Music Mondays: Arresting Lyrics

A pastor friend of mine recently used the words "arrested" to describe how he was caught up in singing a worship song. It was in a blog post or Facebook status or something - I can't find it to link to the fuller context - but his name is Tim Sprankle and he pastors the Leesburg Grace Brethren Church. I thought it was the perfect description of something I've experienced too. 

For me it usually happens in the car when I'm by myself and able to sing without shame with regards to my ill-tuned voice. I might get wrapped up in a song and all of the sudden come up on a lyric that stops me in my tracks. It's like the words are too holy to vocalize, too powerful to speak. Tears often well up and I take a deep breath to compose myself. 

It often happens with the same songs and the same lyrics. So that gave me the idea for a Music Monday series on "Arresting Lyrics"  - lines that I find emotionally powerful and profound. Not all of these cause me to ugly cry or anything, but they certainly have etched a powerful mark in my heart, soul, and mind.

This will stretch out over a couple of weeks, separated by my own categories. There are a few artists/bands that in my opinion deserve their own list. There will be a Miscellaneous week of assorted songs and artists too. Today, I've decided I have to start with one particular artist, Rich Mullins.

Mullins came up during the burgeoning age of Contemporary Christian Music in the 1980's. CCM was more or less birthed in the 70's but really hit it's stride when artists like Amy Grant, Sandi Patty, and Michael W. Smith emerged to help CCM become a profitable commercial business. Mullins was certainly a part of that generation, even doing early songwriting for Grant. But it soon became clear he would be "in but not of" the CCM world. From his lyrics to his lifestyle, everything about him signaled there was something different going on. He was tragically killed in an auto accident in 1997 that shocked his peers and his fans, leaving a gaping hole in CCM which no longer had its most passionate voice calling for honest spirituality and helping the marginalized. As time continues to pass, his work continues to resonate as these powerful lyrics attest.

So without further ado, here are what I consider to be Rich Mullin's most "arresting lyrics":

7. "Judgement and wrath He poured out on Sodom, Mercy and grace He gave us at the cross. I hope that we have not too quickly forgotten that our God is an awesome God" - Awesome God

"Awesome" is a word that's been overused and drained of it's full meaning by pop culture. And if you look close enough, you can see the same has happened to this, Mullins' signature song. Here in the second verse, he deftly captures two complimentary aspects of God's character - judgment and grace. I know most audiences will just want to recite the memorable chorus but they'd also do well to contemplate the lesser known verses.

6. "Sometimes I think of Abraham and how one star he saw had been lit for me" - Sometimes by Step

This is another classic that has probably been overplayed by churches and Christian radio. And another made popular because of its chorus - in fact, there is live version on YouTube (not the one linked above) - where he admits writing the verses after his friend wrote the chorus because he liked the chorus so much. 

This line jumped out to me only recently as I was preaching through Romans while also revisiting some of Mullins' music on the side. Romans 4 connects the Abrahamic Covenant of Genesis 12/15/17 to the New Testament Church - so that through faith in Christ, we can all call Abraham "Father", bloodlines notwithstanding. This lyric takes the detail of Gen. 15:5 and makes it personal - really putting it in a way I hadn't thought of before. 

5. "And your grace rings out so deep, it makes my resistance seem so thin" - Hold Me Jesus

For the longest time, I assumed the line ended "my resistance seems so small". It is really not an important detail but Mullins certainly makes the perfect contrast. This is a song of beautifully written contrasts that exemplifies genuine humility and brokenness.  

Check out the link for an incredible two minute introduction. 

4. "I may falter in my steps, but never beyond your reach" - Sometimes by Step

I might pair this line with one from "If I Stand" - "If I stand, let me stand on the promise that you will pull me through. If I can't, let me fall on the grace that first brought me to you."  

If you watched the intro to the "Hold me Jesus" video, this all fits with Rich's willingness to live freely and risk falling rather than conform to some outward legalistic piety. This is what faith in Jesus is, this is what the life of faith looks like. And the "never beyond your reach" always seems to hit me hard. 

3. "It's so hot inside my soul, I swear there must be blisters on my heart" - Hold Me Jesus

Another lyric I always misunderstood. I thought it was "it's so hard inside my soul". This makes even more sense of course. Beyond that however, these lyrics in particular have always reminded me of the line from "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" that says "prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. Take my heart Lord, take and seal it. Seal it for thy courts above." That is a favorite hymn of many and a verse that has spoke to many hearts over the decades.  I appreciate how Mullins captured the same sentiment and added theological beauty in his own way.

2.  "The stuff of earth competes for the allegiance I owe only to the giver of all good things." - If I Stand
"I'd rather fight you for something I don't really want, than take what you give that I need." - Hold me Jesus.

Millions of gallons of ink have been spilled and thousands of trees have been cut down so that theologians could try to explain the presence of sin in the life of a redeemed believer. Countless sermons have been given describing what Scripture calls "the flesh" or "sinful nature".  

In these two separate songs, with these two separate but similarly-themed lyrics, I think Mullins nails it rather efficiently and effectively. One acknowledges our own internal culpability. The other observes the battle against outward forces pulling us in the wrong direction. The better we understand these realities, the more dependent on God's grace we will be. I should really just stop analyzing though - the lyrics certainly speak for themselves. 

1. "If I sing let me sing for the joy that is born in me these songs. If I weep let it be as a man that is longing for his home" - If I Stand

This song has always made me want to learn how to play the piano. In my car, I feel like I can handle the vocals - but the piano would really put it all together. Daydreams aside, these two lines in particular are "play at my memorial"-type stuff. This song is a song of contrasts, as mentioned before. But the singing/weeping description is the kind of thing that really sums up the home-going of a Christ-follower.

The version linked above is of Jars of Clay from a tribute album that was produced in his honor after his death. I can remember learning about this album and the artists who were featured and hoping Jars would do this song. Dan Haseltine's voice was made to sing this song in my mind. Their version doesn't disappoint and actually exceeded my hopes with one small little thing at the end. Instead of "longing for his home", Haseltine simply sings "longing for home". The change is a subtle and fitting recognition that the presence of God is the Home we are all longing for. 

Next week we will feature another artist, though not with this many selections. Rich Mullins was a treasure that was only fully appreciated after he was gone. His work remains a great legacy. Not to his credit, but to the glorious grace of Jesus.

Music Mondays

Back when this Music Monday series idea popped in my head, it was this week's song that inspired it all. In the weeks since then, it hasn't continued to run in a loop like it had briefly back in June and for that I am thankful. 

Or am I? It is actually one of my favorite songs from "back in the day". Third Day released their second studio album Conspiracy No. 5 in 1997 which included the song below. The album itself feels like an intentional mirroring of Pearl Jam. It is a natural comparison some made after their first album mostly due to lead singer Mac Powell's vocals. In this album, the music itself seems to copy the popular 90's grunge band's style. 

As I remember it, this album was not as well received by the CCM world but that was not an opinion I or my buddies shared. I could still jam to this song if I still had the cassette and still owned a cassette player (yes I am old). 

Anyway, "Gomer's Theme" is still a jam and I don't mind all that much when it does get stuck in my head.

Music Mondays

I took a break for a week, but just a reminder - Music Mondays has been highlighting some songs I find really easy to get stuck in my head. Specifically, songs that I have even found playing on repeat in my head as I wake up in the morning.

This week's feature song isn't so much a radio hit as a radio commercial jingle. I have listened to 670 The Score sports radio out of Chicago for maybe close to a decade now. One of their longtime sponsors his Kars For Kids. 

It's a charity that takes your used vehicles and resells/disposes of them and puts the money towards youth educational programs. I actually donated my lemon-of-a-car VW Cabrio a couple years ago. It was a pretty simple and straightforward process. 

All of that is just besides the point. Listen to this little ditty and tell me it doesn't get seared into your brain upon the first listen.

It is such a unique jingle that my 2.5 year old son recognizes it when it's on the radio. Tbh, that's probably a sign that I listen to the station too much.