Feeling like praising God? Sing along with this song. He deserves all praise and honor.
-CR
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
March 18, 2016
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Posted by Chris
I HEARD THE BELLS
December 24, 2010When 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.
On July 9, 1861, Fanny was attempting to preserve locks of her daughter’s hair in a packet using hot sealing wax near an open window.
Her lightweight dress suddenly caught fire and quickly engulfed her in flames.
Hearing her screams, Henry rushed in from the next room and tried desperately to smother the fire with his own body
Fanny suffered catastrophic burns and died the following day.
Henry was severely burned on his face, hands, and arms, leaving him with permanent scars that prevented him from shaving.
Deeply traumatized and grief-stricken, Henry poured his sorrow into his work years later.
Henry had experienced a great loss earlier in his life.
In October 1835, while traveling in Europe, his first wife, Mary Potter Longfellow, suffered a miscarriage at six months.
She never recovered from the ordeal and died in Amsterdam a few weeks later in November 1835 at just 22 years old.
Years later Henry experienced another tragic event.
Charles, Henry’s oldest son, a lieutenant in the Army of the Potomac, was severely wounded in the Battle of New Hope Church.
Charles is best known for running away to fight in the American Civil War and for his extensive travels in Asia.
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 this Christmas season, just like He did to Mr. Longfellow on that Christmas day long ago.
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”
This is Sarah McLachlan’s version:
4 Comments | Commentary, LIFE, Love of God, Words that Uplift, worship | Tagged: Charles Wadsworth Longfellow, Emily Longfellow, Fanny Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, Tragic events | Permalink
Posted by Chris
“AND THEY FOUND THE STONE ROLLED AWAY FROM THE TOMB,” LUKE 24:2
April 4, 2010Why not go to the source? The next nine verses of Luke 24 describe the reason for the hope of mankind. Without the resurrection of Jesus, we would be lost. -CR
“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ And they remembered His words, and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gggPpVtEKQ&t=2s
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Posted by Chris
WEEKLY WRAP-UP FOR 3-19-2016
March 19, 2016I had the great pleasure to “talk” to a few of my students from over 30 years ago when I was teaching in San Francisco, California. I remembered each of them and, happily, they remembered me. It was a short but very sweet conversation over Facebook. I don’t remember them because I taught them in my first years of teaching. I remember them because they were special young people and it appears that hasn’t changed (except for their ages.) I enjoyed connecting with Tim, Martha, Ernest, and Dorothy again.
If you saw THIS POST, you will see that I’m organizing a peaceful demonstration in Hot Springs, Arkansas in April. You can CLICK HERE to listen to my friend in California explain why. All are welcome to my protest.
HOW DID WE GET HERE states that there is scientific evidence that evolution is “operationally impossible” (a scientific term).
I put up a post about the dating of the writing of the book of REVELATION HERE.
HOW TO BE A BAD MOTHER IN NORWAY explains that, according to Norwegian society, it is almost impossible to be a good Mom. It is an interesting article from a young lady living in Norway and posted on “Frog in the Fjord.”
Oh, and if you wish to worship God right there at your computer, please listen and sing along with the post called “Holy, Holy, Holy.” This was my favorite hymn as a child and still is.
God’s blessings to each of you.
Chris Reimers
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