O Praise the Gracious Power

old words new melody great song

History

(originally posted October 8, 2007)

So ya’ll know Matthew West? You know, the super poppy sounding Christian artist with his second album either out or coming out very soon. Yeah, him. Well as hard as it is for me to admit that I like his stuff…let alone listen to it, I do and I do. Well, its sort of complicated. About a year ago now I first got his CD. There is a woman at a church that I pastored at that was the “music woman.” Every year at church camp she would buy CD’s for us to use as give-a-ways the last nights of camp for campers and workers. For some reason we misplaced two of them and I ended up with them in my office. Then they ended up in my car. Then…yeah, even my CD player…imagine that.

If you haven’t ever heard Matthew West’s first CD title track “History” … you need to! It sounds a little corny at first, especially for an ex-punk rocker and wanna be emo scene venue manager. But then… out of know where, it was like a prophetic voice speaking into my life…

Every choice that you are making
Every step that you are taking
Every chain that you are breaking
History is in the making

Every word that you are saying
Every prayer that you are praying
Every chain that you are breaking
History is in the making

I wish you could hear the song sung…or at least how I hear it. Back a year ago, I loved the song. I remember trying to get our new drama team that formed after camp to do a skit to it because I felt it was so powerful… but I guess I was the only one feeling it. Either way, I loved the song. But somehow my wife got wind of the CD and found the love song on the album and stole it from me.

I found it the other day. I brought it into the office and imported it to my itunes. This afternoon I decided to reminisce and crank it up. I guess I never knew why I loved the song. Maybe it was my desire to make “history” or to identify with the song. At the time, honestly I really couldn’t identify. I wasn’t breaking any chains, I wasn’t making any moves or taking any steps. But then as you may know… I stepped. I moved. I acted. At times it has felt like I lept without looking.

And now here I am a year later, listening to the same song that I loved so much for an unknown reason, finding out why I love it. Now I won’t try and over spiritualize things here, but I get it now! The past year is history. Not only the past, but real history. God moved in an unbelievable way in our life. My wife and I have grown so much. We know what it feels like to trust God when things look hopeless. I mean, the events of the past 365 + days are the stuff best selling novels are made of. I’m not talking after-school special or crappy low budget Christan film, I am talking $4.95 Blockbuster 2 Night New Release!

Yeah, I may have made some mistakes. I may have acted quickly without as much prayer or thought as I could have. In the world’s eyes I was a failure. In my eyes I was a failure. But I am finding out that God is making history in my life. Every day that I get up and ask God to move, every time I see His will and choose to walk in it, every message spoken to a heart that is ready to respond…its history. God is a lot bigger than my busted life plan. Jesus is stronger than my ability to foul things up. Mark it down. This time next year…things will again look a lot different. God’s making history.

God Here Our Prayers…

I was in the Christian book store yesterday looking for some give-a-ways for a youth event I am doing this weekend.  Yeah, yeah, I know.  I didn’t really expect to find anything worth giving away.  Between the rip-off tshirts that say “Godweiser” instead of Budweiser, etc, etc I guess it was more wishful thinking or obligation to the spend the money at a Christian store that drove me in there.  Don’t get me wrong…they have some good books…the one they call, “The Bible,” … its pretty dang good.

I stumbled through the music section, scoffing at the high prices and old talent.  Every band had re-released an old hit CD and called it the “gold” edition by throwing on a never heard before studio track that usually stinks.  But out of nowhere my eye hit this CD “Tonight the Stars Speak” by The Glorious Unseen.

OH MY GOODNESS!

In one day, this CD has re-engaged my heart to worship music.  It’s been dry, I have to admit.  Hillsong United is good, but every attempt to remake their stuff and play it at church has caused my ears to bleed and my heart feel grieved that this beautiful song that once brought people into worship is being butchered and misused.  But then I put this CD in my computer and heard these lyrics…

Hear our cries, Lord. Hear our prayers.
Take our burdens, calm our fears.
God will you make us a people that love You?
Please take our offerings that we set before You.
God, hear our prayers that we’re lifting up to You.
God, see our tears that we’re struggling to see through.
God hear our prayers to you.

In our weakness You remain.
When we’re broken, You sustain.
God, hear our prayers, we lift them to you.
God, hear our prayers, make our hearts true.
God , hear our prayers as we lift them to heaven.
We’re praying the angels receive and embrace them.
The hopes of the empty, the cries of the broken.
We’re reaching our hands out . Oh Lord will You hold them?

The band is Ben Crist, worship leader at Anchor Fellowship, with a handful of other musicians.  The truth and honesty of a heart that is truly worshiping in song is refreshing.  There is a newness in the lyrics and a freshness in the sound.  There is truly nothing out there that I have heard that sounds like this album.

robbie seay band:give yourself away

i am not one to pass out things like this very easily, but this is the best “christian” album of 2007. this album was in a way an album of redemption for me. over the past few years i have not enjoyed much music that “christian” artists have put out. for the first two weeks that i had this album, my wife and i listened to it at least twice a day. it is a great (major label) sophomore project that exceeds the first album in many ways.