#3 - You Were On The Cross

We are quickly approaching a season full of thanksgiving and gift-giving.  As human beings we get really excited about things then move on to the next event or next big thing.  Don’t believe me?  Then just look at the jump from iPad to iPad 2.  We do this a lot as Christians too.  At Easter we focus a lot on the cross and resurrection, and at Christmas Jesus’ birth.  Both are great things to focus on, but both should be on our minds regularly as Christians.  Here’s a good reminder to us of the cross.  Matt Maher does a fantastic job with this song.

This song gets me every time. It reminds me that Jesus went to the cross alone (God had to turn away because of sin), and because of this act He can fulfill the promise “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Because of Jesus, sin can no longer separate us from the Father! I’m not going to analyze this song this week. Instead I encourage you to listen to it one more time and think of the areas in your life that you need a reminder that He was on the cross.

Quick Guide:

Key: Dm

Tempo: 4/4 Medium (76bpm)

Style: Multiple Genres

Application (Recommended): Solo, Personal Reflection, Video

#2 - Fall Apart

Welcome back! I hope that you enjoyed last week’s post. This week’s song is another heavy hitter (a song that leaves a strong impact on you). You may know Josh Wilson for his well known song I Refuse, but after today you should know him for “Fall Apart” and that he’s an awesome songwriter. This song is great no matter what stages of life that you are currently in. We’ve all been there when everything seems to fall apart. If you are there today or have been recently hopefully this song will encourage you.

The first time that I heard this song I thought “How did Josh read my mind then write a song about it?” Within a matter of 3 minutes and 28 seconds I relived some of the harder points in my life and was reminded of God’s faithfulness during those times. The point of view comes from a person who just realizes that he experiences God greater in times of trouble. If you’ve already realized this reality, then you get to watch another person’s point of view transform into something new.

To me, this is the real beauty of song. Within just a few minutes, Josh was able to take the majority of us simultaneously on a journey about hardship in the presence of God. There’s only one more way of doing something like this - the Bible. It only took one listen to understand the song, but God used this song through multiple listenings to teach me more about His faithfulness and love for me. Listen to it a couple of days this week. Spend some time listening to it because I feel that God can use this song to teach you something new about Himself.

Quick Guide:

Key: F

Tempo: 4/4 Medium (72bpm)

Style: Contemporary (Acoustic)

Application (Recommended): Solo, Personal Reflection, Video

Download the song from iTunes

#1 - How Deep The Father’s Love for Us

Welcome to the first ever Song of the Week!  Each Wednesday, you will find either a new song or a song worth revisiting.  My goal is to encourage Christians with song, whether you are a Worship Leader or not.  I hope that you will take this journey with me, and see where God takes us in discovering new music about Himself!

I’ve been wanting have something like Song of the Week for a while, and I can’t think of a better song to start with than this one.  Last week, my wife, Ana, and I announced that we are having a baby (our first).  The awe of being a parent has really rocked my world.  So you can only imagine how much fatherhood has been on my mind.  Which is partially why I chose this song to start with.  Beyond it’s great melody and profound lyrics, there’s an anointing from God on this song.  Take a listen, then I’ll wrap up below.

Click Here For Lyrics

Wow!  What an incredible song.  It blows my mind that this song was written during my lifetime because it has a timelessness about it that most newer songs don’t have.  The song is broken down into 3 verses.  Each with a unique point of view.

VERSE 1:  The first verse is in the view point of God the Father.  It’s really hard for us to get a glimpse of how God views things, but this song can definitely help with that.  We see that God is selfless and giving.  God feels the pain of loss.   But He delights in bringing sons to glory, and making a wretch His treasure.  God is passionately in love with His Son and mankind.  Even though the rest of the song is in a different point of view, it still continues to answer the question - How deep the Father’s love for us?

VERSE 2:  A shift of view happens in the second verse.  It transitions from God to a sinner looking at Jesus on the cross.  This verse is a beautiful and poetic way of showing the emotions and truth of the salvation process (justification).  The observer is ashamed of his sin and that he is one of those cursing at Jesus.  At the end of verse 2, he realizes that he is spiritually alive because of Jesus’ death.  I love how Townend uses the line “I know that it is finished” from the sinner’s view, even though it was Jesus that says “It is finished” on the cross.

VERSE 3:  Now that our sinner has made the transition to a saint, he takes pride and joy in Jesus Christ.  This is true gratitude on the part of the believer.  This is something that we should frequently revisit as Christians.  Do we boast in Jesus Christ?  Do we still feel at awe that Jesus paid our ransom for sin by His wounds?  It’s really easy to get pre-occupied with life that we lose our since of awe.  BUT, this is why God gives us great songs like this to remind us of where we were and what He has done.  

I hope that you have enjoyed looking at this song as much as I have.  Here’s a link to an interview with Towend about the song.  Below is a brief description for Worship Leaders.

Quick Guide
Key: D (Typically)
Tempo: 3/4 Medium (60-64bpm)
Style: Multiple Genres
Application (Recommended): Congregational, Solo

Welcome back to Unmutable!

I hope that you like the new look, which is now a little easier to navigate around and also sports the new logo.  It’s been very refreshing taking the summer “off,” but it feels great to be back.  

Why Unmutable?

I don’t ever think that I’ve explained the name of this blog.  The short version is that I thought of a name for my own publishing company that would stand for what I believe and have a musical innuendo.  I love how music will be here for the rest of eternity (the word “immutable” - unchanging).  And I also loved the idea that you can’t turn it off - which to geeky music people is called mute.  So you put them together and you get music that can never been turned off - hence Unmutable.  

What I’ve Been Up To

A lot has changed since my last post.  Currently, Dad and I are ministering at Gratis Church, a church plant in Monroe, GA.  And we officially launch THIS Sunday!  Which is extremely exciting.  It’s also been exhausting, but well worth it.  If you’re close check us out.  

New Routine

As Summer is coming to an end, many of us will begin a new routine.  Whether it’s school or work, or both - we will all find ourselves in a pattern that will probably last until next Summer.  So in essence, most of us will determine how we spend the next year by the priorities that we have today.

So why not use this to our advantage?  Why not establish new habits - ones that will make a lasting impact!  This week, starting today or tomorrow, take 15 minutes to worship God.  Not reading a book about Him, or just praying through needs.  Spend 15 minutes praising Him for who He is.  Sing to Him.  Thank Him for being so awesome.  Worship Him.  I look forward to a new year with everyone and to the exciting things to come.

Respond in the comments with creative ideas of worshipping God: