‘Willing’ is a song that was crafted over a couple of years. I had the chorus going and I really liked it, but could never seem to find a verse that felt right. After writing and re-writing, it seemed to fit. I also wanted the intensity of the music to match the intensity of the lyrics. I’m happy with the energy this track evokes.

I wanted ‘Willing’ to be very challenging. I felt that a lot of worship songs at the time were somewhat shallow and not expressing all that needed to be said. I wanted to personally follow the example and command of Jesus to go, intercede, preach… and the boldest line in the song – ‘willing to bear the martyrs call’. As the verses say, we are called out of darkness, gripped by Christ’s love, filled with His Spirit, and sent out to reach the lost. I remember being in tears as I was writing this. The call of God felt so strong and I wanted to be willing to pay the price.

I think we need to live our lives in this way: Willing to go wherever Jesus says and do whatever he calls us to, no matter what the cost…even if it involves giving our very lives. Thousands of Christians have gone before us and given their lives for the Gospel. Don’t allow the culture to conform you to its ways. That is an easy, wasted life. Live a God-centered life full of the Word, full of worship, and full of obedience to Christ. Live for something more. Ponder these lyrics:

Called from darkness into light
Gripped by love to live this life
Filled with power to testify
Sent to answer desperate cries

We must go
We must all be

Willing to weep, to go, to preach
Willing to spend life on our knees
Willing to bear the martyrs call
Living for what matters most of all

I’m living for something more
Than what my generation settles for

Check out a rough mix at my myspace.

“Forever Near” is a song that took a while to craft. I am not a huge fan of fast food songs – songs that need prefaced with: “God gave me this song in 45 seconds and I’m keeping it just as it is.” While I do believe God gives me inspiration, I still want to craft my songs theologically, thematically, melodically, and musically. I once heard David Ruis say songwriting is a sacred trust (read a powerful article here). In other words, if this is something people are going to sing, I want it to be true.

This song was the result of prayer and study. I was really overcome by the love of God to draw me close to Himself. This song is my testimony, and captures the theme of the whole record.

• Verse 1 speaks of the work of Christ in drawing me close to Himself.

• The Chorus speaks of the majesty of this Truth. Near the Source of perfect love, yet also near the glory so beyond us. What an amazing paradox.

• Verse 2 is my response to catching this revelation. Passion for Jesus. The more I lose in this world the more I gain in knowing Christ.

This is probably my favorite track on the album. I love the direction we took this one musically because it enhances the lyrics with a ‘contemplative’ feel. At the beginning I quote Psalm 65:4 (ESV), and at the end I quote Psalm 73:28 (ESV). What I love about this is listening becomes meditation on Scripture (check it out on myspace).

Jesus, You have redeemed my life from sin
Tore the veil and called me in
Opened my eyes to see and fear
Appointed me to be forever near

Forever near the Source of perfect love
Near the Glory so beyond
Open my heart to this revelation, this truth
Forever near to You

Passion for You has overtaken my heart
Now all I want is all You are
The closer I’m drawn the more I change
The more I lose the more I truly gain

I’m sure many of you have heard this song on the blog and on my myspace by now. ‘Glory of Your Name’ was birthed out of a desire to define what congregational worship is all about. During the time of this writing I was struggling to encounter God corporately. I had great personal devotions and moments with God by myself, but was completely distracted with other people and, quite frankly, not enjoying it one bit. Still, in my heart I knew it was biblical and God called us to do it. But why? Ponder these thoughts:

Come gather everyone to join in heaven’s song
Glory be to God
Draw near from far and wide to sing and prophesy
Glory be to God

We speak to every nation
Jesus will reign forever
Come and rejoice, come and rejoice

We join now with all of history and all eternity to sing
The glory of Your name
You’ve risen and reign forevermore, Holy One we live to see
The glory of Your name

One name, one way, one God who’s worthy of praise
Glory be to God
Your praise will reign, throughout the nations all will sing
Glory be to God
Glory be to God

These are truths that I need to remind myself. We need to worship corporately to come together in unity. We need to speak faith to one another. We must be reminded of unchanging Truth in the midst of our changing circumstances. We need to rejoice in the greatness of God. And the awesome truth is that we’re not the first or the last to do this. We join with all of history and all eternity in magnifying the greatness of our God through Jesus Christ.

So be it.

Another interesting fact about this song: I wrote it during a time when I couldn’t sing in the slightest bit. Not that when I sang people passed out and windows shattered, but because I had a mystery disease that no doctors could diagnose. I didn’t have enough muscle strength to sing. Crazy, huh? Thinking back to that time brings tears to my eyes. Writing like this helped bring me through to the other side and helped me trust in God’s power.

I’ve been listening to this guy quite a bit over the past couple weeks. I’m impressed with his musical ability, adventurous sound, and intimate lyrics. Epic, gripping, and inspiring. It’s a great worship experience from start to finish. You can check out his music here.