Lord,
Be with us.
I pray for...
All people in their daily life and work.
For family, friends and neighbors.
For those who are alone and forgotten.
For this community, this town, this nation, this world.
For all those who work for justice freedom and peace.
For the just and proper use of creation.
For victims of hunger, fear, injustice or oppression.
For all who are in danger, sorrow, confusion or trouble.
For those who minister to the sick, the friendless and the needy.
For the peace and unity of the Church of God.
For all who proclaim the gospel and all who seek the truth.
For all who have died, that they may have a place in your eternal Kingdom
We also pray for the repentance and forgiveness of sins.
Sins known and unknown.
Things done and left undone.
Uphold us by your spirit that we may live and serve you
in newness of life.
To the honor and glory of your name,
Amen

A Prayer of Thanks

Lord,
You are the creator and sustainer of all life.
-May we be ever aware of our dependence on you.
I thank you for the beauty and mystery that surrounds us.
-May we see it with fresh eyes each day.
I offer thanks for the beauty of the physical world.
For able bodies to see, smell, feel, taste and hear the good things that you have made.
For green and growing things. For flowers, fruits and vegetables.
For trees, rivers, hills, rocks, lakes and mountains.
For the rich variety of strange and wonderful creatures you have placed in out midst.
-May we be just and faithful stewards
For the ever-changing seasons
For the heavens above and the earth below.
-May we ever remember our place between them.
For the people that are around me every day.
-May we love as you have loved.
For men of virtue and women of faith.
-May we follow their example.
For the gift of innocence in children and for the heart that because of fleeting youth or enduring strength, has not become calloused.
-May we not become calloused.
For family and freinds.
For health.
Above all, I offer thanks for your son who is the redeemer of the world and the savior of undeserving sinners.
-May we always know our place before you as recipients of your grace and mercy.
Lord of all to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.

A Prayer for the People


Lord,
Be with us.
I pray for...
All people in their daily life and work.
For family, friends and neighbors.
For those who are alone and forgotten.
For this community, this town, this nation, this world.
For all those who work for justice freedom and peace.
For the just and proper use of creation.
For victims of hunger, fear, injustice or oppression.
For all who are in danger, sorrow, confusion or trouble.
For those who minister to the sick, the friendless and the needy.
For the peace and unity of the Church of God.
For all who proclaim the gospel and all who seek the truth.
For all who have died, that they may have a place in your eternal Kingdom
We also pray for the repentance and forgiveness of sins.
Sins known and unknown.
Things done and left undone.
Uphold us by your spirit that we may live and serve you
in newness of life.
To the honor and glory of your name,
Amen

.

Great Hymns of the Faith


-When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown.
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.


-How deep the Father's love for us,How vast beyond all measureThat He should give His only SonTo make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss,The Father turns His face awayAs wounds which mar the chosen One,Bring many sons to glory
Behold the Man upon a cross,My sin upon His shouldersAshamed I hear my mocking voice,Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that left Him thereUntil it was accomplishedHis dying breath has brought me lifeI know that it is finished
I will not boast in anythingNo gifts, no power, no wisdomBut I will boast in Jesus ChristHis death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?I cannot give an answerBut this I know with all my heartHis wounds have paid my ransom


-Come, Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy praise
Streams of mercy, never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it
Mount of Thy unchanging love


-Here I raise my Ebenezer
Here there by Thy great help I've come
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood

-O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let that grace now, like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, O take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

-Come, Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy, never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it
Mount of Thy unchanging love

-O for a thousand tongues to sing

My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!

-My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name.

-Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’Tis life, and health, and peace.

-He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.

-He speaks, and, listening to His voice,
New life the dead receive,
The mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
The humble poor believe.

For the beauty of the earth, 
 for the glory of the skies, 
 for the love which from our birth 
 over and around us lies; 
 Lord of all, to thee we raise 
 this our hymn of grateful praise.

2. For the beauty of each hour 
 of the day and of the night, 
 hill and vale, and tree and flower, 
 sun and moon, and stars of light; 
 Lord of all, to thee we raise 
 this our hymn of grateful praise.

3. For the joy of ear and eye, 
 for the heart and mind's delight, 
 for the mystic harmony, 
 linking sense to sound and sight; 
 Lord of all, to thee we raise 
 this our hymn of grateful praise.

4. For the joy of human love, 
 brother, sister, parent, child, 
 friends on earth and friends above, 
 for all gentle thoughts and mild; 
 Lord of all, to thee we raise 
 this our hymn of grateful praise.

5. For thy church, that evermore 
 lifteth holy hands above, 
 offering up on every shore 
 her pure sacrifice of love; 
 Lord of all, to thee we raise 
 this our hymn of grateful praise.

When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
What ever my lot you have taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul


It is well, with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin not in part but the whole
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, oh my soul

It is well, with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

And Lord haste the day when my faith shall be sight
And the clouds be rolled back as a scroll
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend
Even so, it is well with my soul

It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

To be continued...

Reading List

The Hobbit
The Lord of the Rings
-The Gospel According to Tolkien
-Lord of the Rings and Philosophy
-The Hobbit and Philosophy
-Celebrating Middle Earth
-Philosophy of Tolkien
-The Wisdom of the Shire
Etc.

The Chronicles of Narnia
-Chronicles of Narnia and Philosophy
-The Lions World
Mere Christianity
The Problem of Pain
The Four Loves
The Weight of Glory
The Abolition of Man
George MacDonald
-Vice and Virtue according to C.S. Lewis
Etc.

Orthodoxy
Heretics
The Everlasting Man
St. Francis of Assisi
-The Complete Thinker
Etc.

Judge For yourself/ For Self Examination
Sickness Unto Death
Purity of Heart
Works of Love
-Kierkegaard: An Introduction (Evans)
-Provocations
-SK Notes
Etc.

Simply Christian
Surprised by Hope
Simply Jesus
How God Became King
Etc.

A Million Miles and a Thousand Years

Thinking Strait (Flew)
Socratic Logic

Back to Virtue
Making Choices
Pocket Guide to the Meaning of Life
Three Philosophies of Life

Theology for the Community of God- Grenz
Two Views of Hell- Fudge
Against Calvinism- Olsen
Why I am Not a Calvinist- Walls
Resources for Reconciliation
Wendell Berry

Velvet Elvis
Sex. God.
Jesus Wants to Save Christians
Love Wins

The Book of Virtues
Les Miserables
Harry Potter 1-7

Educating for Shalom
The Idea of a Christian College
Critical Thinking Resources

To Read:
Brothers Karmazov
Anna Karanina
Socrates Meets Jesus
Jesus Shock
The Nature and Destiny of Man