Father, Long Before Creation

This is one of my favorite hymns. It was originally a Chinese hymn, and it was translated by Francis P. Jones.  It was most recently re-recorded by Matthew Smith on the Beams of Heaven: Indelible Grace IV project.

*               *               *

Translated by Francis P. Jones
Music and Chorus by Andrew Osenga

Father, long before creation
Thou hadst chosen us in love,
And that love so deep, so moving,
Draws us close to Christ above.
Still it keeps us, still it keeps us
Firmly fixed in Christ alone.

Though the world may change its fashion,
Yet our God is e’er the same;
His compassion and His covenant
Through all ages will remain.
God’s own children,
God’s own children
Must forever praise His name.

God’s compassion is my story,
Is my boasting all the day;
Mercy free and never failing
Moves my will, directs my way.
God so loved us,
God so loved us
That His only Son He gave.

Loving Father now before Thee
We will ever praise Thy love,
And our songs will sound unceasing
‘Til we reach our home above,
Giving glory,
giving glory
To our God and to the

Giving glory,
giving glory
To our God and to the Lamb.

“What Matters More” by Derek Webb

Here’s the controversial song and video by Derek Webb from his new album Stockholm Syndrome. This version was released on his website, not the CD, due to the strong language.

Provocative would be an understatement.  Any thoughts?

*     *     *

Update:

Here are two excerpts from reivews of Webb’s album:

“Unfortunately, the message seems hidden in negative lyrics that often say the opposite of what you would want to get stuck in your head. Lyrics such as “Oh I have been to Heaven and I found no relief” just don’t do much for me. The album is purely negative and I doubt that much of the Christian music world (including myself) will accept Stockholm Syndrome as playable — and that’s before they get to hear the profanity” (Kevin Hoskins, JesusFreakHideout.com).

“Where this album will stand in the history of Christian music remains to be decided by the retrospective analysis of the next few years, and a number of other factors — the future of the church’s overall political lean and how it will consider its current heavyweights in hindsight, the acceptance (however reluctant) of Webb’s daring, and the industry’s artistic response to this experience: its advertising campaign, controversial content, and sonic textures. Even so, a few things can be said outright: Webb has crafted a near-perfect album that rivals anything avid listeners have ever come across, one that deserves comparisons to Ok Computer and Kid A and challenges preconceptions about the depth of art reflecting the Christian experience.  Stockholm Syndrome is a dangerous, volatile, stunning masterwork of prophetic brilliance and insight — one of the most important albums of the last 10 years” (John Wofford, The Christian Manifesto).

How Helpless

By Anne Steele (modified by Matthew Smith)

How helpless guilty nature lies,
Unconscious of its load
The heart, unchanged, can never rise
To happiness and God.
Can nothing less than power divine,
The stubborn will subdue?
‘Tis Thine, eternal Spirit, Thine,
To form the heart anew.

‘Tis Thine, the passions to recall,
And upwards bid them rise;
And make the scales of error fall,
From reason’s darkened eyes.
To chase the shades of death away
And bid the sinner live
Heaven’s beam, a vital ray
‘Tis Thine alone to give

Oh change these wretched hearts of ours,
And give them life divine;
Then shall our passions and our powers,
Almighty Lord, be Thine.
Oh change these wretched hearts of ours,
And give them life divine;
Then shall our passions and our powers,
Almighty Lord, be Thine.
Almighty Lord, be Thine
Almighty Lord, be Thine

How helpless guilty nature lies,
Unconscious of its load

“Make War” by Tedashii

Here’s a 40-second sample of Tedashii’s song “Make War,” on his new album Identity Crisis, which was released today.  The speaking at the beginning is from John Piper in his sermon “How to Kill Sin.”

Identity Crisis by Tedashii

The sophomore album from Tedashii, Identity Crisis, drops on May 26.  I’ve been blessed to get a sneak-peak at the album courtesy of Reach Records.

This is a true concept album, centering on the human crisis known as sin and the only true solution found in Christ.  In general, the album is very upbeat and fast-paced.  Tedashii even enlists all the 116 clique members — Lecrae, Trip Lee, Sho Baraka — as well as Flame and Stephen the Levite.

The album begins with a scintillating piece on piano, and a very poetic intro as Tedashii tells us that our true image, the “imago dei,” has been tarnished by our sin.  “I Work” picks up on this and reveals that restoring this image doesn’t come through work, but by faith in Christ.  Track 4, “26s,” is an up-tempo call to flee materialism (based on Lecrae’s “The King,” from Jesus Musik).  Tracks 6, 9, and 14 make up a short story series that communicates the journey of a Christian starting with “We Fell,” moving to “Adoption,” and finishing with “Church.”

Tedashii turns up the heat on track 7 with “Make War.”  The song starts with a “sermon jam” featuring audio by John Piper from his sermon “How to Kill Sin.” For me, this was the signature track on the album.  Christ solves our identify problem by his power, not so that we become exempt from the war, but so that we can attain victory in the fight.  In righteous violence against his sin, Tedashii sings, “Break with me, break with me…’cause sin never sleeps, it’s got me in a trench, you can see it in my dreams.  Man I beat my flesh to the death, every breath like I beat my chest.  Sun up, sun down…against lust, against pride, against me, ’til I die.”

“Fresh,” track 11, preaches Christ converting us to himself and washing our stained image free from sin.  The next track, “Thank You,” is a worship song proclaiming, “Thank you [Jesus] for saving my life.”

Bottom line: this album is incredibly Christ-centered and it’s doused with fluid poetry, intense beats, and radical calls to repentance and mission in a world with a terrible identity crisis.  In essence, it is a musically driven, urbanized sermon series on the story of redemption, focusing on God’s sovereign work in the life of the believer.

Pre-order the album today and it will be shipped immediately.

The Ruin of the Beast

In my previous post, I wrote a bit about Burlap to Cashmere’s only album.  I just found this music video by Steven Delopoulos, Burlap’s frontman and primary creative.  He has done a few solo projects in the last few years and here is “The Ruin of the Beast.”  The artwork in this video is amazing.  And the meaning of the song?  Well, I’m still working on that one.

Anybody Out There?

If you want to listen to good folk/world rock-influenced music, may I suggest to you the little known album Anybody Out There? by Burlap to Cashmere (1998).  If there’s one album, out of a handful, that I regularly turn to, it’s this one.

For all I know, the band is not together anymore and Anybody Out There? was their only full-length release.  They were formed in New York in the mid-90s.  Their name supposedly comes from an episode of The Bob Newhart Show. Their sound is a mix of Greek dance, back-woods folk, radio pop, and piano-driven ballads.

Songs like “Digee Dime,” “Eileen’s Song,” “Good Man,” and “Chop Chop” just make you happy.  “Basic Instructions” makes you want to dance at a big, fat, Greek wedding.  “Treasures in Heaven,” “Ancient Man,” “Skin is Burning,” and the title track work your mind over the railing.  “Divorce” and “Scenes” are rather eerie stories that will show you the darker side of the band.  The final track, “Mansions,” will make you longer for a better world than the one we have now.

Check it out.  Happy listening!

The Adulteress and Anberlin

This isn’t a part of our series on Proverbs, but as I was working out today, the song “Feel Good Drag” by Anberlin came on my iPod.  I’ve heard this song hundreds of times, but as I listened today, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities between the lyrics and Proverbs 5 and 7.

Here’s the first verse and chorus of “Feel Good Drag.”

“I’m here for you,” she said
and we can stay for awhile,
my boyfriend’s gone,
we can just pretend.
Lips that need no introduction,
now who’s the greater sin?
Your drab eyes seem to invite.
Tell me darling, where do we begin?

[Chorus]
Was this over before,
before it ever began?
Your kiss, your calls, your crutch,
like the devil’s got your hand
This was over before,
before it ever began.
Your lips, your lies, your lust,
like the devil’s in your hands.

Here’s Proverbs 5:3-6:

For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.  Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander and she does not know it.

And Proverbs 7:18-19:

Come, let us take our fill of love til morning; let us delight ourselves with love.  For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home.

Truly, adultery (and all sexual sin) is a feel good drag.  It might seem sweet for a while, but eventually it will be bitter.  It might appear to be life-giving, but it’s really planning for a banquet in the grave.  The pleasure will be over before it ever begins.

“Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death” (Prov. 7:27).

. . .

Update:  The song “Feel Good Drag” was in the #1 slot on modern rock radio this past week.

Don’t Waste Your Life Music Video

Desiring God and Lecrae have teamed up to produce the “Don’t Waste Your Life” music video.  The song is featured on Lecrae’s album Rebel.  Unfortunately, the video does not contain Dwayne Tryumf’s (British hip-hop artist) verse that is on the album.  Still, it’s a solid video.

Enjoy.

Jesus Lover of My Soul

By Charles Wesley, 1740

Jesus, lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide,
Till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide;
Oh, receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none,
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone,
Still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed,
All my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head
With the shadow of Thy wing.

Wilt Thou not regard my call?
Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall-
Lo! on Thee I cast my care.
Reach me out Thy gracious hand!
While I of Thy strength receive,
Hoping against hope I stand,
Dying, and behold, I live.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want,
More than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name,
Source of all true righteousness;
Thou art evermore the same,
Thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with Thee is found,
Grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound;
Make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art,
Freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart;
Rise to all eternity.