1 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:09,120 S1: It's the perfect Friday before Christmas conversation at the radio 2 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:11,960 S1: backyard fence. I want you to think about the line 3 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:16,480 S1: from the Christmas hymn, or carol that moves you every time, 4 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:20,400 S1: that touches that nerve deep inside, that captures what Christmas 5 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:23,360 S1: is really all about. That happened yesterday with Doctor Michael 6 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:25,960 S1: Van Landingham. Did you hear that? He read from the 7 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:28,960 S1: hymnal and he got choked up and it was just wonderful. 8 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:32,000 S1: What is the hymn or carol? And what is the 9 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:36,760 S1: line or phrase that arrests you deep inside? Once you 10 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:39,120 S1: call about that today on Chris Fabry Live, as we 11 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:42,280 S1: talk about some deep truths at the back fence, let's 12 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:44,160 S1: get going. First with thank you to our team, Ryan 13 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:47,200 S1: McConaughey doing all things technical. Trish is our producer. Lisa 14 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:50,600 S1: is in the chair. Josh will be answering your calls today. 15 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:52,960 S1: And since it's Friday. That's right. It's time for the 16 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,920 S1: fabulous favorite Friday. Sigh. Here's what it does one. We 17 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:59,600 S1: oxygenate your blood. Two we get your endorphins going. Three 18 00:00:59,780 --> 00:01:04,300 S1: we raise your serotonin level. Four, we promote lymphatic drainage, 19 00:01:04,300 --> 00:01:07,740 S1: and five, we stimulate the parasympathetic system. That's why we 20 00:01:07,740 --> 00:01:10,580 S1: call it the five love languages. We also stimulate your 21 00:01:10,580 --> 00:01:13,860 S1: vagus nerve. We hope you release acetylcholine. And don't you 22 00:01:13,900 --> 00:01:17,180 S1: dare forget what it does to cortisol dissipation. Take in 23 00:01:17,180 --> 00:01:20,020 S1: four seconds of air through your nose right now. Hold 24 00:01:20,020 --> 00:01:22,740 S1: it for a seconds and then as you release that 25 00:01:22,740 --> 00:01:24,819 S1: air through your mouth, push on the left side of 26 00:01:24,819 --> 00:01:26,940 S1: your rib cage to get rid of all that bad 27 00:01:26,940 --> 00:01:31,539 S1: carbon dioxide. Today we present a musical Christmas. Sigh. Call 28 00:01:31,540 --> 00:01:35,820 S1: it plaintive. A bleak midwinter sigh that a sigh celebrates 29 00:01:35,819 --> 00:01:39,020 S1: anyone who figures out how to use the word hark authentically, 30 00:01:39,020 --> 00:01:42,699 S1: or the word low. It's for anyone who wonders why 31 00:01:42,700 --> 00:01:47,020 S1: they wander or wanders and wonders simultaneously, which is like 32 00:01:47,020 --> 00:01:49,220 S1: walking and chewing a candy cane at the same time. 33 00:01:49,500 --> 00:01:51,980 S1: It's for anyone who heard the bells on Christmas Day. 34 00:01:52,020 --> 00:01:54,940 S1: This is a ding dong merrily on high sigh. The shepherds, 35 00:01:54,940 --> 00:01:57,420 S1: the midnight clear. The manger the holy night. There is 36 00:01:57,420 --> 00:02:00,760 S1: joy to the world because the Savior has come. So today, 37 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:03,760 S1: give an extra sigh, a Yuletide sigh from your friends 38 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:08,840 S1: at the radio backyard fence. No elves included. No reindeer 39 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:13,880 S1: harmed in today's Friday. Sigh. Merry Christmas to you and 40 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:16,360 S1: that old building alone of yours, friend. I've been looking 41 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:18,600 S1: forward to this program today for a number of reasons. 42 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:23,360 S1: This is our last live program of 2025. Unless something 43 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,960 S1: big happens, we have some excellent best of conversations for 44 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:29,639 S1: you in the next couple of weeks, and that means 45 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:32,919 S1: this is my last opportunity to mention live. We need 46 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:35,440 S1: your help by the end of the year to reach 47 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:37,840 S1: our funding goal for this program. So if you have 48 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:41,760 S1: Mama Dollar and Papa Dollar somewhere, call or click through 49 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:46,880 S1: today Chris Fabry live org or 86695. We're going to 50 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:49,760 S1: be mentioning our thank you today during the program, which 51 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:52,320 S1: has been, is and will be for less than two weeks, 52 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:57,040 S1: the hardback devotional Hosanna in Excelsis Dave and Barbara Lehman. 53 00:02:57,570 --> 00:03:01,210 S1: It gives the background the stories behind the beloved songs. 54 00:03:01,250 --> 00:03:04,490 S1: It's a beautiful keepsake book. I can't get it to 55 00:03:04,490 --> 00:03:07,130 S1: you before Christmas, but you want to read this every 56 00:03:07,130 --> 00:03:11,290 S1: Christmas down the line. And we have one waiting for you. 57 00:03:11,290 --> 00:03:12,690 S1: I'd love to put it in the mail. Give a 58 00:03:12,730 --> 00:03:22,329 S1: gift of any size Chris Fabry live or call (866) 953-2279. 59 00:03:22,330 --> 00:03:24,489 S1: And thank you for your generosity here at the end 60 00:03:24,490 --> 00:03:27,650 S1: of the year. It is my pleasure to welcome back 61 00:03:27,650 --> 00:03:30,649 S1: to the hallowed halls of the radio backyard fence. If 62 00:03:30,650 --> 00:03:33,209 S1: a fence has holes, we got em. A man whose 63 00:03:33,210 --> 00:03:37,650 S1: musical and broadcasting career are legendary. He taught music theory 64 00:03:37,650 --> 00:03:42,770 S1: at the Wheaton College Conservatory at Moody Bible Institute, Concordia University. 65 00:03:42,810 --> 00:03:45,330 S1: He directed the Glen Ellyn Wheaton Chorale for more than 66 00:03:45,330 --> 00:03:48,650 S1: 20 years. He's been a church music director, as well 67 00:03:48,650 --> 00:03:52,930 S1: as a staple in radio, hosting such programs as Prime 68 00:03:52,970 --> 00:03:57,270 S1: Time America, Inside Look, Mornings with Greg, and and Sound 69 00:03:57,270 --> 00:04:01,630 S1: of Majesty, which continues online. Ladies and gentlemen, the one, 70 00:04:01,630 --> 00:04:06,870 S1: the only Captain Christmas himself, Mr. sweater, Greg Wheatley. Wow. 71 00:04:07,710 --> 00:04:10,710 S2: Every year, Chris, every year I wait for better. It 72 00:04:10,710 --> 00:04:12,910 S2: gets better. Every year it does. And I want to know, 73 00:04:12,910 --> 00:04:15,910 S2: can I ask a question about the site? Because that 74 00:04:15,910 --> 00:04:20,270 S2: site has evolved since you and I developed. Yes. Yes. 75 00:04:20,270 --> 00:04:22,270 S2: And what I want to know is what's this push 76 00:04:22,270 --> 00:04:23,669 S2: on your left side thing? 77 00:04:23,870 --> 00:04:27,270 S1: Okay. I'll tell you exactly where that came from. We've 78 00:04:27,270 --> 00:04:30,590 S1: done the site here on this program, in this iteration 79 00:04:30,750 --> 00:04:32,470 S1: for a number of years. And I got a call 80 00:04:32,470 --> 00:04:37,390 S1: from somebody in Florida who was a like a personal trainer, 81 00:04:37,630 --> 00:04:43,390 S1: and she said that she had heard somewhere that when 82 00:04:43,390 --> 00:04:48,349 S1: you breathe carbon dioxide pools on the left, on your 83 00:04:48,350 --> 00:04:51,830 S1: left lung. On the left side. So the best way 84 00:04:51,830 --> 00:04:53,790 S1: to get all of that out of there is when 85 00:04:53,790 --> 00:04:57,330 S1: you exhale, you push on the left side of your 86 00:04:57,330 --> 00:05:01,010 S1: rib cage, meaning where your left lung is, and that 87 00:05:01,010 --> 00:05:06,770 S1: helps you expel expel any residual carbon dioxide that's trapped there. 88 00:05:06,810 --> 00:05:07,330 S2: All right. 89 00:05:07,410 --> 00:05:08,409 S1: What do you think of that? 90 00:05:08,930 --> 00:05:11,089 S2: Who am I to argue with that? Uh. 91 00:05:12,010 --> 00:05:14,330 S1: Me too. I'm right there. I said, I don't know 92 00:05:14,330 --> 00:05:16,490 S1: if it's true, but it sounds good, you know? 93 00:05:16,529 --> 00:05:19,490 S2: Yeah. Yeah. Right. I had a professor who used to say, 94 00:05:19,490 --> 00:05:21,290 S2: I don't know if this is true, but if it's not, 95 00:05:21,330 --> 00:05:24,890 S2: it should be. So. Yeah. Yeah. Right. Right. Okay. 96 00:05:24,890 --> 00:05:25,130 S1: Let's go. 97 00:05:25,130 --> 00:05:25,250 S2: With. 98 00:05:25,250 --> 00:05:27,650 S1: That. So we've already got the chemistry going. This is 99 00:05:27,650 --> 00:05:29,690 S1: this is what happened with Greg and me back in 100 00:05:29,690 --> 00:05:31,450 S1: the 1990s. Uh, and. 101 00:05:31,450 --> 00:05:32,130 S2: Then it didn't. 102 00:05:32,210 --> 00:05:35,290 S1: For a few years. Yeah. Um, but how are you, 103 00:05:35,330 --> 00:05:37,130 S1: Your Excellency? Are you doing okay? 104 00:05:37,490 --> 00:05:40,970 S2: I am doing well. We are. Since we've talked, uh, 105 00:05:40,970 --> 00:05:45,890 S2: we have increased our grandchild quota to six. Wow. Uh, 106 00:05:46,050 --> 00:05:49,290 S2: I think, yeah. Because July. Right? So we now have 107 00:05:49,290 --> 00:05:54,430 S2: six grandchildren. We are alive and well in Durham. Durham. 108 00:05:55,110 --> 00:05:58,470 S2: I gotta say it right. Because northerners say Durham. But 109 00:05:58,470 --> 00:06:02,030 S2: it's not down here, it's Durham. Durham, North Carolina. 110 00:06:02,550 --> 00:06:04,470 S1: And is that anywhere near Mayberry? 111 00:06:05,110 --> 00:06:09,110 S2: Um, no, not really, but it's, uh, you know, there 112 00:06:09,110 --> 00:06:10,910 S2: is an Andy Griffith thing. Not too far. 113 00:06:10,950 --> 00:06:11,710 S1: I do, yeah. 114 00:06:11,750 --> 00:06:15,510 S2: Yeah, yeah, the whole town thing. So anyway. Yes. Doing well. 115 00:06:15,510 --> 00:06:17,190 S2: Everybody's well. Thank you. 116 00:06:17,350 --> 00:06:19,750 S1: I'm glad. Okay, here's what I want to do today. 117 00:06:19,950 --> 00:06:24,070 S1: And it happened yesterday at this time because Doctor Michael Redlich, 118 00:06:24,070 --> 00:06:27,229 S1: Doctor Michael Van Laningham were here. And I said, tomorrow 119 00:06:27,230 --> 00:06:29,190 S1: I'm having Greg Wheatley on and we're going to talk 120 00:06:29,190 --> 00:06:32,430 S1: about your favorite Christmas hymn or carol. And I want 121 00:06:32,430 --> 00:06:36,630 S1: you to choose a line or phrase from that, that, 122 00:06:36,670 --> 00:06:39,870 S1: you know, that sparks something to you. So it's a 123 00:06:39,910 --> 00:06:42,789 S1: minute and 20s, I want you to hear what happened 124 00:06:42,790 --> 00:06:45,430 S1: when Doctor Van Landingham took us to the hymnal. Here 125 00:06:45,430 --> 00:06:45,830 S1: we go. 126 00:06:46,390 --> 00:06:50,229 S3: Yeah. Really love Hark! The Herald Angels sing. Especially the 127 00:06:50,230 --> 00:06:54,370 S3: second and third stanza. And if it's okay, I'm going 128 00:06:54,410 --> 00:06:59,969 S3: to read those incredible theology. This is Charles Wesley about 1739. 129 00:07:00,450 --> 00:07:05,210 S3: Christ by highest heaven adored Christ the everlasting Lord. Late 130 00:07:05,210 --> 00:07:09,530 S3: in time behold him come, offspring of a virgin's womb, 131 00:07:10,410 --> 00:07:13,650 S3: veiled in flesh. I'm sorry. I'm about ready to cry. 132 00:07:13,890 --> 00:07:19,130 S3: Veiled in flesh the Godhead see. Hail the incarnate deity. 133 00:07:19,650 --> 00:07:25,250 S3: Pleased as man with men to dwell. Jesus our Emmanuel. Hark! 134 00:07:25,250 --> 00:07:28,930 S3: The herald angels sing. Glory to the newborn king! And 135 00:07:28,930 --> 00:07:32,370 S3: then the third stanza. Hail the heaven born Prince of peace. 136 00:07:32,730 --> 00:07:37,170 S3: Hail the sun of righteousness. Light and life to all 137 00:07:37,170 --> 00:07:42,290 S3: he brings. Risen with healing in his wings. Mild he 138 00:07:42,290 --> 00:07:46,770 S3: lays his glory by. Born that man no more may die. 139 00:07:47,170 --> 00:07:50,830 S3: Born to raise the sons of earth. Born to give 140 00:07:50,830 --> 00:07:55,910 S3: us second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing! Glory to 141 00:07:55,950 --> 00:08:01,670 S3: the newborn king. Sorry, guys, but there's such incredible theology there. 142 00:08:01,670 --> 00:08:04,550 S3: And I'm getting to be a befuddled old man. And 143 00:08:04,550 --> 00:08:07,110 S3: I get emotional in my old age. So kids make 144 00:08:07,110 --> 00:08:07,710 S3: me cry. 145 00:08:08,110 --> 00:08:13,030 S1: Bring your befuddlement, friend. That is. That is great. But why? 146 00:08:13,030 --> 00:08:16,990 S1: Why the emotion there? What? What nerve did that touch 147 00:08:17,030 --> 00:08:18,110 S1: as you were reading it? 148 00:08:18,910 --> 00:08:24,510 S3: I just, you know, all that Christmas means, you know, 149 00:08:24,550 --> 00:08:30,110 S3: just the incarnation of Jesus. Um, all the incredible miracles 150 00:08:30,110 --> 00:08:32,670 S3: that that is and that he's done this not only 151 00:08:32,670 --> 00:08:35,390 S3: to bring great glory to himself and to the father, 152 00:08:35,390 --> 00:08:38,110 S3: but also to bring salvation to us. And it's just 153 00:08:38,110 --> 00:08:40,990 S3: a profound thing. Um, for me and for all of us. 154 00:08:41,309 --> 00:08:45,550 S1: Okay. So that's that that it touched him right there 155 00:08:45,550 --> 00:08:49,400 S1: as he's reading that. Greg, you know what that feels like, right? 156 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:51,840 S2: I do, I do. And I was feeling it here, 157 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:57,240 S2: right with him. I knew I liked that Van Landingham guy. Uh, yeah. And, 158 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:01,080 S2: I mean, if he hadn't stolen my thunder on verses 159 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:04,560 S2: two and three, I probably would have said the same thing. Yeah. 160 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:09,560 S2: I mean, there is such incredible. And I mean, Van Landingham, right, 161 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:13,000 S2: is a theologian. Um, and so he, of all people 162 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:16,520 S2: understands the depth of that. But there is such even I, 163 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:21,280 S2: as a, uh, amateur guy, um, understand the depth of 164 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:25,559 S2: the meaning, uh, in those words. Absolutely. Beautiful. Yeah. 165 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:30,800 S1: Veiled in flesh, the Godhead. See. There are people who, 166 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:34,480 S1: on Facebook answered the question that I put up there, 167 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:36,920 S1: and that was one of them that they went to 168 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:41,480 S1: veiled in flesh, the Godhead see, the one that I 169 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:44,440 S1: come back to hail the heaven born Prince of Peace. 170 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:47,680 S1: Now I know the Prince of Peace. Hail the son, 171 00:09:48,220 --> 00:09:52,900 S1: the son of righteousness. Yeah. And I got stuck on 172 00:09:52,940 --> 00:09:56,300 S1: that a little earlier. Can you explain why it's s-u-n 173 00:09:56,340 --> 00:09:58,460 S1: instead of s-o-n of righteousness? 174 00:09:58,620 --> 00:10:02,980 S2: Yeah. Uh, it was a typo. Um, no. I'm kidding. Um, 175 00:10:03,900 --> 00:10:08,260 S2: it actually comes out of Malachi. Um, so in in 176 00:10:08,300 --> 00:10:11,100 S2: the very last words of the New Testament, you get 177 00:10:11,100 --> 00:10:16,339 S2: this prophecy that, um, for you. Yeah. For you, uh, 178 00:10:16,340 --> 00:10:20,540 S2: the son sun of righteousness will rise with healing in 179 00:10:20,540 --> 00:10:24,500 S2: its wings. But but Wesley takes that and applies it 180 00:10:24,500 --> 00:10:29,540 S2: to to Jesus properly, I think. Um, yeah. It's absolutely beautiful. 181 00:10:29,780 --> 00:10:33,500 S1: Light and life. So the sun of righteousness brings light 182 00:10:33,500 --> 00:10:37,339 S1: and life to all. Risen with healing in his wings. 183 00:10:37,340 --> 00:10:39,100 S1: We can just do the whole program on that. And 184 00:10:39,100 --> 00:10:40,740 S1: you told me the last time you were on here, 185 00:10:40,740 --> 00:10:43,860 S1: we did dealt with that hymn in this segment of 186 00:10:43,860 --> 00:10:46,140 S1: the program. So we're going to we're going to back 187 00:10:46,179 --> 00:10:53,880 S1: the truck up of Christmas carols and hymns. With your help, friend. Eight. 775. Four. Eight. Three. Six. Seven. Five. 188 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:58,679 S1: Give me the words, the phrase, the text that really 189 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:02,719 S1: touches your heart in some Christmas hymn or carol. Today 190 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:09,000 S1: I want to hear from you. (877) 548-3675. More to come. 191 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:11,120 S1: Straight ahead on Moody Radio. 192 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:47,660 S4: Ah, the music of Christmas. There is nothing like it. 193 00:11:47,980 --> 00:11:50,740 S1: And Doctor Greg Wheatley is with me today. I've given 194 00:11:50,740 --> 00:11:54,020 S1: him an honorary doctorate from the radio backyard fence. If 195 00:11:54,059 --> 00:11:56,100 S1: you go to our website today, you can click through 196 00:11:56,100 --> 00:12:02,860 S1: to Sound of Majesty. Where he's playing all of the 197 00:12:02,900 --> 00:12:06,620 S1: all Christmas, all the time from now at least through 198 00:12:06,620 --> 00:12:10,460 S1: next week. And if you go to Sound of Majesty, 199 00:12:11,900 --> 00:12:14,860 S1: you can see more about Greg as well as the 200 00:12:14,900 --> 00:12:17,260 S1: I get this email that you send out. There's a 201 00:12:17,260 --> 00:12:19,620 S1: little video that you send out. It's really cool. What's 202 00:12:19,620 --> 00:12:20,500 S1: that all about? 203 00:12:20,540 --> 00:12:24,660 S2: Yeah. Well, um, I've decided that it's time that people 204 00:12:24,660 --> 00:12:28,980 S2: saw this face that was made for radio, I guess. But, yeah, 205 00:12:28,980 --> 00:12:32,260 S2: they're just they're about once a month. Uh, they're just 206 00:12:32,260 --> 00:12:35,540 S2: a little video discussions of various hymn texts. It's just 207 00:12:35,540 --> 00:12:38,940 S2: been fun for me to kind of, um, take apart 208 00:12:38,980 --> 00:12:42,140 S2: hymn texts a little bit like what we're doing today, actually. Um, 209 00:12:42,140 --> 00:12:45,600 S2: but in a 6 or seven minute time slot on 210 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:49,120 S2: these videos, and the one that's coming out early next 211 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:53,520 S2: week is actually, ironically, Hark the Herald Angels. Yay! And yeah, 212 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:57,120 S2: so there you go. So yeah, they're absolutely free. We don't, uh, 213 00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:59,880 S2: we rarely send one out. So, you know, it doesn't 214 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:02,160 S2: clutter up your inbox at all. We're not sending out 215 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:05,640 S2: all kinds of junk email, so. Yeah. Uh, love to 216 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:06,560 S2: have you check it out. 217 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:09,319 S1: So there's a button at the top of the page, 218 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:13,200 S1: that Sound of Majesty. And you can sign up to 219 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:16,480 S1: be on that email list where you'll see that video 220 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:21,400 S1: of Greg, sound of Majesty. And I was listening to 221 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:26,760 S1: the American Boy Choir a little earlier on on that, uh, 222 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:30,080 S1: just a gorgeous sound. Okay, so here's here's one thing 223 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:33,040 S1: I want to ask you. Um, I think there's more 224 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:37,800 S1: going on here than the text hitting a note. Um, 225 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:42,560 S1: and Doctor Van Landingham was moved by Hark the Herald 226 00:13:42,610 --> 00:13:47,569 S1: angels sing. But I think there's also there's the nostalgia, 227 00:13:47,770 --> 00:13:52,130 S1: there's the memories, there's the stirring inside of all we've 228 00:13:52,130 --> 00:13:56,770 S1: experienced with family and friends. That coalesces with the truth 229 00:13:56,770 --> 00:14:00,370 S1: of what God did for us. So. And the music 230 00:14:00,410 --> 00:14:04,050 S1: then that comes along with it that we have, we 231 00:14:04,090 --> 00:14:07,170 S1: have heard all since our childhood, all the way through. 232 00:14:07,490 --> 00:14:10,850 S1: So there is it's almost like this avalanche of emotion 233 00:14:10,850 --> 00:14:17,010 S1: and spiritual truth that's together in this incomprehensible love that 234 00:14:17,010 --> 00:14:20,610 S1: we are trying to comprehend, that we can't fully. What 235 00:14:20,610 --> 00:14:21,250 S1: do you think? 236 00:14:21,570 --> 00:14:24,050 S2: Yeah, I think I agree with all that. I think 237 00:14:24,050 --> 00:14:27,970 S2: the music, you know, that's why, um, Chris, the I 238 00:14:28,050 --> 00:14:32,330 S2: think it's so important what music we sing a given 239 00:14:32,330 --> 00:14:35,250 S2: text to. And I mean, this goes beyond Christmas. Um, 240 00:14:35,570 --> 00:14:39,410 S2: when we're singing words that are really weighty and important, 241 00:14:39,650 --> 00:14:43,230 S2: it's important that we think, long and hard about the 242 00:14:43,230 --> 00:14:45,190 S2: kind of music we're doing them too. So I think 243 00:14:45,190 --> 00:14:49,190 S2: it is that I there's this really interesting book by uh, 244 00:14:49,190 --> 00:14:53,030 S2: man's name is Donald Hines. And, um, I actually remember 245 00:14:53,030 --> 00:14:56,710 S2: interviewing him not too long before I, I left Moody. 246 00:14:57,150 --> 00:15:01,310 S2: And part of his thesis is that, um, all of 247 00:15:01,310 --> 00:15:05,670 S2: this Christmas stuff, you know, that we would often say, oh, 248 00:15:05,710 --> 00:15:09,750 S2: you know, we bemoan Christmas becoming commercial, right? And, uh, 249 00:15:09,790 --> 00:15:11,830 S2: I don't want to hear Jingle Bells and I need 250 00:15:11,830 --> 00:15:15,550 S2: to hear. And sort of his position was, hey, wait 251 00:15:15,550 --> 00:15:18,550 S2: a second. This is all what he called the festival 252 00:15:18,550 --> 00:15:21,870 S2: of the incarnation. It was the name of the book. Um, 253 00:15:22,350 --> 00:15:25,590 S2: and I think if I understand his his reasoning. Right, 254 00:15:25,590 --> 00:15:29,070 S2: what he's saying is that there's something about even all 255 00:15:29,070 --> 00:15:34,630 S2: these cultural things that we sometimes, as Christians bemoan. It's 256 00:15:34,630 --> 00:15:38,270 S2: all kind of like the celebration of what God's done. 257 00:15:38,750 --> 00:15:41,010 S2: And so I think we ought to be careful. You know, 258 00:15:41,090 --> 00:15:45,330 S2: when we say, oh, you know, keep keep Christmas sacred. 259 00:15:45,370 --> 00:15:47,930 S2: I mean, I get that and I think that's important, 260 00:15:48,290 --> 00:15:52,290 S2: but I think Christians can tag right along the quote 261 00:15:52,290 --> 00:15:56,210 S2: unquote secular celebration, too. And it's all part of the 262 00:15:56,210 --> 00:16:00,450 S2: joy of what God did for us in becoming man. So, uh, 263 00:16:00,490 --> 00:16:04,530 S2: so kind of spillover. I'm not sure that answers your joy. 264 00:16:04,890 --> 00:16:07,970 S1: That comes even if people in the culture don't understand 265 00:16:07,970 --> 00:16:10,090 S1: what it is they're trying to wrap their mind. Yeah, 266 00:16:10,130 --> 00:16:13,410 S1: wrap their mind. Exactly. I get that. Exactly. Um, okay. 267 00:16:13,450 --> 00:16:15,530 S1: Mary is on the line from Ohio. We're going to 268 00:16:15,530 --> 00:16:19,450 S1: start with Mary. Mary, what did you, uh. Mary knew 269 00:16:19,490 --> 00:16:21,810 S1: the number to call, and she did. What do you 270 00:16:21,850 --> 00:16:22,970 S1: want to say here today? 271 00:16:23,850 --> 00:16:27,050 S5: Um, I wanted to chime in on the Hark, the 272 00:16:27,090 --> 00:16:31,530 S5: Herald angel. Um, it. When I was young, you know, 273 00:16:31,610 --> 00:16:34,130 S5: I've heard the song over and over, and it really 274 00:16:34,130 --> 00:16:41,710 S5: made no impact until I. When I was saved in 1991, uh, 275 00:16:41,710 --> 00:16:45,510 S5: in September. And that Christmas had to have been the 276 00:16:45,550 --> 00:16:51,270 S5: first time I actually really heard the lyrics. And when 277 00:16:51,270 --> 00:16:57,030 S5: I sang God and Sinners Reconciled, I saw that God 278 00:16:57,070 --> 00:17:01,550 S5: had come to get me and he saved me. And 279 00:17:01,550 --> 00:17:07,870 S5: that made this the the most special Christmas carol ever 280 00:17:07,869 --> 00:17:10,310 S5: and the most special Christmas. 281 00:17:10,630 --> 00:17:14,790 S1: It made it personal, Mary. It wasn't just this propositional 282 00:17:14,790 --> 00:17:16,990 S1: truth that was out there. God and sinners reconciled. It 283 00:17:16,990 --> 00:17:20,189 S1: was God. God went on a rescue mission for me. 284 00:17:20,230 --> 00:17:22,510 S1: He did that for me. I can hear it in 285 00:17:22,510 --> 00:17:23,310 S1: your voice. 286 00:17:24,270 --> 00:17:30,030 S5: Absolutely. And so when people ask me my favorite song, 287 00:17:30,030 --> 00:17:34,230 S5: that is the one. And and when if they're not saved, 288 00:17:34,270 --> 00:17:41,210 S5: they don't understand. They don't know why, but Greg, my. 289 00:17:41,210 --> 00:17:45,170 S1: Favorite Mary is is saying exactly what we're talking about, 290 00:17:45,210 --> 00:17:45,730 S1: isn't she? 291 00:17:45,970 --> 00:17:49,890 S2: Yeah, absolutely. That is so that is so wonderful. And 292 00:17:49,890 --> 00:17:53,530 S2: I think anybody who is a believer, Mary, as you're saying, 293 00:17:53,850 --> 00:17:57,010 S2: can resonate with what you're saying right now. It may 294 00:17:57,050 --> 00:17:59,449 S2: be a different phrase, may not be that one for them. 295 00:17:59,810 --> 00:18:05,330 S2: But when you when you bring together, um, these wonderful 296 00:18:05,330 --> 00:18:08,409 S2: texts that have been thought about and they're put down 297 00:18:08,410 --> 00:18:13,410 S2: poetically by gifted people, like, like Wesley, um, when you, 298 00:18:13,890 --> 00:18:17,810 S2: when you marry that sorry, no pun intended with, um, 299 00:18:18,490 --> 00:18:22,330 S2: with the personal experience that you relate to it, it's 300 00:18:22,330 --> 00:18:26,570 S2: like this powerful, overwhelming sense of gratitude. And, uh, I 301 00:18:26,570 --> 00:18:29,410 S2: think that's what we're hearing in in what you're saying 302 00:18:29,410 --> 00:18:30,410 S2: right now and. 303 00:18:30,410 --> 00:18:35,369 S1: In the residual overflow, you know, the joy of thanksgiving 304 00:18:35,369 --> 00:18:38,220 S1: for God. Thank you for doing what I could not 305 00:18:38,220 --> 00:18:41,780 S1: do for myself, because that's another part of the Christmas story. Um. 306 00:18:42,220 --> 00:18:46,340 S1: Let me go. Mary. Thank you. Hetty is in Miami, Florida. Hetty. 307 00:18:46,380 --> 00:18:47,500 S1: Why did you call today? 308 00:18:48,460 --> 00:18:51,180 S6: Well, I'm actually a band director and a music teacher 309 00:18:51,180 --> 00:18:53,740 S6: and a course director. I spent a few years ago 310 00:18:53,780 --> 00:18:55,859 S6: when I worked in Kuwait as a music, as a 311 00:18:55,859 --> 00:18:59,220 S6: band director. I don't know if you remember. So I'm retired, 312 00:18:59,220 --> 00:19:02,580 S6: but I'm teaching again in a Christian school. So we've 313 00:19:02,580 --> 00:19:05,940 S6: had three concerts in the last week and I found it. 314 00:19:05,980 --> 00:19:10,460 S6: O Holy Night has hit me differently as my walk 315 00:19:10,460 --> 00:19:13,980 S6: in the Lord has increased. Fall on Your Knees has 316 00:19:13,980 --> 00:19:17,060 S6: just sent me over the top. While I'm conducting. Hear 317 00:19:17,060 --> 00:19:20,580 S6: the angel voices. And I believe that that's to be so. 318 00:19:20,580 --> 00:19:22,820 S6: Because as a Jewish girl that came to the Lord 319 00:19:22,820 --> 00:19:27,780 S6: in 98, I didn't know what fall on your knees meant. Truly. 320 00:19:28,100 --> 00:19:30,820 S6: But as I learned more and more scripture and I 321 00:19:30,859 --> 00:19:34,700 S6: studied scripture and I went to Bible study. Fall on 322 00:19:34,700 --> 00:19:38,200 S6: your knees. That's heavy. That's really intense. But it's interesting 323 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:41,600 S6: that I think with as your walk intensifies and as 324 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:46,120 S6: you study and learn scripture more, each song hits different. 325 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:49,000 S6: That's what's happened with me. Hear the angel voices. That's 326 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:52,280 S6: just every every concert. I've been crying on stage. 327 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:56,960 S1: Oh, well. And that happened. I hear pastors say that to, 328 00:19:57,080 --> 00:19:59,280 S1: you know, study this passage, study it over and over 329 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:02,919 S1: and over again. And then one day it's like, boom! 330 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:06,600 S1: It really hits you on an even deeper level. Have 331 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:09,920 S1: you had that happen to you, Greg? Uh, singing songs 332 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:12,320 S1: again and again and again and hearing them new. 333 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:15,720 S2: I think it does depend on where you are. Um, 334 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:18,040 S2: you know, not only in the long arc of things, 335 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:22,000 S2: but maybe, uh. Yeah, it just depends on where you 336 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:25,080 S2: are in your life. And you know that song, it's 337 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:27,640 S2: interesting you bring that one up, because I think that 338 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:31,760 S2: that's another one for me that has some poignant moments 339 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:33,940 S2: in it. Fall on Your Knees is one. I agree 340 00:20:33,940 --> 00:20:36,860 S2: with you. Um, I'm trying to think of how it 341 00:20:36,859 --> 00:20:39,740 S2: starts now. In the moment I won't be able to, but, um. 342 00:20:39,940 --> 00:20:42,179 S1: Oh, holy night, the stars are brightly shining. 343 00:20:42,220 --> 00:20:49,020 S2: Yeah. Um, there's that middle section. Yeah. Um, anyway, uh, 344 00:20:49,020 --> 00:20:51,100 S2: it's not coming to me, but, um. 345 00:20:51,140 --> 00:20:54,300 S1: Long lay the world in sin and error pining. 346 00:20:54,340 --> 00:20:55,900 S2: Yes. That's it. Right. 347 00:20:55,940 --> 00:20:57,060 S1: Yeah. I read your mind. 348 00:20:57,780 --> 00:21:01,940 S2: I mean, you can just envision what that means. You 349 00:21:01,940 --> 00:21:05,940 S2: envision the darkness of sin and the way the whole 350 00:21:05,940 --> 00:21:10,140 S2: world lay under that, uh, that darkness, that blanket of 351 00:21:10,140 --> 00:21:13,780 S2: sin until he appeared and the soul felt it. It 352 00:21:13,820 --> 00:21:17,860 S2: felt its worth, um, a thrill, a thrill of hope. 353 00:21:18,260 --> 00:21:21,500 S2: The weary world rejoices. Uh, yonder. 354 00:21:21,540 --> 00:21:23,220 S1: Breaks a new. Yeah. Yes. 355 00:21:23,220 --> 00:21:26,260 S2: Yeah. So, so again, you know, I think what we 356 00:21:26,260 --> 00:21:31,100 S2: experience is not only our personal feelings, but it's it's 357 00:21:31,140 --> 00:21:37,720 S2: wedded to this. um, text that's been poetically conceived. And, um, 358 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:40,560 S2: it just allows us to sort of ride on that 359 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:44,600 S2: and experience our own joy and gratitude in the, in 360 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:45,280 S2: the poetry. 361 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:48,600 S1: So thank you for doing that. And can you tell 362 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:48,800 S1: us a. 363 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:50,320 S2: Little bit before she leaves? 364 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:51,200 S1: Yes, please. 365 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:54,280 S2: Uh, you have my sympathy for three concerts. 366 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:55,040 S7: In one week. 367 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:58,720 S6: It's been like herding cats all week. 368 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:02,719 S2: Don't you think? Don't you think, Hettie? That. Don't you 369 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:06,280 S2: think that musicians should celebrate Christmas in July when we 370 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:07,480 S2: can actually enjoy it? 371 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:13,040 S6: That's when I think you're absolutely right. Rejoicing in Hallelujah 372 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:15,159 S6: comes to mind much more in July. 373 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:16,960 S2: There you go. There you go. 374 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:19,960 S6: Absolutely. Thank you, thank you. Chris. Nice speaking with you again. 375 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:24,479 S1: Yeah. God bless you, friend. Fall on your knees. Uh, 376 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:27,960 S1: several of you have said that on our Facebook page 377 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:31,740 S1: answering the question. You tell me that that phrase or 378 00:22:31,780 --> 00:22:36,060 S1: the words. You have actually brought a few songs with 379 00:22:36,060 --> 00:22:41,140 S1: you today, Greg, that. Let's go to one of those now. Uh, 380 00:22:41,180 --> 00:22:43,540 S1: can we do all praise to thee? And here a 381 00:22:43,540 --> 00:22:45,940 S1: little bit of that. Tell me why you brought this. 382 00:22:46,500 --> 00:22:49,180 S2: Well, this is a this is a really interesting song. 383 00:22:49,180 --> 00:22:52,619 S2: It's a the music is written just a few years 384 00:22:52,619 --> 00:22:57,300 S2: ago by a woman named Elaine Hagenberg, who's become really, uh, 385 00:22:57,340 --> 00:23:02,460 S2: really very prolific choral arranger and composer. But the text 386 00:23:02,460 --> 00:23:05,300 S2: goes all the way back to Martin Luther. So we're talking, 387 00:23:05,340 --> 00:23:09,580 S2: you know, 500 plus years ago. And then, of course, 388 00:23:09,619 --> 00:23:14,220 S2: in English, he originally wrote this little chorale in German. Um, 389 00:23:14,460 --> 00:23:19,419 S2: but listen to this first, uh, first stanza. All praise 390 00:23:19,420 --> 00:23:23,899 S2: to thee, eternal God, who, clothed in garb of flesh 391 00:23:23,900 --> 00:23:28,139 S2: and blood, dost take a manger for thy throne. While 392 00:23:28,140 --> 00:23:32,800 S2: worlds on worlds are thine alone. Hallelujah. And each of 393 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:35,800 S2: the stanzas ends with that single Hallelujah. 394 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:38,439 S4: Let's hear a little bit of that. All praise to thee. 395 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:47,920 S8: O God, who clothed in God our flesh and blood 396 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:57,560 S8: was taken for thy throne. My worlds on earth are 397 00:23:57,560 --> 00:24:22,200 S8: like the Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh! Lord! Oh, Lord, come 398 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:25,719 S8: and see the darkness. 399 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:30,290 S1: That is something else, Greg. Just, just even the without 400 00:24:30,290 --> 00:24:32,330 S1: the words, you know, just hearing it. If you can't 401 00:24:32,330 --> 00:24:35,650 S1: pick out the words, there's something about the melody and 402 00:24:35,650 --> 00:24:39,410 S1: the harmony of the chorale there that's doing it, isn't there? 403 00:24:39,690 --> 00:24:43,290 S2: Yeah. When I was, uh, before we moved away from 404 00:24:43,290 --> 00:24:46,330 S2: the Chicago area and I was still directing the Glen 405 00:24:46,330 --> 00:24:50,010 S2: Ellyn Wheaton Chorale, we were it was lead up to Christmas, 406 00:24:50,010 --> 00:24:52,490 S2: and we were preparing this piece, and I found on 407 00:24:52,490 --> 00:24:55,970 S2: my morning walks, I just found those words coming to 408 00:24:56,010 --> 00:24:59,890 S2: my mind, and it's like, wow. Um, that second stanza 409 00:24:59,890 --> 00:25:03,050 S2: that that we just faded out of. Thou comest in 410 00:25:03,050 --> 00:25:06,530 S2: the darksome night to make us children of the light. 411 00:25:06,930 --> 00:25:11,169 S2: To make us in the realms divine. Like thine own 412 00:25:11,210 --> 00:25:14,050 S2: angels round the shine. Hallelujah. 413 00:25:14,730 --> 00:25:17,770 S1: Right there you're getting. You're getting to that place again. 414 00:25:18,050 --> 00:25:21,730 S1: Of the deep emotion and the deep gratitude that we 415 00:25:21,730 --> 00:25:24,369 S1: have for what God did for us. We'll hear the 416 00:25:24,369 --> 00:25:27,989 S1: rest of this at the end of this section and 417 00:25:27,990 --> 00:25:30,510 S1: we'll come right back. This is Chris Fabry live on 418 00:25:30,550 --> 00:25:31,469 S1: Moody Radio. 419 00:25:36,350 --> 00:25:46,030 S8: Oh. Oh. 420 00:26:05,310 --> 00:26:06,230 S9: This is Chris Fabry. 421 00:26:06,230 --> 00:26:09,189 S1: Live on Moody Radio. Tell me the line from a 422 00:26:09,190 --> 00:26:12,150 S1: Christmas carol or hymn that moves you every time. We're 423 00:26:12,150 --> 00:26:15,669 S1: going to hear someone answer that question straight ahead. I 424 00:26:15,710 --> 00:26:21,630 S1: got a phone line open for you at (877) 548-3675. 425 00:26:25,109 --> 00:27:04,570 S8: Nine. Point. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. 426 00:27:25,630 --> 00:27:29,350 S1: That rendition of Silent Night Hand, chosen by our guest today, 427 00:27:29,350 --> 00:27:32,830 S1: Greg Wheatley. You can hear music like this at Sound 428 00:27:32,869 --> 00:27:38,950 S1: of Majesty. That's, uh, Vox eight. Who sang that version 429 00:27:38,950 --> 00:27:42,550 S1: of Silent Night? And it goes for six minutes and 40s. 430 00:27:42,550 --> 00:27:46,990 S1: So it's it's a great, great, uh, sound. And I 431 00:27:46,990 --> 00:27:49,750 S1: wanted I wanted to play that before Kevin came on here, 432 00:27:49,750 --> 00:27:54,630 S1: because I know Kevin said in Chicago, that's your favorite. 433 00:27:54,630 --> 00:27:57,629 S1: Something happens when you hear that, Kevin. Tell me about it. 434 00:27:58,750 --> 00:27:59,990 S5: Well, that. 435 00:27:59,990 --> 00:28:04,030 S10: Song and many of the Christmas carols I learned in German, 436 00:28:04,470 --> 00:28:07,990 S10: and I learned it kind of through my grandmother, but 437 00:28:07,990 --> 00:28:11,150 S10: also in high school and some of the choirs and 438 00:28:11,150 --> 00:28:14,790 S10: things that I sang in. And so every time Christmas 439 00:28:14,790 --> 00:28:17,870 S10: songs come on, as I was listening to your show, 440 00:28:17,910 --> 00:28:20,709 S10: I'm like, how did what was what were the words? 441 00:28:20,710 --> 00:28:24,050 S10: And I was trying to remember. It's like I forgot 442 00:28:24,050 --> 00:28:26,450 S10: how to say silent in German, so I asked, I 443 00:28:26,490 --> 00:28:27,330 S10: asked Siri. 444 00:28:29,609 --> 00:28:32,690 S1: You should have called here because Greg could have said that, right? Still. 445 00:28:32,730 --> 00:28:35,370 S1: Still knocked. Knocked. 446 00:28:37,970 --> 00:28:43,370 S10: Back. So yeah, that's about all that I currently can remember. 447 00:28:43,370 --> 00:28:44,090 S10: But okay. 448 00:28:44,290 --> 00:28:48,210 S1: So there there's another thing about different languages because that 449 00:28:48,210 --> 00:28:51,770 S1: originally was Franz Gruber was that was written Greg in 450 00:28:52,050 --> 00:28:53,530 S1: Deutsch in German. Right. 451 00:28:53,570 --> 00:28:55,090 S2: Oh yeah. In German. Yep. 452 00:28:56,050 --> 00:29:00,290 S1: So there's another thing. And, uh, my my grandfather spoke German. 453 00:29:00,290 --> 00:29:02,930 S1: He had a very thick German accent, so I can. 454 00:29:03,250 --> 00:29:06,410 S1: I never heard him sing Stille Nacht, but I can 455 00:29:06,410 --> 00:29:10,410 S1: imagine him. I can imagine him, you know, hearing that 456 00:29:10,810 --> 00:29:14,730 S1: and tears coming to his eyes as he remembers where 457 00:29:14,730 --> 00:29:16,850 S1: he's from, you know, from the old country. 458 00:29:17,730 --> 00:29:22,540 S2: Yeah, absolutely. You know, there is, um, a movie. I 459 00:29:22,540 --> 00:29:27,460 S2: don't know if you're aware of this. It's a French title. Joie. Noel. 460 00:29:27,500 --> 00:29:31,180 S2: My French is horrible, but something like that. Um, and 461 00:29:31,220 --> 00:29:35,540 S2: it's actually based on a story that is true. Um, 462 00:29:35,980 --> 00:29:39,340 S2: during World War one. Uh, are you familiar with this? 463 00:29:39,340 --> 00:29:40,420 S2: Have you heard this story? Chris? 464 00:29:40,460 --> 00:29:42,780 S1: I actually seen that film. 465 00:29:42,820 --> 00:29:45,220 S2: Have you? Okay, so you know what I'm talking about. Um, 466 00:29:45,220 --> 00:29:47,860 S2: there was a moment in the trenches in World War 467 00:29:47,860 --> 00:29:51,740 S2: one where the two opposing sides on Christmas Eve, um, 468 00:29:52,260 --> 00:29:56,380 S2: one began to sing in German. The German side of 469 00:29:56,380 --> 00:30:02,180 S2: things sang that. And then suddenly, across the trenches, they 470 00:30:02,180 --> 00:30:05,580 S2: were answered by the opposing side. And if the story 471 00:30:05,580 --> 00:30:08,540 S2: is true, they actually, for a few moments, came out 472 00:30:08,900 --> 00:30:12,260 S2: into the sort of demilitarized zone, the no man's land, 473 00:30:12,620 --> 00:30:15,980 S2: and there was a cessation of hostilities, at least for 474 00:30:15,980 --> 00:30:20,620 S2: a few minutes. And it's very touching because it's like, wow, 475 00:30:21,080 --> 00:30:24,280 S2: Why can't we do this all the time? Right? Yes. Uh, 476 00:30:24,480 --> 00:30:26,440 S2: it's a very touching moment in that movie. 477 00:30:26,440 --> 00:30:29,040 S1: Well, it reminds me of Longfellow, too, you know, in 478 00:30:29,040 --> 00:30:30,960 S1: the middle of the Civil War and all that was 479 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:33,560 S1: going on in his life. And he had lost his wife, 480 00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:37,680 S1: and then he lost his second wife, had a horrible fire, 481 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:43,520 S1: and then his son enlisted. And so, uh, and all 482 00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:46,200 S1: that was going, all the rancor. And I hear that 483 00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:49,479 S1: in the culture today, we're so divided and and we are. 484 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:52,040 S1: But you can't get a whole lot more divided than, 485 00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:56,640 S1: you know, shooting at each other, uh, and lining up 486 00:30:56,640 --> 00:31:01,160 S1: north and south and then pealed the bells more loud 487 00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:04,600 S1: and deep. God is not dead, nor doth he sleep. 488 00:31:04,760 --> 00:31:07,240 S1: Some of you are responding to that. That was your 489 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:11,400 S1: answer to the question. Uh, Kevin. Thank you. Kelly is 490 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:15,520 S1: in Memphis, Tennessee. Kelly, what did you want to say today? 491 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:21,180 S11: Well, I my song is more current than Silent Night or, um, 492 00:31:21,220 --> 00:31:25,140 S11: Old Town Bethlehem. It's called breath of Heaven by Amy Grant. 493 00:31:25,540 --> 00:31:26,100 S9: Yes. 494 00:31:27,140 --> 00:31:30,700 S11: And she says in the song, uh, as she's riding 495 00:31:30,740 --> 00:31:34,980 S11: to Bethlehem, uh, do you wonder as you watch my 496 00:31:34,980 --> 00:31:39,380 S11: face if a wiser one should have had my place? 497 00:31:40,100 --> 00:31:43,500 S11: Still I offer all I am to the mercy of 498 00:31:43,500 --> 00:31:44,340 S11: your plan. 499 00:31:45,980 --> 00:31:48,980 S1: Surrender, surrender right. 500 00:31:49,380 --> 00:31:53,260 S11: And total surrender. Today we're still just innkeepers, seeing if 501 00:31:53,260 --> 00:31:57,940 S11: there's room for Jesus in our life. That's what we're doing. Yeah. 502 00:31:57,980 --> 00:32:02,500 S11: So it's. It's a very touching song. If you don't 503 00:32:02,500 --> 00:32:04,500 S11: know it, it's it's beautifully done. 504 00:32:04,660 --> 00:32:08,380 S1: I remember that. And the gene on Facebook said, you know, 505 00:32:08,580 --> 00:32:11,780 S1: what gets her every year is breath of heaven. Hold 506 00:32:11,780 --> 00:32:15,220 S1: me together. That's all that she needed. You take me 507 00:32:15,220 --> 00:32:19,320 S1: there and I'm. And she's gone. Because that's what you know. 508 00:32:19,360 --> 00:32:22,680 S1: That's what we need, this touch from God that comes 509 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:25,840 S1: from above, that we can't do ourselves. Greg, what do 510 00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:26,240 S1: you think. 511 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:29,680 S2: That I'm trying to. I do remember that song. It's 512 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:32,640 S2: sung from the vantage point of Mary, right? Isn't that the. 513 00:32:32,840 --> 00:32:34,960 S1: Yeah. Mary's song is the actual song. 514 00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:38,880 S2: Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Um, yeah. It is. It's touching. Um. 515 00:32:38,920 --> 00:32:41,640 S2: Breath of heaven. Hold me together. Yeah. You you know, 516 00:32:42,120 --> 00:32:44,560 S2: I think one of the things we we do miss 517 00:32:44,560 --> 00:32:49,440 S2: about the, the, uh, that moment, that original moment of 518 00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:52,560 S2: the birth of Jesus is Mary and just how young 519 00:32:52,560 --> 00:32:55,920 S2: she was. I mean, I heard a sermon one time, 520 00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:58,160 S2: and I trust the guy who gave it and that 521 00:32:58,160 --> 00:33:00,920 S2: he did his research, that she may have been 12, 522 00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:04,840 S2: 13 years old. Um, and, you know, you think about 523 00:33:04,840 --> 00:33:09,160 S2: that now, picture somebody you know, who's 12, and it's 524 00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:13,600 S2: just incredible that she was called on by the Lord 525 00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:17,540 S2: and by Gabriel to do this thing. And she became 526 00:33:17,540 --> 00:33:22,220 S2: the willing, uh, hand handmaiden of the Lord. And, uh. 527 00:33:22,260 --> 00:33:25,340 S2: It's an it's an amazing, amazing thing to ponder. 528 00:33:25,380 --> 00:33:28,900 S1: Yeah, well. And the and the whole. Uh, some people 529 00:33:28,900 --> 00:33:31,260 S1: quibble with Mary. Did you know? And there's. Well, yes, 530 00:33:31,260 --> 00:33:34,060 S1: she did know. And she didn't know this. But when 531 00:33:34,780 --> 00:33:37,340 S1: kissing the face of God, when you've kissed your little baby, 532 00:33:37,340 --> 00:33:39,300 S1: you've kissed the face of God. I mean, how do 533 00:33:39,300 --> 00:33:43,020 S1: you wrap your mind around that as a young girl 534 00:33:43,020 --> 00:33:46,380 S1: or teenager, whatever age she was? How do you wrap 535 00:33:46,380 --> 00:33:47,820 S1: your mind around that? 536 00:33:48,060 --> 00:33:51,300 S2: Mhm. Yeah, that's a great line actually. When you've kissed 537 00:33:51,300 --> 00:33:54,100 S2: the face, how does it go when you, when you 538 00:33:54,540 --> 00:33:58,060 S2: anyway you've kissed the face of God. Yeah, yeah. Um, 539 00:33:58,100 --> 00:34:00,980 S2: and that's the incarnation isn't it. Right. When you, when 540 00:34:00,980 --> 00:34:06,820 S2: you think this, this baby who is God not not 541 00:34:06,860 --> 00:34:10,460 S2: sort of, but is and not sort of a man, 542 00:34:10,500 --> 00:34:14,940 S2: but truly man as well. Um, and that is the 543 00:34:15,060 --> 00:34:18,110 S2: that is the, uh, the mystery of the incarnation. 544 00:34:18,710 --> 00:34:22,589 S1: Debbie and Amy and others said, when you kiss your 545 00:34:22,590 --> 00:34:26,030 S1: little baby, you kiss the face of God. Yeah. And 546 00:34:26,030 --> 00:34:32,830 S1: that and the, um, the idea that God would condescend, 547 00:34:33,190 --> 00:34:36,830 S1: that he would. Philippians two put, put this aside, put 548 00:34:36,870 --> 00:34:41,509 S1: his glory behind him and become one of us and 549 00:34:41,510 --> 00:34:47,470 S1: become vulnerable enough to. I was reading today in Psalm 550 00:34:47,469 --> 00:34:51,590 S1: eight and the commentary on that said, there's nothing more 551 00:34:51,590 --> 00:34:55,109 S1: vulnerable in the ancient world than a baby because the 552 00:34:55,110 --> 00:34:59,110 S1: mortality rate was so high. There's nothing more vulnerable. So 553 00:34:59,270 --> 00:35:04,469 S1: God stoops, becomes a baby, takes his sustenance from his 554 00:35:04,469 --> 00:35:09,030 S1: mother's breast. You know, he suckles at his mother's breast. 555 00:35:09,230 --> 00:35:14,410 S1: That's how far he comes. How far he condescends to us, 556 00:35:14,930 --> 00:35:17,850 S1: and that's what she is doing as she is saying 557 00:35:17,850 --> 00:35:20,610 S1: yes to God. And I love the difference between her 558 00:35:20,930 --> 00:35:24,250 S1: and Zechariah. You know, he asked the question, well, wait 559 00:35:24,250 --> 00:35:27,610 S1: a minute. How? And Mary asked the question, wait a minute. How? 560 00:35:27,969 --> 00:35:31,489 S1: And they're from a different place of the heart for her. 561 00:35:31,530 --> 00:35:34,890 S1: She was she was still trusting. She just couldn't imagine 562 00:35:34,890 --> 00:35:38,730 S1: it for him who ought to have trusted. He was 563 00:35:39,090 --> 00:35:42,930 S1: showing distrust. And so, you know, there were consequences there. 564 00:35:43,170 --> 00:35:46,370 S1: It's just it's so great to try to wrap your 565 00:35:46,370 --> 00:35:48,130 S1: mind around it, isn't it, Greg? 566 00:35:48,330 --> 00:35:52,410 S2: Yeah, it really is. Uh, saying that about Zechariah reminds me, um, 567 00:35:52,410 --> 00:35:56,170 S2: we both, of course, know who Walt Wangerin was. Yes. And, uh, 568 00:35:56,410 --> 00:36:00,410 S2: he he makes that point in his, um, advent devotional 569 00:36:00,410 --> 00:36:04,650 S2: about Zechariah. And he, he basically says, if you're looking 570 00:36:04,650 --> 00:36:07,810 S2: for a sign because you don't trust God, you're not 571 00:36:07,810 --> 00:36:11,810 S2: going to get one. Um, God isn't going to condescend 572 00:36:11,810 --> 00:36:15,830 S2: to your, you know, disbelief. But he will give a 573 00:36:15,830 --> 00:36:19,870 S2: sign for those who are trusting him. They just need reassurance. 574 00:36:19,870 --> 00:36:23,029 S2: Which was like Mary. Um, so I think that is 575 00:36:23,030 --> 00:36:25,430 S2: the contrast in Mary and Zechariah, right? 576 00:36:25,469 --> 00:36:28,070 S1: Yeah. And that's exactly what we're trying to do here 577 00:36:28,070 --> 00:36:32,950 S1: today to comprehend the incomprehensible. And if you go to Chris. 578 00:36:35,030 --> 00:36:39,390 S1: You can see Sound of Majesty, where you can sign 579 00:36:39,390 --> 00:36:42,990 S1: up for the news videos that Greg mentioned a little earlier, 580 00:36:42,989 --> 00:36:46,510 S1: and you can hear other gorgeous music just like this. 581 00:36:46,550 --> 00:36:51,430 S1: Go to sound. Of course, there's more straight ahead on 582 00:36:51,469 --> 00:36:52,430 S1: Moody Radio. 583 00:37:01,270 --> 00:37:01,750 S8: For. 584 00:37:34,330 --> 00:37:37,290 S1: This is Chris Fabry live on Moody Radio again. Hosanna 585 00:37:37,290 --> 00:37:41,089 S1: in excelsis. You will hear or see a lot of 586 00:37:41,090 --> 00:37:45,050 S1: the stories of the hymns that we're playing here today, 587 00:37:45,050 --> 00:37:47,810 S1: the carols that we are talking about, not some of 588 00:37:47,810 --> 00:37:51,689 S1: the newer songs, but some of the older songs. And 589 00:37:51,690 --> 00:37:53,370 S1: if you give a gift of any size, we'll send 590 00:37:53,370 --> 00:37:55,529 S1: that to you. That's still available to the end of 591 00:37:55,530 --> 00:37:59,890 S1: the year. But hurry, friend, just go to npr.org. Scroll down, 592 00:37:59,890 --> 00:38:02,370 S1: you'll see how you can support us right there. You 593 00:38:02,370 --> 00:38:06,450 S1: can also enjoy Round the clock Christmas music, a festive 594 00:38:06,489 --> 00:38:11,629 S1: blend of yuletide carols, traditional favorites, and today's Christmas Songs 595 00:38:11,830 --> 00:38:17,509 S1: until December 31st at Music of christmas.org, or on the 596 00:38:17,510 --> 00:38:20,509 S1: Moody Radio app. So I was going through there and 597 00:38:20,510 --> 00:38:22,310 S1: I was going back and forth and saying, oh, I 598 00:38:22,310 --> 00:38:25,270 S1: want to hear that one by point of Grace and others, 599 00:38:25,270 --> 00:38:31,870 S1: Music of Christmas is Moody Radio's Christmas channel or, uh, 600 00:38:31,910 --> 00:38:36,030 S1: download the Moody Radio app. And today's guest is Greg Wheatley, 601 00:38:36,030 --> 00:38:38,990 S1: who for years and years and years was the host 602 00:38:38,989 --> 00:38:43,510 S1: of Sound of Majesty and Moody, allowed him to take 603 00:38:43,550 --> 00:38:46,430 S1: Sound of Majesty and put it on a website, Sound 604 00:38:46,469 --> 00:38:50,989 S1: of Majesty. And at this time of year, it's a high, 605 00:38:51,030 --> 00:38:53,950 S1: holy time when you'll hear some of the songs that 606 00:38:53,950 --> 00:38:57,069 S1: we've been playing here for you today. Uh, Denise is 607 00:38:57,070 --> 00:38:59,750 S1: in Georgia. Denise, why did you call today? 608 00:39:00,230 --> 00:39:04,550 S12: Hey, um, Chris, I got a really old song, and 609 00:39:05,070 --> 00:39:07,109 S12: a lot of times you don't hear it, but it's 610 00:39:07,110 --> 00:39:11,690 S12: the little Drummer boy. And at the very end he says, 611 00:39:11,690 --> 00:39:15,529 S12: I have no gift to bring. We have no gifts 612 00:39:15,810 --> 00:39:20,210 S12: to bring him. This is a time of giving. But 613 00:39:20,650 --> 00:39:25,770 S12: these are, um, objective gifts. But the only thing we 614 00:39:25,770 --> 00:39:28,210 S12: can give him is our heart. And I think that's 615 00:39:28,210 --> 00:39:31,770 S12: what the little drummer boy did. He gave him. He 616 00:39:31,770 --> 00:39:34,850 S12: gave Jesus his heart. And that's what Jesus wants today. 617 00:39:34,850 --> 00:39:39,089 S12: All he wants is our hearts. And to me, that 618 00:39:39,530 --> 00:39:42,569 S12: I always get choked up. And when I watch that little, 619 00:39:42,610 --> 00:39:45,330 S12: you know, that little play movie with the little boy, 620 00:39:45,370 --> 00:39:49,250 S12: you know, but he just, you know, he has nothing 621 00:39:49,610 --> 00:39:52,930 S12: and we have nothing. We have nothing to give him 622 00:39:53,130 --> 00:39:56,850 S12: but our hearts. That's what he wants. So that's what 623 00:39:56,850 --> 00:39:57,730 S12: I wanted to say. 624 00:39:58,090 --> 00:40:01,850 S1: And to think that he came that distance for us 625 00:40:01,850 --> 00:40:04,850 S1: to be able to present him, you know, to to 626 00:40:04,890 --> 00:40:07,410 S1: allow him access to our heart. Greg, what do you 627 00:40:07,410 --> 00:40:08,060 S1: think of that? 628 00:40:08,340 --> 00:40:12,140 S2: Mm. Yeah. So it goes to this whole idea of 629 00:40:12,140 --> 00:40:15,380 S2: grace that that it is not what we bring to 630 00:40:15,420 --> 00:40:20,020 S2: the table. It's what he condescended to bring to us. And, um, 631 00:40:20,219 --> 00:40:22,580 S2: so I think, yeah, you get it in that more 632 00:40:22,580 --> 00:40:24,819 S2: modern song, Little Drummer Boy. And then you get it 633 00:40:24,820 --> 00:40:27,540 S2: in some of these older hymns that we've been talking 634 00:40:27,540 --> 00:40:32,340 S2: about in The Good ones, because they get the theology right, that, um, 635 00:40:32,500 --> 00:40:34,540 S2: you know, I was just looking ahead to, uh, o 636 00:40:34,540 --> 00:40:37,700 S2: come All ye Faithful. If one of the lines that 637 00:40:37,700 --> 00:40:42,540 S2: arrests me is, uh, the second stanza, God of God, 638 00:40:42,540 --> 00:40:48,260 S2: light of light. Lo, he abhors not the Virgin's womb. Mhm. Um, 639 00:40:48,460 --> 00:40:51,220 S2: which is a really poetic. I mean, we would never 640 00:40:51,219 --> 00:40:55,219 S2: say that in conversation today, but it's a poetic way 641 00:40:55,219 --> 00:40:59,220 S2: to say, look, he was willing to, um, put aside 642 00:40:59,219 --> 00:41:02,379 S2: his glory and to be one of us, just like 643 00:41:02,380 --> 00:41:05,580 S2: you and me and to relate to us and ultimately 644 00:41:05,580 --> 00:41:08,480 S2: to to give his life for us. So yeah, it 645 00:41:08,480 --> 00:41:11,360 S2: is his. It is his doing his grace. 646 00:41:11,920 --> 00:41:15,560 S1: And the as our other caller said that we're all 647 00:41:15,560 --> 00:41:18,439 S1: innkeepers and will there be room, you know, and there's 648 00:41:18,440 --> 00:41:23,280 S1: so much that crowds out the, the the the Holy child, 649 00:41:23,280 --> 00:41:26,040 S1: the silent night that comes here. And that's in the 650 00:41:26,040 --> 00:41:30,800 S1: bleak midwinter. We were talking in the break. The Rossetti poem, um, 651 00:41:31,040 --> 00:41:33,120 S1: ends that way. If I were a shepherd, I would 652 00:41:33,120 --> 00:41:35,120 S1: bring a lamb. What can I give him? Poor as 653 00:41:35,120 --> 00:41:37,360 S1: I am. If I were a shepherd, I'd bring a lamb. 654 00:41:37,360 --> 00:41:39,759 S1: If I were a wise man, I would do my part. 655 00:41:39,960 --> 00:41:45,440 S1: Yet what can I give him? Give my heart. And 656 00:41:45,680 --> 00:41:49,239 S1: that's the. That's what God wants the most. Because he 657 00:41:49,239 --> 00:41:52,839 S1: wants to transform us from the inside out to the 658 00:41:52,840 --> 00:41:54,759 S1: image of his son. Right? 659 00:41:55,200 --> 00:41:58,799 S2: Yeah. And that's what he is about doing. Um, you know, 660 00:41:58,840 --> 00:42:03,400 S2: but even that, um, is, is is of his grace. So, 661 00:42:03,719 --> 00:42:06,780 S2: you know, it's not like we're saying, well, okay, you know, 662 00:42:06,820 --> 00:42:08,859 S2: I can do this. God, if you want me to 663 00:42:08,860 --> 00:42:10,940 S2: be a, you know, if you want me to be better, I'll. 664 00:42:10,940 --> 00:42:14,740 S2: I'll work on my self-improvement. Right. It's it's not that. 665 00:42:14,739 --> 00:42:17,860 S2: It's that he's come down on a rescue mission for us. 666 00:42:18,260 --> 00:42:21,340 S2: And our response is to be one of gratitude than 667 00:42:21,380 --> 00:42:22,740 S2: for for what he's done. 668 00:42:23,180 --> 00:42:26,500 S1: I want to play one verse of O come, All 669 00:42:26,540 --> 00:42:29,540 S1: Ye Faithful, that again that you've brought here from your 670 00:42:29,540 --> 00:42:32,900 S1: Sound of Majesty org stash, and then get you to 671 00:42:32,940 --> 00:42:36,060 S1: respond to that before we end today. Here it is. 672 00:42:38,660 --> 00:43:13,520 S8: Three. Three. Oh three. Oh oh. Oh. Oh. O come. 673 00:43:17,960 --> 00:43:30,920 S8: O come, let us adore him O come, let us adore. Him. 674 00:43:43,600 --> 00:43:45,800 S1: I was singing in my heart too. All right. Greg. 675 00:43:45,800 --> 00:43:47,480 S1: So what did we just hear? 676 00:43:48,360 --> 00:43:51,759 S2: Well, that is the final stanza of the rendition done 677 00:43:51,760 --> 00:43:55,560 S2: by King's College Choir. If you ever watched, um, Lessons 678 00:43:55,560 --> 00:43:59,759 S2: and Carols from King's um, in Cambridge, that is the 679 00:43:59,800 --> 00:44:03,460 S2: sort of standard version, the thing that is amazing about 680 00:44:03,460 --> 00:44:05,940 S2: that last stanza. On top of the words, of course, 681 00:44:06,219 --> 00:44:09,419 S2: if you listen carefully when they they sing. Yea, Lord, 682 00:44:09,420 --> 00:44:12,660 S2: we greet thee, born this happy morning, Jesus. To thee 683 00:44:12,700 --> 00:44:16,580 S2: be all glory given. Then word of the father. And 684 00:44:16,580 --> 00:44:19,380 S2: if you listen to that chord, it's for all you 685 00:44:19,380 --> 00:44:23,540 S2: music nerds. It's a half diminished seventh chord. But, uh, 686 00:44:23,860 --> 00:44:27,540 S2: it's sort of this, um, the harmony is just is 687 00:44:27,540 --> 00:44:31,100 S2: different than what we're used to. And it's talk about arresting. 688 00:44:31,140 --> 00:44:33,180 S2: I mean, if you ever sing it that way or 689 00:44:33,219 --> 00:44:37,540 S2: hear it live, it's like suddenly the word word is 690 00:44:37,540 --> 00:44:41,500 S2: what's emphasized. And you get this picture of Jesus is 691 00:44:41,500 --> 00:44:46,219 S2: the word of the father and now in flesh appearing. 692 00:44:46,420 --> 00:44:50,460 S2: And then that final chorus in that version, uh, that long, 693 00:44:50,739 --> 00:44:53,580 S2: that low sustained note in the organ that doesn't move 694 00:44:53,580 --> 00:44:57,060 S2: through that whole chorus. It's a real, uh, talk about 695 00:44:57,060 --> 00:44:59,899 S2: a moving moment. That is a moving moment in that, 696 00:44:59,940 --> 00:45:01,230 S2: in that song. 697 00:45:01,590 --> 00:45:05,270 S1: Okay, we had someone on Facebook say this when I 698 00:45:05,270 --> 00:45:08,029 S1: was young and still singing soprano. I was part of 699 00:45:08,030 --> 00:45:10,630 S1: a choir at a large Episcopal church. I loved singing 700 00:45:10,630 --> 00:45:14,189 S1: Christmas carols. My favorite was O come let us adore him. 701 00:45:14,190 --> 00:45:17,150 S1: Not for the lyrics, but for particular bit of the melody, 702 00:45:17,510 --> 00:45:20,270 S1: while the rest of the choir would be singing O come, 703 00:45:20,270 --> 00:45:23,629 S1: let us adore him, Christ the Lord. The Sopranos would 704 00:45:23,630 --> 00:45:27,830 S1: be about a full octave higher singing O come, O 705 00:45:27,910 --> 00:45:31,670 S1: come O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord. 706 00:45:32,230 --> 00:45:34,750 S1: It's hard to relay the impact in text, but for 707 00:45:34,790 --> 00:45:39,029 S1: me this was the best form of playing and it 708 00:45:39,030 --> 00:45:42,830 S1: was wonderful. And that harkens back to what we, you know, Hark! 709 00:45:42,870 --> 00:45:46,070 S1: The Herald Angels sings to what we started talking about 710 00:45:47,110 --> 00:45:51,670 S1: at the very beginning, Greg, this overflow of joy. It's 711 00:45:51,670 --> 00:45:54,830 S1: almost like when the angels came out, you couldn't hold 712 00:45:54,830 --> 00:45:58,629 S1: them back. They had to say something. And we can 713 00:45:58,630 --> 00:46:01,690 S1: do the same thing with our singing and our living 714 00:46:01,690 --> 00:46:04,330 S1: and the way that we love each other, don't you think? 715 00:46:04,770 --> 00:46:07,690 S2: Absolutely. And it is a time of joy. And I, 716 00:46:07,930 --> 00:46:11,169 S2: you know, understanding not everybody is in a place where 717 00:46:11,170 --> 00:46:15,570 S2: they feel joyful and lots of tough things. But, boy, 718 00:46:15,610 --> 00:46:18,610 S2: to tap into what Jesus did for us in coming 719 00:46:18,610 --> 00:46:21,570 S2: all the way down. Um, that brings joy. 720 00:46:22,210 --> 00:46:25,569 S1: It sure does. And it makes it. It shows the 721 00:46:25,570 --> 00:46:29,130 S1: purpose of why we are here, to give him praise 722 00:46:29,130 --> 00:46:32,810 S1: and honor and glory as he lives in us and 723 00:46:32,810 --> 00:46:36,210 S1: through us. Real treat. Greg, come back and see us soon, okay? 724 00:46:36,250 --> 00:46:38,730 S2: Friend, I would love to. Thank you. Chris. 725 00:46:39,290 --> 00:46:42,450 S1: That's Greg Wheatley. If you go to Chris org you'll 726 00:46:42,450 --> 00:46:46,049 S1: see a link to Sound of Majesty. Org. Have a 727 00:46:46,050 --> 00:46:48,770 S1: great weekend. Merry Christmas from all of us at Chris 728 00:46:48,770 --> 00:46:51,890 S1: Fabry Live a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of 729 00:46:51,930 --> 00:46:53,650 S1: Moody Bible Institute.