The $6.00 Hymn

Johnson Oatman Jr. was a preacher who never pastored a church. After his father’s death he went into the insurance business. In 1892 he started writing gospel songs. Over the next 30 years he wrote approximately 3,000 hymns. His hymn lyrics were very much in demand and he would often receive about $1.00 for each text that he sold. He authored popular songs such as Count Your Blessings, No Not One and our foundation hymn for Sunday November 6, 2011, Higher Ground.
Charles Hutchinson Gabriel is the composer of the music for Higher Ground. He sold the tune for a grand total of $5.00, which brings monetary value of this great hymn to a whopping $6.00.

The verses that Oatman penned are as current as if they were written in 2011. The second verse talks about not dwelling where doubt and fear live.

“My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.”

Too many of us live in this trap set by the world. We allow fear and doubt to rule our lives. Our aim is off! Are you aiming for God’s will in your life or are you settling for what the world is offering, doubt and fear?
“Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!”
Hebrews 12:1-2 The Message

The rest of our songs include:
HIGHER, written by Eugene Gregory (1965-2009)
Mighty to Save
JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE
ALL THAT THRILLS MY SOUL IS JESUS

“I PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL TO WIN THE PRIZE FOR WHICH GOD HAS CALLED ME HEAVENWARD IN CHRIST JESUS.” PHILIPPIANS 3:14