Music Monday

Strong Enough

Frank

“I can do all things through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13)

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” (1 Corinthians 1:25)

“For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10b)

“You are my strength, I watch for you;
you, God, are my fortress
my God on whom I can rely…

I will sing of your strength,
in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.
You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
you, God, are my fortress
my God on whom I can rely.” (Psalm 59:9-10, 16-17)

And for backstory…

Where Were You?

Frank

It will go down in conversational history like the assassination of JFK, man first walking on the moon, or the fall of the Berlin Wall. If you don’t know how to start a conversation with someone but want to break the ice, simply ask “where were you on 9/11”?

Most of us were at work or on our way. At the time, I was waiting tables and had a late night shift the night before, so I was still in bed. My mom called to wake me up. I spent the rest of the day glued to the TV. When I did try and go out to grab a bite to eat, I saw that everyplace was closed.

There was a lot of fear that day. Would there be more planes? Would there be a “dirty bomb”? What would happen next?

So we vividly remember where we were that day. But do you remember where you were the day after? Alan Jackson’s song, Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning” talks about donating blood, kneeling to pray, helping in a soup kitchen, aiding relief efforts, and so on. But that was the day after. Do you remember where you were on 9/12?

I ask because it wasn’t 9/11 that changed everything, though it was the catalyst. It was 9/12. The day after. The next day where we had to decide how the events the day before would change how we lived our lives. I remember the night of the 12th. It seemed everyone was having candlelight vigils. There were special prayer services. There were rallies. And at each, people attended with a sense of unease and uncertainty. Some felt that if this meant an all-out World War-level conflict in the Middle East then we could very well be ushering in the end of the world.

It’s like the saying, “today is the first day of the rest of your life.” The 12th was the first day of the post-9/11 world. People who had stopped going to church returned. Faith came front and center in our national politics. We waved our flags a little higher and prayed a little deeper. Then the 13th, the 14th… But one year later, had anything really changed? Those who recommitted their lives to Christ were back home Sunday morning watching football. The faith-driven political divide deepened and antagonized many. Two years later were we better off? How about 10 years later? Can you honestly say you are living your life differently because of what happened 10 years ago? For the families of victims, for those serving in the military and their loved ones, and for those persecuted based only on their nationality or religion, yes their lives are very different today. But how about you? What is different for you?

I know you remember where you were on the 11th. But do you remember where you were on the 12th? Are you still there?

All is Not Lost

Frank

I love videos from OK Go. This is their newest (not counting the recent Muppet video), a collaboration with the dance company Pilobolus. I admit to being a little creeped out by the body suits, but once they start as a kaleidoscope it becomes very cool.

And the theme of the song reminds me of David Crowder Band’s video for their song SMS (Shine)- another labor-intensive video (see, I worked Labor Day in there somewhere!). Actually, I’d love to see a collaboration between the two bands. Unlikely, but the end-product would be worth it.

Weight

Frank

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

So what is weighing you down?

Amazing Grace

Frank

One of the most familiar hymns there is is Amazing Grace by John Newton. So recognizable, it can be identified just by its first two notes. I’ll let Wintley Phipps give the background below. I think the circumstances under which it was written adds to its spiritual impact. But it is the theme- God’s grace versus our wretchedness, that is eternal and so relatable.

Interestingly, though Phipps gives the background of the song, he sings as the second verse an addition to the original song written approximately 100 years after the original. The original verse was a little too bleak for “modern” hearers (or lukewarm Christianity, take your pick). But this verse was added back in by Chris Tomlin for the soundtrack to the film “Amazing Grace”.

I started doing some research on “Amazing Grace,” and I was blown away that the last verse (“When we’ve been there 10,000 years bright shining as the sun”) was written about 100 years later. The original verse by John Newton was “The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,” this incredible verse that I’d never seen in a hymn book. I started thinking about where John Newton came from, the slave ships, and what God had done in his life. We’re all made slaves to sin in our life, but God has set us free. He has ransomed us from our slavery. I just wanted to add this idea that I hope brings freshness to the heart of the song. -Chris Tomlin

As he mentions, he was hesitant to mess with the arrangement but it has been done numerous times before. Here’s a recent version by Todd Agnew:

The simple song structure also allows it to be sung as a round (remember elementary school with Row Row Row Your Boat when a group starts to sing halfway in) as well as be easily integrated into other songs. I couldn’t find an example of this being sung in a round, but you can get the idea from these kids (Amazing Grace shows up in the second verse).

It is also commonly integrated into contemporary songs. Two groups recently, Wakeup Starlight and Building 429, have used Amazing Grace as a bridge in their songs.

So what’s your favorite version of Amazing Grace? Do you prefer the traditional or do you like contemporary arrangements? Is it best sung to an organ or a capella?

Foolishness

Frank
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

This isn’t some self-righteous criticism. I actually really like both of these songs. But you see the truth in the verse above if you browse through the comments on these videos.

First up, A Perfect Circle’s “Judith”. The song is about Maynard James Keenan’s mother, Judith, who suffered a stroke when he was 7 and was confined to a wheelchair the rest of her life. Yet, she remained steadfast in her faith. A sampling of the lyrics:

It’s not like you killed someone
It’s not like you drove a hateful spear into his side
Praise the one who left you broken down and paralyzed
He did it all for you…

Oh so many ways for me to show you how your dogma has abandoned you

Next is the Deftones’ “Change (House of Flies)”. This one is interesting. The video is pretty debaucherous which leads many in the comments section to think it’s about addiction or sex. I don’t think there’s any hidden meaning at all when the lyrics explicitly call out the cross:

I look at the cross
And I look away

The way this song hits me is as someone who is jealous seeing the change in someone after their decision to follow Christ. In my recovery ministry I’ve seen this first hand, where there’s an attitude of “oh, so you’re too good for us now?” It’s part of the victim, savior, persecutor cycle. “I’ve watched you change, like you never…”

The message of the cross is foolishness.

Hallelujah

Frank

Consider this a “praise-off”, Amy Grant versus Casting Crowns. Better Than a Hallelujah versus Praise You [Hallelujah] In This Storm. Both songs speak to the same point but approach it from different sides. We should be crying out to God in our distress (for a Bible reference, pick a Psalm, pick any Psalm) but even then, we should be praising our God for His sovereignty, His wisdom, His will.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7)

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

“Is anyone of you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” (James 5:13)

“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Remember that Amen means ‘so be it’.

And from the songs:

“We pour out our miseries, God just hears a melody.
Beautiful the mess we are, the honest cries of broken hearts.
Are better than a hallelujah.”

“Every tear I cry, you hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn,
I will praise you in this storm”

I Am Free

Frank

As we celebrate our freedom in the United States, let us also celebrate our freedom in the Kingdom of God.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

“Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.” (1 Peter 2:16)

Plan B

Frank

I finally got around to picking up Pete Wilson’s Plan B after following Kevin Martineau’s book club a couple of months ago. I’m not sure where it ranks on the ever-growing book pile, but I hope to get to it soon.

In the meantime, I’ve wondered if Pete Wilson and Manafest have ever met. Or if that would be like matter and anti-matter coming into contact with each other? I think it would be funny if someone gives Manafest a copy of the book and says, “yes there is.”

If you don’t get the joke, Manafest sings a song called “No Plan B”. Different context all together, but I can’t help but think of the book whenever I hear the song and vice versa. I love the song, and I expect I’ll love the book. For your Music Monday playlist, here’s Manafest with the alternate-version of the song (ie, harder than you’ll hear on most Christian radio). The “screamer” is from the Japanese band, Crossfaith.