This Sunday we’re starting a sermon series on stewardship called “the world is Mine”.  To go along with that series, I reworked the hymn “This Is My Father’s World.”  I liked the feel of Aaron Niequist‘s version, but I wanted a different chord structure for the song (his structure is more traditional).  The lyrics are a beautiful reminder of the already-and-not-yet-ness of God’s Kingdom, recognizing that in our present reality the “wrong seems oft’ so strong” and simultaneously looking forward to the day when “Jesus who died shall be satisfied, and earth and heav’n be one”.  As such, I felt like it needed to move between minor and major, keeping that tension in play musically as it does lyrically.  I also wanted to add a joyful crescendo at the end–a celebratory response to God’s reign.

For my friends who have been asking to hear the new guitar (a Larrivee OMV-10)–here’s your first chance.  Even with cheap mics, I think it sounds pretty good.  Now if I could just get a vocal mic that makes me happy… ;)  (I love the Shure Beta 87C I use for live vocals, but recording is kind of a different animal.)

Anyway, before I keep blabbing, here’s the recording:

…and here is a chord chart (PDF).

Our creative arts team had seen a drama/video very much like this at the U-Turn conference at Faith Church in Dyer, IN, and we decided that we would try our hand at re-creating it…

Thanks to my friend Pete, I recently came across Stuart Townend‘s song “When Love Came Down” as performed by Dave Hunt on his album Love Abounds. As soon as I heard it, I knew it needed to be a part of our Good Friday service.  Below are resources for the song:

-> Short sample from CD Baby:

-> Purchase the album from CD Baby or Amazon MP3.

-> View chord chart in PDF format

-> Lyrics:

“When Love Came Down to Earth”
Words & music by Stuart Townend

When Love came down to earth and made His home with man
The hopeless found a hope, the sinner found a friend
Not to the powerful, but to the poor He came
And humble, hungry hearts were satisfied in Him

What joy, what peace has come to us
What hope, what help, what love

When every unclean thought and every sinful deed
Was scourged upon his back and hammered through his feet
The Innocent is cursed, the guilty are released
The punishment of God on God has brought me peace

Come lay your heavy load down at the Master’s feet
Your shame will be removed, your joy will be complete
Come crucify your pride and enter as a child
For those who bow down low He’ll lift up to His side

(c)2001 Thankyou Music, CCLI song #3359138

Anyway, here is the recording.  I certainly wouldn’t have picked this low a key for my voice (it’s not my “happy power range”), but the important thing was that it works for the girls.  The recording was multitracked 1 or 2 tracks at a time using a M-Audio FireWire 410, the free recording software Audacity, and a few relatively cheap mics.  I can’t wait until we get a Roland V-Mixer, Sonar, a sweet recording computer, and Pro Tools so we can record live.  Yes, my friends, it is coming soon.

Many thanks to Josh Gill for the drums.  He rocks, and that’s without rhythm-fixing plugins.   Also thanks to Sharon for the background vocals – it takes her zero seconds to improvise multiple harmony parts, which is pretty cool.   And last but not least, I want to thank my Boss GT-8 pedal for having sweet distortions and amp models.  Heh heh

Here it be:

Recently, I was searching for a Christmas song that I could sing during communion.  In the past, our church has done some great Christmas songs that have tied togther Jesus’ birth and the cross–but this time I was looking for something new.  It’s kind of funny, though, because I actually ended up with something old: the hymn “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne” [note: beware the scary MIDI music at this link... if you leave your volume up, don't say I didn't warn you].

Sharon and I added a new verse (the “For my sin and shame…” part), updated some of the language, and added a kind-of-improvised ending to the song that was designed to allow all of us to respond to the song a little, and not just hear it.  So here it is, in all its echoey glory, recorded on my little voice recorder from the back of the room.  I think it has some potential; it just needs to be cleaned up a little, and I might change the ending.  What do you think?  Lyrics are below–the bad recording makes the words hard to understand sometimes.

There Is Room (Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne)
Emily Elliot/Timothy Matthews; add’l words/music by Tristan & Sharon Mason

Lord, you left Your throne and Your kingly crown
When You came here to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room for Your holy nativity.

Chorus:
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus; there is room in my heart for Thee.

Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang, proclaiming Your royal degree;
But of lowly birth, Lord, you came to earth, and in great humility.      (Chorus)

And You came, O Lord, as the living Word, that would set Your people free;
But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn, they led you to Calvary.   (Chorus)

For my sin and shame, Heaven’s King was slain, crucified upon the Tree.
Lord, You took my place, Your atoning grace was poured out at the cross for me.   (Chorus)

There is room in my heart, Lord Jesus
You left your throne from heav’n above all because of Your great love
There is room in my heart
My sin and shame are gone forever, all forgiven in Your name
There is room in my heart
Come, Lord Jesus, quickly come…

Hear the MP3