Week 42 (or something...)

I got to sing at Nick and Laura's wedding
even though I was still angry about the
Cincinnati Chili fiasco. 

I don't even know why I am still labeling these by weeks. Like I said in an earlier post... THIS IS THE BUSIEST TIME OF THE YEAR! Between the family, moving into a new building for Ridge Church, and moving to a new house, there isn't a lot of time left over. I have been working though. I promise. I'm just going to dump stuff on here, from now on.

Ok, "Your Children" is a song I wrote for my former church, Warehouse 242's Tenebrae service. I've talked about this Good Friday service before over here. It really was special to be a part of. I loved seeing God-given creativity and the Gospel, colliding.

The song was the final piece of the night. It's based upon the Bible verse John 19:30, which says, "when he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." Jesus died for a reason. Because we, all of us, are His children. He loves us like a daddy. He laid down his life just like any loving father would. He wants the best for us. He does.

Enjoy,

Christopher

     Recorded June 23, 2009 and November 2-7, 2012. This is another song that I thought was long lost on that dead hard drive. I'm glad it has gotten to see the light of day. Nick Nichols played drums with me for the Tenebrae service and later recorded them for me. While taking a break from working on the song, he ate all of my leftovers of Cincinnati Chili that Rachael had made the night before. I'm not gonna lie, I'm still pretty bitter about it. Thanks a lot, Nick. Seriously. 

Lyrics 


Rest well, beloved
for you have been chosen
the son of man

Rest well, beloved
you body is broken
as a covenant

You carried me 
every step of the way
Oh, the weight of your gift
Oh, what a debt to pay

Rest well, beloved
your hands have brought glory 
to all the land

Rest well, beloved
the door has been opened 
to bring us home again

Rest well, beloved
for you will rise and reign over
every nation

You carried us
every step of the way
Oh, the weight of this gift
Oh, what a debt to pay

And with your last breath
you exclaimed

We are all your children
Every treasured life
We are all your children
You alone, our God

We are all your children
Your own flesh and blood
We are all your children
You alone, our God

We are all your children
Each one wrapped in light
We are all your children
You alone, our God

We are all your children
Precious in your sight
We are all your children
You alone, our God

We are all your children
Each and every one
We are all your children
You alone, our God

Week 37 (finally back on track...)

This one is pretty simple. I've always loved this song. It's a sweet hymn with a wonderful melody. I left out the third verse. In doing so, my mind wandered back to my old baptist church where the Minister of Music would have said something like this... "Please stand with me as we sing hymn number 337, "Tis So Sweet to Trust In Jesus." We will sing the first, second and fourth verse."

Let me know what you think.

Enjoy,

Christopher

     Recorded September 13, 2012. Speaking of the Minister of Music at my old church... His daughter, Joy was my first big crush. I remember meeting her and her twin sister at Vacation Bible School when I was 5. I started attending the church regularly in 8th grade. From that point up until college, I chased that girl everywhere. Such good memories! I'm lucky that my first effort of the heart was for a good one! 

     "Tis So Sweet" written by Louisa M. R. Stead in 1882. 

Week 14 (Better Late Than Never...)

So last week was adventuresome, I'd say. When you work in music ministry, there are two enormous dates looming on your calendar every year; Easter and Christmas. I had prepared for Easter long ago. I felt confident about the music I had selected. The band members were all top notch. We had four extra vocalists learning harmony parts and warming up their vocal chords. The components for some awesome Easter services were all ready to go. There was just one little detail that I wasn't expecting. The Sunday before Easter... I completely lost my voice.

"Are you kidding me, God? This is like, the biggest single Sunday of the year! Didn't you get the memo about our song list? It was going to be incredible! I was going to nail these songs. Wait, that sounded kinda prideful, sorry. But, you know my heart in this; All I want is Your beauty and excellence and perfection to shine through... Honest."

Then came a humbling response. "This isn't about you." I replied with a very quick, "Yessir, got it."

I emailed everyone involved in reference to the situation. I gave each of the other vocalists their new lead parts. At first it was a "just in case I can't sing" kinda thing. Then I heard His voice again, "this isn't about you." I was reminded about a verse in the Bible from Proverbs. It says, "humility comes before honor." I know my place. I know how I've been gifted. I know from whom those gifts are given. But, every now and again, my mind wanders off on what I think I can do better, because I know how I want it to sound, so I'll just handle it all myself. Yeah, 'cause that always turns out perfectly, huh? (That last line was well seasoned with a heavy slab of sarcasm.) I don't always know better. I don't always have the answers; But my Heavenly Father does. Sometimes I just need to humble myself and get out of the way.

That is precisely what happened on Easter Sunday. I painfully and excitedly stepped out of the way. My voice had returned on Saturday, but the plans did not change. Some of my talented friends were allowed to take the reins and run with them! It was beautiful, excellent and perfect. The leads were solid. The harmonies were strong. I couldn't have planned it any better, myself. Oh yeah, I didn't plan it at all.

This week's song is one we performed on Sunday; "In Christ Alone." Some of the team took time out of their busy schedules to record it with me. Adam Locklear and Shelly Moore (ShellyEveBlog.com) sang along. The one and only Rudy Landa played the penny whistle and taunted Shelly while she tracked. I think it's lovely.

Enjoy,

Christopher

     Recorded April 1, 9 & 10, 2012. Rudy wanted everyone to know that just because he plays the penny whistle, doesn't mean he's not a real man. The verdict is still out on that... Comment away!

     "In Christ Alone" written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend. 

Week 8...

I have a big family. I usually have a little one tugging on my hand or my wife close by. Time away from them is few and far between. You'll hear no complaints from me about that. When I am away, I'm usually too busy with the details of my trip to be homesick. Late last year, I was asked to play a conference at a YMCA camp in King, NC. I was scheduled to play a morning and an evening session. The time in between was the first time in a long while that I had absolutely nothing to do. I got to be quiet and reflect on the many blessings in my life. I walked out into a grassy field set beneath a mountain and just breathed in and out for a bit. Just breathed. I soaked in the scenery and picked up my guitar. 15 minutes later, this song had appeared.

A lot of my songs happen this way. It starts with a melody, then a word or two, and then it's finished. I don't set out to write anything specific. The pieces just come. They are like puzzles that I don't make. I just get to put them together. It is in those moments that I know God is there, speaking to me, loving on me, leading me through. It is a heavenly experience. It fills me up!

This week's offering is a love song. Not in the traditional sense, where one pours himself out to express his desires. It is not about the things I've done to win my dearest one's devotion. It is not about anything that my feeble emotions have to offer.  

This is a song about a love that has overcome my heart. It continues to do so on a daily - no, an hourly basis. I see it when I look at my beautiful wife and children. I feel it when I look at the sunset and the stars. I hear it in the loudest melodies and in the quiet of the night. The love I am talking about is God's love. Now, I'm not trying to get all religious. But when you're in love, you have to talk about it, right? If I've stepped on any toes, feel free to pretend that this post never happened. This song will just be about an earthly love that has won over this hopeless romantic.

I don't think I am special; not in the least. But when I think about how big God is... And all the works of His creation... And the intricacies around and within me... The way He tells me that I'm not just worthless flesh and blood that moves from dust to dust... And the way that He loves me... And the things He's done to free my soul from the bonds of this earth... And that the Creator of all specifically made and fancies me!? Goodness!

Enjoy,

Christopher

     Recorded from 10:30 pm-2 am, February 20-21, 2012. I really should stop procrastinating. That way I could get to sleep earlier. My buddy Chris Lee (Twitter or Tumblr) made a video for Ridge Church's Easter service. Take a look!


Lyrics

Your Ocean

Did you know you are my favorite thing in the world? Did you know that I cannot control my love for you? It's about to overflow like a river drenched by the waters, oh, flowing from your fountain. Caught in the current, causing landslides, coming down your mountain. I reach out for help but all that I can feel is the movement in your motion. You've swept me off my feet and I'm washed away, into your ocean of love. Did you know there's not a single thing that I need? Did you know my heart is filled with love and it's oh so pleased in you. It's about to overflow like a river drenched by the waters, oh, flowing from your fountain. Caught in the current, causing landslides, moving down your mountain. I call out for help but all that I can hear is the song of your devotion. You sang my heart afloat and I sail away, into your ocean of love.

Week 5

On October 8th of last year, I lost a friend. Kortney Blythe Gordon, her unborn baby (Sophy), and three others were driving down a Georgia highway. They were hit head-on, and  Kortney and Sophy died instantly. You can read more about Kortney, here. She was always, always smiling. She had an incredible joy inside. When you were in the same room with her, you could see that joy radiating out. I was comforted and encouraged every time I got to see her. The last time I did was at the One Amazin' Kid reunion show in December of 2010. I got to meet her fiance, Ben Gordon.

They were married in May 2011. Soon after, they became pregnant with a little girl they named Sophy Joy. They had only been married five months when the accident happened. My heart still breaks for Ben and the Blythe family. When I heard about the accident, I offered to do music for the memorial service. I was taken aback when Ben called me himself.  He mentioned that she always loved the hymn, "Be Thou My Vision." He told me to make it my own. Moments later, I was in my office praying and meditating on the song. The ideas seemed as though they were being downloaded from above. I was just trying to keep up. I rested on those ideas for a couple of days, but the song didn't seem finished. A verse from the Bible from the book of Psalm kept ringing in my ears. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.  Psalm 100:4-5

I added this as a bridge to the song. I felt it was honoring to Kortney and the family. The service was a beautiful celebration of a life lived out to the fullest. The eulogy, written by her Dad, was filled with sweetness and grace. He wrote, "She was tireless in her passions. She was passionate in her ministries. She ministered to all who crossed her path. She made Christ the light of her path."

Just weeks later, I performed this same rendition at a wedding for a friend. It was such a tender season. A season in which I witnessed the extraordinary circle of life. A season in which my vision of life ripened. I know my existence is in the hands of One far greater than I. As the song says, "Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision or Ruler of all."

Enjoy, 

Christopher

Recorded at various times between January 25-29.

Words attributed to Dallan Forgaill in the 8th Century.
Translated from ancient Irish to English by Mary E. Byrne in 1905.
Versed by Eleanor H. Hull in 1912.