REVIEW: Sojourn – The Water and the Blood

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ARTIST: Sojourn
RELEASE: The Water and the Blood: the Hymns of Isaac Watts Vol. II
LABEL: Independent

I’ve been listening to Sojourn Community Church’s music since 2006, when they were still mostly unknown outside their home-base of Louisville, KY.  Upon first listen I was struck by a number of things: these folks are creating music missionally, in a style that connects directly with their community, not following fads or fashions to get radio play or label attention.  Secondly, they care about doctrine, and history, crafting songs that express and pay homage to not only where the church may be headed, but where it’s been.  Lastly, their music consistently manages to be modern, paradoxically,  by being so faithful to crafting genuinely timeless songs. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Music Review, Musicianship, New Music, Shannon, Theology

The Hardest Words to Say

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I’ve gotten rather good at saying “I’m sorry“

Over the years I’ve had to learn an important phrase, and no – it’s not “Goodbye“- as is often rumored. These words have the power to free me of self-centeredness, breaks down barriers between myself and others, demolishes pride in a single blow, and it’s one of the hardest things to say genuinely… “I’m sorry.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: marriage, Ministry Trips, Shannon, Theology

REVIEW: Elevation Worship – “Kingdom Come”

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ARTIST: Elevation Worship
RELEASE: “Kingdom Come“
Independent

I’ll admit it: I’m not familiar with Elevation Church’s past worship CDs – I’ve never heard anything they’ve written or released prior to “Kingdom Come”.  I can’t say that it’s a step forward or back.  So, from this fairly limited perspective, I will give my rather one-sided opinion.

If you are tired of the Coldplay-inspired, Hillsong United sound (well, until their new CD – they abandoned that sound themselves!), then you may want to pass on this, as well-produced as it is (and it sounds GREAT – open, expansive – plenty of breathing room for the instruments), it fits firmly within the Hillsong United/Planet Shakers/Generation Unleashed/Alm UK territory, and doesn’t pull any surprises there. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Kingdom of God, Music Review, New Music, Shannon Tagged With:

THE BIKE…

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“Out of the mouth of babies and infants you have established strength…” – Psalm 8:2a

It was a normal Tuesday afternoon.  A two year old was sleeping and a 4 year old was doing an art project. I was on the phone sitting in our family room generally facing the direction of our back yard. Sunlight was streaming in through the bay window filtered by the glistening leaves on the towering oak in our back yard. Sometime during the conversation – for no specific reason – Cyle turned around to look out the window.

What she saw baffled her. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Cyle, Encouragement, parenting, Shannon, Theology

REVIEW: Brian Wurzell – GRACE OCEAN

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Artist: Brian Wurzell
Release: Grace Ocean
Highlights: “Grace Ocean”, “Great Redeemer” – other notables included “Sing”, & “Floodgates”

Brian Wurzell, the Worship Arts Director at Hillside Community Church inRancho Cucamonga, CA (formerly at Cornerstone Christian Fellowship in Chandler, AZ), has delivered to us a refreshingly unique, modern rock worship album.  GRACE OCEAN subtly tips its hat to indie-rock bands like Pedro the Lion and Starfler 59, while never becoming inaccessible.

Obvious corporate highlights  (take note, fellow worship leaders) are the hook-laden title track, which is pure ear candy (Can a “worship song” also be “ear candy”?  I guess so.  See exhibit A: “Grace Ocean”), and the mid-tempo ballad “Great Redeemer” – a prayer that God would “take our weakness and show Yourself strong”.  [Read more…]

Filed Under: Creativity, Music Review, New Music, Shannon Tagged With: , , , ,