With a Song in My Heart

I love music and it has always been a huge part of my life – from beginning piano lessons at age 11 to playing in worship for going on 54 years now. Other than some contemporary worship music, most of my favorites can be found in Southern gospel, folk music, pop, and traditional country from years past. Any other fans of these genres?

This blog has primarily been book reviews, but my original intention was to include music-related themes and Erma Bombeck’s poignant humor. Life’s “busyness” always seems to get in the way, but I’m going to do my best at sharing what I’ve loved through the years, what moves me most. It will be an eclectic assortment from the many styles that I mentioned above, from the mid-50s on. So welcome to With a Song in My Heart …

Farther Along

… A song which looks forward to that time and place

where there will be no more death, sorrow, and crying

(Revelation 21:4)

In thinking about where to begin, I came across a video of Joni Eareckson Tada’s testimony leading into Farther Along, and couldn’t think of a better starting place. Others that I love have recorded it (Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, etc.) and I’ll probably share their arrangements in the future –but Joni’s testimony is so moving that I had to begin with her. And she has a beautiful voice! May you be blessed by her words and music, and please share your thoughts. (Be sure to watch the whole video).

Tempted and tried, we’re oft made to wonder

Why it should be thus all the day long

While there are others living about us

Never molested, though in the wrong

Farther along we’ll know all about it

Farther along we’ll understand why

Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine

We’ll understand it all by and by

When we see Jesus coming in glory

When He comes from His home in the sky

Then we’ll join Him in that bright city

And we’ll understand it all by and by

Background:

        The text and the tune are both attributed to William B. Stevens (1862-1940), a Church of God preacher in Schuyler County, Missouri. If anyone had a motivation to write such a song, it was Stevens; he was a truly Job-like figure who outlived all six of his children, many of them dying in childhood.
        Farther Along is one of those songs in which words and music blend almost perfectly to present a wonderful message of faith. We should derive comfort from the chorus that what we now know only in part, we shall certainly understand Farther Along. Then we will not have to ask why, or to speculate. We may not always understand why things happen the way they do on earth, but we can eagerly anticipate being at home with Christ Farther Along.