We Three Kings
December 19, 2010 at 9:36 am | Posted in hymns | Leave a commentTags: Christmas carols, claymation, Ephesians 1:1-14, Ephesians 2:1-10, John H. Hopkins Jr., Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Romans 15:13, Romans 3:10-12, Romans 3:21-26, Soulful Celebration, We Three Kings
This is one of my favorite songs of all time let alone one of my favorite Christmas songs. I can’t really explain why, maybe it’s because the theme of giving runs throughout it. I have carried a copy of the words in my briefcase for more years than I can remember. I’ve sung it alone as an offering of praise to God, I’ve sung it with my wife and sons and of course I have sung it in church. I just like this song.
I went online to you tube to look for a choir singing this song to post under it for your added enjoyment. Lo and behold what did I find? I found a posting of the Claymation version of this song. I remember watching that with my sons when they were little. I’ve posted that at the end of this song. I also found a rendition of another of my favorite songs from a Soulful Celebration. I hope you enjoy reading the words and watching the video.
More importantly if you don’t personally know the gift of salvation that only comes from God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ; that is what I hope you know. It is as close as sincerely calling out to God and acknowledging that you are a sinner (you have missed His mark of perfection) and asking Him to forgive you. Then receive from Him the gift of salvation which Jesus purchased on the cross. This salvation comes to you by grace through faith. Do this and believe it in your heart and you will be saved, adopted into God’s family, accepted in the beloved (Christ) and sealed with the Holy Spirit, guaranteeing your future redemption (Ephesians 1:1-14, 2:1-10). Then go out and let your changed life show the new hope you have deep within you.
Merry Christmas,
Bill (a fellow-laborer)
(Romans 15:13; 3:10-12, 21-26, 10:9-10, 13)
We Three Kings
By John H. Hopkins, Jr.
1. We three kings of Orient are; Bearing gifts we traverse afar – Field and fountain, moor and mountain – Following yonder star.
(Refrain) O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light.
2. Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain; Gold I bring to crown Him again, King forever, ceasing never Over us all to reign.
(Refrain)
3. Frankincense to offer have I; Incense owns a Deity nigh. Prayer and praising, all men raising, Worship Him, God on high.
(Refrain)
4. Myrrh is mine: its bitter perfume Breathes a life of gathering gloom – Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
(Refrain)
5. Glorious now behold Him arise, King and God and Sacrifice; Al-le-lu-ia, al-le-lu-ia! Earth to heaven replies.
(Refrain)
I hope you enjoy this clips. God bless you and Merry Christmas!
Claymation “We Three Kings” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87wGHfAi17Q (it leaves out verse 4).
This version is a chamber choir with all verses: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJGwSzApdIA&feature=related
Soulful Celebration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V51aTh2c0Q
Book Review: Pause for Power by Warren W. Wiersbe
December 18, 2010 at 5:05 pm | Posted in Book Reviews | Leave a commentTags: daily devotional, David C. Cook book review, Pause for Power, Warren W. Wiersbe
Wiersbe, Warren W. Pause for Power. Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook; 2010. 368 pp.
I just added this review to my Book Review page.
Short Book Review: Stronger by Jim Daly
December 17, 2010 at 1:57 pm | Posted in Book Reviews | Leave a commentTags: David C. Cook book review, Focus on the Family book review, Stronger by Jim Daly book review
Daly, Jim. Stronger: (Trading Brokeness for Unbreakable Strength). Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook; 2010. 237 pp.
You can read the review on my Book Review page.
Coffee Review: Boston Stoker’s Costa Rican La Minita
December 16, 2010 at 2:58 pm | Posted in Coffee Reviews | Leave a commentTags: Boston Stoker, Chemex coffee maker, Costa Rican coffee, Dayton Ohio coffee shops, French Press, La Minita, review, Troy Ohio coffee shops
This was one of the coffees that we cupped when we stopped at the Boston Stoker (www.bostonstoker.com) coffee shop in Troy Ohio. It is described as having a sweet aroma, full body, balanced acidity and a clean aftertaste. I can tell you we were impressed with the taste when we cupped it and we were looking forward to brewing it at home.
It has a good strong aroma from the bag that is somewhat sweet, with hints of chocolate. When it was brewing in the auto-drip Kim could smell the aroma upstairs. The taste is bright with a mild to medium acidity. The flavor seems to go over the front half of the tongue. It seemed to have a touch of citrus, with a medium to full body. Kim thought it paired very good with both chocolate and vanilla.
There seems to be a somewhat nutty aroma after grinding the beans. In the French Press the flavors and body were fuller and deeper. The taste of lemon is more pronounced. The coffee is little sweet and a little tart, but very balanced. Kim was eating oatmeal bread toast with peanut butter and cherry jelly and thought they paired well with the taste of the coffee.
After brewing with the Chemex coffee maker you get a clean smooth taste with a touch of citrus. There is a lingering tartness, not overly tart but there. It is almost as if the coffee is sweet and sour. I’ll bet it would make a good iced coffee. Here the flavor seems almost to the back of the mouth. All the flavors mixed well and taste very good. Kim thought it tasted good with almonds, figs, dates and apricots.
This La Minita from Boston Stoker is a very good tasting cup of coffee. We enjoyed drinking it and sharing it with friends. The reaction from our friends was very good too. If you would like to try a new coffee for the holiday’s we suggest you give this Costa Rican La Minita a try. We think you will like it.
We received this coffee for free and offer objective feedback. When you are travelling remember to look for local coffee roasters to visit. You might find an unexpected gem like we did. Until next time remember to stop and enjoy the coffee and conversations.
Much GRACE and peace to you,
Bill and Kim
Romans 15:13; Psalm 34:1-10
Short Book Review: Jump by Efrem Smith
December 14, 2010 at 1:45 pm | Posted in Book Reviews | Leave a commentTags: book review, Efrem Smith, Jump: Into a Life of Further and Higher
I’ve just posted a new review on my book review page.
Smith, Efrem. Jump: Into a Life of Further and Higher. Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2010. 183pp.
Knowledge of the Word of Christ
December 14, 2010 at 10:03 am | Posted in William Gurnall | Leave a commentTags: 2 Corinthians 1:1, 2 Peter 3:18, Knowledge of the Word of Christ, Romans 1:7, The Christian in Complete Armour, William Gurnall
Wisdom from William Gurnall
Do not be led away with the error of the wicked but “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
Light is the chariot which carries the influence of the sun. So the knowledge of Christ brings with it the influences of His grace into the heart. And how did Peter expect people to grow in the knowledge of Christ unless they read Scripture, the only book where it can be found? How wrong for teachers to want the people to learn this knowledge solely from their preaching, and not from the Bible! How can a congregation be sure they are hearing truth unless they have Scripture, the only touchstone to try the purity of the doctrine? God Himself directs His Word not to any one honored group – not to a select few – but to every man (Romans 1:7; 2 Corinthians 1:1). Why are laws made if they cannot be declared? And why was Scripture ever written if not to be read and known of all men? By the same authority with which the apostle wrote his epistles, he commanded them to be read in the church. Did ministers of the early church hide God Word from the people instead of encouraging them to hide it in their own heart?
It is true that some men do wrest Scripture to their own destruction, just as occasionally somebody chokes on a piece of bread if he is not careful when he eats. But must everyone starve for fear of getting choked? Some hurt themselves with sharp weapons; must the whole army then be disarmed, and only a few officers be allowed to wear the sword? If this argument were enough to seal up the Bible, we must deny it to intellectuals as well as to common men; for it is a known fact that the grossest heresies have bred in the finest minds. Whenever proud men insist on being wiser than God, their foolish minds get darker and darker until they become so accustomed to the blackness that they can no longer see His sovereignty. – Taken from The Christian in Complete Armour, December 13. Edited by James S. Bell, Jr. Moody Publishers Edition, 1994.
Coffee Review: Kifu Beans Costa Rican Cafe Herbazu
December 13, 2010 at 3:10 pm | Posted in Coffee Reviews | Leave a commentTags: Chemex coffee maker, coffee review, Costa Rican Cafe Herbazu, Kifu Beans, small batch roasters
We are always up for trying coffee from small roasters and listening to their story. Kifu Beans (www.kifubeans.com) is a small batch roaster in Kentucky. In the Swahili language Kifu means “they satisfy.” It was started and is run by a young couple who are preparing to be overseas missionaries. At a missions conference they took a challenge and invested some money coffee roasting equipment to make money to invest in missionary work. The roasting grew from there.
There is much more to their story than I presented and you can read it on their website. But I want to talk about this Café Herbazu coffee. We were at a party and shared this coffee with some friends. There is a nice fruity, sweet aroma coming from the bag. They also put the roast date on the back of the bag and we appreciate that.
The coffee is a medium-dark roast and has a somewhat dark color when brewed. You taste this coffee on the middle of the tongue and it is naturally sweet. The body feels medium and it is slightly acidic. The aftertaste is tart and bright. Overall the coffee drinkers were pleased with this coffee and some thought it would be a good iced coffee.
We then brewed it in the Chemex coffee maker and the dark color of the brewed coffee stands out. One person described it as “a lively” coffee. Others thought it went well with a chocolate dessert. It seemed more tart in the Chemex and a few people liked that. The Chemex seemed to produce the most popular taste of coffee at the party. There seems to be a good balance between the tartness and sweetness. It reminded some people of sweet and sour.
Overall this coffee was appreciated by everyone who tried it. If you would like to try a Costa Rican coffee from a small batch roaster we encourage you to give this one a try. You’ll also be helping the roasters through school as they prepare to go overseas as missionaries. We also want to encourage you to go to their site (www.kifubeans.com) and read their story. It is very interesting and encouraging. Their beans do satisfy.
We received this coffee for free and offer objective feedback. Until next time remember to stop and enjoy the coffee and conversations.
Much GRACE and peace to you,
Bill and Kim
(Romans 15:13; Psalm 34:1-10)
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
December 12, 2010 at 4:37 pm | Posted in hymns | Leave a commentTags: Christmas carols, Latin hymns, O Come O Come Emmanuel
Sunday’s Hymn, December 12, 2010
A Latin Hymn sung in 4/4 time
1. O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear.
(Refrain) Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!
2. O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
(Refrain)
3. O come, Thou Wisdom from on high And order all things, far and nigh; To us the path of knowledge show And cause us in her ways to go.
(Refrain)
4. O come, Desire of nations, bind All peoples in one heart and mind. Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease; Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.
(Refrain)
Coffee Review: Buddy Brew Coffee’s Brazil Cerrado
December 8, 2010 at 4:34 pm | Posted in Coffee Reviews | Leave a commentTags: Brazil Cerrado, Buddy Brew Coffee, Chemex coffee maker, Clever Coffee Dripper, French Press, review
Kim and I received this coffee recently for brewing and reviewing purposes and man, is there a good aroma coming out of the bag! We were looking forward to brewing this coffee. There is a picture of a dog on the label and we found that kind of humorous because my father in-law has a black lab named Buddy. When we visit my father in-law and I grind coffee beans Buddy likes to come in the kitchen and smell the beans.
This Brazil Cerrado from Buddy Brew Coffee (www.buddybrew.com) is a full city roast. They also put the roast date on the bag and we appreciate that. We wish more roasters did that. The aroma is kind of nutty and chocolaty with a little smokiness. Once brewed in the auto-drip the aroma is milder. The coffee has a nice taste that fills the mouth. The flavor is kind of sweet and chocolate. Kim thought it paired really well with chocolate and almonds.
Brewed in the Chemex coffee maker the aroma is somewhat sweet and smoky. There seems to be a more even feel to the coffee. It almost seems bright on the tip of the tongue. Kim thought it paired good to very good with both lemon and cinnamon. This is a good cup of coffee.
The French Press brew was very enjoyable. The body of the coffee is fuller and heavier. The flavors are more pronounced and they seemed to last a good long time. The nutty and chocolate flavors come out better. The more we drank this coffee the more we liked it. There is even a hint of smoke but not too much.
I also tried this Brazil Cerrado in the Clever Coffee Dripper and thought I detected a bit of citrus. This coffee has a low acidity and just a good deep flavor. The mixture of deep chocolate and nut stand out. If you like Brazilian coffees or you would like to try one, we encourage you to try this Brazil Cerrado from Buddy Brew Coffee.
This coffee kind of sneaks up on you and you find yourself simply enjoying a good cup of coffee. The more we drank it the more we liked it. We have a couple of friends who are looking forward to trying this Brazil Cerrado. I’ll have to save some to take back for the next time we visit my father in-law. I’m sure him and Buddy will enjoy it! We received this coffee for free and offer objective feedback. Until next time remember to stop and enjoy the coffee and conversations.
Much GRACE and peace to you,
Bill and Kim
Romans 15:13; Psalm 34:1-10
Hold On to the Power of God
December 7, 2010 at 10:22 am | Posted in William Gurnall | Leave a commentTags: courage, Hold on to the Power of God, hope, Isaiah 38:10-11, Psalm 116:11-12, Psalm 31:22; 24, The Christian in Complete Armour, William Gurnall
Hold On to the Power of God
Wisdom from William Gurnall
You have seen God bare His arm to help you. So unless you think He has lost the strength or use of it, hope still has an object to act upon, to lift your head above the water. No person ever drowns in despair unless he loses his hold on the power of God.
Another way to let God rescue you from despair is to remember how often He has proved your unbelief to be a false prophet. Has He not knocked at our door with inward comfort and outward deliverance after you had already put out the candle of hope and given up looking for Him? He came to Hezekiah after he had concluded that his case was beyond hope and help (Isaiah 38:10-11). Have you ever been left alone with fear as if an everlasting night had come and there would never be another morning? Yet even then God proved those despairing thoughts all liars by an unlooked-for surprise of sweet mercy which He crept in and gently brought to you. Why then are you frightened again and again by your distrustful thoughts, which God has so often proved liars? Stop feeding your hopes on the corpses of slain fears!
Remember too how even when you have been impatient and despairing in your afflictions, nevertheless God’s mercy has been at work all the while to deliver you from them. David is an instance of this: “I said in my haste, All men are liars. What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me? (Psalm 116:11-12); “I said in my haste, I am cut off from before Thine eyes: nevertheless Thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto Thee” (Psalm 31:22). He was saying, “I prayed with so little faith that I unsprayed my own prayer! I assumed my dilemma was hopeless but God forgave my hasty spirit and gave me the mercy which I had hardly any faith to expect.” And with his experience, David raises every saint’s troubled hope: “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord” (Psalm 31:24). – Taken from The Christian in Complete Armour, December 1. Edited by James S. Bell, Jr. Moody Publishers Edition, 1994.
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