Monday, October 24, 2011

Fall Hymn Sing

I haven't been blogging much lately because I've been attending a lot of rehearsals preparing for last night's fall Hymn Sing.  Everything went very well.  In fact, I think last night's Hymn Sing was the best one yet!  People came from all over again, both young and old alike, and consequently the sanctuary was packed.  It was a great night of singing praises to our Lord, with 800+ voices nearly lifting the roof off!

We did one thing a little differently this time — we paid tribute to George Beverly Shea.  He turned 102 this year and was presented the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award this past February.  I'm sure many of you know that he was the soloist for the Billy Graham crusade ministry for many, many years.  According to Guinness World Records, Shea has sung before more people than anyone else — an estimated combined live audience of 220 million people. But not only did he sing during his 80 year career, he also recorded more than 70 albums and wrote several popular worship songs. Someone once asked Shea, "Why have you been doing this all these years?" He put his thumb up to the air toward heaven, and I answer, "I've been doing it for him."

Here's a song George Beverly Shea wrote that we sang last night.  It's one of my favorites!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk9f8zhTwIg&feature=related

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold
I'd rather be His than have riches untold
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.

I'd rather have Jesus than worldly applause
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame
I'd rather be true to His holy name.

Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin's dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

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