Back around Christmas in 2010, I put up these two posts about a story that intrigued me when I heard it. I have since found out that Mr. Longfellow had some interesting beliefs (Have the revisionists taken him apart, too?) . However, the words of this song are so inspirational that I felt led to share the story once more.
When Brother Dick led the congregation in singing last week, he would never know how his selection of this song would bless me this year.
It is not one of the more popular Christmas Songs, but as I sang the song I did something I don’t always do I’m sorry to say.
I took note of the words.
This song, indeed, fits the times in which we live.
I looked at the bottom of the page and saw that the words had been written by the famous American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
I went home and did some research.
I discovered that hymn books remove two of the verses that were originally written by the famous poet.
The verses are removed because they have references to the American Civil War.
Mr. Longfellow wrote the poem on Christmas Day in 1864, when the war had affected nearly everyone in the country.
Unfortunately, the great poet was no exception.
Three months after the war had begun, in July of 1861, tragedy struck the Longfellow family.
Francis Longfellow had just trimmed some of seven-year-old Edith’s hair. Mrs. Longfellow then decided to preserve some of the clippings in sealing wax. While melting a bar of sealing wax with a candle, a few drops of the super heated wax fell on Fanny’s dress. The hot wax ignited the dress, swallowing the beloved wife and mother in flames.
Fanny ran to Henry in the next room. Henry grabbed a small throw rug and wrapped it around his wife, attempting to smother the flames. Unsuccessful, he finally wrapped his arms around his wife in a last attempt to stop the fire.
Henry’s attempt not only burned his face, hands, and arms severely; the effort to save his wife had failed.
Fanny Longfellow died the next morning.
Because of his injuries and his unbearable grief, Henry was unable to attend his wife’s funeral.
Two years later, Charles, Henry’s oldest son, a lieutenant in the Army of the Potomac, was severely wounded in the Battle of New Hope Church. This happened the month before Christmas in 1863.
It is no surprise there is no entry in Mr. Longfellow’s journal for the Christmas of 1863.
Still grieving over the events of the past few years, Henry put his famous pen to paper on Christmas Day in 1864.
This poem is the result.
Jean Baptiste Calkin added the music in 1872.
Mr. Longfellow heard his words in music for a decade, until his death in 1882.
The words have inspired many, as they have me in 2010.
May God give you a peace that passes all understanding, like He did to Mr. Longfellow, throughout this Christmas season.
Chris Reimers
(Composed on Christmas Day, 1864)
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th’ unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men
And in despair I bowed my head: “ There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For Hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men
‘Til, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
————————————————————–
“I Heard the Bells” with commentary by Pastor Bill Mitchell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUdAo3N0iEA
“I Heard the Bells” by Rod Kim (Operation Christmas Child)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_IXSiHF4cU
The story behind “I Heard the Bells”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvJdmMG6VWk
Johnny Cash sings “I Heard the Bells”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcP8xvgwucs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJFZ1y_o9p4
This is Sarah McLachlan’s version:
Posted by Chris 
SIMPLICITY AND PURITY OF DEVOTION TO CHRIST
December 29, 2013“But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.”
These words were penned by the Apostle Paul through the Holy Spirit in approximately 40-47 A.D. I ran across this section of scripture in Mr. Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible. Regarding 2 Corinthians Charles Spurgeon comments:
“The Second Epistle to the Corinthians was written by Paul from Macedonia, after Titus had returned from Corinth, and informed him how the Corinthian church had received his first letter (written fairly recently by some accounts). The news was of a mingled kind, and caused him both joy and sorrow. The Apostle seems at the time of writing it to have been much troubled and perplexed.”
God’s Word continually amazes me with its mysteries. Here we find a possibly troubled man of God communicating through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that there is a simplicity in our faith (in the bold letters at the top). Mankind tends to make everything so difficult. There are some things of God that are, well, uncomplicated. “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” I find this verse straightforward and to the point.
The Gospel is not a difficult message. See the Link entitled “The Gospel” at the top of this blog.
I am not, in any way, trying to discourage those who are digging deeply into God’s Word to discover things they do not know. On the contrary, I think every Christian should be doing this as if we were the Bereans.
There is another part of these verses that stands out. It is the section that states: “For if one comes and preaches another Jesus….” It shouldn’t be a surprise to Christians then, if there are many Jesus’s out there. If Paul was dealing with them, we will have to be able to recognize them. Examples would be the Jesus of the: Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Hindus, etc. Many believe that Jesus was a prophet or a good man and not God in the flesh. I was “speaking” online to a young Jewish man the other day and had to explain that Mormons believe that they may be gods some day. “As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become.” You may see the origin of this statement HERE.
The purpose of this post is to support Paul’s message in the verse above that our core beliefs are simple. At the same time, there are many mysteries. How can man fully grasp the term “everlasting” or the term “a Triune God?” These are things we’ll never understand this side of heaven but we believe them because the Bible teaches them.
If you want to clear away the distress and confusion out there, meditate on these verses. Then, when you are ready, ask God to give you wisdom as you search His Word for answers.
God’s blessings…
Chris Reimers
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