Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, 
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home.

John Newton, 1725-1807

 
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

The author of these words, John Newton, was a former slave ship captain. After surviving a fierce storm at sea, Newton became an Anglican priest and abolitionist.

Extraordinary Experiences: On Our Way Home

I begin my book by relating life-transforming experiences of scientists. After struck by lightning, surgeon Tony Cicoria heard music “from Heaven” and became a pianist to play it. Biophysicist Joyce Hawkes, after her near-death experience, heard a voice calling her to be a healer, studied with indigenous teachers, and became a cell-level healer. No longer agnostic, Cicoria and Hawkes now trust in the Source of life many call God. Some scientists, such as Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, and Steve Jobs, acknowledge extraordinary intuitive experiences revealing the secrets of nature. Other scientists report life-transforming healings, visions, and dreams. 
 
Stars, water, and life are natural phenomena but remain fundamental mysteries that may generate extraordinary human experiences. I explain why in chapters on Consciousness and Subjectivity, the Origin and Evolution of Life, a Creative Universe, Purpose and Meaning, Ethics and Ecology, and Nature and God.
 
These wondrous experiences offer evidence that we have come from and will return to an eternal dimension of reality, as unbounded by time and space as quantum reality. Some call it Heaven, the Other Side, or Cosmic Consciousness. Knowing this truth makes everyday life on earth extraordinary. And whether we know it or not, we are on our way home.
 
This is why I end the book by recognizing that the first line of the Lord’s Prayer is as compelling now as it was two millennia ago. Abba, may your kingdom come, may your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Abba is the Aramaic word for father that Jesus used, and Paul in his New Testament letters also refers to Abba. Source of all life and forgiving love, may we open our hearts to You during our extraordinary lives on earth. Amen.

 

Available in paperback ($8) and Kindle ($1) editions at https://www.amazon.com/Extraordinary-Experiences-Our-Way-Home/dp/B09JDX8ZLV/.

Slave song: "I want to Go Home"

 

“Slave Songs of the United States” by Charles Pickard Ware,
Lucy McKim Garrison, and William Francis Allen, 1867. 

Slave song: Michael row the boat . . . home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Slave Songs of the United States” by Charles Pickard Ware,
Lucy McKim Garrison, and William Francis Allen, 1867.  

 

This version includes the word "home" which is omitted in other recordings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clPEO5ZfxLk

 

This version includes a video with historical slave and artistic angel images.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk0B71bzlMw 

I hope Gabriel's trumpet might blow me home

 

“Slave Songs of the United States” by Charles Pickard Ware, Lucy McKim Garrison,
and William Francis Allen, 1867.

Slave song: "I'm Going Home"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Slave Songs of the United States” by Charles Pickard Ware, Lucy McKim Garrison, and William Francis Allen, 1867.

Slave song from the Civil War era

 

Do Lord, O do Lord, O do remember me

Do Lord, O do Lord, O do remember me,

Do Lord, O do Lord, O do remember me,

Do Lord, O do Lord, O do remember me,

Look away beyond the blue.

 

I've got a home in glory land that outshines the sun,

I've got a home in glory land that outshines the sun,

I've got a home in glory land that outshines the sun,

Look away beyond the blue.

 

Do Lord, O do Lord, O do remember me,

Do Lord, O do Lord, O do remember me,

Do Lord, O do Lord, O do remember me,

Look away beyond the blue.

 

Johnny Cash sings “Do Lord”

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plA2vi7mWc0

African American spiritual: By and By

We are often tossed and driv’n on the restless sea of time,
somber skies and howling tempest oft succeed a bright sunshine;
in that land of perfect day, when the mists have rolled away,
we will understand it better by and by.

Refrain:
By and by, when the morning comes, when the saints of God are gathered home,
we’ll tell the story, how we’ve overcome, for we’ll understand it better by and by.

We are often destitute of the things that life demands,
want of food and want of shelter, thirsty hills and barren lands;
we are trusting in the Lord, and according to the Word,
we will understand it better by and by. [Refrain]

Temptations, hidden snares, often take us unawares,
and our hearts are made to bleed for any thoughtless word or deed;
and we wonder why the test when we try to do our best,
but we’ll understand it better by and by. [Refrain]

 

An African-American congregation singing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0IJ9aLBkcE

African-American composer, Charles A. Tindley (1851-1933)

This spiritual was written in 1905; the tune is known as By and By

The spiritual: Steal Away Home

Steal away, steal away, steal away home to Jesus.


Steal away, steal away home.
I ain't got long to stay here.

 

My Lord is calling,
is calling by the thunder.


The trumpet sounds within-a my soul.
I ain't got long to stay here.

 

Steal away, steal away, steal away home to Jesus.


Steal away, steal away home.
I ain't got long to stay here.

 

My Lord is calling, is calling by the lightning.

The trumpet sounds within-a my soul. I ain’t got long to stay here.

 

Steal away, steal away, steal away home to Jesus.


Steal away, steal away home.
I ain't got long to stay here.

 

Umoya Gospel Journey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL93GqQiiDg

Spiritual: Trouble of the world

Soon I will be done with the trouble of the world.

The trouble of the world, the trouble of the world.

Soon I will be done with the trouble of the world.

Going home! to live! with God!

 

 

No more! weeping and wailing. No more! weeping and wailing.

No more! weeping and wailing. Going home! to live! with my Lord!

Soon we’ll be done with the trouble of the world.

The trouble in the world, the trouble of the world.

Soon we’ll be done with the trouble of the world.

Going home! to live! with my Lord!

 

 

Mahalia Jackson

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-Lj5P3BTFw

 

A spiritual composed and sung during slavery

 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I got a crown in that kingdom, ain’t a that good news!

I got a crown in that Kingdom, ain’t a that good news!

I’m gonna lay down this world, gonna shoulder my cross.

Gonna take it home to my Jesus, ain’t a that good news!

 

I got a robe in that kingdom, ain’t a that good news!

I got a robe in that Kingdom, ain’t a that good news!

I’m gonna lay down this world, gonna shoulder my cross.        

Gonna take it home to my Jesus, ain’t a that good news!

 

I got a Savior in that kingdom, ain’t a that good news!

I got a Savior in that Kingdom, ain’t a that good news!

I’m gonna lay down this world, gonna shoulder my cross.               

Gonna take it home to my Jesus, ain’t a that good news.

 

Committed Acappella Chorus - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjJsj4Xq1tI

 

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

Swing low, sweet chariot, comin’ for to carry me home.


Swing low, sweet chariot, comin’ for to carry me home.                      

 

I looked over Jordan and what did I see?


Comin’ for to carry me home.


A band of angels coming after me.


Comin’ for to carry me home.                               

 

If you get there before I do.


Comin’ for to carry me home.


Tell all my friends I’m coming, too.


Comin’ for to carry me home.                               

 

I'm sometimes up and sometimes down.


Comin’ for to carry me home.


But still my soul feels heaven bound.


Comin’ for to carry me home.                               

Measha Brueggergosman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpLszBOka0k

A spiritual unknown to most of us

 

Don’t Be Weary, Traveler

 

Refrain

Don’t be weary, traveler; Come along home to Jesus.

Don’t be weary, traveler; Come along home to Jesus.

                   

My head is wet with midnight dew. Come along home to Jesus.

Angels bear me witness too. Come along home to Jesus.

 

Refrain

 

 

Where to go I did not know; Come along home to Jesus.

 

Ever since He freed my soul; Come along home to Jesus.

 

Refrain

 

H. T. Burleigh (1866-1949). See http://afrovoices.com/burleigh.html for a biography.

 

Sung by Charlotte Collett

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KjtXxlFlV4

A spiritual known as "By and By"

We are often tossed and driv’n on the restless sea of time,
somber skies and howling tempest oft succeed a bright sunshine;
in that land of perfect day, when the mists have rolled away,
we will understand it better by and by.

Refrain:
By and by, when the morning comes, when the saints of God are gathered home,
we’ll tell the story, how we’ve overcome, for we’ll understand it better by and by.

We are often destitute of the things that life demands,
want of food and want of shelter, thirsty hills and barren lands;
we are trusting in the Lord, and according to the Word,
we will understand it better by and by. [Refrain]

Temptations, hidden snares, often take us unawares,
and our hearts are made to bleed for any thoughtless word or deed;
and we wonder why the test when we try to do our best,
but we’ll understand it better by and by. [Refrain]

African-American composer, Charles A. Tindley (1851-1933). This spiritual was written in 1905.

 

An African-American congregation singing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0IJ9aLBkcE

Spiritual: "A City Called Heaven"

I am a pilgrim, a pilgrim of sorrow,  

I’m left in this wide world, this wide world a-lone.

I have no hope, have no hope for to-morrow.  

But I'm tryin’ to make heaven my home.

Sometimes I’m tossed, Lord, and sometimes I’m driven.

Sometimes I just don’t know, just where I’m to go.

But I’ve heard of a city, the city of heaven.

And I’m tryin’ to make heaven my home.

 

Renaissance, Bethel University’s Performing Arts Experience

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjA3mesoAVU

I'm Going Home on the Morning Train

 

A spiritual composed and sung during slavery.

I’m going home on the morning train.

I’m going home, on the morning train.

I’m going home. I’m going home.

I’m going home on the morning train.

On my way, to the freedom land.

On my way, to the freedom land.

I’m going  home. I’m going  home.

On my way, to the freedom land.

 

No more troubles, now they’re gone.

No more struggles, my time has come.

I’m going home. I’m going home.

I’m going home on the morning train.

 

The McDonald Sisters - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gox3_GREz_c

Peter, Paul and Mary - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKHzfboDYUc

Take my hand, precious Lord, and lead me home

Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn

Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on through the light
Take my hand, precious Lord
And lead me home

 

When my way grows drear
Precious Lord, lead me near
When my life is almost gone
At the river I will stand
Guide my feet, hold my hand
Take my hand, precious Lord
And lead me home

 

To hear this sung by Mahalia Jackson click on the link the follows, wait for the ad to finish, and then enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMSWJxNlaww