NOT for cynics (explicit Christian content)

[Rev-O]

OK, this is NOT for cynics (Tony that means you!).

I'm putting my feeling out on display here and don't want to be shot down by the "cool" brigade.

Right, disclaimer over, here goes.

I've recently heard a great song (at the New Wine conference and at the Soul Survivor festival) called "How He Loves Us". When it's used in public worship only the first two verses are used - in fact, that's all I thought the song had until I Googled it and found the "original" version by the songwriter, John Mark Mcmillan.

The lyrics are:

Verse 1:
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

Pre-Chorus:
And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

Chorus:
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.

Verse 2:
We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

Chorus


The two-verse version is easily available (Kim Walker and David Crowder both do great versions, both available on youtube) BUT check this out:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0luHiWwi08" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0luHiWwi08</a><!-- m -->

When he sings the third and final verse the songwriter, John Mark Mcmillan, breaks down crying. The great thing is they keep the tape rolling and leave it in. It's so honest and real in an age of mass-produced pop with auto-tune vocals and meaningless words.

Verse three goes:

Verse 3:
Well, I thought about You the day Stephen died,
And You met me between my breaking.
I know that I still love You, God, despite the agony.
...They want to tell me You're cruel,
But if Stephen could sing, he'd say it's not true, cause...

The story behind the song is here:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NXWE6AC8ao&feature=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NXWE6AC ... re=related</a><!-- m -->

Hope you found this interesting / helpful / moving.

If not, pass by and post nothing

 

[Smell The Glove]

Nice.

Thanks for the link Rev.

 

[antdad]

Strictly speaking Rev that is advertising...

 

[Rev-O]

OK, OK, what's the Vendor buy-in?

If I PayPal you $120 will I get Q4 (Oct-Dec inclusive) and the special Vendor badge in my status bar?

Can't wait to get a concession on this franchise!

 

[moodymick]

I listened to the first Evanescence album for about 6 months when it first came out before making the Christian connection. Just goes to show how well subtletly can work.

 

[JohnnyO]

Course the subtelty operates both ways ModdyM I guess. I recall when Simon & Garfunckel brought out "Bridge over Troubled Waters" it seemed to be mandatory that it was included in the repertoire of almost every church youth group of singers or "hip" church coffee bar. Then one of them spoilt it all by explaining in a TV interview that the song related to drug usage, a "Silver Girl" was a metal hypodermic syringe (this was before throwaway needles), and that they were amazed that it had almost become a youth anthem for the so termed "Jesus Freaks" on the West Coast. It's amazing how what we read into poetry or song can vary according to what we bring with us.

That's just a general observation btw Rev, not intended as scepticism far less cynicism , I have my own beliefs and what inspires isn't anything I'd try to denigrate.

JohnnyO.

 

[Rev-O]

No, the Silver Girl thing is an old saw that isn't true

E.g. here <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.defectiveyeti.com/archives/000817.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.defectiveyeti.com/archives/000817.html</a><!-- m -->

Ambiguous lyrics, yes, but no more so than most other songs and a good deal less so than many.

 

[JohnnyO]

Fair enough Rev, I've heard many comments about this, most of which seemed to generate more heat than light and centre on allegations that comments given by the writer have varied over the years. Either way, if any piece of music inspires a hearer it's fine by me.

JohnnyO.