When I first met Barry, he was wearing nothing a pair of beat-up shorts that very well could have been boxers. He hugged me as an introduction and within an hour of meeting, it was apparent that we were to be lifelong family. Barry is my father-in-law (or father-in-love as my husband’s momma says). He has a slight southern accent with all the fixin’s that come with it; talking smack to telemarketers, remote control master channel changer, and more stories than you could shake a stick at.

Last April, Barry shocked us all by giving his life to Jesus Christ. Twenty-six years of prayer had been fulfilled in one single moment at an Easter service at Momma’s church.

Like me, Barry is not one to show emotion in public, so imagine my surprise when, the day after Christmas, he announced that he cried at work. We were outside pushing Annemarie in a tree swing (told ya he was southern) when he made the announcement: “Well, I went and got all teary and weird at work today talking about little Annie.” Ummm, okay, what happened? “I was telling someone how she was real sick as a baby and then how you guys prayed and laid hands on her and stuff. When I saw that she got healed, I knew I had to get in on this God stuff cuz that was wild!”

For her first four months, Annemarie suffered with pyloric stenosis, acid reflux, and an incisional hernia. What that means is this: all my baby did was scream and puke. During feedings, after feedings (during the 45 minutes I had to hold her upright every feeding to coerce her food in the right direction), before naps, after naps, and during diaper changes. It was so stressful that I was sent to a postpartum counselor. On our second visit, she stated that my baby was even making HER depressed and she didn’t know how to console me!

Romans 5:3 says that “we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope”. I wasn’t sure what hope looked like in the midst of all my sufferings, but I believed that one day, whether I saw it or not, God was going to bring about some hope.

On December 26th, God gave me a little gift. He showed me that through our family’s suffering, our dad gave his heart to Jesus. Barry now has his name written in the Book of Life. For that, I would do it all over again.

This weeks album is going to be a great one. Its Bryan and Katie Torwalts Here on Earth. If you would like to see my original review on them go to this link: http://www.lightinthecity.com/new-artist-saturday-08-27-2011/

Now that we have been introduced to them we are going to go alittle more in depth in their music. This album starts off with a bang with the track, Glorious.

This for me personally I feel is the perfect track to start off the album. It has the right vibe that would make you want to get up from where you are at and start jumping and dancing (not that I would dance….) The bridge of this album really sets up a theme for me personally with this album. It states, “and let the sound of our praise, and heavens will shake, and the earth will move”. This whole album is about proclaiming our praises to the world about God and his love for us.

Next up is the track Holy Spirit. This song as you guessed it is about the Holy Spirit. Its a more calm track then the opener and I think they did a good move with this. It shows variety in the songwriting. Its good to know that it wasn’t going to be the typical: fast songs in the beginning, slow songs in the end.

“Holy Spirit you are welcomed here. come flood this place and fill the atmosphere, your glory God is what are hearts are longing for.”

The rest of the album is more of a mellow album which for some people could be a good thing or a bad thing. If you were wanting an album that would make you dance the whole time then this probably isnt for you. I felt, after listening through the whole album, that the first track is more of like a track to get you pumped up and allows you to enter in His presence with joy and happiness.

Sometimes being simple is good. You do not need all this extra music sometimes and you just need some simple chords and words to get a great song. This is true for the song “I’m a Lover of Your Presence”. The whole song revolves around 4 Chords and some simple words.

This whole album is good if you are looking for a solid worship album, maybe even something to listen to while you are having your own personal study session or bible study.

Here is the rest of the album for you guys to enjoy:

As always if you would like to support the artist please go buy the albums on iTunes, Amazon or where ever you buy your music.

Thanks
Enjoy

Her name is Dolly. She is a prostitute, a heroin addict, a crack user, and eight months pregnant. And God brought me to that corner at that exact moment for a reason.
Who else would know how impossible it seems to kick the hard drugs?
Who else would know about selling yourself for a quick fix?
Who else would know where the nearest methadone clinic is?
Who else would know that the warrant out for her arrest would keep her far away from a delivery room in a hospital?

1Corinthians1:27 says “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak to shame the strong.”. This woman didn’t need a biblical scholar or experienced evangelist. She needed hope.

I told her I knew about detox sickness. I told her I knew about rehab. I also told her about the healing power of Jesus Christ, and all that my God had done for me. She agreed to come in for five minutes.

It wasn’t the prettiest sight shepherding her into the building. She cleaned herself up, and passed out in a chair as we worshipped. As I started to pray for her, I fell to the ground at this thought: “I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten” (Joel 2:25). How easily could that have been me? I believed God for Dolly, and claimed this promise for her. Several sisters gathered around her and prayed for healing of her addiction and protection for her unborn child.

Before leaving, Dolly told me that ever since she was five years old, she has dreamt of being a pastor. I replied that nothing is impossible with God. She asked if she could come back next Sunday. I couldn’t hold back my tears as I watched her hobble down the street back to work. I know that seeds were planted and she’ll be back. I was just awestruck to see what could-have-been my future waving back at me and telling me I was pretty.

I remember being a new believer 12 years ago watching all the Christians in the church and thinking to myself can I last? Will I make it? I don’t know if I can do this thing. This is hard.
I don’t know if I can stop doing what I’ve been doing…

Have you ever asked yourself those kind of questions? Deep inside you want to live for God, you want to stop living the way you have been living. Yet the journey ahead of you seems far too difficult and seemingly impossible. You don’t really believe you are going to stick this thing out.
Can I encourage you today? YOU CAN DO IT! By the power of the Holy Spirit living on the inside of you! YOU CAN DO IT!

But you will not make it to your moment of victory without first making it through the moments of temptation. We ALL face temptation. Whether it be a sexual temptation, or a temptation to lie, or to cheat or even to eat more than we ought to. There are all types of temptations…

But God in all his love and wisdom is faithful! Read 1 Corinthians 10:13 again and again… You are not alone! You’re not the only one who struggles. And He won’t let you face it without providing a way out! Question is do you WANT to the way out? Are you looking for the way out?

I have heard people say about their habitual sin (and I have said it also)… Whether it had to with a relationship they need to let go of or an addiction to alcohol or cigarettes or even the club life. “I asked God to take it away from me”.  Really? But you are still holding to it. You haven’t really given it to Him. As long as you still have sympathy for whatever it is… you will continue to go back to it! We have to get to a point where we HATE the very thing that is destroying our lives and keeping us from experiencing true freedom in Christ. We have to say “Lord here it is I don’t want this! I give it to you!”

The bible says you will know the truth and the truth will set you free! Jesus said I am the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE. Jesus wants to set you free!

Prayer is vital to the process of Freedom. As you pray and as you read the word of God, your desires will begin to change. You will begin to desire what God desires and hate what the Lord hates. You will become equipped with the tools needed to fight the battle.

Does this mean that you will never make mistakes? Of course not! The Lord isn’t looking for someone perfect He is looking for someone willing. Are you willing today? Trust me it is so worth it!

I pray that today as you continue on this journey, you will experience victory. That when you are tempted  you will look to see that there is a way of escape and His name is Jesus. He doesn’t leave you to face it on your own. The Holy Spirit will teach you and show you the way. Trust the Lord, stand strong, don’t give up! And if you fail today let it serve as fuel and stir inside of you more desire to conquer and to get back up and keep going!

Read Romans 8 today. You are more than a conqueror through Him who loves you!

I believe there is a call on the men and women of God in this city and across the nation to stand up and unite for the cause of Christ and to push for a radical revival in our cities and nation like never before. Revival is coming, or rather, has started, but are we too distracted and segregated amongst the body to realize the move of God and task at hand?

In the city of Chicago alone there have been three murders in the span of three weeks. Oakland protests that have men and women injured and living in fear, Preacher after fallen Preacher, Church wars like never before. Who are we kidding? Our nation needs God!

We are asking and crying out for a revival and for Him to come but we can’t move past our differences and stand united in this city let alone across the nation.  The Bible says in Mathew 12:25, “Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.’”  The word speaks for itself has clearly given us a mandate and instructions to not be divided in this Kingdom or else we will live in waste.  Romans 12:14-19, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’”

This is a call to and for those radical warriors who are relentless in their walk with the Lord, whose hearts are burning with passion and are saying as “They said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?’” Luke 24:32. Arise prayer warriors! Arise Men! Arise women and children and take your places! Let us be about our fathers business and awaken from our subconscious slumber! This city is in desperate need of a move of God! Are we willing to unite and move forward for the cause of Christ, the lost, the dying and the hopeless or are we too stuck on ourselves and our feelings and what we are going through to respond to the call!

The Lord is ready and he is willing to pour out His spirit. Are we willing to be catalysts for this great move of God? Joel 2: 28-29 says, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit declares the Lord.”

Chicago are you ready? Are we willing to look past ourselves? An SUM student form my friends church text her this: “Omg!! I was just at Belmont and Keeler and there was a man dying.  He was hit in the back of the head and blood was gushing out. I prayed for him and called cops!! :( He was breathing and shaking but he could not talk. Please pray that he would live!!! I waited. The fire department came after I called. There were others who saw the whole thing. Someone hurt this man!! Someone busted his head open.”   Would you have stopped and prayed? Would you have been unashamed of the name of Christ? Or would you have been about your own business instead of the Father’s business? This is where I believe some of us have fallen short.  We are too busy in the body with the concerns of others and nitpicking their lifestyles and not busy with the concerns of Christ.

I too have a dream like Martin Luther King.  I dream of a day when churches will stop with their games and silly segregation.  A day when we can all stand together no matter denominational beliefs and theological queries.  A day of revival brought about by the spirit of God and man in his selfishness and sin responds and unites for this cause! I dream of a revival brought about by radical warriors who will overcome every obstacle and excuse to bring Jesus Christ to our nation!

There are some who will read this and say, “That’s me. Use me Lord. I want to be used in that way.” I say, who is stopping you? There may be those who are dead in their sin and want to be used. Who says alter calls are for Sundays? Let us Arise. Arise!

The album im going to be reviewing is last years Passion album: Awakening.

This album actually was number 1 on the Christian Billboard Charts when it first came out. This is a great album and the title of the album really captures the theme of the album, awakening. For me personally I thought it was weird to start off with a “slow” song. A typical album you usually start off with a fast song but this time they seemed to take a different route, something I was not expecting but it seemed to work with this album. This album goes in alot of different directions due to the fact that there are so many people featured on this album, it keeps the album from not getting boring.

Some of the songs seem to be done too quick (Say, Say) while others felt alittle bit out of place (King of Heaven). When I say out of place Im just referring to the musicality of it. As always in most albums you get some standout tracks that define the album. For this particular I would say that there are multiple songs that definetly stand out. One of the top songs that stand is the song “Our God” which is a declaration that states “and if our God is for us then who can ever stop us”. Another good song in this album is the song “Like a Lion” which describes how God is living in us and “roaring like a lion”. And last but not least the standout track aside from Awakening (which for me personally is the best song on the album) is Hillsong United’s “With Everything”. From the beginning of the track you can tell that they changed up the song abit, cutting some verses and adding other dynamics. You can clearly tell that Hillsong United makes this their own version (as opposed to Hillsong Live’s version). Overall this is a pretty good album, with alot of standout tracks and with the overall theme of awakening in our cities what more can you ask for.

If you have any questions, suggestions, or anything else please feel free to email at citylightschurchmusic@gmail.com

As a bonus:
Heres a pretty good version of Hillsong Uniteds “With Everything” alittle different than the original version from their This Is Our God album but none the less still great. Hope you enjoy.

This week I am going to be reviewing the album Aftermath by Hillsong United

This is Hillsong United’s second studio album since 2007′s All of the Above.
Originally planned to be the 2nd part of their Across their Earth album (1st one being 2009′s Tear Down the Walls) the plans were scrapped and they started fresh with a new direction, new songs, and a new style. From the start of the first track you can hear that this is not the typical Hillsong music you are used to hearing on a Sunday morning. There is this sense of freshness and young sound to this album. Being led by Hillsong’s Creative Director, Joel Houston, they rely more on synth and delays and various other effects to make this album stand out from other Christian albums being released around that time.

Hillsong United’s purpose in making this album was to step out of this box that we put ourselves in when we think of Christian music and that we are able to be free in whatever do. Here is an interview with Joel Houston explaining it best:

This album has alot of high moments and some amazing stand out tracks. The song Awakening was originally written by Chris Tomlin and Reuben Morgan (writer of Mighty to Save). This album really shows what the band can do to a song that was already made into its own (being on both Chris Tomlin’s Studio Album and performed live on the Passion conferences latest recording “Passion: Awakening”) and changing it up a bit and the song still sounding refreshing and new when performed by them.

On the “fast” side of the album you have the tracks: Go, Nova and Light Will Shine. From these songs I feel that the songs Nova and Light Will Shine work perfectly for this album even though there is a different sense of musicality in these songs. These songs included numerous loops, synths, and overdubbing to re-create the “indie” style that is most popular at this moment. The track Go (starting the album off at #2) is a perfect song to start the album. It gives us a bit of everything we love about Hillsong United. It includes the “rocking” part, has a catchy chorus, and the lyrics are pretty straight forward that it would be very easy to play and learn this song for a Sunday morning service.

Throughout the album there are some tracks that I feel are just filler tracks and were either unnecessary or just felt way different from the album: B.E. and Bones. These tracks are good but I feel that they were more of the low points of the album. Aside from the these 2 tracks the rest of them are pretty superb. A great song is Search My Heart which speaks about getting closer to God. Rhythms of Grace, another excellent track of living in excellence and being overwhelmed at Gods grace towards us. The track that I feel that really conveys the message of what Hillsong United is all about is the track Take Heart. There message is to let everyone know that there is hope and we must trust in hope and not dwell on our failures because Jesus died on the cross for us and has overcome all of it. The chorus of this song is:

“So take heart
Let His love lead us through the night
Hold on to hope
And take courage again”

My 2 favorite tracks of this album are: Like an Avalanche and Aftermath. Aftermath explains to us about what God did for us and the aftermath of when Jesus died on the cross for us. I would say that this song would be a perfect song for Easter as it is of a remembrance of when Jesus died on the cross and that he loves us:

“Yet the hands that cradle the stars
Are the hands that bled for me
In a moment of glorious surrender
You were broken for all the world to see
Lifted out of the ashes
I am found in the aftermath”

Finally, Like an Avalanche. At first when I first skimmed through this album I didnt really pay much attention to it and did not like it. After a couple of listens I started to like the song more and more. The bridge and chorus are very powerful, it is a proclamation, telling God to take all that I have because I love you and that is all we need. His love and grace is so great that sometimes all we can do is just fall on our knees and worship Him.

“Take my life
Take all that I am
With all that I am I will love You
Take my heart
Take all that I have
Jesus how I adore You

And I find myself here on my knees again
Caught up in grace like an avalanche
Nothing compare to this love
Burning in my heart”

I would say the standout tracks in this album would be: Like an Avalanche, Aftermath, Search My Heart, Go and Awakening. These tracks would in an essence define the type of style that Hillsong United is trying to go for. This album probably wont be for everyone, with tracks like Bones, Light Will Shine, and the interlude B.E. being too differently for the average listeners.

As a bonus I included this awesome cover of the song Like an Avalanche found on Youtube by Carlos, the sound guy. Hope you enjoy this song and the album as much as I did. If you have any suggestions, comments, questions, etc. just email them to citylightschurchmusic@gmail.com

iTunes: