Tim Hughes - Holding Nothing Back

I love this new cd from Tim Hughes. While not as well known as his Matt Redman and Chris Tomlin, Hughes has written many songs that are staples of contemporary worship including "Here I Am to Worship" and "Consuming Fire". His songs from this album "Everything", "Clinging to the Cross", and "Highest and Greatest" have already made it into the regular rotation in our worship.

Simply to the cross I cling / Letting go of all earthly things / Clinging to the cross /Mercy's found a way for me / Hope is here as I am free / Jesus You are all I need

Hillsong United We Stand

I've never been one to jump on the Hillsongs United bandwagon, but after having this cd for a few weeks, i've listened to it nearly every single day, and don't know if i've ever been so ministered to by one cd. ok, that's a pretty extreme recommendation, but I really love this album.

One thing that United did really well with this one is that every song sounds like you're standing in the middle of a thousand-plus worshippers. For most of the songs, you hardly hear the lead singer, but instead the voices of the crowds worshiping along. I think it really captures the heart of our generation, in a voice that is desperately seeking the work of God to be magnified. It's a beautiful thing.

(the DVD is also quite amazing in itself. I was really challenged in my own ministry just hearing about how United was birthed out of hungry hearts that simply loved the youth around them.)

A thousand times I've failed
Still Your mercy remains And should I stumble again
I'm caught in Your grace
Everlasting, your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out

In my life be lifted high
In our world be lifted high
In our love be lifted high ...

Hip-Hop Liturgies

Popular Christian music styles have always paralleled the sound of secular hits, from grunge to techno. Now hip-hop is finding its way into the liturgies of traditional churches. The white, middle-aged Rev. Timothy (Poppa T) Holder doesn't look like someone who would shout "Holla back!" in his priestly blessing. But, noticing the power and ubiquity of rap in his South Bronx neighborhood, Holder created a hip-hop mass in his Trinity Episcopal Church of Morrisania. Now he wants to help other churches get in the act, and has devised a hip-hop service for the more buttoned-up St. Paul's Chapel of Trinity Church.

Don't miss the video. Its kinda funny, but still pretty darn cool. I have nothing but respect for those who are daring enough to break out of long established ways of doing ministry in trying to reach new cultures and communities.

Be a Local Hero - Interview with Aaron Shust

A good interview with Aaron Shust, who has a great hit single, My Savior, My God.

Your have a huge radio single, topping several different charts, over 50,000 albums sold, numerous tours—were these aspirations you had?

Shust: Maybe. If it were an aspiration, it was subconscious, subliminal. I have a lot of people coming to me with that situation. They ask for advice, "How do I make it in the Christian industry?" "How do you go from being a worship leader to a performing artist?" And well, [my answer is], "I'm still a worship leader. Sometimes I lead worship in Atlanta, and sometimes I'm leading worship in Fargo, North Dakota." The best [advice] I can give them is, "Bloom where you're planted."

Although it's good to be a visionary and dream about what you want to do, God made us all different. And God has you here right now. Maybe you're doing music in your local church—maybe you're not even playing Sunday mornings, but Wednesday nights for the sixth graders. Do the best you can to play great music for the sixth grade group, and to the glory of God. Then maybe God will open doors for you to lead on Sunday morning, or maybe you'll get asked to open for a national act. Or maybe not. Maybe God wants you to be a local hero to the sixth graders for the rest of your time there. Bloom where you're planted.

I think even in ministry its so hard to just be content with where God has put us and to always be looking at bigger things. But I have always had to learn to be faithful with God has given me and leave the rest in His hands.

Collision - David Crowder

David Crowder Band is one of the most innovative voices in Christian worship music nowadays. Their newest album is not what you would typically expect from a worship album, but its truly a 'collision' of imagery, thoughts, and movements. DCB continues to break ground and innovate, drawing everyone they touch deeper into worship.


crowder looks wierder than ever, but check out the amazing use of media in the worship environment.