Lifespring! HymnStories

By Steve Webb

The stories behind the great Chistian hymns.... more

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The podcast currently has 82 episodes available.

Lifespring! HymnStories episodes:

January 30, 2008 HS43: Lifespring! HymnStories “Rock Of Ages”
Today we learn about the classic “Rock Of Ages”. There’s a surprising twist at the end of today’s narrative.
Music
The London Fox Singers
“Rock Of Ages” (mp3)
from “Hymn styles – Down-Home Gospel”
(Classic Fox Records)
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Instrumental music was Jim Fidler’s “Lillian, A Portrait In Sound”.
Rock Of Ages
Lyrics: Augustus M. Toplady
Music: Thomas Hastings
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.
Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
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6min
December 18, 2007 HS42: Lifespring! HymnStories “What Child Is This?”
Our carol today is “What Child Is This.”
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
What words of triumph and joy! Despite the melancholic melody, this song is a song of celebration of the birth of the King of kings.
After we hear about the background of this beautiful song, we’ll hear an artist that I’m pleased to say that I personally introduced to podcasting. I found Cat Jahnke’s music at garageband.com early in 2007, loved it, emailed her, told her about podcasting, and she responded by posting several of her songs at the Podsafe Music Network for podcasters to use on their shows. Now she’s got this new CD of Christmas music, and I just love it. I think you’ll enjoy her rendition of our carol today.
Today’s Artists
Vocal rendition: Cat Jahnke “What Child Is This”

Joemy Wilson
“What Child Is This?” (mp3)
from “Gifts – Traditional Christmas Carols”
(Dargason Music)
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Thanks!
A tip of the hat to HomeSchoolBlogAwards.com. They recently listed Lifespring! HymnStories on their Tuesday Tour of great websites for homeschoolers. Being a former homeschooling dad, I think this is very cool. Thanks Rhonda!
“What Child Is This?”
William Chatterton Dix
What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
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8min
December 12, 2007 HS41: Lifespring! HymnStories “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
The origins of this plaintive carol date to medieval times. In the 800s, a series of Latin hymns were sung each day during Christmas Vespers from December 17 to 23. To hear how John Mason Neale came to write this hymn, and how it is related to the Latin hymns, listen to the show.
Karmyn Tyler sang a very special, exclusive rendition of this hymn for this show. Thank you Karmyn!
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Lyrics translated by John M. Neale
Music: Thomas Helmore
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Refrain
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Refrain
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.
Refrain
O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Refrain
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Refrain
O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Refrain
O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.
Refrain
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
Refrain
Today’s Artists
Doug Boldt…”O Come, O Come, Emmanuel with What Child Is This?”
Karmyn Tyler, with her exclusive “Lifespring! Why Christmas Show” rendition of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
Thank you, Karmyn!

Karmyn Tyler
Photography: Michael D’Ambrosia
The post HS41: Lifespring! HymnStories “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” first appeared on Lifespring! Media.
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8min
December 05, 2007 HS40: Lifespring! HymnStories “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear”
Today, we’re going to hear the story behind the beautiful Christmas carol, “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.”
Written in 1849 by Edmund Hamilton Sears, a Unitarian minister, this was the second of two “twin” carols. (Listen to the show for more.)
Lyrics
“It Came Upon A Midnight Clear”
It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heavens all gracious King!”
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
O’er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o’er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.
O ye beneath life’s crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.
For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.
“Calm On The Listening Ear”
Calm on the listening ear of night
Come heaven’s melodious strains,
Where wild Judea stretches far
Her silver mantled plains.
Celestial choirs from courts above
Shed sacred glories there,
And angels, with their sparkling lyres,
Make music on the air.
Artists On This Show
London Fox Players & Tim Mather
“It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” (mp3)
from “20 Peaceful Christmas Favorites”
(Classic Fox Records)
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Benjamin

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9min
September 11, 2007 HS39: Lifespring! HymnStories “Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus”
An amazing and surprising story lies behind this great hymn, which was written in 1858.
Artists on today’s show:
The Eden Symphony Orchestra
“Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” (mp3)
from “How Great Thou Art – 50 Orchestral Hymns”
(Classic Fox Records)
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The London Fox Singers
“Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus” (mp3)
from “Hymn Styles – Kids Sing Hymns Volume 1”
(Classic Fox Records)
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Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus
Lyrics: George Duffield, Jr.
Music: George J. Webb
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the solemn watchword hear;
If while ye sleep He suffers, away with shame and fear;
Where’er ye meet with evil, within you or without,
Charge for the God of battles, and put the foe to rout.Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the trumpet call obey;
Forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day.
Ye that are brave now serve Him against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the Gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer;
Where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, each soldier to his post,
Close up the broken column, and shout through all the host:
Make good the loss so heavy, in those that still remain,
And prove to all around you that death itself is gain.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle, the next the victor’s song.
To those who vanquish evil a crown of life shall be;
They with the King of Glory shall reign eternally.
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6min
August 30, 2007 HS38: Lifespring! HymnStories “There Is A Fountain”
William Cowper is one of God’s gracious gifts to those suffering from depression. Like the Psalmist who cried, “Why are you cast down, O my soul?”, Cowper shows us that our emotional struggles often give us heightened sensitivity to the heart of God and to the needs of others.
Listen to the show for more of the story behind this wonderful hymn.
Artists
Instrumental version:
Prayers For This Century
Vocal version:
The London Fox Singers
“There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood” (mp3)
from “Hymn styles – Praise Ensemble”
(Classic Fox Records)

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Lyrics by William Cowper
Written in 1772
There is a fountain filled with blood
drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
and sinners plunged beneath that flood
lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains,
lose all their guilty stains;
and sinners plunged beneath that flood
lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see
that fountain in his day;
and there may I, though vile as he,
wash all my sins away.
Wash all my sins away,
wash all my sins away;
and there may I, though vile as he,
wash all my sins away.
Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood
shall never lose its power
till all the ransomed church of God
be saved, to sin no more.
Be saved, to sin no more,
be saved, to sin no more;
till all the ransomed church of God
be saved, to sin no more.
E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream
thy flowing wounds supply,
redeeming love has been my theme,
and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die,
and shall be till I die;
redeeming love has been my theme,
and shall be till I die.
Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I’ll sing thy power to save,
when this poor lisping, stammering tongue
lies silent in the grave.
Lies silent in the grave,
lies silent in the grave;
when this poor lisping, stammering tongue
lies silent in the grave.
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8min
June 22, 2007 HS37: Lifespring! HymnStories “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”
The story of Fisk University, and how American music history was forever changed by a fund raising tour, continues with this episode of HymnStories.
Lyrics: “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”
Chorus:
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Comin’ for to carry me home;
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Comin’ for to carry me home.
I looked over Jordan,
And what did I see,
Comin’ for to carry me home,
A band of angels comin’ after me,
Comin’ for to carry me home.
Repeat chorus:
If you get there before I do,
Comin’ for to carry me home,
Tell all my friends I’m comin’ too,
Comin’ for to carry me home.
Performed by:
LaTonya Peoples
LaTonya Peoples
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8min
June 13, 2007HS36: Lifespring! HymnStories “Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen”
This old “Negro Spiritual” shares a very important place in American music history with another very well-known song that will be the subject of Lifespring! HymnStories number thirty-seven.
Fisk University of Nashville, Tennessee, is part of the story as well.
Lyrics: “Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen”
Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen
Nobody knows but Jesus
Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen
Glory Hallelujah
Sometimes I’m up, sometimes I’m down, oh, yes, Lord
Sometimes I’m almost to the ground, oh, yes, Lord
Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen
Nobody knows but Jesus
Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen
Glory Hallelujah
If you get there before I do, oh, yes, Lord,
Tell all my friends I’m coming through, oh, yes, Lord
Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen
Nobody knows but Jesus
Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen
Glory Hallelujah
Performed by:
Download “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen” (mp3)
from “James Morrison: Gospel Collection Volume Two”
by James Morrison
Classic Fox Records
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10min
June 11, 2007 HS35: Lifespring! HymnStories “Day By Day”
Written by the “Fanny Crosby of Sweden”, Karolina W. Sandell-Berg, this hymn was born out of a personal tragedy. Listen for the story behind the hymn.
Day By Day
Lyrics: Karolina Sandell-Berg
Music: Oskar Ahnfelt
Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best–
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
Every day, the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He Whose Name is Counselor and Pow’r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.
Help me then in every tribulation
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.
Performed by

Download “Day By Day” (mp3)
from “Worship Hymns: Traditional”
by Kristina
Devotion Music
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8min
June 01, 2007 HS34: Lifespring! HymnStories “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
(We did this hymn back on Episode 5, but we did not have the lyrics being sung. This episode includes Karmyn Tyler singing this beautiful hymn.)
“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”, popularized by George Beverly Shea and the Billy Graham Crusade choirs.
Thomas O. Chisholm
William M. Runyan
Arrangement: Heidi Henninger
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
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7min

FAQs about Lifespring! HymnStories:

How many episodes does Lifespring! HymnStories have?

The podcast currently has 82 episodes available.