Christie asked me the other day what my favorite part of Christmas was the other day, & I told her the Nunc Dimittis, otherwise known as the Song of Simeon from Luke 2:29-32. Not only is it a beautifully written piece of literature, it's one of the most hopeful moments in scripture & an excellent example of finding peace in Our Savior. Simeon basically says he is ready to die in peace now that he has seen the Christchild. The juxtaposition between Jesus' birth & Simeon's death is striking. Only through death can we find true peace. What greater earthly gift can anyone have than to be able to die in peace? 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 mirrors this idea, not only that we shouldn't be afraid of death, we should live as though in death we will find victory. My Christmas wish for you is that find peace not only in Jesus' birth but more importantly you'll find peace in His death as well.
Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace;
Because my eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:
A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Five Favorite Songs of the Day
Little Drummer Boy-Bob Dylan, Christmas in the Heart
In 1979, Bob Dylan wrote a song called "What Can I Do For You?", which I always thought was Bob Dylan's own rewrite of "Little Drummer Boy". The harmonica in "What Can I Do For You" is what Bob can play for the Christchild & in the song he gives one of the greatest harmonica solos of his career.
Thirty years later, when Bob Dylan shocked everybody by releasing a Christmas album (with all the proceeds going to feed the hungry), he recorded "Little Drummer Boy". Not a bad version at that, & a brilliant little video that evokes Christmas in every little farm town in the midwest in the forties & fifties.
Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming)-The Children's Chorus of the South German Radio
Of the Father's Love Begotten-Hymns for All Saints
The Friendly Beasts-Sufjan Stevens, Songs for Christmas
If all music videos were like this one, they might be worth watching.
Silent Night-Huey "Piano Smith & the Clowns"
Merry Christmas, friends...
andrew
3 comments:
I wonder if we're singing it Christmas Eve? - the Nunc Dimittis, that is. "The Friendly Beasts" by Sufjan Stevens was almost as good as the kindergarten at COK version featuring Sophie as the sheep with the curly horn.
I think that's usually a Christmas Day thing.
I agree, those are music videos worth watching. I heard portions of the Christmas CD, yes I was surprised when he sang "Must be Santa".
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