and He tells me I am His own

                    
                                     And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
                                     And He tells me I am His own; 
                                     And the joy we share as we tarry there,
                                     None other has ever known.

 The church staff  appears to be following through on the request for members to recommend favorite hymns with that so loved "In the Garden" and the rousing "Standing on the Promises" being included yesterday morning. Jen had requested "In the Garden."

While people love the old hymns some church functionaries seem to want them forgotten.  Several years ago as the Methodist Hymnal was being updated, some committee members agitated to take out "In the Garden." They failed. The late famous Lewis Grizzard  wrote about attending a service at his Presbyterian Church at which none of his favorite old hymns were song.  Later he attended a Methodist Church where he knew none of the songs.  This column, he said, got more response than any other he had written, and he was supported by people who love the old hymns.

Pastor Tom Howe preached on getting re-aquainted with your first love; in other words regaining the excitement of your first experience of  allowing Jesus Christ into your heart.  Old hymns are popular because they make us feel closer to Christ.  The song "In the Garden"  is so loved that it has been listened to millions of times on You Tube and has been recorded by a number of famous artists.