Music Mondays

Theme songs have magical powers. 

Before, I would have affirmed that statement while recognizing how hyperbolic it is. You'll never be able to convince me otherwise of it's literal truth now that I'm a parent.

Partly due to my own tv watching habits and partly due to my own affinity for these songs, two distinct, lyric-less songs will stop our two boys in their tracks and get them dancing in front of the tv.

First, is the classic ditty from The Office:

Going back to the early days in our marriage, I would often drum tap on Stephanie's leg whenever the song played at the beginning of the episode. Now I carry on that tradition with our sons and it has gotten to the point where they will halt whatever activity or mood they happen to be in, in order to listen to the music.

A second one has emerged as a powerful attention grabber, this time without my enthusiastic encouragement:

I am a sucker for the classic L&O shows, my personal opinion being that the after the first 10 seasons or so, the writing and plot structures became a bit formulaic. The classic jazz/blues number (is that the right genre?) really matches the tone of the older, grittier seasons. 

Much like The Office, my kids couldn't care less about the show itself once the song is done, but it is so amusing to see them react to the music each time.

Music Mondays + Sermon Snippets

Yesterday was unique in the sense that Valentine's Day fell on a Sunday. 

Naturally, this pastor chose to prepare a topical sermon on love. I eschewed the theme of romantic love, though I believe Scripture has much to say on that topic. I decided instead to focus on God's love for us. 

The verses of Ephesians 3:17-19 had come to mind early in my preparation process, especially the part where Paul prays that we "grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ...".

Have you ever thought about how wide God's love is? How long it stretches? How high it reaches? How deep it goes?

I tried to answer those questions in the message and, in doing so, many great songs kept popping up into my head. 

This one in particular stood out above the rest and I ended up quoting it in my conclusion. 

It is such a great song that pays proper tribute to the amazing love of God towards us. I am always captured by the lyrics of the second verse which state:

Could we with ink the ocean fill

And were the skies of parchment made

Were every stalk on earth a quill

And every man a scribe by trade

To write the love of God above

Would drain the ocean dry

Nor could the scroll contain the whole

Though stretched from sky to sky

Some songs begin with their most powerful and profound statements. This one waits until the second verse to use incredible imagery to capture the limitless nature of God's love for us.

The love of God - it shall forevermore endure, the saints and angels song!

Music Mondays + Sermon Snippets

We are beginning a sermon series in Hebrews and I'm going to do my best to regularly highlight songs that fit the passage. I imagine this will be harder in some parts than others, but I guess we will see.

The winter storm forced us to cancel our service yesterday, though I still shared my sermon in truncated form with a co-starring appearance from our son. 

It was no surprise that Tate's presence was a little distracting, at least to this speaker. It's a little ironic given that our passage, Heb. 1:1-4, is all about tuning into Jesus as the only voice worth tuning into. 

One of the songs our worship team was going to lead us with was an "oldie" I remember from my college days. It's a simple chorus - one that fits the 7/11 repetitious stereotype. And yet, in it's simplicity, it fits the tone of the introductory verses of Hebrews. 

There are many other more popular and more loved songs that focus on Christ and elevate His name. But something about this one seemed just right. May all the other voices fade away and we commit ourselves anew to worshipping and obedience.

Music Mondays - Synonymous Songs

So last week we featured this little mini-series. I'm not sure how long it will last, but I do keep coming up with more examples. 

To review, sometimes you hear a song, and it reminds you of another tune. Maybe it's the words, maybe it's the guitar riff or melody - but some element of it shakes the dust off some musical memory that's been tucked away in the attic of your mind. 

Other times, there's an obvious homage - an intentional sampling of a beat or phrase. Then there are the rare times in my experience where there's an unintentional direct parallel.

Today's set of songs include the first examples of this "phenomenon" that I remember noticing.

As a high schooler, I fully dove in to the new wave of CCM music that was coming out. Bands like Switchfoot, Third Day, Smalltown Poets, Newsboys, and of course dc Talk and Jars of Clay were emerging as credible artists that produced good music. 

Not fully able to differentiate every group, I confused these two artists due to their synonymous songs.

"Kindle" - Between Thieves

Around1997-98, I heard this song on the radio and I'd also been hearing from my friends and Christian magazines about a new group called "Third Day" who had a song called "Consuming Fire". So naturally I assumed this was Third Day. Eventually I realized it wasn't and liked the song enough to buy the album. 

This may be the most obscure CCM artist I've ever featured (which is saying something) but their first album was solid even if many of the songs sounded the same. All these years later, I had forgotten that this song wasn't titled "Consuming Fire" but "Kindle" instead.

"Consuming Fire" - Third Day

Whereas the Between Thieves song is descriptive of the Holy Spirit, this song includes those ideas but also connects to Hebrews 12:25-29. 

For me, this is quintessential Third Day. For all they became as a CCM supergroup, this style is what made them stand out.

Bonus Feature - "All Consuming Fire" - Jennifer Knapp

I had forgotten about this song until I went searching for these others. But I'm pretty sure I had this album at one point so I'm going to include it. It's musical style is far removed from the rock of the other two.

It seems as if there have been other more recent songs with this as a title or theme but I'm cutting this off at the three I'm most familiar with.

Music Mondays - Synonymous Songs

Sometimes you hear a song, and it reminds you of another tune. Maybe it's the words, maybe it's the guitar riff or melody - but some element of it shakes the dust off some musical memory that's been tucked away in the attic of your mind. 

Other times, there's an obvious homage - an intentional sampling of a beat or phrase. Then there are the rare times in my experience where there's an unintentional direct parallel.

This latter category came up recently with a newer song I was listening to. It called to mind two actual songs from two different eras of CCM. The connecting point that made these three songs synonymous, their title and key lyric. 

Let's start with the new and work our way back to the old. I'll offer brief comments on each song because I can't help myself.

"Who Am I" - Needtobreathe (2020)

In the Christian faith, there is false humility, shame-based humility, and appropriately honest humility. This song expresses the latter. I guess one could nitpick that it's ambiguous to be construed as human relationship-focused. But those nitpicks would be misguided. "You grow your roses on my barren soul" and "I don't understand where your love comes from" are amazing lyrics. I'd also offer my fanboy-biased opinion that this song offers the best introduction and sample of this bands style and Bear Rinehart's incredible vocal talent.

"Who Am I" - Casting Crowns (2004)

This song also expresses contrite humility in light of who God is. I always appreciated the clever lyrical turn of phrase "Not because of who I am, but because of what you've done. Not because of what I've done, but because of who you are." This band has never been a favorite but this is one in their catalogue I enjoy.

"Who I Am" - Third Day (1997)

Third Day would become CCM superstars in the early 2000's building off a solidly popular debut album. My favorite album of theirs is their second Pearl Jam influenced "Conspiracy No. 5". This particular single stood out to me. I realize the title is technically different but it's subject is much the same. It, like the others, focuses on our depravity and does offer hope: "And I know that you want to change me, want to rearrange the way I feel inside...and you take the broken hearts of lonely souls and you make all things right". But the way the song also lets us sit with our sinfulness was something I found helpful as a youth. Not in some dark, depressing way - but as a counter to a "quick-fix confession" that minimizes sin and the amazing grace God offers us by forgiving us even though he's aware of all we do.

Worship at Home - January 10

Sermon

This week's message can be accessed on our FB page here: https://www.facebook.com/Milford-First-Brethren-Church-106750154192984/

Study Guide Questions

After - or even as - you listen to the sermon, try digging deeper into the text by working through these questions:

1. What are some personal situations where you've seen God's hand and deliverance?
2. For what reason does Paul quote Psalm 117 in Romans 15? What point is he making?
3. How does Jesus "fulfill" Psalm 118:22-23?  Bonus: When were Ps. 118:25-26 applied by others to Jesus?
4. What difference can these truths make in my outlook, my actions, my faith?

Worship Songs

Devotional Reading

- Monday: Psalm 113

- Tuesday: Psalm 114

- Wednesday: Psalm 115

- Thursday: Psalm 116

- Friday: Psalm 117

- Saturday: Psalm 118

Worship at Home - January 3rd

 Sermon

This week's message can be accessed on our FB page here: https://www.facebook.com/Milford-First-Brethren-Church-106750154192984/

Study Guide Questions

After - or even as - you listen to the sermon, try digging deeper into the text by working through these questions:

1. Psalm 113-118 is referred to as the "Egyptian Hallel". What is the significance of that? What does that name refer to?
2. Who does God look out for according to Ps. 113?
3. What major event in the Old Testament is Ps. 114 referring to? What greater New Testament event does that foreshadow?
4. What are false idols in our day that compete for our loyalty and allegiance (Ps.115)?
5. What difference can these truths make in my outlook, my actions, my faith?

Worship Songs

Devotional Reading

- Monday: Psalm 113

- Tuesday: Psalm 114

- Wednesday: Psalm 115

- Thursday: Psalm 116

- Friday: Psalm 117

- Saturday: Psalm 118