Tag: Fight Songs

A Song on The Painful Ways the Truth Sets Us Free

“How It Sets You Free” by Gable Price and Friends

The first time I heard this song it immediately caught my attention. Part of it is the dissonance. The fun and upbeat sound of the song clashes with the seriousness of the lyrics. But those sobering lines also caught my attention for another reason. They reminded me of the destructive effect the truth of the gospel has on the earthly lives of my Central Asian friends who come to faith. By earthly standards, once they come to faith, most are signing up for the complete implosion of their lives – at least for a good many years to come. In the West, few talk about this reality of conversion.

Rosaria Butterfield would be one exception to this. In her powerful memoir of coming to faith out of a LGBTQ background, The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, she writes, “In the pages that follow, I share what happened in my private world through what Christians politely call conversion. This word–conversion–is simply too tame and too refined to capture the train wreck that I experienced incoming face-to-face with the living God.”

By the way, if you’ve never read Butterfield’s book, I can’t think of a better way to kick off America’s Pride Month. She’s an excellent writer. I am due for a rereading myself.

While this “train wreck” aspect of the truth is particularly true of those becoming Christians by apostatizing from religions like Islam or the West’s cult of sexuality, it’s something that all Christians eventually know in some measure. The gospel comes after our idols. And the love of God means he will do whatever it takes to rid us of whatever spiritual venom is still running through our veins and to grow us into “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph 4:13). It can get painful.

The truth will set us free, 

But not before it rips your chest out 
And not before it puts your back against the wall 
There’s a painful coalition 
A cardiac collision involved 
The truth might set you free 
But first it’s gonna set fire to your house 
It takes what you’ve been trusting 
And breaks it down to nothing at all
That's how it sets you free

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A Song on the Ancient of Days

“Ancient of Days” by CityAlight

I preached at a partner church this week on Daniel 7:1-14. The worship pastor did an excellent job of choosing songs with rich connections to that passage. This was one of them. CityAlight is probably not new to many of you, but I continue to appreciate their particular and consistent blend of good music, rich lyrics, and melodies that can be both sung congregationally as well as blasted on a family road trip.

The universal and eternal rule of the Ancient of Days (that he gives to the Son of Man) means we can have a posture of trust, confidence, and mission as the beastly kingdoms of this age rise and fall. It also means that we have a solid anchor and hope for our core longings for “glory, honor, and immortality,” (Rom 2:7).

These truths lead to a people characterized by worship.

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Photos are from Unsplash.com

A Song for Those who Watch for the Morning

“Watchman” by Josh Garrels

I was excited to hear this new song by Josh Garrels. “Watchman” is yet another song that speaks of faithfully waiting even when others fall away, of a stubborn hope that keeps on scanning for the dawn even when the night is darker and longer than we had thought it would be. Praise God for artists like Josh Garrels and Chris Renzema. Those who don’t deconstruct – but instead cling to Jesus – are truly creating some beautiful work.

Here are the lyrics: 

If I’m fully honest
I’m waiting on Your promise
Even through the trauma that swept my friends away
The darkness is upon us
The death of saints and psalmists
But I will sing my song for You anyway

Because You’re all I have Lord, You are the way
And I’ll always love You, and I will wait
Like a watchman, at the gate
Waiting for morning, to break

I can feel the winds are changing
Getting further down the range and
Truth is looking stranger than the lies
Because it’s simple and it’s holy
It’s better than they told me
Jesus You’re my only guiding light

And You’re all I have Lord, you are the way
And I’ll alway love You, and I will wait
Like a watchman, at the gate
Waiting for morning to break
Waiting to hear You say

Come on, enter in to my rest
And lay your head upon my chest
For I have called you friend
Because you kept your lamp burning through the night
And you made your garments pure and white
By my good sacrifice
Yeah, singing now my kingdom is with man
So come up to my table and
Raise up this glass with Me
Oh, singing no more tears and no more pain
I’m making all things new again
Just like I promised you
Sing alleluia all the way
And I’ll always love You
And I will wait
Like a watchman at the gate
Lord, I’m a watchman at the gate
I’m waiting for morning to break
I’m waiting for morning to break
Keep my lamp burning
Stay awake

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A Song on the Limitless Instruments of God’s Glory

“Shamgar Had an Ox Goad” by Mr. and Mrs. Garrett Soucy

As soon as I saw the title of this song, “Shamgar Had an Ox Goad,” I wanted to listen to it. It didn’t disappoint. The creative and quirky title is accompanied by a very creative and catchy song, where the writers’ celebrate that when it comes to the glory of God, “everything is on the table.” The instruments that God can use for his glory are as limitless as creation itself. That is both a biblical and a hopeful message for any of us doubting that God can indeed turn our stumbling efforts, weaknesses, and even suffering into displays of his glory.

I apologize, but here I can’t help but think of a crossover from that scene in The Fellowship of the Ring, where the different members of the fellowship pledge their weapons (and loyalty) to Frodo, the ring-bearer.

Aragorn: “You have my sword.”

Legolas: “And you have my bow.”

Shamgar:

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A Song for Faithful Skeptics

“Holy Ghost” by Chris Renzema

This is another good song from Chris Renzema. It deals with some sobering themes, such as manipulative revival services and mega pastors and mentors failing. But the author, a believer who struggles with skepticism, humbly notes, “That through crooked teeth the gospel’s preached/ Then maybe there’s hope for someone like me.” There is a refreshing sense of “Lord, to whom should would we go? You have the words of eternal life” in this song – a stubborn faith that keeps believing because of the faithful “haunting” of the Holy Spirit that remains no matter what happens to the faith of those around us.

A Song on Mature Wilderness Faith

“Manna (After All These Years)” by Chris Renzema

There are several themes from this song that hit home. I have at times been disappointed that there haven’t been more “burning bush” experiences in my life, like the ones that happened when I was younger. I have also looked back and been tempted to doubt if certain experiences of God’s power and immanence really happened or not, or if I have simply deceived myself. And I have known seasons where the “manna” doesn’t taste as sweet as I remember. But there is a mature faith and a steady hope in this song that I also resonate with and desire more of.

“But I still believe you’re here in the waiting

‘Cus after all these years I still love you

‘Cus even when I’ve lost my taste for manna

It comes from heaven all the same“

A mature wilderness faith believes that God’s acts of goodness in the past really did happen, but it doesn’t demand that they keep happening in the same way in order for God to still be good. It acknowledges seasons of spiritual dryness, where God seems distant and the things of faith don’t seem as sweet as they used to. But it keeps partaking of the means of grace nonetheless, knowing that God is sovereign over all of our seasons – and that mature love means faithful obedience and active hope, even when the heavens seem silent.

Be sure to listen for how the guitar and horns come in just before the 3:00 mark.

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A Song for Wayfaring Strangers

“Poor Wayfaring Stranger” by David O’Dowda (I don’t know anything about this game being advertised, just linking for the song which is hard to find on YouTube)

This is a solid remix of the old spiritual, “Poor Wayfaring Stranger.” This song reminds us that we are sojourners and strangers here in a world of suffering, but that we are bound for our true homeland. The traditional lyrics of the chorus focus on seeing loved ones again in heaven, which is a wonderful thing. However, I’ve been trying to rework the song for a corporate worship version in a way that incorporates our longing to see the face of God. It has a singable structure, it just needs to be put to a tempo appropriate for congregational song. Below is what I have so far after borrowing from various versions of the song and writing some lines of my own.

I am a poor wayfaring stranger
While journeying through this world below
But there’s no sickness, toil, or danger
In that bright world to which I go

I’m going there to my true Father,
He said he’d meet me when I’d come
I’m only going over Jordan
I’m only going over home

I know dark clouds will gather o’er me
I know my way lies rough and steep
But heaven’s fields lie out before me
Where weary eyes no more shall weep.

I’m going there to see my Savior,
He said he’s making me a room,
I’m only going over Jordan
I’m only going over home

I want to sing salvation’s story,
In concert with the blood-washed band;
I long to wear a crown of glory,
When I get home to that good land.

I’m going there to join my people,
The multitude from every tongue
I’m only going over Jordan
I’m only going over home

I soon shall die, leave all behind me,
This form will rest beneath the sod
But resurrection’s waiting for me,
And my forever home with God.

I’m going there to see his glory,
To worship Christ with seraphim,
I’m only going over Jordan
I’m only going over home

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A Song on the Endless Summer of Heaven

“Endless Summer” by Lovkn

One of our missionary friends passed away this past week on the field after a long battle with brain cancer. Perhaps in time I will have the chance to write more of her and her family’s story, and how they returned to the field five years ago after the cancer diagnosis, knowing that it would likely be fatal. But for now we grieve and pray for her husband and kids, and for their Central Asian church family.

This song speaks beautifully of God’s welcome of his saints into life everlasting, into the endless summer of heaven. I love how the song speaks of heaven as “The Great Adventure.” Here is what the writer says of the lyrics:

Dedicated to Kimmy, this track was inspired by a life that left the Earth far too soon. The lyrics of this song are taken directly from Kimmy’s last blog post before she passed. It is a beautiful picture into the welcoming arms of the Father as we pass into eternity.