{"id":1441,"date":"2014-11-04T00:11:41","date_gmt":"2014-11-03T23:11:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/jcstoker\/?p=1441"},"modified":"2014-11-04T00:11:41","modified_gmt":"2014-11-03T23:11:41","slug":"thankful-for-a-grin-and-a-song","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/jcstoker\/2014\/11\/04\/thankful-for-a-grin-and-a-song\/","title":{"rendered":"Thankful for a Grin and a Song"},"content":{"rendered":"

If asked what was the defining characteristic of Hap Carlson, most who knew him at Crossroads Covenant Church in Concord California would say it was his grin. \u00a0Hap loved life, loved to sing and loved to laugh. \u00a0My life intersected with him as a newlywed when we joined a bible study group with he and his wife Mary. \u00a0Hap loved to study the bible and then to put it into practice by serving. \u00a0He served the church as a builder, as a member of the choir, and as an encourager. \u00a0I will not forget his singing “Children of the Heavenly Father” as our son Brian was dedicated.<\/p>\n

Children of the Heavenly Father<\/em><\/span>
\n Safely in His bosom gather<\/em><\/span>
\n Nestling bird nor star in heaven<\/em><\/span>
\n Such a refuge e’er was given<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

God His own doth tend and nourish<\/em><\/span>
\n In His holy courts they flourish<\/em><\/span>
\n From all evil things He spares them<\/em><\/span>
\n In His mighty arms He bears them<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Neither life nor death shall ever<\/em><\/span>
\n From the Lord His children sever<\/em><\/span>
\n Unto them His grace He showeth<\/em><\/span>
\n And their sorrows all He knoweth<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Though He giveth or He taketh<\/em><\/span>
\n God His children ne’er forsaketh<\/em><\/span>
\n His the loving purpose solely<\/em><\/span>
\n To preserve them pure and holy<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Lo their very hairs He numbers<\/em><\/span>
\n And no daily care encumbers<\/em><\/span>
\n Them that share His ev’ry blessing<\/em><\/span>
\n And His help in woes distressing<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Praise the Lord in joyful numbers\u00a0<\/em><\/span>
\n Your Protector never slumbers<\/em><\/span>
\n At the will of your Defender<\/em><\/span>
\n Ev’ry foe man must surrender.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Children of the Heavenly Father<\/em><\/span>
\n Safely in His bosom gather<\/em><\/span>
\n Nestling bird nor star in heaven<\/em><\/span>
\n Such a refuge e’er was given<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\u00a0He sang with joy and with his ever present grin on his face. \u00a0His love for God and His children could not be contained.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The painting of Hap that hangs in the education wing that he helped to build.<\/p><\/div>\n

Report This Post<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If asked what was the defining characteristic of Hap Carlson, most who knew him at Crossroads Covenant Church in Concord California would say it was his grin. \u00a0Hap loved life, loved to sing and loved to laugh. \u00a0My life intersected … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":100,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nThankful for a Grin and a Song - Stoker Stories<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/jcstoker\/2014\/11\/04\/thankful-for-a-grin-and-a-song\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Thankful for a Grin and a Song - 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