
He wrote this on his own blog a couple of weeks ago and I loved it so much I immediately asked if I could have it here to share with you all this week.
Why this week?
Well it just seems very appropriate as this week I have Linda over on holiday from South Korea and Jonathan over on holiday from Leeds and also this is going to be a really busy week for me.
After reading this you may be interested to have a look at Jonathan's blog which has a variety of posts from humorous to bible teaching to deep theological thinking.
So over to Jonathan

The sunlight was beautiful.
After hours of driving – through France and into Italy, back to France then back to Italy – a walk in the evening sunlight was the perfect way to end the afternoon.
The Italian lady spoke of a ‘big bench’, but more importantly she spoke of a fantastic view over the vineyards. The English of the Italian gentleman was as limited as our Italian, yet still, without words, he managed to show us the way to go.
The sun shone on our faces. The dogs barked as we walked past the lemon trees.
The sun shone on our faces. The dogs barked as we walked past the lemon trees.
And then we were off. Down a country lane between rustic farm buildings. Up a hill between the shining green vineyards.
We stopped to look at the vines.
We stopped to look at the vines.
We stopped to look at the grapes.
Not the grapes you find on the shelves of Asda or Waitrose, but tiny green balls.
Baby grapes.
Baby grapes.
Now, I suppose all grapes must start this way, but we’d never seen grapes like this before.
And as we looked at the grapes, my friend started to sing.
And as we looked at the grapes, my friend started to sing.
He did not sing an Italian song.
Nor did he sing a pop song.
Instead, upon that Lord’s Day, he sang a song of praise.
Now, when I tell you that my friend started to sing a song of praise, perhaps what you imagine in your mind is the latest ditty from the latest album.
Now, when I tell you that my friend started to sing a song of praise, perhaps what you imagine in your mind is the latest ditty from the latest album.
Or perhaps you imagine one of those songs which has managed to pass the test of time and endure for a year or two.
But, no, that’s not what he sang.
But, no, that’s not what he sang.
I will rejoice in You and be glad;
I will extol Your love more than wine.
Draw me after You and let us run together;
I will rejoice in You and be glad.
I will extol Your love more than wine.
Draw me after You and let us run together;
I will rejoice in You and be glad.
It was a song none of us had sung or even heard in a decade or more.
A song that people were singing before either of us were born.
To my other friend (the wife of the first friend – she had grown up with much more respectable church music than us!) this was a new song, and she looked on bemusedly as we explained how it was to be sung ‘over and over and over and over and over and over again’ (sorry I just couldn’t resist that reference while I was typing!) world without end, Amen.
And so we wandered through the vineyards singing this ancient chorus.
And so we wandered through the vineyards singing this ancient chorus.
We strolled past the tiny grapes in the beautiful evening light.
And then we found the aforementioned ‘big bench’ – it really was a big bench, so big it seemed to have been made for giants. There was no climbing up to the bench, for it was already occupied by some local teenagers, chatting and giggling – enjoying a beautiful Sunday afternoon with friends.
We gazed out over the rolling hills covered with vines.
We gazed out over the rolling hills covered with vines.
We saw the majesty of the high mountains beyond and understood why they called this place Piedmont. And then we walked back down the hill – back to the lemon tress, the dogs, the hazelnuts and the friendly Italian man who made us an afternoon espresso.
And echoing over the beauty of the light and the rolling vineyards, and over the majesty of the mountains, and over the gift of friendship were those words we had sung:
‘I will rejoice in You and be glad / I will extol Your love more than wine.’
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Hello! My name's Jonathan Black and I'm a pastor and teacher in the Apostolic Church (Leeds Assembly).
I read theology at the University of Cambridge (MA) and Continental Theological Seminary/University of Wales (MTh) and am now working on a PhD (on the Trinitarian ecclesiology of the Apostolic Church.)
Before coming to Leeds I taught theology at Continental Theological Seminary near Brussels (in Belgium).
Hence the blog about 'Apostolic Theology'.
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Hi Sandra and Jonathan, Thank you for sharing your heart warming post, Jonathan. 'I will rejoice in You and be glad...' such words of truth that help keeps our eyes fixed on the One who is most worthy of praise. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping in and rejoicing with us Anita
DeleteThank you for sharing this beautiful praise son with us. I love this form of worship to the Lord and believe it should be done whenever the Holy Spirit moves us. We have so much to be thankful for. One day I hope to take drives and walks with my husband through the beautiful countrysides you mention above. God-willing we will be able to live like locals throughout those regions and share our faith wherever God leads us once we retire. Blessings to you.
ReplyDeleteKim that hope of your's sounds good to me.
DeleteWow. Thank you for sharing this wonderful word with us. So beautifully written! Thanks for linking up to What You Wish Wednesday. Please come back tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteI believe just filling the air with praise music will help the grapes to grow and mature and bring the best wine!
ReplyDeleteI am happy that God's love is sweeter than wine! Thank you for sharing your lovely post with us here at “Tell Me a Story.” At: http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/
Hi Hazel, i thought it a very peaceful, praiseful piece.
DeleteI love it when the simple things in life cause us to break out in praise to Him. Thank you for sharing this. So glad I linked next to you at My Freshly Brewed Life!
ReplyDeleteHello Heather, I think you summed it up really well .
DeleteWhat a beautiful description of the rolling vineyards in Italy! And then to see the breathtaking mountains in the background!! I can imagine myself just turning my heart and voice upward to heaven to sing His praises and thanksgiving!!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Ann @ http://christintheclouds.blogspot.com/
Hi Ann, yes majestic mountains by the majestic king
DeleteFunny I should see this post now. One of my classmates is actually doing a photo essay on a local vineyard here. We learned a lot of vineyards I never knew about. Thanks for sharing this wonderful trip!
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming to link up every week Sandra!
ReplyDeleteVery nice post !
ReplyDeleteVery creative and enlightening post for V ~
ReplyDeleteartmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)
Oh how I would love to walk in that vineyard! What a lovely post....
ReplyDeleteI so enjoyed this post. Thanks!
ReplyDelete=)
I live in an area of vineyards, and I love the atmosphere!
ReplyDelete