Recently in Music Category

I've discovered Red. They are sort of the Linkin Park of the Christian music scene. They have a couple of really excellent songs, dark night of the soul type stuff, which is getting more popular in Christian music these days. I think in general people are getting a little worn out of all the saccharine praise and worship type stuff, which has its place and its value but won't always suffice for the difficulty of the real world Christian experience.

Red's album is "End of Silence." My favorite song on it is "Pieces."

I'm here again
a thousand miles away from you
a broken mess
just scattered pieces of who I am
I tried so hard
thought I could do this on my own
I've lost so much along the way

Then I see your face
I know I'm finally yours
I find everything
I thought I'd lost before
You call my name
I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole

I come undone
but you make sense of who I am
Like puzzle pieces in your eyes

Then I see your face
I know I'm finally yours
I find everything
I thought I'd lost before
You call my name
I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole

How true is that?? That's what I love about these guys. You listen to their stuff and you know that these aren't a bunch of holy rollers who have never done anything bad. These guys know what it's like to be in pieces.

And that's something the non-Christian world, and the Christian world, really needs to know: that Christians aren't perfect people. They are in pieces. The only difference is they are made whole, and that is something that everyone can have, if they know where to turn. And that I daresay even accomplishes what a theme like "Take Me As I Am" aims to but without the confusion. It makes the point that Christians know they are fallen people, but that God is indeed a God who takes us as we are, in pieces, but who makes us whole.

Praise You in this Storm, by Casting Crowns

I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen"
and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God
Who gives and takes away

I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You?

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God
Who gives and takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

Funny thing is, I used to not like Casting Crowns. Like at all. Now they've recently come out with two of my absolute favorite Christian songs. A few months ago it was Lifesong. This morning I'm lying in bed with so many things on my mind. And this song comes on my stereo on 102.3. I really like it, because it's not just a happy God-is-great song (although those are good too). It actually grapples with the reality of the Christian life, that sometimes we turn to God to help us with our problems and yet our problems don't seem to get any better. Something I think we can all very much connect with personally.

And yet the bridge ("I lift my eyes unto the hills...") makes me think of Psalm 22, how it begins with the forsakenness of the Lord's servant but ends with a note of hope.