Hymns With A Message: June 2013

Sunday, June 30, 2013

PRAISE THE SAVIOR

I think that today we live in a society that has become increasingly more harsh, negative and critical. It seems to me that more people constantly complain about everything than ever before. If you don't think so just look at the letters to the editor in your local newspaper. On the other hand, maybe you should skip doing that. You might end up feeling more negative yourself. I wonder how much of this complaining nature carries over to our spiritual lives. Do we complain about our situation, our church, the pastor or the people at church? How much time do we really spend thanking and praising God throughout each day? What about our prayer life? Are our prayers filled with "give me's" or do we spend time in adoration and praise of the One into whose presence we have come? Maybe this week's simple hymn will remind us our need to constantly praise and thank our faithful God. This short hymn was penned by Thomas Kelly in 1806. Again, I have not been able to find anything about the circumstances behind its writing. However, it is one of about 765 of Kelly's hymns that were composed and published over a period of 51 years. Kelly's father was a Judge of the Irish Court of Common Pleas, and he, too, was headed for the Bar, and trained with that intention. But he underwent a marked spiritual change and became to be known for his earnest evangelical preaching. This particular work of his reminds us of how much we owe our Savior and how we should give Him all that we are and have. He arms us for spiritual conflicts and protects us. He is faithful and never changing and He will never let us go. It closes with the prayer that we might cleave to Him until we receive what He has promised to His children. Only then will we be where we belong and what we have been destined to be, unlike our pilgrimage here on earth. May these words fill your heart and mind this week as you praise our great Savior!

1. Praise the Savior, ye who know Him!

Who can tell how much we owe Him?

Gladly let us render to Him

All we are and have.

2. Jesus is the name that charms us,

He for conflict fits and arms us;

Nothing moves and nothing harms us

While we trust in Him.

3. Trust in Him, ye saints, forever,

He is faithful, changing never;

Neither force nor guile can sever

Those He loves from Him.

4. Keep us, Lord, O keep us cleaving

To Thyself, and still believing,

Till the hour of our receiving

Promised joys with Thee.

5. Then we shall be where we would be,

Then we shall be what we should be;

Things that are not now, nor could be,

Soon shall be our own.

Unfortunately I was not able to find a good video of the entire song but here is one that at least includes a few verses. Listen to it here. LISTEN

Sunday, June 23, 2013

IT'S JUST LIKE HIS GREAT LOVE

Did you ever have an old song suddenly appear in your mind and then you keep singing it over and over and over again? That happened to me a few days ago while I was cutting grass. I was thinking about the great times I had many years ago at our camp meeting, Mizpah Grove, in Allentown, PA. I remembered the days of singing in the big camp choir and one of our favorite numbers was "It's Just Like Jesus". I recalled the stirring chorus "It's just like Jesus to roll the clouds away ... It's just like His great love." When I was done cutting grass I went to my computer and found the words, but, as is often the case, I could find very little about the author or the circumstances behind its writing. Edna Worrell was the author of the song, and Clarence Strouse wrote the music. Very little is known about either of them other than the fact that they were probably both from Philadelphia and that this hymn was probably written in 1903. However, the author must have also experienced the same challenges of life that we all face because she talks about the clouds of trouble, the clouds of sorrow, the despair and the grief which is common to man. And she must have experienced His great love which not only rolls the clouds away but keeps us day by day, all along our way. Such great love. But I especially appreciate the way she begins the song by sharing how He rolls our sin clouds away when we come to Him. And that is the greatest example of God's wondrous love. Hopefully, you, too, have experienced the joy of sins forgiven. Then you can also testify and sing of His great love to you - day by day, all along the way. Rejoice in His love and presence this week.

(1) A friend I have called Jesus,

whose love is strong and true,

And never fails howe'er 'tis tried,

no matter what I do;

I've sinned against this love of His,

but when I knelt to pray,

Confessing all my guilt to Him,

the sin clouds rolled away.

It's just like Jesus to roll the clouds away,

it's just like Jesus to keep me day by day,

it's just like Jesus all along the way,

It's just like His great love.

(2) Sometimes the clouds of trouble

bedim the sky above,

I cannot see my Savior's face,

I doubt His wondrous love;

But He, from heaven's mercy seat,

beholding my despair,

In pity bursts the clouds between,

and shows me He is there.

It's just like Jesus to roll the clouds away,

it's just like Jesus to keep me day by day,

it's just like Jesus all along the way,

It's just like His great love.

(3) When sorrow's clouds o'ertake me,

and break upon my head,

When life seems worse than useless,

and I were better dead;

I take my grief to Jesus then,

nor do I go in vain,

For heavenly hope He gives that cheers

like sunshine after rain.

It's just like Jesus to roll the clouds away,

it's just like Jesus to keep me day by day,

it's just like Jesus all along the way,

It's just like His great love.

(4) O, I could sing forever

of Jesus' love divine,

Of all His care and tenderness

for this poor life of mine;

His love is in and over all,

and wind and waves obey,

When Jesus whispers "Peace, be still!"

and rolls the clouds away.

It's just like Jesus to roll the clouds away,

it's just like Jesus to keep me day by day,

it's just like Jesus all along the way,

It's just like His great love.

Now I wish that I could have found something like the choir that I used to sing in. But there aren't many good videos available for this song. But here is one that you can try. LISTEN

Sunday, June 16, 2013

JESUS IS THE SWEETEST NAME I KNOW

Often it is hard to find any information about the writing of a song. Other times it is hard to verify that a story is correct. So I pass on this interesting story even though I haven't been able to verify its truth. in 1924, Peter W. Philpott was serving as pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago, Illinois. One night he was awakened by a call to come help a young woman staying at a hotel in the city. He arrived to find her in the company of two family members. The woman, Lela Long, was gravely ill, and in great distress. Philpott prayed for her physical needs, and had the privilege of leading her to faith in Christ. Late the next day, he phoned the hotel to see how she was doing, only to learn the three had checked out. He wondered what had become of them, but had no way of getting in touch. Five or six years later, Philpott was pastor of a large church in Los Angeles, California. At the close of one service, who should come up to him but the three people he had met in Chicago. They had seen his picture in a church advertisement and came to meet him. An emergency had required their rapid departure from Chicago, and they apologized for not getting in touch. Lela Long thanked him for pointing her to the Savior, saying her life was wonderfully changed, and that she was now using her musical talent to serve the Lord. She handed Philpott a copy of Jesus Is the Sweetest Name I Know, written shortly after her conversion: "I have written this especially for you, in remembrance of the day that you introduced me to the most wonderful Person I have ever known." Her song has been a favorite of many since that day. For most folks their name is very special and they love to hear it. But when we consider who Jesus is and what He has done for us, His name should be the one we love to hear. But, tragically, to many today the only time that they hear it is when it is used as a swear word. But to believers it is a name to be honored. And I love the reminder of the last verse that some day we will see Him face to face and thank and praise Him for His wondrous grace. What an exciting day that will be. Yes, Jesus is the sweetest name I know!

(1) There have been names that I have loved to hear,

But never has there been a name so dear

To this heart of mine, as the Name divine,

The precious, precious Name of Jesus.

Jesus is the sweetest name I know,

And He's just the same as His lovely Name,

And that's the reason why I love Him so;

Oh, Jesus is the sweetest name I know.

(2) There is no name in earth or Heav'n above,

That we should give such honor and such love

As the blessèd Name, let us all acclaim,

That wondrous, glorious Name of Jesus.

Jesus is the sweetest name I know,

And He's just the same as His lovely Name,

And that's the reason why I love Him so;

Oh, Jesus is the sweetest name I know.

(3) And some day I shall see Him face to face

To thank and praise Him for His wondrous grace,

Which He gave to me, when He made me free,

The blessèd Son of God called Jesus.

Jesus is the sweetest name I know,

And He's just the same as His lovely Name,

And that's the reason why I love Him so;

Oh, Jesus is the sweetest name I know.

You can listen to it being sung here. LISTEN

Sunday, June 9, 2013

PEOPLE NEED THE LORD

In my regular blog (barrysbasicblog.blogspot.com) of June 5 I discussed a number of things that I have been viewing through the rear view mirror of my car while I am waiting for traffic lights to change. I find it fascinating to watch what people are doing - talking on cell phones, texting, fixing their hair, singing, eating, drinking, talking and much more. But recently I have been looking at their faces - sometimes smiling, sometimes blank, sometimes sad. I related a recent experience where a female driver had been following me for several miles. Every time we stopped I wondered if she was sad, or worried or grumpy or whether that was her normal expression. She really looked terrible. Then I saw her turn into the Lancaster General Hospital Health Campus and I began to wonder was she just on her way to work after a bad night. Or was she going there as a patient facing medical tests, procedures, surgery or maybe even to get the results of some tests. Maybe her facial expression was actually showing her worry or her fear. Two thoughts then came to my mind. First, maybe I should offer a quick prayer for this unknown driver - unknown to me, but known to the Lord. I did that. The second thought was the song that Steve Green wrote a number of years ago - People Need The Lord. I think we all need to be reminded daily of that truth. Day by day we pass by people who are worried, hurting and without hope. But we are often too busy with our own business and cares that we don't even see them, or even worse, don't care Here we are with the remedy for their need and we pass them by - day after day after day. Thankfully somebody took the time to share the Gospel with us. As we think about this song this week may we be challenged with the needs all around us. Let's ask the Lord to use us to share the only true remedy - Jesus Christ.

(1) Everyday they pass me by,
I can see it in their eyes.
Empty people filled with care,
Headed who knows where?
On they go through private pain,
Living fear to fear.
Laughter hides their silent cries,
Only Jesus hears.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
When will we realize, people need the Lord?

(2) We are called to take His light

To a world where wrong seems right.

What could be too great a cost

For sharing Life with one who's lost?

Through His love our hearts can feel

All the grief they bear.

They must hear the Words of Life

Only we can share.

People need the Lord, people need the Lord

At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door.

People need the Lord, people need the Lord.

When will we realize that we must give our lives,

For people need the Lord.

People need the Lord.

You can listen and be challenged by this song here. LISTEN

Sunday, June 2, 2013

JESUS IS COMING AGAIN

John Peterson (1921-2006) was a prolific songwriter who had a major influence on evangelical Christian music in the 1950s through the 1970s. He is said to have written over 1,000 songs and 35 cantatas. Born in Kansas, he served as an Army Air Force pilot flying the China Hump during World War II. He later attended Moody Bible Institute and then served on the radio staff there for several years. A hymnal which he edited, "Great Hymns of the Faith" became one of the most widely used hymnals in evangelical churches for years. Many of us grew up using this hymnal and singing his songs. But of all the hymns and cantatas which he wrote, one of the most popular has been "Jesus Is Coming Again". For years it has been sung by many to express their assurance and hope that a better day is coming. It will be a day when all of our trials and troubles will be past. It will be a day of rejoicing when we lay our crowns at the feet of Jesus. As the hymn says, we don't know when this will happen. It might be at morning, or at noon, or in the evening. But what we know is that it will happen and it will be soon. And this is the marvelous message and hope of the Gospel - Jesus is coming again! May that joy and hope encourage you and thrill your soul as you continue your journey here this week, looking for and expecting that glorious return of Jesus. Keep looking up!

1. Marvelous message we bring,

Glorious carol we sing,

Wonderful word of the King,

Jesus is coming again!

Coming again, Coming again,

May be morning, may be noon,

May be evening and may be soon!

Coming again, Coming again;

O what a wonderful day it will be -

Jesus is coming again!

2. Forest and flower exclaim,

Mountain and meadow the same,