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my least favorite verse in the hymnal is from "Once in Royal David's City" "Christian children all must be.... Mild obedient good as he." 200% Law there
I'm not fond of "You call us Lord to be" too much modern social action works righteousness imo. But i've chosen it because of the tune "rhosymedre". someday I'll find a Japanese version of Crossman's: " My song is love unknown"
I'd rather talk about good hymns, new good hymns, ones old or new that folks have just encountered. I think my most recent 2 are Unde et Memores and Harts.
my best to all on this blue sky morning
james
That is one of my favorite verses- holding Jesus up as a model of obedience. Sometimes we all need a bit of law.
Christian children must be perfect like Jesus..."a bit of law"...that'll get them to behave. 
A favorite "verse"? Oh, how we love the law.
Quite honestly, it's more sentiment. I think it is a sweet way to state how we are to follow Jesus - we do say that, don't we?
Actually the words I learned: Children, children all should be; Mild, obedient, good as he. It's not suggesting that children will enter into fire should they not obey.
So, the original, which you stated you loved, i.e., all children must be perfect like Jesus, actually now is a bit harsh, that it was by some changed to all children should be perfect like Jesus? For "must" is an imperative requirement (What is the punishment for not meeting that requirement? That "our eyes [shall not] at last...see Him"?) whereas "should" is simply sweet sentiment, something to which we should aspire, Jesus as a model?
You're reading far more into what was intended as rather light post this morning. I like the tune of "Once…" We use it as a processional when we do Lessons & Carols. We print it out and the words we use are the words as mentioned above. I'll be honest when I saw that I glanced at J. Eriksson's post and what stood out was "200% law there." "Must" didn't even register. I thought i was responding in a light manner; apparently not! I don't thin I ever stated that "must" was a bit harsh. I simply learned "should." As to simply, sweet sentiment - no I don't think that our being like Jesus is simply sweet sentiment. I do think that looking at this hymn as addressed to all people, regardless of age, is a sweet way of expressing discipleship. I have no problem singing "must." In the verses that follow we do see Gospel for we do fail even in those things we must do. There are times when law can be sweet.
We don't know one another and we've never served together in areas of worship. I've served on both congregation and synod worship committees and I can assure you I don't look at liturgy or hymns as offering up sentimentality. I've led the resistance on our current worship committee on ELW and would choose a good 16th century chorale over WOV any day. But sometimes - yes - I long for a sweet way to sing of our faith. It's often helpful to people whose faith is like that of a child. I wish our children learned some of the hymns I grew up with as a little child, some of which I still sing. They're sweet, but good: I am Jesus little lamb. Ever glad at heart I am. For my shepherd gently guides me, knows my needs and well supplies me. Loves me every day the same. Even calls me by my name.
I enjoy the Forum but I do think that corresponding with those we've never met does lead us to read things into posts that we might not see if we knew the person.
