As the Deer -- Dennis Jernigan

 

Almost 34 years had elapsed, but he still remembered. Perhaps in some ways, Dennis Jernigan would prefer to not have such a good memory of a time such as that day, May 26^th, 1987. And yet, that special time when he was a 28-year-old, and felt so distressed that he described himself as a wild animal with a desperate need for water – that’s when Dennis metaphorically thought of himself “As the Deer”, searching for a drink (perhaps not unlike the deer that walked through my neighborhood one recent morning, see picture). It was something he didn’t keep private, but shared with his Creator as he read an example written by an ancient poet, a person with whom Dennis felt camaraderie. That old poet also felt downcast, so Dennis says he drew upon the ageless work of that song-maker for sustenance. And, then he’s gone about telling others about that day, with a version of his own psalm from the Sons of Korah (Psalm 42).

 

In his podcast on March 29, 2021, Dennis Jernigan talked about the day in May 1987 as if it were yesterday. He admits, as anyone who’s in a deep pit might also do, that he thought for a time that the most refreshing answer to his misery might be death. That this episode happened just before he really began to make his journey with published music for others to hear (beginning in 1989) says something about the authenticity of Dennis’ song story. This was his own way out of that desert, a method he now ardently recommends others employ. And yet, Dennis is quick to relate that he doesn’t think of himself as really emerging from the dry time, but instead just discovered that God was still with him. That’s how he found – or rather, in whom he found – nourishment. His very life depended on finding that God was with him, and by drawing on His deep well. Dennis began the podcast by also sharing the story of another person who felt downcast, because she was an outcast. The Samaritan woman at the well (John 4) evidently was someone with whom Dennis also identified. Dennis’s life journey has brought him through struggle, as a man trying to understand his own past and the homosexual lifestyle he had chosen for a time (he left that lifestyle in 1981). You can read about this in his book Giant Killers. He’s adamant that Jesus has been the only answer for the thirst he had, and still has, and that realizing this has been transformative. That’s why the Samaritan woman at the well is a story that resonates with Dennis; she was searching for happiness and meaning in all the wrong ways, and Jesus tells her that He can give her the only water that will satisfy (John 4:15). Dennis’ message is simple: you can get out of the pit of despair, but you and I need the God-man continually for the wherewithal to live here and in the eternal future.  

 

In the ‘maskil’ (perhaps a musical or literary term) psalm that the Korahites wrote, and the one that Dennis echoes, you don’t have to guess what these writers feel. Most of the ‘maskils’ (see especially the 7/28/2008 and 5/15/2009 blog entries for more discussion of this) indicate these poets felt a despondency that they salved with their prayers and songs to God. Is that implicit in the term ‘maskil’? Short answer: we don’t know. But, Dennis, and you, and I can know for certain that He hears. Part of the hearing, it seems, is that others with whom we walk and talk every day also have things with which they grapple. Nothing is outta bounds when it comes to relating to each other. We all need each other’s understanding, and the God who will ultimately heal all of those hurts. If Dennis has done this, so can you and I. We all need and have access to the water He has.   

 

See this link for a podcast in which the author shares the song’s story: http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/as-the-deer-thirsts-for-the-water/

 

Read more about the author here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Jernigan

 

And, here also: Dennis Jernigan | About DJ

At the Name of Jesus – Randy Gill

 

‘I’m glad he was reading and remembering as he wrote, and that he was listening and going in the direction that the Spirit gave him’. That is what one might say if he heard what Randy Gill had to say when asked about the foundation for “At the Name of Jesus”. He didn’t just think of one piece of ancient writing when he penned the words (including this representation of Jesus’ name in Aramaic/Syrian, shown here), and that is essentially what makes Randy’s song so energetic and laudable. This 21^st Century composer and professor has the educational wherewithal to write great music, and yet he knows it’s not really within himself to find that seminal spark for a memorable song. He proves it in the words he collected in ‘At the Name…’. He evidently discovered early on in his composing life the essential ingredients, the unique and indispensable elements that he accessed one day in 1998.

 

Here’s what Randy has to say in his own words about ‘At the Name of Jesus’, some 24 years after he wrote the song and it was published.

 

At the Name was the second worship song I ever tried to write. I’ve always loved the Jesus passages in Philippians 2 and decided to try my hand at setting verse 10. The song actually started as a very slow, contemplative piece but quickly evolved into the more upbeat, celebration statement it ended up being. … At The Name of Jesus was just an expression of devotion and praise.

 

Dr. Gill, with the skill of an academic researcher and the heart of a devoted follower, knows where to find great constituent parts for the foundation of something on which others can rely. You and I can revel in the words Randy used, because they come straight from trustworthy sources. Paul the Apostle, that fellow whom Jesus said He’d show ‘how much he must suffer for my name’ (Acts 9:16), was perhaps the most credible spokesman for Christ who ever lived. So, when he says what Randy repeats about ‘every knee bow(ing)’ and ‘every tongue confess (ing)’, (Philippians 2:10-11), every mortal dare not ignore that. This might actually have been a piece of an ancient hymn that Paul borrowed, so perhaps that helped Randy feel that its pedigree was enhanced even more. Later in ‘At the Name…’, Randy was employing the gifted insight of another when he calls out to the God-Man as the ‘Wonderful Counselor’, Mighty God’, Everlasting Father’, ‘the Prince of Peace’. Isaiah (9:6), who preceded Paul by some seven or eight centuries, is the poet-prophet that Randy and the rest of us have appreciated for so many years for giving us those collectively stirring names for Him. Finally, Randy cites another great 1^st Century spokesmen – Peter -- when he writes ‘no other name by which we’re saved’, an unequivocal statement that Peter (and John) made when confronting the highest authorities in their world (Acts 4:12). That says volumes about this name Jesus, doesn’t it?

 

Three ancient spokepersons – Paul, Isaiah, and Peter – who had the same esteem for God – seems like that ought to be something pretty awesome to repeat. Maybe that’s what had Randy initially thinking this song he was beginning to write should be a ‘very slow, contemplative’ thing. It will be a breathtaking, even fearsome time when humanity finally meets Him in-person. But, for those of us whom He welcomes into His home, a celebration like no other will quickly ensue. Randy just didn’t feel like he wanted to wait any longer! How about you? Randy says ‘join in!’

 

 

The only source for the story of the song is this blogger’s e:mail contact-exchange with the author-composer on 9/22/2022.

 

See link here for information on the song’s author-composer: https://www.lipscomb.edu/directory/gill-randy

I've Been Redeemed – Anonymous

 

Who wrote it (maybe members of the Salvation Army?)? Short answer – we don’t know. That would be the end of the story for some people, except that this musical subject for today has so many potent, positive things to communicate. The anonymous poet – or poets – said so many things that are connected to “I’ve Been Redeemed”, that one can hardly ignore what they’ve written, any more than we could belittle what the Salvation Army does. But, would it also be fair to say that the list of items linked to one’s personal redemption has not been fully described in the verses? Who could adequately tell all that a believer gains by being saved from destruction, by being redeemed from eternal captivity?  One might be more credible as a witness if he/she visited us mortals after at least a glance inside heaven’s door, to have seen the face of the Redeemer. And yet, the liberation of our souls has begun already, if we can grasp what biblical writers and the composer or composers of this upbeat little song tell us. See if you get it, once you gather in all the words they give us.

 

Did the poet or poets of ‘I’ve Been Redeemed’ have open a bible while celebrating what comes with this assurance of which they wrote? Try on what one guy named John had to say (1 John 5:13), and it seems that the lyrics really flow from realizing that at least some of the magnitude of redemption’s gift is in its immediacy. It’s already begun! That belief’s confidence comes across best in perhaps one word of the title – ‘Been’. You and I are not waiting; we already have it. And, just listen to all of the buoyant things that come with this, according to the poets’ words. Besides being ‘redeemed’, I have contact even with the ‘Holy Ghost’…amazing! What has happened includes access to the ‘blood of the Lamb, through which my ‘sin (is) washed away’. I’ve been ‘baptized’, and since I’ve ‘been to the river’, I can now know I’m ‘saved’, ‘sanctified’.  ‘Grace’ – that’s a great word, and there’s so many more. Are ‘hallellujah’, ‘He’s coming back’, being able to ‘pray’ and ‘praise’ Him any less significant? While some words or phrases might engender dread for others, when we who are redeemed consider ‘Judgement Day’ and standing before ‘His throne’, our hearts burn with longing. A probably universally happy thought is having someone ‘take me home’, right? There’s not many songs whose words convey no negative concepts, but this is appropriate for this one. It’s as if these writers wanted to think of nothing else except the brilliant light that was shining. ‘Felt so good that I stayed all day’ –these are the words of one alternate verse of the song. They provide in a nutshell what the author/s must have intrinsically gathered from their own experience. If you arrive in this redemption land, you just try to stay there. Nothing else matters compared to this.

 

Could the attitude of the poet/s of ‘I’ve Been Redeemed’ derive from other biblical writers, as well as John? How many were martyrs, from among those Jesus charged with spreading the word about Him? All of them (except John), seemingly. And yet, they staked their lives on this redemption, believing its reward is so unique and magnificent, and believable.  They used all of the words these poets used. So, the question that us who are redeemed can pose to others is thus: what other promise have you got that offers so much, has so much written of it, has centered earth’s history and our calendars to that One person, and requires only your acceptance? These poets believed this redeeming act was accomplished fact, not a giant hoax. We’ll only know their identities someday, but you and I can believe today the words these writers already gave us. I believe words were spoken by other historical characters I’ve never met, so I can believe ‘I’ve Been Redeemed’, too. Can you?    

 

 

 

See this link for all six verses of the song: https://hymnary.org/text/ive_been_redeemed_by_the_blood_of_anon

List of Christian martyrs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_martyrs