A query on ‘gospel’ shows 122 listings.

Have fun!

Topics include:

• Is Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder? (are there objective standards of good & bad in music and art?)
• The Influence of Music (addresses the profound impact music has on people and how it can be used to influence or reflect moods)
• Music:  The Handmaiden of Theology (the critical difference between simplistic and simplicity in music)

Well worth your time.  You’ll do some hard but necessary thinking on the role of music in worship and life.

Not sure how long it will be posted, but you can always purchase audio or video here.

Could’ve come like a mighty storm
with all the strength of a hurricane
You could’ve come like a forrest fire
with the power of heaven in your flame

But you came like a winter snow
quiet and soft and slow
Falling from the sky in the night
to the earth below

Could’ve swept in like a tidal wave
or an ocean to ravish our hearts
You could have come through like a roaring flood
to wipe away the things we’ve scarred

No, your voice wasn’t in a bush burning
No, your voice wasn’t in a rushing wind
It was still, it was small, it was hidden

Free chart download w/free membership sign-up with WorshipTogether.

Well, here’s one (below).

Heidelberg Catechism by avoice

MySpace is beta-testing a new player, which seems to be working pretty well.

Check out my Mercy & compassion playlist and let me know what you think.

Photo cred: theinnocencemission.com

I stumbled across The Innocence Mission while listening to NPR sometime ago and was struck by how simple, tasteful, and tuneful their songs were (the name fits them well).

They are led by Don and Karen Paris, a husband and wife team, and formed in Lancaster County Pennsylvania (Amish country) in the early 80s when the members met during a Catholic school production of Godspell.

God is Love (below and here) is a good example of their sound.  I can see this being used by youth groups and small group gatherings to help ‘set the scene’ for worship or teaching.

Stream it free from their site here, where you can also download free chord charts and lyric sheets.

God Is Love by the innocence mission

Your review is welcome here.

This is a band who gets it.

We Will Follow by jarsofclay

The compelling part of the clip for me was the sheer exhuberance displayed by Bruce and band member Steve Van Zandt playing an unfinished song together on the piano.

This is a glimpse into a joyful, creative process that I wonder if worship leaders and musicians don’t long for on a regular basis.  It reminds me of the reason I loved music – it was fun!

HT:  Mark Moring