Happy Christmas

One of the Christmas hits that I remember from my formative years is Mary's Boy Child by Boney M. Whereas it has all the hallmarks of 1970's cheese all over it, it does contain the simple gospel truths of Christmas. I hope you all have a very Happy Christmas.

Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord Lyrics

Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.
And man will live for evermore, because of Christmas Day.

Long time ago in Bethlehem, so the Holy Bible said,
Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.

Hark, now hear the angels sing, a king was born today,
And man will live for evermore, because of Christmas Day.
Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.

While shepherds watch their flocks by night,
they see a bright new shining star,
they hear a choir sing a song,
the music seemed to come from afar.

Hark, now hear the angels sing,
a king was born today,
And man will live for evermore
because of Christmas Day.

For a moment the world was aglow, all the bells rang out
there were tears of joy and laughter, people shouted
"let everyone know, there is hope for all to find peace".

Hark, now hear the angels sing, a king was born today,
And man will live for evermore, because of Christmas Day
Mary's boy child, Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.

For a moment the world was aglow, all the bells rang out
there were tears of joy and laughter, people shouted
"let everyone know, there is hope for all to find peace".

And then they found a little nook,
in a stable all for lord
and then a manger, goldened up
Mary's little boy was born.

Hark, now hear the angels sing, a king was born today,
And man will live for evermore, because of Christmas Day
Mary's boy child, Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.

For a moment the world was aglow, all the bells rang out
there were tears of joy and laughter, people shouted
"let everyone know, there is hope for all to find peace".



Oh my Lord, You sent your son to save us
Oh my Lord, Your very self you gave us
Oh my Lord, That sin may not enslave us
And love may reign once more

Oh my Lord, when in the crib they found Him
Oh my Lord, A golden halo crowned Him
Oh my Lord, They gathered all around Him
To see him and adore (this day will live forever)

Oh my Lord (so praise the Lord)
They had begun to doubt you
Oh my Lord (He is a personation)
what did they know about you
Oh my Lord (so praise the Lord)
they were lost without you
they needed you so bad(the light was shining on him)

Oh my Lord (so praise the Lord)
with the child's adoration
Oh my Lord (He is a personation)
there came great jubilation
Oh my Lord (so praise the Lord)
and full of admiration
they realized what they had (until the sun falls from the sky)

Oh my Lord (Oh praise the Lord)

Fairytale Of New York

Whereas the words of this one are not necessarily full of Christmas cheer, I have always loved this song. The emotion put into it by both Shane McGowan and Kirsty McCall is immense. Enjoy The Pogues...

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Three days to Christmas, so three very different Christmas songs for you. I will start with Bruce Springsteen and his excellent E Street Band. Have always loved this version of the song, especially the saxophone solo. Enjoy...

Prepare Ye The Way Of The Lord

Traditionally the season of Advent has been used by Christians to prepare themselves for Christmas, by listening to God in a deeper way than normal. Must admit I have always struggled to do this. It is based on the time of preparation in the gospel story used by John the Baptist to prepare Israel for the coming of Jesus. The Flow blog of a friend of mine used this song a few weeks ago, and it has stayed with me since. It is taken from the 1973 film version of Godspell. The film now looks very dated, and was set in contemporary New York City, but the words are as apt today as when first used two thousand years ago.

Silent Night (Again)

Following on from yesterday's post, here is another different version of Silent Night, this time by Joe Satriani. Very different to The Dickies, but as good in it's own way.

Silent Night

This may come as a surprise, but despite being a Christian I have major problems with Christmas Carols. This is probably due to the fact that they are played everywhere, from adverts to shopping centres, or badly sung by carol singers out to make a few bob. In other words they have become commercialised, and no one listens to them properly. I do not go to carol services anymore, for this reason. I am probably wrong in this respect, but hey it's my life!

Just occasionally a version of a traditional carol jumps up and does grab my attention. The version below came out quite a few years ago now, but I have only just come across it. To me it sounds fresh and original, not tired and past it.

Enjoy The Dickies rendition of Silent Night.

Not The Nine O'Clock News

I have just been glancing at the Christmas double issue of the Radio Times, and see that there is a 30th anniversary programme on. In my opinion this was one of the best satire shows ever made. The clip below is my favourite of their songs, and is called I Believe. It may look dated now, but still had me in stitches....enjoy

Hurt

Originally recorded by Nine Inch Nails, the version below is by Johnny Cash. This was posted on the Rock Refuge forum, and I found it very moving, just watch the emotion in his face in the video. His wife died soon after this was recorded, and he died broken hearted not that much later.

I think we all share his emotions at times, I know I do. I feel that things disappear, family and friends, and circumstances change. Sometimes I wish that I did not hurt the way I do, about things I can not change, or had no influence over at the time either. I believe that God does heal the hurt, but for me at least it is taking time. We need to be ready to let God heal, and to hand over the hurt totally, not clinging on to bits of it.

"Hurt"

I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that's real
The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything

[Chorus:]
What have I become
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know goes away
In the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
Beneath the stains of time
The feelings disappear
You are someone else
I am still right here

[Chorus:]
What have I become
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know goes away
In the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

If I could start again
A million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way

Blessed be Your Name

This is an amazing song of worship and praise. It is very easy to sing in one sense, but very hard to mean the words at times. When things are going well, God is great. When we are struggling, it is not so easy to say God you are wonderful! He is though, God is great all the time, and sometimes I need to be reminded of that. Even when things feel crap to me, I'm a lot better off than a heck of a lot of other people. So thank you for everything God!

Blessed be Your Name by Matt Redman

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name

Tranquillity Base

I'm a firm believer that we all have a place on this earth which could be called our tranquillity base. For some it is just a place to feel at ease and escape from the rat race. For others it may be a place where for whatever reason they feel more connected to god. For lets face it, it is God who provides us with the tranquillity if only we let Him.

For me, the place where I more often than not, feel the most at ease, is on the top of Panorama Hill just outside Barmouth. It is not the tallest hill there by any means, but has this great view up the Mawddach Estuary one way with the slopes of southern Snowdonia going up each side, including the peak of Cader Idris. The other way is a sweeping view of the estuary mouth into Cardigan Bay, and the sands of Fairbourne.

I don't know why but for the last twenty years this place has held special memories for me. Sometimes of walks with the family, but more often of times of solitude. I have sat up there for a couple of hours once, and not seen another person, with just the sound of the birds and the wind for company. It is times like this, that I often feel close to, and hear from God.

Using my tranquillity base and the river analogy, God is the river. The river is deep, and it touches my life like the river touches the sand, ie God washes all over me. When I need to loose the frown on my face, I need to go back to my boat on the river, ie back into the presence of God. In reality, although having a tranquillity base is good, we can encounter the life giving water of God wherever we are, whenever we cry out to Him for it.

The words below are from the Styx song Boat On The River. The clip is taken from a concert in Budokan in 1982. A rarity in that Tommy Shaw has short hair. Also features the late great John Panozzo on percussion.

Take me down to my boat on the river
I need to go down, I need to come down
Take me back to my boat on the river
And I won't cry out any more
Time stands still as I gaze In her waters
She eases me down, touching me gently
With the waters that flow past my boat on the river
So I won't cry out anymore

Oh the river is deep
The river it touches my life like the waves on the sand
And all roads lead to Tranquillity Base
Where the frown on my face disappears
Take me back to my boat on the river
And I won't cry out anymore

Oh the river is wide
The river it touches my life like the waves on the sand
And all roads lead to Tranquillity Base
Where the frown on my face disappears
Take me back to my boat on the river
And I won't cry out anymore
And I won't cry out anymore
And I won't cry out anymore