I've Lived Among The Stars (Poem)

Herman Charles Bosman
(1905-1951)

Poem by Herman Charles Bosman:

"Though my heart is bruised and riven,

And my soul is scathed with scars;

Yet I've touched the fringe of heaven;

I've lived among the stars."

(Herman Charles Bosman, 1905-1951)

NOTES:

Stephen Gray writes: 

   "The literary remains of the only creative giant this city [JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA] has produced were entombed in Texas, in the 'Humanities Research Centre' of the University of Austin, courtesy of which Johannesburgers and others may now read for the first time much of the work this city engendered in him." (Gray: 7).

Acknowledgements 

Gray, Stephen (Ed.)(1986) Bosman's Johannesburg. Human & Rousseau. Cape Town, Pretoria.

Through It All

© Copyright Sony/ATV Music Publishing

YOUTUBE

Through It All

Andraé Crouch

I’ve had many tears and sorrows,

I’ve had questions for tomorrow,

there’s been times I didn’t know right from wrong.

But in every situation,

God gave me blessed consolation,

that my trials come to only make me strong.

Through it all,

through it all,

I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,

I’ve learned to trust in God.

Through it all,

through it all,

I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.

I’ve been to lots of places,

I’ve seen a lot of faces,

there’s been times I felt so all alone.

But in my lonely hours,

yes, those precious lonely hours,

Jesus lets me know that I was His own

Through it all,

through it all,

I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,

I’ve learned to trust in God.

Through it all,

through it all,

I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.

I thank God for the mountains,

and I thank Him for the valleys,

I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.

For if I’d never had a problem,

I wouldn’t know God could solve them,

I’d never know what faith in God could do.

Songwriters: Darrell R Brown / Dennis Matkosky / Darrell Brown

Through It All lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management

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Dear Blog Visitor,

1. INTRODUCTION. Thanks for visiting this BLOG.  I am still amazed at the number of people utilizing this (very modest) service to the public.  Please bear in mind that I have posted 107 or so blog-posts (anecdotal comment on songs plus the lyrics etc.) for those interested in learning of my special interest in a particular song etc. Where I perhaps may have neglected to provide any lyrics to songs, the reader may check out the links below for lyrics (click):

All The Lyrics
Bill Gaither's Oldies Songlist
ClassicCountryLyrics

Cyber Hymnal
Diana Leigh Matthews

HymnsUntoGod
 John W, Peterson Music Co.

Live365

musicnotes.com

NameThatHymn.com

NewWorship Resources

Oldies Lyrics

SheetmusicPlus

Southern Gospel Music News

SouthernGospelBlog

St. Lyrics

sweetlyrics.com

The Prayer Foundation

Traditional Music

Wordwise Hymns

2. HYMN INDEX.  In the Alphabetical List of Hymns/Songs or Hymn Index (click on link in the right-hand margin of the blog), I have presented over a 1000 YouTube linked hymns/songs for your listening pleasure, or click on the link below for access to the Hymn Index:

Hymn Index [YouTube Linked]

3. 'ERROR' OR 'BLOCKED' MESSAGES.  Where a link may produce a disappointing 'ERROR' message, please be so kind as to notify me urgently via the 'CONTACT-FORM' facility in the left-hand margin of the blog so that I can initiate immediate remedial steps. Some songs may also, in certain countries, be 'BLOCKED' from readers' view ... it is a problem beyond the control of this blog administrator. The best solution will be to 'Google' the title of such a song further for alternatives in the YouTube environment.

4. NOTE FROM BLOGGER MANAGEMENT. Please read this notification from Blogger Management:

"We encourage you to tell affected readers (perhaps via a blog post), that if they use a non-Google Account to follow your blog, they need to sign up for a Google Account, and re-follow your blog. With a Google Account, they’ll get blogs added to their Reading List, making it easier for them to see the latest posts and activity of the blogs they follow."

• I have included not only classical hymns but also some inspirational 'secular' songs for your personal edification (for what it is worth). The list is growing.

• NEW!  Click on the moving poem, 'I Know What It Is To Be Young, You Don't Know What It Is To Be Old'I as narrated by the late (actor) Orson Welles in 1984 beautifully accompanied by the Ray Charles Singers.

  

Blessed is the man [or woman] that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 

(Psalm 1:1-3 KJV).

Lace Covered Window

[Inspirational]

   "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search me with all of your heart."
(Jeremiah 29:11-13 KJV).        

YouTube

LACE COVERED WINDOW
(Author Unknown/Copyright-protected) 

When you walk through the world all alone

And your dreams turn to ashes behind you

Then the tears in your eyes will remind you

Of a view through a lace covered window

Nothing seems very clear anymore

In your world everything is uncertain

How you wish you could pull back the curtain

Just to see through that lace covered window

See the world through that lace covered window

But you'll never know just what life has in store

What's waiting there to greet you

So pull back the curtain and maybe once more

True love is there to meet you

So you'll walk side by side through the world

No more times full of darkness and sorrow

Every day is a bright new tomorrow

When you open that lace covered window

Every day is a bright new tomorrow

When you open that lace covered window

Let the sun through that lace covered window

[www.allthelyrics.com] 

Bibliography

AllTheLyrics. Lace Covered Window. Online http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/new_faces/lace_covered_window-lyrics-221479.html [2016]. 

Does Jesus Care?

Copyright 2013 PJ Stassen

All Rights Reserved

   One day I sat thinking, almost in despair; a hand fell on my shoulder and a voice said reassuringly: ‘Cheer up, things could be worse.’  So I cheered up and, sure enough, things got worse.

-       James Hagerty, b.1909.

                                           YouTube

Does Jesus Care?

(Frank E, Graeff, 1860-1919/J. Lincoln Hall, 1866-1930)

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained

Too deeply for mirth and song;

As the burdens press, and the cares distress,

And the way grows weary and long?

Does Jesus care when my way is dark

With a nameless dread and fear?

As the daylight fades into deep night shades,

Does He care enough to be near?

Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed

To resist some temptation strong;

When for my deep grief I find no relief,

Tho my tears flow all the night long?  

Does Jesus care when I’ve said goodbye

To the dearest on earth to me,

And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks ‒

Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

CHORUS
O yes, He cares ... I know he cares! 
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares (He cares). 

  

Bibliography

1.    Andrews, Allen (1969)   Quotations For Speakers And Writers.  Newnes Books.  Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd. London.

2.    Peterson, John W. (1966)   Great Hymns Of The Faith. ‘Does Jesua Care?’.  Singspiration.  Zondervan Publishing House.  Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Sweet Peace, The Gift Of God’s Love

Copyright 2013 PJ Stassen

All Rights Reserved

I never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude.

-       H.D. Thoreau, 1817-1862.

   I once used to envy the wealthy and the rich for their lovely homes on the western and eastern seaboards of our long and rugged South African coastline, curling its way around Table Mountain in the South where the two oceans, the Atlantic and the Indian, meet at Cape Town, picturesque home of the annual Two Oceans Marathon and Cape Argus cycle tour, with as many as 35 000 cyclists taking part.  

   Chief venue for the making of the film Invictus by Clint Eastwood, the story by John Carlin of the game that changed a nation starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, the gutsy Damon even tried his hand (or would it be his foot?) at the Cape Argus and entered the race with his brother accompanying him on a tandem bicycle; we were there when they crossed the finishing line to the cheers of the enthusiastic crowd.      

   It so happened that we also went to holiday at Pennington near Durban last year, and what a quaint little spot for a relaxing holiday away from the hustle and bustle of Pretoria, here on the South Coast of Kwazulu-Natal, land of King Shaka, legendary king of the Zulus.  Durban is a picturesque province, with its Valley of a Thousand Hills and the green sugarcane fields of the sugar barons.  Pennington too, is a beautiful little beach, quite secluded and private, and I would recommend it at any time it to the lover of the sea clamouring for a quite holiday ‘far from the madding crowd’. It has a large tidal pool and a charming little beachfront-restaurant where a delectable Sunday-lunch is served at weekends to the sound of Acker Bilk’s Stranger On The Shore, the song that accompanied the crew of Apollo10 on their epic voyage to the Moon in 1969.  What more could a man from my generation (b.1947) want?

   The problem is that, so near to the coast, my eyes eventually start to burn with the incessant wind blowing in from the sea, apparently because of its high salt content.  It is during times like these, with sand in the pants and between the toes, salt in the eyes and what appears to be mini-monsoons almost spoiling an entire week of sight-seeing, that I again began to long for the hustle and bustle of the Highveldt of my own province higher up North, home to what has been described by so many as probably the most perfect climate on Earth.

   Nevertheless, at the end of the day all that matters for all of us is the ‘peace of God that passeth all understanding’, no matter where the home is.  I have read about soldiers who enjoyed this unique peace in the trenches of the First World War, or about prisoners in the Nazi concentration camps of the Second, just ask Victor Frankl, Corrie Ten Boom and many, many others.  In the end all that matter is that Jesus Christ sits as Master of the Universe, with this precious promise:

   Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

   These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:32-33 KJV).

YouTube

Sweet Peace, The Gift Of God’s Love

(Peter P. Bilhorn, 1865-1936)

There comes to my heart one sweet strain,

A glad and a joyous refrain;

I sing it again and again ‒

Sweet peace, the gift of God’s love.

Thru Christ on the cross peace was made,

My debt by His death all was paid;

No other foundation is laid

For peace, the gift of God’s Love.

When Jesus as Lord I had crowned,;

My heart with this peace did abound

In Him the rich blessing I found ‒

Sweet peace, the gift of God’s love.

In Jesus for peace I abide,

And as I keep close to His side,

There’s nothing but peace doth betide ‒

Sweet peace, the gift of God’s love.

CHORUS

Peace, peace, sweet peace!

Wonderful gift from above! (above!)

O wonderful, wonderful peace!

Sweet peace, the gift of God’s love!

Bibliography

 1.  Andrews, Allen (1969)   Quotations For Speakers And Writers.  Newnes Books.  Hamlyn      
          Publishing Group Ltd. London.

       2. Peterson, John W. (1966)   Great Hymns Of The Faith. ‘Sweet Peace, The Gift Of God’s Love’.                  Singspiration.  Zondervan Publishing House.  Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Yesterday, Today, Forever

Copyright 2013 PJ Stassen

All Rights Reserved

The Moving Finger writes, and, having writ,

Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit

Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,

Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it.

-       From Rubáiyát Of Omar Khayyám, as translated by Edward Fitzgerald, 1809-1883.

   The question often comes up: “Is it compulsory for me to believe in God, believe the Gospel and accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah and my personal Lord and Saviour?” The answer is obvious: No, it has never been compulsory, but always voluntary.  Choosing GOOD over EVIL (or vice versa) has been voluntary ever since Cain murdered Abel in cold blood at his altar of sacrifice, King Herod beheaded John the Baptist in prison during the reign of Pontius Pilate to please Salome, and Judas betrayed Jesus of Nazareth, the Pearl of Great Price, at Calvary in Jerusalem for 30 lousy shekels of silver.

   Choosing LIGHT (the Gospel) over DARKNESS (Atheism) or DARKNESS over LIGHT has always been a matter of free choice … neither of the two has ever been compulsory. It is only the CONSEQUENCES (following your choice) that are compulsory, and never negotiable.

   I fully agree with Dr. Rick Warren, pastor at Saddleback Church in Orange County, California: “I’d rather walk with Jesus with all my questions than walk alone with all the answers.” There was a time when John Lennon had made this monumental error of saying that, long after Jesus Christ is forgotten, the Beatles would still be remembered.  Well, Jesus Christ is going stronger than ever, while the Beatles are just about forgotten … the only reason they are sometimes still remembered is probably because of John Lennon’s ridiculous statement about the alleged demise of Jesus of Nazareth, Rock of Ages.  (Would you like to be remembered like that?).  

YouTube

Yesterday, Today, Forever

(Albert B. Simpson, 1843-1919/James H. Burke, 19^th Century)

O how sweet the glorious message

Simple faith may claim:

Yesterday, today, forever Jesus is the same!

Still He loves to save the sinful,

Heal the sick and lame,

Cheer the mourner, calm tempest ‒

Glory to His name!

He who pardoned erring Peter

Never need’st thou fear,

He who came to faithless Thomas

All thy doubt will clear;

He who let the loved disciple

On His bosom rest

Bids thee still, with love as tender

Lean upon His breast.

He who ‘mid the raging billows

Walked upon the sea

Still can hush our wildest tempest,

As on Galilee;

He who wept and prayed in anguish In Gethsemane

Drinks with us each cup of trembling,

In our agony.

 As of old He walked to Emmaus,

With them to abide,

So thru all life’s way He walketh,

Ever near our side;

Soon again shall we behold Him ‒

Hasten Lord, the day!

But ‘twill be ‘this same Jesus’, As He went away. 

CHORUS

Yesterday, today, forever,

Jesus is the same;

All may change, but Jesus never ‒

Glory to His name!

Glory to His name,

Glory to His name;

All may change but Jesus never ‒

Glory to His name!

Bibliography

1.    Andrews, Allen (1969)   Quotations For Speakers And Writers.  Newnes Books.  Hamlyn    

          Publishing Group Ltd. London.

2.    Khayyám, Omar, translated by Fitzgerald, Edward (1947) Rubáiyát Of Omar Khayyám.  Collins.           London & Glasgow.

3.      Peterson, John W. (1966)   Great Hymns Of The Faith. ‘Yesterday, Today, Forever’’.       

           Singspiration.  Zondervan Publishing House.  Grand Rapids, Michigan.Peterson, John W. (1966)   Great Hymns Of The Faith. ‘Yesterday, Today, Forever’’.  Singspiration.  Zondervan Publishing House.  Grand Rapids, Michigan.