John Mark McMillan

Spring 2011 I was introduced to John Mark McMillan and I was initial very hesitant about the sound. I could hardly understand the lyrics, it was not like any worship music I had ever heard before. After going to two of his shows I fell in love with his sound. His lyrics carry so much power and his musicality carries the truth within his words.

John Mark has come out with a new album just a few weeks ago called Economy. Here is one of my favorite songs off the album... http://paulshackelford.blogspot.com/2011/11/sins-are-stones-john-mark-mcmillan.html

Also I was able to go to David Crowder Band when they were in Atlanta on their 7 tour. It is the last tour that Crowder will be touring with this group and John Mark and Chris August are accompanying them for this tour. Here are some of my thoughts from that night... http://paulshackelford.blogspot.com/2011/11/atlanta-city-of-christian-concerts.html

Soon I will be putting out a video from that night at the Crowder concert I have failed to find time for all of the things that I really want to get done.

Below are some great songs from John Marks most popular album The Medicine.

All is Great in the Lord

Use the Right and Left arrow keys to see more of my thoughts.

Rise Again - Needtobreathe

I have been reading a book about the arts and Christians role in creating culture. Steve Turner, the author, asserts a major critique that modern Christian art does not speak about real life. The art created does not sound genuine or have any ties to real life that people outside the faith can connect with. While reading the book I listened through this album and I think that this song does a great job of breaking the mold. The members of Needtobreathe are all outspoken followers of Jesus but very little of the art that they produce mentions Jesus or Christianity at all. Instead they craft creative music, written from places of pain and joy. "Rise Again" steps through pain that occurs in life as we see relationships stretched and torn. The bitterness of broken hearts and friendships is then contrasted with the truth that we will get up from this pain and rise again. "I can see us moving on, I can feel that coming on strong", the joy that comes after the

Twenty-Four - Jess Ray

Lately I have been listening to lots of music and podcasts while working and biking to work. I was feeling a need for some new music so I turned to NoiseTrade to check out some new artists. My favorite thus far is Jess Ray because of the honest lyrics, tastefully simple musicality and overall enjoyable listening environment. While on my flight back to Atlanta I was struck by this song at first because of the drums that propel this song behind the walking guitar. If I were to add drums to a track like this it would have been done in a very similar manner. Once I got past the drums I was awe struck by the simple power of these lyrics, take a read below and follow the link to her blog to listen. To me it was not written for an outward expression of hope or encouragement but rather as a inward proclamation to the soul. As the psalmist often choose to sing, this song speaks inward in a call to stand up and be reminded of truth all to often forgotten. As I gear up for the star

Alleluia - Jesus Culture with Martin Smith

Once again worship last night was Glorious! Had a great day just chilling with my SDP folks from last summer, went up the river and just talked about the past season of life and where the Lord is leading us into. Exciting and scary stuff but it was great to be back with some awesome people who speak some potent truth. Last night during worship was one of many firsts... For the first time in a long time I actually stood while I sang, for the first time in a long time I was singing from a place of Joy, for the first time in a long time I did not care how I worshiped my Lord I just worshiped. Well its not like these things have not happened ever in my life, but I just felt so much peace during worship. So I decided to throw the song that we just repeated for a long while up here, mainly cause I did not know the name so I was looking it up and now I am pumped, gotta buy this album! All the angels cry out, Holy is the Lord God All the earth replies, Holy are You Thi

Letters from Lilongwe

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