When I worship, I would rather my heart be without words than my words be without heart – Lamar Boschman Worship. Worship has always been a topic of debate within Christian circles. Yes. Always! How sad? Something God expects unceasingly, we mortals prefer to argue about it unceasingly. Is worship in hymns? Perhaps it is …
Today, we will explore another Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) hymn with the music of Chester G. Allen (1838-1879). This joyful tune, was published in 1889 in a hymnal called “Bright Jewels.” The original title was “Praise, Give Thanks.” This we certainly should do each and every day (1 Thessalonians 5:18). However, the original hymn contains the …
Julia H. Johnston (1849-1919) wrote the lyrics to this great hymn along with Daniel B. Towner (1850-1919) arranging the music. The song was published in a hymn book called Hymns Tried and True. The song comes Romans 5:1-2; 18; 20. This grace that we sing of here is not just sufficient grace, it is abounding …
Trump/Biden. North/South. Rural/Urban. Conservative/Progressive. McDonald’s/Wendy’s. Poverty/Wealth. Traditional/Modern. Young/Old. Do you recognize what these are? They are polarities, opposites, and ends of spectrums that culture designates identity as. None of which I am endorsing in this devotional, these are merely examples. But I want you to think about these. Do you fall on any end of …
Priscilla J. Owens, a Baltimore public school teacher for 49 years, wrote these stirring soul-winning words for a missionary service in the Sunday school of Union Square Methodist Church. Music was not added till some 14 years later by William Kirkpatrick. All of this hymn is sound but one small verse in the second stanza. …
Eliza Hewitt, a school teacher in Philadelphia (1898), who wanted to reach her students with the Gospel wrote the classic hymn, “When We All Get to Heaven.” The music was written by Emily Wilson, who was also the wife of a Methodist District Superintendent. The anticipation of Heaven has often been described as the oxygen …
Reading the title, you probably began singing the words, “Baby don’t hurt me.” Love. Globally, cultures are obsessed with defining the word. Most of the history’s top selling songs are about it. For example, Whitney Houston’s rendition of “I Will Always Love You”. Love is an elusive concept that culture tries to pin down; meanwhile, …