April 6, 2014:

Poetic Ponderings Chosen By The Pastor

“Songs We Seldom Sing”

       Our Red and Black Hymnals contain wonderful hymns we seldom if ever use in worship.  The words may be unfamiliar and the tunes difficult to sing.  Still, the messages these poets want to share with us can be profoundly helpful.

“Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross”

      “Aunt Fanny” Crosby (1820-1915) was one of the most prolific hymn writers who ever lived.  In her lifetime she wrote some 8000 gospel hymns, some not bearing her own name as author.  All this is more remarkable because she was blind from birth.  She was part of a great flowering of gospel hymns in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries — many of which are familiar as “old favorites.”

                        “Jesus, keep me near the cross; there a precious fountain,

                        free to all, a healing stream, flows from Calvary’s mountain.

                        Near the cross, a trembling soul, love and mercy found me;

                        there the bright and morning star sheds its beams around me.

                        Near the cross!  O Lamb of God, bring its scenes before me;

                        help me live from day to day with its shadow o’er me.

                        Near the cross I’ll watch and wait, hoping, trusting ever,

                        till I reach the golden strand just beyond the river.

Refrain

                        In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever,

                        till my ransomed soul shall find rest beyond the river.”