bring him home I will stop at Walmart to get prescriptions for both Pat and I and then do the online grocery order pickup.  Fortunately, this isn't a big order.  That will pretty much be it for today.  We did enjoy the hamburgers, hot dogs with French fries of both regular and sweet potatoes and all the trimming for the sandwiches.  It was topped off with an ice cream bar.  Scott came out later last evening and put in the light bulb that was out in the recessed ceiling lights in the kitchen and then changed the dryer door to the opposite side.  All this time we have lived here the door was on the wrong side and finally this week I realized it could fairly easily be switched, which will make putting the wet clothes into the dryer much easier. 

Janet, we are indeed blessed at our Church with a fine choir with a number of good solo voices and then our organist/pianist/director of the choir.  May God protect you and your mission team on your trip. 

Marilyn, I hope you have someone to drive you after your surgery and I hope all goes very well today.  The place where Pat had her cataract surgery and the place I had made were super efficient and the procedure itself went very quickly. 

Carol, sure hope the plumber got to your house yesterday.  We are getting too old to be getting under the sink to work or any other tight places like that.  Too bad the birthday party was cancelled. 

Judy, that must be a lot of snow.  Glad you finally got your power back on and I hope you didn't lose it again with the trees loaded with snow.  Thanks for the new Carol or the season and its history. 

Jackie, there are a number of other media players besides Windows Media Player.  There is one I have used in the past called VLC Media Player that is very good and plays all different types of extensions on media files.  Wow, you stay up late.

    Sipping coffee - Don is taking a walk.  The plumber did come yesterday and fixed the dish washer hoses and one side of the double sink.  Then, he left and has not communicated when he will return.  But --- I just had to mop up a leak today and am not sure which part is responsible.  Gee, it isn't easy getting up off the floor with nothing to help me.   

Larry:  Congratulations on your wedding anniversary achievement of 57 years.  That is a wonderful story.

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Gerhardt, Paulus, son of Christian Gerhardt, burgomaster of Gräfenhaynichen, near Wittenberg, was born at Grafenhaynichen, Mar. 12, 1607. On January 2, 1628, he matriculated at the University of Wittenberg. In the registers of St. Mary's church, Wittenberg, his name appears as a godfather, on July 13, 1641, described still as "studiosus," and he seems to have remained in Wittenberg till at least the end of April, 1642. He appears to have gone to Berlin in 1642 or 1643, and was there for some time (certainly after 1648) a tutor in the house of the advocate Andreas Barthold, whose daughter (Anna Maria, b. May 19, 1622, d. March 5, 1668) became his wife in 1655. During this period he seems to have frequently preached in Berlin. He was appointed in 1651, at the recommendation of the Berlin clergy, Lutheran Probst (chief pastor) at Mittenwalde, near Berlin, and ordained to this post Nov. 18, 1651. In July, 1657, he returned to Berlin as third diaconus of St. Nicholas's church; but becoming involved in the contest between the Elector Friedrich Wilhelm (who was of the Reformed Church) and the Lutheran clergy of Berlin, he was deposed from his office in February, 1666, though he still remained in Berlin. In Nov. 1668, he accepted the post of archidiaconus at Lübben, on the Spree, was installed in June, 1669, and remained there till his death on June 7, 1676 (Koch, iii. 297-326; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, viii. 774-783, &c).

The outward circumstances of Gerhardt's life were for the most part gloomy. His earlier years were spent amid the horrors of the Thirty Years' War. He did not obtain a settled position in life till he was 44 years of age. He was unable to marry till four years later; and his wife, after a long illness, died during the time that he was without office in Berlin; while of the five children of the marriage only one passed the period of childhood. The sunniest period of his life was during the early years of his Berlin ministry (i.e. 1657-1663), when he enjoyed universal love and esteem; while his latter years at Lübben as a widower with one surviving child were passed among a rough and unsympathising people. The motto on his portrait at Lübben not unjustly styles him "Theologus in cribro Satanae versatus."

Gerhardt ranks, next to Luther, as the most gifted and popular hymnwriter of the Lutheran Church. Gervinus (ed. 1842, pt. iii. p. 366), the well-known historian of German literature, thus characterises him:—

"He went back to Luther's most genuine type of hymn in such manner as no one else had done, only so far modified as the requirements of his time demanded. In Luther's time the belief in Free Grace and the work of the Atonement, in Redemption and the bursting of the gates of Hell was the inspiration of his joyful confidence; with Gerhardt it is the belief in the Love of God. With Luther the old wrathful God of the Romanists assumed the heavenly aspect of grace and mercy; with Gerhardt the merciful Righteous One is a gentle loving Man. Like the old poets of the people he is sincerely and unconstrainedly pious, naive, and hearty; the bliss fulness of his faith makes him benign and amiable; in his way of writing he is as attractive, simple, and pleasing as in his way of thinking."
With a firm grasp of the objective realities of the Christian Faith, and a loyal adherence to the doctrinal standpoint of the Lutheran Church, Gerhardt is yet genuinely human; he takes a fresh, healthful view both of nature and of mankind. In his hymns we see the transition to the modern subjective tone of religious poetry. Sixteen of his hymns begin with, "I." Yet with Gerhardt it is not so much the individual soul that lays bare its sometimes morbid moods, as it is the representative member of the Church speaking out the thoughts and feelings he shares with his fellow members; while in style Gerhardt is simple and graceful, with a considerable variety of verse form at his command, and often of bell-like purity in tone.

Good morning Eye surgery went very well  still a bit fuzzy but that will go away soon.
 
Friday update on Keith. He is doing very well. He remembers to ;pick p the Wound Vac and carry it with him when he gets up. This morning he was able to "GO" on his own. (No Catheter.) Mostly a good appetite, drinks is 2 Boost's per day , has his yogurt and now will get the new Kefir that iis Strawberry flavored (He didn't like the plain). The Home Health nurse will be here again today and I will get to see the improvement on the wound. He has daily Antibiotic infusions at the hospital. His short term memory is not good. His confusion seems to be about the same but the caregiver and I can deal with that. I am feeling much more rested now and not so stressed out as I was previously. Getting a good nights sleep has helped tremendously.

Marilyn, it truly is amazing what a good night's sleep can do for you!  My thanks for that are often in my morning prayers.  Glad you have good reports on the both of you today, and pray the progress continues!

The plan is to leave Ulysses for Wichita at 2:00 today, as our flight from Wichita is in the wee hours tomorrow morning.  We are all packed and ready to go; praying for good health and strength every step of the journey!

I have a hair appointment at 10:30, so at least will start the trip looking better! 

We went to Hugoton to watch son-in-law Jeff in a Christmas play last night called "Christmas in Gumption Gulch."
It was sort of corny, but fun and I enjoyed all the Christmas songs in it, along with the emphasis on the birth of our Savior being the focus of the season, no matter what may be going wrong around us.  Diane was even it it--and I was, too!  They came and got me, took me on stage and .....well.....it was okay, and I managed to make them laugh!  (Totally unexpected for me to be included.)

May you all stay healthy, and be greatly blessed.  I shall return!  We are to get home on Dec. 9.

Larry, has your book arrived yet?

Love you all!!     

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The lyrics and music were written by William H. Neidlinger in 1890.

No other information is known about this beautiful Christmas carol.   The song has been recorded and performed numerous times over the years by various artists.

Maybe his work was inspired by the passage in Jeremiah 23:5 that says, "I will raise up...a King who will reign wisely."

Neidlinger was born July 20, 1863 during the height of the Civil War in Brooklyn, New York.

In 1890, he'd finished a two year apprentice with Dudley Buck and C. C. Muller.  He was organist for St. Michael's Church in New York City until 1896.

He conducted numerous choirs in New York City and Philadelphia.  From 1898-1901 he was a singing teacher in Paris, France.  Upon his return he settled in Chicago, Illinois and was considered a prominent singing teacher.  He composed two opera's, Ulysses in 1901 and Sweet Anne Page in 1903.

He turned his interest to composition and child psychology, after finding success with his book Small Songs for Small Singers.  He eventually abandoned music and established a school for handicapped children in East Orange, New Jersey.

He died on December 5, 1924 in Orange, New Jersey.

Neidlinger's The Birthday of the King continues to beautiful tell the story of Jesus birth and inspire.