How Great Thou Art? is one of my favorite hymns that popular musicians have sang for a while now - most notable Carrie Underwood and Elvis Presley. The words, I think, are some of the finest lyrics of any Christian song and everytime I hear it, I really can feel my spirit singing out to the Lord (note that the above links aren't really the greatest performances of the songs but you get the idea). In case you never heard the song or ever took the time to understand the lyrics, here they are:
Oh Lord, my God,
When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, my Savior, God, to thee
How Great Thou Art! How Great Thou Art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior, God, to thee
How Great Thou Art! How Great Thou Art!
And when I think, that God, His son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
Then sings my soul, my Savior, God, to thee
How Great Thou Art! How Great Thou Art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior, God, to thee
How Great Thou Art! How Great Thou Art!
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart?
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, How Great Thou Art!"
Then sings my soul, my Savior, God, to thee
How Great Thou Art! How Great Thou Art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior, God, to thee
How Great Thou Art! How Great Thou Art!
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Pipo & Memories
Pipo - that's what I, my siblings, and my mother have called my grandfather since as long as I can remember. It has always been second nature to call him "Pipo" instead of by his given name. When someone asks me what my grandfather's name is, I simply answer with that simple, yet endearing name instead of "Juan Jimenez."
Pipo is the kind of man that I want to be when (and if) I reach his age: a hard-working, blue-collar, kind-hearted man with a sense of humor and whose greatest joy comes from being surrounded by his family. My grandfather has always been a carpenter/handyman. He has great knowledge of the way things are put together and how to fix the same things.
My earliest memories of him are flashes from 1992, which is the year I turned five and the year my grandmother passed away at the early age of 58. I remember him building a treehouse with my brothers on an enormous tree in our backyard. I remember him spending a few days with us as we hid in my parents' closet as Hurricane Andrew tore through our treehouse, house, and the rest of South Florida. I remember that Christmas when he slept over the house and helped unwrap the gifts that Santa had brought us.
St. Francis of Assisi once said that Christians should "Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary use words." I believe that my grandfather summarizes that line in his life. From what I remember, I don't recall him going to church all that often, but I do know that he has a close and personal relationship with the Lord. He has led the family in prayer just about every year at Thanksgiving. I once asked Pipo how he knew how to pray God. He didn't really answer my question directly. Instead, he informed as to the reasoning behind his praying. He told me (in Spanish) "Every night when I go to sleep, I thank God for letting me live to finish another day. Every morning when I wake up, I thank God for letting me live to start another day."
Through that one declaration, I was truly introduced into what the love of God truly was. It was that God continues to bless us with gifts despite the unworthiness of all that we do. It seems to me that those who keep that in their minds - like Pipo - are the truly happy ones.
This past week, Pipo has been helping us move into our new house, which by coincidence is the same house I grew up in. Let me tell you, he worked his butt off. He definitely has lost a step or two since he has had multiple hip surgeries. But that did not stop him from sweating and toiling under the sun with the rest of us to get us all moved in. I was inspired to write this entry when I saw him - after we had finished bringing in all the heavy furniture, sitting next to my dog on the couch, ice-cold beer in hand, silently, and enjoying the simple pleasure of peace in life.
There are a few changes in the house. For instance, the treehouse is gone as the previous owner had torn the large tree down. Secondly, Pipo had started converting the garage into a bedroom for my little sister. That room is now finished and is being used as an office. However, one of the days we were there, we managed to come across a "footprint," if you will, of our previous stay at that house. Carved into one of the cement stones we use as a pathway in our backyard were my brothers' names. One stone said:
DANNY
6/25/88
The other said:
LUISI
6/25/88
When Pipo saw this, he smiled and let out a sigh before he returned to work. That memory kept him going, as do all his memories. And I'm sure at that moment, in his heart, he praised the Lord for letting him live through these moments etched in his memories.
(Below are some pictures of Pipo at my brother's wedding back in May 2008. He's the dude with the 'stache.)
Pipo is the kind of man that I want to be when (and if) I reach his age: a hard-working, blue-collar, kind-hearted man with a sense of humor and whose greatest joy comes from being surrounded by his family. My grandfather has always been a carpenter/handyman. He has great knowledge of the way things are put together and how to fix the same things.
My earliest memories of him are flashes from 1992, which is the year I turned five and the year my grandmother passed away at the early age of 58. I remember him building a treehouse with my brothers on an enormous tree in our backyard. I remember him spending a few days with us as we hid in my parents' closet as Hurricane Andrew tore through our treehouse, house, and the rest of South Florida. I remember that Christmas when he slept over the house and helped unwrap the gifts that Santa had brought us.
St. Francis of Assisi once said that Christians should "Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary use words." I believe that my grandfather summarizes that line in his life. From what I remember, I don't recall him going to church all that often, but I do know that he has a close and personal relationship with the Lord. He has led the family in prayer just about every year at Thanksgiving. I once asked Pipo how he knew how to pray God. He didn't really answer my question directly. Instead, he informed as to the reasoning behind his praying. He told me (in Spanish) "Every night when I go to sleep, I thank God for letting me live to finish another day. Every morning when I wake up, I thank God for letting me live to start another day."
Through that one declaration, I was truly introduced into what the love of God truly was. It was that God continues to bless us with gifts despite the unworthiness of all that we do. It seems to me that those who keep that in their minds - like Pipo - are the truly happy ones.
This past week, Pipo has been helping us move into our new house, which by coincidence is the same house I grew up in. Let me tell you, he worked his butt off. He definitely has lost a step or two since he has had multiple hip surgeries. But that did not stop him from sweating and toiling under the sun with the rest of us to get us all moved in. I was inspired to write this entry when I saw him - after we had finished bringing in all the heavy furniture, sitting next to my dog on the couch, ice-cold beer in hand, silently, and enjoying the simple pleasure of peace in life.
There are a few changes in the house. For instance, the treehouse is gone as the previous owner had torn the large tree down. Secondly, Pipo had started converting the garage into a bedroom for my little sister. That room is now finished and is being used as an office. However, one of the days we were there, we managed to come across a "footprint," if you will, of our previous stay at that house. Carved into one of the cement stones we use as a pathway in our backyard were my brothers' names. One stone said:
DANNY
6/25/88
The other said:
LUISI
6/25/88
When Pipo saw this, he smiled and let out a sigh before he returned to work. That memory kept him going, as do all his memories. And I'm sure at that moment, in his heart, he praised the Lord for letting him live through these moments etched in his memories.
(Below are some pictures of Pipo at my brother's wedding back in May 2008. He's the dude with the 'stache.)
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Save the whale, but not the baby?
The following is an article taken from the Florida Catholic that was written by Archbishop John Favarola.
My dear friends,
Last month, ABC News reported on some "amazing images of animals in the womb."
The images were obtained using the same ultrasound technology that for nearly two decades has allowed human parents to peek inside the mother's womb and, if they choose, find out the sex of their unborn baby.
Apparently, this ultrasound technology had not been used on animals until National Geographic scientists embarked on this study, which is aimed at helping animals "survive."
Listen to some of the remarks uttered by the reporter based on the observations made by the scientists:
"Amazing images of animals in the womb shed new light on the beginning of life. …
"In the beginning, we are all very much alike; sperm meets egg and the embryo soon develops a heart, eyes, limbs. …
"You can see actual animal behavior in utero, which is really the building block to how those animals survive. …
"An unborn dolphin swims in the womb long before it swims in the sea. A puppy starts to pant before birth. That will be its main way in life of keeping cool. …
"
The pictures are indeed striking, but researchers also say that learning from them will help them help the animals survive."
How sad that similar pictures of human babies sucking their thumbs inside their mother's wombs — pictures that were available 34 years ago — did not convince our Supreme Court that unborn human life was equally entitled to survive, and therefore worthy of legal protection.
In fact, more than a decade ago, when I was on the U.S. bishops' pro-life committee, we tried to show very similar images of babies inside the womb at a congressional hearing. The committee chairman turned us down.
I wonder, if she were in the same position today, would she have refused to show these images of unborn animals in their mothers' wombs? If the hearings concerned the protection of animal life, would these images be deemed too disturbing to behold?
Because they leave no doubt that what is developing inside the womb is an elephant, or a dog or a dolphin. This is animal life at its beginning stages. Similarly, what we find inside a human mother's womb is human life at its beginning stages — not just a blob of cells.
These images of animals in the womb were not obtained by zealot pro-lifers bent on "imposing their religious beliefs" on their fellow Americans. These images — like those of human babies sucking and kicking in the womb — were obtained by scientists.
But facts and science have no place in our debate on abortion. On that issue, we want to do as we please. So people put on a bumper sticker that says "Save the Whales" but not one that says "Save the Babies."
When dogs or cats are found starved and neglected, the outcry is immediate. Hundreds come forward offering to adopt the animals in order to prevent their destruction.
I bet we would hear an outcry if anyone suggested harming the unborn dog, dolphin or elephant pictured in those National Geographic ultrasounds.
But where is the outcry about the more than 1 million babies who are killed each year by abortion in this country alone?
As I always say, there is no logic in this country where abortion is concerned. Our views are completely schizophrenic, and as long as this is so, we will remain deeply divided over this issue.
For no one is as blind as the one who refuses to see.
My dear friends,
Last month, ABC News reported on some "amazing images of animals in the womb."
The images were obtained using the same ultrasound technology that for nearly two decades has allowed human parents to peek inside the mother's womb and, if they choose, find out the sex of their unborn baby.
Apparently, this ultrasound technology had not been used on animals until National Geographic scientists embarked on this study, which is aimed at helping animals "survive."
Listen to some of the remarks uttered by the reporter based on the observations made by the scientists:
"Amazing images of animals in the womb shed new light on the beginning of life. …
"In the beginning, we are all very much alike; sperm meets egg and the embryo soon develops a heart, eyes, limbs. …
"You can see actual animal behavior in utero, which is really the building block to how those animals survive. …
"An unborn dolphin swims in the womb long before it swims in the sea. A puppy starts to pant before birth. That will be its main way in life of keeping cool. …
"
The pictures are indeed striking, but researchers also say that learning from them will help them help the animals survive."
How sad that similar pictures of human babies sucking their thumbs inside their mother's wombs — pictures that were available 34 years ago — did not convince our Supreme Court that unborn human life was equally entitled to survive, and therefore worthy of legal protection.
In fact, more than a decade ago, when I was on the U.S. bishops' pro-life committee, we tried to show very similar images of babies inside the womb at a congressional hearing. The committee chairman turned us down.
I wonder, if she were in the same position today, would she have refused to show these images of unborn animals in their mothers' wombs? If the hearings concerned the protection of animal life, would these images be deemed too disturbing to behold?
Because they leave no doubt that what is developing inside the womb is an elephant, or a dog or a dolphin. This is animal life at its beginning stages. Similarly, what we find inside a human mother's womb is human life at its beginning stages — not just a blob of cells.
These images of animals in the womb were not obtained by zealot pro-lifers bent on "imposing their religious beliefs" on their fellow Americans. These images — like those of human babies sucking and kicking in the womb — were obtained by scientists.
But facts and science have no place in our debate on abortion. On that issue, we want to do as we please. So people put on a bumper sticker that says "Save the Whales" but not one that says "Save the Babies."
When dogs or cats are found starved and neglected, the outcry is immediate. Hundreds come forward offering to adopt the animals in order to prevent their destruction.
I bet we would hear an outcry if anyone suggested harming the unborn dog, dolphin or elephant pictured in those National Geographic ultrasounds.
But where is the outcry about the more than 1 million babies who are killed each year by abortion in this country alone?
As I always say, there is no logic in this country where abortion is concerned. Our views are completely schizophrenic, and as long as this is so, we will remain deeply divided over this issue.
For no one is as blind as the one who refuses to see.
Why We Need Each Other
Why We Need Each Other
by Matt Lott of the band Wavorly
Sometimes I don't want to go to church.Some weeks, it's just hard for me to get up and go. Yeah, laziness is no excuse for missing church, but it has happened. Other times, my reason for not going starts with nagging thoughts about some of the people who've hurt me. Or people I've had bad experiences with at churches. I think about some of the people who don't seem to represent the name of Christ too well. Thinking about those experiences makes me want to stay home.
When I read the IYF article, "The Cure for Loneliness," it hit me that maybe I wasn't really giving the people around me much of a chance. Maybe my attitude was messed up. Maybe I misunderstood the purpose of church.
The article refers to a phrase in the Apostle's Creed that just kept coming back to me: " … the communion of saints." This really stuck out in my mind because it made me realize that the communion of saints includes everyone, including people like me who aren't very saintly at times. And having all those people together is important. Why?
The author quotes John 13:35. It reads, "If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples" (CEV). We have to love and support our brothers and sisters in Christ. It's how we show God's love.
That helped me see that I'm often so concerned with loving the lost and reaching out to the unsaved that I forget my own Christian brothers and sisters. I don't support them as much as I could, I don't commune with these saints, and I even use some of them as excuses not to go to church! It's easy for me to let small hurts stand in the way of loving my brothers and sisters in Christ.
This article reminded me that the love I show my fellow believers will help those who don't believe see that Christ's love is for everyone, no matter what we've done or what we struggle with. I also am reminded that I should be happy to have opportunities to be with other Christians in church. Because by learning to love other believers as they are, I am modeling the love of God.
by Matt Lott of the band Wavorly
Sometimes I don't want to go to church.Some weeks, it's just hard for me to get up and go. Yeah, laziness is no excuse for missing church, but it has happened. Other times, my reason for not going starts with nagging thoughts about some of the people who've hurt me. Or people I've had bad experiences with at churches. I think about some of the people who don't seem to represent the name of Christ too well. Thinking about those experiences makes me want to stay home.
When I read the IYF article, "The Cure for Loneliness," it hit me that maybe I wasn't really giving the people around me much of a chance. Maybe my attitude was messed up. Maybe I misunderstood the purpose of church.
The article refers to a phrase in the Apostle's Creed that just kept coming back to me: " … the communion of saints." This really stuck out in my mind because it made me realize that the communion of saints includes everyone, including people like me who aren't very saintly at times. And having all those people together is important. Why?
The author quotes John 13:35. It reads, "If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples" (CEV). We have to love and support our brothers and sisters in Christ. It's how we show God's love.
That helped me see that I'm often so concerned with loving the lost and reaching out to the unsaved that I forget my own Christian brothers and sisters. I don't support them as much as I could, I don't commune with these saints, and I even use some of them as excuses not to go to church! It's easy for me to let small hurts stand in the way of loving my brothers and sisters in Christ.
This article reminded me that the love I show my fellow believers will help those who don't believe see that Christ's love is for everyone, no matter what we've done or what we struggle with. I also am reminded that I should be happy to have opportunities to be with other Christians in church. Because by learning to love other believers as they are, I am modeling the love of God.
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