Monday, November 30, 2009

Whacked Out Spirituality

Here's something I encountered on our trip to see the Christmas decorations on the first day of Advent, where we begin to prepare to celebrate the nativity of the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. We celebrate that year 'round, but especially this time of year.

So here's a little duck dressed up as a Christmas tree with the message- "BELIEVE." He's surrounded by a flock, brace, flush, paddling or raft(whatever you choose to use) of duckie-clones.

This is scary it's so cute, but I'm not at all sure I know what I am supposed to BELIEVE in here. Is it that somewhere there are ducks that dress like this? Or perhaps this is some sort of alien lifeform come to save us from a deficiency of cuteness?

I suppose it is more likely a new derivative form of pagan theology. First, there was the myth of justification by death, where all you have to do to go to heaven is to die. Now this one says the destiny of your eternal, immortal soul depends upon whether you BELIEVE- something, anything, even if it is that ducks and trees can produce such offspring. Whatever it is as long as you sincerely BELIEVE, it will be OK. But then there's nothing new with that, is there?

We also saw an inflatable nativity scene blowing in the wind and I'd swear it looked like Mary had a beard and was dressed in red. Maybe it was my imagination, after seeing so many Santa's, or maybe Mary has a hormonal imbalance. Will have to return to check that one out in the daylight.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

4 more lyrics

Angels and Shepherds

The highest of the high
And the lowest of the low
Glorious in the sky
And broken here below

Beneath all of the heavens
Above all of the earth
Both wonder now in worship at
His inexpressable worth.

Both passion and compassion
Intermingled here in One
Here are the purest gifts of all
Compounded in God’s Son.

Precious purity undefiled
They come to praise the Miracle child.
Declarations of praise
Is all they can know.
Highest of the high
And lowest of the low…

Stunned into silence
Stunned into exaltation
They see the holy evidence
And respond in celebration…

The highest of the high
And the lowest of the low
Glorious in the sky
And broken here below

Beneath all of the heavens
Above all of the earth
Both wonder now in worship at
His inexpressable worth.

Anthony Foster
November 27, 2009
On this starry night angels take their flight
And come to sing their story
Sing to all the earth of this blessed birth
A savior come from glory…

As the starwheel turns
Hearts with joy still yearn
They desire to know God’s plan
As the starwheel turns
A new fire now burns
And he’s come to be with Man.

Joy to the earth
We have seen his worth
And words we are not finding
That can rightly bless
And our hearts confess
The meaning that’s behind them

Gloria to Our Yahweh!
In this joyous night
A child is born
So laugh and leap with joy
You hearts that mourn
His favor he gave us
And as surely as that star does rise
Dry bones will be reborn
With victory in their eyes.

As sure as the savior reigns
His peace He ordains
His blessedness abideth
In the heavens show
Secrets angels know
One star shall surely guide us

For all the wisdom of heaven is His
And the source of joy
Will show the world what true joy is.

So seek you now his wisdom
Seek you now this child
So you can be completely
Redeemed and reconciled
Tell of the glory, tell of his story
And we will surely hear
With joy in our hearts
And as we hear it
With humble spirit
Will we apprehend
The peace that he imparts
In Bethlehem
The new beginning starts

Anthony Foster
November 28, 2009


Dwellingplace

Lord in your green pastures
I will take my rest
Under your tender mercies
I will be completely blessed.

Thy righteousness follows me
All the days of my life
So I will find my dwellingplace
In the midst of this world’s strife.

In all this world throughout all of history
There is a path that is faithful and true
In all this world there is no mystery
Harder and deeper to fathom than you
Lord where you lead there I will follow you
Lord where you lead I will come too
Fall on my knees, there I would wait on you
And Lord I will follow you.

In the holy ground of green pastures
I am wholly found in your grace
Here where mercy streams ever flowing
May your peace cover this place.

Lord be my dwellingplace
Be my dwellingplace
Abide with me as I hide in You
Lord be my dwellingplace.

Anthony Foster
November 27, 2009
Here in this crèche of grace
The heavens have invested glory
Here we can see God’s face
His reality becomes our story
So we seek him now
On our knees in our hearts we bow
Emmanuel rests in this place
Here in the crèche of grace.

Here in this humble stall
Here on our knees we fall
And join the creatures
As they low in awe
The shepherds and their sheep
Standing silent as they hear God weep

Here in a broken world
The silence too must break
The final word comes weeping
And soon he is a sleeping
The incarnate Lord
Now hear Messiah’s call
It is the call of tears
As his cry fills the silent night
So clear-so clear.

Here in the crèche of grace
The creator-King is crying
Descended unto this place
Where each day has its dying
And so we see Him now
And yet we wonder how
With incarnate God we stand face to face
Here in this crèche of grace

Anthony Foster
November 27, 2009

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Dreamer of Dreams

I have a dream- a dream that I can surely see
Life is more than it seems- this world has not yet blinded me.
There on the horizon beyond the vast shore
I view a vital vision so I am asking for far more.

I have a dream helps me cope with the suffering and pain
The vision of a blessed hope that turns my loss to gain.
I have a dream that draws me, a dream of burning fire
A hope that stuns and awes me and fills my heart's desire.

I have a dream and my dream has me
Audacious, extreme and it's setting me free.
This dream will draw me near to its warm reality
With vision that is clear if I have the eyes to see.

The obvious escapes most men- this sure and sacred fact
All bound up in what might have been, defined by what they've lacked.

Our dreams of dying and of dust leave us broken, weary, lost
Yet dare to dream we surely must- so let us come to count the cost.

Oh dreamer of dreams, what will you see
When your dreams become reality?
I have a dream and my dream has me
Audacious, extreme and it's setting me free.

Anthony Foster
November 26, 2009

Thanksgiving Snow

See the photos of Tom Rudkin here
Falling down like leaves of gold
Nestling on the earth below
It’s peaceful here out in the cold
Silent in thanksgiving snow…

And now a cov’ring for my heart
Settles softly from above
Shalom the silent snow imparts
It flutters gently as a dove.

Peace comes like Thanksgiving snow
To grateful souls it is enough
To humble hearts that truly know
The covering of perfect love.

To settle on the satisfied
It covers them in white
And brings thanksgiving that abides
Like sacred silent light.

Like snowfall gathering in drifts
Like manna as it falls
I’ll make an off’ring of the gifts
For hope shall deck my halls.

This path I follow in the snow
Will help me find the way.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
This blessed Thanksgiving Day…

Anthony Foster
Thanksgiving morning 2009

Monday, November 23, 2009

A Bountiful Trip

I had a portent of what may come- as I finalized most of the writing on the phd, a spate of seven new songs accompanied me on the 2.5 hour trip back from speaking on the Future of Education at a regional conference Friday. Glad I had my digital recorder. The lyrics will follow this post.
Enjoy the artwork of GH Harris at http://lee-ny.com/arts/gregory_frank_harris/gregory_frank_harris.htm
Bountiful Praise

Lord fill our hearts with peace
Fill our eyes with victory
Seal us with love overflowing
And Lord send your sweet release.
Oh the blessedness of knowing
Your righteousness shall increase!

Lord fill our hearts with praise
Help us one voice to raise
Seal us with joy overflowing
Fill our hearts as each heart prays
Oh the blessedness of knowing
You have authored all our days.

Glorious singing, the mountains are ringing new praise
The valley’s resounding, and joy is abounding in this place.
Our hearts and voices we shall raise as we bring you bountiful praise!

Lord fill our hearts with love
Compassion sent from above
Seal us with mercy overflowing
As you provide more than enough
Oh the blessedness of knowing
You fill this place that we’re part of.

Glorious singing, the mountains are ringing new praise
The valley’s resounding, and joy is abounding in this place.
Our hearts and voices we shall raise as we bring you bountiful praise!

Lord fill our hearts with joy
As to the battle we deploy
Seal us with grace overflowing
As power in weakness we employ
Oh the blessedness of knowing
It’s your favor we enjoy!

Anthony Foster
November 20, 2009
The House of the Lord

This not the house of the Lord
His home is the body of Christ
This building may have its beauty
But it was not bought with blood’s price

He has made his abode
In the heart completely his
The cornerstone was laid
The cost of construction has been paid
And now we abide, in him we hide
And our hearts have a home.

Now we are his tent of meeting
His tabernacle
His temple where lives are outpoured
We are one edifice as His name we confess
The dwellingplace of the Lord.

A building cannot hold the One who is to be adored!
So be glad when they say let us go unto the house of the Lord

So we are his tent of meeting
His tabernacle
His temple where lives are outpoured
We are one edifice as His name we confess
The dwellingplace of the Lord.

Anthony Foster
November 20, 2009
=========================================<
See the artwork of Frank Mason at http://www.anny.org/2/artists/0451/003p0451.htm
Winter’s Grace

The outcasts have heard the word
And they choose to enter in.
The creatures too have heard
And so their song begins.
Glorious jubilation!
Announce it to creation
All night long
In Jubilant song
This Christmas celebration!

Heaven is in a manger
God is not longer a stranger
Christ has come to dwell in this place
So we sing of this winter’s grace!

The kings of earth have heard
The prophecy in stories
And so they seek his word
And join the paths of glory

Glorious Jubilation
Announce it to the nations!
All night long
In Jubilant song
This Christmas celebration!

A deliverer, a savior
Has come to show God’s favor
Christ has come to dwell in this place
So we sing of this winter’s grace!

Anthony Foster
November 22, 2009
=========================================
Source of Our Delight (Obedience)

Take captive every thought to the obedience of Christ
For we are the blood bought, the bride purchased with a price
And to obey is better still than sacrifice.

Oh source of our delight
You along can set us right
The good, the beautiful, the true
Are all bound up in You!

The good fight must be fought, the battle must be won
The high ground must be sought and God’s will must be done
The race of redemption to the end must be run…

Oh source of our delight
You along can set us right
The good, the beautiful, the true
Are all bound up in You!

Our hearts are set on You
Our hope is bound in You
Our happiness built on You
Our holiness found in You

Take captive every thought and purify your mind
Think on the things you ought-as the Lord searches may He find
No impure thought of any kind.

Oh source of our delight
You along can set us right
The good, the beautiful, the true
Are all bound up in You!

2 Cor 10:3-4

Anthony Foster
November 22, 2009
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First Step to Forever

This is the first step to forever
The entry into eternity
This is the first step to forever
Into a place where you can finally be free

No mortal man can enter in
Except they come by the one way
No one can overcome their sin
Unless they kneel their heart and pray

Then comes forgiveness full and free
The journey begins on the bended knee
Then comes the yearning
Then comes the turning
Then comes the longing to agree.

This is the first step to forever
The first step into the Father’s arms
The lovingkindness you longed for
That keeps you safe from harm

The shelter and the resting place
The place of the Father’s love
Where you can come to seek his face
When of this world you’ve had enough

Enough of this life
Enough of your way
Enough of the heartache
To bow down and pray
To ask for forgiveness
To seek and to find
The healing you need
For your heart soul and mind.

This is the first step to forever
So step into life made new
Surrender your life to the Savior
For he is forever faithful and true!

Anthony Foster
November 22, 2009
=========================================
The Word made Fresh

In silent jubilation the trees and rocks and hills
Cry out in celebration, the earth their joy fills.

The blossoms and the flowers shed glory on the earth
They dedicate their powers to a rose of greater worth

Each morning brings new glory
That every day is fresh
Creation tells the story
Of the Word that was made Flesh.
The Word made Fresh.

For He who has created a man from naught but dust
Has perfectly related the God in whom we trust

Glorious jubilation breaking on the night
The darkness over creation has now been turned to light
The Earthsongs now arise and men cry out in praise
As victory fills the eastern skies
And Heaven’s glory now displays

Angels in heaven always gaze
Full on the Father’s face
And now they look in awe, amazed
At the baby in this lowly place
And see the face of Grace

The infinite eternal Son
Displayed for all to see
And no one notices but the ones
Surrounded by humility
Unto himself the world he seeks
To redeem and reconcile
So heaven opens to the weak
Who find strength in this Child

And angels are descending
And ascending to His throne
That awaits the return of this babe
They defend the One who reigns alone

In glorious jubilation
Their joy is ever fresh
In this Christmas celebration
Of the Word that was made flesh.

Anthony Foster
November 20, 2009
=========================================
Thanksgiving Song

Lord fill our hearts with peace
Let strife and striving cease
Lord be the source of our shalom
Your blessed peace will be our home
That the fruit of righteousness may increase

Lord fill our hearts with grace
And mercy now to run the race
Transform our minds with gratitude
And let this be our attitude
As thanksgiving fills this place.

Thank you, Thank You, Thank you
You bless us so we may be a blessing
Thank you , Thank you, Thank you
For blessedness comes in the blessing.

Lord fill our hearts with love
Compassion from above
Lord give us lives to bless others
To suffice for the sins that it covers
Your lovingkindness is more than enough

Anthony Foster
November 21, 2009

Muses on a good weekend

Printed out the final draft of my dissertation last night.

Went to another area church as we are seeking to discern where we want to buy or build for the future and it may be in an outlying area. I recall Jack Kemp's story where he and his wife Joanne decided to first seek and find a great church and then move their family to be in proximity of it. That sounds like real wisdom to me- to put the center of bodylife at the focal point of your environment.

Did a little Christmas shopping as well!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Quite an evening

We had a great time at Actor's Theater at a performance of A Christmas Story. ELVES ROCK! They added a lot with their choreography, juggling, Christmas trivia, radio announcing, and Christmas themes. On the way out Santa and the elves greeted us as they partied...

No problems on the way in (what with all the construction going on) but going home we were met by a fireball probably fifty feet high, looked like a head-on collision of two tractor trailers. I am blogging an hour and a half later and it is still on the news. You could tell death was in the air. We sat there from 10 PM until 10:35 and then a few of us were let through. Glad to be home and praying for anyone involved!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Standing in the Need of Prayer

We lift up our praise to you
In adoration for all of our days to you
And there we will begin
To truly enter in and dare
To open up our hearts
And lay them bare to you.

We confess our sins to you
Forgive us and make us new
We come now to agree
We have come to clearly see
That righteousness is far from us
So cleanse and make us true.

We are standing in the need of prayer
Standing in the naked light with hearts laid bare
Standing, standing in the need of prayer
So raise us up from here on our knees
Heal us from our dread disease
Cleanse us from our sins
Here is where life begins.

We express our thanks to you
Our hearts humbled in gratitude
Thankful when nothing remains
To be grateful and unashamed
A servant spirit offered up-
Let this be our attitude

We lay all our needs before
The altar of the open door
In humble supplication
We understand our station
Frail children of dust,
Trusting Father evermore.

We are standing in the need of prayer
Standing in the naked light with hearts laid bare
Standing, standing in the need of prayer
So raise us up from here on our knees
Heal us from our dread disease
Cleanse us from our sins
Here is where life begins.

Lord we need wisdom, Lord we need power
Lord we need peace in this troubling hour.
Lord we will ask, in each trial or task
For you will provide- your arms open wide
To your daughters and sons
You pour lovingkindness on your favored ones.

We are standing in the need of prayer
Standing in the naked light our hearts laid bare
Standing, standing in the need of prayer
So raise us up from here on our knees
Heal us from our dread disease
Cleanse us from our sins
Here is where life begins.


Anthony Foster
November 3, 2009

Sunday, November 1, 2009

More Songs for the Bride of the Lamb

Perfect Peace (Shalom Song)

You- provide a place to rest
We are blessed- in your presence, Lord.
You- draw us to your side
Here we hide- in your presence, Lord.

Every minute, every hour
Every moment by your power
We will pray.

Perfect peace, perfect peace
Sweet release in the depths of our souls
Perfect peace, perfect peace
Will never cease in the depths of our souls.
His name we extol! Jesus- Prince of Peace!

The wisdom of your plan
The might of your right hand
Your wish is our command
You are righteous and just, Jesus!
We lift our hearts in praise
Our songs of faith we raise
Oh author of our days
We will trust Jesus!

Lord give us peace give us power-give us purity
Give us strength in your sovereign security.
Perfect peace perfect peace
Will never cease with Christ in control
Perfect peace, perfect peace
We are priests of peace and your name we extol!

Peace- we cannot understand
Peace- according to your plan
Peace- in your shalom we shall stand
In your shalom all is well- Jesus- Prince of Peace!

Our minds on you are stayed
Our hearts are unafraid
Our souls are given aid
In perfect peace all is well- Jesus- Prince of Peace!

Our spirits are remade
Our every prayer is prayed
Our lives before you laid
In perfect peace all is well.-Jesus- Prince of Peace!

Anthony Foster
October 31, 2009