HE IS RISEN! Christ is risen indeed!

all authority and power
all authority and power, every status and domain
now belongs to One Who suffered, our redemption to obtain
angels, demons, kings and rulers - over all shall Jesus reign

all the nations owe Him worship; ev'ry tongue shall call Him Lord
how are men to call upon Him if His Name they have not heard?
therefore, go and make disciples, preach His gospel, spread His Word

all the clear commands of Jesus must be heeded and obeyed
full provision for our weakness in His teaching He has made
in the gospel words and symbols - saving truth to us conveyed

all the time He will be with us, always, to the end of days
with His own believing people who keep steadfast in His ways
God the Father, Son, and Spirit bless us and to God be praised!
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1) "rejoice! the Lord is King!" comes to mind :) talk about a benevolent dictator - if our Savior and the passionate Lover of our souls is calling the shots, we surely have nothing to fear.
2) again we see the strong connection between the gospel taking hold of our hearts and missions. it's a necessary correlation.
3) the third verse is sooooooooooooooooooo rich. i don't khow what to do with it, where to begin breaking it down. it's pretty amazing stuff. Jesus makes demands of us - commands, if you will - and yet we have this: "full provision for our weakness in His teaching He has made" - "He knows we are but dust."
4) Jesus is coming back for us, but He is also with us always. we are not alone.
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Flesh and Blood
flesh and blood, born a Babe
flesh and blood, You lived and breathed
amazing love!
You came and gave your flesh and blood
to set me free

so hallelujah for the bread, it is His body
and the wine, it is the blood that binds us now
and the living bread remains,
the communion of the saints
sing the mystery of faith, flesh and blood

flesh and blood, you are my children
flesh and blood, if you believe
so take this cup,
and when you take My flesh and blood
remember Me

so hallelujah for the bread, it is His body
and the wine, it is the blood that binds us now
and the living bread remains,
the communion of the saints
sing the mystery of faith, flesh and blood

we remember, blessed Jesus, we remember
God help us all if ever we forget
that the Author of the story
cast off His crown of glory
for a crown of thorns
and flesh and blood

so hallelujah for the bread, it is His body
and the wine, it is the blood that binds us now
and the living bread remains,
the communion of the saints
sing the mystery of faith, flesh and blood

we remember, blessed Jesus, we remember
(bread, it is His body)
God help us all if ever we forget
(blood that binds us now)
that the living Bread remains
the communion of the saints
sing the mystery of faith, flesh and blood
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not really a hymn, but it is a new andy peterson - and one of my very favorites ever. it really drives home the utter fleshiness of the incarnation - all this flesh and blood buisness is amazing. and the fact that we are given a physical representation of all of this - communion. and that physical representation is bigger than the bread and the wine. (i'm with calvin on this - no consubstantiation or transubstantiation or any of that buisness.) anyway, i think this is a BEAUTIFUL communion hymn.
and a fun sovereignty line goes with this: "the Author of the story cast off His crown of glory for a crown of thorns and flesh and blood."
y'all, the gospel is AMAZING.
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Rock of ages (when the day seems long)
Rock of ages, when the day seems long
from this labor and this heartache i have come
the skies will wear out, but You remain the same
Rock of ages, i praise Your Name

Rock of ages, You have brought me near
You have poured out Your lifeblood, Your love, and Your tears
to make this stone heart come alive again
Rock of ages, forgive my sin

Rock of ages, Rock of ages, bind Your children till the kingdom comes,
Rock of ages Your will be done

Rock of ages, when in want or rest
my desperate need for such a Savior i confess
now pull these idols out of my heart-embrace
Rock of ages, i need Your grace

Rock of ages, broken, scorned for me
who am i that You would die to make me free?
to give me glory, You took the death and the pain
Rock of ages, my offering

Rock of ages, 'it is done!' You cried
the curtain's torn and i see justice satisfied
now write Your mercy on my heart and hands
Rock of ages, in faith i stand

Rock of ages, my great Hope secure
Your promise holds just like an anchor to my soul
bind Your children with cords of love and grace
Rock of ages, we give You praise

Rock of ages, Rock of ages, bind Your children till the kingdom comes
Rock of ages, Your will be done
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another new hymn, this one written by kevin twit and cut by sandra mccracken. i'm actually not going to comment on this. :) i think it stands for itself.