Rebel to Redeemed…Sharing HIS Kind of Love
“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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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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“We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations” was written by Henry Ernest Nichol, a British civil engineering student and musician. He was born on December 10, 1862 in Hull, Yorkshire, England. He wrote around 130 hymns, primarily for children. “We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations” was first published in a London hymnal in 1896. The first printing […]
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The 4th of July will be here in a few days. Brooks & Dunn released the song on their June 2001 album Steers & Stripes. Kix Brooks co-wrote the song with Don Cook and Ronnie Rogers.
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“No one ever cared for me like Jesus” was written by Charles Weigle, an itinerant evangelist. The song was written after a very dark period in his life, when his wife left him. She decided she did not want to be an evangelist’s wife. After coming out of his dark spell, Weigle longed to put on paper a song that […]
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Famous evangelist Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman preached at Montreat (Presbyterian conference grounds) in Western, NC in the summer of 1915. He spoke on Psalm 45 and referenced a book he’d written in 1893 Ivory Palaces of the King. Chapman believed the hymn spoke of the relationship of Christ (the bridegroom) to his bride (the church). In the congregation that day […]
Read moreIn celebration of Memorial Day tomorrow, I thought I’d share this song (Color Me America) by Dolly Parton from her 2003 album For God and Country.
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“Jesus and His Love” is a hymn that I heard at the end of a Little House on the Prairie episode (The Gift). It is a hymn that is new to me and seems to have been written by W. Howard Doane and John R. Clemons. W. Howard Doane wrote the refrain or chorus for this hymn. He was born […]
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Happy Mother’s Day! “Motherhood Sublime Eternal” is a hymn about motherhood that was reportedly inspired by theology of Catholic nun Julian of Norwich (1342-1416). The words to the hymn were written by Julian Stearns Cutler (1854-1930).
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Glory to His Name is often known by its first line “Down at the Cross Where My Savior died.” The hymn was written by Elisha A. Hoffman and first published in 1878. It is believed Hoffman had been reading about Jesus’ crucifixion and was inspired to write the poem. Hoffman (1839-1929) wrote over 2,000 songs including “Leaning on the Everlasting […]
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“O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” is considered a Christian Passion hymn. It is based on a long Latin poem “Salve mundi salutare” from the Middle Ages. Each of the seven stanzas addresses various part’s of Christ’s body on the cross. The part this hymn is taken from involved Christ’s head. It is believed Arnulf of Leuven wrote the poem, although […]
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He Arose is often known by its first line “Low in the grave He lay” or the last line “Hallelujah! Christ arose!” The verse is known for its dirge or slowness while the chorus is upbeat and full of celebration. This popular Easter hymn was written in 1874 by Robert Lowry, a 19th Century preacher and hymn writer. The belief […]
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“In the Cross of Christ I Glory” was written by Sir John Bowring. He was born in 1792 in Exeter, England and a gifted linguist mastering thirteen languages. In 1854, he was knighted by Queen Victoria. He helped Great Britain develop relationships with a number of countries and served in Parliament for two terms. Even in retirement he remained highly […]
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