By Request, ‘When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder’

Requested by Susan, When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder, sung by Simon Khorolskiy and friends. They sing in Russian, but we’ve got subtitles. And the outdoor setting speaks for itself.

Are They Gunning for ‘The Chosen’?

Why We Love 'The Chosen' So Much | Christianity Today

Jesus with His disciples, in The Chosen

Many of us are waiting for the next season of The Chosen to be finished and put on the air. But in the meantime, there are rumors floating around that seem intended to alienate Christian viewers.

Here’s a Reddit report that says Dallas Jenkins, the creator, director, and producer of The Chosen, says he’s decided not to cover the Transfiguration… because “it’s not important.” There’s also a rumor that half the cast of The Chosen actively supported “Pride Month.” And another rumor about truckloads of Mormon cash flowing in.

I’ve watched any number of “Bible movies” over the years, and never yet saw one that ventured to depict the Transfiguration. I dunno. If Cecil B. DeMille could part the Red Sea, surely someone could’ve re-created the Transfiguration.

(Did somebody just say “Transfiguration? What’s that?” I’m afraid I’d better include a reference: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Transfiguration-Christianity )

Just going by the ferocity with which they’ve lit into The Sound of Freedom, we won’t be far off if we speculate that globalists, Democrats, teachers’ unions, et al would be equally “un-welcoming” to The Chosen. Sound of Freedom attacks child sex trafficking; by attacking the movie, Far Left Crazy defends child sex trafficking. Which doesn’t surprise me at all.

These people find “Christian movies” (I’m not sure there is such a thing, but you know what I mean) deeply threatening and would very much like to suppress them. Failing that, they might try spreading rumors that keep Christians away from the screen.

We ought not, ever, to rely on movies for our religious instruction. Our authoritative source must always be the Bible. But “Bible movies” are not incapable of doing good. Sometimes they fall short of all the good they might have done.

Let’s give The Chosen the benefit of the doubt–which it has earned, so far!–and see what the next season brings.

‘I Saw Three Ships’

It’s been horribly hot around here all week long, except for periods of torrential rain (which I got stuck in yesterday)… so why not a Christmas carol?

I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing, sung by Blackmore’s Night–and please don’t get hung up on the difficulties of getting any kind of ship to Bethlehem. That’s not the point! The divine rescue of a fallen world is the point.

‘How Firm a Foundation’

*Sigh* No hymn requests today, I’m on my own again. Time for one of my favorites. I make it a rule to use the first one that pops into my head–which this morning is How Firm a Foundation, sung by Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band.

‘How Good It Is to Thank the Lord’

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands…”  –Psalm 100:1

Our friends Joshua and Jeremy Swanson are doing just that. I haven’t heard this hymn before. Maybe next time they’ll sing it for us.

‘Light of the World’

No hymn requests this morning, so don’t blame me for posting one of my favorites–Light of the World, by Charles Wesley, sung by Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band.

The hymn shop is open for requests. Don’t be shy.

‘Shall We Gather at the River’

“There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God…” Psalm 46:4

We need a hymn this morning. Here’s an old favorite, Shall We Gather at the River, sung by students at Fountainview Academy.

By Request, ‘What a Day That Will Be’

Ah! A hymn request.

Requested by Susan, What a Day That Will Be, by Drew Parker.

We’re waiting on you, Lord: trying to occupy until you come…

‘Thy Word Is a Lamp Unto My Feet’

Taken from the Psalms (119:105), Thy Word Is a Lamp Unto My Feet, sung by Amy Grant: it was in my head last night.

We’re back in business here, folks, so please feel free to request hymns.

John Bunyan’s Hymn

We are still flailing away at computer … “issues.” Now we’ve got the laptop up and running, but the printer has vanished into the twilight zone.

Anyway, here’s a hymn for the day–John Bunyan’s hymn, He Who Would Valiant Be, sung by Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band.