The Church's One Foundation

This hymn came about in the mid 1800's when the Church of England was nearly tore apart from some controversy. Bishop John William Colenso of South Africa adopted some liberal views. He had been a tireless missionary serving the Zulu people of South Africa. Now he started questioning if Moses really wrote the first five books of the Bible. He also questioned the book of Romans and denied the doctrine of eternal punishment.

In 1853 he was removed from his post. However, Colenso fought back in court and the London court of law had him reinstated. This brought about a conflict that shook the chruch to its foundation.

In 1866 Samuel Stone took the side of truth by writing twelve songs based on the Apostles' Creed. One of them was the Church's One Foundation. The music was written by Samuel Wesley the grandson of Charles Wesley.
The following year the Anglican bishops held an eclave that was the first Lambeth Conference. The tone was set by the song that became their processional for the conference. It was of course the Church's One Foundation. It has since become one of our most beloved hymns as it reminds us that the one foundation is Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rest In Peace Beth Donovan Walters

Back in late 2005 I wrote on one of my sites asking for prayers for my old high school friend Beth Donovan, who became Beth Walters when she married. Well those prayers were answered as she rallied and started to get better. It gave her 2 more years with her family. Yes I heard from another school mate that Beth finally went home to be with her Lord on Friday morning. I hope no more old friends die. Two in two weeks is almost too much for me to take. What follows is a partial reprint of what I wrote about her almost 2 years ago. While I am sad that Beth had to leave us years earlier then I or anyone would have liked, I am happy that she had 2 more years to celebrate the highs and lows, birthdays and holidays with her family. God is good people and now Beth is in his loving arms and no longer suffering any pain. Lets celebrate life of that happy smiling girl in the photo above and pray for the comofort of her family during this time and the years to come.

Not long ago I asked anyone reading this site to pray for an old high school friend who has cancer, Beth Donovan. Beth is someone who, at least to me, stood for all the good things of high school. You may have had to go to my school to understand. Our class was very cliqueish. If you weren't in their group some kids wouldn't have anything to do with you. I was not that way and, as I told my wife, neither was Beth. She was friendly and outgoing. She always had a smile for everyone. Beth never said anything bad about anyone that I know of. I remember going to her house with others from a school club to work on a club project and having alot of fun. Beth was one of our senior class officers, a straight A student and elected most versatile. Basically Beth was a nice, smart and friendly person. I never heard her use bad language or any rumors about her doing anything bad.
Her visitation will be at 5-8pm on Monday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell in Fort Thomas, KY. The funeral will be 10am Tuesday at Mary Queen of Heaven Church in Erlanger, Ky.

Rest In Peace Gary Frohn

An old member of my high school class I recently found out died on Friday. Gary and I were not what I would call close friends. He did live up the street from me and from time to time he and I along with other friends from the neighborhood would play basketball. For some reason the only memory I have of those games with Gary was both of us going up for a rebound together. Neither one of us got it as Gary said "ouch" and it surprised me. Later he told me why when he said "Get your finger nails cut or something. You scratched me there." I never thought that was funny till just now. It is odd what things will make you smile in moments of sadness.

Gary was an athlete and an honor student in high school at Lloyd Memorial High. He was a star player on the tennis team and captain in his senior year. He was on the freshman Basketball team, a member of student council and the National Honor Society. In his senior year he was part of the senior play and a member of the Homecoming Court. Recently I heard that Gary didn't live too far from here with his wife and kids. Perhaps I could have drove over to see him some time had I known he was still so close. Visitation is at Stith Funeral in Florence,Ky this Tuesday (today Sept. 11, 2007) starting at 4pm. If you read this blog and knew Gary you can call Stith to get the exact times. I plan to stop by after work to pay my last respects to my old high school mate. Please pray for his family during their time of sorrow.

Does God hear our prayers for mercy on behalf of others?

Abraham approached him and said, "Will you destroy both innocent and guilty alike? Suppose you find fifty innocent people there within the city—will you still destroy it, and not spare it for their sakes? Surely you wouldn't do such a thing, destroying the innocent with the guilty. Why, you would be treating the innocent and the guilty exactly the same! Surely you wouldn't do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?" [The Lord responds that he will not destroy the city. Abraham persists, reducing the number to 45, then 40, 30, 20 and finally ten]. And the Lord said, "Then, for the sake of the ten, I will not destroy it."

Genesis 18:23-31 NLT

In the days before their fiery judgment, the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah probably had no idea that their neighbor Abraham was agonizing with God over their fate. Abraham saw the need for justice, but he also begged God to show them his mercy. He asked God to spare the city for just a handful of righteous people, and God agreed. In addition, God sent his angels to protect Lot's innocent family and get them out of harm's way. But as Sodom and Gomorrah's destruction illustrates, there's a limit to his mercy, for the God of justice will not let sin go unpunished forever. Just as he listened to righteous Abraham long ago, God will listen to your cries for justice and your pleas for mercy. In the end, God will do what is right.
From The One Year Book of Bible Prayers (Tyndale House), entry for March 25

The Lily of the Valley

Christianity flourished during England's Victorian Era. As a result concern for the orphans, the poor, the homeless and those beaten by the rise of the Industrial Revolution were on the rise. One man was determined to help as many of them as he could.

William Booth became a Christian when he was a teenager. He began witnessing to others and winning them to Christ. He moved to London to be come a pawnbroker but changed careers and became a Methodist evangelist. By 1865 his ministry was mainly dealing with the poor on the east side of London. Many nights he came home beaten, battered and bleeding.

In 1878 Mr. Booth started the Salvation Army. Many men, women and children left their old lives behind and enlisted in the army of the Lord. The movement spread through England and eventually the entire world.

That same year a group from the Salvation Army tried to set up a ministry in Salisbury, England. They were treated very badly. Every time they tried to preach they were hit with eggs and bricks.

Charles Fry, an amateur musician and layman in the Methodist church, lived in Salisbury. He saw how badly the people of the town treated the Salvation Army workers. He took himself and his three strong sons, who were also musicians, to the streets and acted as bodyguards for the Salvation Army workers. They showed up with their weapons of two cornets, a trombone and a tuba. Not only did they fight off the more unruly members of the town but their music drew a crowd for the preachers. And so was born the Salvation Army Brass Band.

In 1881 Charles Fry wrote the hymn "Lily of the Valley". It was published on December 29th 1881 in the Salvation Army magazine The War Cry. In August of the following year Charles Fry died. On his grave was inscribed another verse that he had written.

The former things are past, and ended is the strife,

I'm save home at last! I live an endless life!

Charles Fry is pictured with his family in the photo above.