When the Music Stops

When the Music Stops - Day 3

My typical morning routine includes taking a shower, grabbing some cloths, eating some cereal and then walking down the parking deck. The Volvo takes a solid 5-10 minutes to warm up in this cold weather. Therefore I take a the time to read through a chapter out of the Bible. This is always a great way to start my day as I remember the things in life that have the most value! This old engine is pushing me to sit with the Lord everyday and wrestle through his words.

Typically my head unit is playing some music while car warms up. But this morning as my music was silent the Lord opened my eyes to an image that has never caught my eye.

I have never noticed this simply spray painted statement of "LOVE WINS". It perfectly meshed with the passage out of Romans this morning talking about being dead to sin and alive in Christ. Are we to keep on sinning so that grace may abound? By no means should we take this love that has flooded over us and count it for nothing! The blood of Christ proves to all of humanity that Love does in fact Win over death!

I am learning through these days without music that my eye is being more perceptive of the things around. My thoughts are becoming clearer as the drive to work and back in done in silence. The time spent at my desk is less scattered and more focused on the tasks at hand. But I do really miss times when I usually close to the door, turn on some soft worship, and rest with the Lord!

This experiment will continue as I wait in the silence of a season without music to listen to the booming voice of the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth!

All is Great in the House of my Lord,

Paul Shackelford

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

You Will Be My Ain True Love - Alison Kraus

This song has so much power, even if you remove the lyrics. I just decided to take in the full potential of the song by turning the stereo all the way up and playing the song a few times. Before even looking for a video of this song I knew it was related to the Civil War and the separation that occurred between loved ones. This song starts out explaining the battle field and how the soldier has survived the terrors of war. As the song continues to build you can tell that the soldier wants to be with his love. They have been separated by this war and now he wants to be back with her. The last few lines portray his death and how he has been reunited with his "True Love". I believe that this song describes his "True Love" as God, our eternal True Love. He has returned to his maker after being killed in Battle and this song paints that picture so well. This song has tons of power in the music behind the lyrics, it adds so much to the meaning of this song!

Letters from Lilongwe

Search This Blog