Favorite Hymns

III · Jul 3, 2007

Just thinking about some of the incredible poetry in the old hymns and I'd have to put How Great Thou Art at the top of my list. They just don't write 'em like that anymore.

Sean D. Schaffer · Jul 3, 2007

III said:
Just thinking about some of the incredible poetry in the old hymns and I'd have to put How Great Thou Art at the top of my list. They just don't write 'em like that anymore.

When I was a teenager, our pastor preached about a man named John Newton, who worked on a slave ship. His life in the slave trade gave him some horrible feelings about himself as a man. When he accepted the Gospel for the first time, he completely changed. One of the poems he wrote, later set to music as I understand it, has become an all-time classic gospel hymn. Its simplicity, beauty, and power have never ceased to inspire me, even from the days I first heard it.

The song, of course, is Amazing Grace. For the sheer power of its words, and the beauty with which an old hardened slave-ship sailor penned them, that song is my all-time favorite hymn.

Pat~ · Jul 3, 2007

Sean, you beat me to it.

That's a classic, and I love it, too. And Jay, yours is one of my top favorites as well: I remember singing that with a group the first time I ever climbed the Rockies.

I posted another favorite on my blog today; it was this one, better known as "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross:"

Crucifixion to the World by the Cross of Christ

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
See from his head, his hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown!
[His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o'er his body on the tree:
Then am I dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.]
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

--Isaac Watts

There's a wonderful link at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library that has extensive listing of the old hymns:

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/newton/olneyhymns.toc.html

ALLWritety · Jul 3, 2007

Mine are:
Amazing Grace
Be thou my vision
How Great thou art

Someone's definition of a Hymn : Great word but no tune
Someine's definition of a chorus: Great music but all froth. (As in words are tacky!!)

Kev.

askeladd · Jul 3, 2007

Two of mine:

O Sacred Head Now Wounded
O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

AnnieColleen · Jul 3, 2007

Let all mortal flesh keep silence
And with fear and trembling stand
Ponder nothing earthly-minded
For with blessing in His hand
Christ our God to earth descendeth
Our full homage to demand

King of kings, yet born of Mary
As of old on earth He stood
Lord of lords in human vesture
In the body and the blood
He will give to all the faithful
His own flesh for heavenly food

Rank on rank the host of Heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way
As the Light of light descendeth
From the realm of endless day
That the power of Hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away

At His feet the six-winged seraph
Cherubim with sleepless eye
Veil their faces to the presence
As with ceaseless voice they cry
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Lord most high

I love the music to this one, plus of course the words are awesome.

Plot Device · Jul 4, 2007

I love this one not only because of the theoogy, but also because it's such a beautiful old Irish folk melody. I've heard it perfomed with Irish flutes and pipes and it's absolutely haunting.

Before the Throne of God Above

1863, Charitie Bancroft and William T. Bradbury

WARNING! Turn DOWN the volume before clicking here!
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/e/beforetg.htm

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!

Bartholomew · Jul 4, 2007

Amazing Grace on the pipes. Never gets old, and nobody can tune to you.

ALLWritety · Jul 4, 2007

Oh How could I forget that one:
Before the thorne of God above.
K

PrettySpecialGal · Jul 4, 2007

Okay- given this thread and the movie thread- I have to share. I used to go to the nursing home on Sundays (some) to worship with them. There was an old black man there that could sing the heck out of "I'll Fly Away" There's never been nutthin in the world like that.

JamieFord · Jul 4, 2007

I love Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.

It's an oldie, but some contemporary artists have dusted it off in recent years.

III · Jul 5, 2007

PrettySpecialGal said:
Okay- given this thread and the movie thread- I have to share. I used to go to the nursing home on Sundays (some) to worship with them. There was an old black man there that could sing the heck out of "I'll Fly Away" There's never been nutthin in the world like that.

I used to do ministry in a nursing home and the overwhelming favorite was In The Garden. I guess it was like the Freebird of the 1920's. I swear, if it weren't for all the oxygen tanks, they would have held up lighters while they were singing it.

Plot Device · Jul 5, 2007

PrettySpecialGal said:
Okay- given this thread and the movie thread-

What movie thread? :Huh:

PrettySpecialGal · Jul 5, 2007

Plot Device said:
What movie thread?

I don't know how to link threads, so go to Pop Culture, Movies/ TV, then Favorite Movie Scenes. They weren't connected at all- except in my mind...

Pat~ · Jul 6, 2007

Here's my other favorite. This one's on my blog.

IN CHRIST ALONE

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save

'Til on the cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then, bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He us mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand

III · Jul 6, 2007

The Newsboys do a great version of In Christ Alone

Pat~ · Jul 6, 2007

Yes, and I think they sing it to the new tune, which I prefer!

Roger J Carlson · Jul 6, 2007

Two hymns can bring me instantly to tears:

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
It Is Well With My Soul

Side Note: I have no problem with Contemporary Services. I understand and applaud the reasons for having them. But in doing so, they also eschew most of the old hymns in favor of the latest 'praise songs'. I think a whole generation is losing a wealth of beautiful and uplifting songs in their rush to be 'relevant'.

III · Jul 6, 2007

Roger J Carlson said:
Two hymns can bring me instantly to tears:

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

It Is Well With My Soul

Have you heard the story behind the writing of It Is Well With My Soul?

[From Wikipedia]
This hymn was written after two major traumas in Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son, shortly followed by the great Chicago Fire of October 1871, which ruined him financially (he had been a wealthy businessman). In 1873, while crossing the Atlantic, all four of Spafford’s daughters died in a collision with another ship. Spafford’s wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone.” Several weeks later, as Spafford’s own ship passed near the spot where his daughters died, he was inspired to write these words.

Roger J Carlson · Jul 7, 2007

III said:
Have you heard the story behind the writing of It Is Well With My Soul?

[From Wikipedia]
This hymn was written after two major traumas in Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son, shortly followed by the great Chicago Fire of October 1871, which ruined him financially (he had been a wealthy businessman). In 1873, while crossing the Atlantic, all four of Spafford’s daughters died in a collision with another ship. Spafford’s wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone.” Several weeks later, as Spafford’s own ship passed near the spot where his daughters died, he was inspired to write these words.

Kinda puts our own little problems into perspective, doesn't it?

Come Back Kid · Jul 14, 2007

Good Post

Love all the above: To me, the words to "Mary Did You Know?" rates really high.
Put a vote in for me for "I Believe" by Brooks and Dunn.
Does anyone remember a group years ago, May have been The Cottonwoods, maybe not.

The verse was " There's a Man in there who turns water to wine, He walks on the water, gives sight to the blind."

Wow you got me started!! What about "I'll Rise Again?"
I have a cd by Elvis that's great. One is "Where Could I Go But To The Lord?"
Jim

Pat~ · Jul 14, 2007

Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the happy chorus, which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us, brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward in the triumph song of life.

Plot Device · Jul 15, 2007

OMG! Pat! I just saw Live Free or Die Hard and so that exact song (the German, Symphonic rendering of Beethovan's 9th) has been in my head all day and all night. I clicked into this thread just now and the chorus was already ringing in my ears, and then I read your post! Freaky!

ALLWritety · Jul 15, 2007

PD

Thanks. I really like this music from Die Hard 4 and wanted to know what the music was. So you have answered my Q.

Cheers.
kev

Soccer Mom · Jul 16, 2007

Just found this thread. Squee! Pat already knows that I'm a sucker for hymns. As former church music director, my top ten are:

10. Victory in Jesus
9. Marching to Zion
8. Joy to the World (It's not really a Christmas hymn)
7. What Wondrous Gift
6. Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
5. Blessed Assurance (anything by Fannie Crosby!)
4. This is My Father's World
3. How Great Thou Art
2. He Leadeth Me
1. It is Well with My Soul

Any one of those is guaranteed to put a smile on my face.

Favorite Hymns

rockin the suburbs

Luftmensch Emeritus, A.D.D.

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A woman said to write like a man.

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roll, roll, roll in ze hay

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roll, roll, roll in ze hay

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Moderator In Name Only

rockin the suburbs

Moderator In Name Only

Luftmensch Emeritus, A.D.D.

A woman said to write like a man.

One Step closer, I hope!

Crypto-fascist