Rebel to Redeemed…Sharing HIS Kind of Love
The Holly and the Ivy is a traditional British folk Christmas carol. The song was published during the early 19th Century. William Hone mentioned the work in his 1823 Ancient Mysteries Described. Holly is found throughout Europe and commonly referenced at Christmastime, often as Christ’s thorn. Since medieval times the plant has been a symbol for the Christian faith. Holy […]
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“Praise to the Lord! the Almighty, the King of Creation!” was written by Joachim Neander in 1680. He was the first important hymn-writer of the German Reformed Church. He primarily wrote after he went to Düsseldorf, where he’d taken a vow of silence to anything except official work. He died in 1680 at the age of thirty. Catherine Winkworth translated […]
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Growing up we sang and I learned to play on the piano “Praises, I’ll sing praises…to Jesus my Redeemer my friend.” The song was published in 1976 by John T. Benson Publishing Company. The song was written by W. Elmo Mercer, who wrote over 600 Gospel songs and hymns including “each Step I Take.” In the 1960s, Mercer worked for […]
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“The Battle Cry of Freedom” was written in 1862 by George Frederick Root. The song is also known as “Rally ‘Round the Flag.” The song is a patriotic song, popular during the American Civil War, that advocated the causes of unionism and abolitionism. A modified version of the song became the campaign song for the 1864 Lincoln-Johnson presidential election. One […]
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“The Hurrian Hymn” is considered the oldest surviving melody and dates back more than 3,400 years ago. The hymn was discovered on a clay tablet in Ugarite (modern-day Syria) 1950 and inscribed with Cuneiform text. Along with the discovery were 30 other tablet fragments and 9 lyre strings. The text is not Christian but dedicated to the Hurrians’ goddess of […]
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Another hymn by Fanny Crosby is “We Praise Thee, We Bless Thee, Our Savior Divine.” Over the course of her life, Crosby (1820-1915) wrote thousands of hymns and around eight thousand poems. Many of her poems have not been set to music. Much of her prose has been published in books of verses and poems including the 1844 “The Blind […]
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“Savior, More than Life to Me” was first published by Fanny Crosby in 1875. William H. Doane composed the music. He sent Crosby the tune and requested she write a hymn titled “Every day and hour.” It is said that this hymn provided Crosby with great joy and comfort. Ira Sankey wrote “Her hope has been most fully verified, for […]
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Renowned hymnists Fanny Crosby taught at the New York Institution for the Blind for eleven years. While on summer break, she would spend time in North Reading, Mass. She wrote many songs for Dr. George F. Root, the music teacher at the blind instutition. “Never Forget the Dear Ones” was such song. Root would then provide the music to marry […]
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George Beverly Shea performed the song “The King of All Kings.” He released the song in 1954 alongside “If You Know the Lord.” The song was written by Stuart Hamblen (1908-1989), a singer and songwriter. He was one of radio’s first singing cowboys and later became a Chrisitan songwriter. Hamblen has been inducted into numerous hall of fames such as […]
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Fanny Crosby wrote “The Bright Forever.” Sometimes it’s referred to by the beginning line “Breaking through the clouds that gather.” Crosby met many distinguished figures in American history, including Henry Clay. She wrote of one encounter with the politician. “When Mr. Clay came to the institution during his last visit to New York, I was selected to welcome him with […]
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“I Am the Resurrection and the Life” comes from John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.” The hymn was written by Norman J. Clayton. He was born on January 22, 1903 in Brooklyn, New York. By the age of twelve, he became church organist–a […]
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Out of the Depths I Cry to You is inspired by Psalm 130. The hymn was written by reformer Martin Luther. Luther was born in 1483, became an Augustinian monk in 1505 and ordained priest in 1507. He published his 95 Theses in 1517, attended the Diet of Worms in 1521 and translated the Bible into German from 1521-1534. He […]
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Praise, Praise His Name was written by Fanny Crosby. The hymn is often referred to by its first line “On the desert mountain straying.” Crosby became blind at a very young age but became a prolific hymnwriter. After finishing her education, she became a teacher at the New York Institution for the Blind in 1847. She taught English grammar, rhetoric, […]
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John W. Peterson wrote the hymn “It Took a Miracle” in 1948. Peterson was born on November 1, 1921 and died on September 20, 2006. He wrote over 1,000 songs and thirty-five cantatas throughout the course of his career. Some of this best-known hymns include “Heaven Came Down,” “Jesus is Coming Again,” and “Over the Sunset Mountains.” Performers such as […]
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George Beverly Shea released “My God and I” in 1959 on the album “In the Garden.” I’ve been unable to find any additional information about who the composer of this song is.
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George Beverly Shea performed the song “If You Know the Lord.” He released the song in 1954. The song was written by Bickley Reichner (1905-1989). I’ve been able to find no additional information on the composer. Shea served as the vocalists for specials at the Billy Graham Crusades. He died in 2013 at the age of 104.
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“All that Thrills My Soul is Jesus” was written by Thoro Harris. Harris was born on March 31, 1874 in Washington, D.C. He produced is first hymnal in 1902 while living in Boston, MA. Throughout his life he composed and compiled numerous works and became known for walking around Chicago (where he’d moved) to sell books from canvas bags he […]
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William Pierson Merrill wrote “Rise up, O Men of God!” in 1911. Merrill was born on January 10, 1867 in Orange, New Jersey. He was ordained in 1890 and attended seminary working his way up to a Doctor of Divinity in 1904. Throughout this time he served several churches and met his wife at one of them. He married Clara […]
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Daniel March wrote the lyrics to “Hark, the Voice of Jesus Calling” in 1868. At the time he was a pastor in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Asked to speak at an associational meeting, he learned shortly before the service that one of the hymns chosen was not suitable. In “great haste” he wrote the hymn, and it was sung from the manuscript. […]
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Elijah Taylor Cassel wrote “The King’s Business” in 1902. Cassel was born on November 27, 1849 in Indiana. At a young age his family moved to Nebraska. He completed a medical education and practiced in Hastings, Nebraska. Cassel married Flora Hamilton and both were talented musicians. Around 1910, he left his medical practice for the ministry and served a church […]
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