Kim Gentes

[Free Song Download "God Is Here" from Darlene Zschech- see at the bottom of the review.]

 We all know the song "Shout to the Lord". We all know that Darlene Zschech was its author and that she was the well-known face and voice of Hillsong Australia worship leadership for two decades.  After hearing she would be putting out a new live worship album, I was interested to hear it. Later, I heard Israel Houghton would be producing and I knew it would be a stellar musical experience. Well, I finally listened to the album. WOW!

Houghton's production and Zschech's voice would be enough for a great musical experience, but that is just the beginning here! In addition to combing the talents of these two musical Grammy winners, this album contains great songwriting/co-writing efforts, great guest vocals and the entire project is wrapped up in Darlene's genuine gifting as a worship leader. I went through this album several times. At first, I was just listening for great songs. But you can't listen long to this project before you are pulled (or hurled may be a better metaphor) into all out praise, celebration and worship.

Right from the first track, Darlene jumps into her trademark declarative, yet worshipful posture as one who is heralding an entire congregation to lift Jesus high and to acknowledge that "God Is Here". I was expecting to have to dig into the album before hitting the deep groove and great choruses, but no way! "God Is Here" is infectious and courageous-- a kind of call-to-worship song that is destined to be one of the new songs the global church will sing. Unashamed and anthemic, this song isn't fluffy proclamation, but is a powerful reflection of the Lord's prayer put into emphatic song calling on the Holy Spirit to open the gates of heaven, bring His Kingdom and His glory. The bridge is a powerful compliment to the verse/chorus prayer and answer pairing- it humbly ascents the powerful truth echoed by every creature or human to encounter the unshielded presence of the Living God as they sing "Holy, we cry holy. Hallelujah God is here!". Really, folks, this is a truly great song. A wonderful co-write by Darlene, Israel and Phil Wickham. Check this one out! You won't be disappointed!

Track 2, "Best For Me", is a rocket ship that takes off from the launch pad that "God Is Here" ends with! Israel and Meleasa Houghton write this driving song of worship, surrender and testimony and it is has all the energy you'd expect from an upbeat song from Israel. Moving into "All That We Are", another Israel co-written song with more "oohs" and lots of pop, driving bass and infectious melodies. Like many songs on this album, there is a great pop-choral backdrop to these vocals, often singing "ooohs" but doing great BGVs on all the songs is a list of stellar voices - and they sound amazing on this album.

Track 4, "In Jesus' Name", is the fourth upbeat song in the upfront section of this project and it doesn't let up the great music and melodies. Another great song from Darlene and Israel. What is most powerful about this song, though, is Darlene's amazingly personal and poignant interjection at around 5:30 in this track. Vamping down temporarily into the song bridge, she starts speaking about letting the words and scripture sink in deep to the hearts of people, letting them become prayers. And she does just that, she encourages people to let the words be sung over them. It is an unnerving song to listen to at this point. Darlene does with this song something more than affect, but tugs at the eternal longing in all of us for the consummation of God's kingdom in fullness, in a way that is reminiscent of what CS Lewis spoke about in The Weight of Glory

"In speaking of this desire...I feel a certain shyness. I am almost committing an indecency. I am trying to rip open the inconsolable secret in each one of you—the secret which hurts so much that you take your revenge on it by calling it names like Nostalgia and Romanticism and Adolescence; the secret also which pierces with such sweetness that when, in very intimate conversation, the mention of it becomes imminent, we grow awkward and affect to laugh at ourselves; the secret we cannot hide and cannot tell, though we desire to do both."1

With this song, Darlene opens up the listener to this kind of surrender and opportunity to connect and understand the nearness of God and His desire for His people. As someone who has been touched by the pain of cancer in the lives of people I love, this song made me come to tears as I prayed for family and friends who are suffering from physical sickness and pain. I found this song to be a sound track for such prayer, asking for God's healing and calling on him for resolution of His kingdom to defeat such pain in our lives.

With the fifth track, the album takes an steep and intentional decrescendo from tempo and volume only, not from excellence. "Your Presence is Heaven To Me" is one of my favorite songs on this project. After the first four songs, you are ready for something "down", and this song is just as endearing, in its own way, as the others that have come before. Like many of the other tracks, Israel's voice takes temporary lead on a phrase and stanza here and there, making this seem much less of a "solo" project than the title of the album might imply. This song is another Israel Houghton songwriting effort along with Micah Massey. The music and lyrics are perfectly matched, as they sing plaintiff surrender in the verse into anthemic thanks in the chorus :

Nothing in this world can satisfy
'Cause Jesus You're the cup that won't run dry
Oh Jesus You're the cup that won't run dry

Oh Jesus Your presence is heaven to me
Oh Jesus Your presence is heaven to me

"Victor's Crown" is the next track and becomes the biggest anthem on this album. Starting softly, it builds into gigantic declaration of sound and lyrics that ascends to pray in mid song that anything that comes against Christ will be brought down in light of seeing Christ receive his victor's crown. This song adds a huge drum part, a gorgeous strings section and emphatic bridge declaring "You will overcome" to Christ. Very good!

After listening through half the album, you might be tempted to believe that the good songs are all done. You'd be wrong! This project contains an unbelievably well arranged, played and integrated set of songs that are comprised of an older Hillsong repertoire song (Magnificent, track 8), a rearranged hymn (My Jesus, I Love Thee, track 9), an excellent modern chorus (Your Name/P.Baloche, track 10), a deep worship song (I Am Yours/MW Smith, track 11) and a great closing song (Jesus At The Center/Houghton, track 12). If you have the special CD/DVD limited version of this it also includes versions of "Shout to the Lord" and "Agnus Dei"!

I would have to write pages more to completely explain this album. Instead, I can just give this recommendation. Go now. Get it. Really. I thought I had already heard some great albums this year, but this one is simply on another level in both musical production and a complete worship experience. This album easily gets my nod as "Editor's Choice Album" and is currently my top candidate for this years best album. I can't imagine anything beating it out, but it is still early in the year. But don't take my word for it- go listen to the audio samples online.

For churches using WorshipTeam.com, all of the songs, chord charts, lyrics and audio from this album are already available and pre-loaded for you in the WorshipTeam.com system song database. If you are not part of WorshipTeam.com and want to listen to audio samples or purchase the album directly yourself, see the Amazon link below.

 
Additionally, our friends at Integrity Music have also granted us permission to give you access to the audio and chord chart for the song "God Is Here" as a free download for a limited time directly here, so you will find it below.

Go check out this album folks. I am not kidding. It's ballistic.

Worshiping God!

Kim Gentes

Free Song Download "God Is Here" from the latest Darlene Zschech album "Revealing Jesus"

1. Lewis, C. S. (2009-06-03). Weight of Glory (Collected Letters of C.S. Lewi) (Kindle Locations 298-302). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition. 

This week I was researching in preparation for Easter, hoping to find some great resources that we could highlight here. One resource that I found is a truly great new song from our friends at Hillsong Australia. The song called "Man of Sorrows" is a brilliant combination of theological verses about the betrayed, suffering, killed and finally ressurected Christ, who is glorified with praise in a vibrant chorus

"Now my soul cries out
'Hallelujah! Praise and honour unto Thee.'"

"Man of Sorrows" is a single they are going to release on an album later in July of this year. But, they have released the song early since it is really an Easter song. I love it. Musically, this song is arranged straightforward, cadenced slightly with guitar overlays that make it "hymn-like", if that can be a style. Very singable, but with a style and lyrics that resound to the authority of Christ as He rises from the grave in the triumph of Easter. The lyrics borrow from allusions to Philip Bliss' "Hallelujah What a Savior" and tacitly to George Bernard's "The Old Rugged Cross". But more than direct quotes, "Man of Sorrows" uses punctuated lingual style and phrases of the hymns ("to that tree", "on Jesus laid", "honour unto Thee", "is free indeed", "His own betrayed") that will endear the song both to those who love traditional hymn-style and to the newer power of the great modern choruses.

This is a wonderful song that can be opened up to full engagement by a congregation, whether just with a guitar or a full band or a whole choir- a wonderful worship experience. It is a standout strong song, that can easily be adapted and used in most churches. This is especially true with Easter Sunday just a couple weeks away. Something to definitely consider for that "big Easter" song that everyone can join in with, be surprised  (shouldn't there be some "surprise" in our Easter!) with and celebrate the Resurrection with!

Below you will find download links for both the PDF lead line sheet music and the mp3 audio file.

We hope you find it helpful for this season.

Be sure to chime in and let us know what you thought (post comments below) and you are welcome to share this with friends on Facebook and twitter with your friends. 

Free Song Download "Man of Sorrows" from Hillsong

"Man of Sorrows" Already in WorshipTeam.com

This song has been pre-loaded for all those who use Worshipteam.com for their worship planning. You can include it in your set planning this week! If you are a member, simply login and find it in the song database, or under "New Songs" tab. If you aren't a member, you can check out Worshipteam.com for free for a month (more info here).

Article by Kim Gentes 

Review of "A Taste of Heaven" (EP)

View a brief profile of Andy Park.

Andy Park

If you have been involved in worship ministry or just enjoying the music of worship that has been written and used in churches in the last 20 years, you've probably used a song written by veteran worship songwriter, Andy Park. While he has been a major voice and trainer in the Vineyard movement, he is internationally known for popular songs such as In The Secret (I Want to Know You), Precious Child, My Delight, Only You, The River Is Here, Blessed Be The Name, We Will Ride, Yahweh, Yet I Will Praise, and Wonder Working God. Andy has been writing worship songs that have become the soundtrack of the modern church around the world.

When one gets the idea that someone has had long term "success" in worship songwriting this could conjur up ideas of mountain top retreats, cluttered writing rooms, VIP studio access, co-writing with gifted compatriots and a life of creative seclusion. While that may be someone's dream, that is not the reality of Andy Park. Of all the high profile worship writers I have met and gotten to know personally, Andy is one of the most diligent servants to the Body of Christ I have ever met. Yes, he has written over 120 songs that have been scattered across the globe, but he did that while planting churches, pastoring, raising a large family, traveling around the globe, helping train churches in worship, writing books, mentoring dozens of others and following God. Andy is the real deal- a local church pastor/worship leader who understands the struggles and frustrations of everything from small church plants to mega-church campuses.

Why does all this matter? Because Andy writes these songs from the trenches. He isn't musing over something ethereal that he doesn't have to live through. In the real work of the kingdom of God and community of family, the kinds of songs that we write must survive the "reality" test of being true enough not only to believe, but to use on a regular basis in local churches at home and around the world. I am thankful for mentors and leaders like Andy Park, who have continued to lead and write from the trenches of local church work, while remaining an encouragement to the greater body of Christ.

For more info on Andy Park, his music and ministry, go to www.andypark.ca .

When I started listening to this short EP I was working frantically on another work project. But as the songs "A Taste of Heaven" and "Perfect Peace" began to rise up from my office sound system, I began to listen. It was beautiful.

The first track, "A Taste of Heaven", is presented in both a standard and extended version (track 2) on this project. This song is about God's grace and favor on His people, and how that favor is a foretaste of the glory of heaven come to earth today. This song is really about God's presence being the unmerited favor of blessing for us, as he states in the second verse:

Standing under the shower of your unmerited favor
Your blessings upon us
You have given so freely your affectionate mercy
Your blessings upon us

This is not an indulgent declaration, but a thankful praise to God for his incredible love towards us, and this theme continues throughout the song. It is uplifting and engaging, pointing the worshiper towards the great Giver as we wait patiently on His presence to guide us.

Producer Kelly Carpenter has done a very nice job of keeping the music well suited to Andy's style, guitar playing and voice. The arrangements here are easily recognizable as Andy Park songs from the first bar. And the "extended versions" of the English and Spanish translations of "A Taste of Heaven" have a nice vamp into electronic/looped soundscapes that give Andy space to mix both English and Spanish in the ad lib sections. With a chorus echoing in the background perhaps this is a prophetic vision of all peoples, all languages worshiping God. Very worshipful.

As the next song, "Perfect Peace", began playing, my wife came upstairs to my office and asked about it. She said, "that song is for you." She was right.

Park has always used scripture foundations in his songs, such as this one that elegantly weaves Psalm 62:5, Isaiah 26:3 and Matthew 11:28-30, reminding us:

Perfect peace, he will give you perfect peace

As you think about his goodness and his kindness...

...Come and rest, come and let your soul find rest

For the burden that he gives you is light

The song is played with an acoustic guitar framed arrangement, keyboards, and programmed instrumentation. It's simple and lilting arrangement is perfectly suited for its message of peace by trusting in God. I found myself surrendering, singing along and reciting the lyrics as prayers throughout the day.

"Perfect Peace" is one of 3 different songs on this short EP, but the collection contains both "A Taste of Heaven" and "Perfect Peace" in Spanish versions as well, "Un Sabor De Los Cielos" and "Perfecta Paz" respectively. In fact, Park has wrote "Un Sabor De Los Cielos" in Spanish originally and translated it for the English version. It was beautiful to experience a worship EP that contained English and Spanish versions of the songs. In light of this, I asked Andy Park more about his music and ministry, and his work on this recent project.

View our brief interview with Andy Park.

The final song on this EP is a Spanish version of the classic Vineyard worship song "Precious Child", entitled "Precioso Hijo". This powerful song is about God's love for us as His children. It is about how we should see ourselves as being chosen for his family- bound, not by our performance, but by God's faithfulness. This is a familiar theme for Andy Park, as many of his songs explore God's love and characteristics, our identity in Christ and our community identity as the church (global and local).

If you are a local church worship leader looking for some excellent worship songs on the topics mentioned in this review, I encourage you to consider listening to the samples online at Amazon (or if you have WorshipTeam.com, you can preview the songs there). Especially if you are looking for Spanish worship songs, I encourage you to check out these 3 Spanish songs on this EP.

For churches using WorshipTeam.com, all of the songs, chord charts, lyrics and audio from this album are already available and pre-loaded for you in the WorshipTeam.com system song database. If you are not part of WorshipTeam.com and want to listen to audio samples or purchase the album directly yourself, see the Amazon link below.

Blessings
Kim Gentes

Inspiration, engagement, anthems, compassion and justice. These are the themes that stream into the mind when one thinks of the modern student movement and conferences known as Passion/268 Generation and its visible leaders Louie Giglio and Chris Tomlin. These themes and impact have only solidified and intensified with the latest edition of their live conference worship recordings, "Passion 2013: Let The Future Begin". With unrelenting stadium rock anthems, excellent lyrical songs and a great live engagement experience caught on the recording, this album continues the tradition of making Passion not only an influential musical voice to the college generation but a perennial provider to the liturgical sound track of the modern church.

Since Passion's first release in 1998, their annual conference has fueled both original songs and re-arrangements of great choruses and hymns from the Christian church song catalog. This project brings a huge collection of songs that are all usable and very thoughtful. One of the things that marks this release is the use of several voices across its track list. No less than eight different worship leaders lead this collection of 15 new tracks (there are only 14 on the regular version, but an extra track on the deluxe version). What this does for a lengthy "live" album like this conference recording is make it much more of an experience than just a collage of top songs. With a consistent sound canvas and band playing, these songs leap off the tracks and engage the heart in a worshipful experience.

Beginning with "God's Great Dance Floor", Chris Tomlin kicks off this album with pop/dance 8th notes that have both the conference crowd and the album listener clapping and surrendering their hearts in energetic praise. This is the 3rd album that this song has appeared on recently, and I have found it invitational and inspiring a song. While it is not likely a song that every congregation will jump to use, because of its dance/pop arrangement, it is perfect for almost every youth group and celebrative praise time that comes to mind. If your musicians can can play it, prepare to start the party!

The second track, "The Lord Our God" is one of the most usable songs on this album. Led and co-written by Kristian Stanfill, this song is a declarative listing of the glorious attributes of the Lord our God. It is a song that combines (in a bridge) those characteristics of God with a declaration from the worshiper to follow God's lead by committing to: 

We won't move without You
We won't move without You
You're the light of all and all that we need

At its core, this song carries the message and undergirded values of the Passion conferences- to make His name famous (Passion's mission statement is based on Isaiah 26:8 which says "...for Your Name and renown are the desire of our souls"). A great medium/fast tempo song with excellent lyrical and Biblically based content.

Track three is "Jesus, Only Jesus", a new song led by Matt Redman (who, like most of the tracks on this project are led by one of the writers of the song being sung). This song is melodic, powerful and very well crafted musically. Like all the songs on this album, I went through them with my guitar, playing along to learn, enjoy and ascertain how I might use these songs in worship times. I really loved this song. It has a unique musical twist in this song, in that the hook of the song contains a single phrase that changes the time signature for one bar. The song is in 3/4 time, but the hook line uses a bar of 4/4 for each iteration. This can be tricky at first, but after you practice it, it fits well. The song is well-worth the time it may take to learn to play it.

"Once And For All" is a great new song as well, another anthem that rings with great music, melodies and most of all some excellent theological concepts said well in succinct language. Some of the the lyrics use Christological language not normally seen in worship songs, borrowing liberally from the ancient creeds, such as these selected lines

He is the light in the darkness
Who took on flesh and took our place...
We believe our God is Jesus...
Jesus, Jesus, God from God, Light from Light

These are deeply theological and meaningful statements that call the worshiper to investigate the claims of such a song. It is certain that such writing will have congregants asking leaders and pastors what lyrics such as "God from God, Light from Light" mean. And this is a very good thing. Understanding the nuances of how such central faith statements have come about can only be a positive to any local church community and the spiritual growth of the people. In fact, what is an undertone in a number of tracks across this recording is the language of the ancient creeds and deeper theological statements. From the song just mentioned to "In Christ Alone" to "The Death of Death" and others- this album's pop/rock sound belies the profound lyrical foundations on which some of these songs are built, and this is a joy to discover.

The album continues through spiritual hunger song "Burning In My Soul", and the now church standard "Revelation Song" and into "Children of Light" a call to "rise up children of light" (which, with its overwrought "whoah- oh oh oh" lyrics sounds like a lot of superfluous cheer leading that abandons the strength of the rest of the album). But moving on through this project, track after track testifies powerfully with exceptional lyrics and great music, making this perhaps the best collection of new songs ever to appear on a Passion album. Yes, it is that good, and that extensive. Other songs that you must check out include "Whom Shall I Fear" (led by Tomlin), "Come to the Water" (led by Kristian Standfill), "In Christ Alone" (led by Stanfill, this is the best revision of this song I have ever heard- excellent additional bridge and more singable than any other arrangement of this song) and dubiously named "The Death of Death" by Charlie Hall. Really, be sure to listen to every track on this project and find out what would best fit your local congregation. It is truly worth hearing.

But I would be remiss if I didn't give a special recognition to the standout song on this project. My favorite song on this album is a simple but incredibly poignant surrender song "Here's My Heart" led by David Crowder (written by Giglio, Ingram and Tomlin). This song reminds me lyrically of Brenton Brown's "Surrender" or Hillsong "I Give You My Heart" (Reuben Morgan). This text of this song is a powerful offering of the soul given up to God through simple lyrics that present the one gift God looks for in our worship- the human heart, will and obedience.  If you absolutely are looking for one amazing song, this may become your favorite new song of 2013. It is mine.

Let me be clear- when I listen to a project from a group that has high popularity or notoriety, such as Passion, Hillsong or Jesus Culture, I am especially critical of their projects primarily because I don't want to recommend music based on the commendations of their namesake or past success to guide the value of a current project. With that understanding, I was armed intently to investigate this release. But instead of having a stoic critique of this project, the thorough and wonderful application of thoughtful lyrics, excellent music, melodic songs and a seamless live experience make this album the latest winner of my "Editor's Choice Award". It is really that good.

For churches using WorshipTeam.com, all of the songs, chord charts, lyrics and audio from this album are already available and pre-loaded for you in the WorshipTeam.com system song database.

If you are not part of WorshipTeam.com and want to listen to audio samples or purchase the album directly yourself, see the Amazon link below.

Glenn Packiam's new solo album "The Mystery of Faith" is the newest project from this songwriter/pastor from New Life Church in Colorado Springs. In a surprising and encouraging departure from past recordings, this album ventures at speaking the central truths of the Christian faith, usable by all Christian churches whether modern or liturgical. In fact, this album presents a modern worship liturgy that can be used as a guide for an entire service or applied in portions, using songs that fit for the kind of themes and services you may planning for.

This is a studio worship album featuring several new songs based, created and presented as a fresh expression of the historic liturgical service! In addition to 8 songs, there are two readings (the Nicene Creed and Prayer of Confession) with musical backdrops for easily adoption into your services. This concept project has value both as a collection of great songs and as a complete service that brings the message of our faith through the progression of these songs. Glenn co-writes with Ian Eskelin, Ian Morgan Cron, Jennie Lee Riddle, and others to craft these beautiful and usable songs.

Walking through each track song by song does not convey the mode of use of these songs. One must experience these songs as a collection and participate as a worshiper, being shaped by the songs as they provide the movement of the central components of worship that have been used in churches for hundreds of years. The proclamation of faith, the creed, the prayer of confession, the blessings to one another, declaration of the risen Christ, the Alleluia - each of these elements are poignant and engaging.

Something must be said about the significance of this project as a gift to the broader church. Many worship writers, leaders and artists claim that they are writing new songs for "the church", but few have gone to the trouble of writing songs for usable application in the framework used by over 50% of the global church- the liturgy. Glenn has sculpted these songs as useful tools to the whole body of Christ. This is a blessing and a joy. And even if your church does not use a liturgical format, there are some excellent songs here for use in modern worship sets.

Again, while this album is meant as a liturgically guided worship service, I found some single songs that I would like to highlight for any worshiping church. First is the song "Our Messiah Reigns". This is the last track on the album, but it is an excellent song for both weekly celebration of the Risen Christ and for the upcoming Easter season. Another strong song is "Grace Flows Freely Down", a joyous song about the power of God's grace. Finally, the song "The Lord Be With You" is an inviting song in which the Body can give thanks together while speaking God's blessing to one another.

For churches using WorshipTeam.com, all of the songs, chord charts, lyrics and audio from this album are already available and pre-loaded for you in the WorshipTeam.com system song database.

If you are not part of WorshipTeam.com and want to listen to audio samples or purchase the album directly yourself, see the Amazon link below.