Gospel Greats -- 'Standing on the Promises' Quiz

Answer: ring

The missing word is 'ring'.

'Standing on the Promises' was written by Russell Kelso Carter, who also composed the music, in 1886. Cyberhymnal.org reports Carter was born No­vem­ber 18, 1849, in Bal­ti­more, Ma­ry­land and died Au­gust 23, 1928, in nearby Ca­tons­ville. Carter is buried at Green­mount Cem­e­te­ry in Bal­ti­more.

Answer: shout

The missing word is 'shout'.

Russell Kelso Carter, writer of 'Standing on the Promises, attended the Pennsylvania Military Academy and was a "star athlete in baseball and gymnastics", according to Wordwisehymns.com. After graduation in 1867, Carter was hired to teach chemistry, natural science, civil engineering and higher mathematics at the academy.

Answer: my Savior

The missing words are 'my Savior'.

After serving as a teacher at the Pennsylvania Military Academy, Russel Kelso Carter headed to California where he was a sheep rancher for three years, according to Wordwisehymns.com. Later he became an ordained Methodist minister and was "active in the camp meetings of the day", the Website reports.

Answer: howling

The missing word is 'howling'.

Russell Kelso Carter is best known, perhaps, for writing the hymn 'Standing on the Promises'. However, according to Wordwisehymns.com, Carter wrote a number of other hymns and was active in writing in general. "He wrote many books -- on mathematics, science, and religion -- and authored several novels," Wordwisehymns.com reports. "He helped A.B. Simpson edit the first edition of 'Hymns of the Christian Life', a hymnal still in use by the Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination."

Answer: prevail

The missing word is 'prevail'.

Russell Kelso Carter had a highly varied career. As stated in the answers to Question No. 3 and 4, he was a teacher at the Pennsylvania Military Academy, a sheep rancher, an ordained Methodist minister, a hymn writer and the author of a number of textbooks and novels. On top of all this, he served as a medical doctor in Baltimore, Maryland, according to Wordwisehymns.com. The Website states Carter wrote "dozens of hymns", but most of them are forgotten today.

Answer: cleansing

The missing word is 'cleansing'.

As stated in the answer to Question No. 6, Russell Kelso Carter wrote dozens of hymns, often providing the music for his creations as well. "Most [of his hymns] are forgotten today, but many hymn books still contain 'Standing on the Promises', for which he provided both words and music," Wordwisehymns.com states. "It appears to have been written during his years at the Pennsylvania Military Academy, and one can almost hear the steady march of the cadets in the 4/4 rhythm of the song."

Answer: free

The missing word is 'free'.

According to the Website Timetosing.ca, Russell Kelso Carter, writer of 'Standing on the Promises', was a staunch believer in divine healing. The Website offers this perspective: "Although a Christian most of his life, it wasn't until Carter experienced a deadly condition with his heart that he began to understand the power of the Bible's promises. At age 30, his health was in crisis and the physicians could not help him anymore. Carter asked God for help. He knelt and made a fresh pledge of His love for God, no matter what happened. From that moment on Carter began to hold onto the Bible's promises, determined to believe; no matter what his physical condition, no matter how he felt. Over the next months his strength returned, and his heart was completely cured! Carter lived another healthy 49 years."

In other words, 'Standing on the Promises' "became an integral part of his life," Timetosing.ca reports.

Answer: eternally

The missing word is 'eternally'.

It's interesting to note each verse of 'Standing on the Promises' by Russell Kelso Carter begins with the words of the title -- 'Standing on the Promises'. On top of this, the words 'standing on the promises' are featured in the chorus of the hymn. According to Songscoopsblogspot.ca, it's a repetition that some have suggested was a reflection of the composer's military education. "You can sense Carter commanding," the Website states. "The hymn's pace has a martial quality."

Answer: daily

The missing word is 'daily'.

Endrtimes.blogspot.ca reports 'Standing On the Promises' by Russell Kelso Carter "was widely used in ... great evangelistic crusades" after its publication. In fact, the hymn was prominently featured at crusades "even into the 20th century." The Website goes on to state the hymn is still found in "many evangelical hymnals" and is a reminder of a "Christian daily dependence upon the promises of God."

Answer: Resting

The missing word is 'resting'.

A bit of a humorous story regarding Russell Kelso Carter's classic hymn. The other Sunday at our chapel, an elder was serving as chairman of our Sunday morning service and as a result, he was responsible for selecting the hymns for the service and leading the people in singing. Usually when it's a rousing hymn, like 'Victory in Jesus' or 'How Great Thou Art', the chairman invites people to stand when they sing. On this particular Sunday, we stood for our opening hymn and then when everyone was seated, the elder invited us to sing 'Standing on the Promises' with no instructions given to stand. In other words, we were singing 'Standing on the Promises' while seated! After the second verse, the elder realized how preposterous it was for everyone to be seated while singing about standing on God's promises. After some blushing, he told everyone to stand for the remainder of the hymn.

Here are the words to the hymn 'Standing on the Promises'.

"Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.

Refrain:
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I'm standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

[Refrain]

Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.

[Refrain]

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love's strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword,
Standing on the promises of God.

[Refrain]

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
Listening every moment to the Spirit's call
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.

[Refrain]"