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Friday, Second Week Advent: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Hymn

December 16, 2017 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Come Thou Expected Jesus to the Earth

The Advent hymn, “Oh Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” pleads for the baby Jesus to set thy people free. Free us from our fears and sin. During this Christmas season, we don’t want to hear that we are imprisoned and need setting free.

But we are captive. Captive to sin. Temptation surrounds us every day. We daily struggle in our minds with fear. Fear of not having enough money, fear of gossip that surrounds us. Fear of not being accepted. Listen to the words to Come Thou Long Expected Jesus. Really listen.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dmO8UPlWoo[/embedyt]Come, Thou long expected Jesus,

Once we are free of our sins they cannot hurt us any longer. Like the title Everlasting Father, God rebukes us. We don’t like discipline. But we need it. What happens when parents don’t discipline their children? They don’t learn right from wrong. It’s not because parents like punishing their children. Trust me, we don’t, it often hurts us more. God corrects us out of love. Christ Jesus the Everlasting Father serves as an example of a kind, loving Father.

Words to Come Though Long Expected Jesus

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us;
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art,
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver;
Born a child and yet a king!
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Weekly Advent Readings: Friday, 2nd Week Advent

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 30: 15-26; Revelation 1: 1-29

- - - Higher Things: Dare to Be Lutheran – Friday 2nd Week Advent
    - Trinity Lutheran Church: Second Sunday Advent Sermon (listen to audio here)
    - Sermon, 2nd Week Advent: The Mighty God/The Everlasting Father (listen to audio here)

Lutheran Advent Season: Daily Reflections

December 4, 2017 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Why Am I Starting a Lutheran Advent Season Series?

As Christmas approaches it is easy to lose focus on the birth of Jesus Christ get wrapped up in the commercialism of the season. The insert Lutheran Advent Season reflections in my church mailbox gave me an idea. It was copied and printed on black and white copy paper, nothing fancy and yet it is so simple.

Each day is outlined with a specific reading and lesson to reflect on the meaning of the Advent season. As I started reading so many things came to mind.

You see I teach Sunday School and have for over 25 years. I always look for inspiration, ideas, and ways to teach my fourth and fifth graders in a way they can relate and understand the Bible and the Gospel message.

Right now we are practicing for our Christmas Eve program and I am the piano accompanist. So I’m craving some eye-opening teaching time.

Hopefully, this series will inspire, teach and prepare you for Christmas in a way you never considered. I will include the Daily reading, hymns, music, and a summary of the Reflection of the Day. A link to Trinity Lutheran Church online sermons will also be provided.

I encourage you to comment below, for a couple of reasons. God wants you to ask questions. By asking questions you learn and understand.

The First Sunday of Advent

Today’s Reading: Matthew 21:1-9

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 9:8-10:11; 1 Peter 5:1-14

Jesus is coming!! He is “the coming ONE”

This, in a nutshell, is the Christian meaning of Advent. Advent is all about Jesus coming to you. He’s not coming to condemn you, He’s coming to save you. He will take upon Himself all your sins and give you everlasting life.

So what are you going to do to make yourself ready?

Nothing. There is nothing that you can do that will make Jesus love you any more than he already does. He alone makes you ready. He delivers His coming to you in His gifts.

Hymns: First Sunday Advent

Hymns during Advent are anticipatory and lead up to Christmas and the anticipation of the birth of Baby Jesus. Many songs people think of as Christmas music are actually Advent hymns. O Come, O Come Emmanuel is what I would call an anthem for Advent.

Oxford Hymn Settings for Organists: Advent and Christmas: 38 original pieces on hymns and carols Seven Preludes on Advent Hymns O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Willis Music O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Early Inter Level) Willis Series by Carolyn C. Setliff

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO7ySn-Swwc[/embedyt]

The Piano Guys O Come, O Come Emmanuel is one of my favorite renditions of this popular Advent song. I do scour YouTube for Advent hymns and will be sharing my favorites in the month to come.

A more traditional version of O Come, O Come Emanuel YouTube edition is the performed by a traditional choir.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xtpJ4Q_Q-4[/embedyt]

I like both. Which is your favorite?

Links to follow the Lutheran Advent Season of Reflection

Higher Things: Dare to Be Lutheran – The First Sunday of Advent
Trinity Lutheran Church: First Sunday of Advent Sermon (listen to audio here)

Tomorrow I will share another of my favorite hymns for Advent Season: Savior of the Nations Come.

Cohen Christmas Version of Hallelujah

December 1, 2014 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Leonard Cohen Christmas Hallelujah

Welcome to my 25-day countdown to Christmas. I kick it off with Leonard Cohen Christmas version of Hallelujah and I hope I will be able to post every day during the month of December and throughout the holiday. I even downloaded the Cloverton version of the Christmas Leonard Cohen mp3 classic.

As you can see, I’m very addicted to Christmas songs and carols and love this version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. It is similar to the Easter version I posted earlier this year. I absolutely love this melody and I’m so glad Christ is playing a central role in the song during cover versions.

Pretty Floral Piano Music Tote Bags
by Music4LifeLLC

Hallelujah Christmas [Accompaniment/Performance Track]Hal Leonard Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen arranged for piano, vocal and guitar

I do have a rule for Christmas music, it can’t be played until December 1st, I don’t like going into a store around Halloween and hearing Holiday music, I want to enjoy the fall holidays, celebrate Thanksgiving and then jump into December with gusto. My Pandora list is set on Classic Christmas music and I take out my piano sheet music to get ready for Advent services on Wednesday night.

Piano Music Tote Bags for Piano Players
by Music4LifeLLC

With that being said, I kick off the Christmas season today, December 1st with this version of Hallelujah for Christmas. Enjoy

Cloverton Christmas Christmas Hallelujah

If you want to play or sing the Cloverton Christmas Christmas Hallelujah song here are some options. I’m sure it’s going to be a very popular Christmas choral piece with many choirs.

Hallelujah Christmas [Accompaniment/Performance Track]A Hallelujah Christmas (Cloverton Inspired) for solo and band. Leonard Cohen Parady A Hallelujah Christmas (Cloverton Inspired) for solo FULL ORCHESTRA. Leonard Cohen A Leonard Cohen Christmas

Cows are a Fan of the Song Royals by Lorde

August 6, 2014 by info@3QuartersToday.com

I saw this today and I just had to share. I live in Nebraska, majored in Animal Science and yes, cows are curious, it’s hard to get photos of them at the fence as they will come right up to you. So it’s no doubt they would be an apt audience of the song Royals by Lorde. Heck, I’m a fan of the original and all the covers. But this is the best!!

Agriculture has taken a beating in the media for mistreating their animals. I would say these cows are clearly not mistreated, and in fact, I would say probably a little spoiled.

Who would of thought cattle would be such a fan of pop music? Derek Klingenberg is a farmer in Kansas, has quite the sense of humor and takes videotography to another genre. He’s pretty funny and I think this Angus cow below agrees.

The video has gone viral and is hitting all over social media and even Ellen like the cows being serenaded with the Royals by Lorde and tweeted it. How cool is that, what a way to promote ranching and agriculture. Bet this is driving PETA and the HSUS crazy! (don’t worry I’m not linking to them, but to sites that reveal what those organizations really are)

If you like this you can Tweet Derek @KlingenbergFarm, or thank him on Facebook, better yet go to his YouTube page, a lot of ag related parodies to keep you entertained for hours.

If it’s the song Royals by Lorde you’re looking for then here is the original song and even better the piano sheet music. Which, by the way is really fun to play.

Royals (Lorde Cover) (Let Me Live That Fantasy)Lorde – Royals – Easy Piano Sheet Music Royals by Lorde – Violin Cover Royals Video Ap FREE

Original Royals by Lorde Video

More Fun with the Song Royals by Lorde

Cows Come Running To Hear Farmer Play Lorde’s ‘Royals …

Who knew cows loved trombone music so much? In this clip, Farmer Derek Klingenberg manages to attract an entire herd of cattle by simply playing Lorde’s “Royals” on his trombone. If you’re the impatient type, skip ahead …

Exclusive “Weird Al” Yankovic Music Video: FOIL (Parody of …

Exclusive “Weird Al” Yankovic Music Video: FOIL (Parody of “Royals” by Lorde). CollegeHumor. SubscribeSubscribedUnsubscribe 7,585,217. Subscription preferences. Loading… Loading… Working… 14,844,867. 130,285 …

Watch Cows Come to Hear Farmer’s Moo-ving Rendition of Lorde’s “Royals” on …

Sorry Old MacDonald, but cows these days have no interest in your E-I-E-I-O schtick. Luckily, Derek Klingenberg is a modern farmer and farm-centric musical parody artist who has a YouTube channel and some unique ideas for bringing his cows home for the …

Deployed Dad Writes his Daughter a Song

June 20, 2014 by info@3QuartersToday.com

This deployed dad1 knows how hard being away from is on his family, especially his little girl, and he wanted to make her feel better. Most military children understand that Mommy or Daddy is doing a very important job for the country and the other parent takes on not only the double task of parenting but also comforting, reassuring and keeping the connection strong. But it doesn’t make it any less painful or lonely.

Today is Friday and many people use this day to remind others that our military is still deployed overseas in countries far away from their family.

In this day of technology, cell phones, iPads, internet, Facebook overseas communication is much easier and faster than years ago when you waited for a letter in the mail or the rare phone call. Facetime, Snapchat, and Skype are sometimes nightly rituals with servicemen and women to stay in contact with their families. They might use it to help their children with homework, watch a birthday party, or even the birth of a new baby.

He is currently a Fort Drum soldier on deployment in Afghanistan and enlisted the help of his fellow soldiers to sing a song to his daughter who is missing him back in Watertown, NY. Sgt. First Class Jamie McIntyre is on his fifth deployment to Afghanistan and says his 5-year-old daughter Jessie, was missing her dad and having a tough time dealing with him being away from home.

To cheer her up, McIntyre asked some fellow soldiers to help him write and sing a song to Jessie using Facetime. In the video, McIntyre – who is of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team with the 10th Mountain Division – is the soldier positioned third from the left.

Thank you to all the deployed Dads and Moms and everyone in the military who serve our great country. You sacrifice your lives, and have found ways to endure, carry on and keep the bonds strong at home.