Thought I'd share a great song with you guys. I heard it a few years ago, and I just love the style and love how joyful everything about it feels. The artist is Evan Wickham, and the song is called Everywhere.
Enjoy!
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Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Friday, May 4, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Music that moves
Here's the thing, I was hesitant about posting this, because I know most of you won't like this kind of music. Screaming is an immediate turn off to a lot of people. Honestly, that's kind of unfortunate.
Imagine the times when you were most emotional, you were either: sobbing, yelling at someone, or yelling at God. Yelling is a very emotionally strong thing to do. Granted, this is hardly metal or anything at all, it's mostly spoken word, with a little screaming, but you would scream too if this was something you had to experience.
Another thing that makes this music undesirable to a lot of people is the story is sad. People don't like something if it isn't feel good. Sorry, this isn't another generic song about love, this is a heartfelt, depressing song about some journal entries a parent made while their son was fighting cancer.
Lately, I've learned to love music that is really well thought out, that moves my heart, that makes me feel what the singer feels. This song and a few others have moved me, almost to tears. I love that the music does more than sound good, it makes my heart hurt and sometimes it makes my heart elated.
This song is called I See Everything and it's written by La Dispute.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Who do I think I am?
Play and read while it's playing.
In case you're wondering why I want you to listen to music, it's because I want music to match and give a feel to what I'm writing about. Sometimes the lyrics match what I'm writing about, sometimes it's just the feel that the music has. Enjoy!
I've been leading worship for maybe about 4 or 5 years total. I had a long break for about a year that ended a few months ago. I've been leading at my church youth group, I've led at my college group about 4 times and I had two churches ask me to play at them recently.
The thing is, I'm not a great musician at all. Guitar is an instrument that you can slide by not really knowing anything about music. Unfortunately, as I've found out, it's still really hard to slide by.
God's grace is the only thing that makes me worthy and capable of leading worship. That is the only explanation of why someone who sometimes can't: keep rhythm, sing on key, not lose his voice during pre-worship practice and forgets chords, is leading worship. God sees me as worthy and makes me worthy.
I always feel attacked by spiritually before leading, the enemy always reminds that I'm not worthy and that I sound awful. So I always seek spiritual counsel.
Before worship I asked my friend to pray with me. He did, and then proceeded to tell me something. He told me that since everyone knows me, sees my heart, knows who I am, that it doesn't matter how I sound. Those who know me, will connect with God regardless partly because of my relationship with them. Those who will comment on the music probably aren't very focused on God anyway.
God will be glorified regardless of how I sound. Let's be honest, who do I think I am, that I can get in the way of God? That's a pretty conceited thing to think that I can somehow ruin worship and keep God's will from happening.
So worship started, and was going really great. I was worshipping God. About three songs in I started losing focus. Luckily, then we had a time that we were all supposed to pray individually. I started praying hardcore about the rest of worship, that I can worship God joyfully, stay focused on Him and that He would play through me.
After I finished my prayer, a friend walks up to the stage and hands me a note. Keep in mind, everyone else was still playing, so it wasn't distracting or anything.
Now, I'm still getting used to this kind of stuff happening. This is only the second time I've gotten a direct message from God. For most of my christianhood, I went to a church where the holy spirit was restricted. That's not the case at this church. God speaks through people.
The note said:
In case you're wondering why I want you to listen to music, it's because I want music to match and give a feel to what I'm writing about. Sometimes the lyrics match what I'm writing about, sometimes it's just the feel that the music has. Enjoy!
I've been leading worship for maybe about 4 or 5 years total. I had a long break for about a year that ended a few months ago. I've been leading at my church youth group, I've led at my college group about 4 times and I had two churches ask me to play at them recently.
The thing is, I'm not a great musician at all. Guitar is an instrument that you can slide by not really knowing anything about music. Unfortunately, as I've found out, it's still really hard to slide by.
God's grace is the only thing that makes me worthy and capable of leading worship. That is the only explanation of why someone who sometimes can't: keep rhythm, sing on key, not lose his voice during pre-worship practice and forgets chords, is leading worship. God sees me as worthy and makes me worthy.
I always feel attacked by spiritually before leading, the enemy always reminds that I'm not worthy and that I sound awful. So I always seek spiritual counsel.
Before worship I asked my friend to pray with me. He did, and then proceeded to tell me something. He told me that since everyone knows me, sees my heart, knows who I am, that it doesn't matter how I sound. Those who know me, will connect with God regardless partly because of my relationship with them. Those who will comment on the music probably aren't very focused on God anyway.
God will be glorified regardless of how I sound. Let's be honest, who do I think I am, that I can get in the way of God? That's a pretty conceited thing to think that I can somehow ruin worship and keep God's will from happening.
So worship started, and was going really great. I was worshipping God. About three songs in I started losing focus. Luckily, then we had a time that we were all supposed to pray individually. I started praying hardcore about the rest of worship, that I can worship God joyfully, stay focused on Him and that He would play through me.
After I finished my prayer, a friend walks up to the stage and hands me a note. Keep in mind, everyone else was still playing, so it wasn't distracting or anything.
Now, I'm still getting used to this kind of stuff happening. This is only the second time I've gotten a direct message from God. For most of my christianhood, I went to a church where the holy spirit was restricted. That's not the case at this church. God speaks through people.
The note said:
Dear Landon,
With me behind you, who can stop you?
I see your service, and thank you for doing it selflessly!
In your service my light is spread. You are my son,
and the desires of your heart are not unnoticed.
Rest in my love and my peace,
-God
That was exactly what I needed to hear at that exact time.
God backs up my ministry, He sees what is being done as good and as being done with a good heart.
I really just wanted to keep sharing with you all how God can be super active in your life if you let Him. You can also do really sweet things. I wouldn't be leading worship off my own power, I am in no way good enough, but God opened that door and pushed me through it.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Recent Thoughts on Worship
Play this song and read while it plays.
Psalm 100:1-5
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
The first time I heard this song, it was actually in a recording of a worship song. It wasn't sung, just spoken.
I always thought it was really powerful and really describes how I feel we should approach worship.
Worship should be joyful.
Worship should be about God, the creator of all of us.
Worship should be about giving thanks and praise to God.
Worship should be an outpour of your soul. Your soul should overflow with worship to God.
Sometimes I think "I'm just not feeling worship" or "I don't like this band or this song." That's wrong... it isn't about me at all... I'm not worshipping myself, I'm supposed to be worshipping and giving everything to God.
As believers, your worship experience shouldn't depend on your emotions and feelings. It should depend on how much of yourself you're willing to give up, including what you think of the band or the song. Put aside your thoughts on the music and do what you're there to do.
If you have the opportunity to worship God, why waste it? Take every opportunity you have to worship God joyfully.
Psalm 100:1-5
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
The first time I heard this song, it was actually in a recording of a worship song. It wasn't sung, just spoken.
I always thought it was really powerful and really describes how I feel we should approach worship.
Worship should be joyful.
Worship should be about God, the creator of all of us.
Worship should be about giving thanks and praise to God.
Worship should be an outpour of your soul. Your soul should overflow with worship to God.
Sometimes I think "I'm just not feeling worship" or "I don't like this band or this song." That's wrong... it isn't about me at all... I'm not worshipping myself, I'm supposed to be worshipping and giving everything to God.
As believers, your worship experience shouldn't depend on your emotions and feelings. It should depend on how much of yourself you're willing to give up, including what you think of the band or the song. Put aside your thoughts on the music and do what you're there to do.
If you have the opportunity to worship God, why waste it? Take every opportunity you have to worship God joyfully.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Of Want and Misery
I've listened to this band a long time now. Unfortunately, they broke up a few years back. Even though this album is pretty old, it's one of my favorites.
As Cities Burn- Of Want and Misery
I watched you float away on a wave of want and misery
now I've got to find you
I watched you float away on whatever caught your eye
now I've got to find you
'cause I've got to keep your head above the water
while the current pulls me under
I will hang my life in the space between the noose and your neck
I won't let you die just yet
I will love you even when you won't let me
and you will kill me by doing nothing
but I know it's not you, my dear,
I know it's not you
I know it's not you, my dear,
it's the nothing that kills
I can't save you
control is something out of mine
no, I can't save you
control is something out of my control
I will love you even when you won't let me
and you will kill me by doing nothing
but I know it's not you, my dear,
I know it's not you
I know it's not you, my dear,
it's the nothing that kills
I can't save you but I will love you
no, I can't save you but I will love you
I'd like to think that this is love
lost in second chances without end
this is romance
I have always kind of viewed this as a letter from God to us. This song is passionate, gentle, heartfelt and intense.
"I will hang my life in the space between the noose and your neck
I won't let you die just yet."
I won't let you die just yet."
The song talks about how God stands by you and waits for you even when you don't want Him. This line says that you're never out of God's reach. You're always safe in the palm of God's hands, even if things seem grim.
"I will love you even when you won't let me
and you will kill me by doing nothing"
and you will kill me by doing nothing"
God is right beside us, loving us... even when we don't love Him.
This last stanza really sums things up.
"I'd like to think that this is love
lost in second chances without end.
This is romance"
lost in second chances without end.
This is romance"
That's exactly what it is. God's love is full of abounding second chances.
Unconditional love.
Grace.
Mercy.
That is true romance.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Our God
Every now and then, there is a song that I just can't seem to get out of my head. Ever since I went to Passion Conference I just can't forget this one song. Just listen, read and please be encouraged by the song.
It's just this huge, building anthem that expresses our faith in the awesome, powerful God.
I love the chorus that talks about our God being greater, stronger, a healer and above everything. The God we serve is SO BIG.
The last part is what really gets me. God is on our side, the God of the universe, the God over everything and He gives us His favor.
Sin, sorrow, pain, everything bad in the world... is defeated.
Chris Tomlin- Our God
Water, you turned into wine
Opened the eyes of the blind
There's no one like you
None like you
Into the darkness, you shine
Out of the ashes, we rise
There's no one like you
None like you
Our God is greater
Our God is stronger
God, you are higher than any other
Our God is healer
Awesome in power
Our God, our God
And if our God is for us
Then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us
Then what could stand against
It's just this huge, building anthem that expresses our faith in the awesome, powerful God.
I love the chorus that talks about our God being greater, stronger, a healer and above everything. The God we serve is SO BIG.
The last part is what really gets me. God is on our side, the God of the universe, the God over everything and He gives us His favor.
Sin, sorrow, pain, everything bad in the world... is defeated.
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