I have an amazing brother. He lives as a hermit of sorts . St. Nowlie of the Plains I call him affectionately. Daily he battles the darkness of by singing hymns of praise. Songs both old and new he draws out of the storehouse of his heart. I am convinced that hidden warriors such as he do more to combat the oppression of this age than we will ever know.
Singers like Nowlin are heralds of faith. They seers of a coming kingdom. They are holy fools who confound the wisdom of the world by blessing the Father’s heart. They live in His joy. They hope in His goodness. They dance through cold and hunger, as if they were already feasting at Lord’s banquet.
Most mornings I awake to a text from my brother - a song to start the day. Sometimes he sends a recording, especially if the song is new. More often he sends the lyrics, assuming I know the tune.
Last year he wrote a new song especially for me. The text is taken from John 15 which I was contemplating at the time. “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,” says Jesus in the passage. Surely Our Lord has chosen Nowlin to bear the fruit of song!
🎶🎶
If you keep my commandments
You'll abide in my love
If you do as I command
You will be my friends
For I have chosen you
You have not chosen me
That you may be fruit bearing trees.
If you keep my commandments you'll abide in my love
If you do as I command you will be my friends.
These things I have spoken that my joy be in you
these things I have spoken that your joy may be full.
For I have chosen you
You have not chosen me
That you may be fruit bearing trees.
These things I have spoken that my joy be in you
these things I have spoken that your joy may be full.
This I command you
that you love one another
As I have loved you
Greater love hath no man
Than he lay down his life
For his friends.
For I have chosen you
you have not chosen me
That you may be fruit bearing trees.
If you keep my commandments,
You'll abide in my love.
If you do as I command,
You will be my friends.
🎶🎶
