New Bethany is blessed to have two amazing men who have the opportunity to lead in worship through music. One is our Pastor of Worship and Administration, Dan Brothers, and the other is the Pastor to Students, Joey Jernigan. Each of them are skilled musicians and vocalists, but what sets them apart is their consistent ability to choose songs that resonate with their particular “constituency.”
Recently, we have been singing three songs that you should check out if you have not heard them already or if they are not part of the current rotation in your services. The first is called Sweetly Broken, by Jeremy Riddle and can be found on his project Full Attention.
Verse:
To the cross I look, to the cross I cling
Of its suffering I do drink
Of its work I do sing.
For on it my Savior both bruised and crushed
Showed that God is love
And God is just.Chorus:
At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered.Verse:
What a priceless gift, undeserved life
Have I been given
Through Christ crucifiedYou’ve called me out of death
You’ve called me into life
And I was under Your wrath
Now through the cross I’m reconciledChorus
Bridge:
In awe of the cross I must confess
How wondrous Your redeeming love and
How great is Your faithfulnessChorus
In addition there are two songs recently released on the newest Hillsong Live project called, Mighty to Save. The first is the title song and the second is called From the Inside Out.
Verse:
Everyone needs compassion
A love that’s never failing
Let mercy fall on me.
Everyone needs forgiveness
A kindness of a Savior
The hope of nations.Chorus:
Savior-
He can move the mountains
My God is Mighty to save
He is Mighty to save.
Forever-
Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave.Verse:
So take me as You find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again.
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender.Chorus
Bridge
Shine your light and let the whole world see
We’re singing for the glory of the risen King…JesusChorus
From the Inside Out
Verse:
A thousand times I’ve failed
Still Your mercy remains And should I stumble again
I’m caught in Your grace
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fameBridge:
In my heart and my soul
Lord I give You control
Consume me from the inside out
Lord let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love you from the inside outVerse:
Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fameChorus:
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades.
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame.
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out.Bridge
Chorus
All songs are available on iTunes. Buy’em and turn up the volume.
all great songs Marty…thanks for sharing!
Comment by irreverend fox — July 5, 2007 @ 9:16 am
I had not heard the first but I love that Hillsong CD. Have you heard the latest Desperation CD?
Comment by Kevin Bussey — July 5, 2007 @ 11:05 am
Kevin-
No, I have not.
Comment by Marty Duren — July 5, 2007 @ 11:36 am
Mark Hall sings Mighty to Save with enough passion for the message that it brings me to tears each time we use it in the worship service.
Another one that we sing on most Sunday mornings has the chorus,
“O praise the One who paid my debt
and raised this life up from the dead”
I don’t recall the name of the song, but I have yet to utter those words in praise that I have not teared up at the thought contained by them.
I know that might surprise you, Marty. But, there is a tender heart inside my stone facade.
Your friend,
Steve H
Comment by Steve H — July 5, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
Steve-
I won’t believe it without the word of two or three witnesses.
The chorus you mentioned was an addition to, I believe, Come Thou Fount.
Comment by Marty Duren — July 5, 2007 @ 2:19 pm
Great songs, Marty. I was listening to Jeremy Riddle yesterday on the way home from the beach. There’s actually a CD titled “Sweetly Broken,” which is a compilation of songs of a similar theme by various artists. Put out by Vineyard, I believe. It’s a great CD.
Comment by Alan Brandt — July 5, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
I think it is worth noting how theologically rich much of these new songs actually are. Obviously each generation will wade in the shallow end with their own “In The Garden”…but over all I am so blessed by some very stirring lyrics being put to relevant music within the Church.
Comment by irreverend fox — July 5, 2007 @ 11:36 pm
Foxy-
That is very true. Out the outset of the modern worship movement it wasn’t always so, but as the writers have matured so has the lyrical content.
Steve-
I think I was wrong; seems like it is Jesus Paid It All, which makes more sense.
Comment by Marty Duren — July 6, 2007 @ 7:22 am
I’ve been blessed by much of the praise music that has come out over the last 20 years. As Marty has mentioned, the maturity of the lyrics has been a blessing as well. As Louis Giglio says, “We’ve come a long way from the “bump a rump” days.” (Only other recovering student pastors may get that one.) Tomlin, Crowder, Redman, Robbie Seay, and others have opened up a whole new world of worship for which I’m grateful.
On a different note, Marty, I was wondering if at some point you would entertain a discussion on the current house church movement. It’s a movement I believe God has called me to participate in, but is not without it’s problems. If not kept on track, the thread could degrade into a political discussion, so I would understand if you were reluctant. It’s just I can’t find any discussions on the net that don’t have an agenda. I thought I would just plant the seed and see what happens.
Thanks for the change in direction. It was beyond needed.
Grace,
Jeff Parsons
Amarillo, TX
Comment by Jeff Parsons — July 6, 2007 @ 11:03 am
Jeff-
That’s a great idea; look for it soon.
Comment by Marty Duren — July 6, 2007 @ 11:09 am