One day when heaven was filled with His praises

Recently, when this beautiful old hymn was announced in church - Keperra Baptist - a thrill ran through me, a thrill of expectation of being able to sing with all my might these words that have meant so much to me since childhood. Alas! The tune was a travesty! One you couldn't even take home in a basket. I'm sure not even the song leader could sing it without instruments after the service.

Why, oh why are these old hymn tunes changed? For better I can accept, but for worse? Give us the first few words and we "oldies" can sing it for you without music - don't need guitars and drums!

Worse still is when the words are altered. Last Sunday we sang "To God be the glory, great things he has done" and the words were changed from "The vilest offender who truly believes," to I suppose a much more politically acceptable phrase - "And every offender who truly believes." Is Jesus no longer able to save the vilest or have we somehow improved our condition?

Would we change the work of Shakespeare or Wordsworth or even Banjo Patterson for that matter? Then why do we insult the writers of hymns by altering their words as though we now know better? Musical knowledge is more widely available today as never before, but we stoop to nursery rhyme style tunes with accompanying limericks.

Thank God for the songs on which I was raised, they are a blessing to recall and sing in those moments of discouragement, despair and difficulties, but also to eloquently praise and glorify my King, the Lord Jesus Christ.

One of my all-time favorites.

I had a piece of this hymn's chorus running through my head, but couldn't remember the verse. How nice the internet helped me find this delightful old hymn. Sang it at church many times as a girl. How I miss the hymns...alas! Times change and so has church music. I guess I'm a relic of the past, but the old hymns taught the Bible as well as the pastor did.

Amen! Wonderful hymn!

A favorite of mine. In this song is the New Testament in one beautiful song.

This is one of my favorite hymns. The words are so wonderful to sing. From birth to the coming again of Jesus as the trumpet shall sound! It carries you through Incarnation, the Grace of God, Justification, and the Second Coming!

I do not like the modern version by ''Casting Crowns'' They should not be allowed to change the Chapman/Marsh original song! I wonder if copyright violations were made?

I heard my Mother sing this song when just a lad. It brings me to tears every time I hear it. I was saved at the age of 17. Now at 82 the song is as touching as ever. It's so good to see so many people from all over the world that enjoy it also.

John Wilbur Chapman was born in Richmond, Indiana, and was ordained to the Presbyterian Church ministry. After 20 years he felt called to be an evangelist and travelled around the world for 10 years. He became the 1st director of the Winona Lake Bible Conference in Indiana. Besides authoring or editing 30 books and many tracts, he also wrote several hymns and compiled a number of hymn books. - Songs of the Spirit by Martin

This hymn has never failed to stir me, often to move me to tears, since I first sang it as a child more than 50 years ago! But I also love and am moved by many, many of the modern worship songs! God is still inspiring His people to put Biblical truth to music for a new generation of worshippers and I am grateful for the many dedicated young musicians who are using their talents for His glory in the area of church music, my own sons and daughter-in-law included in that number. There is room for the old and the new, so long as the underlying desire is to bring praise to the Lord and win others for His Kingdom.

This is my mother's favorite hymn. The lyrics are rich with theology and are heart warming. My favorite song is "And Can It Be That I should gain", another hymn that is rich in theology and describes the awe felt by all believers. Best Christmas carol is 'Hark the Harold Angels Sing'. It is a pity that these wonderful hymns are being abandoned for mindless praise chorus.