I miss the old hymns that I remember from my childhood - there were no drums, no electric guitar and no mind numbing beat. It was just voices and maybe a piano or an organ. The choir led the congregation in singing - and the words of these hymns are poetic. I realize that there is a need for the modern "seeker oriented" worship music - but it is also necessary to have deeper songs (no offense intended to anyone who prefers the newer church songs).
I decided to have an "Old Fashion Sunday Hymn Sing" once a month on this blog.
I personally do NOT have a great singing voice - I used to play the guitar & piano but my voice is NOT an instrument. That's the great thing about this digital hymn sing you can warble along without being embarrassed or without offending anyone else.
The hymns that we will be studying are taken from an old hymnal from a Baptist church that is no longer in existence - "The North American Hymnal" published in 1956 by "THE ROGER WILLIAMS PRESS"
I will also try to find a version of the featured hymn on "YouTube" to share with you each month.
Today's feature song is "Standing on the Promises" by hymnist Russell Kelso Carter (1849-1928). This hymnist & composer was a "Jack of all trades." Academically he was an excellent student and athlete, he then became a teacher and coach. He was also a musician, songwriter, ordained Methodist minister and even became a medical doctor. When R. Kelso Carter was 30 years old he became very ill - it was something with his heart and the doctors said that there was nothing that they could do for him. In my research I couldn't find exactly what was wrong with his heart but just that it was a critical condition. Carter was a Christian for most of his life but never became serious about living for Jesus until his health was poor. He knelt and prayed to God promising fully consecrated service to the Lord whether he was healed or not. After that his heart was healed & he lived another 50 healthy years!!
Please listen to the "YouTube" video below (Note: The Chorus is supposed to be in 2 part harmony but the video is not performed that way).
Turn with me to number 400 in your hymnals and let's sing:
I decided to have an "Old Fashion Sunday Hymn Sing" once a month on this blog.
I personally do NOT have a great singing voice - I used to play the guitar & piano but my voice is NOT an instrument. That's the great thing about this digital hymn sing you can warble along without being embarrassed or without offending anyone else.
The hymns that we will be studying are taken from an old hymnal from a Baptist church that is no longer in existence - "The North American Hymnal" published in 1956 by "THE ROGER WILLIAMS PRESS"
I will also try to find a version of the featured hymn on "YouTube" to share with you each month.
Today's feature song is "Standing on the Promises" by hymnist Russell Kelso Carter (1849-1928). This hymnist & composer was a "Jack of all trades." Academically he was an excellent student and athlete, he then became a teacher and coach. He was also a musician, songwriter, ordained Methodist minister and even became a medical doctor. When R. Kelso Carter was 30 years old he became very ill - it was something with his heart and the doctors said that there was nothing that they could do for him. In my research I couldn't find exactly what was wrong with his heart but just that it was a critical condition. Carter was a Christian for most of his life but never became serious about living for Jesus until his health was poor. He knelt and prayed to God promising fully consecrated service to the Lord whether he was healed or not. After that his heart was healed & he lived another 50 healthy years!!
Please listen to the "YouTube" video below (Note: The Chorus is supposed to be in 2 part harmony but the video is not performed that way).
Turn with me to number 400 in your hymnals and let's sing:
Standing on the Promises
by Russell Kelso Carter, (1849-1928) composed by Russell Kelso Carter
1. Standing on the promises of Christ my King. Through eternal ages let His praises ring; Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
CHORUS
2. Standing on the promises that cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, By the living word of God I shall prevail,
CHORUS
3. Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, Bound to Him eternally by love's strong cord, Overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword,
CHORUS
4. Standing on the promises I cannot fall, Listening every moment to the Spirit's call, Resting in my Saviour as my all in all,
CHORUS
Chorus
Standing on the promises of God. Stand - ing, stand - ing,
Standing on the promises, standing on the promises
Standing on the promises of God my Saviour; Stand - ing,
Standing on the promises,
stand - ing, I'm standing on the promises of God.
standing on the promises,
A special thanks to "isbaptistToronto" for sharing this song on YouTube
Other Hymns on this blog:
Crown Him With Many CrownsHe Lives
At The Cross
Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus
How refreshing. I attend a church that actually doesn't see a need for the "modern seeker" worship, but feels very strongly that the old hymns worked for many years and there's no use in trying to change what has been working. I'm 30 and grew up singing all of the songs you have showcased here, and we are raising our children on the exact same songs. Washed in the Blood of the Lamb! At our wedding we had our choir sing "Sheltered in the Arms of God" and it is still one of my favorites. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! - Thank you so much for stopping by & sharing!
DeleteI love this song. I believe there is something so incredibly worshipful when old hymns are incorporated in modern worship services. We have a worship leader that incorporates both and I love those services. I love the history here and the reminder of the strength in His promises. Blessings to you! Love, Rachael @ Inking the Heart
ReplyDeleteI agree - Thanks & blessings to you too!
DeleteI've spent a lot of time defending hymns from people who say that they are outdated and boring, and now I'll do the same for what you call "seeker friendly" worship songs...don't focus so much on the music. Focus on the words and the heart of the songs. I try not to get hung up so much on the style of music and instead try to focus on the words and heart of the songs...if you sing them with your heart and mean them, I believe most of the worship songs can be very meaningful, powerful, and full of praise--whether they are accompanied by guitars or pianos :) I don't really think God has a preference either. His word tells us to make a joyful noise, so as long as we're praising Him with pure hearts, I don't think he minds too much about the style...I mean, those hymns were "new" at one time too :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing though, I do love old hymns!
I have loved the cd by Alan Jackson called Precious Memories. It is a collection of some of the hymns I grew up with, and I play it all the time. My mother-in-law remarked to me one day when my daughter was just over 2 that it was strange that she knew "Standing on the Promises" or "Blessed Assurance" but not most kids' songs. I guess that since these are the songs I know and love, they are the songs I sang for lullabies, nursing time, and while I worked around the house. :) I love that my kids love the hymns!
ReplyDelete