Diana Leagh Matthews shares with us, "The Old Rugged Cross is often requested during hymn sings. The message seems to be one that everyone can cling onto.
 |
| George Barnard |
Three different sites claim to be the home of this well loved hymn.
The hymn was written by George Barnard, a minister ordained by the Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. Bernard began his ministry in the Salvation Army.
While going through a difficult time in his own life, Rev. Bernard reflected on the significance of the cross. During the Christmas season of 1912 he began work on the melody that would become The Old Rugged Cross.
Once he’d finished the melody, he began working on the lyrics in the kitchen of his rented home in Albion, Michigan.
He continued working on the lyrics when 1913 rolled around. He was still working on the lyrics when he preached a revival in Sturgeon Bay, Michigan.
He said the “words were put on my heart in answer to my own special need.”
The hymn was first performed at the final revival meeting on January 12, 1913.
Upon completion of the Sturgeon Bay revival, Rev. Bernard immediately went to Pokagon, Michigan to preside over another revival.
During this revival Rev. Bernard performed his newly written song. Later four members of First Methodist Episcopal Church performed the song.
 |
| Charles Gabriel |
The Old Rugged Cross was first published in 1915. Homer Redeheaver and Virginia Asher were the first to record the song in 1921.
Albion, Sturgeon Bay and Pokagon have all claimed to be the home of this song over the last one hundred years.
In Albion, Michigan, the site near where Bernard’s lived is a historical marker that says “The Old Rugged Cross, one of the world’s best loved hymns, was composed here in 1912…”
The Friends Community Church in Sturgeon Bay has a garden with a cross on it to commemorate the first singing of the hymn.
Pokagon has a garden and historical marker claiming to be the birthplace.
Pokagon has a garden and historical marker claiming to be the birthplace.
Rev. Bernard retired to Reed City, Michigan where they have a museum dedicated to his life and ministry. Over the last century a number of artists have recorded the popular hymn."
Due to different preferences, I've listed four links to folks who sang this song. Enjoy:
The Old Rugged Cross by Johnny & June Carter Cash
The Old Rugged Cross by Elvis Presley
The Old Rugged Cross by Craig Wayne Boyd (The Voice
2014 Semifinals)
Pray with me:
Father, we are familiar with The Old Rugged Cross, and love
it's message for us.
Thank You for inspiring the writers of the words and music of
this song, which reminds us of Jesus' sacrificial death on our
behalf.
As we choose one of the renditions above, may we worship along with the singer.
We know that folks continue to cherish this old, familiar hymn. And we ask for your blessing on them, as they sing this from time to time, in Jesus' name, amen.
Today’s Bible verse: Ps. 107:31 "Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"
Our praise verse: 2 Samuel 22:47 "The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior!"
Our praise verse: 2 Samuel 22:47 "The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior!"
Today's praise verse: 2 Samuel 22:4 "I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies."
Today’s quote: Lenn L. Latham - "Prayer is the act of entering into the presence of God. It is the highest privilege anyone can know. People sometimes spend weeks or even months in preparing to be received formally by some earthly king, but the privilege of prayer, the privilege of entering into the presence of the King of Kings, is granted to us just as often as we desire." (p. 125 of Let God In, out of print).
Some thoughts today: The first believers gave themselves to the teaching of the apostles. (see Acts 17:11) Our question today is, do we give ourselves to the messages our faithful pastors share each Sunday?
- Do we pay attention to the preaching of God's Word and then, search the Scriptures at home, too? Do we pray to get as much out of them as we can?
- God wants us to put into practice the principles we're taught by godly men and women. Since our teachers must first have been good students who listened and put into action what they heard, let's do the same.
- Do we pay attention to the preaching of God's Word and then, search the Scriptures at home, too? Do we pray to get as much out of them as we can?
- God wants us to put into practice the principles we're taught by godly men and women. Since our teachers must first have been good students who listened and put into action what they heard, let's do the same.
10th- Tuesday’s post: #47 Demons Behind Bushes?
C. Peter Wagner
12th- Thursday's post: #48 Territoriality Then and Now
C. Peter Wagner
14th- Saturday's post: Approaching God
Laurence Darmani
15th- Sunday evening's post: Lord, Hold Me a Minute
James H. Cagle
with us, “God will send me the man of my dreams … right to my front door."
"At least that’s what a woman I met at the store believed. She was convinced God would send the man of her dreams to her house.
Maybe she planned on marrying the mailman,.."
.jpg)
A great gift for someone who
needs help in their marriage
"At least that’s what a woman I met at the store believed. She was convinced God would send the man of her dreams to her house.
Maybe she planned on marrying the mailman,.."
Kindle $1.99
A great gift for someone who
needs help in their marriage
Bridal Shower Devotional
Bridal Wisdom for Women
My book in paperback $7.95
No comments:
Post a Comment