Hopefully, this comes across as a Charles Wesley style hymn. I put it the same tune as Wesley's "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing." We'll see what the teacher thinks.

This has actually been a fun assignment. Hopefully, I will take this to the next level to and put my own tunes to the words and "clean up" the text some. That's one part of my life, that I've really missed is the song writing. It's been such a long time since I've written anything. :(


Tune: AZMON (O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing)

Reference: Ephesians 2:8-10

God gave to me His gift of grace
A gift so free indeed
He came to me and showed His face
A call to let Him lead.

No works I can do to earn it
A gift so free indeed
It’s not by works, I must admit
Through Christ I have been freed.

I’m freed from sin’s dark destiny
His gift so free for me
I give myself to Him daily
His face I hope to see

Created in Christ for good deeds
Prepared by God for me
His workmanship I am indeed
He has made me worthy.

This term I'm taking actually 2 classes that are each 4 1/2 weeks long.  Right now it is "The History of Congregational Song."  A four week journey through 4,000 years of church music.  Talk about a world wind tour!  It's been interesting.  This past week especially as we were talking about music from the time of the Reformers.  Our assignment for the week was to write 3 hymns in 3 different styles.  The first was a Metrical Hymn based on one of the Psalms.  Much in the style of John Calvin. The second in the style of Isaac Watts, also based on the Psalms.  Lastly, a hymn in the style of Charles Wesley.

Below is my first attempt (and hopefully not the last) at a Metrical hymn based on Psalm 98.  It is a long meter tune which means each line has to have 8 syllables.  Right now it's based on the Hamburg tune.  Which if you were like me 3 hours ago you have no idea what that tune is.  It's better known to us today as "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross." 

Let us sing to God a new song
He has made a world of wonder
Salvation from His right hand strong
God’s gift known to those asunder

Righteousness revealed to nations
His lovingkindness bear in mind
Faithfulness to Israel’s stations
His Salvation for all mankind

Let’s shout joyfully to the Lord
Break forth and sing for joy, sing praise
With the harp let God be adored
With your voice let the praises raise

Let the trumpet’s blast, shout for joy
Blast the ram’s horn before the King
The sea resound, the world enjoy
Rivers clapping, mountains singing

For joy let them sing to the Lord
Who comes to judge in righteousness
With fairness those he has restored
Sing to God for all his goodness.


Not the best you'll ever read, but hopefully not the worst either!

A good piece of chocolate has about 200 calories. As I enjoy
two servings per night, and a few more on weekends, I
consume 3,500 calories of chocolate in a week, which equals
one pound of weight per week.

Therefore...

In the last 3 1/2 years, I have had a chocolate caloric
intake of about 180 pounds. I weigh only 165 pounds, so
without chocolate, I would have wasted away to nothing about
three months ago!

I owe my life to chocolate.