Wordwise Hymns

3 July 2020

Introducing: Wordwise (again)

My Dad spent countless hours in the study of God’s Word.

That study was expressed as he taught classes at a Bible college, or as he led a Bible study, preached, or provided counselling. But he also spent countless hours writing. Much of that writing he put online.

His online work actually focused on two topics – the Bible was one, and hymns was another.

After he passed away last August, we had to decide what to do with this online material. I finally decided to consolidate it all into one website – with the possibility of added unpublished work as well in the future. So, Wordwise Hymns and Wordwise Bible studies will be eventually all found here:

WordwiseBibleStudies.com

However, I am putting the material up a little at a time, which means that, Lord willing for the next few months (maybe years!), you’ll see new articles every week (currently 5x a week).

Other than updating the format, the material will be posted just as he originally wrote it.

If you’re looking for some thoughtful, Bible-based studies and articles (including answers to many questions that he received over the years – including some interesting ones like “Should I wear angel jewellery?”)), I encourage you to check out Wordwise. A series on the basics of the faith is just finishing up today (“Exploring Christianity”), and will be followed by some general articles about the church and the Christian life.

A lot of this material is in a format that could easily be used in a small group study, or printed on the back of a bulletin.

The latest articles are also currently found on the right sidebar of this site.

If you have any comments or suggestions regarding navigation and style, feel free to let me know. The site is probably not in its “final” form yet, and I’m sure there is a lot of room for improvement.

15 April 2012

Titanic Sinking Hymn? (video)

Jim Devotional and Bible, News and current issues, Video Blogs 1

100 years ago today, the RMS Titanic sank, after hitting an iceberg the night before. As the ship sank, the band played on – but what did they play?

Some of the survivors claimed that the last song the band played was "Nearer My God to Thee". But today, there may not be enough evidence to know for sure.

If this hymn was the last song played, it would certainly be appropriate. And the very fact that the band played on, calming the passengers, and giving their own lives to do it, is heroic enough, hymn or no hymn.

But as my Dad recently pointed out in his blog, the tune played may not be the tune you’re familiar with. The scene from A Night to Remember (1958) got it right. Here’s the clip:

Nearer My God to Thee is a beautiful hymn alluding to the dream of Jacob at Bethel (Genesis 28:10-22).

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone.
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God to Thee.

There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.

Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,
There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be, nearer my God to Thee.

22 December 2009

Dad C’s Book (almost) out – Discovering the Songs of Christmas!

Jim Family 0

My Dad’s new book – Discovering the Songs of Christmas: Meditations on Our Traditional Carols and Christmas Hymns – is (almost) out!

Discovering the Songs of Christmas by Robert Cottrill

As you might guess, it should have been out quite some time ago. But due to a variety of circumstances, it was delayed. However, it’s being printed and almost ready to be shipped.

It’s too bad it wasn’t ready sooner – but after all, everyone says we should celebrate Christmas all year!

Anyway, this book from a world-class hymn historian not only will tell you things about Christmas carols you never knew, it also has thoughts on the meaning of the songs.

You can read, actually, one of my favourite stories online – the familiar Christmas song that was, when first written, only one letter in length.

You may also have noticed a new feature here at Finding direction. My Dad (Robert Cottrill) also has a blog in which he’s been sharing a kind of "hymn almanac" – what happened in this day in hymn history, as well as other thoughts. You can see the latest entry on the right if you scroll down, under Wordwise Hymns Today.

Meanwhile you can pre-order the book Discovering the Songs of Christmas right here. It’s already listed on amazon (although they made a mistake and listed two editors, who were actually just regular publisher editors of the manuscript I believe), and will be coming to other locations soon (although most of you may find the best deal by pre-ording on amazon now).

So through the book and blog – enjoy discovering and rediscovering hymns from the life of the church around the world!