Comments on: Where Are We Looking?

By: Ingrid Schlueter

Ingrid Schlueter — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 01:42:05 +0000

Dave, this is very, very interesting! How wonderful to know who wrote these words, and the story behind them. I first heard the hymn a few years ago on a CD and was deeply moved by it. With all my heart, thank you, Dave, for sharing this information with Hope Blog readers. I will treasure this hymn while remembering the author of the words, Alma Hagen.

P.S. My Great-grandmother was named Alma also (Eliason). She immigrated from Sweden in the early years of the 20th century. Her husband, Johann and she settled in northern Minnesota. Their son, Oscar, my grandfather, was musical and wrote a number of gospel songs.

By: David Hagen

David Hagen — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 01:25:51 +0000

Regarding, “I look not back” My father (born 1903) was Rev. E.O.Hagen, a Lutheran minister. My mother, Alma (Holm) Hagen, half Swede, half Norwegian, (born 1900) was my mother. Around the year 1995 I received the following letter from my dad’s first cousin, Marie,(Hagen) Ballner, with the lyrics to “I Look Not Back” attafched. The letter read, ” Alma Holm penned these words while attending Bible School in Grand Forks, ND. She lost the paper while going across the campus grounds.

“Sometime later she saw these words in print put to music. Alma was born of Christian parents and raised in a community where the church played an important part. She decided tht when she completed her school in preparation for becoming a teacher she would put her application in a community where there were no churches to bother her. She found just what she wanted and thought that now I will have peace.

“The peace did not come…she knew the christians at home were praying for her and she came under a deep conviction of sin.

“Reflecting on her life these were the words she penned; “I Look Not Back”

“This is as near, recalling what your dad, Elmer told me one day.”

Marie”

Mother knew of and appreciated the choice of music set to the words. They fit together very well. Some hymn books have attributed the words to Fannie Crosby, others to “Anomymous”

Dave Hagen (79)
davidgerda@new.rr.com
Appleton, WI

By: Becky

Becky — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 16:07:58 +0000

I am a news hound, I get so caught up in reports that it can destroy my day. My husband told me a few days ago that I needed to take a break from it all, because he sees how it is affecting me. I so enjoy your posts and enjoyed your time on the radio, because you would break from all the headlines, turn and focus on God who brings peace to troubling times. Thank you for sharing!