The Ministry of Hymns by Dr. James Dobson

August 22-23, 2022
Guests: Joni Eareckson Tada, Dr. Robert and Bobbie Wolgemuth

Part 1
When Joni (pronounced Johnny) Eareckson Tada broke her neck in 1967 and became a quadriplegic, she languished in her hospital bed for a year. On today’s edition of Family Talk, Joni shares that during that time, she was encouraged when her friend visited her and sang the hymn “Man of Sorrows.” The lyrics proclaim, “Man of sorrows, what a name, for the Son of God, Who came, ruined sinners to reclaim: Hallelujah! What a Savior!” Singing hymns, rich with theological meaning, throughout the day is a way to pray without ceasing and exude the joy of Jesus to those around us.

Part 2
Have you ever thought about the almighty power contained in a simple hymn? Have you felt the promise delivered in the lyrics of your favorite classic gospel song? For over 50 years, Joni (pronounced Johnny) Eareckson Tada has been confined to her wheelchair after a diving accident. On today’s edition of Family Talk, she shares that she often awakes feeling burdened with the struggle. But when Joni reads her Bible and sings a hymn, she gains an eternal perspective. Inevitably, God fills her with a fresh outpouring of His grace and an incomprehensible joy. In their book, O Worship the King: Hymns of Praise and Assurance to Encourage Your Heart, Joni and her co-authors, Robert Wolgemuth and his late wife, Bobbie, point to the treasure trove that the body of Christ has in the ancient hymns.