Songs We Sing (11.01.2009)

We occasionally get asked what this or that song was after services. So, I thought I'd provide a small service to CCJ'ers and the general lurkers out there. I'll list each song and give you the original artist and/or songwriter and a few details. If you'd like to purchase the original song, I suggest using iTunes or Amazon's MP3 Store.

For the services of November 1, 2009, we sang:

At The Cross
Words by Issac Watts, 1707. Chorus by Ralph Hudson in 1885. This song is also known as "Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed?" without the "at the cross, at the cross" chorus. You know how we sometimes sing an old hymn with a new chorus? There's nothing new under the sun, as this is a good example. There are some great lyrics to this song. I used to think the line "Would He devote that sacred head/For such a worm as I?" was a bit harsh but, as I've grown, I realize that I have nothing to offer God that is good and that, in the full light of His glory, I am no more than a worm. HOWEVER, there is "Amazing pity/Grace unknown/And love beyond degree ... at the cross."

All Bow Down
Written by Chris Tomlin & Ed Cash, 2004. This is from Chris Tomlin's "Arriving" album (if you're looking to buy it). Our version is stylistically a bit more funky (I like it better, but that's just me). When we did this one at The Burner last Sunday night, there was some loud singing that warmed my heart. We got to the line "You are coming again, like a thiief in the night/You are coming again, with a shout from the sky." The kids (and adults) really let loose on the "shout from the sky part." It was awesome. :-)

Nothing But The Blood
Written by Robert Lowry, 1876. Man, this guy really was a prolific songwriter back in the late 1800s, wasn't he (go look at previous "songs We Sing" posts to see what I'm talking about)? This song has fantastic words that help remind us that it is not of our doing, but God's that we are saved - ONLY through the blood of Jesus.

Here I Am To Worship
Written by Tim Hughes, 2000. You can buy the mp3 here, if you want it. This one is a modern classic, so to speak. This takes us to a place of pondering just how much Jesus gave up for us. That requires our worship.

How Deep The Father's Love For Us
Written by Stuart Townend, 1995. This is written in hymn-style so many think it is an old song but it's fairly new, in reality. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the lyrics to this song. I've not found a version that is quite like ours so, I'll give you an old YouTube video of us doing it in 2007. For whatever reason, this video has been downloaded from our web site about 70-100 times each month and has been viewed on YouTube nearly 14,000 times. The video from the ccjasper.com site has been embeded in some South Korean web site and has been heavily viewed in China and other Asian nations over the past two years. God uses the weak in His ways, doesn't He?

Image of the Invisible
Written by Daniel Ross & Kurt Neighbors, 2008. We wrote this one back in late 2008 when CCJ was working through the book of Colossians. I was trying to hammer home the point that Jesus is the supreme ruler over everything. This will be available in a recorded form ... someday.