Julian Price

Oh Happy Day - A Song, A City, A Preacher Man Living the Lyrics



Posted: Saturday, June 04, 2011

by Julian Price
http://www.uk-freelance-content-writer.co.uk/

“Oh happy day, oh happy day, since Jesus washed my sins away” begins the chorus of the 18thcentury hymn made popular in 1969 by the Edwin Hawkins Singers. The hymn itself, like many of the great hymns of old has an “anonymous” in its author slot, although the most famous words themselves, “Oh happy day” are attributed to Edward Francis Rimbault.

Whatever your faith, whatever your beliefs, it is very hard to deny that this is one very joyful song, with uplifting, powerful lyrics to go with the contagious tune. Really contagious tune! How often have you heard this song in a movie or on the TV and found yourself humming it for the rest of the day?!

Anyway, I digress; this article is about a preacher man and a city. If you have been to this city in the North West of England and have shopped along the main street, then it is very likely that you have encountered this preacher man. He wears a sweater that states, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1.27) and you just know he believes it, passionately. When he is not preaching to passersby he is smiling and belting out that contagious tune, “Oh happy day!

If this man’s enthusiasm and obvious joy in what he believes could convert, then all would be converted without doubt. Unlike many street preachers, he isn’t pushy or rude. Nor do you pass him wishing he would shut up or find him particularly annoying.  Neither do you get a sense, as with others, that he is deeply disturbed. No, there is something very real about him.

Admittedly he is mocked and laughed at, especially when he randomly breaks into his deep bass tones of “Oh happy day” but even this isn’t offensive!

This man has something. If you are a Bible believer (I hesitate to say “Christian” as that term has been so diluted in our modern world), then you may already know what this man has, and you may feel a twinge of guilt as you walk by him, knowing that he is literally practicing the great commission of Jesus. “Go into all the whole world and preach the gospel to all Creation” (New American Standard Version)

I find myself humbled and inspired by this man. What do I believe and whatever it is, do I believe it enough to shout it from the rooftops? Do I even believe anything with enough passion for it to create a stir in what some might say is a “going through the motions” life?

This preacher man has great conviction in what he believes and his absolute confidence in it allows him to stand toe to toe with those that mock him, whilst still smiling, still singing and still offering his hand in friendship. Oh happy day!
Julian has diplomas in freelance journalism (with distinction), copywriting and proofreading. He is also a creative writer and poet who writes both professionally and for pleasure. Julian has written articles for an internet marketing company and although this medium is often restricted by topic, his writing still maintains a unique and often humourous style, with many of his articles achieving good results on search engines. He has found the discipline involved with this kind of work to be a great writing exercise and believes it enhances and improves other areas of his writing. Julian is becoming an established freelance writer and many of his articles here at searchwarp are a showcase of the variety and quality of his work.

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Christofer French
 339 days 20 hours ago.
73 fans.
Those I meet, when they arrest me with the glow in their eyes, I see the fire animating them. I not only am swept up by that spirit, I am compelled to fix on that spirit and appreciate what it is in them that is so filling them up with love, and light and joy. At those times in my life, I have been holding the hand of a dying person, looking at a Jesus Freak in the early 70's, being overwhelmed by a boisterous black preacher, as I move slowly back and forth on his front row. I have listened long to someone who was taken up by their idea of the "Lord" and then one really skinny drunk guy in a club tell me for two hours why women could not resist the magic genie inside him. People are a wonder when they are transported in some kind of ecstasy. Love your article.
» left by Julian Price 339 days 19 hours ago.
58 fans. Follow Julian Price on twitter!
Hi Christofer! I am so glad you liked the article, I was hoping it would touch a nerve here and there and so am really pleased you enjoyed it and that I have managed to capture the "spirit" of the preacher man. Thanks again.
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