This makes me happy every time I hear it. It is a delight to the eyes as well.
Sweetest Song I Know-Armor Music Ministry
You can follow the group on Facebook under the name Advent Euphony Zimbabwe.
They have such impeccable harmonies to go along with their joyous singing! Their diction is so precise that there is no need to write out the text. Enjoy!
Thursday, May 7, 2020
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
25th Day of Easter - As the Ruins Fall
As the Ruins Fall - text by C. S. Lewis. Music and performance by Phil Keaggy
It occurred to me when this song came to mind yesterday that there is probably no other song I can think of that has influenced my life and theology as much as this one. I memorized all the words as I listened in my college dorm room, but certain lines pop...”All this is flashy rhetoric about loving you, I’ve never had a selfless thought since I was born...Peace, reassurance, pleasures are the goals I seek, I cannot crawl one inch outside my proper skin. I talk of love - a scholar’s parrot may talk Greek - but self-imprisoned always end where I begin.” Those words remind me of my need for Christ and the utter failure of my own righteousness. No trite platitudes here!
C. S. Lewis’s text (full poem below) is as meaningful today as it was back in the 70s, but the tune may not have held up as well to contemporary listeners. Phil Keaggy is an amazing guitarist and one of the giants of the Jesus Movement. His Wikipedia entry is worth reading if you have the time. I actually enjoy this rough recording of a live performance more than album recording I learned in my dorm because, though as a flutist it pains me to say it, the flute part gets a little long.
As the Ruins Fall - Love Broke Through album (1977)
As the Ruins Fall - Live Performance 2010
It occurred to me when this song came to mind yesterday that there is probably no other song I can think of that has influenced my life and theology as much as this one. I memorized all the words as I listened in my college dorm room, but certain lines pop...”All this is flashy rhetoric about loving you, I’ve never had a selfless thought since I was born...Peace, reassurance, pleasures are the goals I seek, I cannot crawl one inch outside my proper skin. I talk of love - a scholar’s parrot may talk Greek - but self-imprisoned always end where I begin.” Those words remind me of my need for Christ and the utter failure of my own righteousness. No trite platitudes here!
C. S. Lewis’s text (full poem below) is as meaningful today as it was back in the 70s, but the tune may not have held up as well to contemporary listeners. Phil Keaggy is an amazing guitarist and one of the giants of the Jesus Movement. His Wikipedia entry is worth reading if you have the time. I actually enjoy this rough recording of a live performance more than album recording I learned in my dorm because, though as a flutist it pains me to say it, the flute part gets a little long.
As the Ruins Fall - Love Broke Through album (1977)
As the Ruins Fall - Live Performance 2010
As The Ruin Falls
C. S. Lewis
All this is flashy rhetoric about loving you.
I never had a selfless thought since I was born.
I am mercenary and self-seeking through and through:
I want God, you, all friends, merely to serve my turn.
I never had a selfless thought since I was born.
I am mercenary and self-seeking through and through:
I want God, you, all friends, merely to serve my turn.
Peace, re-assurance, pleasure, are the goals I seek,
I cannot crawl one inch outside my proper skin:
I talk of love—a scholar’s parrot may talk Greek—
But, self-imprisoned, always end where I begin.
I cannot crawl one inch outside my proper skin:
I talk of love—a scholar’s parrot may talk Greek—
But, self-imprisoned, always end where I begin.
Only that now you have taught me (but how late) my lack.
I see the chasm. And everything you are was making
My heart into a bridge by which I might get back
From exile, and grow man. And now the bridge is breaking.
I see the chasm. And everything you are was making
My heart into a bridge by which I might get back
From exile, and grow man. And now the bridge is breaking.
For this I bless you as the ruin falls. The pains
You give me are more precious than all other gains.
You give me are more precious than all other gains.
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
24th Day of Easter - Reckless Love
This song can be very moving to sing along with. I love the imagery of Jesus kicking down doors and tearing down lies “coming after me.” The walls and lies are of my own making, after all.
It was written by Cory Asbury and you can enjoy hearing him in several places on YouTube, but in my musical minimalism I enjoy this young lady and her guitarist friend.
Reckless Love - Leanna Crawford
And because the body of Christ is a beautiful, unique, dynamic, living body of believers, here is
a young man at West Point singing it while he plays the piano - Reckless Love - Caleb McKee and last, and very much least musically, but interesting none the less, is
Reckless Love - Justin Bieber
(And I should include the songwriter’s version Reckless Love - Cory Asbury)
Reckless Love
It was written by Cory Asbury and you can enjoy hearing him in several places on YouTube, but in my musical minimalism I enjoy this young lady and her guitarist friend.
Reckless Love - Leanna Crawford
And because the body of Christ is a beautiful, unique, dynamic, living body of believers, here is
a young man at West Point singing it while he plays the piano - Reckless Love - Caleb McKee and last, and very much least musically, but interesting none the less, is
Reckless Love - Justin Bieber
(And I should include the songwriter’s version Reckless Love - Cory Asbury)
Reckless Love
Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me
You have been so, so good to me
Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me
You have been so, so kind to me
You have been so, so good to me
Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me
You have been so, so kind to me
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah
When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me
You have been so, so good to me
When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me
You have been so, so kind to me
You have been so, so good to me
When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me
You have been so, so kind to me
And oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine
And I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine
And I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah
Monday, May 4, 2020
23rd Day of Easter - How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
A sweet, pretty song - How Deep the Father’s Love for Us is composed by Stuart Townsend, the other half of the songwriting team the includes Keith Getty.
The words are a devotional all by themselves.
How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss –
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.
Behold, the man upon the cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life –
I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything;
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart –
His wounds have paid my ransom.
The words are a devotional all by themselves.
How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss –
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.
Behold, the man upon the cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life –
I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything;
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart –
His wounds have paid my ransom.
Sunday, May 3, 2020
22 Day of Easter - Up From the Grave He Arose
Isn’t it wonderful that a group of Indian gentlemen are singing a hymn in barbershop harmony with a gospel-like piano accompaniment?
Up From The Grave - Voice of Eden
Isn’t it interesting that the little video clips included show such an Anglo Jesus? It appears to be an official video of the group, not added by someone who posted the song. India was evangelized by the British and certainly influenced by European art aesthetics, but it makes me a little sad that the Bible scenes weren’t acted out by Indians. The Bible characters in my head tend to look like southern Italians or, if I’m honest, like the most recent video version I’ve seen in which Jesus looks at least a little bit Jewish. Blue eyes rarely appear in my imagination, even among the Romans. But we get used to imagining what we see in pictures, and Jesus looks very Northern European in most stained-glass windows.
While teaching English to high school students at The Bridge Academy two years ago, I showed the students a scene from Franco Zeffirelli’s Jesus of Nazareth. We were reading through the book of John, and as I set up the scene I told them that Zeffirelli wanted the movie to look like classical depictions of Bible scenes from European art. He wasn’t going for realism, so the actors wouldn’t look like folks who lived on the edges of the Mediterranean.
As soon as Jesus appeared on the screen, it was apparent that at least one student hadn’t absorbed my introductory statement.
“Mrs. Evans, hold up, hold up, hold up. Are you saying that Jesus had blue eyes?”
“Didn’t you listen? She said it would look like European paintings, not real life,” chimed in another student.
But I stopped the tape and we talked about it. All of the students in the small class were African-American boys, and we had a thoughtful discussion about realism. But that student was bothered, and it was understandable. Jesus was a real Jewish man, and the student and I like him to look that way in modern depictions that are striving for a degree of realism.
But Zeffirelli’s movie is a masterpiece, and you can watch the clip I showed the students Here.
Up From The Grave - Voice of Eden
Isn’t it interesting that the little video clips included show such an Anglo Jesus? It appears to be an official video of the group, not added by someone who posted the song. India was evangelized by the British and certainly influenced by European art aesthetics, but it makes me a little sad that the Bible scenes weren’t acted out by Indians. The Bible characters in my head tend to look like southern Italians or, if I’m honest, like the most recent video version I’ve seen in which Jesus looks at least a little bit Jewish. Blue eyes rarely appear in my imagination, even among the Romans. But we get used to imagining what we see in pictures, and Jesus looks very Northern European in most stained-glass windows.
While teaching English to high school students at The Bridge Academy two years ago, I showed the students a scene from Franco Zeffirelli’s Jesus of Nazareth. We were reading through the book of John, and as I set up the scene I told them that Zeffirelli wanted the movie to look like classical depictions of Bible scenes from European art. He wasn’t going for realism, so the actors wouldn’t look like folks who lived on the edges of the Mediterranean.
As soon as Jesus appeared on the screen, it was apparent that at least one student hadn’t absorbed my introductory statement.
“Mrs. Evans, hold up, hold up, hold up. Are you saying that Jesus had blue eyes?”
“Didn’t you listen? She said it would look like European paintings, not real life,” chimed in another student.
But I stopped the tape and we talked about it. All of the students in the small class were African-American boys, and we had a thoughtful discussion about realism. But that student was bothered, and it was understandable. Jesus was a real Jewish man, and the student and I like him to look that way in modern depictions that are striving for a degree of realism.
But Zeffirelli’s movie is a masterpiece, and you can watch the clip I showed the students Here.
Saturday, May 2, 2020
21st Day of Easter - Only in God (Psalm 62)
John Michael Talbot’s album “Come to the Quiet” has very special significance for me. I remember listening to it over and over during our first year of marriage...we both had good jobs and had just bought a home, why was my soul so restless? We left that life and moved to Texas so Ken could start seminary, and life got harder, deeper, poorer and richer all at the same time. When the pain of childbirth was too great for words, I tapped Ken’s arm to start and restart this song during the longest part of labor with our first child.
Only in God - John Michael Talbot
The version above is from the album, and I love the stark simplicity of it. Talbot sounds so young! Ken and a high school buddy hitchhiked to a rock music festival in Charlotte in the early ‘70s where JMT and his brother, Terry Talbot, were in a band called Mason Profit. Both Talbots, as well as Ken and his hitchhiking companion, became Christians soon after that. Everything changed.
Here you can see JMT perform the song with a live audience. He has had an interesting ministry as the founder of the Brothers and Sisters of Charity, a Catholic monastic community.
Only in God - Live version
Only in God - John Michael Talbot
The version above is from the album, and I love the stark simplicity of it. Talbot sounds so young! Ken and a high school buddy hitchhiked to a rock music festival in Charlotte in the early ‘70s where JMT and his brother, Terry Talbot, were in a band called Mason Profit. Both Talbots, as well as Ken and his hitchhiking companion, became Christians soon after that. Everything changed.
Here you can see JMT perform the song with a live audience. He has had an interesting ministry as the founder of the Brothers and Sisters of Charity, a Catholic monastic community.
Only in God - Live version
Friday, May 1, 2020
20th Day of Easter - Getty Family Sing
What a wonderful gift this family has given through these weekly live performances!
Getty Family Sing April 28
If you are pressed for time, move to 12 minutes or so and listen to the amazing story Keith tells of setting Psalm 91 to music. Just 18 months ago, there was concern that the words “plague and pestilence” had little meaning for modern listeners. It is a wonderful song that Kristyn sings while Keith plays guitar and the girls bang around in the kitchen. They end with a rollicking version of “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” They introduce a new song early on, so watch the whole thing when you can.
If you are interested in getting words and chords to their songs so you can join in live on Tuesday evenings (7:15 CT), their website is Here.
Getty Family Sing April 28
If you are pressed for time, move to 12 minutes or so and listen to the amazing story Keith tells of setting Psalm 91 to music. Just 18 months ago, there was concern that the words “plague and pestilence” had little meaning for modern listeners. It is a wonderful song that Kristyn sings while Keith plays guitar and the girls bang around in the kitchen. They end with a rollicking version of “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” They introduce a new song early on, so watch the whole thing when you can.
If you are interested in getting words and chords to their songs so you can join in live on Tuesday evenings (7:15 CT), their website is Here.
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