A Quick Sketch of Canada's John M. Moore Quiz

Answer: More than 165

Over the decades, John M. Moore has written no less than 167 hymns. Without question, his most popular hymn is 'Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary'. During his 2015 visit to Grace Bible Chapel in Timmins, Ontario, Moore said 'Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary' has been translated into a large number of different languages. "I am not sure of the exact number of translations, but it's something like thirty different languages the hymn has been translated into," he said. "I find it amazing."

Answer: Scotland

John M. Moore was born September 1, 1925, in Dunbartonshire, Scotland.

Alexander Graham Bell and Sandford Fleming were both born in Scotland, as well. Bell, of course, patented the first practical telephone, and Sandford Fleming was the creator of global standard time.

Bell was born March 3, 1847, in Edinburgh and came to Canada with his parents in July, 1870, settling in Brantford, Ontario. He died August 2, 1922, in Beinn Bhreagh, Nova Scotia. On August 10, 1876, Bell made the world's first long distance telephone call between Brantford and Paris, Ontario. According to Wikipedia, the distance was about six miles.

Meanwhile, Fleming was born January 7, 1827, in Kirkcaldy and died July 22, 1915, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He immigrated to Canada in 1845, at age eighteen. In addition to proposing world-wide standard time zones, Fleming designed Canada's first postage stamp.

Answer: Toronto

John M. Moore lives in Toronto, Canada's largest city and the capital of Ontario, Canada's most populous province. Moore's beloved wife Esther died in 2013. They were married in 1961. He had served as pastor for a number of years at Willowdale Baptist Church in Toronto. Although he is ninety years old, Moore still delivers sermons and performs concerts at various churches across Canada.

Answer: 1952

The correct answer is 1952. Three major news events during the year were the coronation of Queen Elizabeth, the Summer Olympics in Helsinki and the publishing of the novel 'The Old Man and the Sea.'

During his recent visit to Grace Bible Chapel in Timmins, Ontario, Moore said he wrote the words and composed the music for 'Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary' in 1952 after he visited a seriously wounded sailor in a hospital.

In the book 'Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions', here's how Moore explains the hospital visit: "I talked for a few moments and then put my hand in my case for a tract, not knowing which one I would pull out. It happened to be a tract based on 'Pilgrim's Progress', with a color reproduction of Pilgrim coming to the cross with a great burden on his back. I showed the young seaman this picture and told him the story in brief, adding that Pilgrim's experience had been my experience too. I explained that when I came to the cross of Christ, my burden rolled away and my sense of sin and guilt before God was removed. He nodded his head when I asked him, 'Do you feel this burden on your back today?' We prayed together and never shall I forget the smile of peace and assurance that lit up his face when he said that his burden was lifted!"

Answer: very near

The two missing words are 'very near'.

John M. Moore, writer of 'Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary' says he's amazed at the enduring popularity of the hymn.

During a 2015 visit to Grace Bible Chapel in Timmins, Ontario, Moore said he continually hears stories from people about how the hymn touched their lives.

"One man told me he sang the hymn to himself while his wife was undergoing surgery and she wasn't expected to make it," he said. "Sure enough she pulled through fine."

"Then there was a couple who told me they were unable to sell their house for an extended period of time and in frustration they sat down and sang 'Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary'. And wouldn't you know it. The house was quickly sold."

However, the most touching story about 'Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary' involves Grace Perry, the ten-year-old daughter of missionaries in the Congo in the 1960s.

At the time, there was a Simba rebellion in the Congo with militia members rounding up missionaries and slaughtering them.

Moore, in his book titled 'O Come Let Us Worship' recounts a story told by Reverend Bob McArthur, a missionary to the Congo who was imprisoned with the Perry family, who were from England.

"A large number of missionaries were imprisoned at Banalia, among them was the family of Denis and Nora Perry and their two children. They had been imprisoned for over three months, during which time many of the missionaries were martyred. Grace, their little ten-year-old daughter, was always singing her favorite song, 'Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary', and every day she she cheered the prisoners as she sang her song again and again.

"The day came when the Simbas took the Perry family out to be shot. To the amazement of the stunned missionary prisoners, when Grace and her mom and dad and little brother were being marched before the firing squad, she started to sing "Burdens are lifted at Calvary. Jesus is very near." It is not surprising they call Grace Perry 'the little martyr of Congo'."

Here are the word to 'Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary':

"Days are filled with sorrow and care,
Hearts are lonely and drear.
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Jesus is very near.

Refrain:
Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Calvary, Calvary;
Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Jesus is very near.

Cast your care on Jesus today,
Leave your worry and fear.
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Jesus is very near.

[Refrain]

Troubled soul, the Savior can feel
Every heartache and tear.
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Jesus is very near.

[Refrain]"

Answer: 1 Corinthians 13

The Love Chapter is found in 1 Corinthians 13. It was written by the apostle Paul and addressed to members of the early church at Corinth, a city in Greece.

Flora Kirkland wrote more than 200 hymns including 'Angels Adore Him', 'Day of Redemption' and 'Sealed was the Tomb', as well as 'Love is the Way'. She was born in Great Britain.

Here are the words to the hymn 'Love is the Way!'

"Out in the darkness,
Shadowed by sin,
Souls are in bondage,
Souls we would win.
How can we win them?
How show the way?
Love never faileth,
Love is the way.

Think how the Savior
Came from above
Suffered on Calvary,
Breathing out love;
Think how He loves us,
E'en when we stray:
We must love others,
Love is His way.

See, they are waiting,
Looking at you,
Silently watching
All that you do;
Seeming so careless,
Hardened and lost:
Love never faileth,
Count not the cost.

Love never faileth,
Love is pure gold:
Love is what Jesus
Came to unfold;
Love these souls thru us,
Savior, we pray;
Thy love ne'er faileth,
Love is Thy way."

Answer: Egyptian president Anwar el-Sadat is assassinated.

Egyptian president Anwar el-Sadat was assassinated in 1981 by Islamic extremists during a military parade in Cairo.

Moscow hosted the Summer Olympics in 1980 and much of the western world boycotted the Games to protest the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. The Falkland Islands War was fought between Great Britain and Argentina in 1982, with the war being waged from April 2 to June 14. Meanwhile, the 39th Democratic National Convention nominated Walter F. Mondale as presidential candidate with Geraldine A. Ferraro as his running mate in 1984.

John M. Moore gives this account about what prompted him to write 'Why?':

"Reading through the Gospels one day, I came to the place where it says 'Then from that day forth they took counsel together to put Him to death' (John 11:53). I instinctively asked myself 'Why do they want to put Jesus to death?' He has been healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, giving sight to the blind, feeding the hungry and even raising three dead people. Why would they want to kill Jesus? Caiphas, the Jewish high priest suggested it was expedient for them that one man should die for the people that the whole nation should not perish.

"That made me turn back to the Old Testament, to Isaiah 53, where we read 'All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.' Then I saw the answer to my question 'Why?' and I wrote for the chorus:
'All my iniquities on Him were laid
He nailed them all to the tree
Jesus the debt of my sin fully paid
He paid the ransom for me.'

"This inspired me to write 'Why?', a song God has used to lead many to place their trust in Christ as their Lord and Savior. This song is being sung in a number of languages around the world."

Here are the words to Moore's hymn 'Why?':

"Why did they nail Him to Calvary's tree?
Why? tell me, why was He there?
Jesus the Helper, the Healer, the Friend
Why? tell me, why was He there?

Refrain:
All my iniquities on Him were laid
He nailed them all to the tree
Jesus the debt of my sin fully paid
He paid the ransom for me.

Why should He love me, a sinner undone?
Why? tell me, why should He care?
I do not merit the love He has shown
Why? tell me, why should He care?

[Refrain]

All my iniquities on Him were laid
He nailed them all to the tree
Jesus the debt of my sin fully paid
He paid the ransom for me.

[Refrain]

Why should I linger afar from His love?
Why? tell me, why should I fear?
Somehow I know I should venture and prove
Why? tell me, why should I fear?

[Refrain]

All my iniquities on Him were laid
He nailed them all to the tree
Jesus the debt of my sin fully paid
He paid the ransom for me.

[Refrain]"

Answer: 1959

Cuban President Fulgencio Batista fled Cuba on January 1 and Fidel Castro assumed power of the Caribbean island nation on February 16. Alaska became an American state on January 3 and Hawaii did likewise on August 21. Meanwhile, the St. Lawrence Seaway opened April 25, enabling ocean ships to reach inland ports like Thunder Bay, Ontario, and Duluth, Minnesota.

Moore, during a recent visit to Timmins, Ontario, said the hymn 'Be Faithful and True' came about after he started writing a poem based on the words of Jesus. The final verse was written "with the help of a number of friends" while on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, he said.

"It is very clear that our risen glorious Lord expects His people to be both faithful to His Person and His Word. In these days of compromise, we need to be staunch, steadfast, and devoted followers of the Lord Jesus Christ," Moore said.

Here are the words to the hymn 'Be Faithful and True':

"One day I'll stand before the Lord
in answer to my name;
If I've been faithful to His word
a crown of life I'll gain.

Refrain:
Be faithful, be true,
be faithful be true
The Savior expects you
to be faithful and true.

When I shall look in to the eyes
of Him who bore my shame
Twill be by sorrow and surprise
that I feared to own His name

[Refrain]

So help me Lord, my cross to take
and follow faithfully
This present evil world forsake,
entirely Yours, I'll be.

[Refrain]"

Answer: The movie 'The Graduate' is released.

'The Graduate', starring Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin Braddock, was released December 21, 1967. It was directed by Mike Nichols and also starred Anne Bancroft as Mrs. Robinson, a bored housewife.

Meanwhile, the three other events -- the crash of Swiss Air Flight 111, the admission by U.S. President Bill Clinton of a sexual affair with Monica Lewisnky and the blocking by Iraq of weapons inspections -- all happened in 1998.

Moore gives this account of the story behind the writing of 'Nails!':

"On a lovely autumn day, we had a visit from Daniel Maswhinney, an Irishman, now residing in Australia. He was spending a few days in Toronto en route to his native Belfast, Northern Ireland. We had never met before, but since his favorite song was 'Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary', and he had received my address from a cousin of mine in Australia, he wanted to meet Esther and me. Being a deeply committed Christian we had much in common. We played and sang some of the old hymns and as he was leaving, he handed me an envelope with one of his poems.

"Later, I sat down and read his poem 'Nails!' and was very deeply moved by the words. I knew it had the makings of a beautiful sacred song, and prayed that I might be able to compose the right tune for it. The Lord enabled me to write the music and after singing it a few times, I felt it ought to have a third stanza. After writing this, I sent Daniel a copy of the music with the new third stanza, seeking his approval. This he gladly gave me, and now the song goes out, ready to carry to the world the message of 'Nails!'"

Here are the words to 'Nails!':

"Sometimes in the stillness when twilight has come,
My thoughts travel far to that Nazareth home;
I see the blest Carpenter there at the door,
His days's toil and labor all finished one more.
The shadows engulf Him as silent He stands,
Some nails I can see in the palms of His hands.
A hammer behind Him I see on the wall;
The shadows of darkness continue to fail.

NAILS! NAILS! Nazareth nails.
I see the dear Savior with the Nazareth nails.

Sometimes in the stillness my thoughts further roam
A way from His bench and His Nazareth home;
I see the dark shape of a cross lifted high;
And I know that my Savior is willing to die.
I see the fierce soldiers with hammer and nails,
I hear the dull blows as the hammer prevails.
The Carpenter hands, His great work to complete,
The cruel nails claiming His hands and His feet.

NAILS! NAILS! Calvary nails!
I see the dear Savior with Calvary nails.

Sometimes in the stillness when I am a lone
I can see Him triumphant before the great throne.
Heaven's hosts sing His praises and fall at His feet
As they worship the Savior in fellowship sweet.
I hear the great music of angles and men.
Their choruses praise Him again and again.
They sing of His love, and the blood that He shed,
I looked on His hands I can never forget.

NAIL PRINTS! There on His hands,
I can see the dear Savior, nail prints on His hands."

Answer: George Beverly Shea

George Beveraly Shea is the correct answer. In his 90s, Shea was still performing with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Shea was born February 1, 1909, and was the son of Reverend A. J. Shea and Maude Whitney Shea. He was 104 years old when he died. During that time, Canada had sixteen prime ministers and the United States had eighteen presidents. From the First World War to the War on Terrorism, and from the Great Depression to the tech boom and bust of the '90s, Shea experienced it all. For him, it seems, the only constant was his love for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Similar to Shea in his 90s, Moore is spry and is blessed with a quick wit and a lovely sense of humor. During his visit to Timmins, he preached three messages, led the congregation in singing and performed solos on the piano and the concertina, an instrument similar to an accordion.

Moore indicated he has no plans to slow down and retire and intends to be available to do the "Lord's work for as long as possible."