Friends, as many of you know I'll be taking at month long sabbatical starting this Friday May 25th. During my absence John Brewer our worship associate will be leading the worship. We'll post stories for the songs this Sunday and next Sunday, then we'll take a break while I'm out. We'll start back with more info in July. Still check back on the blog as I'll be posting info during my time off.
"Sweet Hour of Prayer"
The Handbell ministry will present an arrangement of this hymn.
William Walford wrote the words:
During my residence at Coleshill, Warwickshire, England, I became acquainted with W. W. Walford, the blind preacher, a man of obscure birth and connections and no education, but of strong mind and most retentive memory. In the pulpit he never failed to select a lesson well adapted to his subject, giving chapter and verse with unerring precision and scarcely ever misplacing a word in his repetition of the Psalms, every part of the New Testament, the prophecies, and some of the histories, so as to have the reputation of “knowing the whole Bible by heart.” He actually sat in the chimney corner, employing his mind in composing a sermon or two for Sabbath delivery, and his hands in cutting, shaping and polishing bones for shoe horns and other little useful implements. At intervals he attempted poetry. On one occasion, paying him a visit, he repeated two or three pieces which he had composed, and having no friend at home to commit them to paper, he had laid them up in the storehouse within. “How will this do?” asked he, as he repeated the following lines, with a complacent smile touched with some light lines of fear lest he subject himself to criticism. I rapidly copied the lines with my pencil, as he uttered them, and sent them for insertion in the Observer, if you should think them worthy of preservation.
“Lord, Reign in Me”
Click here to listen to the song by Brenton Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcXnugDRy-U&mode=related&search= Here is Brentons' myspace site
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=74875704
Here is the Brentons' website
http://www.brentonbrownmusic.com/
“Draw Me Close”
Click here to read a story about Kelly Carpenter and how he wrote the song http://www.integritymusic.com/worship/story/0203.html
Click here to read an interesting dialogue between Bob Kauflin & Chuck Colson on the merits of this song and how some people have rejected this song. It is an interesting read, and should lead all of us to examine the intent of the songs we sing. Are we really engaged with the message and lyrics or are we just going through the motions?
http://worshipmatters.blogs.com/bobkauflin/2006/04/qa_friday_enter.html
“Lord, Reign in Me”
Click here to listen to the song by Brenton Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcXnugDRy-U&mode=related&search= Here is Brentons' myspace site
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=74875704
Here is the Brentons' website
http://www.brentonbrownmusic.com/
“Draw Me Close”
Click here to read a story about Kelly Carpenter and how he wrote the song http://www.integritymusic.com/worship/story/0203.html
Click here to read an interesting dialogue between Bob Kauflin & Chuck Colson on the merits of this song and how some people have rejected this song. It is an interesting read, and should lead all of us to examine the intent of the songs we sing. Are we really engaged with the message and lyrics or are we just going through the motions?
http://worshipmatters.blogs.com/bobkauflin/2006/04/qa_friday_enter.html
"Give Me Jesus" worship choir
This song is one of our choirs' favorites. We first sang it at the one year anniversary of 911. The song is an arrangement of an old spiritual. There are several arrangements.
Our arrangement is patterned after Fernando Ortega Click here to sing along with Fernado
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxKy_NxB398&mode=related&search=
Click here for an arrangement of the song by Jeremy Camp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Dca0P7w9ZQ
Click here for even another recording and an excellent guitar solo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE-10IKfMxQ&mode=related&search=
“Victory in Jesus”
This is one of those standard hymns for baptist churches. The song was written by southern baptist Eugene Bartlett. Eugene's son Gene Bartlett was the Director of Church music for the state of Oklahoma for 25 years. I had the opportunity to attend "Uncle Gene's" funeral in Oklahoma City. At the funeral the grandson of the composer led the congregation in singing this great hymn. I'll never forget that moment, watching Eugene's grandson lead the congregation in this great song.
Eugene Monroe Bartlett Senior was born on Christmas Eve of 1885. He wrote the words to this hymn -- his last song -- in 1939. Mr. Bartlett was well known as a gospel singer, writer, teacher, editor, and publisher. He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1979.The words from this well-known and cherished hymn remind us that we can experience victory in Jesus every day of our lives.
I heard an old, old story,
How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
I heard about His groaning,
Of His precious blood's atoning,
Then I repented of my sins;
Then I repented of my sins;
And won the victory.
O victory in Jesus,My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
O victory in Jesus,My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him,
He loved me ere I knew Him,
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.
I heard about His healing,
I heard about His healing,
Of His cleansing power revealing.
How He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see;
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,
Come and heal my broken spirit,
And somehow Jesus came and brought To me the victory.
I heard about a mansion
I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory.
And I heard about the streets of gold
And I heard about the streets of gold
Beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing,
About the angels singing,
And the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I'll sing up there
And some sweet day I'll sing up there
The song of victory.
Click here for a clip from one of the homecoming concerts, Cynthia Clawson, Mike Allen & Joy Gardner singing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPv_S3RpIF4&mode=related&search=
Click here to sing along
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA_GPPSgRuQ&mode=related&search=
Click here to hear a great organ solo on "Victory in Jesus"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae_b3sYB8Uo&mode=related&search=
Click here for a great country version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaFo3ZW_MTQ&mode=related&search=
"RESCUE"
Click here to listen to the story behind the song: http://www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-232-Rescue-Anderson.mp3
Click here to listen to the song on Jared's myspace. http://myspace.com/jaredandersonmusic
Click here for a clip from one of the homecoming concerts, Cynthia Clawson, Mike Allen & Joy Gardner singing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPv_S3RpIF4&mode=related&search=
Click here to sing along
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA_GPPSgRuQ&mode=related&search=
Click here to hear a great organ solo on "Victory in Jesus"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae_b3sYB8Uo&mode=related&search=
Click here for a great country version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaFo3ZW_MTQ&mode=related&search=
"RESCUE"
Click here to listen to the story behind the song: http://www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-232-Rescue-Anderson.mp3
Click here to listen to the song on Jared's myspace. http://myspace.com/jaredandersonmusic
Trivia question: The Battle Hymn of the Republic was written on the banks of what River? email your answer to mark@firsthurst.com
“There is a Fountain”
This is one of the first hymns William Cowper wrote after his first attack of temporary madness. Cowper had been promised a post as Clerk of the Journal to the House of Lords, but was dismayed upon learning he would have to undergo a public examination in the House before beginning his duties. The following article from the North American Review, January, 1834, describes his dilemma, and how God prevented him from destroying himself:
As the time drew nigh, his agony became more and more intense; he hoped and believed that madness would come to relieve him; he attempted also to make up his mind to commit suicide, though his conscience bore stern testimony against it; he could not by any argument persuade himself that it was right, but this desperation prevailed, and he procured from an apothecary the means of self-destruction. On the day before his public appearance was to be made, he happened to notice a letter in the newspaper, which to his disordered mind seemed like a malignant libel on himself. He immediately threw down the paper and rushed into the fields, determined to die in a ditch, but the thought struck him that he might escape from the country. With the same violence he proceeded to make hasty preparations for his flight; but while he was engaged in packing his portmanteau his mind changed, and he threw himself into a coach, ordering the man to drive to the Tower wharf, intending to throw himself into the river, and not reflecting that it would be impossible to accomplish his purpose in that public spot. On approaching the water, he found a porter seated upon some goods: he then returned to the coach and was conveyed to his lodgings at the Temple. On the way he attempted to drink the laudanum, but as often as he raised it, a convulsive agitation of his frame prevented it from reaching his lips; and thus, regretting the loss of the opportunity, but unable to avail himself of it, he arrived, half dead with anguish, at his apartment. He then shut the doors and threw himself upon the bed with the laudanum near him, trying to lash himself up to the deed; but a voice within seemed constantly to forbid it, and as often as he extended his hand to the poison, his fingers were contracted and held back by spasms.
At this time one of the inmates of the place came in, but he concealed his agitation, and as soon as he was left alone, a change came over him, and so detestable did the deed appear, that he threw away the laudanum and dashed the vial to pieces. The rest of the day was spent in heavy insensibility, and at night he slept as usual; but on waking at three in the morning, he took his penknife and lay with his weight upon it, the point toward his heart. It was broken and would not penetrate. At day break he arose, and passing a strong garter around his neck, fastened it to the frame of his bed: this gave way with his weight, but on securing it to the door, he was more successful, and remained suspended till he had lost all consciousness of existence. After a time the garter broke and he fell to the floor, so that his life was saved.; but the conflict had been greater than his reason could endure. He felt for himself a contempt not to be expressed or imagined; whenever he went into the street, it seemed as if every eye flashed upon him with indignation and scorn; he felt as if he had offended God so deeply that his guilt could never be forgiven, and his whole heart was filled with tumultuous pangs of despair. Madness was not far off, or rather madness was already come. After recovering, Cowper came to realize how God can erase the stain of any sin.
There is a fountain filled with blood
“There is a Fountain”
This is one of the first hymns William Cowper wrote after his first attack of temporary madness. Cowper had been promised a post as Clerk of the Journal to the House of Lords, but was dismayed upon learning he would have to undergo a public examination in the House before beginning his duties. The following article from the North American Review, January, 1834, describes his dilemma, and how God prevented him from destroying himself:
As the time drew nigh, his agony became more and more intense; he hoped and believed that madness would come to relieve him; he attempted also to make up his mind to commit suicide, though his conscience bore stern testimony against it; he could not by any argument persuade himself that it was right, but this desperation prevailed, and he procured from an apothecary the means of self-destruction. On the day before his public appearance was to be made, he happened to notice a letter in the newspaper, which to his disordered mind seemed like a malignant libel on himself. He immediately threw down the paper and rushed into the fields, determined to die in a ditch, but the thought struck him that he might escape from the country. With the same violence he proceeded to make hasty preparations for his flight; but while he was engaged in packing his portmanteau his mind changed, and he threw himself into a coach, ordering the man to drive to the Tower wharf, intending to throw himself into the river, and not reflecting that it would be impossible to accomplish his purpose in that public spot. On approaching the water, he found a porter seated upon some goods: he then returned to the coach and was conveyed to his lodgings at the Temple. On the way he attempted to drink the laudanum, but as often as he raised it, a convulsive agitation of his frame prevented it from reaching his lips; and thus, regretting the loss of the opportunity, but unable to avail himself of it, he arrived, half dead with anguish, at his apartment. He then shut the doors and threw himself upon the bed with the laudanum near him, trying to lash himself up to the deed; but a voice within seemed constantly to forbid it, and as often as he extended his hand to the poison, his fingers were contracted and held back by spasms.
At this time one of the inmates of the place came in, but he concealed his agitation, and as soon as he was left alone, a change came over him, and so detestable did the deed appear, that he threw away the laudanum and dashed the vial to pieces. The rest of the day was spent in heavy insensibility, and at night he slept as usual; but on waking at three in the morning, he took his penknife and lay with his weight upon it, the point toward his heart. It was broken and would not penetrate. At day break he arose, and passing a strong garter around his neck, fastened it to the frame of his bed: this gave way with his weight, but on securing it to the door, he was more successful, and remained suspended till he had lost all consciousness of existence. After a time the garter broke and he fell to the floor, so that his life was saved.; but the conflict had been greater than his reason could endure. He felt for himself a contempt not to be expressed or imagined; whenever he went into the street, it seemed as if every eye flashed upon him with indignation and scorn; he felt as if he had offended God so deeply that his guilt could never be forgiven, and his whole heart was filled with tumultuous pangs of despair. Madness was not far off, or rather madness was already come. After recovering, Cowper came to realize how God can erase the stain of any sin.
There is a fountain filled with blood
drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see
The dying thief rejoiced to see
that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he,
And there have I, though vile as he,
washed all my sins away.
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God
Till all the ransomed church of God
be saved, to sin no more.
E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
and shall be till I die.
E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
and shall be till I die.
"Jesus Paid it All"
I received this email from Alex Nefong in England who wrote the song:
Sure man... I have an old hymnal that I frequently play through sometimes during my private times alone with the Lord. I was playing through that song one day in Jan of 05 and I just started praying and singing out the phrase O praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead. It was as simple as that. Just a prayer that came right out of my heart. Thanks for asking Mark.
This is a new arrangement of the old hymn, based on the recording from the Passion album "Everything glorious". It adds a new line "O praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead". Check out the composer of the tag on his website www.alexnifong.com/ Here’s a story about the song:
The words were written by Elvina M. Hall and the music by John T. Grape on New Year’s night, 1886, some missionaries were holding open-air services in order to attract passers-by to a near-by mission, where meetings were to be held later. "All to Christ I owe" was sung, and after a gentleman had given a short address he hastened away to the mission. He soon heard footsteps close behind him and a young woman caught up with him and said: "I heard you addressing the open-air meeting just now; do you think, sir, that Jesus could save a sinner like me?"The gentleman replied that there was no doubt about that, if she was anxious to be saved. She told him that she was a servant girl, and had left her place that morning after a disagreement with her mistress. As she had been wandering about the streets in the dark, wondering where she was to spend the night, the sweet melodies of this hymn had attracted her, and she drew near and listened attentively. As the different verses were being sung, she felt that the words surely had something to do with her. Through the whole service she seemed to hear what met her oppressed soul’s need at that moment. God’s Spirit had showed her what a poor, sinful and wretched creature she was, and had led her to ask what she must do. On hearing her experience, the gentleman took her back to the mission and left her with the ladies in charge. The young, wayward woman was brought to Christ that night. A situation was secured for her in a minister’s family. There she became ill and had to be taken to a hospital. She rapidly failed and it became evident that she would not be long on earth. One day the gentleman whom she had met on New Year’s night was visiting her in the ward. After quoting a few suitable verses of Scripture, he repeated her favorite hymn, "All to Christ I owe"…and she seemed overwhelmed with the thought of coming to glory…Two hours afterward she passed away.
You can listen to "Jesus Paid it All" by clicking here www.firsthurst.com/HURST_worship_resources.php
Click here to worship along
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onxhvivQYfI
Click here to worship along with a younger generation led by Kristian Stanfill:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-OOjfaBGnA&mode=related&search=
You can go here to Kristians' myspace and click on the song just to listen
http://www.myspace.com/kristianstanfill
WOW - here it is in Spanish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRRBtWP_buA
SERMON
Escape From Judgement (Hebrews 2:3; 9:27-28; 1 Thess. 5:2-3)
Offertory "Battle Hymn of the Republic" by the Handbell ministry.
Words by Julia W. Howe 1861. This hymn was born during the American civil war, when Howe visited a Union Army camp on the Potomac River near Washington, D. C. She heard the soldiers singing the song “John Brown’s Body,” and was taken with the strong marching beat. She wrote the words the next day:
"I awoke in the grey of the morning, and as I lay waiting for dawn, the long lines of the desired poem began to entwine themselves in my mind, and I said to myself, “I must get up and write these verses, lest I fall asleep and forget them!” So I sprang out of bed and in the dimness found an old stump of a pen, which I remembered using the day before. I scrawled the verses almost without looking at the paper."
The hymn appeared in the Atlantic Monthly in 1862. It was sung at the funerals of British statesman Winston Churchill, American senator Robert Kennedy, and American presidents Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon.
Music: John Brown’s Body, possibly by John William Steffe
John Brown was an American abolitionist who led a short lived insurrection to free the slaves.
The words were written by Elvina M. Hall and the music by John T. Grape on New Year’s night, 1886, some missionaries were holding open-air services in order to attract passers-by to a near-by mission, where meetings were to be held later. "All to Christ I owe" was sung, and after a gentleman had given a short address he hastened away to the mission. He soon heard footsteps close behind him and a young woman caught up with him and said: "I heard you addressing the open-air meeting just now; do you think, sir, that Jesus could save a sinner like me?"The gentleman replied that there was no doubt about that, if she was anxious to be saved. She told him that she was a servant girl, and had left her place that morning after a disagreement with her mistress. As she had been wandering about the streets in the dark, wondering where she was to spend the night, the sweet melodies of this hymn had attracted her, and she drew near and listened attentively. As the different verses were being sung, she felt that the words surely had something to do with her. Through the whole service she seemed to hear what met her oppressed soul’s need at that moment. God’s Spirit had showed her what a poor, sinful and wretched creature she was, and had led her to ask what she must do. On hearing her experience, the gentleman took her back to the mission and left her with the ladies in charge. The young, wayward woman was brought to Christ that night. A situation was secured for her in a minister’s family. There she became ill and had to be taken to a hospital. She rapidly failed and it became evident that she would not be long on earth. One day the gentleman whom she had met on New Year’s night was visiting her in the ward. After quoting a few suitable verses of Scripture, he repeated her favorite hymn, "All to Christ I owe"…and she seemed overwhelmed with the thought of coming to glory…Two hours afterward she passed away.
You can listen to "Jesus Paid it All" by clicking here www.firsthurst.com/HURST_worship_resources.php
Click here to worship along
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onxhvivQYfI
Click here to worship along with a younger generation led by Kristian Stanfill:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-OOjfaBGnA&mode=related&search=
You can go here to Kristians' myspace and click on the song just to listen
http://www.myspace.com/kristianstanfill
WOW - here it is in Spanish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRRBtWP_buA
SERMON
Escape From Judgement (Hebrews 2:3; 9:27-28; 1 Thess. 5:2-3)
Offertory "Battle Hymn of the Republic" by the Handbell ministry.
Words by Julia W. Howe 1861. This hymn was born during the American civil war, when Howe visited a Union Army camp on the Potomac River near Washington, D. C. She heard the soldiers singing the song “John Brown’s Body,” and was taken with the strong marching beat. She wrote the words the next day:
"I awoke in the grey of the morning, and as I lay waiting for dawn, the long lines of the desired poem began to entwine themselves in my mind, and I said to myself, “I must get up and write these verses, lest I fall asleep and forget them!” So I sprang out of bed and in the dimness found an old stump of a pen, which I remembered using the day before. I scrawled the verses almost without looking at the paper."
The hymn appeared in the Atlantic Monthly in 1862. It was sung at the funerals of British statesman Winston Churchill, American senator Robert Kennedy, and American presidents Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon.
Music: John Brown’s Body, possibly by John William Steffe
John Brown was an American abolitionist who led a short lived insurrection to free the slaves.
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