{"id":5172,"date":"2021-05-11T10:57:54","date_gmt":"2021-05-11T17:57:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insideout.abbotsfordchristian.com\/?p=5172"},"modified":"2021-07-07T21:25:02","modified_gmt":"2021-07-07T21:25:02","slug":"rock-of-ages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/abbotsfordchristian.com\/insideout\/2021\/05\/11\/rock-of-ages\/","title":{"rendered":"ROCK OF AGES"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I was young, my family listened fervently to James Ward. James was a Christian contemporary singer\/songwriter, popular in the 70\u2019s, 80\u2019s, and 90\u2019s. He also happened to be a friend to our family by association. He wasn\u2019t in the \u201cfamous\u201d category like other Christian contemporaries of that time:\u00a0 Michael W Smith, Amy Grant, etc. But he was famous in our household. We every knew word to every song on every album (remember when that was a thing? Albums?). We attended his concerts and truly loved his music. He was charismatic and showed his love for Jesus in the \u201csoul\u201d of his music. He picked out beautiful themes in his songs and always led us back to God\u2019s love for his people and how we respond to this love.<\/p>\n

One of his songs always struck a chord with our family\u2014Rock of Ages<\/em>. James \u201cre-did\u201d Augustus Toplady\u2019s 1776 hymn with a new tune that echoed throughout our house almost every Sunday morning prior to church. My mom loved to turn it up a bit on the record player. It was the unplugged \u201cpiano only\u201d version we all loved.<\/p>\n

This song somehow seems to just fit for me these days, for in the times we are in. The words\u2014although written in a different time\u2014seem to be what I need right now.<\/strong><\/span> At the time of this writing, I am self-isolating due to being a close contact to someone with COVID-19 and I am personally in prayer for family members who have COVID (like many of you). The middle school and secondary campuses have become especially vulnerable over the past few days leading to \u201cfunctional closure\u201d of those campuses and many of our staff and students are being expected to self-isolate.<\/p>\n

I must admit that I really can\u2019t belt it out like I did when I was a kid\u2026but the music and the lyrics still ring true to who I am and where I am at this time. As a leader of ACS, perhaps I need to be a bit more of the truth: \u201cTrust in God\u2026and everything will be all right,<\/em>\u201d but I\u2019m tired like everyone else.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Allow these lyrics to wash over you. They are soothing for me and perhaps they are for you as well.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Rock of Ages, cleft for me,<\/em>
\nLet me hide myself in Thee;<\/em>
\nLet the water and the blood,<\/em>
\nFrom Thy wounded side which flowed,<\/em>
\nBe of sin the double cure,<\/em>
\nSave from wrath and make me pure.<\/em><\/p>\n

Not the labour of my hands<\/em>
\nCan fulfill Thy law\u2019s demands;<\/em>
\nCould my zeal no respite know,<\/em>
\nCould my tears forever flow,<\/em>
\nAll for sin could not atone;<\/em>
\nThou must save, and Thou alone.<\/em><\/p>\n

Nothing in my hand I bring,<\/em>
\nSimply to Thy cross I cling;<\/em>
\nNaked, come to Thee for dress;<\/em>
\nHelpless, look to Thee for grace;<\/em>
\nFoul, I to the fountain fly;<\/em>
\nWash me, Saviour, or I die.<\/em><\/p>\n

While I draw this fleeting breath,<\/em>
\nWhen my eyes shall close in death,<\/em>
\nWhen I rise to worlds unknown,<\/em>
\nAnd behold Thee on Thy throne,<\/em>
\nRock of Ages, cleft for me,<\/em>
\nLet me hide myself in Thee.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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