The Privilege is Our to Share in the Loving

     Almighty God, our heavenly Father, the privilege is our to share
in the loving, healing, reconciling mission of your Son Jesus Christ,
our Lord, in this age and wherever we are.  Since without you
we can do no good thing,
     May your Spirit make us wise;
     May your Spirit guide us;
     May your Spirit renew us;
     May your Spirit strengthen us;
So that we will be:
     Strong in faith,
     Discerning in proclamation,
     Courageous in witness,
     Persistent in good deeds.
This we ask through the name of the Father.

Church of the Province of the West Indies
from An African Prayer Book by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, copyright 1995

Who Will Go?

I heard the question ringing out,

Who will go through all the land

To free my people from chains of doubt

And make them part of My Holy Band

I will go, I cried, dear Lord;

I will to through all the land

To break the chains with the spiritual Sword

And place them in Your loving hands.

I will give them the Truth they need

To open their eyes so they may see

That Jesus has come in reality

To heal their hearts and set them free.

Holy Spirit, please be my guide

As in Your will I do abide.

Give me strength deep down inside

To labor until this land is revived.

by Nathan Dunlap  4-13-1987

Note:  We have been in Tanzania for 10 days now.  Nathan was asked to speak today at the English service of the Anglican Cathedral in Mwanza.  It is interesting to note that the verse from Isaiah where Nathan got the theme of this song, 'Who will go?' was the first reading for this service on Trinity Sunday.  We are grateful for this calling to come to Mwanza and share Christ's love with the people here. We also went to a second service led by the English pastor we have been staying with for our first week in Mwanza, and we got acquainted with several missionary families in the area.  God's call received in faith will bring life to His people, bringing to their weaknesses courage and strength to accomplish that which God sets out to accomplish in their lives.   

I'd Like to Go to Africa

Today

I thought

I would like

To go to Africa.

Yes, I will go to Kenya

And see if time

Has stood still

Where at least

The walk

Is on the ground

All all come

To a sudden halt

At dusk

And sounds

Come from the voice

And travel a mile or two

And strength comes from

The family

Near to you.

Yes, Today

I thought

I'd like to go to Africa.

                                                        by Sallie Lanier, May 5, 1995

Note:  I found this poem in Foreign to Familiar,by Sarah A, Lanier. Copyright 2000, page 104.  Our family is on their way to Tanzania, which borders Kenya.  We have been preparing by studying Swahili and reading up on the culture from this hot-climate country.  I am amazed that we get to go as a family to live among the East Africans.  Please keep us in prayer as we venture out of our familiar home to a foreign land.  Please pray that we will have safety, good health, and strength for each day. 

Thy Praises

All our praise to Thee, Father;
All our praise to Thee, Son;
All our praise to Thee, Spirit;
Three persons in One. (3 times)

Oh, our Lord, Thou are holy;
Oh, our Lord, Thou are King;
Oh, our Lord, Thou are lovely;
Thy praises we sing. (3 times)

May our lives bring Thee glory;
May our tongues bring Thee praise;
May our love bring Thee honor;
Thy name do we raise. (3 times)

Oh, our Lord, Thou are holy;
Oh, our Lord, Thou are King;
Oh, our Lord, Thou are lovely;
Thy praises we sing. (3 times)


by Julie Dunlap  April 13, 2013


Note:  Last month  I made up a tune in the shower, and the next day as I put the tune to the banjo, I sang this simple praise song to fit the music.  As we meditate on the goodness and love of our God, praises flow out of our souls.  It could be expressed through music and poems, yet it is also expressed through virtuous living and acknowledgement of our dependency on our Creator.  When we fall because of our frailty, God is with us to help us stand again.  All praise to our merciful God! 

Three Strands

Quiet, so loving, sincere
Rock deep in waters pure.

Beautiful pearl

Bold, so loving, generous;
His love for his pearl continuous.

Majestic myrtle

Christ reigns as their center,
Shared with all who enter.

Glorious and Royal,
Redemption to our soil.

Jesus is Lord.

by Julie Dunlap   7-20-2002

Note:  This poem was written during one of our visits to our close friends, Bill and Margaret Anacker.   We lived with them one winter when the our older children were young, and so they became like grandparents for our children.  I put this poem in now in memory of them, and in gratitude of how we experienced Christ through their friendship.  

Kindly Spring

Kindly spring again is here,
Trees and fields in bloom appear;
Hark!  The birds with artless lays
Warble their creature's praise

Where in winter all was snow,
Now the flowers in clusters grow;
And the corn, in green array,
Promises a harvest day.

Lord, afford a spring to me,
Let me feel like what I see;
Speak, and by Thy gracious voice,
Make my drooping soul rejoice.

On Thy garden deign to smile,
Raise the plants, enrich the soil;
Soon Thy presence will restore
Life to what seemed dead before.

by John Newton   1725-1807


Note:  Praise The Almighty and Merciful Lord of Lords and King of Kings for the springtime, both in nature and that experienced in our human souls!!!

Easter Hymn

Death and darkness get you packing,

Nothing now to man is lacking,

All your triumphs now are ended,

And what Adam marred is mended.

Graves are beds now for the weary,

Death a nap, to wake more merry;

Youth now, full of pious duty,

Seeks in Thee for perfect beauty.

The weak, and aged tired, with length

Of days, from Thee look for new strength,

And infants with Thy pangs contest

As pleasant, as if with the breast.

Then, unto Him, who thus hath thrown

Even to contempt Thy kingdom down,

And by His blood did us advance

Unto His own inheritance.

To Him be glory, power, praise,

From this, unto the last of days.

by Henry Vaughan  1622-1695

Note: The Lord is risen!  He is risen indeed!  May the daystar rise daily in our hearts as we advance forward upon the Way of the Cross which the Son of God has shown us. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!