The Rock and the Sand

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On what are you building, my brother?

Author: Henry R. Trickett
Tune: [On what are you building, my brother]
Published in 22 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 On what are you building, my brother,
Your hopes of a eternal home?
Is it loose, shifting sand, or the firm, solid rock,
You are trusting for ages to come?

Chorus:
Hearing and doing, we build on the Rock,
Hearing alone, we build on the sand,
Both will be tried by the storm and the flood,
Only the rock the trial will stand!

2 On one or the other, my brother,
You're building your hopes day by day;
You are risking your soul on the works that you do,
Will the dark waters sweep you away? [Chorus]

3 Your Savior has warned you, my brother,
Oh, I pray you give heed to His voice;
There is life on the rock, but there's death on the sand,
Heed His words, brother, make them your choice. [Chorus]

Source: Christian Hymns: for every purpose in worship #353

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Author: Henry R. Trickett

Henry Robert Tricket (sometimes called Harry Robert Tricket), born December 1839, Nottinghamshire, England; died April 1909, Keokuk, Iowa. A hymn writer, minister, and pastor/preacher/teacher from the American Restoration Movement. He spent the bulk of his time in ministry serving churches in the Disciples of Christ, one of the three branches of a movement founded by Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone, and Walter Scott. The other branches include Churches of Christ and Independent Christian Churches. Most of his compositions, largely as a lyric and text writer, are found in the mid-20th century hymnals of Churches of Christ. His partnership in composing with Fred Fillmore and others through the Fillmore Brothers Publishing… Go to person page >

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First Line:	On what are you building, my brother?
Title:	The Rock and the Sand
Author:	Henry R. Trickett
Language:	English
Refrain First Line:	Hearing and doing, we build on the rock
Copyright:	Public Domain