Posts Tagged ‘songs’

Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken

Monday, April 30th, 2012

How about another round of Songs From the Dead?

Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken has been a hymn that has been precious to my in the past 5 years. When I was at BIOLA I printed out the lyrics of this song and put them in the cover slip of my school folder. Every class I had began with me reading the lyrics of this song and praying the things found within it. I gained much (and still do) from this song and I hope it blesses you as well.

I first heard the song from Indelible Grace Music and once I heard it, it immediately became a favorite of mine. However, I recently came upon a version of the song by Andy Zipf that has become my new favorite version.

Here’s Andy Zipf’s version:
Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken

As you listen, follow along with the Lyrics below. Note: Andy’s version only sings verses 1, 3, 6.

JESUS, I MY CROSS HAVE TAKEN| HENRY F. LYTE | 1833

    Jesus, I my cross have taken, all to leave and follow Thee.
    Destitute, despised, forsaken, Thou from hence my all shall be.
    Perish every fond ambition, all I’ve sought or hoped or known.
    Yet how rich is my condition! God and Heaven are still mine own.

    Let the world despise and leave me, they have left my Savior, too.
    Human hearts and looks deceive me; Thou art not, like them, untrue.
    And while Thou shalt smile upon me, God of wisdom, love and might,
    Foes may hate and friends disown me, show Thy face and all is bright.

    Go, then, earthly fame and treasure! Come, disaster, scorn and pain!
    In Thy service, pain is pleasure; with Thy favor, loss is gain.
    I have called Thee, “Abba, Father”; I have set my heart on Thee:
    Storms may howl, and clouds may gather, all must work for good to me.

    Man may trouble and distress me, ’twill but drive me to Thy breast.
    Life with trials hard may press me; heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
    Oh, ’tis not in grief to harm me while Thy love is left to me;
    Oh, ’twere not in joy to charm me, were that joy unmixed with Thee.

    Take, my soul, thy full salvation; rise o’er sin, and fear, and care;
    Joy to find in every station something still to do or bear:
    Think what Spirit dwells within thee; what a Father’s smile is thine;
    What a Savior died to win thee, child of heaven, shouldst thou repine?

    Haste then on from grace to glory, armed by faith, and winged by prayer,
    Heaven’s eternal day’s before thee, God’s own hand shall guide thee there.
    Soon shall close thy earthly mission, swift shall pass thy pilgrim days;
    Hope soon change to glad fruition, faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

LESSONS LEARNED

1) A SOBER VIEW OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE: This hymn explains the Christian life as it is in this world: a life filled with hardship, persecution and struggle. As Christians we are often found, “Destitute, despised, forsaken…” and “storms may howl and clouds may gather.” Songs like this are precious to Christians because they give voice to the hardship that we are bound to experience in this fallen world and then helps to guide us beyond the pain to the One who has promised that, “all must work for good to me.” This song punches the health and wealth gospel straight in the teeth and offers no apologies. Nor should it.

2) A VIEW TO HEAVEN: As believers, our hope is not in this world and looks to the unseen reality that is and is to come (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). It is important for us believers to be reminded where to look. Often times we forget that this is not our home and that heaven awaits us. We are deceived into thinking the pleasures of earth are greater than the eternal joys of heaven. This hymn speaks clearly to that temptation and prays, “Perish (or kill) every fond ambition, all I’ve sought or hoped or known. Yet how rich is my condition! God and Heaven are still mine own.” Heaven is our home. This life is a pilgrimage of hardship to the celestial city of final peace. “Soon shall close thy earthly mission, swift shall pass thy pilgrim days; Hope soon change to glad fruition, faith to sight, and prayer to praise.”

3) A GUTSY PRAYER: This song does not offer wimpy, self-interested prayers. It isn’t interested in asking for anything but a heart that faithfully follows Jesus and for God to do whatever is necessary to that end. “Go, then, earthly fame and treasure! Come, disaster, scorn and pain!” Did you see that? This song renounces the treasures of this world and invites the things people want to avoid most! How is that possible? Because “In Thy service, pain is pleasure; with Thy favor, loss is gain.” We are taught by these words to not avoid hardship and pain, but to welcome it gladly to our doorstep because we know that our Lord will turn our pain into pleasure and that all of our lost will become for us gain (Matthew 19:29).

4) AN EXAMPLE OF PREACHING THE GOSPEL TO YOURSELF: Though this song is filled with gutsy prayers and clearly see that hardship is normative in the Christian life, it does not tell us to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and get through it with all our might. Instead of summoning our will power to accomplish these great tasks, it reminds us to find strength in the gospel. Look closely at the next verse:

    Take, my soul, thy full salvation; rise o’er sin, and fear, and care;
    Joy to find in every station something still to do or bear:
    Think what Spirit dwells within thee; what a Father’s smile is thine;
    What a Savior died to win thee, child of heaven, shouldst thou repine (feel discontent)?

Did you see that? This verse has us speaking to our own souls to rise above sin and fear and care, but instead of stopping there it brings us to the place where we find the needed strength to do so; the gospel. We are commanded to think about the Spirit who lives in us and the Father who smiles over us and the Son who died to win us to himself! Our doing is fully based on what Christ has done! Amen! Thank God for songs that first point to what Christ has done for us instead of what we must do for Christ!

Now your turn, what do you like about this song?

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Prepared a Place for Me

Monday, December 19th, 2011

I hope this song will bless you today as it did me.

Prepared a Place for Me

PREPARED A PLACE FOR ME

Mystery of mysteries
That God would make for me
A place within His family, though once His enemy
The Judge of every sinner sent Christ to Calvary
To prepare a place for me

Judgment should be given
For this guilt upon my head
But the Father of all glory crushed His Son instead
Now I’ve been adopted, for God made this to be
You prepared a place for me

CHORUS
Blessed be, blessed be
My God and Savior, You’ve shown me favor
And prepared a place for me

Father, in the moment
When Your Son shall split the skies
And myriads of angels acclaim Him with their cries
By grace I will be able to join the jubilee
You prepared a place for me

© 2009 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP)/Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)

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Good Christian Bands (Part 2)

Thursday, September 1st, 2011

This is a continuation of Part One.

Bifrost Arts

Bifrost Arts is yet another collection of musicians coming together under the same desire to make beautiful sounding and theologically rich songs for the church. In fact, it is more of an organization that seeks to do workshops for churches and worship leaders and they happen to have put out a killer cd with a ton of variety in musicians and instruments. Many of the songs have an old-pre1950′s jazz like sound and lots of change in dynamics.

Here’s a sample of one of my favorites:Be Still My Soul

Caedmon’s Call

Caedmon’s Call has been around forever. I particularly love (most) of their songs and their tendency to take on time honored songs of long ago and their ability to write new songs. One thing Caedmon does well is write songs that have a good prophetic edge. They want to address issues they see in church life and speak to them with God’s Word via their music. I really recommend their newer cd In The Company of Angels II.

Here’s a sample of one of my favorites:Fellowship So Deep

Page XCVI

Page XCVI (read Page 116) is the most different of the bands I have spoken of much because of their style. They have the same philosophy of rich content met with contemporary music, but the type of contemporary music they play is much darker in feel and has an edge to it that isn’t shared among the other bands. I like to listen to Page when I am in a slaying demons kind of mood. Highly recommended.

I bet you haven’t heard In Christ Alone played like this:In Christ Alone

Jars of Clay (Redemption Songs)

Jars of Clay, like Caedmon’s Call, has been around the Christian music biz for a long time now. I am not a huge fan of all their music, some I like more than others, but I have fallen in love with their cd Redemption Songs. They take on cherished hymns from church history and give them some contemporary love without lessening the goodness.

Here’s a sample:Hiding Place

I hope these were helpful in your search for good music both in style, skill and lyrics! If you have any suggestions for me throw them my way. I am always up for new music.

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Why Don’t You Sing This Song? A Worship Leader’s Response

Thursday, June 9th, 2011


Bob Kauflin is a worship leader for Sovereign Grace Ministries. He has a blog that I enjoy reading because he thinks through musical worship with Biblical lenses. On his blog I found a post about what to do when someone from your congragation wants you to sing a certain song that isn’t that good. He gives a real-life example of an email he wrote to someone who wanted him to sing, “Above All” by Paul Baloche and Lenny LeBlanc.

Here it is:

    There are a number of things about this song I really like. The melody is enjoyable to sing and easy to remember. It does a great job emphasizing God’s sovereign rule over all, and focusing on the sacrifice of Christ. The poetic images are engaging and the harmonic progression is creative. But two parts bother me, both near the end of the song. The first is the line “you took the fall.” It seems like an understated way of describing what Jesus did. Not wrong, but not the best. The other problem is the line, “and thought of me above all.” I have no question that Jesus loved me and gave himself for me (Gal. 2:20). But he didn’t think of me “above all.” Jesus went to the cross to satisfy God’s righteous judgment against a sinful humanity. He thought of his Father’s holiness, justice, and glory above all. It may seem like a theological nuance, but it’s the difference between our faith being man-centered and God-centered. I don’t think that’s what the writers intended, but I think it could cause some confusion in people’s minds. Besides, I think we have other songs that better articulate Jesus died for because he loved us and for his Father’s glory. But, thanks for suggesting it, and please let me know if you have any other thoughts! (Check out the whole post here.)

Notice the following. First, see the compassion, the gentleness and the grace he begins the email with. There is a lot to say about kind words. Second, notice his careful, and very biblical, explanation of why he won’t sing the song. It’s not about catchiness, it’s about theology. Jesus cares about us singing true songs that don’t deceive. We must not only be aware of false teachings but also false songs. Thirdly, observe that at the end he still invites further suggestions of other songs. He doesn’t throw a trump card and humiliate the person, but invites further input. And lastly, realize the time he took in listening to the song, thinking about the song, critiquing the song and then addressing the person about the song. He cares about his ministry and his people and he takes the time they need.

Beautiful, right?

He ends with this word, “I’m sure I’ll make some wrong decisions in choosing what songs we shouldn’t sing. But if my goal is always to sing songs that exalt God’s glory in Christ in people’s hearts and minds in the clearest and best ways, I don’t think I’ll ever have any regrets.”

May God bless the church with worship leaders with this scriptural understanding, clarity and drive.

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Songs of the Dead

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

I want to begin an ongoing series of posts where I will be able to introduce songs written by (currently) dead people that have blessed me in immeasurable ways. In each post I’ll introduce the song, give a word or two about it’s contents, and maybe the writer, and also include a version of the song for your listening pleasure and edification.

So let’s get going!

I would like to start this series off by addressing my favorite worship song of all time, “Before the Throne of God Above.” I have been blessed by this song every time I come to it. I probably sing it on an average of twice a day. This was the song Chawna and I chose to have sun (by our amazingly talented friends and family) at our wedding. In other words, this song is a goat (Greatest Of All Time).

Before the Throne was written by a woman named Charitie Bancroft. She was born in 1841 around Dublin, Ireland and was the daughter of a minister from the church of Ireland. She died in California in 1923. Not much is known about her outside of her few published works in different poetry and song books. A number of her collected works were eventually published as Within the Veil in 1867. “Before the Throne”, our song of study, was written in 1863 under the title “The Advocate.”

Here is the song (with added scriptural references):

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea. (Heb 4:15-16)
A great High Priest whose Name is Love (Heb 4:14)
Who ever lives and pleads for me. (Heb 7:25)
My name is graven on His hands, (Exodus 28:9-14; Isa 49:16)
My name is written on His heart (Exodus 28:29-30)
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart. (Rom 8:34)

When Satan tempts me to despair (Luke 22:31-32)
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there (Acts 7:55-56)
Who made an end of all my sin. (2 Cor. 5:21; Col 2:13-14)
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free (Gal. 5:1)
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me. (Gal. 3:13-14; Rom 3:24-26)

Behold Him there the risen Lamb, (Rev 5:6)
My perfect spotless righteousness, (1 Cor 1:30; 1 Peter 1:18-19)
The great unchangeable I AM, (Heb 13:8; John 8:58)
The King of glory and of grace, (1 Cor. 2:8)
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood, (1 Peter 1:18-19; Acts 20:28)
My life is hid with Christ on high, (Col 3:3)
With Christ my Savior and my God! (Tit 2:13)

Sojourn – Before the Throne of God Above


There are a number of reasons I love this song. First, the song is about Jesus as our High Priest, our Advocate, our Sinless Sacrifice, our King, our Hiding Place, our Savior and our God. By the time one comes to the end of this song they cannot help but see that Christ is truly our all in all. Jesus is held up to us like a diamond in this song and verse by verse we are shown the many facets of His beauty.

Second, “Before the Throne” is packed with biblical truth in every verse (see above). This song is a sermon to music. If one were to think through its lines they would come to grasp the Bible’s teachings ranging from atonement and Jesus priestly work to how to respond to demonic accusation.

Third, God’s truth is practically applied and taught. This is no song of abstract theology. It fleshes out the truth of God and reveals how Jesus’ person and work applies to the Christian. For example, the second verse begins by recalling accusations from Satan about one’s guilt and sin, “When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of my guilt within.” These words are most definitely met with an affirming nod by Christians who know the sound of the enemy’s lies resounding in their ear. What is one to do in such a time of painful delation? The song exhorts, “Upward I look and see Him there, who made an end of all my sin.” How can charges be made when the penalty is paid?

Lastly, the song’s mention of Jesus’ priestly work has been life transforming for me. The first verse of the song tells of Jesus standing before God’s throne as my “strong and perfect plea”. This language brings us to remember the work of the High Priests in the Old Testament who went before God’s throne (the ark of the covenant) once a year to make atonement for the people. In other words, once a year the high priest would go before God’s throne and plead for the forgiveness of the people. But unlike the high priests of old who were constantly dying and being replace, Jesus is my High Priest who “ever lives and pleads for me”. His enduring Priesthood ensures my eternal salvation.

But there is more. The song continues to say, “My name is graven on His hands“. This is where knowing the seemingly insignificant things of the Old Testament comes in extremely handy. In Exodus 28, God tells Moses how to make the clothes for the high priest. In his directions God tells Moses to, “Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel” and then to “mount the stones in gold filigree settings and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the LORD.” In this passage we come to recognize that the high priest would go before God with the names of God’s people engraved on stones placed on the shoulders of His clothes. And here comes the truth of the song, “My name is graven on His hands”. Jesus, my High Priest, bears my name in the scars from calvary. I am represented by Him through the cross. He made atonement for my sin and my name is written in His wounds. Amen.

The second part which says, “My name is written on His heart” has it’s scriptural home in the same chapter of Exodus. Moses records that, in addition to the stones on the shoulders, the high prest would also carry 12 stone (for each tribe) on his chest. Listen to the words from the passage:

Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the LORD…Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the LORD (Exodus 28:29-30).

The connection? My name is not written over the heart of Christ, as the names of Israel was over Aaron’s, but on His heart. “My name is written on His heart.” Jesus’ work is not only for me, but His affections and love are too. My name is written on the heart of the King of Kings. His holy love has cleansed me, paid for me by dying for me and rising to be my Advocate. Amen.

So there you have it! The first post for “Song of the Dead”! My favorite hymn. My wedding hymn. My life’s song. I live because He lives. I hope it has blessed you and continues to do so in the coming years.

“He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:25

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What the Heck Are We Singing?

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

If you know me at all (which I presume is most people reading this blog because I am not a big deal) then you know I love singing worship songs. For that reason, as well as my love for Jesus and His church, I write this post.

What should directly influence the songs we sing in church? Well, there is a ton of scripture offered to this point, but going over it all would be ridiculously long and I do have actually get to work sometime. So let me offer you one scripture that has crossed my mind many a time when I have been found enduring stupid songs in church.

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16

Let’s break this verse down. This passage is smack in the middle of Paul helping the Colossian people walk out the reality of their new life in Jesus Christ. He has told them to set their hearts and minds on the things above where Jesus is seated at the right hand of God (Col. 3:1-2). He has exhorted them to put their dark deeds to death and throw them away like dirty clothes (Col. 3:5-9). He goes on to exhort them to put on Jesus and clothe themselves with His character so they may dwell in perfect unity (Col. 3:10-14). Then he turns to speak about life in the body of Christ; what we are to be and do in the community Jesus bought with His blood. It is here that we receive the passage above and find out from Paul what songs should be in the Christian church.

SOME BRIEF THINGS TO OBSERVE IN COLOSSIANS 3:16:

1 – OUR SONGS ARE TO BE FILLED WITH THE WORD OF CHRIST: Paul wants Christians to be surrounded and filled with the message of Christ. What is the message of Christ? The teachings that flowed forth from His lips; His commands, His promises, His warnings, His gospel. This letter to the Colossians was probably received by the church before they had in hand a written gospel of Jesus (i.e. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). This meant that Paul was urging them to sing about the truth they have been taught by their Pastors so they would, in effect, memorize the oral teachings they have received. The Colossians were urged by Paul to sing the truth they have received so the word of Christ may dwell (live) in them richly.

The practical application is obvious; the songs we sing must be saturated with Biblical truth, or in other words, the message of Christ. Are the songs we choose to sing on Sunday filled with the Word of Christ? Do they have the lyrical mojo that will actually impart truth in the Bible?

Does this song have the word of Christ in it?

Running through the forest
Dive into the lake
Bare feet on beaches white
Standing in the canyon
Painted hills around
The wind against my skin
Every ocean
Every sea
Every river
Every stream
Every mountain
Every tree
Every blade of grass will sing

In order for our songs to be used as means to have the words of Jesus dwell in us richly they must first be richly filled with the words of Jesus. We can’t teach through silence. If our songs are silent and void of the word of Christ then they will teach us nothing but a catchy melody. God’s people don’t want catchy melodies, they want His truth. They want to hear His voice in their songs.

2 – OUR SONGS ARE TO BE MEANS OF TEACHING HIS WORD: Songs sung in church are musical sermons that every proclaims and preaches. Paul calls us to sing songs in church so the truth of God may be taught. This means two things. First, our songs must be accessible. Although I love hymns, there are some that have language that is beyond comprehension for the modern church goer. We don’t want to treat our congregants like babies, thinking they’re only able to understand words with a max of three syllables, but we want to make sure our songs are able to be understood. Our songs should be simple essays in theology. Second, this means the choice of songs for a worship service should be treated with the same reverence as the preaching. Our songs are to teach just like the sermon does. Sadly, many worship leaders put little to no thought into what songs they choose to sing. Their preparation ends up being an early morning scramble to print our whatever songs they can click to the fastest, a quick 10 minute prep rehearsal with the band and they’re on stage barely their in mind. Our pastors (hopefully) are pouring themselves out week by week in study preparation for the sermon so the truth is proclaimed with clarity, content and conviction; our worship leaders must see that this too is their lot.

Are we using our songs to teach the Bible? Do our songs teach people God’s truth? Are we equipping our old and new Christians with His word in song? Throughout the centuries songs have been used by the church as a crucial method of teaching because for a long time, literacy was rare for the common folk who filled the pew. So what did the church do with those who couldn’t read the Bible? They taught them to sing the Bible. Imagine a poor, illiterate shoe maker who loves Jesus. He is working away at his shop, filled with the Spirit, singing some of the songs his pastor taught him. As he works away you can hear him sing:

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

Or

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

He may not know how to read, but that hasn’t stopped him from knowing truth. May our songs teach God’s people for their good and His glory.

3 – OUR SONGS ARE TO BE USED AS MEANS OF ADMONISHING: Our songs, according to Colossians 3:16, must admonish. This goes beyond teaching truth to actually encouraging and urging believers to obedience, faith and action. Singing in church has a vertical element in giving all glory, honor and praise to God, but it also has a horizontal prupose in urging other believers. What does this look like? It looks like singing even the scary truths of the Bible that speak about judgment, wrath, and God’s power in light of sin. For example,

Ye sons of Adam, vain and young,
Indulge your eyes, indulge your tongue,
Taste the delights your souls desire,
And give a loose to all your fire;

Pursue the pleasures you design,
And cheer your hearts with songs and wine;
Enjoy the day of mirth, but know
There is a day of judgment, too.

It also looks like singing songs that talk about reality. The reality of suffering, unbelief, and God’s terrifying holiness. Admonishment comes from truth being spoken in the face of weakness. Whatever our weaknesses, let us gird ourselves with songs to help us swim the ocean of grace offered us in Jesus.

So there is your typical Dana rant. I speak (or blog) this with only hope for betterment. I love Jesus’ church and Jesus’ people and that’s why I write this. This is not comprehensive, but it is simply a few thoughts that are helpful when thinking about singing to Jesus. My desire is this, I want us to sing the truth in love for His glory and each others good. Let us sing.

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