Friday, April 17, 2020

Was I Optimistic for Good Reasons?

"Just As I Am" has a story behind it.

I predicted the lockdowns would let up after Easter, and some likeminded patriots showed how that can happen, when Lansing Michigan was choked with thousands protesting in their cars.
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I also think we will spring back quickly. As the president's secretive and never-called-upon advisor, I figured in the beginning he could jumpstart the economy by stopping all the stupid things being done. I did not anticipate that so many stupidities could be canceled in such a short time.

 When was the last time a Yale president wrote a hymn?

About half the hymns are entered into the Bethany Lutheran Hymn Blog, including two recently requested ones -


The search window in the upper left corner of the blog works to find hymns by number and likely will find them by name too.

To enhance the value of great hymns, graphics by Norma A. Boeckler are being designed and inserted. Each hymn has its own page so the typeface is easier to read and can be enlarged by changing the template.

I am trying to feature the greats with their names added to labels - Luther, Gerhardt, Loy, Kingo - and surprise contributors (Francis Scott Key), some remarkable translators (Winkworth, Neale, Loy) and so forth.

If someone thinks a major figure has been slighted, I can go back and mark their hymns.

More importantly, I will be adding the story of famous hymns, to give them even more impact. I will be using sources from Alec Satin, the Lutheran Librarian, E. E. Ryden (Augustana), and the CPH handbook to the hymnal.

Christina said, "Put in the German lyrics to Silent Night!" That was already certain.

He died for the Faith and became an accusation, "Are you a Hussite, Luther?
Which hymn did he write?


The Bethany Lutheran Hymnal Blog Has a Facebook Page

 The Bethany Lutheran Hymnal


I wanted to start with something positive, remembering that eras of rationalism have been countered by people clinging to the old hymns, the great hymns, which are confessions of faith.

There are many interesting stories already written in books from the Lutheran Librarian. I will using them first on this blog and also copied to The Bethany Lutheran Hymnal.

Every time you click on the blog link, an angel cancels someone's subscription to the Church Growth Book-of-the-Month club.




Ft. Wayne's favorite exegete - J. J. Rambach, Halle Pietist - was also a hymn writer.