http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/w/h/i/whittle_dw.htm

The following is a wonderful poem by DW Whittle:

CHILD OF JESUS, OFT DEPRESSED

(by D.W. Whittle) Child of Jesus, oft depressed, Yielding [...]]]> DW Whittle is known for several hymns, including The Banner of the Cross, I Know Whom I have Believed, and There Shall Be Showers of Blessing.

http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/w/h/i/whittle_dw.htm

The following is a wonderful poem by DW Whittle:

CHILD OF JESUS, OFT DEPRESSED

(by D.W. Whittle)
Child of Jesus, oft depressed,
Yielding to thy doubts and fear,
In thy trials sore distressed,
Fainting for some word of cheer;
Come, thy need is all supplied,
Take by faith what God doth give;
Believe that you in Christ have died,
Believe that you in Him now live.

Often weary, often weak,
Foes without and fears within;
Knowing not what path to take,
To escape from self and sin;
In thy risen Saviour hide,
From Him risen life receive;
Believe that you in Christ have died,
Believe that you in Him now live.

Sorrowing oft, and often sad,
As thy failures thou dost scan;
Selfish aims those failures made,
Now let Jesus lead and plan.
Let the Spirit ever guide,
Let the flesh no more deceive;
Believe that you in Christ have died,
Believe that you in Him now live.

http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/w/h/i/whittle_dw.htm

Now read the conversion of DW Whittle:

Major Whittle, of the United States Army, and a well-known preacher, thus details how the great change took place:

“When the Civil War broke out, I left my home in New England and came to Virginia as lieutenant of a company in a Massachusetts regiment. My dear mother was a devout Christian, and parted from me with many a tear, and followed me with many a prayer. She had placed a New Testament in a pocket of the haversack that she arranged for me.

“We had many engagements, and I saw many sad sights, and in one of the battles I was knocked out, and that night my arm was amputated above the elbow. As I grew better, having a desire for something to read, I felt in my haversack, which I had been allowed to keep, and found the little Testament my mother had placed there.

“I read right through the book—Matthew, Mark, Luke, to Revelation. Every part was interesting to me; and I found to my surprise that I could understand it in a way that I never had before. When I had finished Revelation, I began at Matthew, and read it through again. And so for days I continued reading, and with continued interest; and still with no thought of becoming a Christian, I saw clearly from what I read the way of salvation through Christ.

“While in this state of mind, yet still with no purpose or plan to repent and accept the Saviour, I was awakened one midnight by the nurse, who said: ‘There is a boy in the other end of the ward, one of your men, who is dying. He has been begging me for the past hour to pray for him, or to get someone to pray for him, and I can’t stand it. I am a wicked man, and can’t pray, and I have come to get you.’

“‘Why,’ said I, ‘I can’t pray. I never prayed in my life. I am just as wicked as you are.’ ‘Can’t pray!’ said the nurse; ‘why, I thought sure from seeing you read the Testament that you were a praying man. And you are the only man in the ward that I have not heard curse. What shall I do? There is no one else for me to go to. I can’t go back there alone. Won’t you get up and come and see him at any rate?’

“Moved by his appeal, I arose from my cot, and went with him to the far comer of the room. A fair-haired boy of seventeen or eighteen lay there dying. There was a look of intense agony upon his face, as he fastened his eyes upon me and said:

“‘Oh, pray for me! Pray for me! I am dying. I was a good boy at home in Maine. My mother and father are members of the Church, and I went to Sunday School and tried to be a good boy. But since I became a soldier I have learned to be wicked. I drank, and swore, and gambled, and went with bad men. And now I am dying, and I am not fit to die! Oh, ask God to forgive me! Pray for me. Ask Christ to save me!’

“As I stood there and heard these pleadings, God said to my soul by His Spirit, just as plainly as if He had spoken in audible tones, ‘You know the way of salvation. Get right down on your knees and accept Christ, and pray for this boy.’

“I dropped upon my knees and held the boy’s hand in mine, as in a few broken words I confessed my sins, and asked God for Christ’s sake to forgive me. I believed right there that He did forgive me, and that I was Christ’s child; I then prayed earnestly for the boy. He became quiet, and pressed my hand as I pleaded the promises. When I arose from my knees he was dead. A look of peace was upon his face, and I can but believe that God, who used him to bring me to my Saviour, used me to get his attention fixed upon Christ and to lead him to trust in His precious blood. I hope to meet him in Heaven.

“Many years have passed since that night in the Richmond Hospital, and I am still trusting and confessing the Lord Jesus Christ, and purpose by God’s grace to continue doing so until He calls me Home.”

http://www.wholesomewords.org/biography/bwhittle2.html

That man no guard or weapons needs, Whose heart the blood of Jesus knows; But safe may pass, if duty leads, Through burning sands or mountain snows. Released from guilt he feels no fear, Redemption is [...]]]>

Though troubles assail us and dangers affright, Though friends should all fail us and foes all unite, Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide, The promise assures us, The Lord will provide.

The birds, without garner or storehouse, [...]]]>

(Friday Church News Notes, February 19, 2010, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) -

Recently a brother in Christ shared with me the following: “Some of my friends have described traditional sacred music as ‘funeral music,’ and the Lord has shown me that they are correct in one sense, and in one sense only. [...]]]> FUNERAL MUSIC?

(Friday Church News Notes, February 19, 2010, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) -

Recently a brother in Christ shared with me the following: “Some of my friends have described traditional sacred music as ‘funeral music,’ and the Lord has shown me that they are correct in one sense, and in one sense only. Good Christian music is supposed to help us mortify the flesh, to put it to death, so in that sense it should be ‘funeral music” as opposed to party music that appeals to the flesh.” This testimony rings true.

One problem with contemporary Christian music is that it does not bring spiritual conviction. It ministers good feelings more than holiness. It is dance music, not dying-to-self music. But if “funeral music” means “boring music,” it is only boring to those who have spoiled their appetite by the world’s pop music or boring when it is sung in a lifeless manner in a dead church.

http://wayoflife.org/files/b072f508457975c03af0057bc56ac51d-515.html

At the store the other day I saw a CD collection of Johnny Cash reading the Gospel According to John in which he also sings some hymns. I also saw a couple collections of Elvis Presley singing hymns.

I would not [...]]]> Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ:

At the store the other day I saw a CD collection of Johnny Cash reading the Gospel According to John in which he also sings some hymns. I also saw a couple collections of Elvis Presley singing hymns.

I would not encourage anyone to buy these.

“Why?” you may ask, “Both men are singing songs that praise God.” That may be, but did their lives praise God? The drugs, the alcohol, the debauchery does not demonstrate a life that is pleasing to God. The words are important, but if the words are delivered by an unrepentant man, then the words lose their effect.

Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Salt adds flavor to food, but if the salt has lost its savor — it has lost its flavor and will actually decrease or hurt the flavor of the food. Likewise, when Elvis Presley is singing Amazing Grace does it really have the same effect on the hearer when they know the lifestyle he led? Elvis Presley may have sung Amazing Grace, but did he really understand what God’s grace means?

There is a story that says that Elvis wore a cross and a Star of David on a chain. When he was asked why, Elvis explained that he wore both because he “did not want to miss Heaven on a technicality.” There is no “technicality” with God’s grace — you either have it or you do not.

The message may be wonderful and true, but if the messenger is not right with God, the message loses its savor.