John Thomas McFarland – death, Dec. 22, 1913

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes;
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there.

John Thomas McFarland died this date 12/22/1913, at his home in Ma­ple­wood, NJ.  He was born 1/2/1851, at Mount Ver­non, IN.

McFarland attended Simp­son Coll­ege and Io­wa Wes­ley­an Un­i­ver­si­ty.  He also attended Bos­ton Un­i­ver­si­ty’s School of The­ol­o­gy.  His pas­torates where in the following states: Io­wa, Il­li­nois, Rhode Is­land, New York, and Kan­sas.

It seems there is some disagreement about who wrote “Away in a Manger.”  Many believe Martin Luther wrote the first two verses.  Some think those two were/are anon­y­mous.  Though verses one and two may be in question McFarland is the acknowledged author of the third verse.

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Eden? – No, Better!

Poison ivy didn’t grow in the bowers of Eden;

Or, if it did, it wasn’t poisonous there.

And the wolf didn’t live in the glens of the Garden;

Or, if so, he was gracious to share.

 

And we can look back in anger at Adam’s great sin,

And we can wish to have lived in his place.

But there cometh a day much like Eden and better,

For all the redeemed,

ALL the redeemed of our entire race.  

 – eab, 6/86

Written while pastoring in Loogootee, IN

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Seth C Rees – converted, Mar. 17, 1873

I called to mind a lot of my own preaching, times when I had swung across the platform and gesticulated furiously, preaching from the text, “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound,” or the text, “And the iron did swim.” “Well,” I said, “the preaching was all right; and though it doesn’t seem that the iron is swimming, things are not as they seem to be.” Then I would announce to the powers of darkness: “The iron does swim!” and quote texts to support it. “All things work together for good!” “All things are possible to him that believ­eth!” “He shall abide with you forever!”

 

Then I was reminded how I had pranced about in the pulpit, and told the saints how they could “smile through their tears, and span the darkest cloud with a rainbow.” Then I yanked myself up and said, “Are you doing that? Here is a chance to practice your own preaching.” I said, “Yes, I may not look like it, but I am,” and away down in my soul I laughed aloud. I faced the regiments of hell, and declared that though “weeping may endure for a night, joy cometh in the morning.” I rose up in the strength of Jehovah.

                                – Rees, Paul, The Warrior Saint (Salem, OH: Schmul Publishing Co.), 107.

 

 

Seth Cook Rees was converted this date (3/17/1873), second day (Monday) morning.  Rees was born in Westfield, IN, 8/6/1854.  He died 5/22/1933 in Pasadena, CA.

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Emotions

The winged bird is not thought absurd,

When he throbs forth his soul.

Nor is the boy denied his joy

With hook, line, sinker, and pole.

 

It’s seen as no disgrace to “shine” one’s face,

For victories in the park.

But Christian men must hide within,

This glowing, heavenly spark?   – eab, 2/16/86

Written while pastoring in Loogootee, IN

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Bud Robinson – funeral, Nov.5, 1942

“…Jesus Christ, the most unselfish being in that ever lived on the earth.  So then if you want to show Christ to this old world you will have to get rid of self, for as long as there is any self in you the world can’t see Jesus Christ.”

– Bud Robinson, Sunshine and Smiles (Noblesville, IN: J. Edwin Newby, 1976), 129.

Reuben Robinson “Uncle Buddy” was born in White County, Tennessee, 1860.  When converted to Christ he could not read.  By God’s grace, the help of his wife, and determination he conquered this handicap and went on to be a leading Nazarene evangelist.

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Darwin

Christ is the center of Creation,

Evolution is anti – Christ.

He was before Darwin’s day;

He is now that “Chuck’s” passed away.

He will be when Darwin is raised,

To face the book for which he was praised.

And Christ, Creator, will be “Chuck’s” judge.

Evolution had a grudge. 

It is anti – Christ. – eab, 12/85

 

Written in Loogootee, Indiana

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Tradition? No. Bible!

If we had no Bible of our own,

Tradition, previous men have sown,

Could matter more to us, today.

Praise God, we have His fine, precious Book,

Each of us must study, as we look

Daily, learning the holy way.  -eab, 10/28/08

 

Written in Westfield, Indiana

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Sinners Pray?

Sinners in trouble call on God,

Whether on rough sea or hot sod.

It seems a natural reaction;

Their soul’s only satisfaction,

Though last week prayer would’ve seemed odd. -eab, 11/7/07

 

Written in Westfield, Indiana

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The Meek

Men have lied and killed, been so cruel,

To have a few more miles to rule,

Thinking lands, were cruelties worth;

Poor souls.  The  meek  shall inherit the earth!  -eab, 2/13/08

 

Written at Westfield, Indiana

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God or Gold

You will serve God, or you will serve gold.

Make your contrary assertions ever so bold,

And claim the truth has not been told.

But the love of money is the root of all evil,

The love of gold leads directly to the devil.

Gold can be shaped in various known forms,

It can appear average, or far from the norms,

One is pulled to the sciences, another to the arts,

One is lulled to amalgamations, one leaves things in parts,

One seeks gold directly, another seems it to “hate,”

But gold’s the one attraction of sinners, early or late, 

And, you will serve God, or you will serve gold. – eab, 5/21/08

 

Written in Westfield, Indiana

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