The Lion and the Lamb

 

Martin Luther once said, "Music is the handmaiden of theology." So just take a little time to enjoy this wonderful, Christ exalting song, and contemplate the person and work of Christ, the Lion of Judah, and the Lamb of God.

Who is He...Who's the mightiest of all

Who is He...Creation trembles at His call

Who is He...The lowly sacrifice, who paid a victims price

His name is Jesus

(chorus)

Jesus...From the Father's own right hand

Jesus...Son of God and son of man

Jesus...Who died and rose again

Jesus...He's the Lion and the Lamb

Who is He...With the power none can tame

Who is He...That every foe would fear His name

Who is He...Who was humbly led away, to suffer that dark day

His name is Jesus

(chorus)

He's the Lion and the Lamb

(Hook)

He's the Lamb that was slain

He's the Lion that reigns

My Savior and King both the same

Who is He...With the eyes that burn like fire

Who is He...Oh the wonder He inspires

Who is He...Who bore the guilt and shame

For those who've gone astray

His name is Jesus

(chorus)

He's the Lion and He is... healer from the Father's own right hand

Jesus...Son of God and son of man

Jesus...Who died and rose again

Jesus...He's the Lion and the Lamb

He's the Lion and the Lamb (repeat 2x)

A wonderful trend

The first Hallelujah flash mob was recorded on October 30th, then came another one on November 13th.

Now we have at least two more to report from December 18th:

Steve Martin: Atheists Don't Have No Songs

Monday music

Keith Green - Desiring God

Keith Green via last.fm

(Author: Jon Bloom)

Today, July 28th, marks the 28th anniversary of the plane crash that killed Christian singer/songwriter and evangelist, Keith Green. He was 28 years old. Also lost in that crash were two of Keith’s children (Josiah & Bethany), the pilot (Don Burmeister), and an entire family (John & Dede Smalley and their six children).

I clearly remember July 28, 1982. I had just turned 17 and only recently had discovered Keith’s music. He was unlike anyone I had ever heard. It wasn’t music that drew me to Keith. It was his heart.

Keith was in love with Jesus in a way that few seemed to be. His passion was the kind I read about in the New Testament. Keith was real. You could tell just by listening to him. And you could also tell that Keith wasn’t mainly about music, he was about a message. He didn’t care about his career; he cared whether or not people followed Jesus. Keith was all about spreading a passion for the supremacy of Jesus.

And because of that, I loved his music. Keith had quickly become a hero of mine. His sudden death was shock.

The main reason I pay tribute to Keith today is because his influence has shaped one significant aspect of Desiring God. When John and I launched this work in 1994, we both agreed that DG should adopt the same whatever-you-can-afford policy for our resources that Keith’s Last Days Ministries had for his music. This policy has served thousands of people. And I thank God for Keith’s example in this.

Keith certainly didn’t get everything right. He didn’t have great things to say about Reformed theology, although some of his song lyrics show that he was more reformed than he may have realized (see “You Put This Love in My Heart”). But he was only a Christian for about 7 years and did almost all of his growing in public ministry. And considering how long it’s taken me to learn things, I’m amazed at how well he did.

But in many ways Keith was a kindred spirit. He was passionate about Jesus, sought to spread that passion, loved the Bible, lived a war-time lifestyle, exhorted people not waste their lives, sought to mobilize people for missions, and lived out radical generosity. Keith’s life was short, but he lived well and did not compromise.

So it’s fitting that today we thank God for the life of Keith Gordon Green.

Monday music smile - How Great is Our God

Monday music smile - One more time

Monday music smile - Eva Cassidy

Monday music smile - Rostropovich: Bach Cello Suite No.1 Prelude

Monday music smile - 'Don't Know Why', the literal version

A charming Norah Jones sings a more literal (and humorous) version of Don't Know Why.

Monday music smile

This is an excellent song about the grace and mercy we find in Christ. A surprisingly good song.


Tell me I’m forgiven and loved
‘Cause I hear it from the street corner priests
On how God is love and how man can be clean
But my joy has been on holiday
And my peace has almost passed away
Tell me I’m forgiven and free

CHORUS
O I tried and tried to rectify my hopeless situation
But I bought the lie I still have work to do
Now I’m working nine to five like I can earn my own salvation
But there is no condemnation in You

O whisper to me now that it’s for real
‘Cause in the silence of these walls righteousness lost its appeal
Dirty deeds have done me in
O but that can’t stop the faithful friend
Giving mercy once again as You heal
Here it is I’m feeling it

(Chorus)

O He died, He died to rectify my hopeless situation
And His blood commands my guilt to leave
Now on Calvary I stand
Empty pockets, open hands
O there is no condemnation for me

(Chorus)

Child, you’re forgiven and loved
Child, you’re forgiven and loved
Child, you’re forgiven
And child, you are loved
Child, you’re forgiven and loved


.

Monday music smile - Vintage Al Green

Thought I would repost one of my favorite Al Green performances. Enjoy!

Monday music smile

Monday music smile - A Few More Miles

Monday music smile

Here's a little musical comedy with... the Pips!

Monday music smile - Four Tops v. Temptations

Monday music smile - Take me home

Love the percussion work on this song from the 80's. Phil Collins was an unlikely rock star, but his talent as a musician and songwriter kept him on the charts.

Free Music Download - Page CXVI

"Music is the handmaiden of theology, leading to a fuller appreciation of God."

                                                                                                                - Martin Luther

Over the last few years I have rediscovered the old sacred hymns; the kind of songs they used to sing in my grandparents church. Songs full of Scripture and sound doctrine. So I am always excited to see a new hymns project.

The group Page CXVI will soon release their second album of hymns and I can't wait. But until then, you can download their first album of hymns for free (CLICK HERE) until May 4th. But make no mistake about it, these are first rate musicians and vocalists. They are doing this because they have a passion for hymns and want to introduce them to a new generation.

If you're wondering what the story is behind the unusual name. Here is the story from their website:

The name comes from a reference to page 116 in our copy of The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis. It is a poignant passage where Aslan begins to sing Narnia into creation out of a black void.

It starts, “In the darkness something was happening at last. A voice had begun to sing. It was very far away and Digory found it hard to decide from what direction is was coming. Sometimes it seemed to come from all directions at once. Sometimes he almost thought it was coming out of the earth beneath them. Its lower notes were deep enough to be the voice of the earth herself. There were no words. There was hardly even a tune. But it was, beyond comparison, the most beautiful noise he had ever heard. It was so beautiful he could hardly bear it.”

~ C.S. Lewis

Of course, Aslan the lion is a Christ figure from The Chronicles of Narnia. I suspect that Lewis got the idea to have Aslan sing creation into existence from Zephaniah 3:17 which reads:

The LORD your God in your midst,

The Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing.

Consider that passage for just a moment, the Almighty God will rejoice over His people with singing. That is too wonderful for words; and it is that type of awe and wonder that a well written hymn can help draw us to.

Monday music smile - Bridge Over Troubled Water

Monday music smile