Luke 4:23 23 Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.'”
When we are ill or have to attend our GP about something we depend on him to prescribe the right medicine along with the right advice and it is like wise if we have to see a consultant at outpatients at our local hospital. The same applies if we are unfortunate enough to land in hospital for a few days or weeks we have to put our trust in the doctor and nurses looking after us.
It goes without saying that the greatest Physician of all time was Jesus himself and how he performed all those miracles such as ‘making the blind man see & the lame man walk’ etc
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honour to his name. 4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley,[a] I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. 6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
I feel there’s only one video that can go with this popular Psalm and that is Stuart Townend’s Song of the Psalm.
One of my favourite Salvation Army Band pieces is called ‘The Light of the World’ writtten and composed by Dean Goffin. I suppose one of the reasons I like this piece is the main hymn/theme going through it which is O Jesus, thou art standing. You will also hear the chorus Behold me standing at the door come in the piece and if you listen carefully you will hear the bottom end of the band emphasise the knocking.
Holmun Hunt also painted a picture of Jesus sanding outside a door knocking and I believe this can be seen in St Paul’s Cathedral, London.
O Jesus, thou art standing,
outside the fast closed door,
in lowly patience waiting
to pass the threshold o’er:
shame on us, Christian brothers,
his Name and sign who bear,
O shame, thrice shame upon us,
to keep him standing there!
O Jesus, thou art knocking;
and lo, that hand is scarred,
and thorns thy brow encircle,
and tears thy face have marred:
O love that passeth knowledge,
so patiently to wait!
O sin that hath no equal,
so fast to bar the gate!
O Jesus, thou art pleading
in accents meek and low,
“I died for you, my children,
and will you treat me so?”
O Lord, with shame and sorrow
we open now the door;
dear Savior, enter, enter,
and leave us never more.
I always watch my videos before putting them up and I had seen many videos of the Light of the World but not this one and I got to admit i was moved to tears.
Medical professionals perform a colonoscopy while monitoring the patient and endoscopic images
An endoscopy is a medical test that lets doctors look inside your body using a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end, called an endoscope. Itâs used to investigate symptoms, diagnose conditions, and sometimes even treat problems without surgery.
A long, thin tube with a light and camera is gently passed into the body through a natural opening (mouth, nose, or bottom)
The camera sends live images to a screen so the doctor can see whatâs going on inside
Tools can also be passed through the tube to take biopsies, stop bleeding, or remove small growths
Harvard Health
Credible health information source
Upper endoscopy (esophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD)
This test inspects your esophagus, stomach, and the first section of intestine (the duodenum) using an endoscope. An upper endoscopy allows the doctor to explore the cause of such symptoms as difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain, vomiting up blood, or passing blood in the stool. It can also diagnose irritation, ulcers, and cancers of the lining of the esophagus and stomach. During this type of endoscopy, the doctor can also take biopsy samples of tissue.See more
đ What itâs used for
According to the NHS, endoscopy is used to look inside areas such as the oesophagus, stomach, bowel, bladder, womb, lungs, and more. It helps diagnose things like:
Difficulty swallowing
Stomach pain or indigestion
Bleeding
Anaemia
Suspected cancer
đ§Ș Common types of endoscopy
Different names are used depending on the part of the body being examined:
Gastroscopy / Upper endoscopy (EGD) â through the mouth to look at the oesophagus, stomach, and upper small intestine
Colonoscopy â through the bottom to look at the large bowel
Bronchoscopy â into the lungs
Cystoscopy â into the bladder
Hysteroscopy â into the womb
â±ïž How long it takes
Most endoscopies take 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the type.
đ Does it hurt?
Youâre usually given sedation or local anaesthetic, so you shouldnât feel painâmaybe just pressure or mild discomfort.
If you want, I can also explain:
The difference between endoscopy and colonoscopy
What happens before or after the procedure
What type you might need based on symptoms
Would you like a simple explanation, or more detail?
Lydia Baxter (1809â1874) was an American poet and hymnwriter, best remembered for deeply devotional hymns that became staples of 19thâcentury Sunday School and evangelistic movements.
Who She Was
Born: Lydia Odell, 2 September 1809, Petersburgh, New York
Died: 23 January 1874, New York City
Affiliation: Baptist
Spouse: Col. John C. Baxter
She became a Christian at a young age under the ministry of Rev. Eber Tucker, a Baptist missionary. Her conversion, along with her sisterâs, helped lead to the formation of a Baptist church in her hometown.
After marriage she moved to New York City, where her home became a gathering place for ministers, musicians, and writersâdespite her being bedridden for nearly 30 years due to chronic illness.
Her Hymn Writing
Lydia Baxter wrote many hymns for:
Baptist Sunday School Unions
Evangelistic services
Annual hymn collections in New York churches
Her writing is marked by:
Simplicity
Emotional warmth
Strong devotional focus on Jesusâ name, comfort, and hope
Most Famous Hymns
1. âTake the Name of Jesus with Youâ (1870)
Her bestâknown hymn today, written for composer W. H. Doane. It reflects her personal reliance on the name of Jesus as a source of comfort during illness.
2. âThere Is a Gate That Stands Ajarâ (c. 1872)
Written for S. J. Vail, later popularised by Philip Bliss and Ira Sankey. It became widely sung in the U.S., England, and Scotland.
3. âThe Gate Ajar for Meâ
Another widelyâloved hymn, influential in the early ministry of Ira D. Sankey.
Other notable hymns include:
One by One We Cross the River
In the Fadeless Springtime
Cast Thy Net Again, My Brother
Publications
Gems by the Wayside (1855) â a collection of religious poetry
Legacy
Despite lifelong suffering, Lydia Baxterâs hymns radiate hope, patience, and confidence in Christ. Her work became central to the MoodyâSankey revival era and remains beloved in many hymnals today.
Emily Elizabeth Steele Elliott (1836â1897) was an English Christian writer and hymnâwriter whose work became widely used in churches across Britain and internationally.
She is best remembered today for the Christmas hymn âThou Didst Leave Thy Throne and Thy Kingly Crownâ, which appears in many standard hymnals.
Key Facts
Born: 22 July 1836, Brighton, Sussex, England
Died: 3 August 1897, Mildmay, Islington, London
Family:
Father: Rev. Edward Bishop Elliott, rector of St Markâs Church, Brighton
Aunt: Charlotte Elliott, author of âJust As I Amâ
Uncle: Henry Venn Elliott, noted clergyman
Grandfather: Henry Venn of the Clapham Sect
This placed her within one of the most influential evangelical families of the 19th century.
Her Ministry and Writing
Emily Elliott devoted her life to Christian teaching, mission work, and hymn writing.
Hymn Writing
She wrote many hymns for:
St Markâs Church, Brighton (where her father was rector)
The Church Missionary Juvenile Instructor, which she edited for six years
Her major published collections include:
Chimes of Consecration (1873)
Chimes for Daily Service (1880)
Under the Pillow â a largeâtype hymnbook for hospitals and the sick
Notable Hymns
âThou Didst Leave Thy Throneâ (1864) â her most famous hymn, now in many hymnals worldwide
âThere Came a Little Child to Earthâ â a popular childrenâs Christmas hymn
Hymnary.org lists 29 hymns attributed to her.
Missionary Work
Elliott was deeply involved in the Church Missionary Society, editing its childrenâs magazine for six years and writing hymns for missionary occasions such as:
âBrothers, sisters, pray for usâ (Missionariesâ Farewell)
âRabboni, Master, we have heardâ (Consecration)
Legacy
Emily Elliottâs hymns were translated into Chinese, German, Portuguese, Sinhala, and Spanish, showing their wide influence. Her devotional writing, missionary commitment, and pastoral concern for the sick (through her largeâtype hymnbooks) made her a significant figure in Victorian evangelical Christianity.
Howard Davies is an internationallyâknown Salvation Army composer and songwriter, widely recognised for his contributions to Army vocal and brass music. His work spans decades and appears in songster repertoire, brass band selections, and recordings across several territories.
He is particularly associated with:
Songster music (vocal works used by Salvation Army choirs)
Devotional and encouragementâthemed songs
Brass band arrangements used in corps, divisional, and staff band settings
đŒ His Contribution to Salvation Army Music
1. Composer & Songwriter
Davies has written numerous songs that have become wellâloved in the Army world. His book Words & Music: Stories Behind the Songs highlights the background and inspiration behind many of them, including both humorous and deeply moving stories from his ministry life.
2. Brass Band Arranger
His brass band selection âSongs of Encouragementâ (1978) is a wellâknown devotional piece incorporating melodies such as:
Guardian Grace
His Eye Is on the Sparrow
He Is Able
Keep on Believing
This piece is still sold today through the Salvation Army Music Index.
3. International Reach
Daviesâ compositions appear on recordings by:
The International Staff Songsters
Canadian Staff Band
Birmingham Citadel Band
Hendon Songster Brigade
Hamilton Temple Band
This shows his influence across the UK, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, and the USA.
đ Autobiographical Insight
In his autobiographical introduction to Words & Music, Davies reflects on:
His Salvation Army heritage
His musically gifted family
His lifetime of service within the movement
This makes him not just a composer, but a storyteller and chronicler of Army musical life.
đ§ Recordings & Discography
Discogs lists 22 recordings featuring his compositions or arrangements, spanning from the early 1970s onward. These include LPs by various Salvation Army bands and songster brigades.
đ§ Why He Matters
Howard Davies is significant in Salvation Army circles because:
His music is devotional, accessible, and spiritually warm.
His songs are used widely in worship, concerts, and personal devotion.
His work bridges songster, brass band, and congregational traditions.
He documents the stories behind the songs, preserving Army musical heritage.
If you want, Kenneth, I can also prepare:
a short biography suitable for your WordPress blog
a devotional reflection based on one of his songs
a list of his most influential works for corps musicians
A charming old stone church with surrounding graveyard and greenery
Yesterday it was announced from The Salvation Army’s headquarters in London to all SA Churches in the UK that not only weekly activities should be cancelled but also usual Sunday worship for the foreseeable future to help avoiding the spread of COVID-19
I later learned that The Salvation Army wasn’t the only church to be closing their doors for this reason, The Church of England I heard on the TV news and The Church of Scotland are also cancelling services
Being a member of The Salvation Army it is unimaginable ‘The Salvation Army – closed doors’. Especially when they were on the frontline of two world wars with their soup kitchens and serving cups of Tea to the troops, which is of course where the phrase ” There’s nothing like an Army cup of Tea comes from”
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