Hold Thou my Hand

This is a rewrite of a Fanny Crosby (1879) hymn that I did back in 2002 and have yet to release anywhere. However, since it has become a such a part of our worship at Redeemer and since I have gotten a such a good amount of prodding (Thanks Richard!), I thought I would finally get it posted. Hope it is a blessing to you all! ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Hold Thou My Hand          (listen/download)       (chord chart)

Hold thou my hand; so weak I am, and helpless, I dare not take one step without thy aid; Hold thou my hand; for then, O loving Savior, No dread of ill shall make my soul afraid.

Hold thou my hand, and closer, draw me closer To thy dear self—my hope, my joy, my all; Hold thou my hand, lest haply I should wander, And, missing thee, my trembling feet should fall.

Hold thou my hand; the way is dark before me Without the sunlight of thy face divine; But when by faith I catch its radiant glory, What heights of joy, what rapturous songs are mine!

Hold thou my hand, that when I reach the margin Of that lone river thou didst cross for me, A heavenly light may flash along its waters, And every wave like crystal bright shall be.

Hold thou my hand; so weak I am, and helpless, I dare not take one step without thy aid; I dare not take one step without thy aid.

O Worship the King

I rewrote this Robert Grant/William Kethe hymn (1833/1562) back in 2002, but last Sunday we played a bit mellower and I rewrote the turn around portion to fit. We really enjoyed it so I thought I would share it. ...............................................................................

Vocals: Nathan Partain, Rebekah Osborn Electric guitar: Nathan Partain Acoustic guitar: Rebekah Osborn Bass: Rob Meyer Drums: Joe Lamusga

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O Worship the King       (listen)          (chords)

O worship the King, all glorious above, O gratefully sing his pow’r and his love; Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days, Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

O tell of his might, O sing of his grace, Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space; His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form, Dark is his path on the wings of the storm.

O measureless might!  Ineffable love! While angels delight to hymn thee above, The humbler creation, though feeble their lays, With true adoration shall all sing thy praise.

O worship the King, all glorious above, O gratefully sing his pow’r and his love; Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days, Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

Jesus Thy Boundless Love to Me

This Paul Gerhardt hymn (1653) has been sitting in my folder of lyrics that I have enjoyed and want to rewrite. This past week we mourned the loss of a man in our community and I was longing for a hymn that spoke of our whole hearted devotion and trust in Jesus our savior. When I found this hymn I immediately started making music. We recorded it this past Sunday during worship. .........................................................................

vocals: Nathan Partain guitar: Nathan Partain viola: Ashley Overley, Ellen Davis violin: Laura Davis, Leila Vanest, Sarah Kamer bass: Melodi Miller drums: Joe Lamusga

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Jesus Thy Boundless Love to Me      (listen)      (chords)

Jesus, Thy boundless love to me, No thought can reach, no tongue declare; Unite my thankful heart with Thee, And reign without a rival there. To Thee alone, dear Lord, I live; Myself to Thee, dear Lord, I give. Myself to Thee, dear Lord, I give.

O, grant that nothing in my soul, May dwell but Thy pure love alone! Oh, may Thy love possess me whole, My joy, my treasure, and my crown! All coldness from my heart remove; My every act, word, thought, be love. My every act, word, thought, be love.

This love unwearied I pursue, And dauntlessly to Thee aspire. Oh, may Thy love my hope renew, Burn in my soul like heavenly fire! And day and night be all my care, To guard this sacred treasure there. To guard this sacred treasure there.

O that I, as a little child, May follow Thee, and never rest, Till sweetly Thou hast breathed Thy mild, And lowly mind into my breast! Nor ever may we parted be, Till I become as one with Thee. Till I become as one with Thee.

In suffering be Thy love my peace, In weakness be Thy love my power; And when the storms of life shall cease, Jesus, in that important hour, In death as life be Thou my guide, And save me, Who for me hast died. And save me, Who for me hast died.

Jesus is Mine (live)

Recorded this last Sunday. It is a rewrite I did back in 2003 of a Jane C. Bonar (1843) hymn. It is on The Parlor Sessions record but I really enjoyed worshiping through this song with our community this past Sunday so I thought I would share the live recording. James says that "friendship with the world is hatred towards God". This song reminds me that I do not need the world, that it's promises are empty and that Jesus is all I want. I am his and he is mine. ....................................

Vocals: Nathan Partain, Kyle Ragsdale, Bethany Hodge Guitar: Nathan Partain Banjo: Kyle Edgell Fiddle: Kipp Normand Bass: Joel Chodakowski Bass Drum & Cymbal: Brail Allee

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Jesus is Mine         (listen)      (chords)

Fade, fade, each earthly joy: Jesus is mine! Break every tender tie: Jesus is mine! Dark is this wilderness, Earth has no resting place, Jesus alone can bless: Jesus is mine!

Tempt not my soul away: Jesus is mine! Here would I ever stay: Jesus is mine! Perishing things of clay, Born for but one brief day, Pass from my heart away: Jesus is mine!

Farewell, ye dreams of night: Jesus is mine! Lost in this dawning bright: Jesus is mine! All that my soul has tried Left but a dismal void; Jesus has satisfied: Jesus is mine!

Farewell, mortality: Jesus is mine! Welcome, eternity: Jesus is mine! Welcome, O loved and blest, Welcome sweet scenes of rest, Welcome, my Savior’s breast: Jesus is mine!

Good Friday: Just as I am

So I normally try to steer clear of rewriting classic hymns that people know and love. However, I really like these lyrics (Charlotte Elliot, 1835) and have wanted to write something new to them for a while so for Good Friday I did a rewrite. My focus was really just the first phrase of the song, that I am to come to our Father as I am, without pretense, hiding, self-covering or any of my own goodness.  Not only that, but I am to come free of fear and inhibition, trusting completely in the finished work of Jesus on my behalf.

Vocals: Nathan Partain, Kyle Ragsdale, Bethany Hodge Acoustic guitar: Nathan Partain Harmonica: Jeremy Grimmer Washboard: Elyce Elder Bass drum: Brian Allee Junk: Kipp Normand Bass: Joel Chodakowski

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Just as I am    (listen)      (chord chart)    

Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bidst me come to Thee, O Lamb I come. Just as I am, and waiting not, To rid my soul of one dark blot, To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about, Confused, conflicted, full of doubts, Fightings and fears within, without, O Lamb I come. Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind; Sight, riches, healing of the mind, Yea, all in Thee I need to find, O Lamb I come.

Just as I am I come, Receiving all you’ve done. And covered in your blood, I’m held within your love.

Just as I am, Thy love unknown, Hath broken every barrier down; Now, to be Thine and Thine alone, O Lamb I come. Just as I am, Thou will receive, Will welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; Because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb I come. 

 Just as I am I come, Receiving all you’ve done. And covered in your blood, I’m held within your love.

You won for me full forgiveness, Just as I am O Lamb I come Set free from fear, I can confess, Just as I am O Lamb I come I leave my rags of righteousness, Just as I am O Lamb I come For now I wear your Holiness, Just as I am O Lamb I come 

Pilgrim Hymn

My Pastor, Jason Dorsey, is beginning a new preaching series on Hebrews 11. This has got me thinking about our pilgrimage through this place to our home. I found this hymn by John Cennick (1742) and it seemed to capture what has been stirring in my mind. I hope for us to learn it as a congregation over the next few months. I recorded it last night in my inlaws living room with my laptop sitting on my lap using the built-in mic. So it is a little low-fi and there is some random knocking sounds where I accidentally bumped the laptop while trying to play into the computer screen. There is also a good bit of background noise because people were walking through and washing dishes, etc. but I had a lot of fun and it was really easy just to play and not have to set up any equipment.

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Pilgrim Hymn (listen) (chord chart)

Children of the heavenly King, As ye journey, sweetly sing; Sing your Savior’s worthy praise, Glorious in His works and ways

We are traveling home to God, In the way the fathers trod; They are happy now, and we Soon their happiness shall see.

O Lord, obedient we would go, Gladly leaving all the world below; Thou alone our only Leader be; And still we follow Thee.

Shout, ye little flock, and blest, You on Jesus’ throne shall rest: There your seat is now prepared— There your kingdom and reward.

O Lord, obedient we would go, Gladly leaving all the world below; Thou alone our only Leader be; And still we follow Thee.

Lift your eyes, ye sons of light, Zion’s city is in sight: There our endless home shall be, There our Lord we soon shall see.

O Lord, obedient we would go, Gladly leaving all the world below; Thou alone our only Leader be; And still we follow Thee.

Psalm 22

This song was written from the last third of Psalm 22 in the Trinity Psalter. Psalm 22 is one of the clearest psalm prophecies of the crucifixion and resurrection. It begins with, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" and continues to foretell the mocking, insults and the dividing of Jesus clothes. However, at verse 22 the psalm hinges with, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you."  From there the psalm exalts the resurrected Lord and King. This was recorded live during our worship service a few of weeks ago.

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Psalm 22 (listen) (chord chart) (lead sheet)

All ye that fear Jehovah’s Name, His glory tell, His praise proclaim; Ye children of His chosen race, Stand ye in awe before His face. The suffering One He has not spurned Who unto Him for succor turned; From him He has not hid His face But answered his request in grace.

O Lord, Thy goodness makes me raise Amid Thy people songs of praise; Before all them that fear Thee, Now I worship Thee and pay my vow.

For all the meek Thou wilt provide, They shall be fed and satisfied; All they that seek the Lord shall live And never ending praises give. The Lord’s unfailing righteousness, All generations shall confess. From age to age shall me be taught, What wondrous works the Lord hath wrought

O Lord, Thy goodness makes me raise Amid Thy people songs of praise; Before all them that fear Thee, Now I worship Thee and pay my vow.

All ye that fear Jehovah’s Name, His glory tell, His praise proclaim; Ye children of His chosen race, Stand ye in awe before His face. The suffering One He has not spurned Who unto Him for succor turned; From him He has not hid His face But answered his request in grace.

O Lord, Thy goodness makes me raise Amid Thy people songs of praise; Before all them that fear Thee, Now I worship Thee and pay my vow.

I Lay my Sins on Jesus

The text for this song is taken from a few verses of a hymn by Horatius Bonar. It is thought to be his first attempt at writing a hymn. I started recording it at Kenny Meeks studio and then finished in the sanctuary of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis. Wolfy Johnson engineered, mixed and played the organ. Kenny Meeks laid down the tremolo guitar and supplied some velvety vintage gear. The metallic percussion was played on part of an art installation called "Resurrected Instruments" by Kipp Normand.

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I Lay my Sins on Jesus (listen) (chord chart)

I rest my soul on Jesus, this weary soul of mine; His right hand me embraces, I on his breast recline. I lay my griefs on Jesus, my burdens and my cares; My savior all my sorrows bears.

I lay my sins on Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God; He bears them all, and frees us from the accursèd load; I bring my guilt to Jesus, his blood to wash my stains I’m washed ‘til no more shame remains.

‘Til no more shame remains, I’m washed ‘til no more shame remains. ‘Til no more shame remains.

I love the Name of Jesus, Immanuel, Christ, the Lord; Like fragrance on the breezes his Name abroad is poured. I long to be with Jesus, amid the heavenly throng, To join with Earth and Heaven’s song.

With Earth and Heaven’s song, I’ll join with Earth and Heaven’s song. With Earth and Heven’s song.

I Belong to Jesus

This is the sixth song on the new record. I rewrote the music to this hymn by M. Fraser in mid 2005. The idea of being purchased by God with the blood of Jesus is one of the truths of the gospel that I have been thinking on for the past few years so I was very excited to find these simple words. After reading them, the melody came out almost all at once. If you are interested in purchasing the record, it is available at CDBaby or if you would like to buy it directly from me just send me a comment.

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I Belong to Jesus (listen)

I belong to Jesus; I am not my own; All I have and all I am, Shall be his alone. I belong to Jesus; He is Lord and King, Reigning in my inmost heart, Over ev'rything.

I belong to Jesus; Blessed, blessed thought! With his own most precious blood, Has my soul been bought. I belong to Jesus; He has died for me; I am his and he is mine, Through eternity.

I belong to Jesus; He will keep my soul, When the deathly waters dark, Round about me roll. I belong to Jesus; And fore'er I'll stand With my precious Saviour there, In his glorious land.