Come To The Water

On the Road to Damascus

“The Lord your God is with you. He will take great delight in you; he will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing” Zephaniah 3:17

The search for God is vividly described in Psalms 69:2-3, 

'I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the flood engulfs me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for God.'

Many understand the sensations of hunger and thirst as basic needs of the body. Others, however, hunger and thirst not for food and water but desire emotional, intellectual and spiritual nourishment. Still others crave for moments of spiritual ecstasy as vividly portrayed in the sculpture by Gian Lorenzo Bernini of St Teresa of Avila in the Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome. 

Ecstasy of St Teresa of Avila 

St Teresa described this experience, "I saw in his hand a long spear of gold, and at the iron's point there seemed to be a little fire. He appeared to me to be thrusting it at times into my heart, and to pierce my very entrails; when he drew it out, he seemed to draw them out also, and to leave me all on fire with a great love of God. The pain was so great, that it made me moan; and yet so surpassing was the sweetness of this excessive pain, that I could not wish to be rid of it. The soul is satisfied now with nothing less than God. The pain is not bodily, but spiritual; though the body has its share in it. It is a caressing of love so sweet which now takes place between the soul and God, that I pray God of His goodness to make him experience it who may think that I am lying."

Neuroscientists studied the ecstasy of a religious experience, through studying the excitation of different parts of the brain during deep meditation. An article in the New Scientist entitled ‘In Search of God’ described scientific experiments by Andrew Newberg and Eugene d’Aquili during which eight meditation practitioners underwent brain imaging. These neuroscientists noted a relative deactivation of the parietal lobe that regulate attention and self awareness but the limbic system which regulate emotions became activated. Apparently the same findings will occur for Tibetan monks as for Franciscan nuns, indicating that whatever the religious beliefs, there is a common pathway in the brain for the ‘touching God experience.’ 

Skeptics have used these findings to argue that God has no real existence, that the presence of God is actually just a result of chemical induction of brain functions. On the other hand, one can argue that God made and designed us so that we would have the neuro-ability for this interaction. Blaise Pascal said, "There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator made known through Jesus.”

The Cliffs of Solva, Wales

The hunger and thirst for a special relationship with God is a natural yearning because we are created in God’s image. The wonderful news is that while we search, God reaches out to establish a warm and personal relationship with us. 

“The Lord your God is with you. He will take great delight in you; he will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). 

St Paul, thought that he knew God. He was so adamant and bigoted in his belief that he strenuously persecuted the Christians. However, while steeped in this activity of searching out Christians to persecute, Christ found Paul instead. It was a spectacular and vivid visitation on that road to Damascus. Later, Paul wrote to the Church at Philippi about this unsurpassing find 

'But whatever gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything as a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage that I may gain Christ.' Phil 3: 7-8

 

Jesus offers to all of us the same privilege of a relationship with God. He admits us into this special relationship on the condition of our faith and belief in Him. For the religious mystics amongst us, we can indeed delve into the realm of the limbic system activation when we meditate. But be it as it may, this experience profound or ordinary, only occurs by the grace of God; a gift we receive which we do not deserve. 

The prophet Isaiah wrote, 

Come, all you who are thirsty, Come to the waters. Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.' Isaiah 55:1,6   

And Jesus said come to the waters

Stand by my side

I know you are thirsty you won't be denied

I felt every teardrop when in darkness you cried

And I strove to remind You 

That for those tears I died

You said You'd come and share all my sorrow

You said You'd be there for all my tomorrow

I came so close to sending You away

But just as you've promised

You came there to stay

I just had to pray

Your goodness so great I can't understand

And dear Lord I know that all this was planned

I know you're here now and always will be

And Your love loosed my chains

And in You I'm free

But Jesus why me 

Jesus I gave You my heart and my soul

I know that without God I'd never be whole

Saviour You opened all the right doors

And I thank you and praise You

From earth's humble shores

Take me I'm yours.

Jesus said, 

'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'

Lionel

The Compassionate God

 

Michelangelo's Last Judgement, Sistine Chapel

'Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression.... You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.' Micah 7:18-19

I was converted to Christianity from a religion of ancestral worship and of praying with joss sticks to very fierce looking gods in the Chinese temples. I remember going to Haw Par Villa and staring in fear at the figurines of souls being tortured in hell. My mum would whisper in my ears this would be the fate of naughty children. My vivid memories when visiting the Chinese temples were the large statues of fearsome Taoist mythical gods down on me. They look merciless. 

My childhood home at Kim Chuan Road was about 200 metres from a neighbour who was a temple medium. Visitors would come to ask the medium to tell their fortune or bring offerings. Then he would performed a ritual in which he would go into a trance, whipped his body and cut his tongue with a sharp sword. I was so afraid each time I heard the clanging of gongs and cymbals; more so when returning home from school I had to pass by the house-temple just a few feet away as the medium went into a trance. 

There is a annual procession of the Nine-Emperor Gods from Lorong Tai Seng near where I lived, to Kusu Island. We were brought to watch the processions which were loud and noisy. The men who carried the palanquins of the gods would go into a trance, move and shake uncontrollably as the palanquins were made to sway from side to side. Firecrackers were lighted and thrown at the feet of the pall bearers. I was always frightened.

So, accompanying our parents to worship in these temples or being made to join the processions of the gods, children became acquainted with good and evil and the reality of hell. We grew up trapped in a fatalistic view of life and its inevitable cycles of naughty deeds and punishment. The only recourse, it seems, was to appease these Gods by offerings, incense, prayer and worship.

How can we can escape the entrapment; the fierce  stares of these idols? How can we escape the gates of hell? How can we atone for our sins? 

Fortunately from this religious background of deeds, rewards and retribution, I found the God of Christianity and discovered that my sins can be forgiven. I no longer need to live in fear of hell and recrimination. I discovered the compassionate God of Christianity whose forgiveness is well extolled in Psalm 103. 

'Praise the Lord, my soul and forget not all His benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pits and crowns you with love and compassion.' Psalm 103:2-4

'The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.' Psalm 103:8

'He will not always accuse nor will he harbour His anger forever; He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.' Psalms 103:9-10

'Praise the Lord, my soul and forget not all His benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.' Psalm 103:3-4

As a father has compassion on His children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.' Psalms 103:13

However, this forgiveness is not simply dispensed automatically as with modern day ATMs. Instead it is related to the salvation found in Jesus Christ. It starts with the realisation of sin and evil and culminates in the compassionate forgiveness of sin in Jesus Christ. The truth of John 3:16-17 turned me from living in fear to living in faith.

'For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.' John 3:16-17

This dual and intertwining dispensations of salvation and forgiveness is magnificently portrayed in the painting of The Last Judgement by Michelangelo on the altar wall of the Sistine chapel, St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City. Michelangelo depicted human characters and their passages to hell or heaven, the consequences of life. At very centre of this human drama is the compelling image of Jesus Christ, whose forgiveness rescued us from condemnation to salvation.  

This same epiphany is also exclaimed in Charles Wesley's hymn  'And Can It Be'. Kindly listen to it, beautifully sung by the 200 voices choir of Chennai India.

And can it be that I should gain

An interest in the Savior’s blood
Died He for me, who caused His pain
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace
Emptied Himself of all but love
And bled for Adam’s helpless race
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free
For O my God, it found out me!
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light
My chains fell off, my heart was free
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God shouldst die for me?

No condemnation now I dread
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine
Alive in Him, my living Head
And clothed in righteousness divine
Bold I approach the eternal throne
And claim the crown, through Christ my own
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou my God, shouldst die for me?

And so, rather than cringe under the accusing and condemning eyes of Taoist mythical gods, I seek forgiveness from a compassionate God, the same way that David did in Psalm 51:1-3

'Have mercy on me, O God, according to our Your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know that my transgressions and my sin is always before me' 

Like the Wesleyan hymn this prayer is well articulated by a modern hymn All We Like Sheep by Don Moen

All we like sheep have gone astray

Each of us turning our own separate way

We have all sinned and fallen short of Your glory

But Your glory is what we desire to see

And in Your presence is where we long to be

O Lord show us Your mercy and grace

Take us to Your holy place forgive our sin 

and heal our land we long to live

In Your presence once again

Taking our sickness, taking our pain

Jesus the sacrifice Lamb has been slain

He was despised rejected by men He took our sin

Draw us near to you, Father through Jesus Your Son

Let us worship before You cleansed by Your blood

Have you been to Jesus for this cleansing power? The cleansing of the soul from sin is not just by right or good deeds or making restitution. The cleansing is provided entirely by the grace of God.

Lionel

Is God Absent?

 

'God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.' Psalms 46:1

All over the world, people are reeling under the scourge of the Covid-19 pandemic. As of today, 194,476,739 persons have been infected and 4,167,020 have died. It is not only those who have succumbed to the infection who are suffering, many others suffer economic hardships. Businesses are forced to close, many families are left destitute. It is altogether a dismal time.

In this situation many Christians prayed and waited for relief from God but after more than two years help seem to be withheld. Many may feel that God is silent, God is absent in this predicament. Is God Absent? 

The absence of God in the face of extreme suffering and persecution was explored in a historical fiction entitled Silence written by Japanese Catholic Shusaku Endo. It was made into a film directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Liam Neeson and Andrew Garfield.

Most of us are unaware that Japan had a strong Christian community in the 17th Century. In the southern islands of Kyushu and Shikoku, Christian daimyos (warlords) ruled. However during the Tokugawa Shogunate, there was a brutal persecution of Japanese Christians. Christians were tortured, made to repudiate their faith and forced to go into hiding. The Christian population in Japan dwindled significantly.

There is an extremely good synopsis and analysis of the film Silence placed on YouTube by Josh Keefe which I recommend you watch to understand the issues surrounding the silence of God. 

The author Shusaku Endo wrote, "I had long read about the martyrdom in the lives of the saints – how the souls of the martyrs had gone home to Heaven, how they had been filled with glory in Paradise, how the angels had blown trumpets. This was the splendid martyrdom I had often seen in my dreams. But the martyrdom of the Japanese Christians I now describe to you was no such glorious thing. What a miserable and painful business it was!" ( Ref 1)

It is timely for us to reflect on the age-old questions, Why does God allow suffering? Why in the midst of suffering was God silent? Where is God? 

My friend, William Wan sent me an article written by Dr Patrick Zukeran; a good commentary of the movie as well as a Christian apologetic on this question of Silence and Suffering (Ref 2). 

Zukeran wrote, "I believe Endo wants us to understand the struggle of persecuted Christians and wants us to understand they wrestle with their guilt for the rest of their lives....another lesson Endo wants us to learn is that God is not silent; He remains with His people in their suffering and never abandons His people.  Throughout church history, Christians have faced brutal persecutions. Even Christ, the Son of God suffered the most dreadful death on the cross. Therefore, God understands the pain we experience, He grieves at the wickedness of men, and He promises to be with us always."

Eventually the priest in the film, Father Rodrigues broke, unable to bear the psychological torture of having to witness the physical torture of the Japanese Christians. He stepped on the image of Christ. As he stepped on that image, instead of anger in the eyes of Christ, he saw eyes of understanding and love and he visualised, "Even now that face is looking at me with eyes of pity from the plaque rubbed by many feet. “Trample!” said those compassionate eyes. “Trample! Your foot suffers in pain; it must suffer like all the feet that have stepped on this plaque. But that pain alone is enough. I understand your pain and your suffering. It is for that reason I am here.”

In suffering, Christians identify with the suffering of Christ as He was tortured and crucified. The Apostle Paul wrote about his experience with suffering and concluded,

'so I could know Christ personally, experience His resurrection power, be a partner of His sufferings, and go all the way with Him to death itself.' Philippians 3:10-11

In thinking about the book and film, I learned that though God may be silent at times, He is always present. Yes God is present at times of distress even in this pandemic and God is present always. Ng Kok Song, a friend, said this recently in an international meditation group of business leaders, "God is always present in us, around us, everywhere. If God is not present, everything would dissolve. The problem is that we are absent most of the time, except during particular times of prayer and meditation, where we try to become present to the Presence."

Kok Song's sharing brings to mind Psalm 46:1-3

'God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.'

This song, You are Mine will underscores this immutable fact and comforts us.

I will come to you in the silence

I will lift you from all your fear

You will hear My voice

I claim you as My choice

Be still, and know I am near

I am hope for all who are hopeless

I am eyes for all who long to see

In the shadows of the night,

I will be your light

Come and rest in Me

Do not be afraid, I am with you

I have called you each by name

Come and follow Me

I will bring you home

I love you and you are mine

I am strength for all the despairing

Healing for the ones who dwell in shame

All the blind will see, the lame will all run free

And all will know My name

Do not be afraid, I am with you

I have called you each by name

Come and follow Me

I will bring you home

I love you and you are mine

I am the Word that leads all to freedom

I am the peace the world cannot give

I will call your name, embracing all your pain

Stand up, now, walk, and live

Do not be afraid, I am with you

I have called you each by name

Come and follow Me

I will bring you home

I love you and you are mine

Do not be afraid, I am with you

I have called you each by name

Come and follow Me

I will bring you home

I love you and you are mine

In times like these, help will come from God. 

'I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the make of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip, He who watches you will not slumber nor sleep.' Psalm 121:1-3

Lionel

Ref 1 Shusaku Endo, Silence. New York: Taplinger Publishing Company, 1969

Ref 2: https://evidenceandanswers.org/article/silence-the-hidden-story-of-the-japanese-christians/

The Silent God

The Covid Cloud? 

'I know that my Redeemer lives and at the last He will take His stand on the earth.' Job 19:25

There are times when God is silent. I am afraid these are such times.

The whole world is living under a cloud; the unrelenting devastation of Covid-19 upon this earth. This pandemic affects health, mortality, economy, livelihood and life itself, of every human being on this planet. Just when we think that the spread of infection was controlled, the virus rears its ugly head again with new variants. 

There is untold suffering. Those affected must have asked Why God? We search for answers, for reasons but God is silent. This pandemic has gone on for over two years unabated. Unanswered prayer but this is not the first nor will it be the last time when God will choose to remain silent. 

Consider the Apostle Paul's 'thorn in the flesh' which God did not relieve despite much prayer. In the end, Paul was prepared to resign to God's will

'He said to me, "My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness." Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness.' 2 Cor 12:9,10 (The Message)

Remember Job? Job was a rich and righteous man. Then for reasons unknown to him, he was struck with one calamity upon another. It left him in ruins and devastated his health, wealth, family and even his appearance. Four friends who visited, purportedly to comfort, ended up accusing him of grievous sin for such a severe punishment to befall him. Job searched for a reason for his sufferings but for a long time God was silent.

Today there must be many families who are suffering greatly from this pandemic. Like Job they may be aggrieved that God is distant

'Though I cry, "Violence!" I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice.' Job 19:7

The unrelenting pressure can break some of us. 

'Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness. The churning inside me never stops; days of suffering confront me.' Job 30:26-27

Faced with this pandemic, it will help us to consider Job's situation.  Job went to the brink but he did not break. The bible recorded this

'Not once through all this did Job sin; not once did he blame God.' Job 1:22

Charles Swindoll said, "When flat on our backs, the only way is to look is up. It worked." (Ref 1). Even though we may face the darkest of night, even though God seem not to answer us, let us keep faith in Him. Finally God will have His day, finally He will have His say. As Job said, 

'I know that my redeemer lives and that in the end He will stand on the earth.' Job 19:25  

This great assurance has been culturally immortalised by George Frideric Handel's in the third movement of Messiah a masterpiece, I Know that My Redeemer Liveth

I know that my redeemer liveth
And that he shall stand
At the latter day, upon the earth
I know that my redeemer liveth
And that he shall stand
At the latter day, upon the earth
Upon the earth

And though worms destroy this body
Yet in my flesh shall I see God
Yet in my flesh shall I see God

I know that my redeemer liveth
For now is Christ risen from the dead
The first fruits of them that sleep
Of them that sleep

Covid-19 pandemic will pass. Many may think that it will forever affect us and that we have to adjust to a new post-Covid normal. I hope not. Why? Because the Lord will hear us, He will not stay silent forever; He will heal and as Job said at the last He will take His stand on this earth.

In the words of a modern praise song by Bob Fitts The Lord Reigns!

 

The Lord reigns, the Lord reigns The Lord reigns Let the earth rejoice Let the earth rejoice Let the earth rejoice Let the people be glad That our God reigns A fire goes before him And burns up all his enemies The hills melt like wax At the presence of the lord At the presence of the lord The heavens declare His righteousness The people see His glory For You oh Lord are exalted Over all the earth Over all the earth

Lionel

Ref 1: Charles Swindoll. Job, A Man of Heroic Endurance. Thomas Nelson 2004

O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing!

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns." Rev 19:6

Five years ago, the Hallelujah! Chorus, presented by 300 members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir combined with over 2,000 voices worldwide brought Charles Wesley's opening sentence 'O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing' into sharp focus. 

The resounding sound of many voices singing 'Hallelujah' in Hebrew or 'Alleluia' in Greek which is 'Praise The Lord' is just wonderful to the ears! 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

The kingdom of this world

Is become the kingdom of our Lord

And of His Christ, and of His Christ

And He shall reign for ever and ever

And He shall reign for ever and ever

And He shall reign for ever and ever

For ever and ever, forever and ever

King of kings (Forever and ever Hallelujah! Hallelujah!)

And Lord of lords (Forever and ever Hallelujah! Hallelujah!)

King of kings (Forever and ever Hallelujah! Hallelujah!)

And Lord of lords (Forever and ever Hallelujah! Hallelujah!)

King of kings (Forever and ever Hallelujah! Hallelujah!)

And Lord of lords (King of kings and Lord of lords)

And He shall reign

And He shall reign

And He shall reign forever and ever

King of kings (Forever and ever)

And He shall reign (Hallelujah! Hallelujah!)

And He shall reign forever and ever

King of kings! and Lord of lords!

King of kings! and Lord of lords!

And He shall reign forever and ever

Forever and ever

Forever and ever

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

Handel was probably thinking of the heavenly chorus of praise mentioned in Revelations. And yes! Let the praises and lyrics be repetitive, overflowing, loud and joyful. The same litany of praises can be found in the Book of Psalms. There are 150 Psalms of which 14 or nearly 10% has Praise the Lord as the first sentence; many more are found in the verses. 

'Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.' Psalm 103:1

'Praise the Lord, my soul. Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendour and majesty.' Psalm 104:1 

'Praise the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever.' Psalm 106:1

'Praise the Lord. I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly.' Psalm 111:1

'Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in His commands.' Psalm 112:1

'Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, you His servants; praise the name of the Lord' Psalm 113:1

'Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples.' Psalm 117:1

'Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who ministers by night in the house of the Lord.' Psalm 134:1

'Praise the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord; praise Him, you servants of the Lord.' Psalm 135:1

'Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul.' Psalm 146:1

'Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him!' Psalm 147:1

'Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights above.' Psalm 148:1

'Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of His people.' Psalm 149:1

'Praise the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens.' Psalm 150:1

The psalms instruct us on the how, who, why and where for praising God. We should praise God from the depths of our souls with the voices of praise that are exuberant and refreshing.

Yet in these days of texting on mobile phones we have reduced this exuberance to a trite PTL. Using just the acronym PTL texted in a perfunctory manner is insincere and may even be disrespectful. In the light of the energy of the Hallelujah Chorus one should take umbrage at reducing this praise to three letters - PTL. Let us not allow it to enter the Christian vocabulary. 

By contrast the same means of modern virtual communications can afford us a different outcome. Not to be cowed by the Covid restrictions to public singing many have circumvented these restrictions by doing virtual choir presentations. Many choirs have now taken to singing praises in the virtual space with voices being recorded individually then stitched together digitally. 

Unable to sing and play together physically and in public, hundreds and thousands of singers and musicians found alternative solutions to harmonise their praises. Here is a rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus now completely in the digital space. 

These productions will enable us to shout out the words Hallelujah! and Praise The Lord! joyfully at bleak and oppressive times. The greatness of God, the sacrifice of Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit should leave us not only astounded but with such sincere gratitude that we will let out a spontaneous, Alleluia!

Digital communications have allowed us to demonstrate Charles Wesley's intentions and inspiration when he wrote a thousand tongues will sing.

Like the psalmists, Charles had much to praise God. On the 21 May 1738, Charles was taken ill with pneumonia. On that day a group of friends took turns taking care of him. He was deeply affected by the love and care shown him by these Christians. After recovery, he wrote in his journal counting this experience as a renewal of his faith, Charles' heartwarming experience. 

His brother John Wesley had the same experience on 24 May 1738. John went on to found the Methodist movement. Charles went on to write a 14 stanza hymn expressing his great joy O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing and he became famous as a great hymn writer.

O for a thousand tongues to sing

My great redeemer's praise

The glories of my God and King

The triumphs of His grace

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 cancelled 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

Hear him ye deaf; His praise ye dumb

Your loosened tongues employ

Ye blind behold your saviour comes

And leap ye lame for joy!

My gracious Master and my God

Assist me to proclaim

And spread through all the earth abroad

The honours of Thy name

Truly, when we praise God, our spirits are renewed and our lives revived! Praise the Lord!

Lionel