119 Gimel

119 Gimel.mp3

And here is the 3rd song in the 119th Psalm cycle!

Гимель

17 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.
18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.
22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.
23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.

BTW: The Hebrew word translated here as "thy testimonies" is just as often translated as "thy congregation". I could think all day about that. :-)
In fact, I think I will.

It's Just Me

Just Me.mp3

This is a song I wrote this winter. It's what I imagine my girls might want to say to me sometimes. Maybe a lot of the time. Edward Partridge was told that one of his sins was blindness of heart. I have the same problem. Hence my "J" resolution for 2009. Enjoy.

Psalm 119 - Beth

119 Beth.mp3

Here is the second of 22 songs from the 119th Psalm. If Todd can memorize it, I decided, I can put it to music.

Бет

9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

(BTW: It may be worth considering that the Hebrew word here for "statutes" can also be translated as "task, job, stewardship". Or even, in modern Mormon vernacular, "calling".)

February Ensign

Here are some phrases that J-Jumped at me from the February 2009 Ensign:

"the universal power of the Holy Ghost" - Dieter F Uchtdorf (p.6)

"take care to connect the evens of the Sacred Grove with real life and with present circumstances" - F Burton Howard (p.13)

"relationships are of supreme importance" - James D MacArthur (p.16)

"a reflection in the mirror opened my heart" - Michelle tassell (p.18)

"turning and constantly returning to the Lord" - Susan W Tanner (p. 23)

"recognize that He magnifies those whom He calls" - Gayle S Iliff (p. 26)

"intensley wonderful and joyful" - Michelle Bowden (p. 27)

"They are always learning." - Margaret S Liferth (p. 28)

"quietly and thoughtfully and introspectively" - Gordon B. Hinckley (p. 32)

"I stand at the place my Son needs me most" - Marcy Zabriskie (p. 35)

"through sheets of tears" - name withheld (p. 38)

"the saddest I have ever felt" - name withheld (p. 39)

"it was love at first sight" - Joseph B Wirthlin (p. 3, insert)

"all of us stood with tears" - name withheld (p. 42)

"a pillar of strength" - Stacie Lloyd Duce (p. 44)

"Quiet, the guys over there are praying" - Terry O'Brien (p. 47)

"they would not be brought to justice" - Wall Southwick (p. 52)

"thorny places to protect us" - Donnell Allan (p. 53)

"Sam, this has got to stop." - Samantha D Hansen (p. 55)

More to follow...

Testing Day

Testing Day.mp3

I was preparing a lesson for the gospel essentials class about the pre-mortal existence and wrote this song.

Please Tell Me a Story

Please Tell Me a Story.mp3

Here is a song from when Isabelle was little. It's kind of a family favorite. At least in my little brain. Let me know what you think.

My Princess

My Princess.mp3
This is the song I sang to Lynette just before proposing marriage. I had written it 5 years earlier, when we were 16. :-)

All Things

All Things.mp3

Hopefully, here is a песня that I wrote based on Alma 30:44 and, of course, Moses 6:63

"The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God"

"And behold, all things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me."

(This is an early recording and needs to be redone. Just using it to check the feasibility of post mp3s here.)

' (ёд)

So, I've been thinking about the one-word new year's resolution thing, and the 1st decade of the 1st month is nearly gone (по-русски decade is 10 days, not years); I had better get down to it.

I was going to pick "see". As in "seeing is loving", especially after learning how often I look at people, but don't really see them. Stephanie and I each wrote a song about that over the past few weeks. Seems like a good choice. But I think I may have to go with the Hebrew letter Yod. Does one letter count for the one word?? Yod stands for light and truth, which pretty much gets right deep into what I really want to say with "see", that "see" just doesn't quite get to. Especially since Yod also equates to Faith, that great prerequisite to all vision, understanding, and yes, loving.

So I go with J (German transliteration for yod). Faith, Light, Truth, Emanating and Receiving Light, Hope and Love.

J Jump Joyful
Yoooooooh D(ude)

So I'm certifiable. But every sunrise and sunset and sparkling eye and teary eye will remind me of Yod, and my promise to open my heart and soul to the truth of those around me.

After thought: Yod is the 10th letter of the alphabet. Sam used to call me "Untle Ten". Took me long enough to catch on to what he was trying to tell me.

Hey, if I can pull this off, those I love best will be happier in 2009. Wish me luck.

Aleph - The Beatitude

Aleph.mp3

Алеф
Psalm 119:1-8
"Blessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in the law of the Lord."