I’d like to introduce you to a gentleman I met at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference, held every year in May.  (Sign up here if you want to squeak in the door in 2012!) David is a writer who cares about the cross and about religious persecution.  I’d also like to introduce you to a painting of Jesus by artist Rick Marschall, another friend and writer extraordinaire that I met in Colorado three years ago.  (Hey, it was a GREAT year!) Let’s hear what David has to say:

David:  I honestly can’t say why I love this hymn.  It just speaks to me and I love the music that goes with it.

Hope and I met at a Colorado Christian Writers Conference three years ago when I resumed attending after a very long break.  And that connection is how I came to this blog (Lift Jesus Cross) a month or so ago when she started it.  I’m attempting to write a novel, still trying to complete a rough draft of the first in time for this year’s conference.

The first poem/hymn about the cross that first comes to mind is a favorite:

Bernard of Clairvaux, author of O Sacred Head, How Wounded

“O Sacred head, Now Wounded” by Bernard of Clairvauxand adapted by Paul Gerhardt.

(I have a hymnal that my church used to use until we went modern and projected them.)

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

O sacred Head, now wounded
With grief and shame weighed down;
Now scornfully surrounded
With thorns, Thine only crown.
How pale Thou art with anguish,
With sore abuse and scorn;
How does that visage lanquish,
Which once was bright as morn!

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered
Was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression,
But thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior;
‘Tis I deserve Thy place.
Look on me with Thy favor;
Assist me with Thy grace.

What language shall I borrow
To thank Thee, dearest Friend,
For this, Thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity withot end?
O make me Thine forever;
And, should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
Outlive my love to Thee.

I hope you’ll enjoy the You Tube Video.  O Sacred Head Now Wounded as sung by Amy Grant:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqsmTIuLmlA&feature=fvsr