One (Two, Three, Four) Note Song

A few years ago I wrote a musically silly, textually serious song. I recently put the finishing touches on the track. Link to listen is below. Enjoy.

1. The first verse of this simple song

Is easiest to sing along.

There's only one note (don't get it wrong)

Reminding you where you belong:

One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

One hope, one Christ who's arisen,

One truth, one Church, yes one body

One peace, one love, one Spirit free.

Oh, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!

2. We'll add another note to you,

A symbol of the testaments two,

One covenant Old, the other New,

A shadow first, then God-with-you!

Both proclaim God's holy Law,

But Good News saves you from death's jaw.

His Bible is the inspired Word,

Your faith believes the message heard.

Oh, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!

3. A tune of three, now let there be

To God the Holy Trinity,

Distinct the persons - one, two, three -

Yet one God for eternity.

The Spirit works through means of grace,

The Son shows us the Father's face,

Three in One, our God transcends,

Yet down to us in love he bends.

Oh, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!

4. A fourfold melody we raise

To Him who saw our sinful ways

Yet lived in love for all His days,

And cured with blood our grim malaise.

His fourfold Gospel then goes forth

To West and East and South and North.

Directions four, and nations all

Await to hear the Gospel call.

Oh, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!

LISTEN HERE

truth + love

Comments

God Who Bleeds

It was a beautiful May day in gorgeous Irvine, California, and four of us songwriters were sharing a sunny and lighthearted conversation as we walked. This retreat had three scheduled songwriting sessions, and the forty-two attendees would find out before each session what the assigned groups and writing locations were. Benji, Cara, Matt, and I began our gentle uphill walk to the chapel for the final cowrite. We chatted and laughed as we walked. Good Shepherd Chapel, Concordia University Irvine. Photo by Anna Gruen. I don’t remember everything we talked about, but I’m pretty sure that at some point someone joked about the zoom meetings, commenting how you could wear some comfy shorts below the nice shirt and no one would know. And about how there was no way anyone could tell what was really in your mug or water bottle. The conversation took a serious turn when the observation was made that covid (stupid covid!) made substance de...

Grackles

I’m supposed to be writing a sermon right now… but I’m really upset. I’m tired, and frustrated by this whole pandemic/shutdown thing. I miss everyone terribly. I miss worship in God's house. And I wonder the right way forward as a nation, as a church, as a family. And many are wondering which is a bigger problem: the pandemic or the shutdown? People are lining up on both sides. People always line up on both sides. I don’t really want to argue about it. I’m not a fighter by nature. I’m a… hmmm… a lover? Oh… I know. I’m a peace-enjoyer, and a peacemaker when I have to be, when I have the energy to be. There’s a time for fighting, and so we need fighters, and even peacemakers can and should be that when necessary. But I’m tired. And I don’t even want to debate it. I'm not saying it shouldn't be debated. I'm saying that I don't want to ...

New

My soon-to-be wife and I hopped in my green Cavalier and made the 5-hour trek down to St. Louis. It was springtime, and we knew we would be married in the summer, and that we’d move down there after the honeymoon, and I’d start school at the Seminary. The rest we’d have to figure out. We had a lot to accomplish during our short visit. Nicole had an interview set up with the children’s hospital. I had to learn a little about the campus and see what else they needed from me before I came. And we had to find a place to live. The Seminary had some housing for married couples and families, but not enough—at least not at the time. We were told to find an apartment off campus. So we came down to hunt. I had never been on the campus before. I noticed how beautiful it was. The grand old buildings, the cross-shaped (relatively new at the time) chapel, the grass and plants wer...

Search This Blog