Albert Simpson Reitz – death, Nov. 1, 1966

I have a Redeemer, O worship His Name,
He bore my transgressions, my sin and my shame,
And in His own body on Calvary’s tree,
He took them upon Him that I might go free.

Oh, wonderful love that saved me from sin!
Oh, wonderful love that cleansed me within!
His Spirit bears witness that now I am saved;
All glory to Jesus,
I’m saved, I’m saved, I’m saved!

I have a Redeemer Who calls me his own,
He bids me come boldly before His great throne;
Because I am pardoned and cleansed by His blood,
And guiltless, tho’ living ’mid earth’s evil flood.

Yes, sweet are Thy mercies, O Savior divine,
In tender compassion Thou madest me Thine;
With Thee I will journey till life’s day is done,
And all thro’ the ages give praise to the Son.

Albert Simpson Reitz died this date 11/1/1966.  Thought he was the son of a Methodist minister he evangelized and pastored for the Baptists. Reitz is credited with over a hundred published hymns, the above being one.  He also wrote “Teach Me to Pray, Lord.”  He was born 1/20/1879 at Lyons, Kansas.

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Glenn Griffith – birth, Aug. 17, 1894

The only place where God works is in the realm of faith…

                Glenn Griffith, I Sought for a Man (missing city: publisher, date), 15.

God is looking for somebody that’s looking for God.

                Glenn Griffith, I Sought for a Man (missing city: publisher, date), 16.

The only way to keep saved is to get sanctified.

                Glenn Griffith, I Sought for a Man (missing city: publisher, date), 24.

It [sin] pays wages in three installments:             1) It kills the conscience,

                                                                        2) Dries up the fountain of emotion,

                                                                        3) Breaks the power of resistance.

                Glenn Griffith, I Sought for a Man (missing city: publisher, date), 39.

If men are not stirred to love God, they will trifle until they love something else.

                Glenn Griffith, I Sought for a Man (missing city: publisher, date), 40.

Glenn Griffith was born this date, 8/17/1894 at Augusta, KS.  He was one of the eleven children of John and Elizabeth Griffith.  His first pastorate was at Newton, Kansas.  He as a compassionate preacher with real tears (in his eyes, not his “voice”) who graced the platforms of many holiness camps including Sea Breeze Camp (FL).  He was a leading influence in the Interchurch Holiness Convention.  “Grif” (as his contemporaries called him) departed this life on 1/12/1976.

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Albert S Reitz – birth, Jan. 20, 1879

1. Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray;
     This is my heart-cry, day unto day.
     I long to know Thy will and Thy way;
     Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.
 
  Refrain
     Living in Thee, Lord, and Thou in me,
     constant abiding, this is my plea;
     Grant me Thy power, boundless and free,
     Power with men and power with Thee.
 
  2. Power in prayer, Lord, power in prayer!
     Here 'mid earth's sin and sorrow and care,
     Men lost and dying, souls in despair,
     O give me power, power in prayer!
   
  3. My weakened will, Lord, thou canst renew;
     My sinful nature Thou canst subdue.
     Fill me just now with power anew,
     Power to pray and power to do!
   
  4. Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray;
     Thou art my pattern day unto day.
     Thou art my surety, now and for aye;
     Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.
Albert Simpson Reitz was born this date (1/20/1879) in Lyons, Kansas.  
He wrote 100 hymns in addition to pastoring several Baptist churches.  
He died 11/1/1966.

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Cyrus Nusbaum – death, Dec. 27, 1937

“Would You Live for Jesus”    (aka “His Way with Thee”)

Would you live for Jesus, and be always pure and good?
Would you walk with Him within the narrow road?
Would you have Him bear your burden, carry all your load?
Let Him have His way with thee.

Refrain

His power can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul, and you will see
’Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.

2.

Would you have Him make you free, and follow at His call?
Would you know the peace that comes by giving all?
Would you have Him save you, so that you can never fall?
Let Him have His way with thee.

3.

Would you in His kingdom find a place of constant rest?
Would you prove Him true in providential test?
Would you in His service labor always at your best?
Let Him have His way with thee.

Cyrus Silvester Nusbaum died this date 12/27/1937 in Wichita, Kansas.  He was a Methodist minister who served churches and a college in Kansas, was a Red Cross inspector in France (WWI) and did evnagelistic work in several mid-west,western states.  He was born in Indiana, 1861. 

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The Fullness of Time – Twice

The Greeks had developed their own way of talking,

A language with more than one way to say “love,”

And spread it abroad by tough sailing and walking,

From major port cities to high towns above.

 

The city of Rome had become its own nation;

Was mighty in men and machinery of wrath.

Long roads now connected each distant war station,

Flagged stones lay in order o’er many a “path.”

 

While kings in the East with a studied reliance,

Had carefully placed many stars on their chart. 

From speaking, to fighting, to far-away-science,

It seemed a new era was ready to start.

 

Yes.  Formal, predictable ritual held sway.

God, in His power was all but forgotten.

But glorious, wonderful, Son-perfect day;

The fullness of time came–He sent His begotten!

 

Exact parallels would be foolish to muster,

But some similarities seem to be found.

Greek is no longer the language to utter,

It’s English that’s now the wide-world-wanted sound.

 

But Rome still controls, iron-and-clay yet exists;

From titles like “senate,” to shapes of  “domed roofs.”

And Rome-borrowed gods and Greek words do persist;

Try “Juno,” “Apollo,” and “Titan” for proofs.

 

Ritual is freshly re-gripping most churches.

A “calendar year” is once more being heard.

Toward broadway, broadway the movement now lurches

Nor is “eucharist” (mass) an in-Bible word.

 

Christ came the first time when God opened time-gates

And He’ll come again when conditions are right.

But antichrist also awaits with his pit-mates.

The false may come first–as “an angel of light.”

 

By “modern” assemblies pure saints are thought odd;

Who celebrate nothing–nor worship the earth.

The saints will be caught up when God gives His nod.

His Return will surprise; as His first did, at birth.     –eab, 12/3/98

  

Written while pastoring in Olathe, Kansas – NOTE, written ONE  DECADE  AGO

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Birthday Wishes – Tom Sproles

T              Today a young man turns sixty years;

H             Half that time we’ve known him, it appears.

O             Operating a small printing press,

M             Ministering to rich, and those less,

A              “Ain’t going preacher,” was said by some

S             Sleepy souls, after the van had come.

 

L              Loving man to Paula, his good wife.

 

S             Stably married decades of life,

P             Papa to their four nice kids, all grown,

R             Reaching to grandkids, these four have “sown.”

O             (Onions are part of any good meal.)

L              Lord’s minister, who likes to help heal,

E             Enjoyed seeing homes of Shea* and Ike.**

S             Sincere “Bests” – to a guy we all like. – eab, 10/1/08

 

The Bryans and Sproles visited * George Beverly Shea’s homesite when he held a meeting in Kingston and we visited ** Dwight D. Eisenhower’s homesite when he held a meeting in Kansas. My wife and I first met the Sproles in 1976 in Tennessee.

 

 

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