Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Song Highlight: Only Your Blood Is Enough

This week, we introduced another song from the music ministry of Sojourn Community Church called "Only Your Blood Is Enough." What makes this song unique is the rawness of its lyrics. "Only Your Blood Is Enough" fully acknowledges that without the blood of Jesus Christ, we are hopeless. Utterly hopeless.

The song itself lifts phrases right out of scripture to describe our depraved condition: "conceived in sin," "defiled in every part," to name a few. But while these lyrics appear to paint a dismal picture of life, there is still hope in this song. The bridge takes dramatic lyrical turn--asking God to recreate our hearts. All of the aforementioned lyrics of confession and repentance culminate in a prayer for renewal and recreation. And the song ends declaring that "no bleeding bird, no bleeding beast, no hyssop branch, no priest, no running brook, no flood, no sea can wash away this stain from me."

What can wash away this stain? Only the blood of Jesus. What a magnificent, uplifting truth to proclaim day after day. Reflect on this truth as you listen to the song below.



Lyrics:

I am ashamed, conceived in sin, I've always been
Born in a world where Adam's fall corrupts us
Rooted is the seed of death in life's first breath
The Law demands a perfect heart, but I'm defiled in every part

For only your blood is enough to cover my sin
For only your blood is enough to cover me

All this guilt disturbs my peace, I find no release
Who will save me from my crime? I'm helpless
Behold, I fall before your face in need of grace
So speak to me in a gentle voice, for in your mercies I rejoice

Lord, create my heart anew (Father, come and make us wise)
Only you are pure and true (Lead us away from our demise)
Lord, you are the remedy (For only your blood can set us free)
Only your blood can set us free, only your blood can set us free

No bleeding bird, no bleeding beast, no hyssop branch, no priest
No running brook, no flood, no sea can wash away this stain from me

Monday, August 23, 2010

Song Highlight: Wonderful Maker

"For I have chosen [Abraham], that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him." -Genesis 18:19

As we examined Genesis 19 this week, we saw a direct contrast between Abraham and his nephew Lot. In chapter 18, God reveals the proper way to lead a family: to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice. But, as we learned, Lot and his family do not keep the way of the LORD; rather, they are lured into darkness by their depraved surroundings.

As we reflect on this, we come to the realization that our earthly fathers, whether they are following the way of the LORD or not, still stumble and fall into sin. This is an inevitable truth of our fallen world. But we can have hope, for our heavenly Father will never fail us. The same God who created the universe is working in our hearts today. He is working to recreate us—to make us new. He is, as Chris Tomlin's song proclaims, a wonderful maker.

Reflect on this truth as you listen to the song below.



Lyrics:

You spread out the skies over empty space
Said, "Let there be light," and to a dark and formless world
Your light was born

You spread out your arms over empty hearts
Said, "Let there be light," and to a dark and hopeless world
Your son was born

You made the world and saw that it was good
You sent your only son, for you are good

What a wonderful maker, what a wonderful savior
How majestic your whispers, how humble your love
With a strength like no other and the heart of a father
How majestic your whispers, what a wonderful God

No eye has fully seen how beautiful the cross
And we have only heard the faintest whispers of
How great you are

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Have No Fear!

You may have noticed that this blog hasn't been updated in the past week. That's because I've been moving back onto Asbury University's campus, which explains the blog blackout. But have no fear! More blog posts are here... well... on the way!

Stay tuned!

Monday, August 9, 2010

Song Highlight: Refuge

For our song of reflection this week, we turned once again to the music of Sojourn Community Church. "Refuge" is a song that highlights the hope that the people of God have even when they are surrounded by the forces of darkness.

In our study of Abraham this week (Genesis 18:16-33), we encountered Abraham's plea to spare the city of Sodom for the sake of the righteous people living there. Abraham is concerned that, when the city is eventually consumed by fire, God will not spare the righteous. However, at the conclusion of their conversation, God tells Abraham that if 10 righteous people are found, he will not destroy the city. Thus, God shows Abraham his unwavering devotion to his people.

Our world today resembles the ancient city of Sodom more than we realize. And we know from scripture that one day, judgment will be rendered and this world will be destroyed. But, unlike Abraham, we do not have to fear. Our sins have been washed white by the blood of Jesus Christ. So when the day of judgment comes, we will be judged as righteous. And we know from this passage that God cares and provides for his people. There is no need to fear.

Reflect on this truth as you listen to the song below.



Lyrics:

Unto your hands, O God of truth, my spirit I commit
You have redeemed my soul from death and saved me from the pit
The passions of my hope and fear maintain a doubtful strife
While sorrow, pain, and sin conspire to take away my life

I know my days are in your hands
Though I draw near to dust
You are the God in whom I trust
You are my refuge

So lift up your voice and sing aloud
And praise him, all you saints
How wondrous is his grace
He is our refuge

Make your most beloved face to shine upon me now
And save me for your mercy's sake, for I am lost without
While in my haste I'm quick to say, "Where is your help for me?"
But you attend me when I pray, and you have heard my plea

Friday, August 6, 2010

Ten Good Ideas

While doing some research on Keith and Kristyn Getty, I ran across their blog on worship! The most recent post, entitled "Ten Good Ideas from Contemporary Hymn Writer Keith Getty," was written by a staff writer for Christianity Today named David Neff. The post was so good that I had to repost it here.

Irish songwriter Keith Getty began his workshop Tuesday at the National Worship Leaders Conference by telling those who had come to learn how to write a great worship song to leave. "Because art is the expression of life, you cannot 'how-to' creativity."

Getty collaborates with his wife Kristyn and friend Stuart Townend. "They're the words, and I'm the music," he says, estimating that somewhere between 5 and 20 percent of the words of any of their songs are his. "But we both get involved on both sides."

Here are ten notable and worthwhile ideas edited and distilled from Getty's workshop comments:

1) The primary form we use is the story form. The gospel is primarily story. How do you take people who want 4-line worship songs and get them to sing 32 lines? By structuring the song as a story.

2) It is important to look at things that are harrowing and that don't necessarily make us feel happy. The central core of the Christian faith is not something that makes us happy. We need to acknowledge our need for a redeemer. The reason we worship is that we meet God through the central story of the cross.

3) We need lament. But if you want to write lament, remember that a successful lament resolves. Not into a happily-ever-after ending, but like the psalms of lament, by ultimately acknowledging that God is God.

4) To write strong melodies, remember that folk melody has to be passed on orally (aurally). I try to write songs that can be sung with no written music. I imitate Irish folk melody, with a great deal of contour, of rise and fall.

5) Use pastors and theologians as resources for your writing. But keep company with them. Don't just ask them to fix your text here or there when you're done with it.

6) Trinitarian worship safeguards us from so many problems our worship can get into: either an overly stern view of God or a casual view of God. Both can lead to problems in our lives.

7) Martin Luther is one of ten people from history I would want to have coffee with. I have looked at a lot of Luther's hymns and emulated him. First, Luther had a high view of redemption. He also believed we live our lives in the midst of spiritual warfare. Thirdly, he had a high view of the church and a high vision of the church.

8) The congregation is the choir, and it is merely the privilege of those of us who are musically gifted to help them sing.

9) Lyrics and great writing are the same thing. Lyricism is poetry. If you write lyrics, read as much poetry as you can. Lyricists are people who love words and do crossword puzzles.

10) Growing up, I never listened to pop music as a child. I was steeped in church music. That could be a blessing because everything I write can be sung by a congregation.


Click here if you'd like to visit Keith and Kristyn Getty's blog. Click here if you'd like to visit David Neff's blog. And click here if you'd like to visit ChristianityToday.com.


Monday, August 2, 2010

Song Highlight: Before the Throne of God Above

"Before the Throne of God Above," by Charitie Lees Bancroft and Vikki Cook, is a modern hymn that proclaims the confidence and hope we have in Christ. The song's lyrics are heavily based upon passages from the New Testament book of Hebrews. If you'd like more info on this hymn's scriptural ties, check out an online blog called The Orchard Keeper. You can find the post on "Before the Throne of God Above" here.

You can listen to Shane and Shane's rendition of this beloved song below.



Lyrics:

Before the throne of God above, I have a strong and perfect plea
A great high priest whose name is love, who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on his hands, my name is written on his heart
I know that while in heaven he stands, no tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence impart

When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see him there, who made an end to all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free
For God, the just, is satisfied to look on him and pardon me
To look on him and pardon me

Hallelujah, hallelujah
Praise the one, risen son of God

Behold him there! The risen Lamb, my perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I AM, the King of glory and of grace
One with himself, I cannot die; my soul is purchased by his blood
My life is hid with Christ on high, with Christ my Savior and my God
With Christ my Savior and my God