As We Begin

And so we begin. Today is Palm Sunday, and I think it is a particularly appropriate day to commence a discussion whose aim is to help myself and hopefully others better to align ourselves with the Scripture and to glorify the One who sacrificed so much for us.

Assuming you have already read the introductory posts to this blog, you know that I grew up in very conservative churches. The vast majority of our church singing was with nothing more than piano or organ accompaniment. Certainly a set of drums was never seen in our auditoriums nor any guitar that required an electrical outlet. We sang the "Great Hymns of the Faith" each week, among which was a hymn written in 1876 by Robert Lowry called "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus." Unfortunately, Lowry's rich, full text has been cheated of its full effect for decades because of its marriage to a trite, mismatched tune that ends up distracting rather than enhancing the lyrics.

So, for much of my life, I fell into the rut of singing the familiar words of that song with little thought, bouncing mindlessly along with the silly little tune. Now, though, I attend a church that generally has a more-contemporary worship service. They sing a broad variety of songs, including but not limited to the old hymns. However, in my several years now of attending the church, it was not until today that we ever sang "Nothing But the Blood" together.

Gladly, our music director had the sense to slow the tempo down and change the harmonization, giving us the opportunity really to reflect on the powerful words. And, as I thought of this journey of my life and the confidence I have of God's love for me in spite of all I have done in the past and in spite of the huge issues I'm working through now, I wept. Couldn't even continue singing, but that's ok. This doesn't specifically address the subject of this blog, but it does show the starting point for everything we will discuss....

What can wash away my sin? nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again? nothing but the blood of Jesus.
O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my cleansing this I see—nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my pardon this my plea—nothing but the blood of Jesus.
O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Nothing can for sin atone—nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done—nothing but the blood of Jesus.
O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my hope and peace—nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness—nothing but the blood of Jesus.
O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.