Christian Photographers Community

No.. Not Joseph Scriven; however, this is another story I hadn't heard either, Pat.

Oh gosh, its really irking me not to think of the hymn or writer... .

Oh... I just thought of it.. ... "AMAZING GRACE"... thats it...have you the bio on that Pat?

You know, this might be of interest., for us to name some favourite hymns, and look up who wrote them, and the bio, or reason on how they happened to be written.

Any thoughts on that anyone?

Well Janet, Pat & Judy it seems that my post was well worth while. Thank you for all the background details. It is simply amazing the number of the great Christian Hymn who suffered a great deal in this world.

Now I am going to attempt to post some photos of my trips to Romania............................................................................somewhere!!

Don't know where they'll end up.

Pat I think Judy is refering to "It is well" The man who lost his wife and son at sea.

Judy, I found this...


John Newton, 1725-1807

March the 21st is a day to be remembered by me. I have never suffered it to pass wholly unnoticed since the year 1748. On that day the Lord sent from on high and delivered me from deep waters.'

So wrote John Newton in his autobiography, aptly titled, "Out of the Depths". It was on that memorable day that Newton came into a personal, saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Ever since he had been a young boy, John Newton had dreamed of following in the footsteps of his father, a sea captain. At the tender age of eleven he joined his father's ship which sailed the warm, blue waters of the Mediterranean and for the best part of the next twenty years that ambition was realised.

Life for the young mariner was by no means a matter of 'plain sailing', however. Growing up, he soon learned the ways of wickedness - to his terrible cost. He fought with his father, clashed with his employers, was flogged for desertion, and finally ended up in jail.

Punishment did nothing to change him, and on his release he continued his immoral living with unrestrained debauchery.

Eventually, by a long sequence of tragic events, he found himself employed in one of the most despicable of all trades in those days, slavery.

What a poor, miserable, wretched sinner John Newton turned out to be! And yet, it was in the Lord's great plan to deliver him and make something of him.

Here's how it happened. And if you know anything about ships and the sea you'll be able to put yourself in Newton's shoes; or should it be sea-boots!

The year was 1748 and it was the month of March, when the seas are at their most violent.

A raging storm was blowing of the North-West coast of Ireland and Newton and his ship were caught in the midst of it.

Thundering waves pounded the helpless vessel again and again, crashing over the decks, filling it with water and threatening to send it and its crew to the bottom. Newton and his ship-mates strained at the pumps but it seemed a hopeless task as the mighty waves broke relentlessly over them.

The ship was just about to break up when Newton, fearing for his very life, saw a ray of hope.

'If this will not do, then the Lord have mercy on us,' he cried, and then the thought of 'mercy' came to him again.

'What mercy can there be for me,' he wondered, but, nevertheless, began to pray in earnest. In a remarkable way God answered and the storm was abated.

That 'memorable day' as Newton later referred to it was March 21st 1748 and he was then 23 years old.

He finally gave up seafaring in 1755 and was appointed tide surveyor at Liverpool where he became acquainted with George Whitefiled and John Wesley.

He began the study of Greek and Hebrew and in 1758 applied to the archbishop of York for ordination to the Church of England ministry but was refused.

However, in 1764, he was offered the curacy of the parish of St. Peter and St. Paul at Olney in Buckinghamshire, and was ordained by the bishop of Lincoln.

Three years later the poet William Cowper, of whom we'll hear later in this book, settled in the parish and the two men became firm friends.

Together they published Olney Hymns, for which Newton himself wrote a number of pieces, including "How Sweet The Name Of Jesus Sounds", and, most famous of all, "Amazing Grace".

"Amazing Grace" has been a firm favourite with Christians everywhere for many years. I'm sure it will always remain so. It is, after all, Newton's own testimony in song, telling the marvellous story of his transformation from spiritual blindness to sight - and all through grace.

In I779 Newton left Olney to become rector of St. Mary Woolnoth, in London. There he continued to exercise an important and fruitful ministry for the remaining 28 years of his life.

Living in the capital city and close to the seat of power in government he was able to influence many in authority, among them, William Wilberforce, the future leader in the campaign to abolish slavery. That must surely have given the former slave ship captain particular satisfaction.

John Newton was also a great writer of devotional letters. These are widely published and some would say were his greatest contributions to the evangelical movement of those times.

He died in London on December 21st 1807, having served the Lord and his church faithfully for almost 60 years.

Towards the end of his life he often told his audiences, 'My memory is nearly gone but I can remember two things; that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Saviour.'

On his tombstone in the churchyard of his former parish at Olney are these words:

John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned and appointed to preach the faith he had long laboured to destroy.

What else can be said other than that John Newton was well qualified to preach and describe God's 'Amazing grace'.

 

I thank you all for the very nice things you say from my picture. Sometimes it is my wonder if it is wrong for me to play so much here in a place for God. I come here and did not know at times I have make such a noise. It is not my wish to ever take away from the glory of God here. I hope you all will forgive me at times.  

Ms JudyB, I hope you did get to asleep last night. I know you are up very late.  

Mr Iain, a bonnie lass, I thank you. And I do like your words today, they are a help to me.  

Mr Hanna, it is very nice to see you.  

Ms Etta Sue and Mr Jerry, and Ms Karmat, and Mr Bernard and little Mr Travis. How wonderful you are together. I hope you are safe as you travel.  

A Hello to Papa John and Ms Cornelia, to Ms Carol and to Ms Jen.  

Ms Janet, I did not ever know of a hail like this I read here on the CP.  

A HUG and Hi to Ms Sonifo today, I hope it is a most wonderful day for you.  

Ms Marilyn I am VERY excite to see how happy you will be in your new home.  

Hi Mr Moak, and a question, what is INRI and why is it on a cross with Jesus?  

And a welcome to Mr Killough I am mieka.  

A VERY big HI to Mr Larry and Sandy Rockwell, and a (((hug))) You say -now I am speaking like a second grade student -maybe. – I DO undarstand this. It is often a shame to me when I make a mistakes. I am glad my friends here are kind and help me.  

Oh MY it has take a very long time for me to write all this. I will just wish you all a good day today. I love you all, and I love you God.  

OH and a HI ms McKenna    

And a (((hug))) I love you Ms Pat, I thank you for so much.

377. It Is Well with My Soul
Text: Horatio G. Spafford
Music: Philip P. Bliss
Tune: VILLE DU HAVRE, Meter: 11 8.11 9 with Refrain
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.   When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
   when sorrows like sea billows roll;
   whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
   It is well, it is well with my soul.
Refrain:
   It is well with my soul,
   it is well, it is well with my soul.

2.   Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
   let this blest assurance control,
   that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
   and hath shed his own blood for my soul.
   (Refrain)

3.   My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
   My sin, not in part but the whole,
   is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
   praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
   (Refrain)

4.   And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
   the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
   the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
   even so, it is well with my soul.
   (Refrain)


http://hymnsite.com/

I am listening to it now.

Iain did it!  He posted a photo!

Click here to see it[/b]  It's of Romania!  

Great job, Iain.

PRAISE REPORT

God is so good. He never fails to answer my prayers. I got the job for the Storage facility, Assistant Manager. Will probably start July 15th, I got the phone call this morning.

I am doing the Pentacostal Happy Dance
Lets all do the Happy Dance together  Now I won't be sitting around
growing old and kintting.

TTYL

Great news Marilyn, I'm really pleased for you. God is good.

Melvin M. Killough!!

Good afternooon....the Memorial Service was great.  Sad but great to see relatives that I hadn't see for years and some that I had never seen before.  Lots of memories was brought to the service.  It was a very informal service but very memorable.

Janet and Papa John ~ I really like the analogies of computers, electricity and God.  I don't understand electricity either.  Just enough that I respect it and have a fear.  Same with God.  With either, if you don't do right you can be in BIG trouble!

Mieka ~ I forgot to mention how great your new photo is.  Each picture you post, you get prettier.  Well, with exception of one of them.....  God likes for us to laugh and be happy.  Your posts enables us to do his wishes.

Marilyn ~  Happy Days.  I thought I heard a rumble to the west...then I realized that it was you doint the Pentacostal Happy Dance!!!

Now I am off to see Iain's pictures!!!

We're so happy to see Chris and Margit back from their trip to Germany!

[size=25]WELCOME TO MELVIN!![/size]

Glad to see everyone posting.  I must admit, biographies are my favourite type of story!  And I've been spoiled with all the stories on here today!  I just finished reading "No Compromise" the life story of Kieth Green.  Wonderful man, God used him so mightily.

Hope you are all having a wonderful day.  God bless you.  Jen.

WELCOME BOYET QUILON
WE ARE SO GLAD YOU JOINED US HERE.

The graduation this morning was just lovely, although the gym got really hot and "stuffy".  The entire floor of the gym was filled with chairs and the bleachers on both sides were full - some of the late-comers had to stand.  We took seats near the back so that we'd be able to leave without disturbing people if/when it got to be too much for Gene so we were way out of photo range.  I did try taking several, hoping that with the 3x zoom, high resolution and exposure adjustments I could still get some fairly decent shots, but I didn't get one single good picture.  Oh, well.  

The day was one of those days the poem was written about - you know...  "What is so rare as a day in June.... "

Mieka - the letters INRI are found on the Roman Catholic renditions of the Cross (paintings, crucifixes, etc.).  They reflect Matthew 27:37, which speaks of the words Pilate had written to state the accusation against Jesus.  The actual words are, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."  Translated into Latin, the first letters of these words are INRI.

Well!  How dumb can I be??  I was reading here, and decided to post this message, and couldn't.  I had forgotten to sign in.  Wake up, Janice!

Anyway, I was interested in the songs you were talking about, and the authors had suffered some tragedy in their lives.  It reminded me of this song, and I think its author had some sort of tragic background.  Do any of you know about it?  I love to hear George Beverly Shea sing this one.  

THE LOVE OF GOD

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.

Refrain

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song.

When years of time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God's love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam's race—
The saints' and angels' song.

Refrain

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

Refrain

Janice, here you are...


~The Love of God

      Frederick M. Lehman, author and composer, wrote a pamphlet, in 1948, entitled History of the Song, The Love of God. It tells about the origin of this beloved hymn—

      While at camp-meeting in a mid-western state, some fifty years ago in our early ministry, an evangelist climaxed his message by quoting the last stanza of this song. The profound depths of the line moved us to preserve the words for future generations.

      Not until we had come to California did this urge find fulfillment, and that at a time when circumstances forced us to hard manual labor.

      One day, during short intervals of inattention to our work, we picked up a scrap of paper and, seated upon an empty lemon box pushed against the wall, with a stub pencil, added the (first) two stanzas and chorus of the song.

      Since the lines (3rd stanza from the Jewish poem) had been found penciled on the wall of a patient's room in an insane asylum, the general opinion was that this inmate had written the epic in moments of sanity.

      Actually, the key-stanza (third verse) under question as to its authorship was written nearly one thousand years ago by a Jewish songwriter, and put on the score page by F.M. Lehman, a Gentile songwriter, in 1917.

—Selected

Thank you, Pat.  You are so quick, how do you do it??  

How are you doing today?  Getting a little much needed rest, I hope.

Well, the skies turned dark in the last couple of minutes, and it is raining - so I better get unplugged here!

Later......
Love to all,  Janice

I love that hymn, Janice.  I used to sing it a lot when Jack preached.


Here it is with the music altogether...

Janice, I have always loved that song, The Love of God, the words and music.  Thanks, Pat, for your information.

Marilyn, ah yes, we are all so happy for you that you got that job.  Seems like everything is working well for you.  

--- Papa John              <)))><<

 

It was nice to be able to welcome two new members today.  Let's make sure that they feel welcome here.

I've opened a new thread for tomorrow...

Click Here.