This DATE – Tozer Born

ON-this-DATE   

 A. W. (Aiden Wilson) Tozer was born, 4/21/1897, at Newburg, PA (newer name).   Tozer was converted to Christ after hearing a street preacher in Akron, OH where Tozer worked making tires.  It is said that Tozer never owned a car nor learned to drive.  And that he made few pastoral calls.  He did pray, preach, and publish.  He and his wife Ada Cecelia (Pfautz) had six sons and a daughter.  Tozer wrote some forty books among which are God Tells the Man Who Cares, Keyes to the Deeper Life, The Knowledge of the Holy, The Pursuit of God,  The Root of Righteousness and Who Put Jesus on the Cross.  Tozer died 5/12/63 – his grave has this simple epitaph: “A W Tozer – A Man of God.”

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James Russell Lowell – birth, Feb. 22, 1819

Once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side;
Some great cause, some great decision, offering each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever, ’twixt that darkness and that light.

Then to side with truth is noble, when we share her wretched crust,
Ere her cause bring fame and profit, and ’tis prosperous to be just;
Then it is the brave man chooses while the coward stands aside,
Till the multitude make virtue of the faith they had denied.

By the light of burning martyrs, Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track,
Toiling up new Calv’ries ever with the cross that turns not back;
New occasions teach new duties, time makes ancient good uncouth,
They must upward still and onward, who would keep abreast of truth.

Though the cause of evil prosper, yet the truth alone is strong;
Though her portion be the scaffold, and upon the throne be wrong;
Yet that scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above His own.

James Russell Lowell was born this date 2/22/1819, at Cambridge, Massachusetts. 

He died in the same city 8/12/1891. 

The above is one of his better known works.

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Luther Burgess Bridgers – birth, Feb. 14, 1884

There’s within my heart a melody
Jesus whispers sweet and low,
Fear not, I am with thee, peace, be still,
In all of life’s ebb and flow.

Refrain

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Sweetest Name I know,
Fills my every longing,
Keeps me singing as I go.

 

2. All my life was wrecked by sin and strife,
Discord filled my heart with pain,
Jesus swept across the broken strings,
Stirred the slumbering chords again.

 

3. Feasting on the riches of His grace,
Resting ’neath His sheltering wing,
Always looking on His smiling face,
That is why I shout and sing.

 

4. Though sometimes He leads through waters deep,
Trials fall across the way,
Though sometimes the path seems rough and steep,
See His footprints all the way.

 

5. Soon He’s coming back to welcome me,
Far beyond the starry sky;
I shall wing my flight to worlds unknown,
I shall reign with Him on high.

 

Luther Burgess Bridgers was born this date,2/14/1884, at Margaretsville, North Carolina.  Luther, a Methodist, attended Asbury College, and then served as evan­gel­ist in the Amer­i­can South and in mis­sion works (Bel­gium, Czech­o­slo­vak­ia, and Rus­sia).  He pas­tored in Georg­ia and North Car­o­li­na.  He re­tir­ed in 1945 and died 5/27/1948 in Atlanta, Georg­ia.

He lost his wife and three sons in a fire (1910) – that is the basis of one verse of his song “He Keeps Me Singing;” what a testimony!

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Jonathan Goforth – birth, Feb. 10, 1859

Jonathan Goforth was born this date, 2/10/1859, on his father’s farm near Thorndale, Ontario, Canada.  He was number seven in a family of eleven.  Even after missing some schooling because of farm work, he graduated at the head of the class. After Jonathan was converted (18 years of age) he enrolled in Knox College, Toronto. He did personal work while a college student walking as high as 40 miles fromKnox College in this ministry.  Florence Rosalind Bell-Smith, a young lady of some means, was attracted to him and became his bride. China became their destination laboring together for 47 years, pioneering in the dangerous North Honan Province.

 

I highly recommend Rosalind’s book Goforth of China and his book, By My Spirit.  He died 10/8/1936  back in Ontario.

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Dietrich Bonhoeffer – birth, Feb. 4, 1906

We must make it clear—fearful as it is—that the time is very near when we shall have to decide between national socialism and Christianity… – 94  [1]

 

Christ’s work in us is not finished until He has perfected His own form in us.  – 116

 

Even those who honestly describe themselves as “religious” do not in the least act up to it, and so they presumably mean something quite different by “religious.”  – 169    

 

The real man is at liberty to be his creator’s creature…God loves the real man.  God became a real man.  – 179

 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was born this date, 2/4/1906 at Breslau, Poland.  In the 1930s Hitler took over churches in Germany, trying to make them his propaganda tools.  Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran, was among those who protested this power.  He was arrested in April 1943 and hung in 1944, after being accused of a plot (note “accused”) to kill Hitler.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Cost of Discipleship is well worth reading. 

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[1] Page references from Michael Van Dyke, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Opponent of the Nazi Regime (Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour Pub., 2001)

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Hans Poulsen Egede – birth, Jan. 31, 1686

Hans Poulsen Egede (ā’ gu dĕ) was born this date, 1/31/1686, at Hinnøya in Harstad, Norway, hundreds of miles north of the Artice Circle.  After being educated by his Lutheran uncle and at the University of Copenhagen (earned a Bachelor’s degree in Theology) he returned home.  In April 1707 he was ordained and in the same year married Gertrud Rask (maybe Rasch) 13 years older than him, to whom were born two sons and two daughters. 

 

In 1721 he sought permission from Frederick IV of Denmark to search for a colony in Greenland and establish a mission there.  He departed from Bergen on 5/12/1721 reaching Greenland July 3^rd.  Egede found the Inuit people, started mission among them and studied their language.  In translating the Lord’s Prayer (since they had no word for bread) he saw the equivalent as “Give us this day our daily harbor seal.”

 

Hans Egede left his son Paul in Greenland and traveled on August 9, 1736 with his other children to Denmark, to become principal of a Copenhagen seminary that trained missionaries for service to Greenland.

 

Of interest are at least two more facts:

He founded Godthåb Nuuk in today’s world which became the capital of Greenland.

And he gave one of the oldest descriptions of a sea serpent.

 

Egede died 11/5/1758 at Falster, Denmark.

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Sabine Baring-Gould – birth, Jan. 28, 1834

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!

 

Refrain

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

 

2. At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

 

3. Like a mighty army moves the churchof God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

 

4. What the saints established that I hold for true.
What the saints believèd, that I believe too.
Long as earth endureth, men the faith will hold,
Kingdoms, nations, empires, in destruction rolled.

 

5. Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.

 

6. Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.

 

Sabine (Sā’ben) Baring-Gould (bā’ring  goold’) was born this date, 1/28/1834, Exeter, England.  After attending schools in Germanyand France, he entered Clare College (Cambridge).  He is said to have learned six languages and hold an interest in archaeology and in architect.  He wrote 100 books (30 of those  novels) and a 16-volume Lives of the Saints.  These were in addition to pastoring.  He died1/2/1924, inEngland.

 He wrote “Now the Day Is Over” and “Onward, Christian Soldiers.”

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Edward Mote – birth, Jan. 21, 1797

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

 

Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

 

2. When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

 

3. His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

 

4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

 

            “One morn­ing it came into my mind as I went to la­bour, to write an hymn on the ‘Gra­cious Ex­per­i­ence of a Christ­ian.’ As I went up Hol­born I had the chor­us,

                        ‘On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
                        All other ground is sinking sand.’

            “In the day I had four first vers­es com­plete, and wrote them off.  On the Sab­bath fol­low­ing I met bro­ther King as I came out of Lisle Street Meet­ing…who in­formed me that his wife was ve­ry ill, and asked me to call and see her. I had an ear­ly tea, and called af­ter­wards.  He said that it was his usu­al custom to sing a hymn, read a por­tion, and en­gage in pray­er, be­fore he went to meet­ing.  He looked for his hymn-book but could find it no­where.  I said, ‘I have some vers­es in my pock­et; if he liked, we would sing them.’ We did, and his wife en­joyed them so much, that af­ter ser­vice he asked me, as a fa­vour, to leave a co­py of them for his wife.  I went home, and by the fire­side com­posed the last two vers­es, wrote the whole off, and took them to sis­ter King…As these vers­es so met the dy­ing wo­man’s case, my at­ten­tion to them was the more ar­rest­ed, and I had a thou­sand print­ed for dis­tr­ibu­tion.  I sent one to the Spir­it­u­al Mag­a­zine, with­out my ini­tials, which ap­peared some time af­ter this. Bro­ther Rees, of Crown Street, So­ho, brought out an edi­tion of hymns [1836], and this hymn was in it.  Da­vid Den­ham in­tro­duced it [1837] with Rees’ name, and others af­ter…Your in­sert­ing this brief out­line may in fu­ture shield me from the charge of stealth, and be a vin­di­ca­tion of truth­ful­ness in my con­nect­ion with the Church of God.”

Edward Mote
Let­ter to the Gos­pel Her­ald

 

The above is reported to be his words about this song.

 

Edward Mote was born this date, 1/21/1797 at London.  He was a cabinet maker who became a minister.  During his last 22 years he penned some 100 songs.  It is thought that Mote FIRST used the term “Gospel Songs.” 

He died11/13/1874at Hor­sham,Sus­sex,Eng­land.

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Gerhard Tersteegen – birth, Nov. 25, 1697

God Calling Yet;  Shall I Not Hear?

 

God calling yet; shall I not hear?
Earth’s pleasures shall I still hold dear?
Shall life’s swift passing years all fly,
And still my soul in slumber lie?

God calling yet; shall I not rise?
Can I His loving voice despise,
And basely His kind care repay?
He calls me still—can I delay?

God calling yet, and shall He knock,
And I my heart the closer lock?
He still is waiting to receive,
And shall I dare His Spirit grieve?

Ah, yield Him all; in Him confide;
Where but with Him doth peace abide?
Break loose, let earthly bonds be riven,
And let the spirit rise to heaven.

God calling yet; and shall I give
No heed, but still in bondage live?
I wait, but He does not forsake;
He calls me still—my heart, awake!

God calling yet; I cannot stay;
My heart I yield without delay;
Vain world, farewell! from thee I part;
The voice of God hath reached my heart.

Gerhard Tersteegen [1] was born this date11/25/1697 at Meurs (maybe seenMors orMoers), Rhenish (maybe seenWestphalia or Nie­der­rhein),Prussia.  He was converted to Christ at age sixteen.  About 1724 he began doing religious teaching supported by gifts from friends. His ministry included the physical and spiritual needs, and the preparing of foods and simple medicines for those less blessed. After 1728, Tersteegen was an itin­er­ant minister in the Pro­test­ant “spir­i­tu­al awak­en­ing move­ment” in Niederrhein.  He is known to have translated some French Quietist works.  And he left behind a hymn, “God Calling Yet; Shall I Not Hear?”

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[1] It is claimed that his real name was Dutch “Gerrit ter Steegen”

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Haldor Lillenas – birth, Nov. 19, 1885

Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden,
Setting my spirit free;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Refrain Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Wonderful grace, all sufficient for me, for even me.
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame,
O magnify the precious Name of Jesus.
Praise His Name!

2. Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching to all the lost,
By it I have been pardoned,
Saved to the uttermost,
Chains have been torn asunder,
Giving me liberty;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

3. Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching the most defiled,
By its transforming power,
Making him God’s dear child,
Purchasing peace and heaven,
For all eternity;
And the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Haldor Lillenas was born this date,11/19/1885, at Island of Stord, Norway.  His Lutheran family moved to the US and after a stay in South Dakota (Colton, a few miles NW of Sioux Falls) settled  in Oregon.

 

Haldor was converted to personal faith in Jesus Christ at age 21 under the influence of the  Penial Mission in Portland.  He almost immediately felt a call to minister God’s Holy Word becoming a Nazarene as was his wife, Bertha Mae Wilson, also a song writer.

 

God gave Lillenas some 4,000 Gospel texts plus hundreds of hymn tunes, including the above.  In 1924 he founded Lillenas Music Company (bought by the Nazarenes in 1930) and worked there until he retired in 1950.  He passed away at Aspen, CO, 8/18/1959.

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