ONLY A STEP TO JESUS “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock…” (Revelation 3:20)      INTRO.:  A song which reminds us that Jesus is standing at the door of our heart and waiting for us to invite Him in is “Only a Step to Jesus.”  The text was written by Mrs. Frances Crosby VanAlstyne, better known as Fanny J. Crosby (1820–1915).  The tune was composed by William Howard Doane (1832–1915).  The song first appeared in the 1873 Royal Diadem, edited by Doane and Robert Lowry for Biglow and Main of New York City, NY. Concerning this hymn, Ira David Sankey, in ..read more

O SAVE ME AT THE CROSS “…Justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9)      INTRO.:  A song which asks Jesus to save us from wrath by the blood which He shed on the cross is “O Save Me at the Cross” (sometimes without the “O”).  The text was written by Mrs. Francis Jane VanAlstyne, better known as Fanny J. Crosby (1820–1915).  It first appeared in the 1873 Winnowed Hymns, edited by Charles C. McCabe and Daniel T. Macfarlan and published by Biglow and Main of New York City, NY.     The tune (Jenin) has been vario ..read more

(Portrait of J. H. Necht) O JESUS, THOU ART STANDING “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…” (Revelation 3:20)      INTRO.:  A hymn which pictures Jesus standing and knocking at the doors of our hearts is “O Jesus, Thou Art Standing.”  The text was written in 1867 by William Walsham How (1823–1897).   How has given the following information about the writing of this hymn.  “I composed the hymn early in 1867, after I had been reading a very beautiful poem, entitled, ‘Brothers, and a Sermon” [by Jean Inglow]. The pathos of the verses impressed me ve ..read more

FOLLOW, I WILL FOLLOW THEE “…Lord, I will follow Thee…” (Luke 9:61)      INTRO.:  A song which expresses the desire to follow the Lord is “Follow, I Will Follow Thee.”  The text was written and the tune was composed both by Howard Longsdon Brown and his wife Pearl Margaret Winter Brown.  Some books list Margaret as the author and Howard as the composer.  Howard Longsdon (sometimes misspelled Longston) Brown was born on December 8, 1886 (some sources say 1889), at Los Angeles, California, to John Barnard Brown (1841–1909) and Fannie Longsdon Brown (1854–1 ..read more

(Grave marker of D.W, Dryden Sinclair) A PRAYER FOR YOU “…Pray one for another that ye may be healed…” (James 5:16)      INTRO.:  A hymn which talks about praying for one another is “A Prayer for You.”  The text was written by Donald William (D. W.) Dryden Sinclair, who was born on Mar. 13, 1911, at Owen Sound in Derby Township, Grey County, Ontario, Canada, one of seven children, to Donald Daniel Alexander (D. A.)  Sinclair (1884–1962) and Margaret McCall “Madge” Spears Sinclair (1890–1951).  When Dryden was born, his father was 26 and his mother was 2 ..read more

HONEY IN THE ROCK  “…And with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.” (Psalm 81:16)      INTRO.:  A song which compares the joy of salvation to the sweet satisfaction of honey is “Honey in the Rock.”  The text was written and the tune was composed both by Frederick Arthur Graves (1856–1927).  The song is dated 1895.  Another well-known song by Graves is “He Was Nailed to the Cross for Me” dated 1906.  Among major hymnbooks published by members of the Lord’s church for use in Churches of Christ, “Honey in the Rock” has not appeared ..read more

HE TOOK MY SINS AWAY “For this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” (Romans 11:27)      INTRO.:  A song which talks about the Lord’s taking away our sins is “He Took My Sins Away.”  The text was written and the tune was composed both by Margaret Jenkins Harris (1865–1919).  Born at Rushville, Illinois, Margaret was a member of the Iowa Holiness Association. She and her husband, song writer John Harris, were active in holiness revivals and camp meetings. They were song evangelists at the 1901 General Holiness Convention in Chicago, Ill ..read more

HE RANSOMED ME “Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Timothy 2:6)      INTRO.:  A song which tells how and why Jesus gave Himself as a ransom for all people is “He Ransomed Me.”  The text was written by Julia Harriet Johnston (1849–1919).  A minister’s daughter, and superintendent in a department of the Sunday School at her church for four decades, she was also the author of over five hundred hymns, including “Grace Greater Than Our Sin,” probably her best-known song.  The tune for “He Ransomed Me,” sometimes known by its f ..read more

HAVE FAITH IN GOD “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.” (Mark 11:22)     INTRO.:  A song which is based on the answer that Jesus gave to His apostles when they marveled at the withered fig tree is “Have Faith in God.”  The text was composed and the tune (Muskogee) was composed both by Baylus Benjamin (B.B.) McKinney (1886-1952).  McKinney was assisting in a revival meeting at the First Baptist Church of Muskogee, Oklahoma.  C. C. Morris, minister of the First Baptist Church of Ada, Oklahoma, was the evangelist during the meeting which ran ..read more

DEAR LORD, MY LIFE AND TIME ARE THINE “…For all things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee.”  (1 Chronicles 29:14)      INTRO.:  A hymn which reminds us that everything which we have comes from God is “Dear Lord, My Life and Time Are Thine.”  The text was written under the penname of Vana R. Raye by Lloyd Otis Sanderson (1901-1992).  The tune was composed by F. W. Fogg, about whom I have been unable to find any definite information.  I did locate an obituary for a Frederick William (F.W.)  “Bill” Fogg Jr., who was born on July 13 ..read more