Pastor Scott's Musings

  Be Thou My Vision (Rom 8:26-39) We are talking about the beloved hymn, Be Thou My Vision. It comes to us from England. Be Thou My Vision is a favorite of King Charles. The hymn was sung at his 2023 coronation. Be Thou My Vision has been published in over 200 hymnals through the years. It consistently makes top 10 or 20 lists of popular hymns in Christianity.     St Patrick Inspiration for Be Thou My Vision Be Thou My Vision started as a 6 th century Gaelic poem, Rop tu mo Baile. It was written in Middle Irish by a blind monk named Dallán Forgaill. His name means little blind one, for he lost his sight from intense study by candlelight. The poem was used as a prayer among the monks. Forgaill wrote the poem in honor of St. Patrick. It was inspired by an earlier monastic poem St Patrick’s Breastplate . You can hear it in the original 3 rd stanza, which is excluded the United Methodist Hymnal.   Be Thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight; Be Thou my...

  [Slide] Who Needs Revival? (Hosea 6:1-16)   A local congregation hosted a revival. A guest preacher, a revivalist, was speaking on the curse of demon alcohol on society. He was building up the climactic peak of his sermon. “If I had all the whiskey in the world, I’d throw it in the river!” Say it with me, “Throw it in the River!” If I had all the illegal moonshine in the world, I’d throw it in the river, “Come on now! Say it like you mean it! “Throw it in the river!” “If I had all the vodka, gin and rum, wine and beer in the world, I would not partake. Not a drop! I’d throw it all in the river!” “Throw it in the river!” Again! Again! Like you mean it! Again!”   The revivalist took his seat. The hosting pastor got up to speak. Sheepishly he offered, “And now as our closing hymn lets all sing Shall We Gather at the River.”   It’s an oldie but a goodie! It’s finally here! We’ve been talking about The Revival Project for weeks and now it’s here! Together ...