Category Archives: Music
Here I flex my extremely limited expertise in the field of music, particularly songwriting.
Scorch My Heart
Scorch my heart; leave Your scar.
Yahweh, show me who You are.
Dry this world into dust;
Rot its kingdom into rust.
World of wind, kingdoms fall!
Yahweh, You are King of all.
Blazing fire melts the land—
Shining glass from sinking sand.
Fire will test, glass reflect.
Yahweh, show Your true elect.
Share the wounds, wear the scorn:
Cruel metal, twisted thorn.
Wounds of war, metal shard—
Yahweh, ever be our guard.
So You scorch, kill our charms;
So You leave me in Your arms.
Embracing the cross
On Saturday, while I was driving around town, the hymn “Nearer, My God, to Thee” came on my car stereo. (Note: mute your speakers before clicking the link.) The opening lines fit in really well with what I’ve been learning from Matthew’s account of Jesus’ crucifixion:
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!
That second line is amazing! “Even though it be a cross that raiseth me….” What a terrifying thing to say! I don’t think I have the courage to say, “I want to be nearer to you, Lord…even if it means being crucified.” Of course, we as Christians have been “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20) and are called to die every day to the world and our own sinful desires.
Jesus remained on the cross as an example to us all. He did not give up in the face of unspeakable pain, but remained there to bear our sins. So for our example, we look to Jesus, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). If Jesus was willing to suffer for the glory of God, how much more are we called to do so as His creatures.
The song “Embrace the Cross” reminds us that, like Jesus, we see hope in our suffering:
An empty tomb
Concludes Golgotha’s sorrow
Endure then till tomorrow
Your cross of suffering
Embrace the cross
Embrace the cross
The cross of Jesus
Rhyme and Reason
Here’s another song I wrote in January ’06…this one was written in 7/4 time, which is pretty weird. Kind of fits in with what I’m learning from the book of Job.
There’s a rhyme and there’s a reason
For every time and every season under heaven.
There’s a will, there’s a way
That’ll fill every day the Lord has given.Providence, teach me how to trust You more.
Sovereign Lord, teach me to believe You more.
As darkness veils Your lovely face,
Let me trust Your saving grace,
And let me believe…There’s a rhyme and there’s a reason
For every time and every season under heaven.
There’s a will, there’s a way
That’ll fill every day the Lord has given.Providence, teach me how to trust You more.
Sovereign Lord, teach me to believe You more.
As darkness veils Your lovely face,
Let me trust Your saving grace,
And let me believe…In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds; He will not fail,
But I cannot believe!
Lord, have mercy on me!There’s a rhyme and there’s a reason
For every time and every season under heaven.
There’s a will, there’s a way
That’ll fill every day the Lord has given.
The Beauty of Jesus
Yesterday’s post on Job reminded me of a song I’d written…this is one that I think turned out pretty well. The idea came from one of Pastor’s sermons where he told us to marvel at the beauty of Jesus. I wanted to use poetic language to describe it, rather than simply saying, “Jesus is beautiful,” because I feel like too often such a phrase merely becomes a soundbite — what do we mean when we say Jesus is beautiful? Why don’t we try to paint a picture, no matter how inadequate, of His beauty? Naturally, I drew from creation, an unmistakable display of His glory (according to God in the book of Job).
The Beauty of Jesus
The beauty of Jesus no tongue can express
Nor mind can invest in a song.
No radiant dawn nor the flame in the west
Would capture a splendor this strong.
How vivid the daybreak He brings to the earth—
His hope from the blood of the night!
And morning will gather the sons of rebirth
To glory in Majesty’s light.The wealth of the stars in the chasm of space
Would sing of His glorious might,
Each heavenly herald in harmony trace
A chorus of flame in the night.
Though host beyond number should thunder His praise
With angels assisting the throng,
He’d silence the universe by what He’d raise—
An anthem of Majesty’s song.May river and ocean His glory proclaim
And deep call to deep with a roar:
The word of the Lord and the pow’r of His name
Shall one day His kingdom restore!
O you who are broken and weary of strife,
Arise, in our Savior rejoice!
Come, kneel on the shore of the river of life,
And drink of His comforting voice.
