John Bowring, Sir – birth, Oct. 17, 1792

In the cross of Christ I glory,
Towering o’er the wrecks of time;
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime.

When the woes of life o’ertake me,
Hopes deceive, and fears annoy,
Never shall the cross forsake me,
Lo! it glows with peace and joy.

When the sun of bliss is beaming
Light and love upon my way,
From the cross the radiance streaming
Adds more luster to the day.

Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,
By the cross are sanctified;
Peace is there that knows no measure,
Joys that through all time abide.

In the cross of Christ I glory,
Towering o’er the wrecks of time;
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime.

John Bowring, Sir, was born this date, 10/17/1792, at Exeter in Devon, England.  He was a statesman, was active in Parliament and then governor of Hong Kong.  He was knighted by the Queen 1854.

Bowring was a linguist – mastered five (5) languages by age sixteen (16) and could converse an hundred (100) languages before he died – try to imagine that.  John was also a merchant, a theologian, and the author of a total of sixteen (16) volumes.  Sir Bowring however is best known for this good hymn “In the Cross of Christ I Glory.”

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A Christian Can Say –

You’re in charge Lord, of all we do and all we say,

From the day of our birth to our dying day.

All the decades, all the desires, all the delights,

Every land mile, each boat mile, all the flights.

For the man, You’re in charge of a choice wife;

For the lady, You decide who’s man of her life.

For the couple, You handle conception;

One child, no child, several; without exception.

You direct a man to be merchant, or teacher

Doctor, carpenter, animal man, or firm preacher.

You give the lady talents to keep the home:   

Cleaning, ironing, and either cooking or laundry foam.

You decide where we live, country or town,

A house of gloom or glee, smiles or a frown,

Upscale, modern, traditional ranch, track,

Older unpainted, tidy, but little more than a shack.

You Lord, guide us to the right fellow believers;

Protecting us from sheep-clothed-wolves – deceivers.

Send us where the Word is “front and center,”   

Where light is allowed to dawn and enter.

You decide if we live to grow old, then older,

Or face cancer or other problems, weak or bolder.

How wonderful to have a daily, careful Guide,

Through decades untiring, by our soul’s side,

Through cross-roads, intersections, You show the way,

Till we join Enoch, in the Eternal bliss of Your day!

You, Lord are finally in charge

Of the day we the body disembark.

And as the soul has directed in care,

Up, up, up with You, see that it journeys there.

          –eab, 5/7/08

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