Bottle Boys

Phil Keaggy Musical Video Tour

ENJOY!

Phil Keaggy and Paul Clark perform Dylan's "Got To Serve Somebody"

Clark does a fine rendition of Dylan's tune with the great guitar work from Keaggy.   I have listened to Keaggy for 32 years and Clark almost as long.  To see them both on the same stage is rare opportunity.

Shane and Shane - The One You Need

For all those men who have daughters this is a great song or prayer that should remind us to tell them about Jesus as the only one they need. Shane and Shane really have a heart for ministry and it is reflected in their music that leads us into the presence of "One We Need." Listen to the story of how this song came together.

Keith Green At 11 Years Old

I went to a Keith Green concert in Minneapolis at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in the late 70's.  He was a fantastic song writer for the Lord who wanted to see the Church be the Church and stop playing at it.

"I repent of ever having recorded one single song, and ever having performed one concert, if my music, and more importantly, my life has not provoked you into Godly jealousy or to sell out more completely to Jesus!" — Keith Green

This post is for a friend of mine at work who loves vinyl and Keith. 

Phil Keaggy at Wheaton College

Keaggy plays one of my favorites, Salvation Army Band which is from a great album True Believers.  If you don't own this you are missing out. I became acquainted with Phil back in 1976 when he and Ted Sandquist played in a student chapel service at Northwestern College in Roseville, MN.  A song form that chapel that Phil and Ted played was titled, All That I Can Do.  It is found on the 30th Anniversary CD, The Courts of the King.  I still think that the vinyl edition is better.

Keaggy is known as one of the top guitar players in the world.  Just browse the MP3 section at Amazon and play a few samples.  I think you will be enjoy his God given talent as much as I have over all these years.

Vern is Really Don

Vern is really Don and he is a fantastic guy.  He sings and plays keyboard in our churches worship services.  He is truely this happy because he loves Jesus Christ.  Great work Don as the Cenex Singer!

Traveling Wilburys

"Handle with Care" is the first track from the Traveling Wilburys 1988 album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1. Writing credits are shared by all five band members, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan.
What a line up of great musicians. 
Hearing this group made me think back to a John Piper blog post on Dylan with the song "Got To Serve Somebody" from the album Slow Train Coming one of my favorites albums. 

What Wondrous Love Is This

1. What wondrous love is this? 

O my soul, O my soul! 

What wondrous love is this, O my soul? 

What wondrous love is this? 

Which caused the Lord of bliss To bear the dreadful curse, For my soul. 

 2. When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down, 

When I was sinking down, sinking down, When I was sinking down,

 Beneath God's awful frown, Christ laid aside his crown For my soul.  

3. When I began to pray for my soul, for my soul, 

When I began to pray for my soul, When I began to pray, 

Thus the word of God did say, Christ is the truth and the way, For thy soul.  

4. He shed his heavenly light in my soul, in my soul, 

He shed his heavenly light in my soul, He shed his heavenly light,

 To disperse the gloom of night, Now it shines with radiance bright, In my soul. 

J.Stamp 1845 

Be Thou My Vision

1. Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
   Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;
   Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
   Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
2. Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
   I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
   Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
   Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
3. Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
   Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
   Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tow’r:
   Raise Thou me heav’nward, O Pow’r of my pow’r.
4. Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
   Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
   Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
   High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
5. High King of Heaven, my victory won,
   May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heav’n’s Sun!
   Heart of my own heart, whate’er befall,
   Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Dallan Forgaill's text speaks for itself.

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

1. O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
   Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
   O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine!
   Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.
2. What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
   Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
   Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
   Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.
3. What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
   For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
   O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
   Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.
4. Be Thou my consolation, my shield when I must die;
   Remind me of Thy passion when my last hour draws nigh.
   Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, upon Thy cross shall dwell,
   My heart by faith enfolds Thee. Who dieth thus dies well.

Penned by Bernard of Clairvaux in 1153. Longing to behold the Savior - clinging to the cross.

Fairest Lord Jesus

1. Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature,
   O Thou of God and man the Son,
   Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
   Thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown.
2. Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
   Robed in the blooming garb of spring;
   Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
   Who makes the woeful heart to sing.
3. Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight,
   And all the twinkling starry host;
   Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
   Than all the angels heav’n can boast.
4. All fairest beauty, heavenly and earthly,
   Wondrously, Jesus, is found in Thee;
   None can be nearer, fairer or dearer,
   Than Thou, my Savior, art to me.
5. Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!
   Son of God and Son of Man!
   Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
   Now and forevermore be Thine.

German Jesuits, pub.1677 tr. by Joseph A. Seiss, 1873 . This hymn is my favorite. Rich in displaying the beauty of Christ in words.

Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross

1. Jesus, keep me near the cross,
   There a precious fountain—
   Free to all, a healing stream—
   Flows from Calv’ry’s mountain.
   • Refrain:
     In the cross, in the cross,
     Be my glory ever;
     Till my raptured soul shall find
     Rest beyond the river.
2. Near the cross, a trembling soul,
   Love and Mercy found me;
   There the bright and morning star
   Sheds its beams around me.
3. Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
   Bring its scenes before me;
   Help me walk from day to day,
   With its shadows o’er me.
4. Near the cross I’ll watch and wait
   Hoping, trusting ever,
   Till I reach the golden strand,
   Just beyond the river.

Hymns like this are precious and life giving. Fanny Crosby thanks for using God's gift to encourage us all.

I am Living Vol. 01 - Free Album Download

Found this blog through twitter. I downloaded the album "I Am Living Vol. 01" and at first glance the blog Come&Live looks good. Why not give a listen today. I love the Intro to the album. Good job

Be Thou my Vision

On my way to work this morning listening to Matthew Smith sing his tune to this old Irish hymn. This has to be my favorite hymn. The lyrics always bring me right before the Sovereign Lord and Ruler of All!

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.

Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;

I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;

Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;

Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;

Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:

Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,

Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,

High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,

May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Do you like Christian music from the 70's and 80's?

If you were alive int he 70's and 80's then you will want to check out this blog. At the blog Jesus Rocks, a lot of the text is in another language with some English in the comment area. You can listen to some great music from the early forerunners of contemporary Christian music like Larry Norman and Randy Stonehill. Greats like Phil Keaggy and Keith Green and many, many others. If you know of any other blogs that have a similar theme please leave a comment with the site address or name.

Having gone to college during this period I found this a walk down nostalgic lane. Take the walk with me. I think that you will enjoy it.

1031SermonJams.com

A way to be culturally relevant 1031SermonJams.com has taken sermons from pastors like John Piper, Mark Driscoll, Josh Harris and others and added music to them. Each pastor has been contacted the web site says to obtain permission to use the sermons.

You may know someone who might listen to a good sermon in this way. Go the the site and give a listen.

Jesus Music Oldies

I love the early days of Christian Rock and came across the Jesus Music Oldies Web Radio which is a nostolgic trip down memory lane. You can find old CD's and information about the groups from the 70's. If you are in your 50's you will like looking around this site.

Newton's Amazing Grace

Newton's hymn "Amazing Grace" is one of the most sung hymns of all time. However I don't think many people really stop and read the word they are singing. This hymn has some great theology. Spend some time just meditating on these words and if you are a believer in Jesus and treasure Him then I am sure the words penned so long ago will have a deep and abiding impact on you as you read them again. More to come on Newton in the days ahead.


Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)

That sav’d a wretch like me!

I once was lost,

but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears reliev’d;

How precious did that grace appear,

The hour I first believ’d!

Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come;’

Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis’d good to me,

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease;

I shall possess, within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,

The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who call’d me here below,

Will be forever mine.

Phil Keaggy on "Dream Again"

Great news for Phil Keaggy fans with the soon to be released "Dream Again".

Phil said "The album to me is an album that I feel makes a real statement that something can be home spun, in a modest studio, but still come out sounding really good. It was mastered by Richard Dodd, and I’m very grateful for his expertise in making the album even sonically stand higher and sound better than I originally thought it could be.
I think it’s an album that states what’s important, what’s on my mind here and now in my life. I feel that the album was inspired by people in my life, who are near and dear to me. It features a song for my wife, Bernadette, there’s a song that features my daughter Alicia, two songs that feature my son Ian, and a song I dedicate to my daughter Olivia. It’s a relationship album – about our relationship with God and with those who are near in our lives."

You can pick up the album at the Keaggy web site that is linked on the side bar. O Happy Day!