Category Archives: Song Reflections

Faith To Believe (Shane and Shane)

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This Shane and Shane song has been a favorite since I got the album several months ago and I’ve just got to write about it and share it with you now.

One of my favorite passages in scripture is Mark 9:14-29 when Jesus heals a boy possessed by an impure spirit.  The boy’s father brings him to Jesus to be healed.  He explains the symptoms and passionately begs Jesus to heal his son.  He explains that he brought his son to Jesus’ disciples first but they were unable to heal the boy, and at this point in the man’s story Jesus interrupts and exclaims “you unbelieving generation! How long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?”  Then the boy’s father asks Jesus, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

IF?  IF you can do anything?  That’s almost a dare that God can’t resist!  I’m tempted to use this kind of statement next time I really want something from God… “Hey God, you probably can’t do this thing, it’s probably too difficult for you, but could you maybe try?”  Just to see God dramatically prove His sovereignty and majesty.  Continue reading →

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Worship Set For April 27, 2014

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Yesterday was my final Sunday leading worship at The LIFEhouse Church in Rocklin, CA, so I had to pull out my favorite songs, right? Over the last six and a half years we’ve sung a lot of great worship songs, but these six are some of the most meaningful to me, and to our congregation, and they happened to work well with Pastor Stan Lubeck’s sermon on Revelation 9.

Here’s the list:
Everything Is Different – This is one of those Shane & Shane songs that I had heard several times and then one day while driving it suddenly struck me. The truth of the words…the DEPTH of the truth hit like I was hearing this truth for the first time: “He made a way when there was no way”! We were stuck in our sin, there was nothing we could do to get unstuck and save ourselves; there was no way out. None. But God made a way nonetheless. And that…changes EVERYTHING! We are set free! How can life be anything but glorious now that we have been forever set free from the bonds of sin? How can we live “normal”, everyday lives when we are aware of how Jesus died in our place and set us free. Does a freed slave ever live the way s/he did before? EVERYTHING is different. What an appropriate song for the week after Easter.
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Though You Slay Me

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Job 13:15a “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.”

Job has lost everything.  His fortune is destroyed, all of his children have been killed, his health has been taken from him and he has .  His friends turn against him, and even his wife tells him to “curse God and die.”  He has nothing left…but when Job fell he fell on the firm foundation of his faith in God.

Not that Job was walking around thinking “it’s all good.”  Rather, Job was crying out to God, asking why, and wishing he was dead.  But “in all this Job did not sin in what he said.”

If you’ve been in a church more than once in the last 15 years you’ve probably heard the song “Blessed Be Your Name” by Matt Redman which references Job’s amazing comment after hearing of his incredible losses: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”

This truly is an amazing statement.  I don’t know if I could say it, but I sure hope I can.  I have had a very blessed and safe life, with very little loss. But I pray that my foundation in Christ is firm enough to withstand difficult times.  I’m sure when that day comes, this song by Shane and Shane will be constantly on my mind and on my ipod. Continue reading →

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Without You (Shane and Shane)

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One of my all time favorite bands is Shane and Shane. I love their music, their lyrics and their passion. Have you ever had a moment when you’re just driving along innocently listening to an old CD and suddenly, without warning, the lyrics hit you like a ton of bricks? Lyrics that you’ve sung along with before, but suddenly it’s as if you’d never heard them. It’s like God just decided to wake you from a dream and these words have so much meaning that it’s the most real thing you’ve ever heard.

This has happened to me several times with Shane and Shane. Probably the most dramatic one was with their song “Everything Is Different” – several years ago. More recently with their songs “Though You Slay Me” and “Faith To Believe“. I’m bound to blog about those two in coming weeks, but right now the one that is my daily theme song is “Without You“. (all three of those last ones are off the album “Bring Your Nothing” — what an incredible album title and concept!!)

The song opens with an expression of faith “I can walk through the storm; I can walk by faith when my sight is gone, just as long as You are here with me.” And follows with an exclamation of complete dependence on God: “I could gain everything; What do I have if I don’t have the King. Oh I need to know You’re here with me.” YES! Lord, I have faith, and I know how much I need You – that without You I am totally lost and my life is worthless. But Lord… I need to KNOW You’re here WITH ME…right now. I need to sense Your presence… Continue reading →

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Indescribable

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Personally I think it’s kind of funny to title a blog post “Indescribable”. If our God is indescribable, then how can I possibly attempt to post a blog full of words about how indescribable He is? But in my opinion, that is what worship is all about! – Trying to describe the indescribable God. We know we won’t ever succeed in compiling a list of words, or phrases, or melodies and harmonies, or actions that will accurately and completely describe the God of the universe. But He is glorified by our attempts.

I believe it is within the search for words that we are actually glorifying God, not just when we find some good words. Just as it is in the search for holiness and in the striving for righteousness that God is pleased. He’s not sitting there with a furrowed brow and disappointment on his mind until the very moment when we achieve righteousness – I know this because the Bible says that “no one is righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10) and yet it also says “(the Lord) will take great delight in you with gladness…He will rejoice over you with joyful songs” (Zephaniah 3:17). Paul says that not even he has attained righteousness; he has not yet “arrived.” But still I am confident that God was delighted in Paul. Continue reading →

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