Darkest Day in History

Continuing with the music theme this weekend, here is another great Easter Weekend song.  This one is "Sunday" by Tree 63.  The day of the Crucifixion (what we now know as Good Friday) was the darkest day in history.  As Jesus died on the cross, His disciples probably stood there wondering where life would take them next.  All that they had invested in over the last 3 years had come to a sudden end, and they knew that they would probably be next.  What would keep the government from coming after them?  Then, as they wok up on Saturday, probably hoping that it had all been a dream, they soon realized that He was really gone.  Sadly, they did not remember what He had taught them.  He had told them on several occasions that His death would not be the end.  He had predicted His resurrection many times.  Yet in the midst of their grief and sorrow, they did not realize that Sunday was coming.  As I said yesterday, the reason that Good Friday is so "good" is because of the Sunday that followed.  Jesus had to die, but He also gave them the promise of the resurrection.  There was hope on that awful Friday afternoon!  So consider the lyrics of this song that speaks of the hope that was Sunday morning!

"Sunday"

Nothing’s sacred, the days are cheap
Truth is thin on the ground
Still our prophets are crucified
Nobody believes we’re stumbling
It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming

Someone’s saying a prayer tonight
For hungry mouths to be filled
Someone kneels in the dark somewhere
And darkness is already crumbling
It’s Friday, but Sunday comes

Sunday – Hallelujah – it’s not so far, it’s not so far away
Sunday – Hallelujah – it’s not so far, it’s not so far away

Broken promises, weary hearts
But one promise remains:
Crucified, he will come again
It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming
It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming

Sunday…

Matt

Good News on Good Friday

"Christ is Risen" by Matt Maher

If you have not heard this song yet, then get on youtube or itunes and find it!  The lyrics to this song are powerful, reminding us of the great hope that we have in Jesus.  Good Friday is easily both the worst day and best day in history.  While Christ's death was devestating for the disciples, leaving them with no hope for a time, they later saw the significance of that day.  Without the cross, there would be no resurrection.  Without Good Friday, there would be no Easter!  Thankfully, Good Friday was not the end, but only the beginning.  The good news is that Christ is not dead.  He is alive!  His sacrificial death has also given us life, those who come to Him in faith.  So I hope you find the lyrics to this song encouraging on this Good Friday.

Let no one caught in sin remain
Inside the lie of inward shame
But fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to Him who showed great love
And bled for us
Freely You've bled for us

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave

Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bowed to none but heaven's will
No scheme of hell, no scoffer's crown
No burden great can hold You down
In strength You reign
Forever let Your church proclaim

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave

O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night

O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
Our God is not dead
He's alive! He's alive!

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave

Matt

John Waller - As For Me and My House

May 3rd... that's the day that John Waller's new CD will be released.  This coming month and a half is definitely an exciting time.  With the release of a new Ted Dekker book, the newest Narnia film, and a new CD by John Waller, I am going to have plenty to buy and do!

The verses at the top of this blog from Deuteronomy 30:19-20 came from a previous John Waller song, "The Blessing."  Many of his songs quote scripture, and that is evident on both of his previous CDs.  I love contemporary music, and there are all kinds.  Some songs talk about situations that we go through in life and how we can depend on God.  They offer us encouragement and hope and are great alternatives to some of the more secular situations we hear from other music genres.  But there is even a subsection of music within contemporary music that actually quotes Scripture extensively within the song.  Many artists do this from time to time (some more than others).  John Waller is one of those artists I have noticed that does it quite frequently.  Pick up either of his previous CDs and you will see what I am talking about.

I expect nothing less on this new CD.  In fact, the only song that has been released so far is entitled, "As For Me and My House."  That is a direct quote from Joshua 24:15.  At that point in Israel's history, they had a choice to make, similar to their choice in Deuteronomy 30:19-20.  Would they choose life or death?  choose to follow God or follow the gods of their fathers who had drifted from the Lord?  While Joshua gave the rest of the Israelites the choice to consider, he declared that he and his family had already made up their mind.  They would serve the Lord, following Him, trusting Him to lead them in life.  We have that same choice today.  In a world full of distractions, both good and bad, we have to decide how we are going to spend our time.  Are we going to spend it following the gods of our world, the sins that so easily enslave us, or are we going to spend it following God and serving Him?  This is a great question for us to ponder as we do a self-checkup on our spiritual lives.

While I do not know what the rest of the songs will be like on this CD (nor do I know how much more Scripture, if any, he will use in them), I encourage you to go out and buy this CD when it is released.  I am confident that you will be both encouraged and challenged by these songs.  Until then, look up this song on YouTube, as the music video is posted there.

Matt

Today - 33 Miles

One of the songs off of 33 Miles latest CD is "Today," and its lyrics can apply to all of us.  We all have hard times in life, times when we stress out, worry, and wonder if we are going to make it through.  Life is hard, and we all experience troubling times.  But in the midst of those times, we have a choice.  We can either let them control us, or we can turn to God, trusting that He will see us through.  We can either let our lives be ruled by worry, fear, and doubt, or we can turn to God and find our joy in Him as we have faith that He will see us through and give us peace in life because of His great love.  Now, this does not mean that life will be perfect, we will not experience any more pain, and we will go through life with no more problems.  It does mean, however, that there is One we can always turn to when life is hard, and He will work things out for our good, according to His purposes!  So here are the lyrics:

Today

Worry keeps waking me up
Calling me at 3 am
Fear wants to shut me down
Telling me what might happen
Doubt plays with my mind
Trying to twist the truth
All these distractions, beg a reaction,
So here's what I'm gonna do

Right here, right now
I'm living for You and nothing else
Yesterday is history
And tomorrow's gonna write itself
All I got is the moment I'm in
And I don't ever want to waste
This gift, this chance, right here, right now
Today

Joy is what I choose
When my blue turns to gray
Faith is where I turn
When the world says there's no way
And peace is what I find
Resting in your hands
And Your love is more than enough
To keep my heart content

CHORUS

I know that You hold
The things I can't control
So I am letting go

CHORUS

So go out and life life to the fullest.  We do not have to let life control us because we have the One who controls the world living inside of us.  That alone should drive us to proclaim His Word to the nations.  We never know what day might be our last.  So remember that all you have is "this gift, this chance, right here, right now, TODAY."

Matt

Reason for the World

At the end of last year, Matthew West released his newest CD, "The Story of Your Life."  Spending some time by himself in a cabin in Tennessee, he looked over hundreds of stories he had received from fans about real stories from their lives.  Over the last few years, Matthew West transformed love stories into songs by partnering with K-LOVE, and this CD seems to be an extension of that project.  All 11 songs come from someone's real life experience, and that is what makes this CD amazing.  After listening through the CD the first time, each song hit me in a different way.  While some situations do not apply to my life specifically (for instance, I have never had to deal with the struggles of divorce), they all provide glimpses into the real life problems that people are facing every day.  These songs also offer hope, and the underlying theme throughout all 11 songs is that we can find that hope in Christ.  He is the One we can go to no matter what is going on in our life, and He can give us the hope and strength that we need during those hard times.

"Reason for the World"  is the song that stood out most to me.  It expounds on this idea of hope.  Life is hard, and at some point we are all going to experience a very difficult and trying situation.  Some of us may be in the middle of one of those tough situations right now.  But when those hard times come, there is always someone we can turn to, and that is God.  All we have to do is call out to Him for strength and help, and He will give it to us.  Does it mean that the hard times will go away and be solved immediately?  No.  But it will help us realize that He is in control, and even when life is hard, we can always trust in Him.  In the end, this world is not our home.  It is only a stop along the way to our eternal home.

So here are the lyrics to what I felt was the most powerful song and my favorite song from Matthew West's new CD:

Reason for the World

There are no words in times like these
When tears don't hide the tragedies
And all you want is a reason for the world

No comfort in the greeting card
Cause God is good, But life's still hard
and your heart just wants a reason for the world

Maybe the reason for the pain
Is so we would pray for strength
And maybe the reason for the strength
Is so that we would not lose hope
And maybe the reason for all hope
Is so that we could face the world
And the reason for the world
Is to make us long for home

For God so loved your broken heart
He sent his son to where you are and he died
To give a reason for the world

So lift your sorrows to the one
Whose plan for you has just begun
And rests here in the hands that hold the world

Maybe the reason for the pain
Is so we would pray for strength
And maybe the reason for the strength
Is so that we would not lose hope
And maybe the reason for all hope
Is so that we could face the world
And the reason for the world
Is to make us long for home

Well I know your past the point of broken
Surrounded by your fear
I know your feet are tired and weary
from the road that you walked down here
But just keep your eyes on heaven
and know that you are not alone
remember the reason for the world

No ear has heard, No eye has seen
Not even in your wildest dreams
A beauty that awaits beyond this world
When you look into the eyes of grace
and hear the voice of mercy say
Child, welcome to the reason for the world

Matt

'While I'm Waiting" and "In the Waiting"

While studying 2 Samuel 4 today, I could not help but think of 2 songs that deal with those waiting periods in life like David experienced.  We all have those moments between big milestones in our lives, and sometimes we look so forward to the next big thing that we miss out on what God is teaching us in the present.  While we should think of the future and plan accordingly, we must also take the time to focus on what God wants to do us in the weeks, months, or maybe even years before those big events.  David waited a few decades before he received the fulfillment of God's promise for his life, but he served God continually while waiting.  So here are some song lyrics to go with today's passage.  Check out these artists.  They are two of my favorites.

John Waller - "While I'm Waiting"

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

FFH - "In the Waiting"
 
I've seen the red sea part, I've seen the mountains move
But now it seems so dark, I can't even feel You
If You chose to be silent I'll be silent too
I will worship in the waiting, quiet before You

Until Your voice like manna from the sky falls
I will worship in the waiting
I will walk with this sand beneath my feet
Though the winter wind is blowing

The ground is not frozen underneath
I will worship and not grow bitter
'Cause I know You see the end of it all
And with the spring will come the rain
And I'll see what was gained

In the waiting
I've seen the blooms of spring, new life in everything
But now it seems so grey, bright colors fade away
This winter seems much longer and colder than before
But I will worship in the waiting, expecting something more
Until the sun shines warm upon my face again

He Leadeth me, He leadeth me
By His own hand, He leadeth me
His faithful follower I would be
For by His hand, He leadeth me

Matt

While I'm Waiting Review

John Waller's newest CD came out just a little over a week ago, and it is a great album! I feel like he did a great job on his sophomore album, which is typically one of the hardest albums for new artists. But what I especially like about this album is his use of Scripture within the songs. Almost every song on this CD has some part of Scripture almost directly quoted within the song. Let me give you a few examples:

"Faith Is Living"
It's the evidence of things I cannot see. And faith, it's the confidence that you are holding me... I want to be a man like Abraham. He went to a foreign land 'cause You said go. He trusted You by faith. Of a tiny mustard seed to move mountains we can speak.

"While I'm Waiting"
While I'm waiting I will not faint, I'll be running the race, even while I wait.

"Cling to the Call" - Peter
I was walking on water just a week ago. Not even a care in the world just a day ago. Not sure what happened but all of a sudden, I saw the crashing waves all around me. And once again I had to choose to put my eyes back on You... I could stand without wavering just an hour ago. I could not deny you even a moment ago. Not sure what happened but three times denied You. And once again I've got to choose to put my eyes back on You.

"House of God"
A description of what the Church is or what it should be.

"Priestly Blessing"
Lord bless us and keep us, make your face to shine upon us. Raise your countenance on us and give us peace.

"Dead Man Walking"
I am crucified with Christ. No longer I live. Now the life I live is only in Him. I am seated with Christ. I'm not coming back. All my life, I've never been so alive, I am crucified.

"Perfect Peace" is Isaiah 26:3 put to music.

These songs have such powerful meanings, and I would encourage you to at least read the full lyrics to all of these songs. This does not seem like some CD that an artist put out just to make money. You can feel the passion and meaning behind these songs. It is grounded in Scripture, and for me, that is what makes these songs! John Waller did a great job with this album, and I would encourage you to go out and get it.

Matt

While I'm Waiting... I'm Not Searching

So yesterday I talked up the new album by John Waller, which as you know I had not heard yet. The main reason for that is because it will not be released until April 7th. But I thought that I could find some clips from the songs that will be on the album (I can normally do that on amazon). But for some reason I was striking out on every option I could think of. It was not on amazon, not on christianbook, not on itunes, and google wasn't helping. But in the midst of searching one last time, I stumbled across what I was looking for.

If you are curious about this new album, as I have been for the past few days, you can go to reunion records website and then go to John Waller's section on that site. From there, you can find information about the new album, including short clips from each song. And from what I heard last night, this is going to be another great album! So I am no longer searching for his songs while I wait for the new album. But don't forget... April 7th.

Matt

While I'm Waiting... While I'm Searching

Looking back at my previous posts, I have noticed that I have posted about three different songs by John Waller over the past year. The thing is, John Waller only has one CD out, with only 10 songs. That is 33% of his songs. And they are not the only three songs with a powerful message. But instead of rambling about statistics, let me get to the point. John Waller is currently one of my favorite artists, ranking up there with FFH and Casting Crowns. And his debut album, "The Blessing" is one of my favorite albums on my iTunes, and has been played through the most. But there is a reason for that. The lyrics in these songs are powerful and have such a great message.

So since last April, when I went to the Casting Crowns concert, which had John Waller as an opening act, I have listened to John Waller like crazy. And those songs still have a great impact on my life almost a year later. But I began anticipating more from him, especially when "While I'm Waiting" was featured in the movie Fireproof. The other day I was casually searching for new music online, and I stumbled across a new John Waller song, "Hands of the Healer." Sadly, I still cannot find an audio version of the song, only lyrics.

But that is not the exciting news. The great news is that John Waller's second album will be released in just a few short weeks, April 7th! Where will I be that day? Buying the new album. It is entitled "While I'm Waiting," and while I am not sure if this is the same song that appeared on the first album or not, I am pretty sure that this album will rank right up there with his first. On his myspace page, John Waller talks about the new album and some of the new songs, which I am dying to hear some clips of. But I have searched online for clips of the new songs as well, and I have come up empty.

So while I was searching for new music I stumbled across "While I'm Waiting," the new album by John Waller. If anyone knows where I can hear some audio clips of his new album please let me know. I would love to get a sneak peek to the album.

Matt

I Want to Know You

Conclave was a great conference this past weekend. God was present with all of us that attended the conference, and He taught me many great things. The ideas presented are great applications for ministry. I will not get into some of the specifics of what we learned, but I do want to talk about a song that we sang during the worship services this weekend. Many of us know the song "I Want to Know You." You have probably sung it many times in some worship service. But I wonder how many times you have thought about the meaning of the song. I know we are all guilty of singing a worship song without thinking about it. And many times we may try to focus in on the lyrics. But there are some songs that I know that I have not thought about before, and this is one of them. Here are the lyrics to the chorus:

I want to know You
I want to hear Your voice
I want to know You more

I want to touch You
I want to see Your face
I want to know You more

Todd Agnew was the worship leader this weekend. And during our first session he began breaking this song apart to give us a look at the meaning behind the words. So lets start with "I want to hear Your voice." Do you really want to hear His voice? We would hope that we would say yes, but think about the consequences. What if you really heard His voice? What if He spoke powerfully to you and told you specifically what He wanted you to do. I think you would feel compelled to obey. I know I would. But that would be an extremely dramatic experience. Are we at the point in our lives where we would be willing to do what He said without question and without pause? That, I do not know.

Then Todd spoke on "I want to see Your face." Have you ever read about the burning bush? Moses was not allowed to see God's face, even though he asked if he could. God only allowed him to see His back. And God told Moses that by seeing His face, he would die. So when we sing this line, you are basically asking for death. God has never allowed a human to see His face. What a powerful image this line provides. But if we truly desired to see His face, that would be a mark of a dedicated life to God.

Finally, Todd looked at "I want to touch You." Again, return to the Old Testament. When David was helping return the Ark of the Covenant, a man reached out to catch the Ark, which was about to fall to the ground. God struck him dead immediately. In the New Testament, a woman reached out to touch Jesus for healing. She was only able to grab His clothes, and she was healed immediately. But think about it, she touched something that was touching Him. She did not even touch His skin. When we say that we want to touch Him, think about the consequences.

Todd joked around saying that 2 of these 6 lines are actually asking God to kill us. But I thought about it in a different way. Romans 12:1-2 talks about our lives being living sacrifices. Well how can we live and be a sacrifice at the same time? I think the answer has to do with the flesh and the spirit. We die to ourselves, our flesh. And if you think of this song in those terms, it takes on a different, but powerful meaning. Maybe the "asking for death" mentioned in this song could refer to dying to our flesh so that our spirit would be evident in our lives. The bottom line is that we should be that committed to Christ. No matter what this song actually means, or what it means to you, I think that it calls for a life of commitment. We must be committed to God. Our lives cannot just be words, thoughts, or ideas. There must be a lifestyle that backs up our beliefs.

Matt

Here I Am

Here I Am by Downhere

.

Sometimes it just seems like you hear the same message over and over again. Or at least that is the way it is in my life on multiple occasions. A few days ago, I heard this song and really stuck out to me. But I had no idea who sang it, so I had to do some research and figure out the artist. I figured that out and listened to the song several times. Then at church last night, our youth intern read this passage out of Isaiah 6. To top it all off, I heard the song again this morning while I was working. So I have had this song on my mind a lot recently, and maybe it is God trying to tell me or teach me something. Anyways, I wanted to share the lyrics with you.

..

Sometimes Your calling, comes in dream

Sometimes in comes in the Spirit's breeze

You reach for the deepest hope in me

And call out for the things of eternity

..

But I'm a man, of dust and stains,

You move in me, so I can say

..

Chorus

Here I am, Lord send me

All of my life, I make an offering,

Here I am, Lord send me

Somehow my story is a part of Your plan,

Here I am

..

When setbacks and failures, and upset plans

Test my faith and leave me with empty hands

Are You not the closest when it's hardest to stand

I know that You will finish what You began

..

And these broken parts You will redeem

Become the song that I can sing

..

Chorus

..

Overwhelmed by the thought of my weakness

And the fear that I'll fail You in the end

In this mess, I'm just one of the pieces,

I can't put this together but You can

..

Chorus

..

Here I Am, all my life an offering to You, to You

Somehow my story is a part of Your plan

Here I am

..

We should live our lives in such a way that we are ready to go wherever it is that God is leading, do whatever it is that He wants us to do. All that we do in life should also be an offering up to God. When thinking of life in those terms, it places a different perspective on how we act and what we do. It causes us to think about our actions, considering how holy or unholy they may be. Are we truly living the way Christ would have us live? Does our life give Him a sufficient offering? Either way, we offer Him something with our lives. But what does our offering consist of? Is it a Romans 12:1-2 offering/sacrifice?

..

Life is full of challenges. Life is full of surprises. But through it all we should always be focused on Him. And we always need to be checking ourselves for what we are giving to God with our lives. May our heart's desire be that of Isaiah when he told the Lord, "Here am I, Send me!"

..

Matt

Jesus Calling

This song is off of the same CD as One Life to Love by 33 Miles. I have recently been listening through the CD, and this song in particular caught my attention. There always seem to be those songs that just seem to jump out at random times, and this is one that has stuck out to me over the past few days.

Jesus Calling by 33 Miles

What do you see when you look at your world today
Is it so full of clutter that you feel like you’re going insane
And you can’t fight back cause you’re just too afraid
and it seems like the clouds in your sky don’t wanna change
You see there’s always another story, another side to every coin,
And how you see your circumstance is all about a choice

CHORUS
When you see the rushing wind , feel the pouring rain
hear the thunder now as the clouds roll in
and you’re blinded by the lightning
do you also hear that still, small voice saying
It’s okay, you’re not alone, you may be scared to death,
But I won’t let you go
You may think the sky above is falling
But can you hear Jesus calling

What do you see when you look at your world today
Do you see a glimmer of hope, or has it all turned to gray
Well start by counting your blessings one by one
Oh and I’m sure right there, you’ll start to see the sun
You see there’s always another story, another side to every coin
And how you see your circumstance is all about a choice

CHORUS

Because the darker the night, the brighter He can shine

CHORUS

This seems to apply to the world today. It seems to be gray skies of gloom and doom. Whenever you turn on the news, it seems like there is only bad news and not many "glimmers of hope." With all of this depressing news, it would be easy to get down every day never finding happiness in any aspect of life. But is that what you want your life to be, days, weeks, and years filled with depression? Because it does not have to be that way. True, life is hard, and times are tough right now. And just because you choose to have hoped does not necessarily mean that those hard times will suddenly disappear. But it will give you a new perspective on those hard times. Instead of looking at the hard times and dwelling so much on the negativity, which causes you to be depressed all day every day, you can try finding those "glimmers of hope."

As this song mentions, there is always another side to the coin, another story, and a choice to make when these hard times come. The chorus of this song is great! When we see and feel all these hard times in and around us, we must remember that we have something or someONE that can help. That is the message of this song, and it applies so well to the news of today.

I do not want you to think that I am saying that being a Christian is the cure to the problems in your life, because that is sadly not true. Hard times will continue to come. But the secret to your problems is the way that you choose to deal with them. So as we continue to go through these hard times in our country, be sure that you do not forget that Jesus is there with you through it all. It may be hard now, but you can look on to a brighter day, a day that is coming, even if it is not in this life.

Matt

The Call - Lucy and Aslan

Prince Caspian was released on DVD last week, and of course I went out and bought it immediately. Now I have previously stated in other posts my thoughts on this movie, both the positives and the negatives, and you can see that in the movie section on the right side of this page. But this post is not about the movie itself. Instead, I want to specifically comment on one of the songs that they included in the movie that I feel fits so well. This song is "The Call" by Regina Spektor:

It started out as a feeling
Which then grew into a hope
Which then turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a quiet word

And then that word grew louder and louder
'Til it was a battle cry
I'll come back
When you call me
No need to say goodbye

Just because everything's changing
Doesn't mean it's never been this way before
All you can do is try to know who your friends are
As you head off to the war

Pick a star on the dark horizon
And follow the light
You'll come back when it's over
No need to say goodbye

You'll come back when it's over
No need to say goodbye

Now we're back to the beginning
It's just a feeling and no one knows yet
But just because they can't feel it too
Doesn't mean that you have to forget

Let your memories grow stronger and stronger
'Til they're before your eyes
You'll come back
When they call you
No need to say goodbye

You'll come back
When they call you
No need to say goodbye

I loved this song when I heard it for the first time in the theater. It seemed to fit the movie perfectly. And now that I have seen the movie several times since and read these lyrics, I think it is a perfect fit for Lucy at the end of this book/movie. Lucy is leaving Narnia for the second time, hoping again that she will one day return. Aslan almost assures her that she will be needed again, and she feels like she will be making a third visit to Narnia. Through this song, it seems like Aslan telling her to wait for his call, and then she will be able to return. What a powerful message if Aslan is related to God! Wait on God's timing in life.

The song then talks about change. With Lucy returning to England, life will once again change, returning back to her normal life in England. But change can be good, even if things are hard. The song suggests some hard times (war). The series was set in and after WWII, so again the song seems to tie in well with the book. The part about looking to a star seems off if considering Christianity, but it does allude to the light. Jesus is the light, and this could be seen as Aslan encouraging Lucy to look to the light as she goes through her next stage of life.

Finally, there is an encouragement to hold on to the feelings of Narnia. Those around Lucy and her siblings will not know how they feel about Narnia. They do not know what Narnia is or how it has affected these children. But that does not mean that the children have to forget their memories. Aslan encourages them to hold on to the memories of Narnia, not forgetting the lessons that they have learned. Also, this seems to connect with Susan, who at the beginning of the movie was letting go of her Narnia feelings (not in the book from what I recall). But later in the series (book form), Susan does forget about Narnia as she gets caught up in worldly affairs. Lucy is encouraged to hold on to those memories as she awaits for her call back to Narnia.

I really like this song. It seems to have been written in light of the Narnia series, but it may not have. If it wasn't, then there are a lot of connections that can be made regardless. Just like this song, The Chronicles of Narnia have a lot of lessons that we can learn. The children that travel to Narnia go for a purpose. Not only do they help those in need in Narnia, but they are taught various lessons themselves. And once they have learned all that they can, they are sent back to their own world to put those lessons into practice. May we take the lessons that we hear from God and put them into practice in our life, just as these children have.

Matt

Everytime I Breathe

This song has a powerful message, and describes how we are supposed to live in relation to God. But sadly, we fall short of this on a regular basis. But before I make a judgment about everyone, read these lyrics for yourself. And while you are doing so, think about your life. Is this the way that you see God on a daily basis?

Everytime I Breathe

I am sure all of heaven's heard me cry
As I tell You all the reasons why
This life is just too hard

But day by day
Without fail I'm finding everything I need
And everything that You are To me

Every time I breathe You seem a little bit closer
I never want to leave I want to stay in Your warm embrace
Oh basking in the glory shining from Your face
And every time I get another glimpse of Your heart
I realize it's true
That You are so marvelous God
And I am so in love with You

Now how could I after knowing One so great
Respond to You in any way
That's less than all I have to give

But by Your grace I want to love
You not with what I say But everyday
In a way that my life is lived

Every time I breathe You seem a little bit closer
I never want to leave I want to stay in Your warm embrace
Oh basking in the glory shining from Your face
And every time I get another glimpse of Your heart
I realize it's true
That You are so marvelous God And I am so in love with You

Wrapped in Your mercy I want to live and never leave
I am held by how humble
Yet overwhelmed by Your majesty
Captured by grace and now I'm finding
I am free
You are marvelous God And knowing You is everything

We should love God with all that we have (See #1 A Look Back at Deuteronomy 6:5). But many times I feel that we go to God when we need Him. As the first verse shows, life is hard. And we are very good about going to God during those hard times. Of course He helps us, and we are grateful for His help, but for our relationship to grow deeper, we must go to Him in all areas of life. So do we go to Him "day by day" in the good and the bad. Is He really "everything" that we need?

I am not trying to harp on anyone or make you question your relationship with God. However, I do not feel like He is everything that He can be in my life. And I would guess that many others feel the same way. I desire a deeper relationship with my God. And I sometimes wonder if the relationship that this song describes is the relationship that I have with God each day.

Please do not think that I am saying it is wrong to go to God in the hard times in life. It is very important to entrust Him in helping us in those times. But our relationship with Him should not solely be based on His help in those times. It should go deeper, and it should be a daily relationship with the God who created us, loved us, saved us, and will be with us for eternity. Run to Him each day, and be caught in His "warm embrace." That is the perfect place to be in life.

Matt

Somewhere in the Middle

In your relationship with God, have you ever felt like you did not know exactly where you were? I mean, have you thought "I know I have made progress," but still feel like "but I know I am not there yet." If so, then you are completely normal. However, like me and so many others, you probably tell yourself that you find yourself stuck in the middle. Take heart, the Apostle Paul found himself in a similar situation as well in Romans 7. He says that he does the very thing that he hates and not the thing that he knows is right. He in essence is stuck somewhere in the middle of what is right and what is wrong. Casting Crowns does a good job in expressing this idea in their song, "Somewhere in the Middle."

Somewhere in the Middle

Somewhere between the hot and the cold
Somewhere between the new and the old
Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me
Somewhere between the wrong and the right
Somewhere between the darkness and the light
Somewhere between who I was and who You're making me
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control
Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle
Are we caught in the middle

Somewhere between my heart and my hands
Somewhere between my faith and my plans
Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves
Somewhere between a whisper and a roar
Somewhere between the altar and the door
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more
Somewhere in the middle You'll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control
Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But would we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle

Lord, I feel You in this place and I know You're by my side
Loving me even on these nights when I'm caught in the middle

This song has so many great images, and I have felt them so many times in my life. Some of the ones that stick out to me are:

• Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be, who I am and who you're making me... How many times do you feel like you make progress and then revert back? I have been through this, and at times I feel like I am stuck there. Now we will never get to what we want to be in Christ this side of Heaven. However, we are called to try continually.


• Somewhere between my heart and my hands... Our thoughts and ideas on how to serve Christ are sometimes just that, great ideas. They fail to be backed up by action. And I know I am guilty in this area.


• Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves... This is a recurring theme through Casting Crowns music (appearing on all 3 CD's), and it is very true for some of my life. It goes well with the second point. We know what we are supposed to be doing in Christ, but we like the comfort of the boat and are scared to get out and work for Him.


• Deep water faith in the shallow end... This one of the most vivid images of the song. At times, we can get so caught up in wanting to know the theological issues or know God so much better that we find ourselves wading in the shallow end of the pool, again afraid to see what else God has in store for us. Knowledge is great, but when it is not backed up by action, we are just wading in the shallow end of the pool.

There are many other images that speak to me, and these are just a few. But my encouragement for myself and for you is to take action. Stop sitting around with great ideas on how you can better serve God and go out there and work for Him. Take hold of the gifts that He has given to you and let Him use you in life.

Matt

Can't Get Away

Can't Get Away

Here is a fairly new band with many powerful messages. I discovered Rush of Fools last Fall after hearing their first single "Undo." But after listening to the CD, the song that stuck with the most was this one.

So here are the lyrics:

I am an arrow, I am a rocket
I am a river and nothing can stop it
Cause You are the target and You are the atmosphere
You are the ocean that keeps pulling me, You're pulling me here

And I, can't get away, can't get away
Can't get away, can't get away
I can't get away, can't get away...I keep running into You
And I, can't get away, can't get away
Can't get away, can't get away
I can't get away, can't get away...I keep running into You

I am a beggar, You are the table
I am so helpless, God You are so able
And when I get turned around You change my direction
You're so perfect, I'm so broken, here You come with arms wide open
Chasing after me down every road
You're always waiting there

Even when I close my eyes, I can't help but see
There's no place that I can hide,
You're such a part of me
I can't get away cause I keep running into You
I can't get away...

As Christians, we cannot help but be with God. The Bible says that He never leaves us. He is always with us through both the hard times and the good times. So when the song says that we are an arrow and He is the target or that we are the river and He is the ocean, it is saying that we are always set on target into His path. He is with us, and we cannot help but get away.

There are several things to think about this. First off, when we are caught up in sin, God is there with us. He sees all that we do, and if we consider the fact that He is always with us our actions might actually change. Also, as the song says "there's no place that I can hide." Just like Jonah, we cannot run from God. He will always find us out.

Secondly, we can remember that God is with us when we go down some wrong paths. He may not approve of our choices, but He will still be with us. At those times, He is just waiting for us to return to Him. He will be with us through it all, and we can always depend on Him staying by our side.

So as you go throughout your day, remember that God is with you through it all. Do not forget about His presence. If you are currently traveling down the wrong path in life, turn to God. He is right there waiting for you. Just turn to Him and depend on His strength. And if you are caught up in sin, remember that you can turn to Him that as well. But also remember that He is watching you in every move you make. Use that as motivation to live a holy lifestyle before the Lord. He demands holiness, and that is what we should give Him.

You cannot get away from God. You may run or wander off down the wrong path, but you can never get away when you are His child.

Matt

I'm Waiting

I'm Waiting

John Waller is featured in the new Christian film Fireproof. I went to see this movie last night, and I must say that I was impressed with the film. But that is for another time. I might do a movie review later this week. However, John Waller's song I'm Waiting plays during this movie, and works well in this movie. So I thought we could take a look at this song and see what it is talking about. Here are the lyrics:

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I’m waiting
I will serve You
While I’m waiting
I will worship
While I’m waiting
I will not faint
I’ll be running the race
Even while I wait

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it’s not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting on You, Lord

We all have those times in life when it seems like nothing is going on. We are waiting for the next big part of our life to arrive, and we do not know what to do in those "in-between" stages. I think that a lot of times I take those parts of life and neglect to fulfill the plans that God has for me. It is easy to get caught up in the big stuff, that we miss out on the blessings God could give us when we are waiting.

You may be in one of those waiting times right now. It could be just some down time before the next hectic part of your life. But it may even be a crazy time in itself while you wait for a situation to be resolved. Either way, worship and serve God while you are waiting. Look to Him for guidance and direction. Let Him lead you, and continue to do His work while you wait. Do not let those moments in life be the times where you do the least for the Lord. You may find that you have a great influence on someone just because you followed and trusted God.

Matt

Lifestories from Lifesong

I read this book 2 years ago, and since then Casting Crowns has released yet another CD full of wonderful songs and amazing messages. But this book recounts their first 2 CDs and where those 21 songs came from.

..

Each chapter is dedicated to one of their songs. In the chapters you will find the background behind the song: where Mark Hall or one of the other writers came up with the idea or what events in life inspired the lyrics. Also, there are e-mails and letters sent in from fans that describe the impacts that these songs have had on ordinary people. Mark Hall then explains the message that he was trying to convey through the song, hoping the reader/listener will see the Biblical point embedded in the song. Finally, there are some questions at the end of each chapter encouraging readers to go deeper into Scripture, applying the lyrics (but more importantly the Scripture) to their everyday life.

..

Casting Crowns has been known for their powerful lyrics since their first single about 4 or 5 years ago. Their songs seem to touch people in a very special way. They are not cheesy lyrics, but they are powerful and thought provoking. They challenge listeners to think about their life, and lead us to the life God would have us to live. This book is a great supplement for what they have accomplished through their music.

..

I encourage you to go and check this one out. It is a great walk through some modern music. It can help you think about the practical aspects of your spiritual walk that you may have never considered before. Maybe you are not hearing those crying out for help. Maybe you are the body that is not reaching out to he lost and hurting. Maybe you have found yourself stuck in the middle. Whatever the case may be, Casting Crowns challenges us to change our lives so that others will see Christ in us. We are the body, and we should be reaching out to the lost no matter the cost.

..

Matt

33 Miles - One Life to Love

33 Miles is not a band that I have heard much from, but what I have heard has been great! This, their 2nd CD, came out Tuesday, and the title song is amazing! I have not yet purchased the CD, but "One Life to Love" has been on the radio for several weeks now. It is a great reminder of how we only have one life here on this earth, and we must make sure that we are living life to its fullest. Sometimes, the decisions we make can never be reversed, and we are stuck with the consequences. We must remember that we sometimes only get once chance. So before I go much further, take a look at these lyrics:

..

One Life to Love:

..

He never thought he cared so much about the minute hand

Until he started praying for a second chance

If he could only do it all again

And trade the long nights that he spent behind his desk

For all he missed

He tells his wife I wish that this moment in this room

Was not me dying but just spending a little time with you

.

Chorus: You only get just one time around, you only get one shot at this

One chance to find out the one thing that you don’t wanna miss

One day when it’s all said and done I hope you see that it was enough

This one ride, one try, one life to love

..

She never thought she cared so much about those little hands

That held on tight the day she left till she was scared to death

Sitting all alone on a hotel bed, the end of the road

The sun has set on her big plans to feel young again

She picks up the phone, dials a number, hears that little voice

That’s haunted every single mile since she made that choice

..

You only get just one time around, you only get one shot at this

One chance to find out the one thing that you don’t wanna miss

One day when it’s all said and done I hope you see that it was enough

This one ride, one try, one life to love

..

In both situations, these fictional characters made decisions that could not be reversed. For the man, he had spent so much time at work that he neglected his family duties. He missed out on the nights that he could have spent with his wife and kids. So there on his deathbed, instead of just staying up talking with his wife, he found himself only wishing that he could. The woman in the second verse has walked out on her own children. She had her "own plans," and it seems as if that did not include a family or children. So she left and went on her own way. But something kept her wondering if what she did was right. She was "haunted every single mile," and she realized that by talking to that "little voice" one night.

..

Both people came to the realization that they had messed up, but by the time this came to their mind, it was too late. there was not much they could do to mend the relationships or fix things. Time moves on, and we cannot go back and change our lives. We must remember that those decisions we have made in the past cannot be changed either. We have to move on. But that does not mean that all is lost. Until we find ourselves facing death, we still have time to get our life turned around. We do not have to be like the man on his deathbed regretting his life. If there is something that you wish you had not of done, you can change right now. God is waiting, and He wants you to come to Him, giving your life to Him. Remember, you only get 1 life. We only have 1 chance to make the most of this life. Do not waste it!

..

Matt

Jesus Messiah

I don't know if you have heard the new CD by Chris Tomlin yet or not. I bought just a few days ago, and have listened through it many times now. There are many good songs, and they have a powerful message throughout. There is one song in particular that you might recognize. That is "Jesus Messiah," and it has been on Christian radio for the past couple of months. It is a typical Tomlin song with a powerful message.

..

Here are the lyrics:

..

He became sin

Who knew no sin

That we might become His Righteousness

He humbled himself and carried the cross

Love so amazing Love so amazing

..

Jesus Messiah

Name above all names

Blessed Redeemer

Emmanuel

The rescue for sinners

The ransom from Heaven

Jesus Messiah

Lord of all

..

His body the bread

His blood the wine

Broken and poured out all for love

The whole earth trembled

And the veil was torn

Love so amazing Love so amazing, yeah

..

Jesus Messiah

Name above all names

Blessed Redeemer

Emmanuel

The rescue for sinners

The ransom from Heaven

Jesus Messiah

Lord of all

..

All our hope is in You

All our hope is in You

All the glory to You, God

The light of the world

..

Jesus Messiah

Name above all names

Blessed Redeemer

Emmanuel

The rescue for sinners

The ransom from Heaven

Jesus Messiah

Lord of all

Just by reading the lyrics, the song comes across as a basic message. And really that is all this song is. It talks about Jesus and what He has done for us. It shows how the Gospel really is that simple. Many times we make Christianity more complicated than it ought to be. And that leads others to thinking that there is more to do than just accept Jesus into their life. They expect some manual labor or chores in order to get to Heaven. But we know, as Christians, that the Gospel really is that simple. There is not a lot I can even say about this song because it so self-explanatory. Read and think about the lyrics, and do not make the Gospel more complicated than it should be.

Matt