THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

As one views society and the world today it is easy to see the darkness of sin all around us. More and more Christianity is under attack and Christians are seen as the intolerant people who need to be stopped. And for those of us who know the Lord as our Savior, we realize that Jesus is the only hope, the only light in this dark world. And that is the message of this week's hymn which was written by Philip Bliss many years ago. The popular "singing Pilgrim," as Philip Bliss was called, was well known on both sides of the Atlantic, for Ira D. Sankey sang his appealing songs into the hearts of the people. The great revival held in England and Scotland by Moody and Sankey in 1873 owed much of its success to the pleasing hymns and tunes introduced there for the first time. Many of these were composed by Bliss, and somehow, people who heard them could not shake them off. Bliss was only 38 years old when he lost his life in a train accident while on his way to join Sankey in Chicago. He died trying to save his wife from a burning railway car. Bliss wrote this hymn one year before he died. This hymn was written in Bliss' home. According to Major D. W. Whittle, "It came to him together, words and music, one morning while passing through the hall to his room, and was at once written out". I always find it amazing to hear of great hymns that are quickly written and then survive through the decades. "The Light of the World is Jesus" was written for a revival meeting and was sung by Ira D. Sankey. It proved to be a favorite and still is. Jesus is the Light of the World! (Jn 8:12). Meditate on these words this week and if you know the "Light of the World" personally, then thank him for revealing himself to you in this dark world.

(1) The whole world was lost

In the darkness of sin,

The Light of the world is Jesus!

Like sunshine at noonday,

His glory shone in.

The Light of the world is Jesus!

Refrain:

Come to the light, 'tis shining for thee;

Sweetly the light has dawned upon me.

Once I was blind, but now I can see:

The Light of the world is Jesus!

(2) No darkness have we

Who in Jesus abide;

The Light of the world is Jesus!

We walk in the light

When we follow our Guide!

The Light of the world is Jesus!

Refrain:

Come to the light, 'tis shining for thee;

Sweetly the light has dawned upon me.

Once I was blind, but now I can see:

The Light of the world is Jesus!

(3) Ye dwellers in darkness

With sin blinded eyes,

The Light of the world is Jesus!

Go, wash, at His bidding,

And light will arise.

The Light of the world is Jesus!

Refrain:

Come to the light, 'tis shining for thee;

Sweetly the light has dawned upon me.

Once I was blind, but now I can see:

The Light of the world is Jesus!

(4) No need of the sunlight

In Heaven we're told;

The Light of the world is Jesus!

The Lamb is the Light

In the city of gold,

The Light of the world is Jesus!

Refrain:

Come to the light, 'tis shining for thee;

Sweetly the light has dawned upon me.

Once I was blind, but now I can see:

The Light of the world is Jesus!

You can listen to this week's hymn here. LISTEN

MOMENT BY MOMENT

The older I become, the more I feel the need to walk moment by moment in the presence of the Lord. As the burdens grow greater and our strength decreases it is vital to recognize that He is with us always and everywhere, each moment of the day. There is no event in our lives that He is not aware of and in control of. This hymn is so true and probably one that we need to sing daily as a reminder of His presence, love and concern, each moment of our lives. Ira Sankey shared an interesting story about this hymn. "While I was attending the World's Fair in Chicago, Henry Varley, a lay preacher from London, said to Major Daniel W. Whittle: "I do not like the hymn 'I Need Thee Every Hour' very well, because I need Him every moment of the day. Soon after Major Whittle wrote this sweet hymn…[He] brought the hymn to me in manuscript a little later, saying that he would give me the copyright of both the words and music if I would print for him five hundred copies on fine paper, for distributing among his friends. His daughter, May Whittle, who later became the wife of Will R. Moody, composed the music. I did as Mr. Whittle wished; and I sent the hymn to England, where it was copyrighted on the same day as at Washington. In England the hymn became very popular. Falling into the hands of the well-known Rev. Andrew Murray, of South Africa, then visiting London, he adopted it as his favorite hymn. A year later Mr. Murray visited Northfield, Massachusetts], and while holding a meeting for men in the church he remarked, "If Sankey only knew a hymn which I found in London, and would sing it, he would find that it embraces my entire creed." I was very anxious to know what hymn it was, and when he had recited it I said to him: "Doctor, that hymn was written within five hundred yards of where we are standing." For years Dr. Murray had his wife sing this hymn in nearly all his meetings. It also became a great favorite in South Africa during the war."

Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine;

Living with Jesus, a new life divine;

Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine,

Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

Refrain

Moment by moment I'm kept in His love;

Moment by moment I've life from above;

Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;

Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

Never a trial that He is not there,

Never a burden that He doth not bear,

Never a sorrow that He doth not share,

Moment by moment, I'm under His care.

Refrain

Moment by moment I'm kept in His love;

Moment by moment I've life from above;

Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;

Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

Never a heartache, and never a groan,

Never a teardrop and never a moan;

Never a danger but there on the throne,

Moment by moment He thinks of His own.

Refrain

Moment by moment I'm kept in His love;

Moment by moment I've life from above;

Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;

Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

Never a weakness that He doth not feel,

Never a sickness that He cannot heal;

Moment by moment, in woe or in weal,

Jesus my Savior, abides with me still.

Refrain

Moment by moment I'm kept in His love;

Moment by moment I've life from above;

Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;

Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

Listen to the words here. LISTEN

Here is also a beautiful violin rendition of this great hymn. As you listen to it, meditate upon the words and recognize God's presence in your life, each moment of the day. VIOLIN

I'D RATHER HAVE JESUS

One of my favorite male vocalists for most of my life has been George Beverly Shea. Not only does he have a beautiful voice but he ministers so sincerely and lives a life which backs the Gospel message which he shares. For years he was the featured soloist with Billy Graham and many of his numbers are what I would call "classic" in the history of religious music. One of my very favorites is this week's choice, "I'd Rather Have Jesus". It is interesting that this poem, written by Rhea F. Miller in 1922, was left on a piano in the Shea home by Bev Shea who wanted her son to find it and change the course of his life. The words moved George and spoke to him about his own aims and ambitions in life. He sat down at the piano and began singing them with a tune that seemed to fit the words. Shea's mom heard him singing it and asked him to sing it at church the next day. George's life direction did change. He was offered a popular music career with NBC, but a few years later chose to become associated with evangelist Billy Graham and sang this hymn around the world. I wonder how many of us can actually claim this message. Would we rather have Jesus than riches or great possessions? Would we prefer him over power and fame? I believe that should the Lord tarry, many believers, even in this country, will be forced to make that decision publicly. May each of us make that decision today and live lives that reflect it. May our hungering spirits find him to be all that we need.

1. I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold;

I'd rather be His than have riches untold;

I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands;

I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

Refrain:

Than to be the king of a vast domain

And be held in sin's dread sway;

I'd rather have Jesus than anything

This world affords today.

2. I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause;

I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;

I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;

I'd rather be true to His holy name

Refrain:

Than to be the king of a vast domain

And be held in sin's dread sway;

I'd rather have Jesus than anything

This world affords today.

3. He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;

He's sweeter than honey from out the comb;

He's all that my hungering spirit needs;

I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead

Refrain:

Than to be the king of a vast domain

And be held in sin's dread sway;

I'd rather have Jesus than anything

This world affords today.

Listen to it being sung here. LISTEN

This one includes Shea's testimony. SHEA

I SURRENDER ALL

"He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." Matthew 10:39. Judson W. Van de Venter has left this account of the writing of his hymn text: "For many years I had been studying art. My whole life was wrapped up in its pursuit and the thing farthest from my mind was active Christian service. My dream was to become an outstanding and famous artist. After graduating from college, I studied drawing and painting under a well-known German teacher. To help me financially, I taught school and eventually I became supervisor of art in the public schools of Sharon, Pennsylvania. It was during this period in my life that a revival was held in the First Methodist Church of which I was a member. I became very interested in these meetings as a personal worker. The Spirit of God was urging me to give up teaching and to enter the evangelistic field, but I would not yield. I still had a burning desire to be an artist. This battle raged for five years. At last the time came when I could hold out no longer and I surrendered my all - my time and my talents. It was then that a new day was ushered into my life. I wrote I Surrender All in memory of the time when, after the long struggle, I had surrendered and dedicated my life to active Christian service for the Lord." The song was actually written while he was conducting a meeting at East Palestine, Ohio, and in the home of George Sebring, founder of the Sebring Campmeeting-Bible Conference in Sebring, Ohio. Dr. Billy Graham wrote this tribute to Mr. Van de Venter in the book, Crusade Hymn Stories, edited by Cliff Barrows: "One of the evangelists who influenced my early preaching was also a hymnist who wrote "I Surrender All, the Rev. J. W. Van de Venter. He was a regular visitor at the Florida Bible Institute (now Trinity Bible College) in the late 1930's. We students loved this kind, deeply spiritual gentleman and often gathered in his winter home at Tampa, Florida, for an evening of fellowship and singing." The composer of the music for this hymn text, Winfield S. Weeden, was a longtime associate with Mr. Van de Venter in evangelistic work. On his tombstone is inscribed the title of this hymn, "I Surrender All." Van DeVenter's hymn and hymn story remind us all to be sensitive to the Lord's leading and consequent surrendering. The content deserves our fullest attention and should cause us to close our lips and search our souls. Maybe this will be your experience this week.

All to Jesus I surrender;

All to Him I freely give;

I will ever love and trust Him,

In His presence daily live.

Refrain:

I surrender all,

I surrender all;

All to Thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;

Humbly at His feet I bow,

Worldly pleasures all forsaken;

Take me, Jesus, take me now.

Refrain:

I surrender all,

I surrender all;

All to Thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;

Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;

Let me feel the Holy Spirit,

Truly know that Thou art mine.

Refrain:

I surrender all,

I surrender all;

All to Thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;

Lord, I give myself to Thee;

Fill me with Thy love and power;

Let Thy blessing fall on me.

Refrain:

I surrender all,

I surrender all;

All to Thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;

Now I feel the sacred flame.

Oh, the joy of full salvation!

Glory, glory, to His Name!

Refrain:

I surrender all,

I surrender all;

All to Thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

Listen to this hymn here. LISTEN

BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD ABOVE

Last summer at Pinebrook one of the worship leaders introduced me to a song which has such solid God-centered theology with personal application. I loved the words and I loved the melody and I searched to find a copy of it. I thought it must be a new composition but I soon found out that it was actually written in 1869 by Charitie Lees Bancroft. I've since found out that it is very familiar to many older Christians who used to sing it as part of their worship. I've been unable to find out much about the author except that she was born in Ireland in 1841, married in Scotland in 1869, widowed twice, and buried in California in 1923. The beautiful music was written by Vikki Cook. One person has commented that the church will be singing this hymn one hundred years from now. It has that kind of message and melody that shouldn't be lost by true worshippers today. So there is little more that I can or should say about this hymn. Please take time this week to meditate upon the power and truth of the words ... Before the throne of God above I have a strong and perfect plea ... my soul is purchased by His blood. Praise the Lord for the truith of these words.

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong and perfect plea

A great High Priest whose name is love

Who ever lives and pleads for me

My name is graven on His hands

My name is written on His heart

I know that while in heaven He stands

No tongue can bid me thence depart

No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair

And tells me of the guilt within

Upward I look and see Him there

Who made an end of all my sin

Because the sinless Savior died

My sinful soul is counted free

For God, the Just, is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me

To look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there! The risen Lamb

My perfect, spotless, Righteousness

The Great unchangeable I AM

The King of Glory and of Grace

One with Himself I cannot die

My soul is purchased by His blood

My life is hid with Christ on high

With Christ my Savior and my God

With Christ my Savior and my God

Listen to this beautiful hymn here. LISTEN

VICTORY IN JESUS

Tomorrow most of us in the United States will be celebrating Independence Day, the day when we remember and celebrate the independence that we have enjoyed as citizens of this great country. But we will also remember the great cost of many lives that gained us this special right. And we, too, as Christians also can celebrate the great independence and victory that we can enjoy through the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ. Eugene Monroe Bartlett was a very well-known gospel hymnist in the early 20th Century in the South. Besides teaching and writing music for several decades. One of Bartlett's main objectives was to teach worshippers to sight read a song by using "shape" notes, an assigned shape for each tone on an eight-note scale makes it easier for the common person to "read" the music. In 1939, Bartlett's health suffered a serious blow when he had a major stroke. He spent much of the last two years of his life bedridden, so it's surprising that he wrote his most well-known song, "Victory in Jesus", at that time. Or is it? It's said that Bartlett missed traveling and teaching, but he could still study the Bible, a study from which he gave us this song, his last. While much of the earth sat on the brink of World War II, Bartlett looked beyond that to a victory none of us can know on earth. Though he could see an end to his life approaching, he also noticed something else about ends. If you live for the competition, to play the game, then the end is bittersweet, even if it culminates in triumph and a trophy. Bartlett must have experienced some depression, if he was human like all of us. In fact, it'd be quite impossible to be as productive as Bartlett was, and not miss the life one has lived. But another part must have seen his physical descent as just a temporary blip, a normal part of the human condition. Though an earthly victory comes at the finish line, Bartlett's first and second verses tell us that he had already experienced his eternal victory well before his earthly end approached. And, thank God that is the one that endures! 1 Corinthians 15:57 "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

I heard an old, old story,

How a Savior came from glory,

How He gave His life on Calvary

To save a wretch like me;

I heard about His groaning,

Of His precious blood's atoning,

Then I repented of my sins;

And won the victory.

Chorus:

O victory in Jesus,

My Savior, forever.

He sought me and bought me

With His redeeming blood;

He loved me ere I knew Him,

And all my love is due Him,

He plunged me to victory,

Beneath the cleansing flood

I heard about His healing,

Of His cleansing power revealing.

How He made the lame to walk again

And caused the blind to see;

And then I cried, "Dear Jesus,

Come and heal my broken spirit,"

And somehow Jesus came and brought

To me the victory.

Chorus:

O victory in Jesus,

My Savior, forever.

He sought me and bought me

With His redeeming blood;

He loved me ere I knew Him,

And all my love is due Him,

He plunged me to victory,

Beneath the cleansing flood

I heard about a mansion

He has built for me in glory.

And I heard about the streets of gold

Beyond the crystal sea;

About the angels singing,

And the old redemption story,

And some sweet day I'll sing up there

The song of victory.

Chorus:

O victory in Jesus,

My Savior, forever.

He sought me and bought me

With His redeeming blood;

He loved me ere I knew Him,

And all my love is due Him,

He plunged me to victory,

Beneath the cleansing flood

You can listen to it here. LISTEN