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Abide With Me, the Song and the Story
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<br/><i>Abide With Me</i> made its debut at the composers memorial service. As He often does, God took the sad ending of a life and made something lasting and beautiful<br/>
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Alas and Did My Savior Bleed, the Song and the Story
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Alas and Did My Savior Bleed, written in 1707 by Isaac Watts (who wrote 600 hymns), was the song being sung at a revival meeting when Fannie Crosby gave her heart to Jesus in 1851. Fanny went on to write more than 8,000 hymns.
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All Creatures of Our God and King, the Song and the Story
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<br/>Written in 1225, the words of <i>All Creatures of Our God and King</i> still ring true with believers around the world who share Brother Francis' heart for animals and nature; and who believe that the heavens and earth truly do show and sound forth the glory and praise of God.
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All Hail the Power of Jesus, the Song and the Story
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Written in 1779, <i>All Hail the Power of Jesus Name</i> has been called the "National Anthem of Christendom," and has been translated into nearly every existing language.
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Almost Persuaded, the Song and the Story
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The final words of a Sunday morning sermon in 1871, "He who is almost persuaded is almost saved, and to be almost saved is to be entirely lost", inspired Composer Philip Paul Bliss to write a song with the same sentiment -- Almost Persuaded.
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Am I a Soldier of the Cross?, the Song and the Story
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<br/>Isaac Watts wrote this hymn to accompany a sermon regarding spiritual warfare, and based on the scriptural text I Corinthians 16:13.<br/>
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At Calvary, the Song and the Story
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William R. Newell (1868-1956) is remembered fondly as a pastor, evangelist, Bible teacher, author, conference speaker and writer of the beloved hymn <i>At Calvary</i>. And he is remembered as a humble man who recognized that it was only by the grace of God that he was able to accomplish so many good things.
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Be Thou My Vision, the Song and the Story
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An 8th Century Monk, Dallan Forgaill penned the words to <i>Be Thou My Vision</i> as a tribute to St. Patrick's wholehearted loyalty to God.<br/>
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Beyond The Sunset, the Song and the Story
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<Virgil Brock's cousin Horace Burr, who had been blind from birth, suddenly spoke out with excitement, saying that he had never seen such a beautiful sunset. One of the other guests asked how it was possible for him to see events of the sky. Horace's reply was to have a lasting affect: <i>I see through other people's eyes, and I think I often see more - I see beyond the sunset.</i><br/>
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Blessed Assurance, the Song and the Story
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Although blind from shortly after birth, Fanny Crosby wrote 8,000 songs. Among her most beloved was the hymn <i>Blessed Assurance</i>.
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Brighten the Corner Where You Are, the Song and the Story
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In 1913, Ira Ogden wrote <i>Brighten the Corner Where You Are</i> to remind Christians that the pulpit and the mission field were not the only places one might make a difference for the Kingdom of God.
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Calvary's Stream is Flowing, the Song and the Story
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Eliza E. Hewitt (1851-1920) was a school teacher for many years, until an accident injured her spine and left her a partial invalid. Unable to continue with her first career choice, she decided to try her hand at hymn writing. The song <i>Calvary's Stream is Flowing</i> was one of the blessings that resulted from her tragedy.
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Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, the Song and the Story
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<br/>On Dec. 10, 1755, at age 20, Robert Robinson yielded his life to Christ, and very soon thereafter answered a call to the ministry. Three years later, as he was preparing to preach a sermon at the Calvinist Methodist Chapel in Norfolk, England, Robert wrote <i>Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing</i> to compliment his sermon.
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Crown Him with Many Crowns, the Song and the Story
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In the 1800s there was great tension between the Catholic and Anglican churches. Crown Him with Many Crowns is a wonderful example of how God takes the troubles of man and turns them around for good.
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Down From His Glory, the Song and the Story
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To sing <i>Down From His Glory</i> as a member of a congregation or a choir is uplifting. To listen to it sung by a power soloist or duet is a spine-tingling thrill.<br/>
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Face to Face, the Song and the Story
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The music for the beautiful hymn Face to Face was inspired by a jar of jellie. The words for the song came from a woman who was tone deaf.
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Fairest Lord Jesus, the Song and the Story
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The hymn <i>Fairest Lord Jesus</i> has a somewhat elusive history. It is thought to have originated as early as 1607, possibly written by German Jesuits.
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For the Beauty of the Earth, the Song and the Story
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Teacher and writer Folliot S. Pierpoint published seven volumes of poems during his lifetime, many of them telling of his love for nature. He is most remembered today as the author of the hymn, For the Beauty of the Earth.
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Go Tell It on the Mountain, the Song and the Story
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In one format or another since its conception, the anthem of <i>Go Tell It on the Mountain</i> has been sung in the fields, on buses, in the streets, in churches, on school choir platforms and in concert halls.
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God Bless America, the Song and the Story
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In 1938 Irving Berlin published God Bless America as a prayer that the U.S. would triumph over Hitler, and that there would come an end to the Nazi cruelty towards the Jewish people.
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Great is Thy Faithfulness, The Song and the Story
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While away from home on a missions trip, Thomas often wrote to one of his good friends, William Runyan, a relatively unknown musician. Several poems were exchanged in these letters. Runyan found one of Williams' poems so moving that he decided to compose a musical score to accompany the lyrics. <i>Great is Thy Faithfulness</i> was published in 1923.
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He Hideth My Soul, the Song and the Story
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For those who have natural sight, but are blind to the things of God, Fanny Crosby, who was blind since six weeks of age, wrote songs to bring a sense of His Presence.
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He Lives , I Serve a Risen Savior, the Story
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Alfred Ackley (1887-1960) wrote lyrics and/or music for more than 1,500 religious and secular songs, including lyrics for the still well-loved He Lives! (I Serve a Risen Savior).
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His Name is Wonderful, the Song and the Story
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<br/>As the pastor's voice read from the Bible, <i>"His Name shall be called Wonderful"</i>, Audrey May Mieir's spirit jumped within in her and she began to hear a melody forming in her mind. She quickly wrote down these lines,which would soon become a well known song, on the flyleaf of her Bible: <i>His Name is Wonderful, Jesus my Lord.</i>
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History of Hymns
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In the early 16th century the Protestant Reformation brought about many changes, including hymns being translated from Greek and Latin into languages of the common people, and songs being written with familiar folk rhyme and rhythm easy to sing and memorize.
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History of Hymns Part 2
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<br/>For 2,000 years songs of praise, old and new have been rising from the collective heart and mouth of the worldwide Church. The introduction of the internet in the 1990âÂÂs has made it possible for Christians to see and hear praise and worship sounding across U.S., Canada, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Holy Lands, and to recognize that the sound is the same wherever the people of God gather together. It is a sound that grows every day more like the praises of Heaven - a sound that will soon usher in the glory of God that will cover the whole earth.<br/>
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Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, the Song and the Story
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The hymn <i>Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty</i> was writtent in 1826 for Trinity Sunday celebration. Its beautiful words and melody echo the timeless worship of heaven.
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How Great Thou Art, the Story
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As missionaries Reverend and Mrs. Hine traveled the Russian Carpathian Mountains, they were inspired by the incredible beauty to translate one of their favorit songs into English. When WWII broke out in 1939, the Hines returned to England carrying How Great Thou Art to its new home.
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I Know I'll See Jesus Some Day, the Story
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Avis Christiansen (1895-1985) wrote her first poem at age 10. A few years later while listening to a church soloist, the Lord reminded Avis that her talents and gifts were from Him, and to be used for His glory. She soon began using her poetry talents to write hymns.<br/>
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I Surrender All, the Song and the Story
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As Judson Van DeVenter fully surrendered his life to the Lord, committing to become a full-time evangelist, the words to I Surrender All were born in his heart.
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I Will Sing of My Redeemer, the Song and the Story
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I Will Sing of My Redeemer was the last song to be written by Philip Bliss. The year after Bliss' death, singer George Cole Stebbins made a recording of the song - one of the first songs ever to be recorded on Thomas Edison's new invention, the phonograph.
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Id Rather Have Jesus, the Song and the Story
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As the congregants listened to George Miller's deep voice sing for the first time, "I'd d Rather Have Jesus, than silver and gold," little did they know that the song was destined to become one of the most well-known of all contemporary Christian songs
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In The Garden, the Song and the Story
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<br/><i>In The Garden</i> was written in 1912 and quickly became a theme song of the Billy Sunday evangelistic crusades. It was recorded on an album by Perry Como in 1950, was sung in the closing scene of the 1984 film <i>Places in the Heart</i> and continues to be a favorite of hymn lovers, who treasure that quiet 'garden time' with their Savior.<br/>
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It is Well with My Soul, the Song and the Story
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For more than a century, the tragic story of one man has given hope to countless thousands who have lifted their voices to sing, It Is Well With My Soul.
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Jesus Loves Even Me, the Song and the Story
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In 1870 Bliss was inspired to write 'Jesus Loves Even Me' while he was listening to the (new at the time) song, Yes, Jesus Loves Me.
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Jesus Loves the Little Children, the Song and the Story
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The tune for Jesus Loves the Little Children was originally written to accompany an American Civil War song called Tramp, Tramp, Tramp.
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Jesus Paid it All, the Song and the Story
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As the Rev. George W. Schreck listened to a new song written by his choir director, he immediately thought of the verse written by another of his parishioners, Elvina Hall. At the pastor's suggestion, the music and words were combined, and then sent to Professor Theodore Perkins, publisher of the periodical Sabbath Carols. The hymn became almost immediately a favorite and has been published in and sung from hymnals across America ever since.
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Jesus, Lover of My Soul, the Song and the Story
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From his hiding place, which was situated by a quiet babbling brook, Charles Wesley could hear the movement and angry voices of his pursuers. He settled back into the hedge to await their departure. He filled his waiting time by composing a hymn; a prayer of trust in God as his refuge: <i>Jesus, Lover of My Soul</i>.
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Just As I Am, the Song and the Story
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Charlotte Elliott wrote <i>Just As I Am</i> as a testimony to her newfound faith, and as a tribute to the man who had told her that she could come to Christ, 'just as she was.' Over the remainder of her life, Charlotte wrote 150 hymns.<br/>
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Lord, I'm Coming Home, the Song and the Story
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While singing a brand new song <i>Lord I'm Coming Home</i>, the soloist was so moved by the melody and lyrics that he went forward at the alter call to accept Jesus as his Savior!
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Marys Boy Child, the Song and the Story
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Mary's Boy Child was written in 1956 by Jasper Hairston. The melody of the song is reminiscent of the music the composer so loved to preserve: The Negro Spiritual.<br/>
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My Jesus I Love Thee, the Song and the Story
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Little else is known of William Ralph Featherson's short life except for the fact that some time during his 16th year of life he put pen to paper to record a love poem. The love he expressed was deep and true. The words of that poem have lasted more than a century beyond Williams' life and death.
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Nearer My God to Thee, the Song and the Story
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<i>Nearer My God to Thee</i> was written by Sarah Flower Adams who preferred the stage, but chose hymn writing because ailing health kept her from pursuing her original dream.
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Nothing but the Blood, the Song and the Story
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The blood of Jesus to Christians are some of the most beautiful words ever spoken or penned. To others, the idea that all mankind needs a Savior is foolish thought.(Corinthians 1:18).
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O Happy Day, That Fixed My Choice, the Song and the Story
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Barely escaping death at birth, orphaned a few years later and frail in health much of his young life, Philip Doddridge's faith in God remained strong. His manuscripts and hymns still remain more than 200 years after his death. The most famous of his legacy is the hymn <i>O Happy Day.</i><br/>
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O Worship the King, the Song and the Story
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Several of Charles Grant's writings, prose and poetry, were published during his lifetime. After his death, his brother gathered 12 of Grant's poems into a book titled Sacred Poems. One of those poems, O Worship the King has appeared in church hymnals ever since.
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O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing, the Song and the Story
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The great hymn writer, Charles Wesley, wrote more than 6,000 hymns. He wrote <i>O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing</i> in 1739, shortly after his conversion.
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Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (The Doxology), the Song and the Story
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Originally written in the 1600s as a prayer for teenage boys to sing, <i>The Doxology</i> has since become one of the most widely-sung hymns in the world.
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Precious Lord Take My Hand, the Song and the Story
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<br/>Reverend Thomas Dorsey ( 1899-1993 - <i>not</i> the famous ball player) has an honored title of 'The Father of Gospel Music', and his music is loved around the world. Two of his most famous gospel songs are <i>Peace in the Valley</i> and <i>Precious Lord, Take My Hand.</i><br/>
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Revive us Again, the Song and the Story
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Some of Mackay's writings from the 1800s are still in print today, including Abundant Grace: Selected Address, and The Seeking Saviour and Other Bible Themes. He is remembered best for one of his hymns, Revive Us Again.
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