Long-winded Preaching Usurps a Good Hymn

The long-winded preacher (me) went on for so long this morning that the worship leader (me) had to cut out the last hymn so that people could eat lunch in time to get back to church tonight!

But it was a great hymn, written by none other than Don Carson (not me). I (me) thought it would be good to post here:

To the Praise of His Glorious Grace
What astonishing mercy and power:
In accord with his pleasure and will
He created each planet, each flower,
Every galaxy, microbe, and hill.
He suspended the planet in space

To the praise of his glorious grace.
To the praise of his glorious grace.
To the praise of his glorious grace.

With despicable self-love and rage,
We rebelled and fell under the curse.
Yet God did not rip out the page
And destroy all who love the perverse.
No, he chose us to make a new race,

Providentially ruling all things
To conform to the end he designed,
He mysteriously governs, and brings
His eternal wise plans into time.
He works out every step, every trace,

Long before the creation began,
He foreknew those he’d ransom in Christ;
Long before time’s cold hour-glass ran,
He ordained the supreme sacrifice.
In the cross he removed our disgrace,

We were blessed in the heavenly realms
Long before being included in Christ.
Since we heard the good news, overwhelmed,
We reach forward to seize Paradise.
We shall see him ourselves, face to face,

Lyrics by D.A. Carson. Music by Paul Boling & Gerald Edmonds. Copyright 1999 Christway Media, Inc.