Prophetic Edge Workshop Podcast

Jesus Will Not Refuse the Song

Carl Thomas Gladstone — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:45:00 +0000

Another in the Wesley Advent collection. Charles seemed big on this "simple praise" shepherd motif. Wonder if he particularly had the poor in mind when using these songs to teach about the meaning of Christmas.

Jesus Will Not Refuse The Song
Words by Charles Wesley, Music by Carl Thomas Gladstone

Sing, ye ransomed nations, sing,
Praises to our new-born King,
Son of man our Maker is,
Lord of hosts and Prince of peace!

[chorus]
Jesus will not refuse the song
Ransomed nations sing along!

Will his majesty disdain
The poor shepherd's simple strain?
No; for Israel's shepherd, he
Loves their artless melody.

Let us then our Prince proclaim,
Humbly chant Immanuel's name,
Publish at his wondrous birth,
Praise in heaven and peace on earth.

Shepherd's Hymn

Carl Thomas Gladstone — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:04:16 +0000

After visiting the Bethlehem site commemorating the announcement of the Nativity, the plainness of the shepherds in that story seems more real. Both this town and the people living there still are somehow Other than the people in Jerusalem a ways away. This song is a great Wesley text that I've tried to connect with a new simple, but profound melody.

Spirit of Freedom, Wake!

Carl Thomas Gladstone — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:00:00 +0000

As I've been working through this abolitionist hymnal, there are competing themes of struggle against the monsters both within and without regarding the issue of slavery. This song hits a bit more on the internal side - asking for the Spirit of Freedom to rise up and fight off the sins in our own lives that lead to enslavement of others. Let me know what you think about the tune, especially on the "group sing-ability" front.

Lyrics/Chords for "Spirit.." at the CTG lyric archive.

Carl

A Love That Grows

Carl Thomas Gladstone — Sat, 09 May 2009 20:36:16 +0000

Deep as Kitch-iti-kipiHere's another song for the Annie's News collection. Thought I'd put it up today because I dropped Anna off at the airport this morning for a week long medical school service trip to the Dominican Republic.

Wrote this for our one year anniversary and then realized that it was something of an anti-love song. But not really, just an anti-melodramadic-love song.

And in case John Cusack is listening/reading, got nothin' but love for you man.

Carl

Thinking of Anna

Carl Thomas Gladstone — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:41:14 +0000

Here's some schmoopy for ya! I had a great time on a recent trip to Israel/Palestine and it was my wife Anna that made it all possible. But seriously, if you have a weak constitution for other people's love songs then Do NOT listen to this song.

Mostly the lyrics were all inspired by that little tiny picture of the plane that they show on trans-Atlantic flights. Why won't you move any faster Tiny Little Plane On The Screen!?!? Glad I had something to keep my mind busy.

There Is A Better Day

Carl Thomas Gladstone — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 17:55:28 +0000

The text of "...Better Day" rings of hope in the midst of struggle. Some place names have been modified to reflect the current state of trafficking in persons.

I particularly resonated with the line in the song: "we are stolen." It reminded me of the overwhelming awareness that I'm sure cripples people in those situations. What is it like - the moment where a person starts to believe that they actually are an object that can be owned, sold, stolen?

I Am An Abolitionist

Carl Thomas Gladstone — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 17:43:36 +0000

This song contains once of the best phrases that I encountered regarding the work of the modern day abolitionist community - "We'll lay the monster low, my friends. We'll lay the monster low." When reflecting on the horror of the sex trade I think "monster" as a description is apt.

While one of the more militant songs in the list, I think it is sufficiently checked by the Christian understanding of soldiers and militarism. Our fight, for example, will be fought not with violence but with the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.

Born 'Mid The Storm

Carl Thomas Gladstone — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 02:09:13 +0000

When thinking about modern day human trafficking we have to remember that just as in the African slave trade in earlier centuries, there may be whole families in bondage for generations. David Batstone documents this in the Not For Sale chapter on slave labor in Asia.

This song is a prayer for mothers and families trapped together and reminds hearers that even out of terrible situations can beautiful things arise.

Never More Two Sleep

Carl Thomas Gladstone — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 04:08:50 +0000

Been completing a set of the Abolitionist Hymnal songs for the Not For Sale event at Adrian College this weekend. Here's the full song for "Never More To Sleep." As I worked on these lyrics I couldn't help but think about David Batstone's words in the Not For Sale book about our tendencies to think of slavery as a thing that has passed. This is a great song to call faithful Christians and the whole nation back into abolitionist action.

Never More To Sleep

Carl Thomas Gladstone — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:32:22 +0000

"Never More To Sleep" is a song I'm working on for inclusion in the upcoming Abolitionist Hymnal collection. Little more than a chorus currently, this songs captures a kind of thematic center for this project.

Christian communities during theAfricanslave trade of earlier centuries put together these collections of abolitionist hymns. They'd sing them together to rehearse God's promise of deliverance from slavery and practice their own call to actively seek freedom in the lives of others. Today we're trying to help communities reclaim these kinds of prophetic liturgies in their own worship gatherings.

As the Not For Sale campaign reminds us, there are more people trapped in slavery today then there were at the height of the African slave trade. Many of these are children. Many are caught up in the worldwide sex trade. If there was ever a time for churches to reclaim their abolitionist roots, now is it.

________________________________________

Never More To Sleep

Hark! a voice from heaven proclaiming
Comfort to the mourning slave;
God has heard them long complaining,
And extends his arm to save;
Proud Oppression
Soon shall find a shameful grave.

Lo! the nation is arousing
From its slumbers, long and deep;
And the church of God is waking,
Never, never more to sleep,
While the bonded
In their chains remains to weep.

See! the light of truth is breaking
Full and clear on every hand;
And the voice of mercy, speaking,
Now is heard through all the land;

Firm and fearless,
See the friends of Freedom stand!
Long, too long, have we been dreaming
O'er our country's sin and shame;

Let us now, the time redeeming,
Press the helpless captives' claims,
Till, exulting,
They shall cast aside their chains.