Bruce Barkhauer is both friend and colleague in ministry. He is also the Director of the Center for Faith and Giving, a ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
The Center launched its website on November 1, and when Bruce asked whether I could record the hymn This Is My Father’s World as background music for the site’s introductory video, I quickly said yes.
Please visit the website of the Center for Faith and Giving. Not only will you hear a favorite old hymn picked on the guitar, but you will also discover a host of resources to help you understand the biblical witness as it relates to stewardship.
It was fun to work up two versions of this hymn that I love. One is an up-tempo Travis-style version. The other uses finger-style playing to create a more relaxed feel.
The melody is a traditional English tune, and the text was written by Maltbie Babcock. It was was published by his wife as part of a collection of his poems, entitled Thoughts for Every-Day Living, following his death in 1901. Read the lyrics, and I hope you’ll see why I love this hymn so much (and why I would be disappointed with how the third verse was modified for the Chalice Hymnal when it was published in 1995).
This is my Father’s world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.This is my Father’s world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
he shines in all that’s fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere.This is my Father’s world.
O let me ne’er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!