Carl Gustaf Boberg – birth, Aug. 16, 1859

How Great Thou Art

O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder

Consider all the works Thy hands have made.

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Refrain:

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee;

How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee:

How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

2. When through the woods and forest glades I wander

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur

And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:

3. And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;

That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,

He bled and died to take away my sin:

4. When Christ shall come with shouts of acclamation

And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!

Then I shall bow in humble adoration,

And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!

Carl Gustaf Boberg was born this date 8/16/1859 at Mönsterås, Sweden.  A carpenter’s son, Boberg, started out as a sailor, came to Christ at age 19 and attended a Bible school in Kristinehamm.  He served as a lay preacher for two years, edited the weekly Sanningsvittnet (Witness of the Truth) (1890-1916) and served in the Swedish parliament. He penned several volumes of poetry, many hymns and helped compile the first two hymnals of the Swedish Covenant church.  Boberg wrote “How Great Thou Art” (1886), which we sing in a translation by Stuart K. Hine.  Carl Boberg died1/7/1940 at  Kalmar, Sweden.

Read Full Post »

Fredrick Arvid Blom – death, May 24, 1927

Love divine, so great and wondrous,
Deep and mighty, pure, sublime!
Coming from the heart of Jesus,
Just the same through tests of time.

Refrain

He the pearly gates will open,
So that I may enter in;
For He purchased my redemption
And forgave me all my sin.

2. Like a dove when hunted, frightened,
As a wounded fawn was I;
Brokenhearted, yet He healed me,
He will heed the sinner’s cry.

3. Love divine, so great and wondrous,
All my sins He then forgave!
I will sing His praise forever,
For His blood, His power to save.

4. In life’s eventide, at twilight,
At His door I’ll knock and wait;
By the precious love of Jesus
I shall enter Heaven’s gate.

Fredrick Arvid Blom died this date, 5/24/1927, at Uddevalla, Sweden.  He emigrated to the USA in the 1890’s and joined the Salvation Army in Chicago.  Later he attended North Park College and Seminary, and served as a pastor for an Evangelical Covenant Church.

At some sad point he backslide  and actually served time in prison.  “I drifted from God, and became embittered with myself and the world.”  Out of prison, Blom was born again and penned the above words “He the Pearly Gates Will Open” describing his wonderful rebirth.

He pastored again this time a Swedish Congregational Church in PA.  eventually he went back home to his native land (1921) where he was born,5/21/1867, near Enköpking, Sweden.

Read Full Post »