Christian Hymn te’ tangthu: A Sangna Lam Ka Kahto Hi

Higher Ground
(Philippians 3:14)
Johnson Oatman, Jr. (1856-1922)
Charles H. Gabriel (1856-1932)

Hih la a phuakpa Johnson Oatman, Jr. April 21, 1856 ni-in America gam Medford, New Jersey gei ah suak hi. Kum 19 a phak ciangin Methodist Episcopal Church ah lut-a, a sawt lo-in thuhilh theihna license kipia hi. Tua khit ciangin ordination kipia hi. Pawlpi kem sia taktak bel sem ngei lo hi. A khangno lai-in a innkuan nasep uh ahi sumlei sumzuak nasep sema, a pa’ sih khit ciangin insurance company-ah sem hi. 1892 kuma kipan gospel la phuah kipana, a sih dongin zomsuak hi. 1922 kumin si-a, a sih ciang dong mah la phuak niloh-a, a la phuah peuhmah dawng 3,000 val hi. A nuntak sung bup nipi kal khat-in la dawng li dawng nga peuhmah phuaka, dawng khat ading $ 1 val ngah ngei khol lo hi, kici hi. William J. Kirkpatrick, Edwin O. Excell, leh Charles Gabriel-te a kipan tua hun lai-a gospel laphuak minthangte in a lamalte deih mahmah uh hi.

Johnson Oatman’ phuah late lakah “Thupha Na Ngahsa Ngaihsun Pha In” (Count Your Blessings), “No, Not One” cihte zong minthang mahmah-a, tuni dongin kisasa lai hi.

Hih la a aw a phuakpa Charles H. Gabriel bel America gam Wilton, Iowa ah August 18, 1856 ni-a suak ahi hi. Charles Gabriel pen Billy Sunday-Homer Rodeheaver evangelistic crusade hun, 1910-20 sung gospel laphuaksiampen khat leh mite’ pahtaakpen la makai khat ahi hi. Rodeheaver Music Companay ah music editor sema September 15, 1932 ni, Los Angeles, California-a a sih dongin la phuakphuak dena, ama’ phuah la peuhmah a kigawmin dawng 8,000 val ding hi, ci-in kiciamteh hi. A kiphuaksa la tampi kaikhawm-a labu tampi mah khenkhia hi. A la phuahte tampi a mal leh a aw phuakkhawm hi. A la phuah tampite a ma’ minin suaksak lo-a, “Charlotte G. Homer” cih min tawh suaksak se hi.

La-aw phuah a siam mahmah khat ahih mahbangin “O That Will Be Glory” cih la bang a aw Charles Gabriel’ phuah mah ahi hi. A lamal a hi a, a la-aw a hi zongin a phuah late lakah hih “A Sangna Lam Ka Kahto Hi” (Higher Ground) banah, “Taang Sak In” (Send the Light), “More Like the Master,” “My Savior’s Love,” “He Is So Precious to Me,” “He Lifted Me,” “O It Is Wonderful” cih late minthang mahmah hi.

“A Sangna Lam Ka Kahto Hi” cih la pen 1898 kuma kikhen John R. Sweney, Frank M. Davis, leh J. Howard Entwisle-te’ kaihkhop Songs of Love and Praise, No. 5 sungah kihel pah hi. Charles Gabriel in ama’ tangthu a gelhna Sixty Years of Gospel Song kici laibu sungah hih la-aw 1982 kum, Chicago ah a ciahkik cianga a phuah hi, ci-in gen hi.

“Khrist Jesu sunga vanlam-a letsong ngah dinga Pasian in hong sapna kung lam manawh in ka nawt teitei hi.”- Philippians 3:14- ZIV

“There is not a heart but has its moments of longing, yearning for something better, nobler, holier than it knows now.” – Henry Ward Beecher

Rev. Zam Khat Kham
Christian Hymn te’ tangthu 2005