Would you like to win a great new CD? If so, get reading!

Today I’m featuring an interview with singers and songwriters Mark and Stephen Altrogge. And at the end of it all I’ll be giving away three copies of their new CD. Mark Altrogge is Senior Pastor of Sovereign Grace Church of Indiana, PA, a position he has held for over twenty five years. Mark has written numerous worship songs that have been published and recorded by Sovereign Grace Ministries (formerly PDI Ministries), Integrity Music, Glad, Anne Herring, Matthew Ward, and others. His most well-know songs are “I Stand in Awe” and “Forever Grateful”. He and his wife Kristi have five children (one of whom is, of course, Stephen). Stephen Altrogge is twenty five and recently married Jen. The couple are expecting their first child in September. Stephen attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania, graduating with a degree in Management Information Systems, and has recently begun serving as pastoral intern at the church.

Mark and Stephen teamed up to record In a Little While which has just been released by Sovereign Grace Music. It is available in CD or MP3 format and if you are interested you can download a free song at the Sovereign Grace site.

Mark and Stephen were kind enough to talk to me and to answer some questions about the album, about the state of worship music today, and about who would be likely to win if a fight broke out between the Altrogges and the Kauflins (because we’ve all been wondering about that, haven’t we?).

Tim Challies: How did In a Little While come about? Why did you decide to record an album together?

Stephen Altrogge: Originally the plan was to do an album of just my dad’s songs, which I thought was a phenomenal idea. If anyone should have an album, it’s my dad, who has been writing God-glorifying songs for the last twenty-five years. At some point along the way the decision was made to include me on the album as well, which really astonished me. However, I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to work together with my dad on this album.

Mark Altrogge: The originator of the idea is Pat Ennis, executive director of Sovereign Grace Ministries. One of C.J. Mahaney’s burdens for Sovereign Grace Ministries is that we seek to pass a passion for the gospel on to the next generation. I believe that part of the idea for the album was to express this burden for the next generation and our joy in seeing God beginning to bring this about in many families. I was astounded that Sovereign Grace would want Stephen and I to do an album together.

TC: Why did you settle on In a Little While as the title for this album?

SA: The title is from the song of the same name. We felt that In A Little While led people in a direction of hope for the future and eager expectation of what is to come. In a short time we will see the glorious face of Jesus Christ. In a little while all tears will be wiped away, all sorrows erased, and we will be filled with inexpressible joy. We live in a world of suffering and sadness, but only for a little while. Soon the night will be over and we will be in heaven with Christ for eternity. What a glorious thought!

MA: It’s good for believers to be regularly reminded that our hope of glory is seeing Christ’s face. And though our trials can at times seem heavy and unending, in a little while we will see that compared to the weight of glory our trials are producing, they are really only light and momentary.

TC: Stephen, which of your father’s songs on this album do you like best and why? And Mark, which of Stephen’s songs on this album do you like best and why?

SA: My favorite by far is the song ‘Be Exalted’. I love it for two reasons. First, it beautifully expresses the desire of the Christian’s heart. As a follower of Christ, my desire is to see Christ exalted in everything I say and do. My passion in life is to see Christ magnified, glorified, and lifted high. My heart says, “Be exalted oh God in my life!” This song captures that desire. Second, I love the song because it is really catchy and has a great melody. It makes you want to sing along. The combination of glorious truth and beautiful melody is what makes this song so good.

MA: I have a hard time choosing a favorite of Stephen’s songs, but I would say, “You’ll Provide for Me”. The first verse reminds us that the God who feeds the creatures of the earth will surely care for his children. Then it points to God’s promise in Romans 8:32 that he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up to meet our greatest need, reconciliation to God, will surely provide for all our lesser needs. The chorus is a passionate cry, “So I will trust in you!” Verse 2 expresses our need to rest in God’s goodness and sovereignty - we can’t emphasize these aspects of God’s character enough. In response to God’s goodness and sovereignty we cry out, “So I will trust in you!” All this set to driving, memorable music.

TC: Do you intend for these songs to be used for corporate worship? Assuming you’ve already introduced these to your congregation, which songs have proven best as songs suitable for corporate worship?

SA: I would be disappointed if these songs were not used in corporate worship. These songs were written primarily for the church, with the hope that through these songs people would find their affections for God kindled and their hearts drawn to God in love. We haven’t introduced all the songs to our church yet. However, we have done “At the Cross”, “I Will Cast My Cares”, “Hail the Risen King”, and “You’ll Provide For Me”, which have all worked well in corporate worship.

MA: I hope that all the songs will serve churches. That is always our goal.

TC: As Christian songwriters, do you ever feel pressure to write the worship song of the year--to write this year’s “How Great is Our God” or “Blessed be the Name of the Lord” (or perhaps I should say the next “I Stand in Awe”)? Do you ever find that it is difficult to be satisfied with anything other than a smash hit?

SA: By God’s grace, I don’t feel pressure to write the worship song of the year. My desire is to write songs that will bring glory to God and serve the church. I don’t need to write a smash hit to do those things.

MA: Very few songs ever get to the Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman level. I don’t consider myself even in their league. Actually, I don’t even think about trying to write the next worship hit, (I don’t think Chris or Matt do either). I just want to write the best songs I can and hope God will use them to glorify himself and bless local churches. I also hope that some of these songs will minister to individuals who are suffering, to encourage them to trust God’s wise and loving plans.

TC: What is the key (or what are the keys) to writing a worship song that honors God and stands the test of time?

SA: I think the key to writing a worship song that honors God and stands the test of time is the combination of glorious biblical truth and beautiful melody. God is honored when our hearts are engaged with His truth. For this to happen there must be a combination of God-honoring truth and heart-stirring melody.

MA: I agree with Stephen. I would just add that the best worship songs have something fresh and creative about the way the truth is stated and something fresh about the melody and arrangement, and the lyrics and melody are memorable.

TC: Mark, how has being a senior pastor at the same church for over 25 years influenced your song-writing? Does this give you a different perspective than a person who deals exclusively (or almost exclusively) with worship or music?

MA: Being a Senior Pastor for over 25 years has definitely influenced my songwriting. I have had the benefit and responsibility of spending time reading and studying, and being equipped by those over me who care for me. Being involved in the trenches of local church life and pastoring, I’ve seen the challenges people face and how solid doctrine benefits believers. All of this helps me as a songwriter who desires to serve the local church.

TC: If I am properly gaging the Christian music industry, it seems that we are just beginning to emerge from a brief worship craze during which every artist had to release a worship album or two. We’ve seen a huge number of new worship songs created in the just the past five or ten years. Has this been a good development for the church? Did this time result in an outpouring of God-honoring songs that have blessed the church and that will stand the test of time?

SA: There have been some phenomenal songs and some not so good songs written in the last ten years. In some ways this increased focus on worship has been very good for the church in that it has resulted in songs such as “Blessed Be Your Name”, “In Christ Alone”, and “Here I Am To Worship”. However, I think there is a danger of thinking that worship is solely about singing. Worship is first and foremost about living a life that honors God. Singing songs of worship is just part of the picture.

MA: Worship music has come a long way from my early Christian days when I would sing, “This is the Day” and “Joy is the Flag Flown from the Castle of my Heart” over and over (though for me as a new believer, the truth that “this is the day the Lord has made” was revolutionary). Stephen mentioned some great recent worship songs, many of which were recorded on “artist” albums. This has been good for the church - our church has benefited from many of these songs. I’m glad more and more people are writing worship songs. More songs for churches to choose from - more glory to God! Keep ‘em coming! Obviously, there will be more average songs, but more good ones will rise to the top as well.

TC: What are your hopes for this album? How will you measure its success?

SA: I have two hopes for this album. First, that God would be glorified through these songs. My desire is that God would use these songs to glorify and magnify the name of Jesus Christ. And the great thing is, I know that this will happen, because God is in the business of glorifying Himself. Second, I want to see people’s hearts stirred with fresh love for God through these songs. My prayer is that God would use these songs to create new affections in the hearts of many Christians. I believe God will do this as well, because He desires to see His people love Him with all their hearts.

MA: I hope God is glorified, his people edified and encouraged to delight in him more. As someone has said, God has not called us to be successful, but faithful. We (and the folks at Sovereign Grace Ministries) have tried to be faithful with the measure Christ has given us. Jesus will do what he desires with the album and I hope it pleases him to bless churches and stir individual Christians to love, trust and follow him.

TC: Stephen, rumor has it that you have just finished writing a book. Can you tell us what the book is about, who is publishing it, and when we’ll be likely to see it on store shelves?

SA: I recently wrote a book entitled “Game Day and the Glory of God: Playing, Watching, and Talking Sports For the Glory of God”. This book seeks to determine how a Christian might play, watch, and talk about sports in a way the pleases God and brings Him glory. As Christians, we are called to do everything for the glory of God, including playing, watching, and talking about sports. This book is meant to help Christians do that. The kind folks at Crossway Books have agreed to publish the book and I’m guessing it will hit the shelves sometime next year.

TC: And really, the most important question of all: if Bob and Devon Kauflin were to take on Mark and Stephen Altrogge in a tag-team wrestling cage match, which pair would win and why? (Asking this question allowed me to learn that “Altrogge” apparently passes muster in Microsoft’s spell checker while “Kauflin” does not)

SA: Hmm, that’s a tough question. Let’s assume for a moment that each of us is armed with his primary instrument. In that case I’d have to give the victory to the Altrogge’s. After all, how is Bob going to use a grand piano as a weapon? However, if the fight was based purely upon brute strength, I’d have to give the victory to the Kauflin’s. However, if lightsabers were involved…

MA: Bob isn’t mean enough to beat me, and he’s so tall that when he would go to grab me all he’d get is a few wisps of my hair from my increasingly wispy head. By that time, I’d have taken out his knees…now Devon, he’s pretty mean…….

Would you like to win a copy of the CD? I’ve got three to give away. Simply send an email to giveaway@challies.com with a subject of “CD” for your chance to win. Please include your name (which will be used to announce the winner). No other personal information will be made public and I will keep the email addresses private. The giveaway will end in exactly 24 hours.

Aileen and I were blessed, when we first began dating, to be members of a church where there were many elderly couples. They were couples who exemplified so many beautiful qualities. Christians for decades, they shone with the light of Christ and were living proof that, though physical beauty fades with the years, true inner beauty grows with every year spent in and through Christ. They had a life, a glow, a presence that drew us to them. I don’t know that I’ve ever been to a church where the young people were so eager to spend time with the elderly. We loved them and wanted to be like them.

Even today Aileen and I remember these couples fondly and remember what a joy it was just to be with them and just to see them living their lives together, more in love with each other in old age than at any other time. As the years went by they grew increasingly dependent on each other and we could see that the two more and more became one.

I thought of these couples again when I recently bumped into “Dear Bobbie,” a song by the band Yellowcard. I really know nothing of the band beyond this one song, so if they are really militant fundamentalist Mormons, well, don’t take this as an endorsement of them or of any of their other music. The song is based on a letter from the singer’s grandfather that was addressed to his wife of 58 years. It is structured around three portions of the letter read by the now 87 year old man. He reads them in a trembly, distinctly ancient voice. But he speaks of days long gone by—“I remember pleated skirts, black and white saddle shoes.” He speaks of the things he remembers about the woman he loves; the woman who has shared his life. While I love the lyrics, they really are somewhat impotent without the accompanying music, so you may want to blow $0.99 at iTunes just to listen in.

Dear Bobbie,

Do you remember when you were young and very pretty? I do, I remember pleated skirts, black and white saddle shoes. Do you remember dancing half the night? I do, I still think of you when we dance, although we cant jitterbug as we did then.

Do you remember when
How long has it been
1945 you opened my blue eyes
To see a whole new life
Do you remember when
I told you this that night,
That if you’re by my side
When everyday begins
I’ll fall for you again
I made a promise when
I told you this that night

I’ll be fine
When I die, then I die loving you
It’s alright, I’ll be fine
When I die then I die loving you
Loving you, loving you

Do you remember the times we would give up on each other and get back together? We finally was married in 1949. We drove the yellow convertible on our honeymoon. Do you remember? I do.

Life has led us here
Together all these years
This house that we have made
Holds 20,000 days
And memories we’ve saved
Since life has led us here

And I’ll be fine
Cause when I die, then I die loving you
It’s alright, I’ll be fine
Cause when I die then I die loving you
Loving you, loving you

I’m coming home to you
Slipping off my shoes
Resting in my chair
See you standing there
The silver in your hair
I’m coming home to you
When I lay tonight, when I close my eyes
I know the sun will rise
Here or the next life
As long as you’re still mine, then its alright

I’ll be fine
Cause when I die, then I die loving you
It’s alright, I’ll be fine
Cause when I die then I die loving you
Loving you, loving you

You have gray hair now but you’re a beautiful women and the years have been good to both of us. We walk slow now, but we still have each other. The glue of love is still bonding us together. Love is what I remember. Do you remember?

There is something so haunting, so beautiful, about hearing a lifetime of memories shared between people that had been knit together for so long. This song captures well that beauty. It reminds me of those wonderful old men and women who invested in us when we were so young and just beginning the long journey together. It reminds me of the way they looked at each other, deep into each other’s eyes, seeing there so much that they loved and treasured. I can’t help but wonder what I’ll remember.

There is an old phrase which states “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Yet this is no mere cliche when it comes to hymns. Over the past few years worship music has taken the Christian music world by storm. Artist after artist, band after band fed the craze by releasing albums of praise music, some filled with original songs and some with songs that had been previously-recorded. But with such a finite number of songs available, and with so many of them sounding just about the same, this got old quickly. At one point I compiled fully sixteen different versions of “Shout to the Lord.” It is a fine song, but it can only be recorded so many times before it begins to lose its lustre.

As soon as I saw that the worship craze was in full force I predicted that artists would soon return to the hymns. Slowly I began to notice hymns appearing among the worship songs as artists chose to record their favorite “old-timey” songs. But I believe it was the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou that brought hymns and gospel songs back into people’s consciousness. And perhaps more significantly, it made the record companies realize that people would purchase these albums! The soundtrack to the movie sold in great numbers as people fed their hunger for great recordings of songs like “I’ll Fly Away” and “Down to the River.” And suddenly the bands that once released praise and worship are recording albums of hymns. And it’s a good thing! I have listened to many of these albums and thought I would provide mini-reviews of some of them for you.

I will provide a bit of information about each, including some of the best songs on each album, the amount of interpretation used by the artists (which is to say how much they change or add to the hymns) and the style of music.

Passion, a collection of some of the most popular young worship leaders (including Chris Tomlin, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman and David Crowder) released Hymns Ancient & Modern in 2004. There is some interpretation of the hymns, and a couple have a chorus added to them, but on the whole the artists stay quite close to the traditional tunes. To “O Worship The King,” for example, Chris Tomlin adds the chorus, “You alone are the matchless King / To you alone be all majesty / Your glories and wonders, what tongues can recite? / You breathe in the air, You shine in the light.” Some of the standouts on this album are “The Solid Rock,” “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name,” and “All Creatures of Our God and King.” The liner notes include a brief description of each of the songs along with information about the author. It is quite a good album if you enjoy the “Passion” sound and are able to enjoy hymns with a bit of a worship music feel to them.

Amy Grant has released two albums of hymns. Legacy…Hymns & Faith was released in 2002 and it was followed earlier this year by Rock of Ages…Hymns & Faith. Both of these albums are excellent in song choice, musicianship and quality. Grant, because of her marriage to Vince Gill, has access to many of the finest musicians in Nashville, and she takes full advantage. I have not listened to the first album in quite some time so am unable to recall which are the best songs. Highlights of the second album include “Sweet Will of God,” “Abide With Me,” to which she adds a chorus, and “Anywhere with Jesus.” “I Surrender All,” while not a traditional hymn, is another great track. The songs are Nashville-influenced, which is to say that they have a Country and Western sound to them. Grant generally sticks quite closely to the original songs both in lyrics and tune. One notable exception is “Abide With Me.” Usually I would not condone making any changes to this hymn (one of my favorites) but Grant does not take away from its beauty and power with the addition of a chorus and a slightly modified tune.

Jars of Clay has long been known as one of the most talented Christian bands. While their greatest hit was also their first, and they have since lost most of their mainstream following, they have continued to flourish in the Christian market. Their latest offering, Redemption Songs, finds them bringing an end to any hope of recovering their mainstream popularity. Among the highlights of this album, which includes both hymns and gospel songs are “God Be Merciful To Me,” “I’ll Fly Away,” “Our Lord Is Crucified,” and “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand.” Truthfully, though, most of the songs are extremely well-done and there are none that seem out-of-place. There is some interpretation, but not a large amount. There are several guest artists contributing to this album including such notables as The Blind Boys of Alabama and Martin Smith of Delirious. Redemption Songs is an excellent album, and in my opinion, Jars of Clay’s best.

Indelible Grace & Red Mountain Music: Both Indelible Grace and Red Mountain Music record traditional hymns set to more contemporary music. Sometimes the traditional tunes remain intact and sometimes they are completely reinvented. Both of these series are available from Monergism Books. The four Indelible Grace projects are among my favorite albums. In the same vein, Sandra McCracken and Matthew Smith, both of whom contributed to the Indelible Grace projects, have released solo hymn projects as well (and these are also available from Monergism Books).

Bob Kauflin: Bob Kauflin’s Upward- The Bob Kauflin Hymns Project offers a good list of old hymns, new hymns, and hymns that have new elements added to traditional melodies. It is a Sovereign Grace spin on the hymns revival and is an excellent album. Selections include “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow,” “Hallelujah, What a Savior,” and “I Will Glory in My Redeemer.” Samples, lead sheets, etc are available here.

Keith Getty: Keith Getty, best known for co-authoring “In Christ Alone” with Stuart Townend, has recorded several albums of contemporary hymns. These hymns are sung in a wide variety of churches ranging from through contemporary to traditional to liturgical. You can learn about these projects at Getty Music.

Scott Wesley Brown has recently released Old Hymns Made New. He records such favorites as “Praise To The Lord The Almighty,” “The Church’s One Foundation,” and “Immortal, Invisible.” He does a fair bit of interpretation and adds a chorus to nearly every song. The song has a mixed Pop and Adult Contemporary feel to it. The changes Brown makes to the hymns generally contribute to the songs rather than taking away from them. For example, to the song “Come Christians Join to Sing” he adds the following chorus: “Amen to the Lord / Amen to his grace / Amen to the one who is worthy of praise.” Highlights of the album include “Jesus Shall Reign,” “Praise To The Lord The Almighty,” and “Thy God Reigneth.” It is quite a good album, though it does not display the musicianship of some of the other albums listed here.

Bart Millard is best known as the lead singer for MercyMe and the man who penned “I Can Only Imagine.” He recently released his first solo album, Hymned. It is a Southern-inspired collection of hymns, many of which are from the early twentieth century. There is some range in the styles of music, with gospel, blues and country all getting fair representation. Millard adds to the album one original song he wrote in tribute to his grandmother who taught him to love hymns. Some of the best tracks include “The Old Rugged Cross,” Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior” and “Just A Closer Walk With Thee.” The song choice is strong and the artistry is evident throughout.

Blast From the Past

Here are a couple of albums of hymns from days past:

Our Hymns was a compilation album released through Word in 1989. It featured many of the biggest names in Christian music including Michael W. Smith, who song “Holy, Holy, Holy;” Amy Grant, who sang “‘Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus;” Wayne Watson who sang “It Is Well With My Soul;” and Petra, who contributed “Onward, Christian Soldiers.” Phil Keaggy added a unique song which began with an instrumental prelude of “Bach’s Bourree” which transitioned into “O God, Our Help in Ages Past.” Listening to the album now is a little bit comical, hearing the influence of the late 80’s and early 90’s in the hymns.

Rock Power Praise was an album including many of the Christian metal bands of the early 90’s and is not to be confused with Petra’s compilation The Power of Praise. It makes for good comedy these days!

Also Recommended

Hymns Triumphant is a two-part series of hymns recorded by the National Philharmonic Orchestra. Most of the hymns are recorded only in part, with very few being presented in more than one or two verses. The combination of the choir and orchestra is stunning in its beauty. The albums, which are now sold together for approximately $20, could only be better if they included the full hymns.

In the Company of Angels by Caedmon’s Call is a worship album that includes several hymns. While many of the other songs are newly-written, the album has a traditional feel to it and is quite well-produced, even if it cannot break out of the Caedmon’s Call mold.

Long-time readers may recognize that some of this article was posted a year ago or so. I took the opportunity today to update and re-post it.

Matthew Smith is the “Indelible Grace guy. He is the man behind Indelible Grace Music, which has brought us four albums featuring new recordings of old hymns. These are among my favorite albums and they are equally appropriate to times of worship as they are to just good listening. Smith has, at long last, released his own full-length album, All I Owe.

The album features ten songs, only one of which has been featured on a previous Indelible Grace album.

1. Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing
2. His Love Can Never Fail
3. Thy Blood Was Shed For Me
4. How Helpless
5. Jesus, I Am Resting
6. All I Owe
7. The Lord Will Provide
8. None Among
9. My Lord I Did Not Choose You
10. Nothing But The Blood

The album sounds quite similar to the Indelible Grace albums, with a lot of acoustic guitar, strong vocals, and a little bit of a Nashville feel. You can hear several full-length songs here. My favorite song on this album is “My Lord I Did Not Choose You,” which says:

My Lord I did not choose You
For that could never be
My heart would still refuse You
Had You not chosen me
You took the sin that stained me
Cleansed me, made me new
Of old You have ordained me
That I should live in You.

Smith is currently offering the album, which will release on October 24, for pre-order at $13.99. There is also a “deluxe pre-order.” $24.99 includes: Autographed cover, Individual numbering (first 300 copies only), All I Owe T-Shirt, Digital Songbook (lead sheets for all the songs), Stream the entire album early, Clean water for one African for one year through Blood:Water Mission. This is a fantastic album and one that is a great addition to any collection. While you are ordering it, you may also consider purchasing his EP Even When My Heart is Breaking. That five-song album is worth buying simply for Smith’s version of “Jesus, What A Friend For Sinners.”

Bob Kauflin, who is far more qualified than I to comment on this album, has posted a short preview of All I Owe here.

There is an old phrase which states “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Yet this is no mere cliche when it comes to hymns. Over the past few years worship music has taken the Christian music world by storm. Artist after artist, band after band fed the craze by releasing albums of praise music, some filled with original songs and some with songs that had been previously-recorded. But with such a finite number of songs available, and with so many of them sounding just about the same, this got old quickly. At one point I compiled fully sixteen different versions of “Shout to the Lord.” It is a fine song, but it can only be recorded so many times before it begins to lose its lustre.

As soon as I saw that the worship craze was in full force I predicted that artists would soon return to the hymns. Slowly I began to notice hymns appearing among the worship songs as artists chose to record their favorite “old-timey” songs. But I believe it was the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou that brought hymns and gospel songs back into people’s consciousness. And perhaps more significantly, it made the record companies realize that people would purchase these albums! The soundtrack to the movie sold in great numbers as people fed their hunger for great recordings of songs like “I’ll Fly Away” and “Down to the River.” And suddenly the bands that once released praise and worship are recording albums of hymns. And it’s a good thing! I have listened to many of these albums and thought I would provide mini-reviews of some of them for you.

I will provide a bit of information about each, including some of the best songs on each album, the amount of interpretation used by the artists (which is to say how much they change or add to the hymns) and the style of music.

Passion, a collection of some of the most popular young worship leaders (including Chris Tomlin, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman and David Crowder) released Hymns Ancient & Modern in 2004. There is some interpretation of the hymns, and a couple have a chorus added to them, but on the whole the artists stay quite close to the traditional tunes. To “O Worship The King,” for example, Chris Tomlin adds the chorus, “You alone are the matchless King / To you alone be all majesty / Your glories and wonders, what tongues can recite? / You breathe in the air, You shine in the light.” Some of the standouts on this album are “The Solid Rock,” “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name,” and “All Creatures of Our God and King.” The liner notes include a brief description of each of the songs along with information about the author. It is quite a good album if you enjoy the “Passion” sound and are able to enjoy hymns with a bit of a worship music feel to them.

Amy Grant has released two albums of hymns. Legacy…Hymns & Faith was released in 2002 and it was followed earlier this year by Rock of Ages…Hymns & Faith. Both of these albums are excellent in song choice, musicianship and quality. Grant, because of her marriage to Vince Gill, has access to many of the finest musicians in Nashville, and she takes full advantage. I have not listened to the first album in quite some time so am unable to recall which are the best songs. Highlights of the second album include “Sweet Will of God,” “Abide With Me,” to which she adds a chorus, and “Anywhere with Jesus.” “I Surrender All,” while not a traditional hymn, is another great track. The songs are Nashville-influenced, which is to say that they have a Country and Western sound to them. Grant generally sticks quite closely to the original songs both in lyrics and tune. One notable exception is “Abide With Me.” Usually I would not condone making any changes to this hymn (one of my favorites) but Grant does not take away from its beauty and power with the addition of a chorus and a slightly modified tune.

Jars of Clay has long been known as one of the most talented Christian bands. While their greatest hit was also their first, and they have since lost most of their mainstream following, they have continued to flourish in the Christian market. Their latest offering, Redemption Songs, finds them bringing an end to any hope of recovering their mainstream popularity. Among the highlights of this album, which includes both hymns and gospel songs are “God Be Merciful To Me,” “I’ll Fly Away,” “Our Lord Is Crucified,” and “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand.” Truthfully, though, most of the songs are extremely well-done and there are none that seem out-of-place. There is some interpretation, but not a large amount. There are several guest artists contributing to this album including such notables as The Blind Boys of Alabama and Martin Smith of Delirious. Redemption Songs is an excellent album, and in my opinion, Jars of Clay’s best so far.

Scott Wesley Brown has recently released Old Hymns Made New. He records such favorites as “Praise To The Lord The Almighty,” “The Church’s One Foundation,” and “Immortal, Invisible.” He does a fair bit of interpretation and adds a chorus to nearly every song. The song has a mixed Pop and Adult Contemporary feel to it. The changes Brown makes to the hymns generally contribute to the songs rather than taking away from them. For example, to the song “Come Christians Join to Sing” he adds the following chorus: “Amen to the Lord / Amen to his grace / Amen to the one who is worthy of praise.” Highlights of the album include “Jesus Shall Reign,” “Praise To The Lord The Almighty,” and “Thy God Reigneth.” It is quite a good album, though it does not display the musicianship of some of the other albums listed here.

Bart Millard is best known as the lead singer for MercyMe and the man who penned “I Can Only Imagine.” He recently released his first solo album, Hymned. It is a Southern-inspired collection of hymns, many of which are from the early twentieth century. There is some range in the styles of music, with gospel, blues and country all getting fair representation. Millard adds to the album one original song he wrote in tribute to his grandmother who taught him to love hymns. Some of the best tracks include “The Old Rugged Cross,” Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior” and “Just A Closer Walk With Thee.” The song choice is strong and the artistry is evident throughout.

Blast From the Past

Here are a couple of albums of hymns from days past:

Our Hymns was a compilation album released through Word in 1989. It featured many of the biggest names in Christian music including Michael W. Smith, who song “Holy, Holy, Holy;” Amy Grant, who sang “‘Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus;” Wayne Watson who sang “It Is Well With My Soul;” and Petra, who contributed “Onward, Christian Soldiers.” Phil Keaggy added a unique song which began with an instrumental prelude of “Bach’s Bourree” which transitioned into “O God, Our Help in Ages Past.” Listening to the album now is a little bit comical, hearing the influence of the late 80’s and early 90’s in the hymns.

Rock Power Praise was an album including many of the Christian metal bands of the early 90’s and is not to be confused with Petra’s compilation The Power of Praise. It makes for good comedy these days!

Also Recommended

Hymns Triumphant is a two-part series of hymns recorded by the National Philharmonic Orchestra. Most of the hymns are recorded only in part, with very few being presented in more than one or two verses. The combination of the choir and orchestra is stunning in its beauty. The albums, which are now sold together for approximately $20, could only be better if they included the full hymns.

In the Company of Angels by Caedmon’s Call is a worship album that includes several hymns. While many of the other songs are newly-written, the album has a traditional feel to it and is quite well-produced, even if it cannot break out of the Caedmon’s Call mold.

For many Christians, and perhaps even the majority, God’s sovereignty is a doctrine of the head but not of the heart. Most of us never have our faith tested in such a way that we have to lean hard on the promises of God that He knows best, that He is in control, and that everything works for the good of those who love Him. I have been a Christian for many years, and while I trust that I would be able to rely on God’s promises during times of great pain, I will not ever know for sure until I face a time of great difficulty.

Danny Oertli is a man who faced such a time and emerged with a clear focus on God’s sovereignty. Only six months after marrying Cyndi, his highschool sweetheart, they learned that she had cancer. After several years of battling the disease, Cyndi was declared cancer free. God granted them a miracle baby and they soon adopted a second child. But only eighteen months after adopting their son, Cyndi died very suddenly, leaving Danny struggling to keep his family together. Everything Inbetween is a story of the pain he faced, but also of the faithfulness of God.

It seems to me that the album revolves around the song “Worship You With Tears.” It is this song that seems to bring into focus Danny’s realization of his own faith in the goodness of God. It was the first song he wrote after the death of his wife and it is a cry of worship through the pain. “I am broken / I have nothing to give / I fall at your feet / And worship you with tears.” It is followed by “Fight For Me” which was inspired by a story in the life of Moses, who, when caught between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army, cried out in desperation. God answered, “Be still, and I will fight for you.” Oertli also covers Rich Mullins’ song “Hard to Get,” an honest, searching song that questions if God really sympathizes with us, but ends with in confidence. “I can’t see how You’re leading me unless You’ve led me here / Where I’m lost enough to let myself be led / And so You’ve been here all along I guess / It’s just Your ways and You are just plain hard to get.”

Other favorites are “Years of Faith,” a tribute to the faith of his parents as Oertli acknowledges the steps his parents too that molded his faith. “From a tiny seed / Grows an oak / Watered by the years of faith / What started small / Now has grown / And is standing strong today.” “Just Like A Child” reflects on words he heard from a pastor who said, “true church can be found in Sunday school.” The album wraps up with an adaptation of Dave Beegle’s “Joy,” which is in turn an adaptation of Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” This Oertli guy can play the guitar!

While I tend to gravitate towards louder music, I enjoyed every moment of Everything Inbetween and have been listening to it near-constantly for days now. It has a compelling mix of light rock and melodic pop music. The lyrics are pensive and most-often worshipful, always leading the listener back to the goodness and faithfulness of God. This is a great album, which only gets better when you know the story behind it. And despite this sad story, the listener will walk away refreshed and encouraged rather than depressed.

The album is available at Amazon.

Be sure to read my interview with Danny Oertli and read the review of his book.

For many believers, and especially those who are conservative in their theology, contemporary worship music has become nearly synonymous with theologically-shallow, emotion-filled content. These Christians may look to the great hymns of the past and see in them a depth of content that escapes most modern music. Much of the music that does exist is simply inconsistent with Reformed theology or talks far more about personal experience than the transcendent truths of God’s Word.

Songs for the Cross Centered Life is a companion to C.J. Mahaney’s wonderful little book The Cross Centered Life. The album contains fourteen songs representing a mixture of new songs and hymns that have had the music reinterpreted in a modern context. The common thread binding the songs together is their focus on the cross. Each one points the listener to the main thing: the gospel of Jesus Christ. The booklet inside the album contains not only lyrics, but also the first chapter of the book.

The contemporary selections are filled with meaty, biblical content. The upbeat tune “The Glories of Calvary” expresses the joy of salvation:

My heart is filled with a thousand songs / Proclaiming the glories of Calvary. / With every breath, / Lord how I long to sing of / Jesus who died for me. / Lord, take me deeper into the glories of Calvary. / Sinners find eternal joy / In the triumph of your wounds. / By our Savior’s crimson flow, / Holy wrath has been removed. / And your saints below / Join with your saints above, / Rejoicing in the risen Lamb.

“The Glory of the Cross” proclaims the wonder of the mystery of God’s plan of salvation:

What wisdom once devised the plan / Where all our sin and pride / Was placed upon the perfect Lamb, / Who suffered bled and died? /
The wisdom of a Sovereign God / Who greatness will be shown, / When those who crucified your Son / Rejoice around Your throne.

A personal favorite is “Jesus, My Only Hope,” written by Mark Altrogge which is performed by Abby Cannon and drawn from some of the most inspiring passages of the New Testament.

I will not fear Your judgment. / For me, no wrath I dread. / For it was spent on Jesus, / Poured out upon His head / … Jesus my only hope / my only plea. / My righteousness, My great High Priest, / Who intercedes for me before the throne. / Jesus, I trust in You alone.

Some great hymns are also represented on the album. “Alas and Did My Savior Bleed” by Isaac Watts, “The Look” (known in hymn books as “In Evil Long I Took Delight”) by John Newton and “Before the Throne” by Charitie Less Bancroft all receive updated treatments. “Before the Throne” is a standout song, filled with joyful beauty.

The web site for Sovereign Grace Music contains the music, lead sheets and transparencies to allow these songs to be used in public worship. Most of the songs are well-suited to that purpose. You can also visit the site if you would like to hear audio samples of any of the songs.

This album proves that worship can be deep, biblical and contemporary. Some of the selections are clearly appropriate for corporate worship and all of them are ideal for times of private worship. All of them are Scriptural. As with the book by the same name, this album will help the listener remain focused on the main thing, which is and must always be, the cross of Jesus Christ.

Last night, as you might know, I went to see Switchfoot for the second time on their Beautiful Letdown tour. I wrote some thoughts about their Toronto show here. Last night they played in Hamilton, a city about half an hour from home. While the tickets said the show began at 8 PM we found out when we arrived (a bit before 7) that it actually didn't begin until 9, so we had lots of waiting to do. And of course there were no chairs. By the end of the show my friend Dan said "I don't think I've ever stood from 6:30 to 11:00 before." I hadn't either until last night.

In comparison to the Toronto show, last night's was, well, the same but different. The crowd was equally enthusiastic about the band but a bit more sedate. The sound, while still awfully loud, was (thankfully) just below the ear-bleeding level of the last show. Strangely, it seemed that the sound guys kept the vocal levels quite low while adding ridiculous amounts of reverb. It meant that on some of the quiet songs it was quite difficult to understand the vocals. Other than that, the sound mix was very good.

A local band called Turn Off The Stars (formerly known as Simple Roots) opened the night with their brand of alt/rock. The guys gave a good performance, playing about 10 songs. I quite enjoyed them and will keep an eye out for their CD. I couldn't be certain, but I guessed they are Christians as there seemed to be a distinct spiritual aspect to their music. Also, the guys seemed very normal and nice - there were no big egos there. This morning I found an article about them that shows they are clearly a bunch of Christian guys. Also, their Web site shows that they have a booking agent specifically for playing church dates. They mentioned last night that their new single is headed for Much Music (Canada’s answer to MTV) so that must be exciting for them. As an aside, their drummer bore a striking resemblance to Clay Aiken of American Idol fame. Strangely enough their lead vocalist bore a passing resemblance to Ryan Seacrest of the same show.

But of course we were all there to see Switchfoot, and once again they did not disappoint. They played most of the same songs as the last show with just a few exceptions. We were privileged to hear two new songs, one which they had played only a few times and the other which they had never played publicly. The first was called Hit The Lights, Look At The Stars (or something similar to that). It was a loud, rocking tune with an anthemic chorus. I hope it makes its way onto their next album as it sounded like a great song. Of course it is always difficult to know how a live song will transition to the studio. The second was inspired by some words of Johnny Cash and was called Happy Is A Yuppy Word. It was a mid-tempo song that wasn't terribly exciting. I suspect it is one I would need to read the lyrics for to really understand.

The set list was something like this, though I'm sure the order is not quite right.

Dare You To Move
Noise
New Way To Be Human
More Than Fine
Hit The Lights, Look At The Stars
Ammunition
24
This Is Your Life
The Beautiful Letdown
Happy Is A Yuppy Word
Loser
Meant To Live
Gone (Encore)

Perhaps the most exciting part of the evening was when Jon mentioned that they are gearing up to record their next album. He said that he just found out that the album is set to be released in May but they haven't even begun recording for it yet and asked if anyone had a basement studio they could borrow for a while. So you heard it here first! There should be a new Switchfoot album set for release next Spring.

I noticed on the band's Web site that their booking agent booked their show for this evening in Vancouver, so the poor guys had to get from Toronto to Vancouver overnight in order to make that show. As I looked at them up on the stage I wondered how they do it. How can they dedicate themselves to their music, traveling from city to city, playing the same songs time and again and knowing that each crowd wants to see them at their best? It must be so difficult to have to bring their "A-game" each and every night. I can hardly imagine a more difficult life.

Digging around the Net today I found a couple of quotes from Jon I thought I'd share. The first I like just because it is funny and speaks of something that should be true - that Christianity really should not have great commercial appeal.

The kingdom of heaven is comprised of the broken, the fatherless, the poor, the starving… Nothing that could create good ratings for NBC.

The second quote I like because Dan and I had this very same conversation last night. As we left the show he asked me to define Christian music and I told him that there really is no such thing, simply because the word Christian speaks of something that can only be experienced by humans. A book, a song, a t-shirt simply can't be Christian. Here is what Jon has to say about that:

To be honest, this question grieves me because I feel that it represents a much bigger issue than simply a couple SF tunes. In true Socratic form, let me ask you a few questions: Does Lewis or Tolkien mention Christ in any of their fictional series? Are Bach’s sonata’s Christian? What is more Christ-like, feeding the poor, making furniture, cleaning bathrooms, or painting a sunset? There is a schism between the sacred and the secular in all of our modern minds. The view that a pastor is more "Christian" than a girls volleyball coach is flawed and heretical. The stance that a worship leader is more spiritual than a janitor is condescending and flawed. These different callings and purposes further demonstrate God's sovereignty. Many songs are worthy of being written. Switchfoot will write some, Keith Green, Bach, and perhaps yourself have written others. Some of these songs are about redemption, others about the sunrise, others about nothing in particular: written for the simple joy of music. None of these songs has been born again, and to that end there is no such thing as Christian music. No. Christ didn't come and die for my songs, he came for me. Yes. My songs are a part of my life. But judging from scripture I can only conclude that our God is much more interested in how I treat the poor and the broken and the hungry than the personal pronouns I use when I sing. I am a believer. Many of these songs talk about this belief. An obligation to say this or do that does not sound like the glorious freedom that Christ died to afford me. I do have an obligation, however, a debt that cannot be settled by my lyrical decisions. My life will be judged by my obedience, not my ability to confine my lyrics to this box or that. We all have a different calling; Switchfoot is trying to be obedient to who we are called to be. We're not trying to be Audio A or U2 or POD or Bach: we're trying to be Switchfoot. You see, a song that has the words: "Jesus Christ" is no more or less "Christian" than an instrumental piece. (I’ve heard lots of people say Jesus Christ and they weren’t talking about their redeemer.) You see, Jesus didn't die for any of my tunes. So there is no hierarchy of life or songs or occupation only obedience. We have a call to take up our cross and follow. We can be sure that these roads will be different for all of us. Just as you have one body and every part has a different function, so in Christ we who are many form one body and each of us belongs to all the others. Please be slow to judge "brothers" who have a different calling.

I will leave you once again with my recommendation for this tour. If Switchfoot comes to your town, do yourself a favor and get out to see them.

A man and his guitar.

On the surface, that is all you are going to get with Derek Webb's album The House Show. There is no production, no percussion, no backing vocals.

Dig deeper and you will find an outstanding album featuring one of Christian music's most honest and outspoken voices. The album seamlessly weaves segments of speaking with singing - sharing in music with spoken teaching.

Webb decided that in support of his acclaimed album She Must And Shall Go Free, he would avoid playing in large venues and would focus instead on small gatherings of fifty or so people in someone's living room. This setting allowed him to share what God has been teaching him about himself, about God and about the church. What's more, Webb was able to capture the feel of those gatherings on this album. Listening to The House Show it is easy to imagine oneself sitting cross-legged on a living room floor, listening to Webb share what God has laid on his heart.

What sets this album apart from other live albums is the dialogue between songs. We have all heard live albums where the band spends a few moments in thanking the crowd for their support or even in giving a small altar-call, but what Webb does is unique. He shares the inspiration behind his songs, often speaking for minutes at a time in what can really be considered small sermons. Especially outstanding is his stand against "going it alone" as Christians. He teaches that there is no other context for Christianity than the church, the church that Christ so loved that He gave Himself for her.

The bulk of the songs on this album are from She Must And Shall Go Free. He also covers a Bob Dylan song and sings two songs from his Caedmon's Call days, once which he wrote and one which was written by band mate Aaron Tate. The only new song is entitled I Repent and that song alone is well worth the price of this album. It is as gut-honest a song as you will find, especially in light of the introduction he provides for it.

Derek Webb is clearly one of the great Christian artists of our day. He pours into each album his passion for God, for the Reformed faith and for the church. This passion is infectious and the listener must soon learn that when Webb speaks, it is always worth our while to listen. I simply can't recommend this album enough.

I think the Supertones may be gunning for the record for the greatest amount of turnover of any band in Christian music. * Of the seven originals I believe only two are left. Several replacements have also come and gone. However, with singer/songwriter Mojo (Matt Morginsky) still firmly at the helm, their sound and general feel has not changed a whole lot. Their newest album, Revenge of the Supertones, (released June 15, 2004) reaches into the band’s past. With a sound reminiscent of their sophmore release Supertones Strike Back (minus the ska), the band continues to do what they do best…play loud, catchy music.

With the demise of the blessedly brief ska fad, Supertones have had to reinvent themselves. The process has been on-going since Loud and Clear. With their newest album they have returned to their music roots, crafting a sound like we heard several albums ago, but without the ska. They still have a bit of the ska guitar rythym on some of their songs and continue to feature plenty of horns, but they are definitely no longer ska. We could probably best group them in the rock or alternative catch-all categories.

If you know anything about Matt Morginsky you’ll know that he is an avid reader whose journey through the giants of the faith has led him to the Reformed faith. His theology shines through on songs like Where I Find You, one of the best tracks on the album:

Well I messed up
I feel like I can’t even lift my eyes up
I’m covered in the stain
I’m ashamed of the way I take advantage of your love
And I’m terrified to stand before your throne
With blood on my hands
I realize it’s only by your blood that I can
…
I’m confessing I’m up to my ears in transgression
Is this the way I thank you for a blessing
I know it’s hard to tell but I am trying
So here I am with nothing to say for myself
Once again I plead the blood and nothing else

Everything’s Broken is another strong offering that speaks about how we are all affected by Adam’s sin and looks forward to the return of the Second Adam. The band prides itself on expressing their faith loud and clear through their music and this album is no exception. There are no “Jesus is my girlfriend” songs on this album as they boldly proclaim their faith. Other stand-out songs are Wake Me Up On Time and The Kingdom. I was actually quite disappointed with We Shall Overcome, the song that is going to be first to hit the radio waves. It has a weak chorus that is far too repetitive for my liking!

Unfortunately about half of the songs of the album are a bit drab - no upbeat enough to get past weak choruses and cliched topics.

The liner notes and general look of the album get a big thumbs down. The album looks like a high school design project and much of the type is almost illegible. However, one redeeming factor is that the band includes a small explanation of each song - a welcome addition that explains the meaning of and inspiration behind the songs.

Despite a few negatives, I give this album a hesitant recommendation. It seems to continue the evolution of one of Christian music’s most popular bands, but I’m not sure if perhaps it actually begins the bands devolution. I look forward to continuing to see if the band can grow or if they really are into a downward spiral.

* I believe Petra holds the record for the greatest amount of personnel turnover. I do not have an accurate count, but it must be well over 20. Whiteheart probably places a close second.