The Three Cs

Thy strong word did cleave the darkness, at thy speaking it was done. For created light we thank thee, while thine ordered seasons run. Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise to thee who light dost send Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia without end Lo, on those who dwelt in darkness, dark as night and deep as death. Broke the light of thy salvation, breathed thine own life-giving breath. Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise to thee who light dost send! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia without end! Thy strong word bespeaks us righteous, bright with thine own holiness. Glorious now, we press toward glory, and our lives our hopes confess. Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise to thee who light dost send! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia without end! From the cross thy wisdom shining, breaketh forth in conquering might. From the cross forever beameth, all thy bright redeeming light. Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise to thee who light dost send! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia without end! Give us lips to sing thy m...

Leo Kottke is easily my favorite guitar player. I got to see him in concert once, in the late 80s at a club in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. Here, he plays one of my favorite Bach tunes, "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desire" on 12-string guitar in 1977.

This is the title track from a magnificent album by the Concordia University Chicago Wind Symphony.

Hat tip to @balding_pastor for pointing me to this incredibly beautiful song by Michael Card. Is not He who formed the ear Worth the time it takes to hear? Should He who formed our lips for speaking Be not heeded when He speaks? Will you not listen? Why won't you listen? God has spoken love to us Why will you not listen? Listen to the sacred silence Listen to the Holy Word Listen as He speaks through living Parables that must be heard Parables that must be heard Will you not listen? Why won't you listen? God has spoken peace to us Why will you not listen? Why will you not listen? He spoke a word of flesh and blood Flesh and blood that bled and died Bled and died just to be heard How could you not hear this Word? Why will you not hear this Word? Will you not listen? Why won't you listen? God has spoken hope to us How could you not listen? Why will you not listen? How could you not listen?

Hymnoglypt has another beautiful translation of a Reformation era Latin hymn. Here are the first two of nine verses.  Check out the complete translation , along with music notation and original words here. 1. T HE LIGHT whose brightness passes far The beauty both of sun and star, With stripes disfigured, hangs His head Upon the cross, and God is dead. 2. The Lord who gives His creatures breath, And life to those who lie in death, With arms the crossbeam spanning wide, Between the thieves is crucified.

My wife and I got to see the Concordia University Chicago Wind Symphony perform in a free concert at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Peoria a year ago. While this piece wasn't included in the lineup, the Eric Whitacre masterpiece "Cloudburst" was. Nonetheless, Concordia has a masterful symphony. If you get a chance to see Concordia perform, don't miss it. Until then, enjoy "October," as directed by Dr. Richard Fischer.

Jesus, I will ponder now / On thy holy passion / with thy Spirit me endow / for such meditation. / Grant that I in love and faith / may thy image cherish / of thy suffering, pain, and death / that I may not perish. Make me see thy great distress / anguish, and affliction / bonds and stripes and wretchedness / and thy crucifixion / Make me see how scourge and rod / spear and nails did wound thee / How for man thou diedst, O god / who with thorns had crowned thee. Yet, O Lord, not thus alone / Make me see thy passion / but its cause to me make known / and its termination. / Ah! I also and my sin / wrought thy deep affliction / This indeed the cause hath been / of thy crucifixion. Grant that I thy passion view / with repentent grieving / nor thee crucify anew / by unholy living. / How could I refuse to shun / every sinful pleasure / since for me God's only Son / suffered without measure. If my sins give me alarm / and my conscience grieve me / let thy cross my fear disarm /...

O darkest woe! Ye tears, forth flow! Has earth so sad a wonder? God the Father's only Son Now is buried yonder. O sorrow dread! God's Son is dead! But by His expiation Of our guilt upon the cross Gained for us salvation. O sinful man! It was the ban Of death on thee that brought Him Down to suffer for thy sins And such woe hath wrought Him. Lo, stained with blood, The Lamb of God, The Bridegroom, lies before thee, Pouring out His life that He May life restore thee. O Ground of faith, Laid low in death. Sweet lips. now silent sleeping! Surely all that live must mourn Here with bitter weeping. Oh. blest shall be Eternally Who oft in faith will ponder Why the glorious Prince of Life Should be buried yonder. O Jesus blest, My Help and Rest With tears I now entreat Thee: Make me love Thee to the last, Till in heaven I greet Thee! Hat trip to the Rev. Peters, on his blog Pastoral Meanderings , for pointing me to this Bach hymn.