Podcasts about we adore thee

St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Farmersville, Ohio February 2, 2025 Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany Announcements Prelude Opening Hymn - "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" - LBW #551 Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness Apostolic Greeting Kyrie Hymn of Praise - "This is the Feast" Prayer of the Day First Lesson - Jeremiah 1:4-10 Second Lesson - 1 Corinthians 12:27 - 13:13 Hymn - "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" - LBW #315 Gospel - Luke 4:21-33 Sermon - "Witness: To God's Sovereign and All-Encompassing Love" Hymn of the Day - "What Feast of Love" - WOV #701 Nicene Creed Prayers of the Church Offering Offertory - "Let the Vineyards" Great Thanksgiving Words of Institution and Lord's Prayer Distribution Post-Communion Liturgy Benediction Exodus Hymn - "Sent Forth By God's Blessing" - LBW #221 Dismissal Join us this Sunday at 10:00 A.M.! For the video version of today's service, please visit https://youtu.be/g-WdIEV6uT4 May God bless you now and always!

Glory Takes a VillageLuke 2:8-20Advent 2024Adam ReasnerSaint Andrew ChurchAuburn, IndianaCCLI# 1357907CCLI# 20112034Miller, Joshua “5,000 piece Ravensburger Puzzle “Beneath the Sea” Time Lapse” YouTube. Uploaded by Joshua Miller, 25 November, 2011, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjCL6DgqGN0.Grant, Amy. “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.” Be Still and Know… Hymns & Faith. Amy Grant Productions, 2012. Digital.

St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Farmersville, Ohio June 2, 2024 Second Sunday after Pentecost Announcements Prelude Opening Hymn - "Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty" - LBW #250 Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness Apostolic Greeting Kyrie Hymn of Praise - "This is the Feast" Prayer of the Day First Lesson - Deuteronomy 5:12-15 Second Lesson - 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 Hymn - "In the Garden" Gospel - Mark 2:23-28 Sermon - "Summer Activities: Worshiping Together and Apart" Hymn - "My Faith Looks Up to Thee" - LBW #479 Nicene Creed Prayers of the Church Offering Offertory - "Let the Vineyards" Offertory Prayer Great Thanksgiving Words of Institution and Lord's Prayer Distribution Post-Communion Liturgy Benediction Exodus Hymn - "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" - LBW #551 Dismissal Postlude For the video version of today's service, please visit https://youtu.be/0gnJ-d_niuE May God bless you now and always!

Sunday Worship for January 28, 2024, from Queen Anne Lutheran Church in Seattle, our 10:30 service— Pastor Dan Peterson, presiding; Canon Kyle Haugen Prelude • Gathering Hymn—Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee, ELW 836• Children's Message—Pastor Dan Peterson • First Reading—Deuteronomy 18:15-20  • Second Reading—1 Corinthians 8:1-13 • Gospel— Mark 1:21-28  • Sermon—"Is the Demonic a Distraction?" Pastor Dan Peterson • Hymn of the Day—There Is a Balm in Gilead, ELW 614 • Distribution Hymn—Come and Fill Our Hearts, ELW 528 • Sending Hymn—O Christ, Your Heart, Compassionate ELW 722  • Postlude ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link here to view the bulletin.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Enjoying our worship recordings? Consider giving a gift to our church; ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠go to this link.⁠

As we begin Season 2, Jeff Kellam asks Bill Carter to speak about his work in syncopating Christian worship services. Bill has been at it for forty years, ever since he was a student pastor in New Jersey. Along the way, the co-hosts offer some musical samples as they explore a long and ongoing journey of welcoming jazz in the sanctuary.Discover the "Swing a New Song to the Lord" jazz hymnal at www.presbybop.com.You can find the film "Jazz Belongs in Church" at https://presbybop.com/jazz-belongs-in-church-dvdMusic: "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee," "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah," and "Down By the Riverside,"  (c) Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet. Unreleased material. Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop QuartetMusic used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)Announcer: Chris Norton(c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

WEEKLY WISDOM & INSIGHTS 12/14/22 SPIRITUALLY GUIDED TRANSFORMATION & EMPOWERMENT WITH A FOCUS ON THE NEW (2022 & BEYOND) DearJames®️& THE UNSEEN (SPIRIT, SOURCE, & SYMPHONY) OFFER WEEKLY INTUITIVE INSIGHTS ON THE OVERALL CURRENT ENERGIES AND THIS EPISODES MAIN THEMES OF STANDSTILL - APPROACH, NOURISHED WHILE WAITING - PATIENCE, CONTEMPLATION - OVERVIEW, GREAT POSSESSING - AFFLUENCE, DIVINE FULFILLMENT - COMPLETION, 7 - THE FOUNDATION OF GOD'S WORD, 2022 TO 2023 - FULL STREAM AHEAD! - BE READY!, IN STILLNESS YOUR SOUL SPEAKS - SHINES: LISTEN & RECEIVE!, THE WAY BECOMES CLEAR - FOLLOW WILLINGLY - JOYFULLY, PROSPERITY AWAITS YOU! - song JOYFUL, JOYFUL, WE ADORE THEE, WHERE I AM THERE TOO ARE YOU!, 5-POINTED STAR - STAR OF VENUS, AND THE EXPANSION THAT FOLLOWS. JOIN US LIVE EVERY WEDNESDAY for WEEKLY WISDOM & INSIGHTS 8:00am Pacific - 11:00am Eastern - 5:00pm European (GMT+1) on: Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn DONATE: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=L7T9WW9JRATFE JOIN OUR PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP: Intuitive Insights & Human Design Wisdom https://www.facebook.com/groups/398986111992445/ BOOK A PRIVATE CONSULTATION DearJames® offers Intuitive Insight, Answers, & Advice…To Your Life Questions with 60 and/or 90-Minute Intuitive Consultations. He also offers a combined 60-Minute Private Consultation with Human Design Expert @TheLadyJaclyn: 30-Minutes Intuitive Insights / 30-Minutes Human Design. For more information and to BOOK YOUR CONSULTATION: https://shop.dearjames.com/collections/intuitive-consultations FOLLOW - LIKE - SHARE - SUBSCRIBE https://linktr.ee/dearjames INSPIRED TO SHARE THIS EPISODE...PLEASE DO

It is a good thing to observe Christmas, but it is even better to keep Christmas … – Henry Van Dyke It's Christmas time. Lights, shopping, trees filled with tiny twinkling treasures. I hope you and yours are enjoying the season. To celebrate, I wanted to jump in with one of my favorite stories by one of my favorite authors. Henry Jackson Van Dyke Jr. was an American author, educator, diplomat, and clergyman. He was born on November 10, 1852, in Germantown, Pennsylvania to a strict Presbyterian family of Dutch origin. He graduated from Princeton University and went on to become a professor of English Literature for over twenty years. He entered Princeton Theological Seminary in September 1874 (with no actual desire to become a minister); however, in 1875 at Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, he gave his first sermon on “The Voice of God.” Interestingly enough, he penned the lyrics to Beethoven's famous “Ode to Joy” melody and it became the beloved hymn, “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.”  Van Dyke also wrote a short sermon entitled, “The Spirit of Christmas” which is beautiful, timely and I'm sharing it here with you today. It inspired Peter Marshall who wrote Let's Keep Christmas. This charming book is one that I am constantly on hunt for at estate sales. And I just happen to have a few copies in my shop. Take a look here. SHOW NOTES To check out the Christmas books I referenced, take a peek at ‘Christmas Reading‘ in my Amazon Shop. To buy a copy of Let's Keep Christmas, visit my shop on my site here. Become a Newsletter Friend and get weekly-ish encouragement and know about all the fun things coming up in 2023. Join us Sundays at my home church, Austin Christian Fellowship, online or in-person. Learn more about ACF's Ministry Partners here. Stay at The Franklin our treasure in small town, Texas! Airbnb link here. Listen to more of Sara Davis Regan's music. :)

This week we conclude our look at "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" written by Henry van Dyke. In this second of our two-part series, we explore the call of this song on us as Christ followers. Who are made to be? Who is this God we are worshiping? Why are we called to worship? And what do we do about it? We bookend this episode with a beautiful quote from Van Dyke himself. “For the long breath, the deep breath, the breath of a heart without care—I will give thanks and adore thee, God of the open air!”Support the show

This week we begin diving into "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" exploring its origins while talking about its meter and tune. This will be a two-part series. Next week we will dig into what the song is calling us be and to do as Christ followers.  I'm excited to begin this look into what many hymnologists call one of the most joyous songs in the English language. Thanks for listening! Don't forget to follow and share!Support the show

Hymn #'s: 161 - He Leadeth Me 163 - Conquering Love 104 - Brethren We Have Met To Worship 463 - Anywhere is Home 370 - What A Day That Will Be 122 - Tell Me The Story Of Jesus 543 - Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

PreludeVBS Band PreludeWelcome & News of the ChurchCall to WorshipHymn of Praise - (#342) "Come Christians, Join to Sing"VBS Slideshow, presented by Teri YuenVBS Praise Songs, led by the VBS BandConfession and Assurance, led by Rev. Sharon YagerlenerGloria PatriSermon - "There is Need of Only One Thing" (Luke 10:38-42) - by Rev. Jason GrifficeHymn of Response - (#35) "Near to the Heart of God", verse 1Offertory and DoxologyPastoral Prayer, led by Rev. Sharon YagerlenerSending Hymn - (#377) "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee", verses 1, 2, & 4BenedictionPostludeIf you'd like to send tithes or offerings by mail, please usePresbyterian Church of the CovenantP.O. Box 2128Costa Mesa, CA 92628Come Christians, Join to SingCome, Christians, join to sing Alleluia! Amen!Loud praise to Christ our King; Alleluia! Amen!Let all, with heart and voice, Before His throne rejoice; Praise is His gracious choice: Alleluia! Amen!Come, lift you hearts on high; Alleluia! Amen!Let praises fill the sky; Alleluia! Amen!He is our Guide and Friend; To us He'll condescend; His love shall never end: Alleluia! Amen!Praise yet our Christ again; Alleluia! Amen!Life shall not end the strain; Alleluia! Amen!On heaven's blissful shore His goodness we'll adore, Singing forevermore,"Alleluia! Amen!"Amen. Near to the Heart of GodThere is a place of quiet rest, Near to the heart of God; A place where sin cannot molest, Near to the heart of God. O Jesus, blest Redeemer, Sent from the heart of God, Hold us, who wait before Thee, Near to the heart of God. Joyful, Joyful, We Adore TheeJoyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love; Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, Opening to the sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, Drive the dark of doubt away; Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day. All Thy works with joy surround Thee, Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays, Stars and angels sing around Thee, Center of unbroken praise. Field and forest, vale and mountain, Flowery meadow, flashing sea, Chanting bird and flowing fountain, Call us to rejoice in Thee. Mortals, join the happy chorus With the morning stars began; Father love is reigning o'er us, Brother love binds man to man. Ever singing, march we onward, Victors in the midst of strife, Joyful music leads us sun-ward In the triumphs song of life. Amen. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+5%3A1-11&version=ESV (Scripture) https://storage.snappages.site/WZDBWW/assets/files/ENG_CCR_20220213.pdf (Transcript) Music: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee - 2nd Chapter of Acts I Love to Tell the Story - John Jones This Little Light - The Sweet Inspirations

Due to the snow and icy conditions at the church facility, we are not holding in-person worship service on Sunday, January 2. But our pastor and worship team will be assembling so that we can all worship together online at the usual time of 10:45 AM (Pacific Time). We also will record it so that you can participate at a later time. This is the Audio-only version recorded for Sunday, January 2, 2022. It is also available in Video format through our YouTube channel. Click on the "Notes Icon" (the little image of a notepad) to get the sermon study notes for this week. ORDER OF SERVICE: We will open our service by singing “O Come Let Us Adore Him” and “Emmanuel” (on-screen lyrics in the video recording). Listen to the message titled "The Sea and Sky Come Alive,” preached by Pastor Dave Marksbury from Genesis 1:20-23. This is message #9 in the new sermon series, “Genesis: Our Firm Foundation.” Messages in the series are made available in both video and audio-only recordings; visit our website for more information. After this message, sing again with our worship team: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee,” “Come On Ring Those Bells,” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain.” Join us in prayer, then listen to the church announcements. Enjoy the mini-movie “His Name is Jesus.” Next, we will have a "One Year Bible Reading" update. We will conclude the service by singing “Ring the Bells.”

Gaudete (Advent 3) 12/12/21 Is. 40:1–11 Psalm 85 1 Cor. 4:1–5 Matt. 11:2–11  DS 3 347 Comfort, Comfort Ye My People 345 Hark! A Thrilling voice is sounding 357 O Come, O Come Emmanuel 803 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

This worship service will begin with a hymn sung by the Congregation (Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel) and end with a hymn sung by the Congregation (Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee).The message, "PRISON MINISTRY," for the Third Sunday in Advent follows the scriptures in Zephaniah 3:14-20;  Psalm 85:1-13; Philippians 4:4-9; and the Gospel according to St. Luke, chapter 7, verses 18-35.  The message begins at about the 10-minute, 44-second mark,  followed by the prayers.If you would like to watch the complete Service, click on the link below:https://youtu.be/iD5PNiz0ZnA

Nehemiah 9-12 We are in the Nation Stream reading from the New Living Translation. 7streamsmethod.com | @7streamsmethod | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Dear God in Heaven, Such great things happen when we simply pause and rededicate ourselves to be people of the Scripture. Amen. 09 - The scripture reading (from the chapters we read last week) led straight into a movement of great repentance and solemn prayer. There was confession and worship.  The praise led to a reciting of their history: the great, the good, the foolish, the bad.  Their assessment of themselves was sober (quite refreshing actually!).  They, right then, right there, make a pact to be an obedient people.  Interesting that yesterday, we were reading the other end of their history, when they were hearing the urgent reasons to be an obedient people.  Here they are regrouping in the land, 900-1000 years later and pledging to be an obedient people.  Can we say "finally!" Can we? 10 - Like contracts today, they needed to put it in writing. They did and signed it. Participants were Nehemiah, and Zedekiah (not the lousy tortured king from 586 B.C., a different Zedekiah) along with numerous priests, Levites, and leaders. Then all the others who consecrated themselves to also follow God pledged an oath in kind: None in their families would marry pagans, they would keep the Sabbath, they would see to the Temple being financed, maintained, and supplied.  Family-members would be dedicated to God. There would be no more hoarding against God's rules or withholding from what He asks of them. 11 - It was time to resettle and occupy Jerusalem.  Sacred lots were drawn and people gathered their things to go take up resident and fill the city with life.  They came from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, plus there were Priests, Levites, gatekeepers and their associates.  The apportioning and settlements were then listed as the land was to be occupied by Hebrews, not pagan peoples. 12 -  We read ('red"/not "reed") the list of priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel. They along with family leaders are listed. Everyone of these fine souls was there to help keep Jewish minds to be "stayed upon Thee." We see the records are kept during this era and such and such that era.  It is interesting that Jewish people are generally tremendous record keepers even to this day. The dedication of the Wall was an event to behold.  It was part Disneyland Parade, part big band/big choir. Nehemiah is giving live report as he writes it.  ...And there was great joy in Jerusalem. The singing could be heard for miles. Can you hear them singing, "Joyful Joyful, We Adore Thee" from all around the world? Someday we will...

Parise & Worship:  Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" (vs 1,2,3)Bible Passage:  Revelation 3:1-6Special Music :  "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"Support the show (https://app.easytithe.com/app/giving/zionumcgiving)

We are recording our in-person worship service (10:45 AM on Sunday) each week for folks who can't join us in person. This is the Audio-only version recorded for Sunday, July 11, 2021. It is also available in Video format through our YouTube channel. Click on the "Notes Icon" (the little image of a notepad) to get the sermon study notes for this week. ORDER OF SERVICE: Sing our opening songs, "Bless His Holy Name” and "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" (on-screen lyrics in the video recording). Listen to the message "The Millennial Reign of Christ” (Part 1), preached by Pastor Dave Marksbury from Revelation 20:1-6. This message is part of the multi-week sermon series "Revelation: God's Final Call." (Prior messages in the series are available in both video and audio-only recordings). Sing: "His Name is Wonderful” and "And Can It Be.” Join us in prayer, listen to the church announcements and a "One Year Bible Reading" update. Our closing song is "I Surrender All."

Welcome to Morning Prayer from the Anglican Parish of Pasadena and Cormack! Today's service is led by Rev. Joseph Pagano, Rev. Amy Richter, Kitty Rice (reading our second lesson), Kay Hounsell (leading our prayers), and Ed and Debbie Humber and Lloyd Hollett (leading our music, "If I Were a Butterfly," "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee," and "All Things Bright and Beautiful"). The sermon is by Rev. Amy and is based on the lessons (2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19; Ephesians 1:3-14; and Mark 6:14-29).Special thanks to Lloyd and Sandy Hollett for welcoming us to record parts of the service in the Butterfly House at the Newfoundland Insectarium in Deer Lake, NL. Some of the still photos used in the video are from their FaceBook page. You can learn more at https://www.facebook.com/nfinsectarium.You can watch a video of the service here.  Thank you for joining us today!

Todd: OK, Diana we are going to talk about your hobby.Dianna: OK.Todd: What is your hobby?Dianna: I have lots of different hobbies but right now I'm learning to play the guitar.Todd: Great. How long have you been playing or practicing?Dianna: I got my guitar two years ago but I've probably spent a total of two weeks practicing.Todd: Did you bring your guitar to Japan?Dianna: I didn't. Actually, my brother wants to learn to play also so he's taking good care of my guitar while I'm here, but when I get back I'll jump right back into practice.Todd: OK, great. Well, who's a better player?Dianna: I am for sure, but I told him that if he gets better than me while I'm away that he has to teach me everything he knows.Todd: Oh, that's only fair. OK. Can you play any songs?Dianna: Yes, I can play "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" and just the last part of the "Star-Spangled Banner". Not the beginning, the beginning's way too hard.

Todd: OK, Diana we are going to talk about your hobby.Dianna: OK.Todd: What is your hobby?Dianna: I have lots of different hobbies but right now I'm learning to play the guitar.Todd: Great. How long have you been playing or practicing?Dianna: I got my guitar two years ago but I've probably spent a total of two weeks practicing.Todd: Did you bring your guitar to Japan?Dianna: I didn't. Actually, my brother wants to learn to play also so he's taking good care of my guitar while I'm here, but when I get back I'll jump right back into practice.Todd: OK, great. Well, who's a better player?Dianna: I am for sure, but I told him that if he gets better than me while I'm away that he has to teach me everything he knows.Todd: Oh, that's only fair. OK. Can you play any songs?Dianna: Yes, I can play "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" and just the last part of the "Star-Spangled Banner". Not the beginning, the beginning's way too hard.

Todd: OK, Diana we are going to talk about your hobby.Dianna: OK.Todd: What is your hobby?Dianna: I have lots of different hobbies but right now I'm learning to play the guitar.Todd: Great. How long have you been playing or practicing?Dianna: I got my guitar two years ago but I've probably spent a total of two weeks practicing.Todd: Did you bring your guitar to Japan?Dianna: I didn't. Actually, my brother wants to learn to play also so he's taking good care of my guitar while I'm here, but when I get back I'll jump right back into practice.Todd: OK, great. Well, who's a better player?Dianna: I am for sure, but I told him that if he gets better than me while I'm away that he has to teach me everything he knows.Todd: Oh, that's only fair. OK. Can you play any songs?Dianna: Yes, I can play "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" and just the last part of the "Star-Spangled Banner". Not the beginning, the beginning's way too hard.

In 1824, the world first heard Beethoven's 9th (and final, grandest and best) Symphony. It was truly a triumph for him - - a realization of what he'd hoped and worked for. He had envisioned a supreme symphony that would combine instruments and voices, and the final movement -- the one entitled "Ode to Joy" -- finished to thunderous applause by everyone present. Beethoven -- completely deaf -- was turned around by some of the soloists so he could see the reaction of the people. Some 80-plus years later, Henry van Dyke wrote the glorious lyrics of "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee," with the express intent that they be sung to Beethoven's "Hymn of Joy." In the nearly 100 years since then, they have been sung, with this lyric/tune combination considered to be one of the most joyous expressions of hymn lyrics in the English language. Join me as we look and study more about how this hymn came to be.http://articles.ochristian.com/article6060.shtmlhttps://deannawitkowski.com/hymn-tune-history-hymn-to-joy-joyful-joyful-we-adore-thee/https://www.hymnologyarchive.com/joyful-joyful-we-adore-thee

Scripture: John 15: 1-11 Worship Leader/Sermon: Rev. Emily Freeman Penfield Pianist: Andy Plummer Soloist: Lisa Russell Lowe Songs: "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty" (1680) by Joachim Neander "I Am the Vine" (1979) by Carole McCann "For the Fruits of this Creation" (1970) by Fred Pratt Green "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" (1907) by Henry Van Dyke   CCLI 20178353 To donate to Woodlawn UMC, visit https://www.woodlawnbham.com/giving or use Venmo @woodlawnumc

In this episode we are going to apply the GPS-Method to the Narratives of the Bible.Visit our website, thebiblegps.com for more information or sign up for free at our Online Bible School.Joyfyl, Joyful, We Adore Thee from HymnaginationSupport the show (https://thebiblegps.com/donation)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+2%3A10-18&version=ESV (Hebrews 2:10-18) Merry Christmas. I hope you have a happy new year. I've never been sure of what to preach at this particular time of the year – Christmas and New Year's. It would be easy, I suppose, for me to load a bunch of New Year's spiritual resolutions on you but that isn't really Good News to build a life upon. It can come off sounding more like Law than Good News. We could celebrate, the blessings and challenges of the past year, but that would be somewhat like a Thanksgiving message. So instead, I thought maybe now that the emotional part of the Christmas experience is behind us, why not take one last look at the question we have been focusing upon during the weeks leading up to Christmas: What child is this whose birth we just celebrated? The writer of the letter to the Hebrews has a very insightful and encouraging answer for us today. Like news magazines and television shows that use collages and images to remind people of things that have taken place, the book of Hebrews offers a collage of images to help us understand this child named Jesus. The first picture that jumps out at us is, He's our brother! Listen to this verse, “For the one who sanctifies (cleanses from sin) and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason, Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.” Jesus is our brother. He became one of us. He is true God, but He's also true man. He identified Himself with us. As I look at this verse, I finally understand the third verse of “O Holy Night” when it says, “Chains shall he break for the slave is our brother, and in his name all oppression shall cease.” I've never been comfortable singing the line of “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee,” that goes, “God our Father, Christ our brother . . .” Jesus the Son of God, according to this passage in Hebrews, entered our humanity. He became our brother. He partook of our flesh and blood by becoming one of us. He went through everything we go through. He experienced what we experience in life – even such things as pain, hunger, thirst, tears, loneliness, weariness, disappointments, and temptations. He chose to do life His way – His heavenly Father's way – instead. Max Lucado wrote a book a few years ago called God Came Near. I like this reflection he used in the book when thinking about Christ's incarnation: “The phrase ‘I've been there,' is in the chorus of Christ's theme song. To the lonely, Jesus whispers ‘I've been there.' To the discouraged, Christ nods His head and sighs, ‘I've been there.' He entered into every detail of human life. “Are you poor? Jesus knows how you feel. Are you at the lowest rung of the social ladder? He understands. Ever been taken advantage of? Christ says, ‘I've been there, too.' Have you ever felt like you needed to get away from the pressures and demands? Jesus says, “I've been there.” Family tensions? ‘Yes, I've been there too.' Falsely accused? ‘Absolutely!' The list goes on. ‘I've been there,' Jesus says. Whatever you are facing, Jesus knows how you feel.” I find comfort in the thought that Jesus knows how I feel. He has walked a mile in my shoes. He empathizes with us. When I turn to Him, He understands. This passage tells us that He is like an older brother who doesn't look down on us or tell us to get lost. Instead, He comes to help us. I'm reminded of a very popular movie from a few years ago entitled “A River Runs Through It.” It's a true story about two brothers growing up in the beautiful mountains of Montana. The older brother was quiet, studious, and hard-working. He went off to college, got a good job, and was respected in his community. The younger brother was great fun, always in trouble, pushing the envelope on what was acceptable. He had a drinking problem, as well as a gambling problem, and he ended up associating with some guys who got him deeper and deeper into trouble. Finally,...