I Will Exalt You - Hillsong

The NEW song from the album Faith+Hope+Love coming out 8.4.2009 by Hillsong.

It's beautiful.

Just rest in it for a bit.

Make it your prayer.

"Watership Down EP" - Lyrics

Bombs

into the darkest night they call

all of the demons have lost their hold

in this heavenly ward for souls

breathing His last drops the atom bomb

brace for the blast

victorious

Constellations

God pull Your hunter's bow from constellation's arrow

strike deep

pull from me with Your sparkle and fade

a new heart with dawn breaks

I'll rise

all rise

Canyons

the canyon's rise up all around me

i am lost in the magnificence of how with all this

You still created me

i'm on the cliff looking out

give me the strength to take the steps

to dive

Stumbling

stumbling is where i am most days

cradling i'm lost in Your grace

through the death by love i am enslaved

capture me in freedom's chains

New MUTEMATH Album

Let me just say. I am so excited.

Soundtrack To The Movie Of My Life - iPod Shuffle Game

It's been a while since I've done one of these. It's a guilty pleasure. FAIL I know. Anyway here goes.

1. Open your library (iTunes, Media Player, iPod, etc)

2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool...

Scene:

Song - Band - Album

Comments

Opening Credits :
Vanity - Smashing Pumpkins - Machina II: Friends & Enemies Of Modern Music

Fitting since I feel pretty vain playing this game.

Waking Up :
Wake Up Call feat. David Banner - Maroon 5 - Call And Response: The Remix Album

I'm not kidding. Ironic.

First Day of School :
Look Where We Are - Hoobastank - Every Man For Himself

Interesting. Haven't listened to this band in a while. Good stuff. Reminds me of HIgh School.

Falling in Love :
I Got The Girl - Bon Jovi - Crush

Wow. This is creepy how accurate these are so far.

Fight Song :
The Strangest Day - Jonah 33 - The Strangest Day

This song is pretty chill. I've never been in a real fight in my life. So I guess it's fitting. If it's referring to a school fight song well... I wasn't very involved in that type of thing either.

Prom :
Myself - Fireflight - The Healing Of Harms

Fitting. I wasn't going to go to prom. One of my good friends told me she'd pay for everything but dinner if I went with her. So I did. Fireflight has a girl lead vocalist as well. Hmmmm.

Life :
I Was Once A Loyal Lover (EP Version) - Death Cab For Cutie - The Open Door

I really like Death Cab. Good song. Not sure it ties very well with my life but... rules are rules.

Mental Breakdown :
Battleship - Hot Rod Circuit - The Underground Is A Dying Breed

Feels like a mental breakdown for me. Sounds like a get away from everything and think song.

Driving :
How The Lonely Keep - Terminal - How The Lonely Keep

I first have to say... I really like Terminal... I'm sad they broke up. I like driving alone down old country roads. This song fits quite well.

Flashback :
Glass Of Water - Coldplay - Prospekt's March EP

I was kind of hoping this would be an 80's throw back or something. Good song regardless.

Getting Back Together :
What Do You Go Home To? - Explosions In The Sky - All Of A Sudden I Miss Everything

You have to hear this song to know how much it fits.

Your Worst Mistake :
Dry The River - Maylene And The Sons Of Disaster - II

Nice. This mix needed some metal.

Wedding :
Underneath It All - Pillar - Where Do We Go From Here

Sounds like it's going to be a pretty rockin' wedding....my real one was AMAZING!!!!

Birth of Child :
A Critical Proposal - Ghost Of A Fallen Age - Rumors Of The Secret War

This must be one hard labor.... wow. Intense. Haven't listened to these guys in a while.

Final Battle :
Hand On My Heart - Petra - Unseen Power

This ballet must stink. Or I die. This song feels like it belongs in a bad 80's romance.

Death Scene :
Sometimes You Have To Ask Yourself - MXPX - At The Show

Cool.

Funeral Song:
Year Of The Dog - Sufjan Stevens - Enjoy Your Rabbit

Strange album. Strange song. Strange place for it to fall in all this. So strange has found it's place.

End Credits :
Set Me Up - Project 86 - Drawing Black Lines

Besides being this bands best album ever. I really like this for the ending.

Comment with links to your soundtracks. : )

New Song - "Burn In Us"

I just sat in a session at the Innovate Church Conference with Francis Chan. He spoke about returning to a child-like faith and about hearing the Spirit's leading on our lives. He encouraged us to dig into the Word of God for all we are and to look at the obvious truths. His words on the Holy Spirit really touched to the core of me. I came up to the office really quick and demoed it out and posted in The Great Rescue Facebook Page. You can go listen to it and become a fan if you like. It's in our media player under the BOXES section. It's just a rough demo but, whatever. I just had to write it, record it, and post it. I had to get it out there. It was like there was a sense of urgency. I had to do it. May you be blessed by it where ever you are.

Burn In Us

I feel a stirring deep within, in my heart I know it's You.

I feel a power moving deep within my soul it's You.

Let Your fire fall, let Your voice be heard

Move in us, burn in us.

Let Your fire fall, let Your voice be heard

Move in us, burn in us.

I feel a fire burning down into my bones it's You.

I hear the Spirit calling me to be more, it's You.

Let Your fire fall, let Your voice be heard

Move in us, burn in us.

Let Your fire fall, let Your voice be heard

Move in us, burn in us.

May Your Kingdom come, may Your will be done

One earth as it is in heaven

For Yours is the kingdom the power and the glory

For Yours is the kingdom the power and the glory

For Yours is the kingdom the power and the glory

Amen.

Let Your fire fall, let Your voice be heard

Move in us, burn in us.

May Your Kingdom come, may Your will be done

Move in us, burn in us.

Jars Of Clay - Worlds Apart

This is by far my favorite Jars of Clay song and a great performance. Just wanted to share it with you guys.

I am the only one to blame for this
Somehow it all ends up the same
Soaring on the wings of selfish pride
I flew too high and like Icarus I collide
With a world I try so hard to leave behind
To rid myself of all but love
to give and die

To turn away and not become
Another nail to pierce the skin of one who loves
more deeply than the oceans,
more abundant than the tears
Of a world embracing every heartache

Can I be the one to sacrifice
Or grip the spear and watch the blood and water flow

To love you - take my world apart
To need you - I am on my knees
To love you - take my world apart
To need you - broken on my knees

All said and done I stand alone
Amongst remains of a life I should not own
It takes all I am to believe
In the mercy that covers me

Did you really have to die for me?
All I am for all you are
Because what I need and what I believe are worlds apart


I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
and wipe away the crimson stains
"dull the nails that still remain"
More and more I need you now,
I owe you more each passing hour
the battle between grace and pride
I gave up not so long ago
So steal my heart and take the pain
and wash the feet and cleanse my pride
take the selfish, take the weak,
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
the sin-soaked heart and make it yours
take my world all apart
take it now, take it now
and serve the ones that I despise
speak the words I can't deny
watch the world I used to love
fall to dust and thrown away
I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
so wipe away the crimson stains
"dull the nails that still remains"
so steal my heart and take the pain
take the selfish, take the weak
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
take my world apart, take my world apart
I pray, I pray, I pray
take my world apart

New Song | Bring Out The Dead

I'm flying too far, too fast.

I'm a speck on the horizon, and you're a footnote in my mind of greater things.

Pages will be written based on your inspiration.

Inspire me. Breathe your breath on me.

Bring out the dead as an example to the masses.

If there's anything left to say I'm not sure what it is.

Will hope come and save the day again?

Will hope come and save the day again?

I know why you dress in black and I'm not OK with your intentions.

Nothing you can do can bring him back to your loveless inventions.

Bring out the dead as an example to the masses.

If there's anything left to say I'm not sure what it is.

Will hope come and save the day again?

Will hope come and save the day again?

Like a ghost it brings me to the floor like death.

I'm cold and unprepared breathing smoke for breath.

Like a ghost it brings me to the floor like death.

Like a ghost it brings me to the floor like death.

Like a ghost it brings me to the floor like death.

Like a ghost.

Bring out the dead as an example to the masses.

If there's anything left to say I'm not sure what it is.

Will hope come and save the day again?

Will hope come and save the day again?

Tonight I wrote this song with pieced together short poems I've been writing in a small notebook I keep with me. I really like it lyrically. The music feels like something I would have written 4 or 5 years ago, but I strangely like it. I picked up my old Epiphone that's missing a string and my low E is tuned to a C then everything else is relatively in standard. Weird I know, but I really liked the feel it gave the chords. Here's the link for the free MP3 download.

My Top 15 Influential Albums Post (Finally)

Think of 15 albums that had such a profound effect on you.... they changed your life or the way you looked at it. They sucked you in and took you over for days, weeks, months, years. These are the albums that you can use to identify time, places, people, emotions. They might not be what you listen to now, but these are the albums that no matter what they were thought of musically shaped your world.

I take this list very seriously. Each of these albums has truly meant something to me for one reason or another and different moments in my life. They are not listed in a particular order. Let me know if any of these albums impacted you in one way or another. What are your 15?

1. dcTalk - dcTalk

"Hu Hu Heaven Ha Ha Ha Ha Heaven Ha Ha Heaven bound, Right!" Wow. This is the very first cassette tape (yes CASSETTE TAPE) I purchased with my own money. For that matter it was the first album I was allowed by my parents to purchase. They were a little on the conservative side at first concerning my music. Then I began to listen to some more CCM styled artists. dcTalk was one of those first bands that grabbed my heart for music. My favorite tracks on this album are Heavenbound and Hallelujah.

2. Our Lady Peace - Clumsy

I'm pretty sure I've purchased this CD about 4 or 5 times. I keep wearing out the disc. This was before iTunes... Our Lady Peace brings some great memories of High School years to my mind. This album really opened me up to a strong lyric influences alternative rock. When I think back to my favorite 90's artists OLP is almost the first artist to come to mind every single time. While I love everything on the album stand out tracks for me are Superman's Dead, Automatic Flowers, 4AM, and Clumsy.

3. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois

Sufjan opened me up to the entire genre of modern folk music. I fell in love with it and haven't been the same since. John Wayne Gracy Jr is a standout track for me on this one. Later I realized it was about the serial killer... weird.

4. Jars Of Clay - Jars Of Clay

To this day this is one of my favorite albums. Every track is well crafted and memorable. I can put this album on now and listen to it all day without ever getting bored of it. Musically it has inspired much for where I am currently as a singer/songwriter. This album included the mainstream hit Flood and the CCM hit Love Song For A Savior. While Jars of Clay has received it's share of flack for "crossing over to the mainstream" I've stuck with them. In my opinion this is still their best album. The new album comes out very soon we'll see how it compares.

5. Passion: Better Is One Day

I remember laying facedown in my bedroom one morning during my quiet time before school weeping listening to this album. When I think of the period in time I learned the most about music as worship it was when this album was released. I listened to it over and over and over again. We listened to it on the bus heading out on youth trips. I learned almost every song on the album on guitar and led with them in worship during our youth group worship sessions. This album can be described for me with the word "shaping". It really did shape the way I viewed God and worship and my role in that. I love it to this day, though now looking back I wish it was a bit better produced.

6. MXPX - Life In General

This band was another that introduced me to the genre of pop punk rock and for that matter the Tooth & Nail label. Had it not been for MXPX I would have never picked up a Songs From The Penalty Box Vol. 2 album with the band Zao listed on it... but that's another album.... The Life In General album is a nonstop ear full of fun pop punk music. Mike Herra's very identifiable voice slurs lyrics over the machine gun fire snare of Yuri and Tom's amazing guitar licks. This album had the most play on the way to high school in the mornings with my Dad driving the the truck, my dad taught JROTC at my high school so I rode with him in the mornings and evenings. He used to talk about how he would have liked the album had the snare just been a bit softer. He said the same thing about Blink 182 and actually liked their harmonies better but, wished they would sing about something decent.... for me MXPX took the top spot for pop punk artist of my youth and this album took the cake with Slowly Going The Way Of The Buffalo in close second. My favorite tracks were Doing Time, Southbound, Chick Magnet, and Andrea.

7. Zao - Where Blood And Fire Bring Rest

I might as well mention this album now after it's sneaking into the last album. I first heard Zao from a Songs From The Penalty Box Vol. 2 Tooth and Nail / SolidState artist sampler where the track A Fall Farewell begins with the line. "I woke up one morning and he was dead." What followed was a brutal metal mayhem like I have yet to experience again. The song came from the album that is listed above. To which I was pleased continued the metal mayhem going much longer than one track. It was this album that caused my mom to coin the terminology of "the screaming meemies" and made my dad think that I was listening to "demonic music". It was this band that opened me up to "christian hardcore" and influenced much of my work with "More Than Living". Zao is a very complex band. Their entire history is chronicled in the DVD volume "The Lesser Lights Of Heaven". It's about 5 hours long. I'm telling you it's really extensive. They have a new album coming out in June.

8. Skillet - Invincible

Most of these albums I've noticed are albums that, for me, defined a genre. The idea of mixing electronic loops and metal guitars stood out pretty heavily in this album. This was a major switch for the grunge rockers Skillet as lead singer John Cooper traded his long brown locks for a bleached blonde do with characteristics that reminded me a little bit of A Flock Of Seagulls. The band had toyed with looping on their previous effort "Hey You, I Love Your Soul" though "Invincible" was a far cry from the bands self titled album. I got the chance to see these guys live a couple of times around this era of their music. They were always great and stand out tracks live and on the album alike for me were: Invincible, You're Powerful, Best Kept Secret, and the hidden track Angels Fall Down, which made an appearance on the bands worship album which followed this release later the same year.

9. Sigur Rós - ( )

I've seen and heard and even been apart of some strange bands. Sigur Rós takes the cake for me for some strange but beautiful music. Sigur Rós, at the recommendation of a dear friend, album ( ) was an album that had me laying on my bed in my dorm room with the lights off staring at my ceiling just listening and being lost in the sound for hours. I had never heard anything like it. I literally started listening to it just to try it out and before I knew what happened the album was over and I had been completely caught up in it. Though the lyrics are sung in a language that is completely made up I almost imagine the vocals as an instrument all on their own as this album sweeps over you. Great music. Strange... but great.

10. Third Eye Blind - Third Eye Blind

While I will be the first to admit that morality is not something found on this record.... for a portion of my life this album was all I listened to. Along with Our Lady Peace I have purchased it probably about 5 times. I would wear the CD out then head to the local pawn shop or record exchange and look for a used copy for a couple of bucks. My favorite thing about this album however is the lyrical crafting of Stephan Jenkins. I am consistently blown away by his writing. It's clever and witty and minus the vulgarity brilliant. While this wouldn't be my first choice for a listen today it has to make my top 15. My favorite tracks on this album tend to stay away from the radio friendly 3EB many are familiar with. While I love this entire album standout tracks include: Motorcylce Drive By, God of Wine, London, Thanks A Lot, and Narcolepsy.

11. dc Talk - Jesus Freak

Now, it feels to me a bit against principle to have a band make this list twice... I'm a little OCD like that. This album can't go not being on this list. For one I would say that it marks a pivotal point for mainstream Christian rock across the board. dc Talk was a well known household name and came out with this album and it literally rocked the pants of families everywhere. From this point out it was more than just dc Talk it was Toby, Michael, and Kevin. This was THE defining album and in my opinion their best. Standout tracks include: Colored People, Jesus Freak, What Have We Become, In The Light, Mrs. Morgan, and Like It, Love It, Need It.

12. Incubus - Morning

While morning is the follow up to the album that put them on the map, Make Yourself: which included tracks like Stellar, and Pardon Me. Morning was the album that proved this band could maintain a fan base for as long as they wanted to make music. From start to finish Morning is a non stop sonic journey into the heart of life's greatest moments. Standouts include: Wish You Were Here, Aqueous Transmission, Under My Umbrella, Warning, Circles, Blood On The Ground, and Mexico.

13. Dashboard Confessional: The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most

Chris Carabba may now be known for being annoying and whiny but, I guarantee that at one point everyone who gives him crap has put this album in and cried to it. Yeah I know this already sounds emo and for many modern emo could be defined by this album. Emo = short for emotional music, came from the punk seen with bands like the Refused and morphed into something much much different. This album is one to roll the windows down in the car and blare the stereo singing off key with no regrets. This album marked my leaving high school summer and shaped much of my early song writing in my college years. My favorite tracks include: The Brilliant Dance, This Bitter Pill, and Screaming Infidelities

14. Norma Jean: Bless The Martyr Kiss The Child

I have to be honest about this... when I first heard this album... I hated it. Norma Jean (formerly known as Luti-Kriss) was and is still one of my favorite metal bands. They changed they're name and released this album which shaped much of modern CHXC to this day. I remember hearing it and hating it... I didn't feel structure. I didn't feel anything. The more I listened.... the more I found structure and beauty in the drop tuned guitar growl and the Scott Cogin's signature voice screaming lines like "Christ is not a fashion fleeting away." This album is a must have for any metal fan's collection. Standouts for me include: The Shotgun Message, Face:Face, I Used To Hate Cellphones But Now I Hate Car Accidents, and The Entire World Is Counting On Me And They Don't Even Know It.

15. Silverchair - Freakshow

I used to sit in my room and try to make my voice sound like Daniel Johns he's still one of my favorite vocalists. This album wins over Neon Ballroom for the simple fact that it's had more plays on my iPod than Neon Ballroom. This album combines solid rock guitars with soothing and yet at times angsty vocals. It's catchy and heavy and beautiful all at the same time. I still love it. A favorite b-side that didn't make it on this album made it to the Godzilla: Soundtrack later in it's life called Untitled but standouts on this album are Slave, Freak, Abuse Me, Lie To Me, Learn To Hate, Cemetery, and The Closing.

I'm sure there are many of you that are reading this thinking... what about this album or that album. Let me stop you. I would say there are many other albums that have shaped me musically and as a person. However this is my top 15. Yours is different. It's ok. : ) Blessings and love.

When It Rains

Here are the lyrics. It’s written from the standpoint of someone struggling with how to make their faith real from day to day. It reminded me after I wrote it a little bit of the Psalms in which the psalmist writes “How long Lord till we... How long Lord till You...” The psalmist is wrestling with things of God he doesn’t understand. Thanks where this comes from. Someone trying to make it work but still not sure how all the puzzle pieces fit together or even if he has all the pieces. Let me know. Thanks.

WHEN IT RAINS:

I have faith to move mountains to the deepest of the deep
Ponder life with my warm cup letting my leaves steep
Watching morning come shinin’ through the trees
With all these songs I’m singin’ are there any I believe?

Can you show me now, a faith to live today
Cuz I’ve been trying and Mister sometimes when I’m praying
God feels so far away
I know He’s close but I only see Him when it rains

I’m trying to mirror on the surface who I am underneath
It’s harder than at first glance to let the deep cry out to deep
I know Your promises are true, here in my heart I keep
Storm clouds seem to follow, so I’m on my knees
Can you show me now, a faith to live today
Cuz I’ve been trying and Mister sometimes when I’m praying
God feels so far away
I know He’s close but I only see Him when it rains

How long Lord, till I see Your face?
How long Lord, till we experience Your grace?
God give me the strength to make it through the day
Cuz lately I only see You when it rains.

Random Band Game

How to get a band name and first album

1 - Go to "wikipedia." Hit "random"
or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.
FAIRVIEW, MICHIGAN

2 - Go to "Random quotations"
or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

HUMAN FORM COULD HAVE INVENTED THE NOBEL PRIZE

3 - Go to flickr and click on "explore the last seven days"
or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
Third picture, no m

atter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use Adobe®Photoshop, or similar to put it all together.

How The Day Sounds - Free Starbucks Download

So I picked up one of the free Starbucks: Pick of the Week cards this afternoon on my way home. They are normally hit or miss. This one is a definite hit. It's by an artist named Greg Laswell and the song is called: How The Day Sounds. It's really really good. Go grab a free download card and listen for yourself. It feels a bit like The Fray but more original. Enjoy. 

The Great Rescue LIVE @ THE MUSE COFFEE COMPANY

Here's the live video from our set at the Muse a while back. Check it out. 

Live Videos by Ustream

I Thought If Everyone Could See What I Saw, We Would Never Have War Anymore

I'm running from the blast

Racing wilting chloroplast 

Like a moaning coffee pot

I'm bleeding out my last

Comfort comes in waves

Along with hurt and pain

I'm breaking all my blisters

Just to be clean again

How long till we see the meaning of peace?

How long till we see it's me against me against me?

Caught up in all this selfish greed

Blurring the lines between what we want and what we need

Drop a bomb to lower the cost 

It's it worth it for all that's lost?

I Wanted To Stay There Watching Him Hear The World

I feel the world in focus

It opens up the air

Forces the vibration

Of the ever present fears

I'm blocking out the sun

As I'm taking it all in

I close my eyes and listen

To the world beneath my skin

I feel it come alive

Pitch and tone and movement

Crescendo to get through it

Crashing like a waterfall

I've just begun to hear

I'm coming alive

CD Ripping

I've started going back through some old CD books to rip my CD's to my iPod. This has been a really long process. Not to mention I've done it before... not long ago iTunes freaked out while I was updating my iPod and it erased everything on my 160 GB iPod Classic. I had 150 GB's full at the time... yeah I was ticked. So I'm slowly going through each CD and ripping it to iTunes, finding the album art and dropping it on the pod. 

It's interesting seeing those old CD's. There's some stuff I listened to a long time ago that I forgot I even own

ed. There were two CD's tonight that really stuck out. The first being "Spice Girls: Spice".... yeah. My face probably looked like yours does right now... shocked. I can't even remember purchasing the CD. 

The next was "Six Feet Deep: The Road Less Travelled" This is the first Christian metal band I ever heard. After listening to the album, it's not great... but man.... memories. I was singing along with the songs before I knew what hit me. The thing that hit me was my cat Chai running across the room after Ginger. They hit me in mid run. What a bundle of furry fury. Yikes. 

Anyway. That's a small look at the craziness of this blog post. 

Anyone else been through a time like that? 

What are some songs or albums that resonate with your memories and that you love every time you hear them? 

How about any guilty pleasure or shock factor albums? 

I guess that's about all for this post. Blessings.