High hopes

Hollyhock (Bright lights), hosta (Sum and Substance), malva sylvestris, and phlox

Simple pleasures

I was honored by a tag from Rebecca, of Rebecca Writes, for a meme listing ten simple pleasures in life. I like:

1. Getting my hands in the dirt.
2. Spending time in a greenhouse/nursery, at any time of year.
3. Tim Hortons' decaf coffee with cream.
4. Watching our son walk.
5. Reading essays about gardening.
6. Salt and vinegar potato chips, especially Mike Sells brand.
7. Toblerone chocolate bars.
8. The smell of hot pizza.
9. Hot dish water.
10. A smile or a hug from our son.

I enjoy the simple things on Rebecca's list, too. I've enjoyed reading these memes from others who've done them. It reminds me that we don't really need riches to buy happiness. I'll tag Martin, retired professor blogging at Sun and Shield and Violet at Promptings. Anyone else want to volunteer?

Joy comes in the morning

Weeping cherry
Psalm 30:5

Easter reprise

(sorry, I hadn't clicked through to find direct links didn't work)

What kind of love is this? (click through Steve Bell, to music, to Simple Songs samples, to lyrics and audio)
* * * * * * *
Ride on, King Jesus! (click through Steve Bell, to music, to Comfort My People samples, to lyrics and audio)

I know many churches sing this on Palm Sunday, but I felt the sentiment was suited to remembering Easter, and looking toward the future return of Christ.

Easter

Ride on, King Jesus. No man can hinder Thee.
Ride on, King Jesus, ride on. No man can hinder Thee.

I was but young when I begun. (No man can hinder Thee.)
Now my race is almost done. (No man can hinder Thee.)
Ride on, King Jesus, ride on. No man can hinder Thee.

King Jesus rides on a milk white horse. (No man can hinder Thee.)
The river Jordan he did cross. (No man can hinder Thee.)
Ride on, King Jesus, ride on. No man can hinder Thee.
* * * * *
For He is King of Kings, He is Lord of Lords.
Jesus Christ, the First and Last, no man works like Him.
He is King of Kings, He is Lord of Lords.
Jesus Christ, the First and Last, no man works like Him.

Ride on, King Jesus. No man can hinder Thee.
Ride on, King Jesus, ride on. No man can hinder Thee.
--Traditional
Leontyne Price
Jessye Norman
Kathleen Battle & Christopher Parkening
Robert Shaw Festival Singers
Robert Shaw Festival Singers, with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Barbara Conrad
Steve Bell (audio), (copyrighted lyrics)

Good Friday

1. Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

2. Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? . . .

3. Were you there when they pierced him in the side? . . .

4. Were you there when the sun refused to shine? . . .

5. Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? . . .

* * * * * *
(Added) Further reading: "Yes, I was there, and so were you," says Pastor Glen VanderKloot, quoted by Mark Daniels at Better Living.
Seven last words of Christ: Reflections for Holy Week, by Mark D. Roberts (HT: Mark Daniels).

Palm Sunday: looking toward home

Refrain
Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus!
Steal away, steal away home,
I ain’t got long to stay here.

My Lord, He calls me,
He calls me by the thunder;
The trumpet sounds within my soul,
I ain’t got long to stay here.

Refrain

Green trees are bending,
Poor sinners stand a-trembling;
The trumpet sounds within my soul,
I ain’t got long to stay here.

Refrain

My Lord, He calls me,
He calls me by the lightning;
The trumpet sounds within my soul,
I ain’t got long to stay here.

Yesterday we attended the memorial service for my aunt, who stole away a few weeks ago. She had a rich and full life. She had much to be thankful for, and so did we.

Fifth Sunday of Lent: history and hope of deliverance

Refrain:
Climbin’ up the mountain, children,
Didn’t come here for to stay,
And if I nevermore see you again,
Gonna meet you on the judgment day.

Moses went down into Egypt land;
He told old Pharoah
That the good Lord sittin' on His heavenly throne
Said, "Let my people go!"
He said, "Let my people go!"

Daniel went in the den of lions,
And he begin to pray,
And the angel of the Lawd locked the lion’s jaw
Oh, wasn’t that a mighty day!
Oh, wasn't that a mighty day!

Children in the fiery furnace,
And they begin to pray,
And the angel of the Lord put the fire out,
Oh, wasn’t that a mighty day!
Oh, wasn’t that a mighty day!
--Spiritual
(a few lines from the Dixie Jubilee singers, with a German accent, and then a Korean)

This song gives us a sense of our place in the timeline of history, in more ways than one. Many American Spirituals carry layered meanings, proclaiming that God's faithfulness to the Jews in the past continues toward His people in the present. He will bring deliverance---perhaps from slavery in this life, as well as from death in the afterlife.
* * * * * * *
We traveled south over the past few days, passing through country traversed by people escaping north on the Kentucky section of the Underground Railroad.
* * * * * * *
Several weeks ago, I heard a minister state from the pulpit that he admired Tony Blair for his apology to the Irish for Britain's indifference to their plight during the great potato famine of the mid-nineteenth century. (A million Irish people died, as a result.)

He said he wished the President of the United States would issue a similar apology to the African Americans of this country for the tribulations inflicted on them by the practice of slavery here. I wish that, too. This is the time.