Tag Archives: music

I know my weakness, know my voice, but I believe in Grace & choice …

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Mumford & Sons’ newly-filmed music video of “BABEL,” filmed in San Francisco:

Excellent filmography, better melodies, and even better-est words…

So you may sing along, here are the lyrics to Babel1, the title track on their newest album:

‘Cause I know that time has numbered my days
And I’ll go along with everything you say
But I’ll ride home laughing, look at me now
The walls of my town, they come crumbling down

And my ears hear the call of my unborn sons
And I know their choices color all I’ve done
But I’ll explain it all to the watchman’s son,
I ain’t ever lived a year better spent in love

‘Cause I’ll know my weakness, know my voice
And I believe in grace and choice
And I know perhaps my heart is fast,
But I’ll be born without a mask

Like the city that nurtured my greed and my pride,
I stretch my arms into the sky
I cry Babel! Babel! Look at me now
Then the walls of my town, they come crumbling down

Continue reading →

  1. “Babel” is the one missing song I wish they’d played live at their recent concert at the Rose Garden in Portland, which was quite simply the best concert I’ve ever attended. (And yes, I’m aware there’s a controversy on whether this band is “Christian.” Thus I tend to reserve their two songs featuring an F-bomb in the chorus to those times I need a little angst to get me up a steep hill while running.) ↩
 

Sing along: One Glorious Day.

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Today is D-Day, when sixty-nine years ago, on June 6th, 1944 at Normandy the tide turned and momentum swung in World War II. A significant day in recent world history. That day is known as “the beginning of the end” of the war. There’s another beginning of the end of the war, this war is between men and God. Jesus came to make the beginning of the end, and so it’s fitting to consider today the coming One Glorious Day when all wrongs will be righted, and everything will be set to the way God intended the world to be. Because King Jesus will wrap up the scrolls of history and mete out all justice in the way only His Grace is able to handle. Oh glorious Day!

Most days this week we’re highlighting songs in this space, particularly hymns we sang together at RENEW on Sunday. Having begun with Be Thou My Vision and In Tenderness, we continue with One Day, written in 1910 by John Wilbur Chapman, and recently reprised with a new verse melody for the new album “God of Victory” by Michael Bleecker of The Village Church in Texas. You may have sung it as we did, known as Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me), made more known by the band Casting Crowns. (Listen and watch John Mark Hall of Casting Crowns tell the story behind the song.)

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Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)

Chords in the key of D

One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now He’s ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One, bringing
My Savior, Jesus, is mine

Oh, glorious day

Continue reading →

 

Sing along: In Tenderness He Sought Me.

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Highlighting five songs this week, hymns we sang together at RENEW on Sunday. Having begun with Be Thou My Vision, we continue with In Tenderness, written in 1894 by W. Spencer Walton, entitled “In Tenderness He Sought Me.” This beautiful, melodious song reminds us Jesus is both tough and tender. He loves us, and will do whatever it takes to bring us back to Him, to His fold, as the Good Shepherd.

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This song might be the key anthem of RENEW Church in this first year. Each of us have a life story that’s being re-written as we re-discover who God is, what He’s done, and who we are. Out of this new life flows new living. Yet before all of our attempts at a good and godly life, we come back to the truth: in tenderness He sought us, while we weary and sick with sin … He died for us while we were sinning…

O – o – oh the love that sought me!
O – o – oh the blood that bought me!
Oh the grace that brought me to the fold of God
Grace that brought me to the fold of God

I pray we never grow bored with the Gospel! As the light of the Gospel shines on us again and again, God renews us.

Sing along (and shout along) and join the party as The Citizens sing the rich Gospel anthem, In Tenderness:

In Tenderness

by The Citizens, from Already / Not Yet, track released 08 May 2012 (chords)

Verse 1
In tenderness He sought me
Weary and sick with sin
And on His shoulders brought me
Back to His fold again
While angels in His presence sang, until the courts of heaven rang

Chorus
O – o – oh the love that sought me!
O – o – oh the blood that bought me!
Oh the grace that brought me to the fold of God
Grace that brought me to the fold of God

Verse 2
He died for me while I was sinning..
Needy and poor and blind
He whispered to assure me…
“I’ve found thee; thou art Mine”
I never heard a sweeter voice, it made my aching heart rejoice

Verse 3
Upon His grace I’ll daily ponder
and sing anew His praise
With all adoring wonder,
His blessings I retrace.
It seems as if eternal days, are far too short to sing His praise. Continue reading →

 

Sing along: Be Thou My Vision.

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Last night at RENEW we sang five songs all older than (or about as old as) the building in which we gather. The Revival Building was built at the turn of last century, yet most of it burned down in the twenties, rebuilt in 1925. Originally it was the meeting place of the Presbyterian Church in the Singer Hill area of Oregon City. These days we’re grateful for the new owners, a dance studio, that let us gather there each Sunday afternoon.

All this week I’ll highlight a story behind these five songs, and the meaningful lyrics to which we get to sing along. A big thanks to Brian for selecting these songs and leading us so well!

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A 6th Century Irish monk, Dallan Forgaill, penned the words to Be Thou My Vision (original title, “Rop tú mo Baile”), as a tribute to St. Patrick’s wholehearted loyalty to God. The hymn was translated from Irish to English in 1905 by Mary E. Byrne. In 1912, Eleanor H. Hull arranged the song into the verse most commonly found in English hymnals today. (The version below was reprised by Ascend the Hill.) The music to accompany the lyrics is an ancient Irish folk tune called Slane.

The folk song got its start centuries earlier, in Ireland around 433 AD, when on the night before Easter, St. Patrick defied a royal decree by lighting candles. St. Patrick (385-461 AD) was a man filled with the Gospel of Grace and zealous to see Jesus reign and rule over the nation of Ireland. As a missionary, he defied an Irish King’s edict that restricted the lighting of candles on Easter Eve. King Logaire of Tara had decreed that no one was allowed light any fires until a pagan spring festival was launched by the lighting of a fire on Slane Hill — the King must be first. Patrick chose to honor God in spite the threat of death. King Logaire was so impressed with Patrick’s brave devotion, he let him continue his missionary work unhindered. This song harkens back to that day, and that man, and is a steady reminder of the one central theme of our lives.

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Be Thou My Vision

Continue reading →

 

Jubilee: Hymns & Lullabies (feeling God’s thoughts).

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When we sing good theology we feel God’s thoughts about ultimate reality.

It’s a joy to think God’s thoughts, and we get to do that when we read the Scriptures. If you’re reading the Bible and you’re not moved to pray, pause, and go back. You missed it. Go back there and sit and listen. That will lead you to feeling His thoughts too. What if

I’m not much of a music snob. Pretty much find a few songs from a few artists and run with them. Literally, I run with the same mix in my ear over and over, miles and miles. There’s something that happens in your soul when while emptying exerting yourself at the same time you’re being filled. These voices are companions up steep hills and through the rainy runs. During that time I am a worshiper. (Actually, we’re all worshipers all the time, but that’s the topic of another post.)

Even when disciplining my body through exercise and work, I’m free. I could constantly compare my pace to what it was a decade ago (a lot faster back then), or just sit mired in the thoughts of how things used to be. As a pastor I talk to people all the time who long for the “days of old” (a couple decades ago) when music was “good” and told a Gospel story. It’s true that songs these days are often repetitive and sometimes shallow. They long for the hymns of old. What we forget is that we can come boldly and confidently before the throne of Jesus and sing His praises 1, no matter if we liked the “song set” on Sunday.

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There’s a band that has done the hard work of bringing songs written long before the “days of old,” with historic theology meeting future hope and sweet melodies. Page CXVI is a project started with the idea of making hymns accessible and known again. They are some of the richest, most meaningful, and moving pieces of music ever written.

Page CXVI is giving away their entire 74-song catalog of music.

Their entire catalog of music is free for a limited time. Their music is good enough to buy too 😉 Continue reading →

 

Greatness: keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn.

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You were cold as the blood through your bones
And the light which led us from our chosen homes
Well, I was lost

And now I sleep
Sleep the hours that I can’t weep
When all I knew was steeped in blackened holes
I was lost

Keep the earth below my feet
For all my sweat, my blood runs weak
Let me learn from where I have been
Keep my eyes to serve and hands to learn
Keep my eyes to serve and hands to learn

And I was still
But I was under your spell
When I was told by Jesus all was well
For all must be well
—Mumford & Sons, “Below My Feet” from Babel

Here Mumford & Sons perform “Below My Feet” on Saturday Night Live:

Mumford & Sons at Hyde Park (July 2nd, 2011)

While Mumford & Sons is not an overtly “Christian” band, their appeal with the “youths” cannot be underestimated. (The video above is from their recent show on Saturday Night Live.) They sing of the angst of maturing, of pain and joy, pleasure and loss. Their lyrics are honest. Which is probably why I resonate most with this West London band that seemed to come out of nowhere. In a brief trip to their hometown last year Kari and I ventured into Hyde Park to listen from afar to their concert. When the rains set in we headed out, but not before witnessing thousands (tens of thousands?) of twenties congregating to see Mumford and an opening act by Arcade Fire.

The last few years have been a journey for my feet, and my heart. Both feet have chronic plantar fasciitis, yet running has become the best thing for my ailing back. It’s a tight rope of stretching, running, resting, enduring. Grateful for an understanding wife who gets it when the weather turns and I’m hobbling around like an eighty-year-old man. It’s a wonder how inexplicably linked one’s spiritual vitality is connected to physical health.

Mumford & Sons’ first album Sigh No More became a heart-grabbing soundtrack for most of my runs, long and short. As my feet (and back) rehabilitated to becoming a runner again, songs like “The Cave” and “Little Lion Man” (warning on language) helped pushed me up the hills time and time again. Finishing a half-marathon — without injury — became a running goal, alongside renewing my heart to be a man after God’s heart. It’s fitting that disciplining one’s body goes alongside finding joy and freedom before the Father (1 Cor. 9:27). Come to think of it, on that half-marathon a few days ago I didn’t listen to a single Mumford tune. Not enough steep hills I guess. They trained me well to not rely on them too much, for I have “learned from where I’ve been.” Continue reading →

 

In Tenderness.

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Listen in & sing along:

In Tenderness He Sought Me

1 In tenderness He sought me,
Weary and sick with sin,
And on His shoulders brought me
Back to His fold again.
While angels in His presence sang
Until the courts of heaven rang.

Chorus:
O the love that sought me!
O the blood that bought me!
O the grace that brought me to the fold,
Wondrous grace that brought me to the fold!

2 He washed the bleeding sin wounds
And poured in oil and wine;
He whispered to assure me,
“I’ve found thee, thou art Mine;”
I never heard a sweeter voice;
It made my aching heart rejoice! (Chorus)
Continue reading →

 

Page CXVI » these are a few of your favorite hymns.

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Most people have a favorite hymn. Perhaps you request yours and long to sing it with the church gathered on Sundays. I generally enjoy singing the old hymns as much as newer songs. Yet, since no church gathering can should cater to the favorites of everyone, here’s a great way to revisit your favorites anytime.

Page CXVI is a project started with the idea of making hymns accessible and known again. They are some of the richest, most meaningful, and moving pieces of music ever written.

HYMNS I, II, III, IV

If you haven’t already, check out Hymns I, II, III and IV available directly from pagecxvi.com or as a digital download from and

Perhaps you know some of these (most recent albums first).

Continue reading →

 

Our God Above.

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“Our God Above,” a song of God-centered renewal, from Andy Melvin’s album The Human Engine Waits:

Come and fill us Father
with Your living water
’cause these wells we’ve dug are dry
the world we have befriended
has left us empty-handed
and only You can satisfy
 
as we return to You
our spirits are renewed
and our hearts are moved to worship You alone
 
our God above
we lift You up
to the place that You deserve
within our hearts
and we glorify
the Lord on high
You have no equal on the earth
No equal on the earth
 
Lord, we claim the promise
that the work You started
You’ll be faithful to complete
so we trust in Your might as we offer our lives
as a living sacrifice of praise to You
 
and we! declare! our love! to You!
yeah we! declare! our love! to You!
 

Live recording of “Nothing Compares” by Andy Melvin and the Unlikely Sons [see in HD]:

 

Alive Again and Forevermore.

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For we who trust Jesus as Savior, we are awakened to the reality that every day we need Him. Not just on that final day, to take us to heaven. He came to rescue us from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Colossians 2:13-14). And he keeps on rescuing us. We have been saved, we are being saved, and we shall be saved completely in the end.

In theology these experiences are summarized as justification, sanctification, and glorification. We have been saved from the penalty of sin, justified with God through Jesus’ perfect live, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection. We are being saved from the power of sin in our daily lives, being set apart (sanctified) by God for wholeness to join in His mission in the renewal of all things. We will one day be completely rescued from the presence of sin, no longer able to bow down to idols for Christ will be all-consuming, even being the light of all eternity. These experiences overall in a convergence of grace words cannot adequately describe!

There are deeper nuances to this thrilling doctrines, for we will never stop learning of the greatness of God’s kindness towards us in Jesus (Ephesians 2:7). (If embracing these truths bores you, consider if you are alive to God. We will dwell on them for all eternity.)

Today we have a great gift to sing of these amazing truths. A musician friend reminded me that when we sing good theology we “feel a thought.” Words alone or musical sound alone cannot produce this experience. The collision of the two takes us deeper into the truth; opportunity to embrace it through and through. We who were dead in darkness have now seen a great light; He’s made us alive again. Let’s continually sing about it.

Alive Again
(by Matt Maher)

You called and You shouted
Broke through my deafness

Now I’m breathing in and breathing out
I’m alive again

You called and You shouted
Broke through my deafness

Now I’m breathing in and breathing out
I’m alive again

You shattered my darkness
Washed away my blindness

Now I’m breathing in and breathing out
I’m alive again
Continue reading →

 

Awake my Soul, I will hold on Hope.

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Sundays shall be a day when our souls are renewed to see the world as we’re meant to see it, recognizing the darkness around and especially within us, and the Light who dispels the darkness and cannot be extinguished (John 1:1-5).

I leave you with two songs by Mumford & Sons that can become for us prayers for a renewed day and world. Let’s start with where we place our Hope, and preparing to meet our Maker. Today let’s “plant [our] hope with good seeds” and not “cover [ourselves] with thistle and weeds.”
Continue reading →