This is a genuine Edison Amberol wax cylinder, played on an archaic machine called an Amberola. The hymn is All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name, sung by the Metropolitan Quartet…possibly a hundred years ago.
It’s gently snowing outside this morning, a pure white blanket drawn over the mudscape, not enough to cause a problem: rejoice in God’s handiwork. And let us rejoice in our fellowship in Jesus Christ.
If I were to write of all the evil done and spoken in this evil age, I would distress myself and you. But let God be our refuge and our strength–in the words of this old hymn, “Like a river glorious.”
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved. God shall help her, and that right early. Psalm 46:4-5
Here’s one from our brethren in Denton, Texas–The Old Ship of Zion, written in 1889. The song likens the Kingdom of God to a good ship that rescues drowning souls, with Our Lord Jesus Christ as its captain.
I was afraid these guys were going Hollywood on us–I mean, music stands: what next?–but you’ll see there are a few glitches at the end.
Does that bother you? It doesn’t bother me at all!
And now my day is fairly started.
You may want to turn up the volume for this one. I almost never say that, but for this hymn I have to make an exception. For this hymn I’d like to pack 75,000 people into Yankee Stadium and have them sing their brains out.
Melody by Ludwig von Beethoven. Message and substance by the Holy Spirit.
Remember, everybody out there–anyone can request a hymn and I will post it here so all readers can enjoy it. So if you haven’t done it yet, give it a whirl.
I remember this one from way, way back. Would you believe it? We used to sing this in school! Thank you, Supreme Court, for protecting us from the God who created us, loves us, and secures our salvation through His only begotten Son, Jesus. You had to make the schools safe for comprehensive sexuality education.
Sing louder, Christians–it may be God will hear us.
Let’s start our Sabbath day with this, one of the most gorgeous hymns ever written–Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Johann Sebastian Bach.
Hard indeed is the heart that isn’t stirred by this!
Like I say, “Keep your rock, we’ve got Bach!”
But even Bach is nothing without the Holy Spirit.
Let’s sign off on a positive note, shall we? Thanks, Erlene, for suggesting this hymn, When We All Get to Heaven.
Sing louder, everybody: sing louder.
I love this hymn, and I think it would be good to start the day with it. Actually I started my day with vacuuming, but this is a better start.
I have just about learned how to play this on the harmonica. My favorite hymn to play is Hyfrydol–my uncle’s little Marine Band harmonica might have been specifically made to play that hymn.
Keep those hymn requests coming, folks–I’m all caught up. And if you haven’t yet requested a hymn, well, come on in!
Let’s join Nathan (auto-harp) and Lyle (guitar) and some of their family members for an old gospel song from 1917, The Love of God.
(See, Lee? It’s okay to play hymns on something other than an organ or a piano.)
Nice way to start the day.
And remember, all of you out there in the world–you can always request a hymn, if you’d like to see it posted here. Not many are taking advantage of this ongoing offer–so step right up.
Here you go, Erlene–a nice rendition of How Great Thou Art.
I can’t hear this hymn without thinking of my Grandma, who used to hum it as she sewed. Grandma died when I was 11, a long time ago, but she has been much on my mind lately. Having raised six daughters, she was mighty happy when her first grandson came along, which was me. Oh, my grandparents on both sides were mighty good to me! And I will never stop missing them until we’re all together again. In Christ’s Kingdom.